Infected Animals Research Articles

Evaluating a Response to a Canine Leptospirosis Outbreak in Dogs Using an Owner Survey

Leptospirosis is a bacterial zoonotic disease that spreads through contaminated soil and water or directly from infected animals through urine. Although animal-to-human transmission is low, humans are most susceptible to contracting leptospirosis from these contaminated sources. This makes leptospirosis a public health concern, and therefore it is important to control these bacteria from spreading into the environment. A survey targeting Los Angeles County communities, in which a 2021 leptospirosis outbreak occurred, was sent out via groups on the online platforms Instagram and Facebook to gather dog and owner demographics. With 92 (90.2%) respondents having a primary veterinarian, it could not be determined what caused certain owners to have a greater vaccination rate than those who did not (n = 10; 9.8%). Overall, 69 respondents (68%), regardless of whether they had a primary veterinarian or not, reported not knowing of canine leptospirosis and 79 (77%) not knowing the signs to look for or that it is zoonotic. These data help provide a basis in terms of the status of dog owners’ knowledge of leptospirosis and how to begin to inform dog owners better about preventatives for this disease.

Use of a hidden Markov model for interpretation of serial cow milk paratuberculosis antibody enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay results adjusted for milk yield and quality.

Paratuberculosis (Johne's disease), caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP), is a common, economically-important and potentially zoonotic contagious disease of cattle, with worldwide distribution. Disease management relies on identification of animals which are at high-risk of being infected or infectious. The disease is chronic in nature, and infected animals may be infectious in the absence of overt clinical signs. Coupled with limited sensitivity of available diagnostic tests, this creates difficulties in identifying high-risk animals. In some disease-control programmes, dairy cows are classified with regards to risk according to the results of serial tests which quantify MAP antibodies in milk samples. Such classification systems are limited by the influence of non-disease factors on test results, dichotomisation of continuous results into "positive" or "negative" according to an imperfect threshold, and subjectivity in defining which patterns of serial test results indicate different risk-categories. An unsupervised learning (clustering) approach was applied to paratuberculosis test results and milk-recording data collated from 47 farms over an approximately ten-year period between 2010 and 2021. Paratuberculosis test results were first adjusted according to influential non-disease factors using linear models. Continuous-time hidden Markov models were fit to the adjusted test results. The final model revealed four distinct latent states (clusters). Examination of the distribution of adjusted test results associated with each latent state suggested that states were ordinal and aligned with disease progression. Model transition probabilities demonstrated that the probability of an animal progressing to the highest state was dependent on its current state. Of particular note was the existence of a latent state, characterised by paratuberculosis test results below the conventional test-positive threshold, which was associated with a relatively high probability of progression to the highest cluster. This research has led to objective classification of animals according to serial test results, and furthermore suggests the presence of groups of different disease risk amongst animals whose test results fall below the routinely used test-positive threshold. Identification of such groups could be used to better manage disease on farms, through implementation of management practices which limit disease transmission from high-risk animals.

Risk factors associated with human Mpox infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BackgroundMpox emerged as a significant global public health concern during the 2022–2023 outbreak, impacting populations in both endemic and non-endemic countries. This study reviews and synthesises evidence on the risk...

Assessment of pathogenic yeast species in the oral cavity of dogs: Antifungal susceptibility and implications for human health.

Companions' animals can present a risk for the transmission of opportunistic diseases to their owners, including those caused by yeasts of the Candida genus residing in their oral microbiota. This study aimed to isolate and identify yeasts from the oral cavity of dogs and assess their susceptibility to antifungals. Yeast species were identified using automated methods MALDI-TOF-MS and VITEK 2 from 50 dogs (aged 2-4years, various breeds). Among the evaluated animals Candida albicans (37.5%) and Candida parapsilosis (25%) were predominant, followed by other species including C. haemuloni, C. tropicalis, C. krusei, and Trichosporon asahii (12.5% each). In this study, antifungal susceptibility testing revealed a general susceptibility with limited resistance. Although most antifungals exhibited good efficacy, some Candida strains demonstrated resistance to fluconazole (FLC), caspofungin (CAS), and amphotericin B (AMPB). These findings highlight the importance of conducting fungal cultures and antifungigram testing for the effective management of fungal infections in humans and animals. Therefore, vigilant monitoring and control measures are essential to reduce the transmission of opportunistic diseases from pets to humans.

