Clinical Signs Of Disease Research Articles

Automated hematological cell count using sysmex XN-1000V in Testudo hermanni: Agreement with manual count

Mediterranean area represents the main habitat of Testudo hermanni. Clinical signs of disease of these tortoises are non-specific, making the hematology results crucial in revealing underlying pathological conditions. However, accurate automated identification of blood cell populations is hampered by the presence of nucleated erythrocytes (NRBC) and thrombocytes (Thr), necessitating manual methods such as counting chambers. The aim of the study was to assess the performance of the novel automated hematology analyzer Sysmex XN-1000 V, which includes a a specific channel (WNR) for counting NRBC, in accurately identify and quantify the different blood cell populations of Testudo hermanni. Additionally, its agreement with manual counts was evaluated. Fifty heparinized blood samples were initially counted using the Neubauer improved chamber and then analysed twice with Sysmex XN-1000 V. Thirteen out of 50 samples were instrumentally counted again after 48 h to assess the inter-assay precision. All WNR scattergrams were re-analysed using an ad hoc gate panel to differentiate two populations: NRBCs (weak fluorescence signal) and WBC + Thr (high fluorescence signal). Sysmex XN-1000 V demonstrated optimal intra- and inter-assay precision for NRBCs (CV 0.98% ± 1.96; 1.31% ± 2.98) and moderate precision for WBC + Thr (CV 9.24% ± 16.61; 12.69% ± 10.35). No proportional nor constant errors were observed between the methods for both the populations. The instrumental NRBC counts were consistently slightly lower, while WBC + Thr counts were slightly higher compared to manual counts. These findings suggest that Sysmex XN-1000 V can be used for analyzing cell populations in heparinized blood of Testudo hermanni. However, specific instrumental reference intervals are suggested.

Prevalence of middle ear effusion in French bulldogs without clinical signs of otic disease: A retrospective study of magnetic resonance imaging (2017-2022).

Canine middle ear effusion (MEE) is usually asymptomatic, being an incidental finding when computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the head is performed for other reasons unrelated to otic disease. The clinical relevance of the presence of material in the tympanic bulla (TB) remains uncertain, and more detail about its prevalence and appearance in MRI are required. To assess the prevalence of presence of material within the TB of French bulldogs (FB) with no clinical signs suggestive of otitis (externa, media or interna) that underwent high-field MRI for other medical reasons. Two hundred fifty-two TB of 126 FB were included in this study. Nonexperimental retrospective study in which MRI images were evaluated by a board-certified veterinary radiologist. Fifty-eight per cent of the dogs had material in the TB lumen (46% of the TB) and 59% were bilaterally affected. The signal intensity of this material related to the grey matter was variable on T1w and mainly hyperintense on T2w sequences. FB are predisposed to MEE. This is important when assessing imaging studies of TB of FB with chronic otitis externa, as high percentage of cases may have concurrent MEE. MRI findings in FB with MEE are characterised by a hyperintense signal to the grey matter on T2w in most cases and variable on T1w sequences.

Graft-versus-leukaemia immunity is retained following treatment with post-transplant cyclophosphamide alone or combined with tocilizumab in humanised mice.

Donor haematopoietic stem cell transplantation treats leukaemia by inducing graft-versus-leukaemia (GVL) immunity. However, this benefit is often mitigated by graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), which is reduced by post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) alone or combined with tocilizumab (TOC) in humanised mice. This study established a preclinical humanised mouse modelof GVL and investigated whether PTCy alone or combined with TOC impacts GVL immunity. NOD-scid-IL2Rγnull mice were injected with 2 × 107 human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) on day 0 and with 1 × 106 THP-1 acute myeloid leukaemia cells on day 14. In subsequent experiments, mice were also injected with PTCy (33 mg kg-1) or Dulbecco's phosphate buffered saline (PBS) on days 3 and 4, alone or combined with TOC or control antibody (25 mg kg-1) twice weekly for 28 days. Clinical signs of disease were monitored until day 42. Mice with hPBMCs from three different donors and THP-1 cells showed similar survival, clinical score and weight loss. hCD33+ leukaemia cells wereminimal in mice reconstituted with hPBMCs from two donors but present in mice with hPBMCs from a third donor, suggesting donor-specific GVL responses. hPBMC-injected mice treated with PTCy alone or combined with TOC (PTCy + TOC) demonstrated prolonged survival compared to control mice. PTCy alone and PTCy + TOC-treated mice with hPBMCs showed minimal hepatic hCD33+ leukaemia cells, indicating sustained GVL immunity. Further, the combination of PTCy + TOC reduced histological damage in the lung and liver. Collectively, this research demonstrates that PTCy alone or combined with TOC impairs GVHD without compromising GVL immunity.

