Infected Animals Research Articles

Protective immunity induced by a novel P1 adhesin C-terminal anchored mRNA vaccine against Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection in BALB/c mice.

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (Mp), a unique pathogen devoid of a cell wall, is naturally impervious to penicillin antibiotics. This bacterium is the causative agent of M. pneumoniae pneumonia, an acute pulmonary affliction marked by interstitial lung damage. Non-macrolide medications may have potential adverse effects on the developmental trajectory of children, thereby establishing macrolides as the preferred treatment for M. pneumoniae in pediatric patients. However, the emergence of macrolide-resistant and multidrug-resistant strains of M. pneumoniae presents significant challenges to clinical management and public health. Vaccines, particularly those based on mRNA technology, are regarded as a promising avenue for preventing and controlling M. pneumoniae infections due to their inherent safety, immunogenicity, and adaptability. Our research delves into the P1 adhesin of M. pneumoniae, a protein that binds to host cell receptors with its immunodominant epitopes located at the carboxyl terminus, known to provoke robust immune responses and pulmonary inflammation. We have developed an mRNA vaccine harnessing this dominant antigenic epitope and assessed its protective immunity in BALB/c mice against M. pneumoniae infection. The vaccine elicited potent humoral and cellular immune responses, effectively diminishing inflammation. It notably decreased IL-6 levels in the lungs of infected mice and concurrently elevated IL-4, IL-10, and IFN-γ levels post-immunization. The vaccine also reduced pathological changes in the lungs and the M. pneumoniae DNA copy numbers in the infected animals. Collectively, these findings underscore the mRNA vaccine's remarkable immunogenicity and protective potential against M. pneumoniae infections, offering valuable insights for the development of mRNA vaccines targeting mycoplasma infections.IMPORTANCEM. pneumoniae, a bacteria without a cell wall, is known for causing pneumonia and is resistant to penicillin. The increasing prevalence of macrolide-resistant strains has complicated treatment options, emphasizing the need for new strategies. Our research explores an mRNA vaccine candidate that targets the P1 adhesin of M. pneumoniae, a protein critical for the bacteria's interaction with host cells. In a mouse model, this vaccine has shown potential by inducing immune responses and suggesting a possible reduction in inflammation, as indicated by changes in cytokine levels and lung pathology. While further research is required, the vaccine's preliminary results hint at a potential new direction in managing mycoplasma infections, offering a promising avenue for future therapeutic development. This study contributes to the ongoing search for effective preventive measures against M. pneumoniae.

DISTRIBUIÇÃO ESPACIAL E IDENTIFICAÇÃO DE ÁREAS DE PRIORIZAÇÃO DE MEDIDAS DE PREVENÇÃO E CONTROLE DE ESPOROTRICOSE NO MUNICÍPIO DE NOVA IGUAÇU, BAIXADA FLUMINENSE, RJ.

Introduction: Sporotrichosis is a zoonotic fungal disease that occurs widely in Brazil, especially in the state of Rio de Janeiro, where it is most prevalent in the Metropolitan Region. Within this context, the municipality of Nova Iguaçu has the highest prevalence, highlighting the importance of the disease and the need for sensitive and continuous health surveillance. Objective: To evaluate the spatial distribution and identify priority areas for the prevention and control of sporotrichosis in the municipality of Nova Iguaçu, Baixada Fluminense, based on statistical and epidemiological data from 2019 to 2024. Material and Methods: The data was obtained by collecting epidemiological information on sporotrichosis in animals and humans, using municipal databases and the Notifiable Diseases Information System (SINAN). This approach made it possible to identify areas most vulnerable to the spread of the disease in the municipality, as well as on the borders of Nova Iguaçu, during the study period. Results and Discussion: Between 2019 and 2024, sporotrichosis in Nova Iguaçu predominantly affected women (60.85%), with a higher incidence in the 40-59 age group, possibly due to frequent contact with cats, the main transmitters of the fungus. Although no cases were recorded in animals during the most critical period of the pandemic, the year 2023 showed a significant increase in occurrences, highlighting the importance of resuming surveillance and awareness-raising actions. Neighborhoods with high population density and poor infrastructure, such as Austin and Comendador Soares, showed a higher prevalence of cases, emphasizing the challenges in controlling sporotrichosis. Conclusion: Sporotrichosis in Nova Iguaçu is still neglected, which is reflected in the underreporting of dogs and cats with the disease, even in the face of a significant number of human cases. Animal underreporting is an obstacle to drawing up public policies, as treatment is expensive and the guardian often does not have adequate financial means. As a consequence, medication may be shared between guardian and animal, resulting in underdoses, or even the abandonment of sick animals, which exacerbates the problem by increasing the population of stray and infected animals on the streets.

