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1.
Epidemiol Infect ; 141(5): 1029-33, 2013 May.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22857007

RESUMO

Toxoplasma gondii and Bartonella spp. are zoonotic pathogens of cats. Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) are immunosuppressive viruses of cats that can affect T. gondii oocyst shedding. In this study, the prevalence of antibodies to T. gondii, Bartonella spp., FIV, as well as FeLV antigens were determined in sera from feral cats (Felis catus) from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Using the modified agglutination test, IgG antibodies to T. gondii were found in 41 (85.4%) of the 48 cats with titres of 1:25 in one, 1:50 in one, 1:200 in six, 1:400 in six, 1:800 in six, 1:1600 in eight, and 1:3200 in 13 cats. Toxoplasma gondii IgM antibodies were found in 11/46 cats tested by ELISA, suggesting recent infection. Antibodies to Bartonella spp. were found in five (11%) of 46 cats tested. Antibodies to FIV or FeLV antigen were not detected in any of the 41 cats tested. The results indicate a high prevalence of T. gondii and a low prevalence of Bartonella spp. infection in cats in Ethiopia.


Assuntos
Infecções por Bartonella/veterinária , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Infecções por Lentivirus/veterinária , Infecções por Retroviridae/veterinária , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Infecções Tumorais por Vírus/veterinária , Envelhecimento , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Bartonella/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Bartonella/sangue , Infecções por Bartonella/epidemiologia , Doenças do Gato/sangue , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Doenças do Gato/virologia , Gatos , Etiópia/epidemiologia , Feminino , Vírus da Imunodeficiência Felina , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Infecções por Lentivirus/sangue , Infecções por Lentivirus/epidemiologia , Vírus da Leucemia Felina , Masculino , Infecções por Retroviridae/sangue , Infecções por Retroviridae/epidemiologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Toxoplasmose Animal/sangue , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia , Infecções Tumorais por Vírus/sangue , Infecções Tumorais por Vírus/epidemiologia
2.
Equine Vet J ; 42(6): 487-93, 2010 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-20716187

RESUMO

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: To determine the sedative, analgesic and anaesthetic drugs and techniques that are used by equine veterinarians. HYPOTHESIS OR OBJECTIVES: To provide equine veterinarians with information concerning veterinary use of anaesthetic techniques, a reflection of the collective experiences of the profession. METHODS: A survey was conducted of those members of the American Association of Equine Practitioners (AAEP) with an electronic mail address on file with the organisation using proprietary, web-based software. The survey was comprised of 30 questions divided into 8 sections: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs; local anaesthesia; alternative techniques; standing chemical restraint; epidural anaesthesia; short-term anaesthesia; long-term anaesthesia; and a place for the respondent to make comments. RESULTS: The response rate was 13.8% (952/6911) AAEP member veterinarians primarily use phenylbutazone and flunixin as anti-inflammatory drugs, and lidocaine and mepivacaine for local anaesthesia. Combinations of drugs are preferred for standing chemical restraint. While many veterinarians frequently utilise short-term anaesthesia, longer anaesthesia is less frequently performed. CONCLUSIONS: Most AAEP member veterinarians use sedatives in combination to provide standing chemical restraint. Extra-label use of drugs is a core component of current equine sedation and anaesthetic practice. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: Equine veterinarians can compare their choices of anaesthetic drugs with others practising equine medicine and surgery and may be stimulated to investigate alternative methods of providing comfort to horses.


Assuntos
Analgésicos/uso terapêutico , Anestésicos/uso terapêutico , Doenças dos Cavalos/tratamento farmacológico , Hipnóticos e Sedativos/uso terapêutico , Dor/veterinária , Médicos Veterinários , Animais , Coleta de Dados , Cavalos , Dor/tratamento farmacológico , Sociedades/organização & administração , Inquéritos e Questionários , Estados Unidos , Medicina Veterinária/organização & administração
3.
Exp Parasitol ; 120(1): 108-12, 2008 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18625501

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona causes protozoal myeloencephalitis and has the ability to infect a wide host range in contrast to other Sarcocystis species. In the current study, five S. neurona isolates from a variety of sources, three Sarcocystis falcatula, one Sarcocystis dasypi/S. neurona-like isolate, and one Besnoitia darlingi isolate were used to compare the enolase 2 gene segment containing the domain I region to previously sequenced enolase genes from Neospora caninum, Neospora hughesi, Toxoplasma gondii, Plasmodium falciparum, and Trypanosoma cruzi; enolase 2 segment containing domain I region is highly conserved amongst these parasites of veterinary and medical importance. Immunohistochemistry results indicates reactivity of T. gondii enolase 1 and 2 antibodies to S. neurona merozoites and metrocytes, but no reactivity of anti-enolase 1 to the S. neurona bradyzoite stage despite reactivity to T. gondii bradyzoites, suggesting expression differences between organisms.