Differential Diagnosis of Trigger Thumb in Children

Trigger thumb is the most common hand deformity in young children. The differential diagnoses of trigger thumb are thumb-in-palm deformity, hyperextension deformity of the metacarpophalangeal joint, thumb hypoplasia and congenital stiffness of the interphalangeal joint. The knowledge of the typical clinical signs of these different diseases enables the surgeon to make the correct diagnosis, leading to the right treatment.

Preventive myocardial revascularization prior to abdominal aortic repair in patients without cardiac symptoms: long-term results

To evaluate the long-term influence of preoperative invasive coronary screening and preventive myocardial revascularization on mortality and cardiac complications after open surgery for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA). We present long-term outcomes after open surgery for AAA between 2011 and 2022. Patients without clinical or objective signs of coronary artery disease were included. In the 1st group, routine coronary angiography was performed before surgery. Prophylactic myocardial revascularization was performed in 12 cases. Long-term data on 45 patients were obtained. In the 2nd group, 53 patients underwent repair without invasive coronary screening, and data on 48 patients were obtained in this group. The median follow-up was 32 and 79 months, respectively. Kaplan-Meyer overall 48-month survival was 87.3% and 82.1%, respectively (p=0.278). In the first group, 2 patients developed angina pectoris in the same period. In the second group, we observed 2 cases of myocardial infarction and 3 cases of angina pectoris without infarction. Analysis of survival curves found no significant differences (p=0.165). In our study, invasive coronary screening and preventive myocardial revascularization in patients without clinical and objective signs of coronary artery did not improve 4-year long-term period after abdominal aortic repair. Perhaps, differences will appear after 4 years, and this requires further follow-up after coronary angiography. However, there is a tendency towards more common onsets of coronary artery disease that dictates the need for cardiac monitoring of such patients.

ORAL VACCINATION AGAINST YERSINIA RUCKERI: BIOMARKERS OF PROTEIN OXIDATION IN THE HEPATIC TISSUE OF RAINBOW TROUT (ONCORHYNCHUS MYKISS WALBAUM)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the one-month effect of oral vaccination against Yersinia ruckeri based on oxidative stress biomarkers in the hepatic tissue of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss Walbaum). The vaccine consisted of three strains of Y. ruckeri (serotype O1) obtained from rainbow trout from different farms where fish showed clinical signs of enteric redmouth disease. The vaccine was produced at the Department of Fish Diseases, National Veterinary Research Institute in Pulawy (Poland) according to the process covered by patent no. P.428259. The concentrated vaccine was added to the fish feed. Treatment was administered three times at one-day intervals. Livers were sampled one month after immunisation. Our results show that immunisation with the anti-Yersinia vaccine did not alter the liver tissue of rainbow trout. aldehydic and ketonic derivatives of oxidatively modified proteins (OMP) were not significantly altered in the hepatic tissue of vaccinated fish prior to immunisation. One month after immunisation, the levels of ketonic derivatives of OMP in the hepatic tissue of untreated trout were reduced compared to the untreated group before immunisation. Similar to the untreated groups, the levels of ketonic derivatives of OMP in the hepatic tissue of the vaccinated group one month after immunisation were reduced compared to the vaccinated group before immunisation. A statistically non-significant decrease in the total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels was observed between the values obtained in the untreated and vaccinated groups before vaccination and one month after vaccination. Understanding the role of oxidative stress in the tissues of vaccinated trout has important implications for understanding the complex physiological changes that occur during vaccination, and also for improving aquaculture practices to maximise tissue growth and health of vaccinated trout.