Transcriptome of Arabidopsis thaliana Plants Exposed to Human Parasites Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia

Pathogen infection in animals and plants is recognized in a relatively similar manner by the interaction of pattern recognition receptors on the host cell surface with pathogen-associated molecular patterns on the pathogen surface. Previous work demonstrates that animal pathogenic bacteria can be recognized by plant receptors and alter transcriptome. In this work, we have hypothesized that exposure to human parasites, Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia, would also trigger pathogen response in plants, leading to changes in transcriptome. Detached Arabidopsis leaves were exposed for one hour to heat-inactivated Cryptosporidia or Giardia. The transcriptome profile showed large changes in gene expression with significant overlap between two parasites, including upregulated GO terms “cellular response to chitin”, “response to wounding”, “response to oomycetes”, “defense response to fungus”, “incompatible interaction”, and “activation of innate immune response”, and downregulated GO terms “positive regulation of development”, “cell surface”, “regulation of organ growth”, “wax biosynthetic process”, “leaf and shoot morphogenesis”. Uniquely downregulated GO terms in response to Cryptosporidia were GO terms related to chromatin remodelling, something that was not reported before. To conclude, it appears that while Cryptosporidia or Giardia are not pathogens of Arabidopsis, this plant possesses various mechanisms of recognition of pathogenic components of parasites.

Advances in soft nanoparticle-based platforms for human and veterinary trichomoniasis therapy: A scoping review.

This scoping review focuses on drug delivery systems based on soft materials designed for the administration of drugs with anti-Trichomonas vaginalis activity. It primarily examines their use in addressing human trichomoniasis, exploring their physicochemical characteristics, in vitro and in vivo evaluation and identifying existing challenges and gaps. Given the economic burden and the One Health approach, formulations developed aiming at treating animal infections - cattle and poultry - were also discussed. The review involved searching electronic databases, such as PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, to find studies published until May 2024; out of the 103 articles retrieved, 18 fulfilled the eligibility criteria. This study investigated soft-nanoparticle formulations, including polymericand lipid-based systems, and their incorporation into suitable formulations for topical application, including hydrogels and polymeric films. Additionally, the discussion covered toxicology and highlighted the knowledge gaps related to the potential use of these formulations in humans. Anti-trichomonas soft nano-based formulations emerge as promising candidates for treating gynecological and animal infections. In conclusion, further preclinical testing is necessary, as none of the formulations have progressed to human clinical trials and have only been evaluated in animal models.

Understanding how on-farm biosecurity perceptions and practices of New South Wales sheep producers have been impacted by the 2022 foot-and-mouth disease outbreak in Indonesia.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly infectious transboundary emergency animal disease posing a significant threat to the global economy. Australia strengthened border security following the 2022 FMD outbreak in Indonesia allocating resources to promote biosecurity awareness and engagement. This study qualitatively investigated the impact of this extension on the biosecurity perceptions and practices of sheep producers in New South Wales, Australia. Eighteen sheep producers participated in semi-structured interviews during August-September 2023. Thematic analysis revealed biosecurity to be perceived as important for industry and enterprise productivity; however, on-farm biosecurity practices were mostly associated solely with bioexclusion. Seven producers engaged directly with post-Indonesian FMD outbreak extension and reported increased FMD awareness. Changes to on-farm biosecurity were made by half the participants following the 2022 Indonesian FMD outbreak, with three of these having received extension engagement. The main explanations for lack of change were the perceptions that no change to disease risk had occurred, that current practices adequately mitigated risk and that change would be impractical. Future studies aimed at further understanding the factors that influence both the immediate and long-term effectiveness of extension activities would be beneficial to the development of future biosecurity extension and policy.