Rhesus Cytomegalovirus-encoded Fcγ-binding glycoproteins facilitate viral evasion from IgG-mediated humoral immunity

Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) encodes four viral Fc-gamma receptors (vFcγRs) that counteract antibody-mediated activation in vitro, but their role in infection and pathogenesis is unknown. To examine their in vivo function in an animal model evolutionarily closely related to humans, we identified and characterized Rh05, Rh152/151 and Rh173 as the complete set of vFcγRs encoded by rhesus CMV (RhCMV). Each one of these proteins displays functional similarities to their prospective HCMV orthologs with respect to antagonizing host FcγR activation in vitro. When RhCMV-naïve male rhesus macaques were infected with vFcγR-deleted RhCMV, peak plasma DNAemia levels and anti-RhCMV antibody responses were comparable to wildtype infections of both male and female animals. However, the duration of plasma DNAemia was significantly shortened in immunocompetent, but not in CD4 + T cell-depleted animals. Since vFcγRs were not required for superinfection of rhesus macaques, we conclude that these proteins can prolong lytic replication during primary infection by evading virus-specific adaptive immune responses, particularly antibodies.

Environmental and toxicological aspects of sulfamethoxazole photodegradation in the presence of oxidizing agents.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is a popular active substance, which is extensively applied to treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. Due to its widespread use, SMX enters the natural environment, where it can undergo degradation. Similarly to other emerging contaminants, SMX photodegradation and the use of oxidants in wastewater treatment processes can lead to the formation of potentially adverse transformation products for ecosystems. This study investigated the efficiency of SMX photodegradation in the presence of oxidizing agents (H2O2 and Fenton reagent). The potential environmental consequences of degradation product formation were analyzed based on experimental toxicity characterization. Standardized tests employing diverse organisms were utilized: Alivibrio fischeri (Microtox®), Daphnia magna (Daphtoxkit F®), and Lemna minor (Lemna sp. GIT). The potential environmental impact of the products identified in the reaction mixtures was evaluated using parameters describing aqueous solubility, hydrophobicity, toxicity, bioconcentration, persistence, and mobility. The analysis revealed that photodegradation produces transformation products with higher toxicity than SMX, as confirmed by in vitro tests of the reaction mixtures. Most of the detected compounds were found to have low mobility potential. The formation rates of key environmentally relevant transformation products, such as 1,4-benzoquinone, aniline, and phenol, were also discussed. The changes in total organic carbon (TOC) affected by photodegradation under the influence of the considered oxidizing agents were characterized.

Epidemiological and molecular characteristics of extraintestinal pathogenic escherichia coli isolated from diseased cattle and sheep in Xinjiang, China from 2015 to 2019

Escherichia coli has become a common causative agent of infections in animals, inflicting serious economic losses on livestock production and posing a threat to public health. Escherichia coli infection is common and tends to be complex in Xinjiang, a major region of cattle and sheep breeding in China. This study aims to explore the current status and molecular characteristics of Escherichia coli infection in cattle and sheep in Xinjiang, as part of the disease prevention and control strategy. Herein we isolated Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) from the liver, spleen, lung, heart, and lymph nodes of infected cattle and sheep (Xinjiang, China), and phylogenetic grouping, serotyping, and multilocus sequence typing were performed to determine epidemic and molecular characteristics. We also assessed their biofilm formation ability. A total of 132 strains of ExPEC were identified from diseased cattle and sheep, belonging to 7 phylogenetic groups. A and B1 are advantageous groups. Further, 22 serogroups were found, with O101 (26/132), O154 (14/132), and O65 (8/132) being the predominant ones. Among the seven sequence types identified by multilocus sequence typing, ST10 was the most common, followed by ST23 and ST457. Of 132, 105 (79.5%) strains were able to form biofilms: 15 strains (11.4%) were strong, 28 (21.2%) were medium, and 62 (47%) were weak biofilm producers. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the molecular epidemiology of ExPEC in Xinjiang, China, and can be applied to the development, prevention, and disease control of future diagnostic tools and vaccine.