Assuntos
Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/genética , Sarcocystis/enzimologia , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Animais , Tatus , Sequência de Bases , DNA de Protozoário/química , Cavalos , Immunoblotting/veterinária , Imuno-Histoquímica/veterinária , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Gambás , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/química , Fosfopiruvato Hidratase/imunologia , Sarcocystis/genética , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Alinhamento de Sequência/veterinária
4.
J Parasitol ; 94(3): 648-53, 2008 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18605803

RESUMO

Toxoplasma gondii infections in zoo animals are of interest because many captive animals die of clinical toxoplasmosis and because of the potential risk of exposure of children and elderly to T. gondii oocysts excreted by cats in the zoos. Seroprevalence of T. gondii antibodies in wild zoo felids, highly susceptible zoo species, and feral cats from 8 zoos of the midwestern United States was determined by using the modified agglutination test (MAT). A titer of 1:25 was considered indicative of T. gondii exposure. Among wild felids, antibodies to T. gondii were found in 6 (27.3%) of 22 cheetahs (Acynonyx jubatus jubatus), 2 of 4 African lynx (Caracal caracal), 1 of 7 clouded leopards (Neofelis nebulosa), 1 of 5 Pallas cats (Otocolobus manul), 12 (54.5%) of 22 African lions (Panthera leo), 1 of 1 jaguar (Panthera onca), 1 of 1 Amur leopard (Panthera pardus orientalis), 1 of 1 Persian leopard (Panthera pardus saxicolor), 5 (27.8%) of 18 Amur tigers (Panthera tigris altaica), 1 of 4 fishing cats (Prionailurus viverrinus), 3 of 6 pumas (Puma concolor), 2 of 2 Texas pumas (Puma concolor stanleyana), and 5 (35.7%) of 14 snow leopards (Uncia uncia). Antibodies were found in 10 of 34 feral domestic cats (Felis domesticus) trapped in 3 zoos. Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were not found in any of the 78 fecal samples from wild and domestic cats. Among the macropods, antibodies were detected in 1 of 3 Dama wallabies (Macropus eugenii), 1 of 1 western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), 1 of 2 wallaroos (Macropus robustus), 6 of 8 Bennett's wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus), 21 (61.8%) of 34 red kangaroos (Macropus rufus), and 1 of 1 dusky pademelon (Thylogale brunii). Among prosimians, antibodies were detected in 1 of 3 blue-eyed black lemurs (Eulemur macaco flavifrons), 1 of 21 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta), 2 of 9 red-ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata rubra), and 2 of 4 black- and white-ruffed lemurs (Varecia variegata variegata). Among the avian species tested, 2 of 3 bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) were seropositive. Among 7 possible risk factors, sex, freezing meat temperature (above -13 C vs. below -13 C), washing vegetables thoroughly, frequency of feral cat sightings on zoo grounds (occasionally vs. frequently), frequency of feral cat control programs, capability of feral cats to enter hay/grain barn, and type of animal exhibit, exhibiting animals in open enclosures was the only factor identified as a significant risk (OR 3.22, P = 0.00).


Assuntos
Animais de Zoológico/parasitologia , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Testes de Aglutinação/veterinária , Animais , Doenças das Aves/epidemiologia , Doenças das Aves/parasitologia , Aves , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Gatos , Felidae/parasitologia , Marsupiais/parasitologia , Meio-Oeste dos Estados Unidos/epidemiologia , Platirrinos/parasitologia , Doenças dos Primatas/epidemiologia , Doenças dos Primatas/parasitologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Strepsirhini/parasitologia
5.
J Vet Intern Med ; 22(3): 616-29, 2008.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18466255

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious and often fatal neurologic disease of horses, but few studies have investigated risk factors. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate operation- and individual-level factors associated with likelihood of the occurrence of EPM. ANIMALS: Data were collected as part of a study of the US equine industry from 1,178 operations representing 83.9% of horses and 51.6% of operations with > or =3 horses in 28 states. METHODS: Probability-based sampling was used to enroll representative operations in a cross-sectional study. Interviews were conducted to collect information regarding health and management of horses. A nested case-control study was used to investigate risk factors among individual horses. Interview data were combined with climate data, human population density, and opossum regional ecology categories. Data were analyzed using logistic regression to identify risk factors for the occurrence of EPM. RESULTS: Owners reported that 95% of EPM cases included in this study were diagnosed by veterinarians. Variables associated with EPM occurrence on premises included opossum regional ecology, reported exposure to small wildlife, climate, terrain, housing, choice of bedding material, method of storing feeds, equine stocking density, and primary use of horses. Among individual horses, age was most strongly associated with disease risk. Associations also were identified with sex, breed, primary use, and participation in competitions. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Because the risk of EPM occurrence on operations is closely tied to factors that impact exposure to opossums, their feces, and their environment, controlling these exposures may be important in preventing the occurrence of EPM.