Selected Mechanisms of Action of Bacteriophages in Bacterial Infections in Animals.

Bacteriophages, as ubiquitous bacterial viruses in various natural ecosystems, play an important role in maintaining the homeostasis of the natural microbiota. For many years, bacteriophages were not believed to act on eukaryotic cells; however, recent studies have confirmed their ability to affect eukaryotic cells and interact with the host immune system. Due to their complex protein structure, phages can also directly or indirectly modulate immune processes, including innate immunity, by modulating phagocytosis and cytokine reactions, as well as acquired immunity, by producing antibodies and activating effector cells. They can therefore have a profound impact on the course of bacterial infections by stimulating and at the same time inhibiting the systemic pro-inflammatory response. This review article presents a characterization of the processes by which bacteriophages affect selected immune mechanisms in selected animal species. The results of our own experiments using calves are also presented as examples. The paper contains many new examples of potential uses of bacteriophages and their effects on eukaryotic cells, especially in the course of bacterial infections, which are extremely important in experimental treatments exploiting phages as alternatives to antibiotics. The positive results of the effects of bacteriophages on eukaryotic cells during infections open up promising new prospects for their use as natural tools in the treatment of bacterial, fungal, and viral diseases in animals and humans.

Genetic diversity atlas of Brucella melitensis strains from Sichuan Province, China

Human brucellosis is a re-emerging disease in Sichuan Province, China. In this study, bacteriology, conventional bio-typing, multi-locus sequence typing (MLST), and multiple locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) were applied to preliminarily characterize the strains in terms of genetic diversity and epidemiological links. A total of 101 Brucella strains were isolated from 16 cities (autonomous prefectures) from 2014 to 2021, and all of the strains were identified as Brucella melitensis bv. 3, suggesting that surveillance should focus on ruminants. MLST analysis identified four STs, namely, ST8 (n = 93), ST39 (n = 6), ST101 (n = 1), and ST118 (n = 1). The latter were new STs, indicating that strains displayed high population diversity. Six MLVA-8, namely, 42, 43, 45, 63, 83, and 114, and eight MLVA-11, namely, 111, 115, 116, 125, 180, 291, 298, and 342, genotypes were identified, demonstrating that all of the strains were from the Eastern Mediterranean lineage, and these strains exhibited a high genotype diversity. MLVA-16 analysis revealed that there was a co-existing transmission pattern, where sporadic cases and multiple outbreak events had a common origin. The dominant STs and MLVA genotypes of strains were epidemic in Northern, China, and 36 MLVA-16 genotypes were shared among strains (n = 51, 50.4%, 51/101) from Sichuan and strains from 22 other provinces. The findings imply that infected animals were introduced from outside the province. The surveillance and control of the disease have become public health challenges. Animal quarantines should be strengthened to prevent the spread of B. melitensis species among adjacent regions.

Evaluation of Synthetic Peptides from Schistosoma mansoni ATP Diphosphohydrolase 1: In Silico Approaches for Characterization and Prospective Application in Diagnosis of Schistosomiasis.

Schistosomiasis is the infection caused by Schistosoma mansoni and constitutes a worldwide public health problem. The parasitological recommended method and serological methods can be used for the detection of eggs and antibodies, respectively. However, both have limitations, especially in low endemicity areas. Thus, new approaches for the diagnosis of schistosomiasis are essential. In this study, a six-amino acid peptide and derived sequences from SmATPDase1 were synthesized for the evaluation of immunogenicity. SmATPDase1 is included in a protein group in S. mansoni tegument; therefore, its peptides could be potential candidates for diagnostic antigens. In the hypothetical SmATPDase1 three-dimensional structure, peptides are located in a region exposed and accessible to antibody binding. In addition, peptide amino acid sequences are conserved in the most relevant Schistosoma species and have low identity with human NTPDases isoforms. Swiss mice immunization resulted in significant anti-peptide polyclonal antibodies production, which recognized a 63 kDa protein in tegument and adult worm preparations. By immunofluorescence microscopy, polyclonal antibodies also identified this enzyme in cercariae. Sera of infected animals presented high seropositivity in ELISA-peptides, with an area under curve (AUC) greater than 0.96 for all peptides. In mice with low parasite burden, we observed a seropositivity AUC > 0.9. Reactivity in the prepatent period exhibited AUC values greater than 0.94 for all peptides. Anti-P1425 monoclonal antibodies were successfully produced, and mAbs recognized the integral protein in ELISA and Western blots. The data indicate that peptides from SmATPDase1 are potential biomarkers for schistosomiasis, and anti-peptide antibodies are interesting tools for the detection of the infection.