P-1055. Anti-Toxin B Neutralizing Monoclonal Antibody AZD5148 Provides Protection in a Clostridioides difficile Gnotobiotic Piglet Model

Abstract Background Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) cause mild to severe diarrhea and can be life threatening. Because toxin B is a clinically validated target for CDI, we have generated an anti-toxin B neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb) AZD5148. We previously demonstrated that AZD5148 administered at 10, 1 and 0.5 mg/kg prevents severe disease development in a gnotobiotic piglet model, which recapitulates the clinical signs and gross pathology observed in human CDI, we compared the protective efficacy of AZD5148 with the clinically approved anti-toxin B mAb bezlotoxumab. Methods Piglets were born by C-section and placed in an individual sterile isolator. Animals were first injected intraperitoneally with 0.5 mg/kg of Clostridioides difficile (C. difficile) mAbs or control IgG (c-IgG) and infected orally 24 hours later with C.difficile spores of NAP1/027/BI strain UK6. Weight and stool scores were recorded daily. Non-infected animals were used as comparators. Necropsy was performed after 7 days for colon gross pathology scoring and tissue histopathology analysis. Anti-toxin B pharmacokinetics were measured in sera by ELISA at days 0, 3 and 7. Results Infection with C. difficile reduced weight gain compared to noninfected littermates. All infected animals developed mild to moderate diarrhea after 3 days. Piglets treated with c-IgG or bezlotoxumab exhibited signs of severe disease as measured by diarrhea color and texture. Gross pathological examination of colons at necropsy for c-IgG treated-pigs suggested that animals developed similar pathology to that observed during human CDI with mild to severe hemorrhage of the spiral colon, mesocolonic edema and pseudomembrane formation on the descending colon at day 7, along with rectal prolapse in some cases. No significant difference was observed between the c-IgG and bezlotoxumab groups. In contrast, AZD5148 reduced signs of disease severity as measured by diarrhea scores, gross pathology scoring of descending and spiral colons and damage to the gut epithelium along with inflammation. Conclusion These data suggest that AZD5148 may offer some therapeutic benefit in preventing CDI in humans. Disclosures Christine Tkaczyk, PhD, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Victoria Godfrey, MS, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Adam Gamson, MS, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Ann Marie Stanley, PhD, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Oleg Stepanov, MS, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Antonio DiGiandomenico, PhD, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee Bret R. Sellman, PhD, Astra Zeneca: stocks as employee

In Silico Analysis of Methylprednisolone Derivatives: DFT Studies and Molecular Docking Analysis Against Monkeypox Protein

Monkeypox is an emerging zoonotic disease caused by the monkeypox virus, a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, characterized by symptoms, such as fever and lymphadenopathy, with distinctive skin rashes transmitted through direct contact with infected individuals or animals. Currently, there is no specific antiviral treatment approved for monkeypox; however, antiviral agents used for smallpox, such as tecovirimat and brincidofovir, have shown efficacy against monkeypox in laboratory studies. By analyzing recent outbreaks and response strategies, we aim to synthesize steroidal derivatives that may serve as potent therapeutic agents for this infectious disease. In the present research paper, we synthesized the methylprednisolone derivatives (1a-1d) with the help of Steglich esterification using a dehydrating agent N, Nꞌ-dicyclohexyldicarbodiimide (DCC) and N, Nꞌdimethyl-4-aminopyridine (DMAP) as a catalyst. The structures of all synthesized methylprednisolone derivatives were identified using advanced spectroscopic techniques, including 1 H NMR, 13C NMR, IR, UV-Vis, and ESI-MS. Experimental values correlated with theoretical predictions through DFT/B3LYP calculations. Hydrogen bonding and various interactions were thoroughly analyzed using Bader’s 'Atoms in Molecules' (AIM) theory. The HOMO-LUMO energy gap indicated a high level of chemical reactivity for the compounds, with Compound 1a exhibiting nonlinear optical (NLO) behavior due to a high first hyperpolarizability value of 9.06 × 10–30 esu. Molecular docking studies of methylprednisolone derivatives 1a, 1b, 1c, and 1d against monkeypox protein (4QWO) revealed binding energies of -10.7 kcal/mol, -11.0 kcal/mol, -8.6 kcal/mol, and -9.3 kcal/mol, respectively. These results suggest that the methylprednisolone derivatives exhibit inhibitory activity against the monkeypox protein.

