Recovery of Salmonella Gallinarum in the Organs of Experimentally-Inoculated Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix)

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by specific or non specific serotypes of theSalmonella genus, responsible for losses in the poultry industry. Fowl typhoid, caused by S. Gallinarum (SG) is important because it causes elevated mortality in adult birds, leading to economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed at quantifying the number of viable SG cells in the liver, spleen, lung, cecum, and reproductive tract (ovary and testicles) of experimentally inoculated Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix), as well as SG shedding in their feces. One hundred and two Japanese quails, with four months of age at the beginning of the experiment, were used. The birds were inoculated with three bacterial cultures containing different concentrations (6x104CFU/0.1mL, 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, or 5x106CFU/0.2mL) of SG resistant to nalidixic acid. On days 1, 4, 7, and 14 after the inoculation (dpi) individual cloacal swabs were collected from six birds per group, which were subsequently sacrificed for organ sampling. The swab samples were streaked directly on plates containing brilliant green agar and nalidixic acid (VBNal). Samples that were negative after 24h, were streaked again. The collected organs were individually macerated and transferred to buffered peptone water at 0.1%. The solutions were immediately diluted serially for CFU counting in VBNal. SG was successfully recovered from one quail, which was inoculated with 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, and from five quails of the group inoculated with 5x106CFU/0.2mL inoculum. All of the analyzed cloacal swab samples were negative. Therefore, this study demonstrated it was difficult to isolate SG from the analyzed organs and that it was not possible to recover thepathogen in the cloacal swabs collected from inoculated quails. These results may be explained by the absence of flagella in SG, inducing weak intestinal immune response in the beginning of the infection and preventing its isolation in cloacal swab samples. The low positivity rate of the analyzed organs may be due to the immune status of the euthanized birds, since the SG dissemination in the animal organism occurs mostly close to death, which was observed in the birds found dead during the experiment.(AU)

Recovery of Salmonella Gallinarum in the Organs of Experimentally-Inoculated Japanese Quails (Coturnix coturnix)

Salmonellosis is an infection caused by specific or non specific serotypes of theSalmonella genus, responsible for losses in the poultry industry. Fowl typhoid, caused by S. Gallinarum (SG) is important because it causes elevated mortality in adult birds, leading to economic losses in the poultry industry. This study aimed at quantifying the number of viable SG cells in the liver, spleen, lung, cecum, and reproductive tract (ovary and testicles) of experimentally inoculated Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix), as well as SG shedding in their feces. One hundred and two Japanese quails, with four months of age at the beginning of the experiment, were used. The birds were inoculated with three bacterial cultures containing different concentrations (6x104CFU/0.1mL, 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, or 5x106CFU/0.2mL) of SG resistant to nalidixic acid. On days 1, 4, 7, and 14 after the inoculation (dpi) individual cloacal swabs were collected from six birds per group, which were subsequently sacrificed for organ sampling. The swab samples were streaked directly on plates containing brilliant green agar and nalidixic acid (VBNal). Samples that were negative after 24h, were streaked again. The collected organs were individually macerated and transferred to buffered peptone water at 0.1%. The solutions were immediately diluted serially for CFU counting in VBNal. SG was successfully recovered from one quail, which was inoculated with 2x105 CFU/0.4mL, and from five quails of the group inoculated with 5x106CFU/0.2mL inoculum. All of the analyzed cloacal swab samples were negative. Therefore, this study demonstrated it was difficult to isolate SG from the analyzed organs and that it was not possible to recover thepathogen in the cloacal swabs collected from inoculated quails. These results may be explained by the absence of flagella in SG, inducing weak intestinal immune response in the beginning of the infection and preventing its isolation in cloacal swab samples. The low positivity rate of the analyzed organs may be due to the immune status of the euthanized birds, since the SG dissemination in the animal organism occurs mostly close to death, which was observed in the birds found dead during the experiment.

Salmonella Gallinarum virulence in experimentally-infected Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Salmonella Gallinarum is the agent of fowl typhoid in poultry and infects mainly adult galliforms, causing significant economic losses in poultry production. Because quails are susceptible to this disease and quail production is becoming increasingly important in Brazil, this study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of Salmonella Gallinarum strain to quails. The inoculum was prepared from S. Gallinarum strain resistant to nalidixic acid. Forty eight 16-week-old Japanese quails were randomly distributed in three groups. Before the experiment, cloacal swabs were collected from all birds in order to confirm they were free from Salmonella spp. Cloacal swabs and fecal samples were collected on days 03, 06, 09, 12, and 15 post-inoculation. Birds that died during the experiment were submitted to post-mortem examination, and had their organs aseptically collected for bacteriological examination. All eggs produced during the experiment were also examined. The mortality rate recorded during the experiment was 43.75% (21/48). S. Gallinarum was recovered from the organs of the birds that naturally died during the experiment, but the agent was not isolated from the organs of sacrificed birds. No egg sample was positive for Salmonella Gallinarum. It was concluded that S. Gallinarum may be recovered from the organs of experimentally-infected Japanese quails.