Animal Models for Human-Pathogenic Coronavirus and Animal Coronavirus Research.

Coronavirus epidemics have posed a serious threat to both human and animal health. To combat emerging infectious diseases caused by coronaviruses, various animal infection models have been developed and applied in research, including non-human primate models, ferret models, hamster models, mouse models, and others. Moreover, new approaches have been utilized to develop animal models that are more susceptible to infection. These approaches include using viral delivery methods to induce the expression of viral receptors in mouse tissues and employing gene-editing techniques to create genetically modified mice. This has led to the successful establishment of infection models for multiple coronaviruses, significantly advancing related research. In contrast, livestock and pets that can be infected by animal coronaviruses provide valuable insights when used as infection models, enabling the collection of accurate clinical data through the analysis of post-infection pathological features. However, despite the potential insights, there is a paucity of research data pertaining to these infection models. In this review, we provide a detailed overview of recent progress in the development of animal models for coronaviruses that cause diseases in both humans and animals and suggest ways in which animal models can be adapted to further enhance their value in research.

Molecular Characterization, Oxidative Stress-Mediated Genotoxicity, and Hemato-Biochemical Changes in Domestic Water Buffaloes Naturally Infected with Trypanosoma evansi Under Field Conditions.

(1) Background: Surra is a debilitating disease of wild and domestic animals caused by Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi), resulting in significant mortality and production losses in the affected animals. This study is the first to assess the genetic relationships of T. evansi in naturally affected buffaloes from Multan district, Pakistan, using ITS-1 primers and evaluating the effects of parasitemia and oxidative stress on DNA damage and hematobiochemical changes in infected buffaloes. (2) Methods: Blood samples were collected from 167 buffaloes using a multi-stage cluster sampling strategy, and trypomastigote identification was performed through microscopy and PCR targeting RoTat 1.2 and ITS-1 primers. Molecular characterization involved ITS-1 via neighbor-joining analysis. The impact of parasitemia loads was correlated with oxidative stress markers, genotoxicity, and hematobiochemical parameters using Pearson correlation and multivariable regression models. (3) Results: Field-stained thin blood film microscopy and molecular identification revealed 8.98% and 10.18% infection rates, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on ITS-1 region sequences of the identified isolates showed close genetic associations with Indian isolates. The mean trypomastigote count observed in the infected buffaloes was 5.15 × 106 (±5.3 × 102)/µL of blood. The parasitemia loads were significantly correlated with the alterations in oxidative stress markers, DNA damage, and changes in hematobiochemical parameters. Infected animals exhibited significant (p < 0.05) alterations in oxidative stress biomarkers, including catalase, nitric oxide, and malondialdehyde concentrations. Noteworthily, a comet assay revealed a significantly (p < 0.0001) higher mean genetic damage index in the infected buffaloes (0.7 ± 0.04) compared with the healthy ones (0.196 ± 0.004). Alongside significant (p < 0.05) reductions in red cell indices, a marked elevation in leukocyte counts and serum hepatic enzyme levels was recorded in the affected buffaloes. (4) Conclusion: T. evansi isolates of buffaloes from Multan, Pakistan, have genetic similarities to Indian isolates. This study also revealed that higher parasitemia loads induce genotoxicity in the infected animals through oxidative stress and cause hematobiochemical alterations under natural field conditions.

ATG-3 limits Orsay virus infection in C. elegans through regulation of collagen pathways.