Probiotic Products: Appropriate Technologies for Control of Infectious Animal Diseases in the Face of Climate Change and Antimicrobial Resistance

Probiotic products are products which contain probiotics; these are live non-pathogenic microorganisms which provide health benefits to the host when administered in adequate amounts. Currently the world is facing a climate change crisis which among other things, leads to alteration of the abundance, distribution and transmission of animal pathogens leading to increased incidences of animal diseases. Moreover, the world is facing a crisis of development of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by many strains of pathogenic microorganisms. For many decades conventional technologies which have been used for control of infectious diseases in animals include vaccines, antimicrobials, acaricides, and antihelmintics. The AMR crisis has made antimicrobials not to be a reliable technology for control of some infectious diseases caused by pathogenic microorganisms. In attempts to look for alternative technologies other than vaccines, acaricides, and antihelmintics for control of infectious diseases in animals, many studies have been conducted to determine prophylactic efficacy of many strains of probiotics against the diseases. The objective of this paper is to review prophylactic efficacy of probiotic products against infectious animal diseases and provide insights on mechanisms of action of probiotics. Reports of prophylactic efficacy of probiotic products against animal diseases, and mechanisms of action of probiotics were searched using google search engine. After assessment of the reports; appropriate ones were selected, summarized, and globally synthesized. Many reports reporting significant prophylactic efficacy of probiotic products against infectious animal diseases were found. However, most studies focused on bacterial diseases of the digestive system. More studies focusing on bacterial, viral, and protozoal diseases of the digestive and other body systems of animals are recommended in order to get more data on the spectrum of activity of probiotics. Based on this review it is concluded that probiotic products have significant prophylactic efficacy against infectious animal diseases. The products are appropriate for use as alternative technologies to antimicrobials for control of infectious animal diseases in the AMR crisis. They are also appropriate for use in climate adapted livestock farming because apart from contributing to enhancement of animal health and productivity, they contribute to adaptation of some of the impacts of climate change in livestock farming (particularly increased incidences of animal diseases) by enhancing the resilience of livestock to diseases; and climate change mitigation by decreasing greenhouse gas intensity through enhanced animal health.

Herbicide glyphosate efficiently inhibits growth of pathogenic Prototheca algae species, suggesting the presence of novel pathways for the development of anti-algal drugs.

Prototheca are ubiquitous algae and occasional pathogens of humans and animals. While rare, the infection is often fatal and treatment options are limited to antifungals with low efficiency. Here, using growth curve assays, we demonstrate that five pathogenic species of Prototheca (P. blaschkeae, P. wickerhamii, P. cutis, P. ciferrii, P. bovis) were fully inhibited by 50-100 μg/mL of herbicide glyphosate, suggesting novel pathways that can be considered for anti-algal drug development.IMPORTANCEPrototheca are algae frequently found in the environment that occasionally cause infections in humans and animals. Although these infections are rare, they are often deadly for immunocompromised patients. Considering the rising ambient temperatures that promote algal bloom and a growing number of immunocompromised patients globally, such cases are likely to increase and will require efficient medications. Currently, the treatment is limited to antifungals that affect algal and animal membranes alike at concentrations close to toxic. Here, we hypothesized that targeting a pathway that is present in plants but not animals may be a new approach to the development of novel anti-algal compounds with high efficiency and lower toxicity. In this proof-of-principle study, we found that herbicide glyphosate, which targets the shikimate pathway found in plants but not in animals, efficiently inhibits all five tested pathogenic Prototheca, suggesting that the shikimate pathway may be a promising target for anti-algal drug development.

