Laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis

Brucellosis, originally known as a Malta fever or undulant fever, is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella that are hostrestricted and affect several mammalian species, including humans. It is a zoonosis widely distributed around the world, whichcauses great economic losses in farm animals due to abortion, the slaughter of infected animals, birth of weak animals, decreasein milk production, and infertility. In humans, brucellosis is a debilitating disease with variable clinical manifestations that can resultin death in some cases. Control of brucellosis in animals requires a correct diagnosis, culling of infected animals, and permanentmonitoring of brucellosis-free herds. Although a clinical presumptive diagnosis is important, it is subjective, and therefore, laboratorialtests including direct and indirect methods are extremely important for an accurate diagnosis. This review discusses current methodsfor laboratorial diagnosis of brucellosis using clinical samples, from animals or humans.

In-feed macrolide Leucomycin (Leucomag 30% PR) for prevention of proliferative enteropathy in experimentally infected pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered leucomycin at 90 and 180ppm for the prevention of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in experimentally infected pigs. A total of 90 commercial five-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to receive leucomycin in feeding at 90 (T2), 180ppm (T3), or untreated (T1). All animals in the treated groups received medicated feed for 14 days starting one day before inoculation. Each pig was inoculated intragastrically with approximately 4.5x10(9) Lawsonia intracellularis in the form of porcine intestinal mucosal homogenate. Body weight, feed consumption and clinic signs were evaluated throughout the study. Necropsies and gross evaluation of intestines were performed in all animals on day 23 post-inoculation (pi) or at death, and ileum samples were collected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for L. intracellularis. Clinical presentation of the disease was more evident in the non-medicated group (T1) than in the medicated ones (T2, T3) between days 16 and 21pi. Average daily gain, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency were better in groups treated with either dose of leucomycin. The total intestine lesion length per group (T1, T2 and T3) was 869, 473 and 331cm, respectively. The majority of the animals (84.4%) were positive for L. intracellularis antigen in ileum sections stained by IHC. Under the conditions of this study, leucomycin administered in feed at 90 and 180ppm for 14 days was effective in improving performance of pigs inoculated with intestinal homogenate containing L. intracellularis.

Este experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de testar a eficiência da leucomicina no controle da EPS. Para isso, utilizaram-se 90 leitões de cinco semanas de idade, provenientes de granja sem histórico clínico de EPS. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos (tratamentos) de 30, sendo T1 o grupo dos inoculados e não medicados, T2 e T3 os inoculados e medicados com 90ppm e 180ppm de leucomicina, respectivamente. No dia zero do experimento, os 90 suínos foram inoculados com aproximadamente 4,5x10(9) L. intracellularis. A medicação foi utilizada nas rações dos grupos T2 e T3 somente do dia anterior até 13 dias após a inoculação com L. intracellularis. Ganho de peso, consumo de ração e sinais clínicos foram avaliados durante todo o experimento. Todos os leitões foram eutanasiados 23 dias pós-inoculação (pi). Os sinais clínicos foram mais evidentes nos animais do grupo T1 que nos do T2 e do T3 entre os dias 16 e 21. Ganho de peso diário, consumo diário de ração e conversão alimentar foram melhores nos grupos medicados com leucomicina. A extensão total das lesões intestinais por grupo (T1, T2 e T3) foram de 869, 473 e 331cm, respectivamente. A maioria dos animais (84,4%) teve marcação positiva para L. intracellularis à IHC nas seções de íleo. Leucomicina nas doses de 90 e 180ppm por 14 dias foi eficiente para a melhora do desempenho de leitões inoculados com homogeneizado intestinal contendo L. intracellularis.

In-feed macrolide Leucomycin (Leucomag 30% PR) for prevention of proliferative enteropathy in experimentally infected pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered leucomycin at 90 and 180ppm for the prevention of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in experimentally infected pigs. A total of 90 commercial five-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to receive leucomycin in feeding at 90 (T2), 180ppm (T3), or untreated (T1). All animals in the treated groups received medicated feed for 14 days starting one day before inoculation. Each pig was inoculated intragastrically with approximately 4.5x10(9) Lawsonia intracellularis in the form of porcine intestinal mucosal homogenate. Body weight, feed consumption and clinic signs were evaluated throughout the study. Necropsies and gross evaluation of intestines were performed in all animals on day 23 post-inoculation (pi) or at death, and ileum samples were collected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for L. intracellularis. Clinical presentation of the disease was more evident in the non-medicated group (T1) than in the medicated ones (T2, T3) between days 16 and 21pi. Average daily gain, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency were better in groups treated with either dose of leucomycin. The total intestine lesion length per group (T1, T2 and T3) was 869, 473 and 331cm, respectively. The majority of the animals (84.4%) were positive for L. intracellularis antigen in ileum sections stained by IHC. Under the conditions of this study, leucomycin administered in feed at 90 and 180ppm for 14 days was effective in improving performance of pigs inoculated with intestinal homogenate containing L. intracellularis.