Autophagy is an essential cellular process which functions to maintain homeostasis in response to stressors such as starvation or infection. Here, we report that a subset of autophagy factors including ATG-3 play an antiviral role in Orsay virus infection of Caenorhabditis elegans. Orsay virus infection does not modulate autophagic flux, and re-feeding after starvation limits Orsay virus infection and blocks autophagic flux, suggesting that the role of ATG-3 in Orsay virus susceptibility is independent of its role in maintaining autophagic flux. atg-3 mutants phenocopy rde-1 mutants, which have a defect in RNA interference (RNAi), in susceptibility to Orsay virus infection and transcriptional response to infection. However, atg-3 mutants do not exhibit defects in RNAi. Additionally, atg-3 limits viral infection at a post-entry step, similar to rde-1 mutants. Differential expression analysis using RNA sequencing revealed that antiviral sqt-2, which encodes a collagen trimer protein, is depleted in naïve and infected atg-3 mutants, as well as in infected WT animals, as are numerous other collagen genes. These data suggest that ATG-3 has a role in collagen organization pathways that function in antiviral defense in C. elegans.

Serological, phenotypic and molecular characterization of brucellosis in small ruminants in northern Algeria.

Brucellosis is considered a common bacterial zoonotic disease of high prevalence in countries of the Middle East and the Mediterranean region with economic and public health impact. The present study aimed to investigate the current situation of brucellosis in small ruminants reared in Médéa and Sidi Bel-Abbès provinces, north Algeria. To achieve this objective, 96 sera (77 sheep and 19 goat) and 57 milk (42 sheep and 15 goat) samples were collected from suspected infected animals and serologically analyzed by using ELISA. For isolation of Brucella spp., four placentas, two fetuses and forty-four milk samples were subjected to microbiological investigation. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used for genomic analysis of isolated Brucella species. The results of this study showed that anti-Brucella antibodies were detected in 46 (83.6%) and 52 (54.2%) milk and serum samples, respectively. However, among 27 cases where blood samples were negative, anti-Brucella antibodies were still detected in 19 of the corresponding milk samples, resulting in an overall discordance rate of 36.5%. Ten Brucella melitensis were isolated and identified from six sheep and four goats. Of these, eight originated from milk samples. The isolated strains were assigned to sequence type ST-11 using Multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Five isolates revealing high similarity (0-2 nucleotide differences) originated from different farms, indicating a close transmission link. However, two identical caprine isolates and three other isolates showed notable genotypic variation, in comparison. The highest base difference (449-462 nucleotides) was observed for an ovine isolate originating from Sidi Bel-Abbès. The phylogenetic analysis and clustering with the West Mediterranean lineage of B. melitensis revealed high genetic similarity of the investigated isolates with B. melitensis of human origin from North Africa and travel-associated 'European' cases, especially from Morroco, Tunisia, Sweden and Italy. The results of this study highlight brucellosis in small ruminants as a significant public health risk and will help to develop effective control strategies in Algeria. These findings provide specific evidence of this risk, with Brucella isolation from milk and by linking theses isolates to human cases in Algeria and abroad. The use of WGS-based analysis has revealed effective in tracing patterns of transmission, and can be recommended for tracking outbreaks at a high resolution.

Human Brucellosis in the Rural and Urban Population of Pakistan: Seroprevalence, Risk Factors, and Clinical Manifestations.

Brucella spp. is the bacterium responsible for brucellosis, a zoonotic infection that affects humans. This disease poses significant health challenges and contributes to poverty, particularly in developing countries. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence, risk factors, and clinical symptoms of human brucellosis within the general population of Multan and Muzaffargarh, Pakistan. A total of 307 blood samples were collected from patients visiting local hospitals in Multan and Muzaffargarh between August 2015 and January 2016. Demographic information, risk factors, and clinical outcomes were documented. Serum samples were initially screened for anti-Brucella antibodies using the Rose Bengal Plate Test, and positive cases were subsequently confirmed through RT-PCR. The chi-square test assessed the link between Brucella positivity and the identified risk factors. The study recorded an overall seroprevalence of 6.8%, with 8.9% in Multan and 4.3% in Muzaffargarh. Genus-specific Brucella detection through RT-PCR confirmed that 20 out of 21 samples were positive. Significant associations with human brucellosis were found for contact with aborted animals (p = 0.032) and consumption of raw milk (p = 0.031), while factors such as age, gender, occupation, urbanicity, and geographical region did not show a significant impact on seropositivity (p > 0.05). Non-specific clinical symptoms were commonly observed among seropositive patients. The findings highlight the significance of close human interaction with infected animals, especially concerning livestock practices and dairy product consumption. The results also emphasize the importance of focusing efforts on raising awareness in risky occupations and developing control programs by healthcare authorities.