Double Aneuploidy (Trisomy 21 and XXX) in a Child with Down Syndrome Phenotype: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract Background: Down syndrome is the most common and extensively studied disorder arising out of human chromosomal aberration. Several aneuploidies are associated with Down syndrome, but double trisomy (48 XXX + 21) is rarely described. Clinical Description: A 3-year-old girl presented with respiratory distress and a chronic history of feeding fatigue and failure to thrive. She had phenotypic features suggestive of Down syndrome and clinical signs of acyanotic heart disease in congestive cardiac failure. Management and Outcome: Echocardiography revealed ventricular septal defect and atrial septal defect. Karyotyping showed double trisomy (trisomy 21 and XXX). Trisomy X was an incidental finding on karyotyping with no clinical features suggestive of XXX syndrome specifically at this age. The patient was managed conservatively with decongestive therapy for congestive heart failure and oral sildenafil for pulmonary hypertension. Additional evaluations were done to identify associated anomalies, and the parents were counseled. Conclusion: Down and XXX syndromes share many clinical signs and symptoms, making karyotyping the only way to make an early diagnosis. A child having a phenotype characteristic of Down syndrome may have an unsuspected double trisomy of X chromosome along with 21 trisomy, which can only be identified by karyotyping.

Nonspecific craniovertebral spondylitis

To analyze surgical strategy for nonspecific spondylitis of the craniovertebral region (CVR) taking into account clinical features and morphological signs of disease. Eight patients with nonspecific spondylitis of CVR underwent surgery (4 women and 4 men aged 31-75 years). Three patients had pain syndrome, 5 ones - conduction disorders. Combined interventions were performed in 5 patients with neurological disorders. Of these, 3 patients underwent transoral decompression with subsequent occipitospondylodesis. In other cases, stages of surgical treatment were reverse. Four patients underwent simultaneous interventions, 1 patient - with 7-day interval. Patients with pain syndrome underwent occipitospondylodesis. In all patients, postoperative VAS score of pain syndrome decreased by 5-7 points (mean 5.5). Among 5 patients with conduction symptoms, regression of neurological disorders 1 year after surgery was achieved in 2 cases, and complete recovery was observed in 3 patients (Frankel E). In all cases, examination confirmed relief of inflammatory process and no compression of the spinal cord and medulla oblongata. One patient had a dehiscence of the wound edges of posterior pharyngeal wall, and another one had implant fracture in 3 years after surgery. Active surgical approach is reasonable for nonspecific spondylitis of CVR. Craniocervical fixation eliminates pain and risk of neurological complications following atlantoaxial instability. Conduction disorders require simultaneous transoral decompression and occipitospondylodesis in patients with nonspecific purulent craniovertebral lesions. Impaired head tilt complicates transoral stage. In this regard, it is more rational to carry out craniocervical fixation at the last stage.

Evaluation of canine tympanic membrane integrity using positive contrast computed tomography canalography.

The assessment of the integrity of the tympanic membrane (TM) can be a diagnostic challenge in patients with otitis externa and/or otitis media (OM) under an otoscopic examination. In computed tomography (CT), the TM is not always visualized. However, a positive contrast canalography using conventional radiography has been previously described to evaluate the TM integrity. This single-center study aimed to describe the positive contrast canalography technique in CT and its usefulness in identifying TM integrity in 11 dogs. Dogs with clinical signs of ear disease underwent CT canalography following a systematic protocol. The presence of contrast medium and contrast homogeneity within the tympanic cavity was assessed, confirming TM rupture when contrast medium was present in the tympanic cavity. CT canalography was performed in 16 ears, and in 7 of the 16 ears (44%), there was a contrast in the tympanic cavity, confirming TM rupture (positive CT canalography result). In two of the seven cases (29%), rupture of the TM was identified in both otoscopic and CT canalography. In the remaining five of the seven (71%) positive CT canalography results, tympanic membrane rupture was identified only by CT canalography. In conclusion, a positive contrast CT canalography is a complementary and safe technique to assess TM integrity, with a potentially higher sensitivity than otoscopic examination for the diagnosis of TM rupture in dogs.

Salmonella typhimurium Infection in Broiler Chickens: An Overview with Special Reference to The Use of Dietary Selenium Nanoparticles for Prevention

