Enteric Pathogens and Coinfections in Foals with and without Diarrhea.

Diarrhea is a major clinical problem affecting foals up to 3 months of age. The aim of this study was to identify enteric microorganisms involved in monoinfections and coinfections and the associated virulence factors in healthy and diarrheic foals. Diarrheic (D) (n = 56) and nondiarrheic (ND) foals (n = 60) up to three months of age were studied. Fecal samples were analyzed for identification of infectious agents (microbiological culturing, molecular techniques, and microscopic analyses). Escherichia coli fimH (30% versus 25%), Salmonella spp. (25% versus 7%), Strongyloides westeri (25% versus 25%), Clostridium perfringens type A (21% versus 10%), E. coli ag43 (20% versus 35%), Strongylus (11% versus 18%), and vapA-positive Rhodococcus equi (5% versus 2%) were the most frequent enteric pathogens detected in D and ND foals, respectively. The frequency of toxin A-positive C. perfringens was significantly increased in the D (p = 0.033) compared with the ND animals. R. equi strains harboring virulent plasmids were also identified (VapA 85-kb type I and VapA 87-kb type I) in D and ND foals. Coinfections were observed in 46% of the D and 33% of the ND foals. Our results demonstrate the great diversity of enteric pathogens, virulence factors, and coinfections involved in enteric infections of foals.

Frequency and risk factors for infection by Neospora caninum in dairy farms of umuarama, Pr, Brazil / Frequência e fatores de risco para a infecção por Neospora caninum em propriedades leiteiras de umuarama, PR, Brasil / Frecuencia y factores de riesgo para la infección por Neospora caninum en propiedades lecheras de umuarama, Paraná, Brasil

Serum samples collected from dairy cattle and dogs in 15 farms in Umuarama, PR, were analyzed for the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies using the indirect fluorescent antibody test. From 309 cows examined, 63 (20.4%) were positive, with titers ranging from 100 (23.8%) to 1,600 (11.1%). Three (6.1%) of 49 dogs analyzed were positive. Multivariate analysis of epidemiological factors revealed that production of food on the farm, absence of artificial insemination and access of domestic and wild animals to the facilities or to cattle feed showed significant association with positive serology in cows.

Amostras de soro coletadas de vacas leiteiras e cães em 15 fazendas de Umuarama, PR, foram analisadas para a presence de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum pela reação de imunofluorescência indireta. Das 309 vacas examinadas, 63 (20,4%) foram positivas, com títulos variando de 100 (23,8%) a 1.600 (11,1%). Três (6,1%) dos 49 cães avaliados foram positivos. A análise multivariada dos fatores epidemiológicos revelou que a produção de alimentos na fazenda, a ausência de programa de inseminação artificial e o acesso de animais domésticos e selvagens às instalações das vacas leiteiras ou ao alimento das vacas demonstraram associação significativa com a presence de anticorpos contra Neospora caninum nas vacas.

Muestras de suero colectadas de vacas lecheras y perros en 15 fincas de Umuarama, Paraná, fueron analizadas para detectar la presencia de anticuerpos contra Neospora caninum por reacción de inmunofluorescencia indirecta. De las 309 vacas examinadas, 63 (20,4%) eran positivas, con títulos variando de 100 (23,8%) a 1.600 (11,1%). Tres (6.1%) de los 49 perros evaluados fueron positivos. El análisis multivariado de los factores epidemiológicos reveló que la producción de alimentos en la granja, la ausencia de programa de inseminación artificial, el acceso de animales domésticos y silvestres en las instalaciones de las vacas lecheras o a los alimentos de las vacas, mostraron asociación significativa con presencia de anticuerpos a Neospora caninum en las vacas.

Myonecrosis by Clostridium septicum in a dog, diagnosed by a new multiplex-PCR.

Clostridial myositis is an acute, generally fatal toxemia that is considered to be rare in pet animals. The present report describes an unusual canine clostridial myositis that was diagnosed by a new multiplex-PCR (mPCR) designed for simultaneous identification of Clostridium sordellii, Clostridium septicum, Clostridium perfringens type A, Clostridium chauvoei, and Clostridium novyi type A. A ten-month-old male Rottweiler dog, that had displayed lameness and swelling of the left limb for 12 h, was admitted to a veterinary hospital. The animal was weak, dyspneic and hyperthermic, and a clinical examination indicated the presence of gas and edema in the limb. Despite emergency treatment, the animal died in only a few minutes. Samples of muscular tissue from the necrotic area were aseptically collected and plated onto defibrinated sheep blood agar (5%) in anaerobic conditions. Colonies suggestive of Clostridium spp. were submitted to testing by multiplex-PCR. Impression smears of the tissues, visualized with Gram and also with panoptic stains, revealed long rod-shaped organisms, and specimens also tested positive using the fluorescent antibody technique (FAT). The FAT and mPCR tests enabled a diagnosis of C. septicum myonecrosis in the dog.

Toxoplasma gondii em suínos com ênfase na contribuição brasileira: [revisão] / Toxoplasma gondii in swine with emphasis in Brazilian contribution: [review]

Objetivos: revisar a literatura nacional referente aos principais dados de estudos de toxoplasmose sobre a epidemiologia, patologia e imunologia, frequência de anticorpos e isolamento do parasito em suínos, e as literaturas nacional e internacional sobre avaliação molecular de cepas isoladas de suínos. Fonte de dados: foram pesquisadas as bases de dados Scielo, Scopus, Science Direct e Google Scholar. Síntese dos dados: a toxoplasmose em suínos apresenta alta prevalência sorológica e de identificação do parasito, por isolamento ou detecção de DNA, em grande parte do território nacional, causando problemas neurológicos, reprodutivos e econômicos e aumentando o risco de transmissão para a população humana. As principais fontes de infecção para os suínos ainda são os gatos errantes, responsáveis pela disseminação e adaptação do parasito a novos hospedeiros e condições de sobrevivência alternativas. A biologia molecular trouxe grande contribuição, não somente para a detecção em amostras de animais mortos, mas, principalmente, na elucidação do comportamento evolutivo do parasito na espécie suína. Conclusões: a toxoplasmose em suínos é um problema real tanto na criação como produção de alimentos, o que resulta em grave problema econômico e de saúde pública. Apresenta prevalência variável em suínos no mundo e alta variabilidade genotípica, principalmente na América do Sul.

Aims: To review the national literature of toxoplasmosis about epidemiology, pathology, immunology, antibody frequency and parasite isolation in swine, and the national and international literature on molecular evaluation of strains isolated from swine. Source of data: Survey was performed in Scielo, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar databases. Summary of findings: Toxoplasmosis in swine presents high serological prevalence and parasite identification by isolation or DNA detection, is widely distributed in national territory, causing neurological, reproductive, and economical problems, and increases the risk of transmission to human population. Errant cats, which are the main source of infection to swine, are responsible for the dissemination and adaptation of the parasite to new hosts and alternative survival conditions. Molecular biology contributed significantly to the parasite detection in samples from dead animals and, particularly, in the elucidation of the parasite evolutional behavior in swine species. Conclusions: Toxoplasmosis in swine is a real problem in both breeding and food production, becoming a serious problem to public health. It presents a variable prevalence in swine around the world, and presents high genotypic variability, particularly in South America.