Assuntos
Infecções Protozoárias do Sistema Nervoso Central/veterinária , Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Animais , Estudos de Casos e Controles , Infecções Protozoárias do Sistema Nervoso Central/diagnóstico , Infecções Protozoárias do Sistema Nervoso Central/epidemiologia , Análise por Conglomerados , Estudos Transversais , Encefalomielite/epidemiologia , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Cavalos , Entrevistas como Assunto/normas , Masculino , Fatores de Risco , Sarcocistose/epidemiologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Estados Unidos/epidemiologia
6.
J Parasitol ; 93(5): 1222-5, 2007 Oct.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18163363

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona is the most important cause of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurologic disease of the horse. In the present work, the kinetics of S. neurona invasion is determined in the equine model. Six ponies were orally inoculated with 250 x 10(6) S. neurona sporocysts via nasogastric intubation and killed on days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, and 9 postinoculation (PI). At necropsy, tissue samples were examined for S. neurona infection. The parasite was isolated from the mesenteric lymph nodes at 1, 2, and 7 days PI; the liver at 2, 5, and 7 days PI; and the lungs at 5, 7, and 9 days PI by bioassays in interferon gamma gene knock out mice (KO) and from cell culture. Microscopic lesions consistent with an EPM infection were observed in brain and spinal cord of ponies killed 7 and 9 days PI. Results suggest that S. neurona disseminates quickly in tissue of naive ponies.


Assuntos
Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Oocistos/fisiologia , Sarcocystis/fisiologia , Sarcocystis/patogenicidade , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Encéfalo/patologia , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Feminino , Trato Gastrointestinal/parasitologia , Cavalos , Interferon gama/genética , Fígado/parasitologia , Pulmão/parasitologia , Linfonodos/parasitologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Knockout , Sarcocystis/isolamento & purificação , Sarcocistose/parasitologia , Medula Espinal/patologia
7.
J Vet Intern Med ; 31(6): 1871-1876, 2017 Nov.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28887894

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) relies heavily on the clinical examination. The accurate identification of neurologic signs during a clinical examination is critical to the interpretation of laboratory results. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the level of agreement between board-certified veterinary internists when performing neurologic examinations in horses. ANIMALS: Ninety-seven horses admitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at The Ohio State University from December 1997 to June 1998. METHODS: A prospective epidemiologic research design was used. Horses enrolled in the study were examined by the internist responsible for care of the horse, and later by an internist who was not aware of the presenting complaint or other patient history. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and kappa (K) statistics were calculated to assess interobserver agreement. RESULTS: Ninety-seven horses were enrolled in the study. Overall, examiners, also referred to as observers, agreed that 60/97 (61.9%) were clinically abnormal, 21/97 (21.6%) were clinically normal, and the status of 16/97 (16.5%) of horses was contested. There was complete agreement among the examiners with regard to cranial nerve signs and involuntary movements. Disagreement involving severity of clinical signs occurred in 31 horses, and 25 of those horses (80.6%) were considered either normal or mildly affected by the primary observer. When examining the results of all paired clinical examinations for 11 different categories, there was wide variability in the results. When examiners rated the presence or absence of any neurologic abnormalities, lameness, or ataxia, the agreement among observers was either good or excellent for 80% of horses. When assessing truncal sway, the agreement among observers was good or excellent for 60% of the horses. When examining the horses for asymmetry of deficits, agreement was either good or excellent for 40% of the horses. Agreement among observers was excellent or good for only 20% of the horses when assessing muscle atrophy, spasticity (hypermetria), and overall assessment of the severity of neurologic abnormalities. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: This study underscores the subjectivity of the neurologic examination and demonstrates a reasonable level of agreement that may be achieved when different clinicians examine the same horse.