Salmonella Typhimurium is a significant zoonotic gram-negative pathogenic bacterium that can cause foodborne illness in humans. Out of all the diseases that affect poultry, the ones caused by the Salmonella genus are the most prevalent, causing significant negative impacts on the poultry industry, including mortality, stunted growth, and decreased egg production. Moreover, broilers can serve as carriers of the bacterium without showing any clinical signs of disease, which can further contribute to the spread of infection. The use of antibiotics for the control of Salmonella Typhimurium may result in antibiotic resistance in broilers and the potential transmission of antibiotic resistance to humans via the food chain. As a result, alternative methods for controlling Salmonella Typhimurium in broilers have been explored such as the use of Selenium Nanoparticles (Se-NPs) and vaccination. Se-NPs is a form of selenium that has been shown to possess antimicrobial activity against bacteria, including Salmonella Typhimurium. Supplementation of Se-NPs in diets can reduce the prevalence and colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in the cecum and feces of broilers. Another potential method for controlling Salmonella Typhimurium is the use of vaccines. The vaccines can be used to prevent salmonella infection including live attenuated, killed, and subunit vaccines. Therefore, the aim of this study is to highlight the Salmonella infection in broiler chickens and the importance of vaccinating broiler chickens and using Selenium Nanoparticles to protect against Salmonella infection, in order to prevent transmission of the disease to humans and safeguard the poultry industry.

Varied etiology in patients presenting with non-puerperal mastitis: an observational study

Abstract Introduction: The etiology of nonpuerperal mastitis is more diverse varying from infections to autoimmune disorders. Most of them are misdiagnosed as pyogenic mastitis and are treated with routine antibiotics. In this study the various causes of nonpuerperal mastitis which required surgical intervention were evaluated. It was observed that some of the pre-malignant and malignant conditions were also presented as nonpuerperal mastitis. Materials and methods: All non-lactating women who presented with symptoms and signs of mastitis and did not respond to single course of antibiotics (active against staphylococcus) treated in tertiary care Hospital and in private practice of primary author between June 2021 to December 2022 and in those in whom the ultrasound of breast was also suggestive of inflammatory breast disease were included in the study and rest were excluded from study. The final etiological diagnosis of these patients is given by the histopathological examination of tissue taken from the wall of abscess cavity or of breast mass. Results: Total 21 patients were included in the study of which 7 patients had nonspecific infection, 3 patients were diagnosed to have tuberculous mastitis, 3 patients with idiopathic granulomatous mastitis, 2 patients with periductal mastitis, 1 patient with fat necrosis, 3 patients with atypical ductal hyperplasia and 2 patients were diagnosed to have invasive duct cell carcinoma. Conclusion: The etiology of nonpuerperal mastitis is diverse. Not only the benign conditions but premalignant conditions like ADH, DCIS and even invasive carcinoma can present with clinical symptoms and signs of inflammatory breast disease.

Preliminary Screening of Brucella Antibodies in Sera of Persons in Contact with Animals in Mahlab 2-Hilat Koukou, Khartoum, Sudan in 2022

Brucellosis remains a major zoonosis worldwide. This study was intended to estimate Brucellosis prevalence among people living and working in a high stocking density area (Mahlab 2) and risk factors. A cross-sectional study was done among randomly selected males and females in the area of Mahlab 2. Data was collected using questionnaires and laboratory investigations. Blood samples were collected from participants. The Rose Bengal Plate (RBP) test was used for the detection of Brucella antibodies in serum samples and a modified Rose Bengal Plate (mRBP) test was used for confirmation. A total of 69 participants were enrolled in this study. The majority of those participants were between 18–29 years of age. The seropositivity of patients’ blood samples using these tests, was 28.4%. Socio-demographic characteristics, occupation, clinical signs of disease, types, and size of herds reared by animal owners, sanitary practices, and awareness about zoonosis, Brucellosis, and symptoms of Brucellosis showed no significant correlation with seropositivity among patients’ blood samples for Brucellosis. It is recommended that surveillance and extension programs should be carried out to evaluate the magnitude of Brucellosis and to increase awareness about it. For proper control and prevention to decrease the incidence in animals, hence decreasing the incidence in humans, animal vaccination is essential.