The value of ICT and Latex Serological tests in Screening for Toxoplasma gondii

Background: Toxoplasma gondii is an intracellular zoonotic parasite responsible for infections in various warm-blooded animals and humans. This study primarily focused on evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of ICT and latex serological methods for screening Toxoplasma gondii in North Kordofan, Sudan. Methodology: This descriptive study was conducted in El-Obeid, North Kordofan State, Sudan, from January to May 2024. A total of 260 samples were collected from women who had experienced abortions or had a previous history of such events. A blood sample was collected from each respondent to conduct serological tests, including ICT, latex, and ELISA. Results: The study involved approximately 260 women to evaluate the validity of the various techniques employed. In this research, ICT and LaTeX were compared with ELIZA as the gold standard method, yielding a positive rate of 14.6% and a negative rate of 85.4% using ICT methods. However, the results from the Latex method indicated a positivity rate of 15.8%, while the negativity rate stood at 84.2%. In ELIZA, 17.3% is positive, while 82.7% is negative. The sensitivity and specificity of the techniques employed in this study are compared with the ELISA technique, as detailed in the following tests. The sensitivity achieved through the ICT technique was 84%, while the specificity reached 100% as observed in the findings. The sensitivity and specificity obtained through the latex technique were determined to be 94% and 100%, respectively. Conclusion: Both Latex and ICT demonstrate relatively better sensitivity and very good specificity, making them suitable for screening and diagnostic purposes in conflict areas.

Genome-Wide Approach Identifies Natural Large-Fragment Deletion in ASFV Strains Circulating in Italy During 2023.

African swine fever (ASF), characterized by high mortality rates in infected animals, remains a significant global veterinary and economic concern, due to the widespread distribution of ASF virus (ASFV) genotype II across five continents. In this study, ASFV strains collected in Italy during 2022-2023 from two geographical clusters, North-West (Alessandria) and Calabria, were fully sequenced. In addition, an in vivo experiment in pigs was performed. Complete genomic sequencing of 30 strains revealed large-fragment deletions and translocations. In Alessandria, five samples showed two different deletions in the 5' genomic region: a ~4340 bp deletion (positions ~9020-13,356 in Georgia 2007/1) in four samples and a 2162 bp deletion (positions 17,837-19,998) in one sample. Another strain showed a truncation of 1950 bp at the 3' end. In Calabria, strains showed a 5137 bp deletion (positions 10,755-15,891) and ~2 kb truncations in the 3' region. Two strains showed a translocation from the region 1-2244 to positions 188,631-190,584. In vivo characterization of the deleted strain 22489.4_2312/RC/2023 revealed identical disease progression to the wild-type strain, with severe ASF symptoms in inoculated pigs. This study is the first to report natural deleted strains of ASFV in Italy, revealing unique genomic deletions distinct from those in previously known strains.

Emerging biofilm formation and disinfectant susceptibility of ESBL-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for various infections in humans and animals. It is known for its resistance to multiple antibiotics, particularly through the production of Extended-Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs), and its ability to form biofilms that further complicate treatment. This study aimed to isolate and identify K. pneumoniae from animal and environmental samples and assess commercial disinfectants’ effectiveness against K. pneumoniae isolates exhibiting ESBL-mediated resistance and biofilm-forming ability in poultry and equine farms in Giza Governorate, Egypt. A total of 320 samples, including nasal swabs from equine (n = 60) and broiler chickens (n = 90), environmental samples (n = 140), and human hand swabs (n = 30), were collected. K. pneumoniae was isolated using lactose broth enrichment and MacConkey agar, with molecular confirmation via PCR targeting the gyrA and magA genes. PCR also identified ESBL genes (blaTEM, blaSHV, blaCTX-M, blaOXA-1) and biofilm genes (luxS, Uge, mrkD). Antimicrobial susceptibility was assessed, and the efficacy of five commercial disinfectants was evaluated by measuring inhibition zones. Klebsiella pneumoniae was isolated from poultry (13.3%), equine (8.3%), wild birds (15%), water (10%), feed (2%), and human hand swabs (6.6%). ESBL and biofilm genes were detected in the majority of the isolates, with significant phenotypic resistance to multiple antibiotics. The disinfectants containing peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide were the most effective, producing the largest inhibition zones, while disinfectants based on sodium hypochlorite and isopropanol showed lower efficacy. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in the effectiveness of disinfectants against K. pneumoniae isolates across various sample origins (P < 0.05). The presence of K. pneumoniae in animal and environmental sources, along with the high prevalence of ESBL-mediated resistance and biofilm-associated virulence genes, underscores the zoonotic potential of this pathogen. The study demonstrated that disinfectants containing peracetic acid and hydrogen peroxide are highly effective against ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. Implementing appropriate biosecurity measures, including the use of effective disinfectants, is essential for controlling the spread of resistant pathogens in farm environments.