Este experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de testar a eficiência da leucomicina no controle da EPS. Para isso, utilizaram-se 90 leitões de cinco semanas de idade, provenientes de granja sem histórico clínico de EPS. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos (tratamentos) de 30, sendo T1 o grupo dos inoculados e não medicados, T2 e T3 os inoculados e medicados com 90ppm e 180ppm de leucomicina, respectivamente. No dia zero do experimento, os 90 suínos foram inoculados com aproximadamente 4,5x10(9) L. intracellularis. A medicação foi utilizada nas rações dos grupos T2 e T3 somente do dia anterior até 13 dias após a inoculação com L. intracellularis. Ganho de peso, consumo de ração e sinais clínicos foram avaliados durante todo o experimento. Todos os leitões foram eutanasiados 23 dias pós-inoculação (pi). Os sinais clínicos foram mais evidentes nos animais do grupo T1 que nos do T2 e do T3 entre os dias 16 e 21. Ganho de peso diário, consumo diário de ração e conversão alimentar foram melhores nos grupos medicados com leucomicina. A extensão total das lesões intestinais por grupo (T1, T2 e T3) foram de 869, 473 e 331cm, respectivamente. A maioria dos animais (84,4%) teve marcação positiva para L. intracellularis à IHC nas seções de íleo. Leucomicina nas doses de 90 e 180ppm por 14 dias foi eficiente para a melhora do desempenho de leitões inoculados com homogeneizado intestinal contendo L. intracellularis.

In-feed macrolide Leucomycin (Leucomag 30% PR) for prevention of proliferative enteropathy in experimentally infected pigs

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of orally administered leucomycin at 90 and 180ppm for the prevention of porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE) in experimentally infected pigs. A total of 90 commercial five-week-old pigs were randomly assigned to receive leucomycin in feeding at 90 (T2), 180ppm (T3), or untreated (T1). All animals in the treated groups received medicated feed for 14 days starting one day before inoculation. Each pig was inoculated intragastrically with approximately 4.5x10(9) Lawsonia intracellularis in the form of porcine intestinal mucosal homogenate. Body weight, feed consumption and clinic signs were evaluated throughout the study. Necropsies and gross evaluation of intestines were performed in all animals on day 23 post-inoculation (pi) or at death, and ileum samples were collected for immunohistochemistry (IHC) for L. intracellularis. Clinical presentation of the disease was more evident in the non-medicated group (T1) than in the medicated ones (T2, T3) between days 16 and 21pi. Average daily gain, average daily feed consumption and feed conversion efficiency were better in groups treated with either dose of leucomycin. The total intestine lesion length per group (T1, T2 and T3) was 869, 473 and 331cm, respectively. The majority of the animals (84.4%) were positive for L. intracellularis antigen in ileum sections stained by IHC. Under the conditions of this study, leucomycin administered in feed at 90 and 180ppm for 14 days was effective in improving performance of pigs inoculated with intestinal homogenate containing L. intracellularis.

Este experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de testar a eficiência da leucomicina no controle da EPS. Para isso, utilizaram-se 90 leitões de cinco semanas de idade, provenientes de granja sem histórico clínico de EPS. Os animais foram divididos em três grupos (tratamentos) de 30, sendo T1 o grupo dos inoculados e não medicados, T2 e T3 os inoculados e medicados com 90ppm e 180ppm de leucomicina, respectivamente. No dia zero do experimento, os 90 suínos foram inoculados com aproximadamente 4,5x10(9) L. intracellularis. A medicação foi utilizada nas rações dos grupos T2 e T3 somente do dia anterior até 13 dias após a inoculação com L. intracellularis. Ganho de peso, consumo de ração e sinais clínicos foram avaliados durante todo o experimento. Todos os leitões foram eutanasiados 23 dias pós-inoculação (pi). Os sinais clínicos foram mais evidentes nos animais do grupo T1 que nos do T2 e do T3 entre os dias 16 e 21. Ganho de peso diário, consumo diário de ração e conversão alimentar foram melhores nos grupos medicados com leucomicina. A extensão total das lesões intestinais por grupo (T1, T2 e T3) foram de 869, 473 e 331cm, respectivamente. A maioria dos animais (84,4%) teve marcação positiva para L. intracellularis à IHC nas seções de íleo. Leucomicina nas doses de 90 e 180ppm por 14 dias foi eficiente para a melhora do desempenho de leitões inoculados com homogeneizado intestinal contendo L. intracellularis.

Laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis

Brucellosis, originally known as a Malta fever or undulant fever, is a disease caused by bacteria of the genus Brucella that are hostrestricted and affect several mammalian species, including humans. It is a zoonosis widely distributed around the world, whichcauses great economic losses in farm animals due to abortion, the slaughter of infected animals, birth of weak animals, decreasein milk production, and infertility. In humans, brucellosis is a debilitating disease with variable clinical manifestations that can resultin death in some cases. Control of brucellosis in animals requires a correct diagnosis, culling of infected animals, and permanentmonitoring of brucellosis-free herds. Although a clinical presumptive diagnosis is important, it is subjective, and therefore, laboratorialtests including direct and indirect methods are extremely important for an accurate diagnosis. This review discusses current methodsfor laboratorial diagnosis of brucellosis using clinical samples, from animals or humans.