Assuntos
Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/diagnóstico , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/veterinária , Variações Dependentes do Observador , Animais , Ataxia/diagnóstico , Ataxia/veterinária , Coccidiose/veterinária , Discinesias/diagnóstico , Discinesias/veterinária , Encefalomielite/diagnóstico , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Cavalos , Doenças do Sistema Nervoso/diagnóstico , Exame Físico/normas , Exame Físico/veterinária , Estudos Prospectivos , Reprodutibilidade dos Testes , Sarcocistose/veterinária
8.
J Parasitol ; 92(3): 637-43, 2006 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16884012

RESUMO

The ability of ponazuril to prevent or limit clinical signs of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) after infection with Sarcocystis neurona was evaluated. Eighteen horses were assigned to 1 of 3 groups: no treatment, 2.5 mg/kg ponazuril, or 5.0 mg/kg ponazuril. Horses were administered ponazuril, once per day, beginning 7 days before infection (study day 0) and continuing for 28 days postinfection. On day 0, horses were stressed by transport and challenged with 1 million S. neurona sporocysts per horse. Sequential neurologic examinations were performed, and serum and cerebrospinal fluid were collected and assayed for antibodies to S. neurona. All horses in the control group developed neurologic signs, whereas only 71 and 40% of horses in the 2.5 and 5.0 mg/kg ponazuril groups, respectively, developed neurologic abnormalities. This was significant at P = 0.034 by using Fisher exact test. In addition, seroconversion was decreased in the 5.0 mg/kg group compared with the control horses (100 vs. 40%; P = 0.028). Horses with neurologic signs were killed, and a post-mortem examination was performed. Mild-to-moderate, multifocal signs of neuroinflammation were observed. These results confirm that treatment with ponazuril at 5.0 mg/kg minimizes, but does not eliminate, infection and clinical signs of EPM in horses.


Assuntos
Antiprotozoários/uso terapêutico , Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/prevenção & controle , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Triazinas/uso terapêutico , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Western Blotting/veterinária , Contagem de Células/veterinária , Sistema Nervoso Central/patologia , Líquido Cefalorraquidiano/citologia , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Encefalomielite/prevenção & controle , Contagem de Eritrócitos/veterinária , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/imunologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Cavalos , Masculino , Exame Neurológico/veterinária , Distribuição Aleatória , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocistose/imunologia , Sarcocistose/prevenção & controle , Índice de Gravidade de Doença
9.
J Vet Intern Med ; 20(2): 322-8, 2006.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-16594589

RESUMO

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious neurologic disease of horses caused primarily by the protozoal parasite Sarcocystis neurona. Currently available antemortem diagnostic testing has low specificity. The hypothesis of this study was that serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of horses experimentally challenged with S neurona would have an increased S neurona-specific IgM (Sn-IgM) concentration after infection, as determined by an IgM capture enzyme linked immunoassay (ELISA). The ELISA was based on the S neurona low molecular weight protein SNUCD-1 antigen and the monoclonal antibody 2G5 labeled with horseradish peroxidase. The test was evaluated using serum and CSF from 12 horses experimentally infected with 1.5 million S neurona sporocysts and 16 horses experimentally infected with varying doses (100 to 100,000) of S neurona sporocysts, for which results of histopathologic examination of the central nervous system were available. For horses challenged with 1.5 million sporocysts, there was a significant increase in serum Sn-IgM concentrations compared with values before infection at weeks 2-6 after inoculation (P < .0001). For horses inoculated with lower doses of S neurona, there were significant increases in serum Sn-IgM concentration at various points in time after inoculation, depending on the challenge dose (P < .01). In addition, there was a significant increase between the CSF Sn-IgM concentrations before and after inoculation (P < .0001). These results support further evaluation of the assay as a diagnostic test during the acute phase of EPM.


Assuntos
Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/diagnóstico , Imunoglobulina M/análise , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Ensaio de Imunoadsorção Enzimática/métodos , Doenças dos Cavalos/sangue , Doenças dos Cavalos/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Cavalos , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Imunoglobulina M/imunologia , Sarcocistose/sangue , Sarcocistose/líquido cefalorraquidiano , Sarcocistose/diagnóstico , Sensibilidade e Especificidade , Fatores de Tempo
10.
J Parasitol ; 101(4): 462-7, 2015 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-25811893

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona is considered the major etiologic agent of equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM), a neurological disease in horses. Raccoon ( Procyon lotor ) is considered the most important intermediate host in the life cycle of S. neurona in the United States; S. neurona sarcocysts do mature in raccoon muscles, and raccoons also develop clinical signs simulating EPM. The focus of this study was to determine if sarcocysts would develop in raccoons experimentally inoculated with different host-derived strains of in vitro-cultivated S. neurona merozoites. Four raccoons were inoculated with strains derived from a raccoon, a sea otter, a cat, and a horse. Raccoon tissues were fed to laboratory-raised opossums ( Didelphis virginiana ), the definitive host of S. neurona . Intestinal scraping revealed sporocysts in opossums who received muscle tissue from raccoons inoculated with the raccoon-derived or the sea otter-derived isolates. These results demonstrate that sarcocysts can mature in raccoons inoculated with in vitro-derived S. neurona merozoites. In contrast, the horse and cat-derived isolates did not produce microscopically or biologically detected sarcocysts. Immunoblot analysis revealed both antigenic and antibody differences when testing the inoculated raccoons. Immunohistochemical staining indicated differences in staining between the merozoite and sarcocyst stages. The successful infections achieved in this study indicates that the life cycle can be manipulated in the laboratory without affecting subsequent stage development, thereby allowing further purification of strains and artificial maintenance of the life cycle.