Effect of eicosapentaenoic acid on innate immune responses in Atlantic salmon cells infected with infectious salmon anemia virus

Aquaculture is one of the world's fastest-growing sectors in food production but with multiple challenges related to animal handling and infections. The disease caused by infectious salmon anemia virus (ISAV) leads to outbreaks of local epidemics, reducing animal welfare, and causing significant economic losses. The composition of feed has shifted from marine ingredients such as fish oil and fish meal towards a more plant-based diet causing reduced levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). The aim of this study was to investigate whether low or high levels of EPA affect the expression of genes related to the innate immune response 48 h after infection with ISAV. The study includes seven experimental groups: ± ISAV and various levels of EPA up to 200 µM. Analysis of RNA sequencing data showed that more than 3000 genes were affected by ISAV alone (without additional EPA). In cells with increasing levels of EPA, more than 2500 additional genes were differentially expressed. This indicates that high levels of EPA concentration have an independent effect on gene expression in virus-infected cells, not observed at lower levels of EPA. Analyses of enriched biological processes and molecular functions (GO and KEGG analysis) revealed that EPA had a limited impact on the innate immune system alone, but that many processes were affected by EPA when cells were virus infected. Several biological pathways were affected, including protein synthesis (ribosomal transcripts), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor (PPAR) signaling, and ferroptosis. Cells exposed to both increasing concentrations of EPA and virus displayed gene expression patterns indicating increased formation of oxygen radicals and that cell death via ferroptosis was activated. This gene expression pattern was not observed during infection at low EPA levels or when Atlantic salmon kidney (ASK) cells were exposed to the highest EPA level (200 μM) without virus infection. Cell death via ferroptosis may therefore be a mechanism for controlled cell death and thus reduction of virus replication when there are enough polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in the membrane.

DeepGenMon: A Novel Framework for Monkeypox Classification Integrating Lightweight Attention-Based Deep Learning and a Genetic Algorithm.

Background: The rapid global spread of the monkeypox virus has led to serious issues for public health professionals. According to related studies, monkeypox and other types of skin conditions can spread through direct contact with infected animals, humans, or contaminated items. This disease can cause fever, headaches, muscle aches, and enlarged lymph nodes, followed by a rash that develops into lesions. To facilitate the early detection of monkeypox, researchers have proposed several AI-based techniques for accurately classifying and identifying the condition. However, there is still room for improvement to accurately detect and classify monkeypox cases. Furthermore, the currently proposed pre-trained deep learning models can consume extensive resources to achieve accurate detection and classification of monkeypox. Hence, these models often need significant computational power and memory. Methods: This paper proposes a novel lightweight framework called DeepGenMonto accurately classify various types of skin diseases, such as chickenpox, melasma, monkeypox, and others. This suggested framework leverages an attention-based convolutional neural network (CNN) and a genetic algorithm (GA) to enhance detection accuracy while optimizing the hyperparameters of the proposed model. It first applies the attention mechanism to highlight and assign weights to specific regions of an image that are relevant to the model's decision-making process. Next, the CNN is employed to process the visual input and extract hierarchical features for classifying the input data into multiple classes. Finally, the CNN's hyperparameters are adjusted using a genetic algorithm to enhance the model's robustness and classification accuracy. Compared to the state-of-the-art (SOTA) models, DeepGenMon features a lightweight design that requires significantly lower computational resources and is easier to train with few parameters. Its effective integration of a CNN and an attention mechanism with a GA further enhances its performance, making it particularly well suited for low-resource environments. DeepGenMon is evaluated on two public datasets. The first dataset comprises 847 images of diverse skin diseases, while the second dataset contains 659 images classified into several categories. Results: The proposed model demonstrates superior performance compared to SOTA models across key evaluation metrics. On dataset 1, it achieves a precision of 0.985, recall of 0.984, F-score of 0.985, and accuracy of 0.985. Similarly, on dataset 2, the model attains a precision of 0.981, recall of 0.982, F-score of 0.982, and accuracy of 0.982. Moreover, the findings demonstrate the model's ability to achieve an inference time of 2.9764 s on dataset 1 and 2.1753 s on dataset 2. Conclusions: These results also show DeepGenMon's effectiveness in accurately classifying different skin conditions, highlighting its potential as a reliable and low-resource tool in clinical settings.