ОЦЕНКА ИММУННОГО СТАТУСА МОЛОДНЯКА СВИНЕЙ ПРИ МИКОПЛАЗМЕННОЙ ИНФЕКЦИИ

Pig farming still suffers significant economic losses due to infection of animals with mycoplasmas. The pathogenic effect of these bacteria on the body of pigs is especially pronounced in young animals. The purpose of research is to study the nature of the impact of mycoplasma infection on the immune status of piglets. To assess the epizootological state of the complex regarding mycoplasmosis, random blood tests were carried out from all technological groups of pigs using the RNG reaction and determining the percentage of infection. Morbidity was determined by the number of animals identified with clinical signs of the disease among those infected, and mortality was determined by the number of dead animals among those infected with mycoplasmosis. Blood protein fractions were determined in piglets using an ERBA-XL100 biochemical analyzer. Determination of T-lymphocytes was done by the method of spontaneous rosette formation with sheep erythrocytes (E-ROCK). Determination of B cells was carried out in the complementary rosette formation reaction (EAC-ROCK). It was established that the infection of pigs with mycoplasmosis in different groups at the complex ranged from 24.2–65.7 %, while the highest percentage of morbidity (26.8 %) and mortality (18.6 %) of individuals was observed among piglets in growing. The negative impact of mycoplasma infection on the immune status of young pigs was manifested by a decrease in total protein (by 13.5 %) and gamma globulin fraction (by 17.8 %) in the blood serum of sick piglets compared to healthy ones. The impact of pathogenic mycoplasmas on the cellular link of the immune-competent system of the body of sick piglets was manifested by a decrease in their T-lymphocytes by 11 %, and B-lymphocytes by 21.4 % compared to healthy animals.

Blastocystis in humans and domestic animals: Risk factors assessment and potential zoonotic transmission in a periurban and rural region of Northeastern Argentina.

Blastocystis is a protist that infects both human and animal hosts worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the presence of Blastocystis in humans and domestic animals living in a periurban (PZ) and rural zone (RZ) in Northeastern Argentina and to assess their relation to socio-environmental conditions and hygiene practices as risk factors for human infection. In addition, we identified Blastocystis subtypes to evaluate the risk of zoonotic transmission. A total of 563 fecal specimens were collected from 289 humans, principally children, and 274 animals. Samples were examined by coprological examination and further analysis by real-time PCR and sequencing were performed. A semi-structured questionnaire was applied to obtain socio-environmental and hygiene practices data. The results showed an overall prevalence of 41.6 % in children and 10.2 % in animals. Non-schooled children (OR = 0.54) and children from urban area (OR = 0.55) showed a lower risk of infection. Molecular analyses revealed five subtypes (ST1, ST2, ST3, ST5, and ST7) present in humans and four subtypes (ST1, ST5, ST7 and ST10) in animals. The overlap of STs between humans and domestic animals in the same household (STs 1, 5 and 7) suggests potential zoonotic transmission, underscoring the role of infected animals as a potential risk factor for human infections. Our results can inform local health authorities to promote policies aimed at reducing transmission, emphasizing the need for direct molecular-level assessments of other common environmental sources, such as water and soil, highlighting the importance of adopting a One Health approach to better understand Blastocystis circulation.

Colchicine: A Dual Therapeutic Target for Trichinellosis

PurposeTrichinellosis affects around 11 million people globally. Treatments for this medical condition are limited by adverse effects and resistance, emphasising the importance of effective and safe therapies. Consequentially, we sought to study colchicine’s synergistic effects with atorvastatin or acetazolamide in the treatment of Trichinella spiralis (T. spiralis)-infected mice.MethodsSeventy mice were evenly divided into two groups (a and b) of 35 each. During the intestinal phase, group (a) began therapy on the second day post-infection (dpi) and lasted four days. Group (b) had treatment for four weeks during the muscle phase, beginning on the 12th dpi. While the other five infected groups received atorvastatin, colchicine, acetazolamide, a combination of acetazolamide and colchicine, or none, one group of infected mice received no treatment at all as a negative control. The efficacy was assessed by parasite count, histopathology and scanning electron microscopy.ResultsOur data revealed that the combination treatment lowered T. spiralis adult worm and larvae counts in infected animals. Moreover, it restored the normal intestinal and muscular architecture, reduced edema, and alleviated inflammation, as demonstrated by reduced inflammatory infiltrate. Scanning electron microscopic examination of adults and larvae verified our findings.ConclusionAdjuvant treatment with colchicine as an antifibrotic can help treat muscle trichinellosis by reducing the production of fibrous tissue. This might help to enhance treatment results by enabling the admission of larvicidal medications and, as a result, reducing the number of larvae in the muscle, which together form the basis of pathology and can be debilitating for the patient.

Prevalence of Theileria Equi and Babesia Caballi and Associated Hemato-Biochemical Changes in Racing Horses in Erbil Province, Iraq.

