Resistance of zebu cattle (Bos indicus) to colonization by major ruminant hoof pathogens.

Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) is reported to be more resistant towards harmful environmental factors than taurine cattle (Bos taurus). A few hundred zebu cattle are kept in Switzerland and in contrast to the Swiss indigenous breeds, infectious hoof disease in zebu is not observed. Therefore, we compared the prevalence of three ruminant hoof pathogens in zebu and taurine cattle. These included Treponema spp., Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus which are associated with bovine digital dermatitis (BDD), different bovine hoof diseases and ovine footrot, respectively. Interdigital swabs and punch biopsies from hind feet of slaughter animals were tested for the three pathogens by PCR. Sixty zebu from eight farms were compared to a convenience sample of 20 taurine cattle from 17 farms. Treponema spp. associated with BDD were not detected in zebu while 23 % of animals and 50 % of farms were positive for benign D. nodosus, with results indicating environmental contamination rather than colonization. Taurine cattle showed 35 % of animals and 41 % of farms positive for T. phagedenis while 90 % of animals and 94 % of farms were colonized by D. nodosus as indicated by a 500-fold higher bacterial load than in zebu. The difference in prevalence of the two pathogens between zebu and taurine cattle was highly significant. F. necrophorum was as well only detected in taurine cattle with values of 15 % of animals and 17.7 % of farms, being significantly different at the animal level. Furthermore, genetic analysis of Swiss zebu indicates high genomic diversity and clear separation from taurine cattle. This is the first evidence that zebu show resistance towards colonization by bacterial hoof pathogens in contrast to taurine cattle.

Discovery of novel treponemes associated with pododermatitis in elk (Cervus canadensis).

Pododermatitis, also known as treponeme-associated hoof disease (TAHD), presents a significant challenge to elk (Cervus canadensis) populations in the northwestern USA, with Treponema spp. consistently implicated in the lesion development. However, identifying species-specific Treponema strains from these lesions is hindered by its culture recalcitrance and limited genomic information. This study utilized shotgun sequencing, in silico genome reconstruction, and comparative genomics as a culture-independent approach to identify metagenome-assembled Treponema genomes (MATGs) from skin scraping samples collected from captive elk experimentally challenged with TAHD. The genomic analysis revealed 10 new MATGs, with 6 representing novel genomospecies associated with pododermatitis in elk and 4 corresponding to previously identified species-Treponema pedis and Treponema phagedenis. Importantly, genomic signatures of novel genomospecies identified in this study were consistently detected in biopsy samples of free-ranging elk diagnosed with TAHD, indicating a potential etiologic association. Comparative metabolic profiling of the MATGs against other Treponema genomes showed a distinct metabolic profile, suggesting potential host adaptation or geographic uniqueness of these newly identified genomospecies. The discovery of novel Treponema genomospecies enhances our understanding of the pathogenesis of pododermatitis and lays the foundation for the development of improved molecular surveillance tools to monitor and manage the disease in free-ranging elk.IMPORTANCETreponema spp. play an important role in the development of pododermatitis in free-ranging elk; however, the species-specific detection of Treponema from pododermatitis lesions is challenging due to culture recalcitrance and limited genomic information. The study utilized shotgun sequencing and in silico genome reconstruction to identify novel Treponema genomospecies from elk with pododermatitis. The discovery of the novel Treponema species opens new avenues to develop molecular diagnostic and epidemiologic tools for the surveillance of pododermatitis in elk. These findings significantly enhance our understanding of the genomic landscape of the Treponemataceae consortium while offering valuable insights into the etiology and pathogenesis of emerging pododermatitis in elk populations.

Changes of microbial and metabolome of the equine hindgut during oligofructose-induced laminitis.