Faecal microbiota and fatty acids in feline chronic enteropathy

BackgroundFeline chronic enteropathy is a set of disorders defined as the presence of clinical signs of gastrointestinal disease for at least three weeks. The most common final diagnoses are inflammatory bowel disease and alimentary small cell lymphoma. The etiopathogenesis of these diseases is incompletely understood; however, it is hypothesised that they involve a combination of factors, including altered composition and/or functionality of the intestinal microbiome. An important factor in the interplay of the microbiome and host is the production of short- and branched-chain fatty acids. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible differences in faecal microbiota diversity, composition and fatty acid production between cats suffering from chronic enteropathy and healthy cats. Sixteen cats suffering from chronic enteropathy and fourteen healthy control cats were enrolled in the study. The microbiota compositions of faecal samples were analysed by using next-generation amplicon sequencing of the V3V4 fragment of the 16S rRNA gene. Fatty acids were evaluated by high-performance liquid chromatography.ResultsBoth the alpha and beta diversities were significantly lower in samples obtained from cats with chronic enteropathy. The relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria, orders Lactobacillales and Enterobacterales, family Enteriobacteriaceae and genus Escherichia Shigella were higher in diseased cats, whereas the abundance of the phylum Bacteroidota and order Peptococcales were higher in control cats. The faecal concentrations of short-chain fatty acids were higher in cats with chronic enteropathy, with lower propionate proportions and higher butyrate proportions.ConclusionThe study revealed alterations in microbiota compositions and short-chain fatty acid concentration in cats suffering from chronic enteropathy, which is an important finding both for research on the pathogenesis of the disease and for potential therapeutic interventions in the form of faecal microbiota transplantation and/or probiotic supplementation.

The effect of Iranian licorice root extract on prostate volume and clinical signs of disease in patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia

Background and aims: Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is the most common benign tumor in men, and its prevalence increases with age. This study aimed to determine the effect of Iranian licorice root extract on prostate volume and clinical signs of BPH disease. Methods: Sixty BPH patients over 40 years old with prostate volume above 30 mL, with symptoms of this disease without drug intervention, were included in the study. First, the Symptom Score AUA (AUASS) questionnaire was completed for all individuals, and then an ultrasound was performed on them. They were then randomly divided into two equal groups. For three months, the intervention group received two capsules of 250 mg of licorice extract daily, and the other group received two placebo capsules. After the study, sonography was performed, and the AUASS questionnaire was completed. Results: 25 and 21 men with BPH in the intervention and placebo groups fully cooperated. At the beginning of the study, prostate volume (P=0.14) and AUASS were not significantly different between the two groups (P=0.88). Eventually, prostate volume decreased in the two groups, but the difference between the two groups was not significant (P=0.33). The AUASS score in the intervention group was significantly lower than the placebo group (P<0.001). Conclusion: In the present study, the dose of licorice root extract reduced the symptoms of BPH. But further studies with a larger statistical population are needed for this extract to enter the clinic as a drug.

Plasmodium knowlesi in pig-tailed macaques: a potential new model for malaria vaccine research

BackgroundPlasmodium knowlesi is an established experimental model for basic and pre-clinical malaria vaccine research. Historically, rhesus macaques have been the most common host for malaria vaccine studies with P. knowlesi parasites. However, rhesus are not natural hosts for P. knowlesi, and there is interest in identifying alternative hosts for vaccine research. The study team previously reported that pig-tailed macaques (PTM), a natural host for P. knowlesi, could be challenged with cryopreserved P. knowlesi sporozoites (PkSPZ), with time to blood stage infection equivalent to in rhesus. Here, additional exploratory studies were performed to evaluate PTM as potential hosts for malaria vaccine studies. The aim was to further characterize the parasitological and veterinary health outcomes after PkSPZ challenge in this macaque species.MethodsMalaria-naïve PTM were intravenously challenged with 2.5 × 103 PkSPZ and monitored for blood stage infection by Plasmodium 18S rRNA RT-PCR and thin blood smears. Disease signs were evaluated by daily observations, complete blood counts, serum chemistry tests, and veterinary examinations. After anti-malarial drug treatment, a subset of animals was re-challenged and monitored as above. Whole blood gene expression analysis was performed on selected animals to assess host response to infection.ResultsIn naïve animals, the kinetics of P. knowlesi blood stage replication was reproducible, with parasite burden rising linearly during an initial acute phase of infection from 6 to 11 days post-challenge, before plateauing and transitioning into a chronic low-grade infection. After re-challenge, infections were again reproducible, but with lower blood stage parasite densities. Clinical signs of disease were absent or mild and anti-malarial treatment was not needed until the pre-defined study day. Whole blood gene expression analysis identified immunological changes associated with acute and chronic phases of infection, and further differences between initial challenge versus re-challenge.ConclusionsThe ability to challenge PTM with PkSPZ and achieve reliable blood stage infections indicate this model has significant potential for malaria vaccine studies. Blood stage P. knowlesi infection in PTM is characterized by low parasite burdens and a benign disease course, in contrast with the virulent P. knowlesi disease course commonly reported in rhesus macaques. These findings identify new opportunities for malaria vaccine research using this natural host-parasite combination.Graphical

Antibiotic Treatment of Corynebacterium bovis-associated Clinical Disease in NSG Mice.