Assuntos
Estágios do Ciclo de Vida , Gambás/parasitologia , Guaxinins/parasitologia , Sarcocystis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Gatos , Feminino , Cavalos , Imuno-Histoquímica/veterinária , Intestinos/parasitologia , Camundongos , Músculos/parasitologia , Oocistos/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Lontras , Gravidez , Coelhos , Sarcocystis/classificação , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocistose/parasitologia
11.
Vet Parasitol ; 107(3): 265-9, 2002 Aug 02.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12127255

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona is the most important cause of a neurologic disease of horses, equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Cats and other carnivores can act as its intermediate hosts and horses are aberrant hosts. Little is known of the sero-epidemiology of S. neurona infections in cats. In the present study, antibodies to S. neurona were evaluated by the S. neurona agglutination test (SAT). Cats fed sporocysts from the feces of naturally infected opossums or inoculated intramuscularly with S. neurona merozoites developed high levels (> or =1:4000) of SAT antibodies. Antibodies to S. neurona were not found in a cat inoculated with merozoites of the closely related parasite, Sarcocystis falcatula. These results should be useful in studying sero-epidemiology of S. neurona infections in cats.


Assuntos
Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Sarcocystis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Bioensaio , Doenças do Gato/sangue , Doenças do Gato/imunologia , Gatos , Cortisona/administração & dosagem , Cães , Músculo Esquelético/parasitologia , Gambás , Sarcocistose/sangue , Sarcocistose/parasitologia
12.
Vet Parasitol ; 117(4): 239-49, 2003 Nov 28.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-14637026

RESUMO

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is a serious neurologic disease in the horse most commonly caused by Sarcocystis neurona. The domestic cat (Felis domesticus) is an intermediate host for S. neurona. In the present study, nine farms, known to have prior clinically diagnosed cases of EPM and a resident cat population were identified and sampled accordingly. In addition to the farm cats sampled, samples were also collected from a mobile spay and neuter clinic. Overall, serum samples were collected in 2001 from 310 cats, with samples including barn, feral and inside/outside cats. Of these 310 samples, 35 were from nine horse farms. Horse serum samples were also collected and traps were set for opossums at each of the farms. The S. neurona direct agglutination test (SAT) was used for both the horse and cat serum samples (1:25 dilution). Fourteen of 35 (40%) cats sampled from horse farms had circulating S. neurona agglutinating antibodies. Twenty-seven of the 275 (10%) cats from the spay/neuter clinic also had detectable S. neurona antibodies. Overall, 115 of 123 (93%) horses tested positive for anti-S. neurona antibodies, with each farm having greater than a 75% exposure rate among sampled horses. Twenty-one opossums were trapped on seven of the nine farms. Eleven opossums had Sarcocystis sp. sporocysts, six of them were identified as S. neurona sporocysts based on bioassays in gamma-interferon gene knockout mice with each opossum representing a different farm. Demonstration of S. neurona agglutinating antibodies in domestic and feral cats corroborates previous research demonstrating feral cats to be naturally infected, and also suggests that cats can be frequently infected with S. neurona and serve as one of several natural intermediate hosts for S. neurona.


Assuntos
Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Vetores de Doenças , Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/epidemiologia , Gambás/parasitologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Testes de Aglutinação/veterinária , Animais , Animais Domésticos , Animais Selvagens , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Bioensaio/veterinária , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Gatos , Reservatórios de Doenças/veterinária , Encefalomielite/epidemiologia , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Cavalos , Interações Hospedeiro-Parasita , Masculino , Camundongos , Músculo Esquelético/parasitologia , Ohio/epidemiologia , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocystis/isolamento & purificação , Sarcocistose/epidemiologia , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos
13.
J Parasitol ; 88(4): 802-3, 2002 Aug.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12197137

RESUMO

Antibodies to Toxoplasma gondii were determined in serum samples from 275 domestic cats from a mobile spay and neuter clinic from 8 counties in Ohio. The modified agglutination test incorporating whole formalinized tachyzoites and mercaptoethanol was used to determine antibodies. Antibodies to T. gondii were found in 133 (48%) out of 275 cats: in titers of 1:25 in 24, 1:50 in 37, and 1:500 or more in 72. The highest prevalence (62% of 78) was in outdoor cats. The prevalence of T. gondii antibodies in 48% of cats suggests wide-spread contamination of the rural environment with oocysts.