BACKGROUND: Laminitis is a common and serve disease which caused by inflammation and pathological changes of the laminar junction. However, the pathologic mechanism remains unclear. In this study we aimed to investigate changes of the gut microbiota and metabolomics in oligofructose-induced laminitis of horses. RESULTS: Animals submitted to treatment with oligofructose had lower fecal pH but higher lactic acid, histamine, and Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in serum. Meanwhile, oligofructose altered composition of the hindgut bacterial community, demonstrated by increasing relative abundance of Lactobacillus and Megasphaera. In addition, the metabolome analysis revealed that treatment with oligofructose decreased 84 metabolites while 53 metabolites increased, such as dihydrothymine, N3,N4-Dimethyl-L-arginine, 10E,12Z-Octadecadienoic acid, and asparagine. Pathway analysis revealed that aldosterone synthesis and secretion, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, steroid hormone biosynthesis, pyrimidine metabolism, biosynthesis of unsaturated fatty acids, and galactose metabolism were significantly different between healthy and laminitis horses. Furthermore, correlation analysis between gut microbiota and metabolites indicated that Lactobacillus and/or Megasphaera were positively associated with the dihydrothymine, N3,N4-Dimethyl-L-arginine, 10E,12Z-Octadecadienoic acid, and asparagine. CONCLUSIONS: These results revealed that disturbance of gut microbiota and changes of metabolites were occurred during the development of equine laminitis, and these results may provide novel insights to detect biomarkers for a better understanding of the potential mechanism and prevention strategies for laminitis in horses.

Impact of dedicated infectious disease teamwork on the treatment and prognosis of patients with diabetic foot infection.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to develop and evaluate the impact of a new model in which the infectious disease (ID) physician and pharmacist work together to treat diabetic foot infections (DFIs). METHODS: A quasi-experimental before-after study was conducted. The medical charts of inpatients with DFI admitted between April 1, 2017 and March 31, 2018 were reviewed retrospectively (control group, n = 30). Inpatients diagnosed with DFI between April 1, 2018 and March 31, 2019 were enrolled prospectively as the intervention group and received treatment through dedicated ID teamwork (intervention group, n = 35). RESULTS: The distribution of infection severity and levels of metabolic criteria were similar in the two groups. Compared with the control group, the intervention group received adequate initial empirical treatment more frequently (96.8% vs 43.5%, p < 0.001) and had a shorter median duration of fever (1 day vs 7.5 days, p < 0.001). Rates of healing and relapse within 6 months were similar in the two groups, although the intervention group showed more sites of osteomyelitis (p = 0.036) and a higher percentage of polymicrobial infections (48.6% vs 10.0%, p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The early and full participation of ID physicians and pharmacists in the treatment of DFI facilitated targeted antimicrobial treatment and improved patient outcomes.

Characterization of Foot Mycetoma Using Sonography and Color Doppler Imaging.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Mycetoma of the foot, commonly referred to as Madura foot, is a chronic granulomatous infection, which impacts vascularization of the affected region. This study aimed to evaluate foot mycetoma using Doppler and sonography techniques to identify the principle sonographic features and blood flow patterns associated with the condition. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a cross-sectional prospective single-center study conducted at the Mycetoma Research Center (MCR) in Khartoum State, Sudan. Sixty patients with Madura foot were examined using a Duplex ultrasound machine with a 7-10 MHZ linear probe. Data was analyzed using SPSS software. The distribution of demographic data was evaluated by simple descriptive statistics. Statistical tests was performed using Student's independent t-tests to compare different forms of mycetoma and Chi-square tests to examine differences in blood flow patterns between fungal (eumycetoma) and bacterial (actinomycetoma) forms of the infection. RESULTS: The presence of multiple cavities and aggregated grains were more common in eumycetoma than in actinomycetoma. The echotexture was significantly more heterogeneous in eumycetoma than in actinomycetoma (p = 0.03). Eumycetoma had higher vascularity than actinomycetoma. CONCLUSION: Mycetoma has characteristic sonographic features and patterns of vascularity, which are essential to differentiate between the fungal and bacterial forms of mycetoma.