Depending on the strain of immunodeficient mice, Corynebacterium bovis infection can be asymptomatic or cause transient or prolonged skin disease. C. bovis infection of NOD. Cg- Prkdcscid Il2rgtm1Wjl /SzJ (NSG) mice results in clinical skin disease that progresses in severity. Amoxicillin metaphylaxic and prophylaxic therapy prevents transmission and infection of mice after exposure to C. bovis and inhibits the growth of C. bovis isolates at therapeutic doses that are clinically achievable in mice. Amoxicillin is not efficacious for treatment of transient clinical skin disease in athymic nude mice, but the efficacy of amoxicillin treatment has not previously been characterized in C. bovis -infected NSG mice. In the current study, NSG mice were treated with amoxicillin beginning at 5 wk after exposure to C. bovis, at which time they had well-established clinical signs of disease. Clinical signs were scored to assess disease progression, regression, and reappearance. Our results showed that amoxicillin treatment for 3 or 6 wk reduced the clinical scores of NSG mice with C. bovis -associated clinical disease. In addition, withdrawal of treatment led to the recurrence of clinical signs. Collectively, our data suggest that amoxicillin treatment is effective in alleviating the clinical signs associated with C. bovis infection for the duration of treatment in NSG mice. Clinical intervention with antibiotics for C. bovis -infected NSG mice can be an option for management of C. bovis -related clinical disease either before or during facility-wide remediation efforts.

SARS-CoV-2 Aerosol and Intranasal Exposure Models in Ferrets.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is the causative agent of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. Animal models are extremely helpful for testing vaccines and therapeutics and for dissecting the viral and host factors that contribute to disease severity and transmissibility. Here, we report the assessment and comparison of intranasal and small particle (~3 µm) aerosol SARS-CoV-2 exposure in ferrets. The primary endpoints for analysis were clinical signs of disease, recovery of the virus in the upper respiratory tract, and the severity of damage within the respiratory tract. This work demonstrated that ferrets were productively infected with SARS-CoV-2 following either intranasal or small particle aerosol exposure. SARS-CoV-2 infection of ferrets resulted in an asymptomatic disease course following either intranasal or small particle aerosol exposure, with no clinical signs, significant weight loss, or fever. In both aerosol and intranasal ferret models, SARS-CoV-2 replication, viral genomes, and viral antigens were detected within the upper respiratory tract, with little to no viral material detected in the lungs. The ferrets exhibited a specific IgG immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 full spike protein. Mild pathological findings included inflammation, necrosis, and edema within nasal turbinates, which correlated to positive immunohistochemical staining for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Environmental sampling was performed following intranasal exposure of ferrets, and SARS-CoV-2 genomic material was detected on the feeders and nesting areas from days 2-10 post-exposure. We conclude that both intranasal and small particle aerosol ferret models displayed measurable parameters that could be utilized for future studies, including transmission studies and testing SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and therapeutics.

Bacterial zoonoses impacts to conservation of wildlife populations: a global synthesis

Emerging infectious diseases have significantly increased in recent years; approximately 60% of these emerging diseases are of zoonotic origin, and of those, around 70% were identified to start with wild animals. To better understand the impacts of zoonotic diseases on wildlife, there is a need to identify the distribution and impact of zoonotic pathogens in wildlife, particular those species with threatened populations. To investigate this question, we constructed a zoonotic disease database identifying wildlife hosts for each bacterial zoonotic disease and recorded clinical signs of disease for each host-pathogen relationship if found. Species of least concern were found to have a significantly higher prevalence and richness of zoonotic bacterial diseases (n= 0.0608, x2 = 5.898, p=0.01516). The taxonomic level Order was found to be the best predictor for pathogen richness, and the Artiodactyla and Carnivora contain a significantly higher pathogen richness than other vertebrate Orders. Species with the greatest pathogen richness include the wild boar (Sus scrofa, n=66), Northern raccoon (Procyon lotor, n=16) and the red fox (Vulpes vulpes, n=41). Our results indicate bacterial zoonoses are not likely to be a driving factor of species population declines, and future zoonotic disease surveillance efforts should target species in the Artiodactyla and Carnivora families. The wild boar (Sus scrofa) in particular may be a good candidate for zoonotic disease monitoring due to its high pathogen richness, wide range, and large population. Understanding the impacts and distribution of bacterial zoonoses in wildlife populations can help in planning for future wildlife management efforts, particularly in species of conservation concern and wildlife disease monitoring.