Assuntos
Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Testes de Aglutinação , Animais , Doenças do Gato/sangue , Gatos , Ohio/epidemiologia , Prevalência , Estudos Soroepidemiológicos , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/sangue
14.
J Parasitol ; 88(6): 1164-70, 2002 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12537112

RESUMO

The effect of inoculation dose of Sarcocystis neurona sporocysts on the development of clinical neurologic disease in horses was investigated. Twenty-four seronegative weanling horses were subjected to the natural stress of transport and then randomly assigned to 6 treatment groups of 4 horses each. Horses were then immediately inoculated with either 10(2), 10(3), 10(4), 10(5), or 10(6) S. neurona sporocysts or placebo using nasogastric tube and housed indoors. Weekly neurologic examinations were performed by a blinded observer. Blood was collected weekly for antibody determination by Western blot analysis. Cerebrospinal fluid was collected before inoculation and before euthanasia for S. neurona antibody determination. Horses were killed and necropsied between 4 and 5 wk after inoculation. Differences were detected among dose groups based on seroconversion times, severity of clinical neurologic signs, and presence of microscopic lesions. Seroconversion of challenged horses was observed as early as 14 days postinfection in the 10(6) sporocyst dose group. Mild to moderate clinical signs of neurologic disease were produced in challenged horses from all groups, with the most consistent signs seen in the 10(6) sporocyst dose group. Histologic lesions suggestive of S. neurona infection were detected in 4 of the 20 horses fed sporocysts. Parasites were not detected in equine tissues by light microscopy, immunohistochemistry, or bioassay in gamma-interferon gene knockout mice. Control horses remained seronegative for the duration of the study and had no histologic evidence of protozoal infection.


Assuntos
Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Sarcocystis/fisiologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Células Cultivadas , Sistema Nervoso Central/parasitologia , Sistema Nervoso Central/patologia , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Feminino , Cavalos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Exame Neurológico/veterinária , Distribuição Aleatória , Sarcocistose/parasitologia
15.
J Parasitol ; 88(6): 1151-8, 2002 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-12537110

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona causes encephalomyelitis in many species of mammals and is the most important cause of neurologic disease in the horse. Its complete life cycle is unknown, particularly its development and localization in the intermediate host. Recently, the raccoon (Procyon lotor) was recognized as a natural intermediate host of S. neurona. In the present study, migration and development of S. neurona was studied in 10 raccoons that were fed S. neurona sporocysts from experimentally infected opossums; 4 raccoons served as controls. Raccoons were examined at necropsy 1, 3, 5, 7, 10, 14, 15, 22, 37, and 77 days after feeding on sporocysts (DAFS). Tissue sections of most of the organs were studied histologically and reacted with anti-S. neurona-specific polyclonal rabbit serum in an immunohistochemical test. Parasitemia was demonstrated in peripheral blood of raccoons 3 and 5 DAFS. Individual zoites were seen in histologic sections of intestines of raccoons euthanized 1, 3, and 5 DAFS. Schizonts and merozoites were seen in many tissues 7 to 22 DAFS, particularly in the brain. Sarcocysts were seen in raccoons killed 22 DAFS. Sarcocysts at 22 DAFS were immature and seen only in skeletal muscle. Mature sarcocysts were seen in all skeletal samples, particularly in the tongue of the raccoon 77 DAFS; these sarcocysts were infective to laboratory-raised opossums. This is the first report of the complete development of S. neurona schizonts and sarcocysts in a natural intermediate host.


Assuntos
Encefalomielite/veterinária , Estágios do Ciclo de Vida , Guaxinins/parasitologia , Sarcocystis/crescimento & desenvolvimento , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Imuno-Histoquímica/veterinária , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Gambás , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocystis/fisiologia , Sarcocystis/ultraestrutura , Sarcocistose/parasitologia
16.
J Parasitol ; 90(6): 1487-91, 2004 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15715250