This study aimed to determine the prevalence of Theileria equi (T. equi) and Babesia caballi (B. caballi) in racing horses in Erbil Province, Iraq, and to assess the associated hemato-biochemical changes in infected animals. A total of 196 horses, including 155 clinically healthy and 41 clinically suspected infected animals, were examined using Giemsa-stained blood films and PCR to determine the prevalence rates. Additionally, the hemato-biochemical parameters of infected horses were compared to a non-infected control group (n = 10). The prevalence of T. equi and B. caballi was determined using two diagnostic methods. Giemsa-stained blood smear analysis revealed prevalence rates of 15.8% (31/196) for T. equi and 5.1% (10/196) for B. caballi. In comparison, conventional PCR targeting the 18S rRNA gene detected higher prevalence rates of 22.44% (44/196) for T. equi and 8.2% (16/196) for B. caballi. The prevalence of T. equi was significantly higher than that of B. caballi (P < 0.001). Infected horses exhibited significant hematological alterations, including microcytic anemia, with notable reductions in RBCs, Hb, and PCV, along with increased WBCs, lymphocytes and basophils compared to the healthy control group. Biochemical analysis revealed significant increases in AST, ALT, ALP, and total serum bilirubin, and decreases in total serum protein, albumin, calcium, and glucose in infected horses. These findings highlight the urgent need for heightened awareness, effective diagnostic methods, and targeted treatment strategies to combat equine piroplasmosis among racing horses in Erbil Province, Iraq.

Current pathogenicity factors of viral and bacterial pathogens of young cattle

Infectious pathologies of animals remain the main problem on the path of high productivity, preservation and, as a result, productive longevity of animals and ultimately determines the profitability of agricultural industrial production of animal products. The possibility of developing pathologies is caused by specific substances of predominantly organic origin (proteins, enzymes, toxins, glycopeptides, etc.), which cause a set of highly specific pathogenic properties of microorganisms. In this connection, there is a growing interest and need to study the pathogenic properties of viruses and bacteria, which cause a number of mechanisms that ensure the neutralization of protective immune mechanisms of animals (adhesive, anti-complementary, anti-lactoferin, antihemoglobin, anti-lysozyme activity, biofilm formation, antibiotic resistance, etc.). The study and development of effective methods to counteract these pathogenicity factors is possible only taking into account the study and search for the practical application of specific substances in the form of vaccines and drugs. Numerous studies of infectious agents causing pathology of the gastrointestinal tract with diarrhea syndrome in calves, according to statistics, distinguish the most common bovine rotavirus, bovine coronavirus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, bovine calicivirus and bovine torovirus, as well as bacteria Salmonella spp., E. coli, C. perfringens and C. parvum. The data from the review of the pathogenicity factors of bacteria and viruses show their diversity, which causes various forms of the course and manifestations of infectious pathologies. Monitoring and further study of the antigenic profile of infectious pathogens allows timely development of relevant diagnostic methods for their identification. The study of protein antigenic proteins makes it possible to develop means for the treatment and prevention of infectious animal diseases.

DMEM and EMEM are suitable surrogate media to mimic host environment and expand leptospiral pathogenesis studies using in vitro tools.

Pathogenic Leptospira species can survive and thrive in a wide range of environments. Distinct environments expose the bacteria to different temperatures, osmolarities, and amounts and sources of nutrition. However, leptospires are mostly cultured, in a laboratory setting under in vitro conditions that do not reflect natural environments. This constraint on laboratory cultures limits the applicability of in vitro studies to the understanding of even simple pathogenic processes. Here we report, investigate, and identify a medium and conditions that mimic the host environment during leptospirosis infection, expanding the available in vitro tools to evaluate leptospiral pathogenesis. We quantified genome-wide gene expression of pathogenic Leptospira interrogans cultured in different in vitro media compositions (EMJH, DMEM, EMEM, and HAN). Using EMJH as standard, we compared gene expression in these compositions to genome-wide gene expression gathered in a host environment: whole blood (WB) of hamsters after infection with pathogenic leptospires. Leptospires cultured in DMEM and EMEM media shared 40% and 47% of all differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of leptospires present within WB (FDR<0.01), while leptospires cultured in HAN media only shared 20% of DEGs with those from WB. Furthermore, gene and pathway expression of leptospires cultured on DMEM and EMEM media exhibited a better correlation with leptospires grown in WB, including promoting expression of a similar leptospiral lipid A profile to the one identified directly in host tissues. Taken together, these results indicate that commercial cell-culture media EMEM or DMEM are better surrogates for in vivo pathogenic studies than EMJH or HAN media in Leptospira . These alternative culture conditions, using media that are a standard supply worldwide, provide a reproducible and cost-effective approach that can accelerate research investigation and reduce the number of animal infections necessary for basic research of leptospirosis.