Are mosque carpets' reservoirs for fungi causing superficial foot mycosis? A cross-sectional study in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The possibility of superficial foot mycoses to spread through contaminated mosque carpets between worshipers imposes a great health burden and is never addressed in Riyadh, SA. We aimed to assess the prevalence of fungal infections, especially human dermatophytosis acquired from mosque carpets, in five different regions of Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and establish a means of contamination control. A cross-sectional study of 100 mosques in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was conducted, using a multistage random cluster sampling technique. The study included mosques that had an ablution area and regularly hosted five prayers a day. Sterile swabs were used for sampling, and the samples were transported to the laboratory for culture and analysis using a micro-scan system. A total of 199 (65%) samples contained several fungal species. Rhodotorula (74%), Cladosporium (47%), Bipolaris (46.6%), other yeasts (43.7%), Alternaria (40%), dematiaceous molds (34%), Curvularia (32.4%), and Candida (31%) were the most frequently isolated species. Species belonging to several other genera were also detected. This study revealed a relatively high prevalence of fungal organisms in mosque carpets in Riyadh, suggesting the need for implementing new strategies and laws to increase the level of hygiene awareness among worshipers and mosque caretakers to limit the spread of foot fungal infections.

Orthopedic Surgical Foot Management in Hansen Disease.

Hansen disease remains a common problem worldwide with 750,000 new cases diagnosed each year. Nerve injury is a central feature of the pathogenesis because of the unique tendency of Mycobacterium leprae to invade Schwann cells and the peripheral nervous system, that can be permanent and develop into disabilities. The orthopedic surgeon has an important role in the management of neuropathy, performing surgical release of the tibial and common peroneal nerves in potentially constricting areas, thus providing a better environment for nerve function. In cases of permanent loss of nerve function with drop foot, specific tendon transfers can be used.

Bayesian assessment of diagnostic accuracy of a commercial borescope and of trimming chute exams for diagnosing digital dermatitis in dairy cows.

Digital dermatitis (DD) is a worldwide infectious disease of cattle that causes lameness, discomfort, and economic losses. The reference standard test to diagnose DD is visual observation in a trimming chute, which cannot be practically performed daily on dairy farms. Moreover, some lesion misclassification may occur using this standard diagnostic method. The possibility of misclassification makes the use of a trimming chute debatable as a perfect reference standard test. The objective of this study was, therefore, to assess the diagnostic accuracy of a commercial borescope and trimming chute exam. The accuracy (sensitivity and specificity) of the tests and DD prevalence were investigated using Bayesian latent class analyses. Our hypothesis was that a commercial borescope can be routinely used to diagnose DD in a milking parlor without previous feet cleaning. A cross-sectional study was performed in a freestall facility. The lesions were scored (M0, M1, M2, M3, M4, M4.1) in the milking parlor with a borescope, followed by an examination in the trimming chute 48 to 72 h after the borescope exam. A total of 870 hind feet were scored during 2 sessions of trimming chute exams and borescope exams in the milking parlor. The data were analyzed in 2 ways. First, data were dichotomized into DD lesions (M1, M2, M3, M4, M4.1) and absence of DD lesions (M0). Second, data were dichotomized into active DD lesions (M1, M2, M4.1) and inactive lesions (M0, M3, M4). A Bayesian latent class model allowing for conditional dependence between tests was used to estimate tests' accuracy, likelihood ratio, and DD prevalence. When the data were dichotomized into DD lesions (M1-M4.1) versus absence of DD (M0) lesions, the sensitivity and specificity of the borescope was 55% [95% credible interval (CrI) 40-71%] and 81% (95% CrI 75-88%). The sensitivity of trimming chute exams was 79% (95% CrI 68-88%), and specificity was 80% (95% CrI 71-89%). When the data were dichotomized into active lesions (M1, M2, M4.1) versus inactive lesions or absence of lesions (M3, M4, M0), the sensitivity and specificity of the borescope were, respectively, 32% (95% CrI 13-58%) and 91% (95% CrI 88-95%). The sensitivity and specificity of trimming chute exams were 91% (95% CrI 81-97%) and 81% (95% CrI 75-89%), respectively. In conclusion, it is possible to use the borescope in the milking parlor without cleaning the feet to monitor prevalence of DD lesions. However, an isolated borescope examination, especially for diagnosing active DD lesions, has low sensitivity for use as a surveillance method. For such use, the sensitivity could be improved by repeating the borescope exam on a regular basis.