Salmonella Gallinarum virulence in experimentally-infected Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Salmonella Gallinarum is the agent of fowl typhoid in poultry and infects mainly adult galliforms, causing significant economic losses in poultry production. Because quails are susceptible to this disease and quail production is becoming increasingly important in Brazil, this study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of Salmonella Gallinarum strain to quails. The inoculum was prepared from S. Gallinarum strain resistant to nalidixic acid. Forty eight 16-week-old Japanese quails were randomly distributed in three groups. Before the experiment, cloacal swabs were collected from all birds in order to confirm they were free from Salmonella spp. Cloacal swabs and fecal samples were collected on days 03, 06, 09, 12, and 15 post-inoculation. Birds that died during the experiment were submitted to post-mortem examination, and had their organs aseptically collected for bacteriological examination. All eggs produced during the experiment were also examined. The mortality rate recorded during the experiment was 43.75% (21/48). S. Gallinarum was recovered from the organs of the birds that naturally died during the experiment, but the agent was not isolated from the organs of sacrificed birds. No egg sample was positive for Salmonella Gallinarum. It was concluded that S. Gallinarum may be recovered from the organs of experimentally-infected Japanese quails.(AU)

Salmonella Gallinarum virulence in experimentally-infected Japanese quails (Coturnix japonica)

Salmonella Gallinarum is the agent of fowl typhoid in poultry and infects mainly adult galliforms, causing significant economic losses in poultry production. Because quails are susceptible to this disease and quail production is becoming increasingly important in Brazil, this study was carried out to evaluate the virulence of Salmonella Gallinarum strain to quails. The inoculum was prepared from S. Gallinarum strain resistant to nalidixic acid. Forty eight 16-week-old Japanese quails were randomly distributed in three groups. Before the experiment, cloacal swabs were collected from all birds in order to confirm they were free from Salmonella spp. Cloacal swabs and fecal samples were collected on days 03, 06, 09, 12, and 15 post-inoculation. Birds that died during the experiment were submitted to post-mortem examination, and had their organs aseptically collected for bacteriological examination. All eggs produced during the experiment were also examined. The mortality rate recorded during the experiment was 43.75% (21/48). S. Gallinarum was recovered from the organs of the birds that naturally died during the experiment, but the agent was not isolated from the organs of sacrificed birds. No egg sample was positive for Salmonella Gallinarum. It was concluded that S. Gallinarum may be recovered from the organs of experimentally-infected Japanese quails.

Avaliação da morfologia, virulência e atividades proteolítica e lipolítica de isolados de Beauveria bassiana s.l. antes e após reisolamento em Rhipicephalus microplus