РОЛЬ ВЕТЕРИНАРНО-САНИТАРНОЙ ЭКСПЕРТИЗЫ ПРОМЫСЛОВЫХ ЖИВОТНЫХ КРАСНОДАРСКОГО КРАЯ

The paper analyzes the data of the veterinary and sanitary examination of carcasses and internal organs of commercial animals in the Krasnodar Region. Based on data on the epizootological and parasitic situation on the territory of the Krasnodar Region for the period from 2011 to 2017, the number of unfavorable points of wild fauna was about 22 (6.1 %). During this period of time, an examination was made of about 25 carcasses and organs of commercial animals in hunting farms and laboratories of veterinary and sanitary examination. According to the results, 8 cases of ascariasis, wild boar strongylatoses and trichinosis were detected. It should be noted that trichinosis is common in the Krasnodar Region mainly in bears, badgers, foxes and jackals. The danger lies in the fact that even an experienced hunter is at risk of infection with parasitic diseases. In order to avoid this, it is necessary to have special knowledge in the field of parasitology and related sciences. Knowing the morphology, the life cycle of helminths, and the clinical signs that manifest themselves when parasites affect the host organism, it is possible to prevent mass infection of animals and humans using specific diagnostic methods and preventive measures. We recommend organizing sanitary and veterinary measures aimed at deworming wild animals; carry out scientific and educational work among hunters of all age groups, study the invasion of water bodies, soil, which can protect a large contingent of people from severe helminthiasis and its complications.

Metagenomic analysis of goat feces from Ogliastra (Sardinia, Italy)

With its constitutive and functional characteristics, the intestinal microbiota plays a crucial role in the health condition of the animals. Variations in the composition and gene expression of the intestinal microbiota are associated with the risk of the onset of various pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract and chronic inflammatory intestinal diseases. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the variability in the composition of the intestinal microbiota of goats of different breeds (Sarda, Maltese, and Alpine) farmed in different flocks of the region of Ogliastra (Sardegna, Italy) and to assess whether the type of feeding (natural pasture grazing-based versus intensive) could affect the intestinal bacterial composition. We also evaluated possible differences in the composition of the intestinal microbiota between healthy and Caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE)-affected goats. The economic damage caused by this pathology is due to the reduction in milk production, with infected animals having greater susceptibility to contract diseases. The results of our study highlighted a statistically significant difference (P = 0.001–0.005) in the intestinal bacterial composition between the intensively managed flock and the other natural pasture-based flock.g In particular, a significantly greater abundance of Acidoaminococcaceae in the intensive flock was obgserved. Furthermore, a significantly greater abundance of Prevotellaceae was found in two localities in which, out of a total of 29 animals, only four tested negative for CAE. From these data, we deduced that the presence of Prevotellaceae can be an indication of the disease. This difference could be attributed to the farming system, the Cardedu farm being the only intensive one, and to the geographical distance of this location from the other sampling sites. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that extensive or intensive farm management may affect the intestinal microbiota of goats.

Aptamer-based fluorescence biosensor for rapid detection of chloramphenicol based on pyrene excimer switch.

Chloramphenicol (CAP) is widely used in treating bacteria infection in animals and humans. However, the accumulation of CAP in food and environment caused serious health risk to human. Consequently, sensitive and selective detection of CAP is of great importance in environmental monitoring and food safety. Among various analytical methods, aptamer-based biosensors exhibit great potentials for CAP detection. Here, we developed an aptamer-based biosensor for rapid fluorescence detection of CAP based on pyrene excimer switch by using a newly selected short DNA aptamer with high affinity. The aptamer was labeled with pyrene molecules at both ends. The binding of CAP to the aptamer probe caused two pyrene molecules close to each other and the formation of a pyrene excimer, which induced the increase of the fluorescence signal from the pyrene excimer. CAP detection was achieved by measuring the fluorescence signal changes of the aptamer probes with dual pyrene labels. Under optimized conditions, the developed aptamer biosensor showed a detection limit of 24.4nmol/L for CAP. The aptamer-based fluorescence sensor could quantify CAP in diluted tap water and lake water, exhibiting potentials for the application in real sample sensing of CAP.