Arrhythmic risk stratification of filamin C truncating variants carriers

Abstract Background Truncating variants in Filamin C (FLNCtv) are a rare cause of cardiomyopathy with heterogeneous phenotypic presentation and high incidence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, including sudden cardiac death (SCD). Nevertheless, there is a residual gap in the definition of solid risk markers for the stratification of arrhythmic risk and the significance of conventional predictors (i.e. left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF]) remains extremely controversial. Purpose The aim of this study was to analyze the risk profile and to identify the factors associated with increased risk of life-threatening arrhythmias in an international multicenter cohort of FLNCtv carriers. Methods Patients were retrospectively collected from 19 international tertiary care centers for genetic cardiomyopathies. Primary endpoint was SCD/major ventricular arrhythmias (MVA, i.e. sustained ventricular tachycardia and appropriate implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD] shocks). Multivariate Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the predictors of SCD/MVA, taking into account non-sudden cardiac death/heart transplant/destination left ventricle assist device as competing event and including family clusters in the model as clustering factor. Results Among the 326 included carriers (median age 45 years, IQR 33-57; 51% males), 120 (37%) were probands. 100 (31%) carriers had no clinical signs of overt disease; for the others, phenotypic presentation was heterogeneous (36% dilated cardiomyopathy, 17% arrhythmogenic left dominant cardiomyopathy, 4% arrhythmogenic right or biventricular cardiomyopathy, 11% minor phenotype). Median LVEF was 51% (IQR 35%-59%, 41% had LVEF<50%), 16% had right ventricle dysfunction. During a median follow-up of 32 months (IQR 8-63), 60 carriers (18%) experienced SCD/MVA (65% probands, 97% with overt disease, median age at event 48 years, IQR 38-64, min-max 18-78). Among variables associated with the risk of SCD/MVA at univariable analysis, male sex, previous syncope and non-sustained ventricular tachycardia maintained a significant association with the primary outcome at multivariable analysis (Table), whereas there was no significant association between LVEF and the risk of SCD/MVA neither as a continuous nor categorical (i.e. LVEF<50%) variable. In the subgroup of 175 patients with available cardiac magnetic resonance, 57% had late gadolinium enhancement with no significant association with the outcome. Conclusions In the largest worldwide cohort of FLNCtv carriers the high risk of SCD/MVA was confirmed. Three important factors emerged to be associated with higher arrhythmic risk and should be considered for decisions on ICD implantation. Remarkably, LVEF was not significantly associated with SCD/MVA risk. The higher risk observed in males compared with females advocates for prompt investigations on the influence of sex-related factors on the disease expression in genetic cardiomyopathies.

Peculiarities of the formation of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in patients with primary osteoarthritis under conditions of comorbidity

Summary. The comorbidity of primary OA and diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, which EPI accompanies, is an extremely relevant, complex, and unstudied problem of modern medicine, as it has a number of unsolved problems both in the treatment and rehabilitation of such patients. Common pathogenetic mechanisms of the progression of such comorbidity often have a mutually aggravating effect, which requires further study.
 The aim of the study is to analyze the changes in indicators of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) in patients with primary OA under the conditions of comorbidity with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (GI).
 Research material and methods. 304 patients with primary OA in comorbidity with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract accompanied by non-exacerbation EPI were examined. The comparison group consisted of 30 practically healthy individuals who did not have clinical, anamnestic, and instrumental signs of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and joints.
 Results and discussion. It was established that in patients with primary OA in comorbidity with diseases that are accompanied by EPI, the levels of EPI indicators were statistically significantly different depending on the etiology of EPI.
 Conclusion. Post hoc analysis established the ranking of the pathology of the gastrointestinal tract, accompanied by EPI, according to the indicators of EPI in primary OA, which was located as follows, starting from the highest: CP ˃ T2DM ˃ chronic non-calculous cholecystitis and functional diseases of the gallbladder and biliary system ˃ chronic gastroduodenitis (p ˂0.05).