Madurella mycetomatis infection of the foot: a case report of a neglected tropical disease in a non-endemic region.

BACKGROUND: Mycetoma is an uncommon chronic granulomatous infection of cutaneous and subcutaneous tissues that can be caused by filamentous bacteria (actinomycetoma) or fungi (eumycetoma). It is the prerogative of young men between the third and fourth decade and is transmitted through any trauma causing an inoculating point. The classic clinical triad associates a painless hard and swelling subcutaneous mass, multiple fistulas, and the pathognomonic discharge of grains. Although endemic in many tropical and subtropical countries, mycetoma can also be found in non-endemic areas as in Morocco, and causes then diagnosis problems leading to long lasting complications. Therefore, we should raise awareness of this neglected disease for an earlier management. Under medical treatment however, mycetoma has a slow healing and surgery is often needed, and relapses are possible. CASE PRESENTATION: Herein we report a case of a 64 years old patient, with a history of eumycetoma occurring ten years ago treated with oral terbinafine coupled with surgery. A complete remission was seen after 2 years. He presented a relapse on the previous scar 6 months ago. There wasn't any bone involvement in the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The patient was put under oral terbinafine with a slow but positive outcome. CONCLUSION: Through this case report, we perform a literature review and highlight the importance of increase awareness of mycetoma in clinical practice especially in non-endemic regions.

Acute phase response and clinical manifestation in outbreaks of interdigital phlegmon in dairy herds.

Several Finnish dairy herds have suffered from outbreaks of interdigital phlegmon (IP). In these new types of outbreaks, morbidity was high and clinical signs severe, resulting in substantial economic losses for affected farms. In our study, we visited 18 free stall dairy herds experiencing an outbreak of IP and 3 control herds without a similar outbreak. From a total of 203 sampled cows, 60 suffered from acute stage IP. We demonstrated that acute phase response of bovine IP was evident and therefore an appropriate analgesic should be administered in the treatment of affected animals. The response was most apparent in herds with high morbidity in IP and with a bacterial infection comprising Fusobacterium necrophorum and Dichelobacter nodosus, indicating that combination of these two bacterial species affect the severity of the disease.

[Plantar actinomycetoma in a patient without risk factors]. / Actinomicetoma plantar en un paciente sin factores de riesgo.

A case of plantar actinomycetoma without risk factors is presented, which was diagnosed by hystopatological analysis of a foot biopsy because of the suspicion of neoplasia. Since the patient did not fully respond to the first-line therapy antibiotics, a 24-weeks doxycycline regime was started, achieving a satisfactory response. Finally, a brief discussion on plantar mycetomas is presented.

The microbiome of the footrot lesion in Merino sheep is characterized by a persistent bacterial dysbiosis.