Beauveria bassiana sensu lato (s.l.) é um fungo cosmopolita de grande importância agrícola. Seu uso na pecuária como biocontrolador de Rhipicephalus microplus apresenta bons resultados. Dentro deste contexto, estudos que associem a análise do desenvolvimento e do metabolismo fúngico permitem selecionar isolados de melhor potencial artropodopagênico. O presente estudo avaliou a morfologia, virulência e atividades enzimáticas de dez isolados brasileiros de B. bassiana s.l. antes (grupo Micoteca) e após reisolamento (grupo Reisolado) através de um ciclo de crescimento sobre R. microplus. Para a morfologia, foram realizadas análises macromorfológicas, através de ponto único de inóculo; micromorfológicas, a partir do cultivo entre lâmina e lamínula, e avaliação da produção de conídios. A virulência foi avaliada a partir da observação dos parâmetros biológicos de fêmeas ingurgitadas de R. microplus após imersão em suspensões aquosas de B. bassiana s.l. (108 e 107 conídios/mL). As atividades proteolítica (semi-quantitativa, total, Pr1 e Pr2) e lipolítica (-nitrofenil palmitato) foram realizadas após 72 horas de crescimento dos fungos em meio mínimo. A estatística dos experimentos foi realizada comparando os dados antes e após reisolamento para determinar os isolados de maior potencial patogênico, além de observar o efeito de uma passagem sobre um hospedeiro em potencial. Os dados paramétricos foram avaliados pela análise de variância (ANOVA) seguida do teste de Tukey e os não paramétricos pelo teste de Kruskal Wallis seguido de Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) com nível de significância de 5%. Quando comparados entre si antes do reisolamento, foram observadas diferenças morfológicas, de virulência e atividades enzimáticas entre os isolados. CG 481 e CG 206 apresentaram os maiores percentuais de controle (65,75% e 61,65%, respectivamente), embora não tenham demonstrado alta atividade enzimática. Quanto ao reisolamento fúngico, o processo alterou em pequena escala a morfologia e a virulência. Em relação à atividade enzimática, a maioria dos isolados elevaram a atividade proteolítica específica Pr2 e a atividade lipolítica. Isolados como Bb 02 e CG 500 foram aqueles que mais sofreram influência após um ciclo de crescimento. Bb 02 aumentou em 1,9 vezes o percentual de controle (15,8% para 30,6%), elevando a produção de conídios e tornando as colônias mais pulverulentas. Além do mais, foi evidenciado também o aumento de todas as atividades enzimáticas (6,3 vezes para Pr1; 2,4 vezes para Pr2 e 9 vezes para atividade lipásica). Em contrapartida, CG 500 reduziu em 4,8 vezes o percentual de controle, além de alterar macromorfologicamente as colônias. As atividades enzimáticas também foram reduzidas em 3,6 vezes para Pr1; 1,2 vezes para Pr2 e 1,6 vezes para a atividade lipásica. Portanto, conclui-se que um ciclo de crescimento de B. bassiana s.l. sobre R. microplus foi capaz de alterar alguns dos isolados avaliados, embora mais passagens pelo hospedeiro sejam necessárias para propiciar resultados mais relevantes. Além disto, o estudo de outras enzimas como as quitinases, a produção de toxinas e a hidrofobicidade dos conídios devem ser considerados na determinação da eficácia fúngica.

Beauveria bassiana sensu lato (s.l.) is a cosmopolitan fungus of great importance in agriculture. Good results are obtained when this microrganism is used as a biocontrol of Rhipicephalus microplus. In this context, studies involving the analysis of the development and fungal metabolism enable to select arthropodopatogenic isolates with better potencial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the morphology, virulence and enzymatic activities of ten B. bassiana s.l. isolates before (Micoteca group) and after reisolation (Reisolado group) through one passage (one cycle) on R. microplus. For morphology was analyzed: macromorphology, performed using the single point of inoculum; micromorphology, with cultivation between slide and cover slip and conidia production. The virulence before and after reisolation was evaluated by observing the biological parameters of R. microplus engorged females after immersion in B. bassiana s.l. aqueous suspensions (108 and 107 conidia mL-1). The proteolytic (semi-quantitative, total, Pr1 and Pr2) and lipolytic activities (-nitrophenyl palmitate) were performed after 72 hours of fungal growth on minimal medium. The statistical analysis of the experiments was performed by comparing the data before and after reisolation for determining isolates with greater pathogenic potential and observing the effect of one passage to the potential host. Parametric data were evaluated by analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey test and nonparametric data by Kruskal-Wallis test followed by Student-Newman-Keuls test (SNK) with 5% significance. When compared to each other before reisolation, morphological, virulence and enzymatic activities differences were observed among the isolates. CG 481 and CG 206 showed the highest control percentage (65.75% and 61.65%, respectively), although do not show the highest enzyme activity. After fungal reisolation, the process changed in small-scale the morphology and virulence. In enzymatic activity, most isolates increased the Pr2 and the lipase activities. Isolates as Bb 02 and CG 500 were those who suffered most influence after growth cycle. Bb 02 increased 1.9 times the control percentage (15.8% to 30.6%), incrementing the conidia production and making colonies that are more powdery. For this isolate was also evidenced an increase in all the enzyme activities (6.3 times to Pr1; 2.4 times to Pr2 and 9 times to lipase activity). Differently, CG 500 reduced 4.8 times the control percentage and changed the macromorphology. The enzymatic activities were also reduced by 3.6 times to Pr1; 1.2 times to Pr2 and 1.6 times to lipase activity. Therefore, the study concluded that one B. bassiana s.l. passage on R. microplus was able to change some of the isolates, although more passes by the host are necessary to provide relevant results with other isolates. Moreover, the study of enzymes such as chitinases, production of toxins and hydrophobicity of conidia should be considered to determine the fungal effectiveness.