Mpox virus (MPXV): comprehensive analysis of pandemic risks, pathophysiology, treatments, and mRNA vaccine development.

Mpox, formerly known as monkeypox, is a zoonotic disease caused by the Mpox virus (MPXV), which has recently attracted global attention due to its potential for widespread outbreaks. Initially identified in 1958, MPXV primarily spreads to humans through contact with infected wild animals, particularly rodents. Historically confined to Africa, the virus has expanded beyond endemic regions, with notable outbreaks in Europe and North America in 2022, especially among men who have sex with men (MSM). The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared the current Mpox outbreak a Public Health Emergency of International Concern. This review explores the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and clinical manifestations of MPXV, along with current treatment strategies and the role of mRNA vaccines. It emphasizes the importance of understanding the changing dynamics of Mpox transmission, which are influenced by factors such as waning immunity from smallpox vaccinations and increased global interconnectedness. The potential for developing multi-epitope vaccines that can stimulate robust immune responses is highlighted, showcasing how bioinformatics can facilitate the identification of immunogenic antigens. Continued research and investment in vaccine development are crucial to address the urgent need for effective candidates that can protect at-risk populations. In summary, this review underscores the necessity for proactive public health measures and collaborative efforts among healthcare authorities, researchers, and communities to mitigate the impact of Mpox and enhance global preparedness for future outbreaks.

Prevalence of Multiple RNA Virus Infections in Nine Types of Commonly Used Laboratory Animals in China.

Laboratory animals are widely used in biomedical research. Surveillance of naturally occurring virus in laboratory animals is important to fully understand the results of animal experiment, control laboratory-acquired infections among research personnel and manage viral transmission within laboratory animal populations. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of multiple RNA viruses in laboratory animals commonly used in China. We screened viral RNA for five different potentially zoonotic RNA viruses (astrovirus, coronavirus, hepevirus, hepatovirus and picornavirus) that can be transmitted via the faecal-oral route in 759 faecal samples collected from nine commonly used laboratory animals (mice, rats, monkeys, rabbits, pigs, dogs, ferrets, goats and tree shrews) in China. Viral RNA was screened by broad-spectrum reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) using primers annealing in genome-conserved regions. The laboratory mice and rats used in this study were specific-pathogen-free. The other laboratory animals were conventional animals. At least one selected virus was detected in each of the nine sampled laboratory animal types, except tree shrews. The total positive rates of viral RNA for astroviruses, coronaviruses, hepeviruses and picornaviruses in the selected laboratory animals were 4.3%, 7.6%, 8.0% and 1.1%, respectively. Among these, the positivity rates for hepevirus RNA in laboratory ferrets (41.3%) and rabbits (17.8%), astrovirus RNA in laboratory pigs (75.0%) and coronavirus RNA in laboratory ferrets (45.7%) were relatively high. Viral RNA for hepatovirus was negative in all selected laboratory animals. Co-infection with multiple viruses has also been observed in laboratory dogs, pigs, ferrets and rabbits. Our findings highlight the need for the surveillance of natural viral infections in laboratory animals.