RESUMO
Virulence-associated protein A (VapA) of Rhodococcus equi has been proposed for use both as a vaccine and as a target for antibodies in immunotherapy and diagnostic tests. Epitope mapping of VapA allowed the identification of two B cell epitopes associated with R. equi pneumonia. The peptide NLQKDEPGRASDT was confirmed as an immunodominant N-terminal B cell epitope recognized by all sera from infected foals while VSFQYNAVGPYLNINFFDSS (C-terminal B cell epitope) was exclusively recognized by IgA from the tracheal aspirates. Moreover, specific antibodies produced against the VapA-specific peptide reacted with a major protein (approximately 20 kDa) from R. equi antigens separated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The strong reactivity of mucosal IgA from infected foals with the conserved peptides might constitute an attractive target for diagnosis and vaccine.
Assuntos
Infecções por Actinomycetales/veterinária , Anticorpos Antivirais/imunologia , Proteínas de Bactérias/imunologia , Mapeamento de Epitopos , Doenças dos Cavalos/imunologia , Imunoglobulina A Secretora/imunologia , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/imunologia , Rhodococcus equi/imunologia , Fatores de Virulência , Infecções por Actinomycetales/imunologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Anticorpos Antivirais/sangue , Proteínas de Bactérias/química , Proteínas de Bactérias/genética , Epitopos de Linfócito B , Doenças dos Cavalos/microbiologia , Cavalos , Epitopos Imunodominantes , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/química , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/genética , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Peptídeos/síntese química , Peptídeos/química , Peptídeos/imunologia , Coelhos , Sistema Respiratório/imunologiaRESUMO
Neospora caninum, an apicomplexan protozoan parasite, is recognized as a major cause of abortion in cattle while limited information is presently available on association between equine Neospora infections and abortions. The aim of the present study was to document prevalence of antibodies against Neospora sp. in aborted mares as a clue to the role of N. caninum in mare reproductive failure in Normandy, France. Using an agglutination test, the number of animals with elevated (>80) anti-Neospora sp. antibody titer was higher in a group of 54 aborted mares than in randomly chosen groups of 45 mares and 76 horses sampled for equine arteritis virus and Fasciola hepatica antibodies, respectively (P<0.001). N. caninum DNA was found in 3/91 fetal brains, 2/77 fetal hearts, and 1/1 placenta, and present in both brains and hearts of two fetuses. In 13 cases for which both mare serum and fetus were available, no fetal N. caninum amplification product was present while a large variation of maternal antibody titers was found. Data prompt at additional surveys of association between equine reproductive failure and Neospora sp. infection.
Assuntos
Aborto Animal/parasitologia , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Coccidiose/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Neospora/imunologia , Complicações Parasitárias na Gravidez/veterinária , Feto Abortado/parasitologia , Aborto Animal/epidemiologia , Testes de Aglutinação/veterinária , Animais , Coccidiose/complicações , Coccidiose/epidemiologia , DNA de Protozoário/análise , Feminino , França/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Cavalos , Masculino , Neospora/genética , Neospora/isolamento & purificação , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/veterinária , Gravidez , Complicações Parasitárias na Gravidez/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Estudos SoroepidemiológicosRESUMO
In humans, magnetic resonance (MR) imaging is the method of choice for the diagnosis of stress fractures. In this paper, bilateral stress fracture of the lateral condyle of the third metacarpal bone in a French trotter is described. Results of the radiographic, MR imaging, and histologic examinations are presented, with a focus on the MR signal abnormalities found. Based on this patient, the potential use of MR imaging for the diagnosis of stress fractures in horses is discussed.