RESUMO

Sarcocystis neurona and Sarcocystis fayeri infections are common in horses in the Americas. Their antemortem diagnosis is important because the former causes a neurological disorder in horses, whereas the latter is considered nonpathogenic. There is a concern that equine antibodies to S. fayeri might react with S. neurona antigens in diagnostic tests. In this study, 4 ponies without demonstrable serum antibodies to S. neurona by Western immunoblot were used. Three ponies were fed 1 x 10(5) to 1 x 10(7) sporocysts of S. fayeri obtained from dogs that were fed naturally infected horse muscles. All ponies remained asymptomatic until the termination of the experiment, day 79 postinoculation (PI). All serum samples collected were negative for antibodies to S. neurona using the Western blot at the initial screening, just before inoculation with S. fayeri (day 2) and weekly until day 79 PI. Cerebrospinal fluid samples from each pony were negative for S. neurona antibodies. Using the S. neurona agglutination test, antibodies to S. neurona were not detected in 1:25 dilution of sera from any samples, except that from pony no. 4 on day 28; this pony had received 1 X 10(7) sporocysts. Using indirect immunofluorescence antibody tests (IFATs), 7 serum samples were found to be positive for S. neurona antibodies from 1:25 to 1:400 dilutions. Sarcocystis fayeri sarcocysts were found in striated muscles of all inoculated ponies, with heaviest infections in the tongue. All sarcocysts examined histologically appeared to contain only microcytes. Ultrastructurally, S. fayeri sarcocysts could be differentiated from S. neurona sarcocysts by the microtubules (mt) in villar protrusions on sarcocyst walls; in S. fayeri the mt extended from the villar tips to the pellicle of zoites, whereas in S. neurona the mt were restricted to the middle of the cyst wall. Results indicate that horses with S. fayeri infections may be misdiagnosed as being S. neurona infected using IFAT, and further research is needed on the serologic diagnosis of S. neurona infections.


Assuntos
Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Sarcocystis/classificação , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Testes de Aglutinação/veterinária , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Western Blotting/veterinária , Diagnóstico Diferencial , Cães , Técnica Indireta de Fluorescência para Anticorpo/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/diagnóstico , Cavalos , Imuno-Histoquímica/veterinária , Masculino , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão/veterinária , Microtúbulos/ultraestrutura , Microvilosidades/ultraestrutura , Distribuição Aleatória , Sarcocystis/imunologia , Sarcocystis/ultraestrutura , Sarcocistose/diagnóstico , Sarcocistose/parasitologia , Língua/parasitologia , Língua/ultraestrutura
17.
J Parasitol ; 90(6): 1406-10, 2004 Dec.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-15715237

RESUMO

Previous challenge studies performed at Ohio State University involved a transport-stress model where the study animals were dosed with Sarcocystis neurona sporocysts on the day of arrival. This study was to test a second transportation of horses after oral inoculation with S. neurona sporocysts. Horses were assigned randomly to groups: group 1, transported 4 days after inoculation (DAI); group 2, at 11 DAI; group 3, at 18 DAI; and group 4, horses were not transported a second time (controls). An overall neurologic score was determined on the basis of a standard numbering system used by veterinarians. All scores are out of 5, which is the most severely affected animal. The mean score for the group 1 horses was 2.42; group 2 horses was 2.5; group 3 horses was 2.75; and group 4 horses was 3.25. Because the group 4 horses did not have a second transport, they were compared with all other groups. Statistically different scores were present between group 4 and groups 1 and 2. There was no difference in the time of seroconversion between groups. There was a difference between the time of onset of first clinical signs between groups 1 and 4. This difference was likely because of the different examination days. Differences in housing and handling were likely the reason for the differences in severity of clinical signs. This model results in consistent, significant clinical signs in all horses at approximately the same time period after inoculation but was most severe in horses that did not experience a second transport.


Assuntos
Encefalomielite/veterinária , Doenças dos Cavalos/fisiopatologia , Sarcocistose/veterinária , Estresse Fisiológico/veterinária , Animais , Autopsia/veterinária , Bioensaio/veterinária , Encefalomielite/parasitologia , Encefalomielite/patologia , Encefalomielite/fisiopatologia , Feminino , Doenças dos Cavalos/parasitologia , Doenças dos Cavalos/patologia , Cavalos , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Exame Neurológico/veterinária , Distribuição Aleatória , Sarcocystis/patogenicidade , Sarcocistose/patologia , Sarcocistose/fisiopatologia , Estresse Fisiológico/complicações , Estresse Fisiológico/imunologia , Fatores de Tempo , Meios de Transporte
18.
Equine Vet J ; 46(1): 45-9, 2014 Jan.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23663031