Footrot is prevalent in most sheep-producing countries; the disease compromises sheep health and welfare and has a considerable economic impact. The disease is the result of interactions between the essential causative agent, Dichelobacter nodosus, and the bacterial community of the foot, with the pasture environment and host resistance influencing disease expression. The Merino, which is the main wool sheep breed in Australia, is particularly susceptible to footrot. We characterised the bacterial communities on the feet of healthy and footrot-affected Merino sheep across a 10-month period via sequencing and analysis of the V3-V4 regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Distinct bacterial communities were associated with the feet of healthy and footrot-affected sheep. Infection with D. nodosus appeared to trigger a shift in the composition of the bacterial community from predominantly Gram-positive, aerobic taxa to predominantly Gram-negative, anaerobic taxa. A total of 15 bacterial genera were preferentially abundant on the feet of footrot-affected sheep, several of which have previously been implicated in footrot and other mixed bacterial diseases of the epidermis of ruminants. Some, including Porphyromonas, can trigger a shift in the composition of bacterial communities and may therefore be of significance to the expression of footrot. A comparison of the communities in footrot lesions of different scores and at different times revealed that this state of dysbiosis is persistent at the active margins of lesions, irrespective of their severity.

Different microbiomes are found in healthy breeder ducks and those with foot pad dermatitis.

Foot pad dermatitis (FPD) is a serious problem of the modern poultry industry, negatively affecting birds' welfare and health status, walking and feeding activity, growth performance, carcass quality, and economic performance of meat production. The gut microbiome in poultry with FPD has not been previously investigated. Therefore, we compared the cecal microbiomes of 8 breeding ducks with FPD to 8 control ducks (breeders with apparently healthy feet) by pyrosequencing the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. The results showed a significant ß-diversity (P < 0.05) of cecal microbiota presented between healthy and FPD-affected breeder ducks. The plasma endotoxins, interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), IL-17, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor-α concentration, and the abundance of class Clostridia in FPD-affected ducks was markedly higher (P < 0.05), however, the abundance of genus Prevotella, Lactobacillus, Lachnospiraceae UCG-008, and the Firmicutes to Bacteroidetes ratio in FPD-affected ducks was significantly lower (P < 0.05) when compared to healthy ducks. These findings suggest when duck breeders are affected with FPD, ducks show an increased inflammatory response and a difference of structure and composition of the cecal microbiome.

Actinomicetoma plantar en un paciente sin factores de riesgo / Plantar actinomycetoma in a patient without risk factors

Resumen Se presenta un caso clínico de un actinomicetoma plantar en un paciente sin factores de riesgo, cuyo diagnóstico fue realizado mediante una biopsia de tejido plantar por sospecha de una neoplasia. Dado que el paciente no respondió satisfactoriamente a la terapia de primera línea, debió completar 24 semanas de tratamiento con doxiciclina, a lo cual evolucionó favorablemente. Finalmente, se desarrolla una breve discusión sobre los micetomas plantares.

A case of plantar actinomycetoma without risk factors is presented, which was diagnosed by hystopatological analysis of a foot biopsy because of the suspicion of neoplasia. Since the patient did not fully respond to the first-line therapy antibiotics, a 24-weeks doxycycline regime was started, achieving a satisfactory response. Finally, a brief discussion on plantar mycetomas is presented.

Innocuous "foot lump" in patient with diabetes mellitus: A manifestation of phaeohyphomycosis.

Invasive mycotic infection presenting as "foot lump" in an immunocompetent patient is extremely rare. The case highlights the difficulty in diagnosis of fungal infections of foot including attempts to isolate the fungus and non-response to anti-fungal agents. A 64-year-old lady with T2DM for four years presented with painless, gradually progressive swelling over plantar aspect of left mid-foot for six months. Foot examination revealed soft-to-firm lump over the plantar aspect of left mid-foot obscuring the lateral longitudinal arch. No signs of inflammation or bony deformities were noticed. X-ray foot revealed radio-dense shadow in soft tissue without bone changes, corroborated by MRI. A diagnosis of lipoma, ganglion cyst, tubercular abscess and a fungal infection were considered. Aspirate cytology suggested the presence of Aspergillus hyphae although repeated cultures were unsuccessful. Medical management in form of itraconazole initially, followed by voriconazole was tried. However, there was no response to anti fungal agents and the lesion was surgically excised. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of pigmented fungus (phaehyphomycosis).