First report and genotyping of Dientamoeba fragilis in pet budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), with zoonotic importance.

The protozoan Dientamoeba fragilis is one of the most common parasites in the digestive system of humans worldwide. The host range and transmission routes of D. fragilis, including the role of animals, are still ambiguous with few reports from non-human primates, sheep, rodents, pigs, a cat and a dog. In this study, we used microscopic and TaqMan qPCR analyses to investigate D. fragilisin 150 faecal samples from pet budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) in the Central Anatolia Region of Turkey. Dientamoeba fragilis DNA was detected in 32 samples, resulting in a mean prevalence of 21.3%. In microscopic examination, trophozoites/cysts of D. fragilis were detected in 13 of 32 qPCR-positive samples. SSU rRNA sequence analyses of the qPCR-positive isolates identified genotype 1 of D. fragilis as predominant in budgerigars. Phylogenetic analyses of the SSU rRNA gene region clustered D. fragilis genotypes, as well as other trichomonads, in separate monophyletic clusters with bootstrap values ≥79.0. Our study provides the first evidence for the natural host status of pet budgerigars for D. fragilisand contributes to the knowledge of the epidemiology of this parasite. The high prevalence of genotype 1 of D. fragilis suggests that pet budgerigars are suitable reservoirs for zoonotic transmission. Our findings contribute to an increased awareness and knowledge of D. fragilis infections in the context of a one-health approach.

Determination of Serum Oxidative Stress, Antioxidant Capacity and Protein Profiles in Dogs Naturally Infected with Ehrlichia canis.

PURPOSE: Canine ehrlichiosis is an important tick-borne disease of dogs worldwide. In the present study, we aimed to determine the serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), superoxide dismutase, (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity and serum protein profiles in dogs affected with naturally acquired ehrlichiosis. METHODS: The animal materials had been consisted of ten dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis, and ten controls negative for Ehrlichia canis. TAC, MDA, NO, SOD, GSH-Px, ADA activity and TP, ALB, GLOB levels were measured in sera of the animals. The serum protein concentrations were measured by autoanalyzer. The electrophoretic profiles of serum total protein were determined by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (Native-PAGE). RESULTS: In dogs with ehrlichiosis, decreased TAC (P < 0.05) and GSH-Px (P > 0.05) levels were determined. However, NO (P > 0.05), SOD (P < 0.05), ADA (P > 0.05), MDA (P > 0.05), TP (P < 0.05) and GLO (P < 0.05) levels were found as increased in the Ehrlichia positive dogs. ALB levels were decreased without a statistical significance (P > 0.05). ALB, α1 and ß2 globulin strip densities were found as decreased in native-PAGE, while ß1 and γ globulin strip densities were significantly increased in the E. canis positive group when compared to the control. CONCLUSION: It was determined that the oxidative stress decreased high antioxidant activity in dogs naturally infected with E. canis, and consequently, pro-oxidant and antioxidant defense and serum protein profiles were affected. It was thought that antioxidant supplementation could be beneficial to the treatment of the disease.

Vitamin E and immunity.

Vitamin E is the most important chain-breaking, lipid-soluble antioxidant present in body tissues of all cells and is considered the first line of defense against lipid peroxidation and it is important for normal function of the immune cells. However, vitamin E deficiency is rare in well-nourished healthy subjects and is not a problem, even among people living on relatively poor diets, both T- and B-cell functions are impaired by vitamin E deficiency. While immune cells are particularly enriched in vitamin E because of their high polyunsaturated fatty acid content, this point puts them at especially high risk for oxidative damage. Besides its immunomodulatory effects, vitamin E also plays an important role in carcinogenesis with its antioxidant properties against cancer, and ischemic heart disease with limiting the progression of atherosclerosis. Supplementation of vitamin E significantly enhances both cell mediated and humoral immune functions in humans, especially in the elderly and animals.