RESUMO

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Resistance to the somatotropic axis and increases in ghrelin concentrations have been documented in critically ill human patients, but limited information exists in healthy or sick foals. OBJECTIVES: To investigate components of the somatotropic axis (ghrelin, growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1 [IGF-1]) with regard to energy metabolism (glucose and triglycerides), severity of disease and survival in critically ill equine neonates. It was hypothesised that ghrelin and growth hormone would increase and IGF-1 would decrease in proportion to severity of disease, supporting somatotropic axis resistance, which would be associated with severity of disease and mortality in sick foals. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective multicentre cross-sectional study. METHODS: Blood samples were collected at admission from 44 septic, 62 sick nonseptic (SNS) and 19 healthy foals, all aged <7 days. Foals with positive blood cultures or sepsis scores ≥12 were considered septic, foals with sepsis scores of 5-11 were classified as SNS. Data were analysed by nonparametric methods and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Septic foals had higher ghrelin, growth hormone and triglyceride and lower IGF-1 and glucose concentrations than healthy foals (P<0.01). Sick nonseptic foals had higher growth hormone and triglycerides and lower IGF-1 concentrations than healthy foals (P<0.05). Growth hormone:IGF-1 ratio was higher in septic and SNS foals than healthy foals (P<0.05). Hormone concentrations were not different between septic nonsurvivors (n = 14) and survivors (n = 30), but the growth hormone:IGF-1 ratio was lower in nonsurvivors (P = 0.043). CONCLUSIONS: Somatotropic axis resistance, characterised by a high growth hormone:IGF-1 ratio, was frequent in sick foals, associated with the energy status (hypoglycaemia, hypertriglyceridaemia) and with mortality in septic foals. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: A functional somatotropic axis appears to be important for foal survival during sepsis. Somatotropic resistance is likely to contribute to severity of disease, a catabolic state and likelihood of recovery.


Assuntos
Estado Terminal , Grelina/metabolismo , Doenças dos Cavalos/metabolismo , Animais , Estudos Transversais , Feminino , Grelina/sangue , Doenças dos Cavalos/sangue , Cavalos , Modelos Logísticos , Masculino , Análise Multivariada
19.
Vet Parasitol ; 196(1-2): 212-5, 2013 Sep 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23375195

RESUMO

The protozoan Sarcocystis neurona is the primary cause of Equine Protozoal Myeloencephalitis (EPM). EPM or EPM-like illness has been reported in horses, sea otters, and several other mammals. The gamma interferon gene knockout (KO) mouse is often used as a model to study biology and discovery of new therapies against S. neurona because it is difficult to induce clinical EPM in other hosts, including horses. In the present study, infectivity of three life cycle stages (merozoites, bradyzoites, sporozoites) to KO mice and cell culture was studied. Two strains of KO mice (C57-black, and BALB/c-derived, referred here as black or white) were inoculated orally graded doses of S. neurona sporocysts; 12 sporocysts were infective to both strains of mice and all infected mice died or became ill within 70 days post-inoculation. Although there was no difference in infectivity of sporocysts to the two strains of KO mice, the disease was more severe in black mice. S. neurona bradyzoites were not infectious to KO mice and cell culture. S. neurona merozoites survived 120 min incubation in 0.25% trypsin, indicating that trypsin digestion can be used to recover S. neurona from tissues of acutely infected animals.


Assuntos
Interferon gama/metabolismo , Merozoítos/metabolismo , Sarcocystis/fisiologia , Sarcocistose/parasitologia , Tripsina/metabolismo , Animais , Sobrevivência Celular , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Interferon gama/genética , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos BALB C , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Oocistos , Sarcocistose/genética , Sarcocistose/imunologia
20.
J Parasitol ; 99(1): 56-8, 2013 Feb.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-22924928

RESUMO

Cats are important in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii because they are the only hosts that excrete environmentally resistant oocysts in feces. In the present study, hearts, serum, and feces from 36 feral cats from Addis Ababa area, Ethiopia, were examined for T. gondii infection. Antibodies to T. gondii were determined with the modified agglutination test (MAT, cutoff 1:25); 33 cats were seropositive. Hearts of all 36 cats were homogenized, digested in pepsin, and bioassayed in mice. Feces were examined for T. gondii oocysts by bioassay in mice. Viable T. gondii was isolated from heart of 26 by bioassay in mice and from 25 seropositive and 1 seronegative cats. Toxoplasma gondii was isolated from feces (oocysts) by bioassay in mice. In total, viable T. gondii was isolated from 27 of the 36 cats, and these isolates were designated TgCatEt1 to TgCatEt27. The high prevalence of T. gondii oocysts in feces of 8 (19.4%) of 36 cats is of high epidemiologic significance. This is the first report of isolation of viable T. gondii from any host in Ethiopia.


Assuntos
Doenças do Gato/epidemiologia , Toxoplasma/isolamento & purificação , Toxoplasmose Animal/epidemiologia , Animais , Anticorpos Antiprotozoários/sangue , Bioensaio/veterinária , Encéfalo/parasitologia , Doenças do Gato/parasitologia , Gatos , Etiópia/epidemiologia , Fezes/parasitologia , Coração/parasitologia , Imunoglobulina G/sangue , Imunoglobulina M/sangue , Pulmão/parasitologia , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Prevalência , Toxoplasma/imunologia , Toxoplasmose Animal/parasitologia
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