Quantifying and mapping digital dermatitis-associated bacteria in lesion and nonlesion body sites and dairy farm environment.

The source of infection of digital dermatitis (DD), an infectious lameness condition, is still uncertain. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to identify potential reservoirs of DD bacteria in dairy cattle body sites with different stages of the disease and farm environments. We collected skin swabs from 85 dairy cows from 5 herds, 3 with and 2 without DD, from foot, hock, and udder cleft skin (with lesions or not), saliva, urine, and feces. We also obtained environmental samples. Real-time quantitative PCR targeted Treponema phagedenis, Treponema medium, Treponema pedis, Porphyromonas levii, Bacteroides pyogenes, Fusobacterium necrophorum, and Fusobacterium mortiferum. Digital dermatitis-associated Treponema spp. were exclusively detected in DD-affected herds in DD-foot and other skin lesions, healthy skin, saliva, and environmental samples. In contrast, the non-Treponema spp. were found in samples from both DD-negative and affected herds. As expected, DD lesions had higher bacterial loads than healthy skin. Interestingly, similar counts were observed in udder cleft lesions, indicating a potential opportunistic behavior on compromised skin. None of the targeted species were detected in fecal samples, but P. levii, B. pyogenes, and F. necrophorum were detected in urine. All 7 species were detected in saliva, although in low quantities. No associations were observed between the presence of each bacterial species in DD lesions and urine; however, there was an association between the presence of DD-Treponema spp. in lesions and saliva, hock, and udder skin. Feces and urine do not seem to be a DD bacteria primary source, but saliva and other skin lesions may play a role. Longitudinal studies would improve our understanding of DD-associated bacteria's transient or persistent presence in these sites. Investigating the sources of DD-associated bacteria will guide future interventions to minimize bacterial shedding and transmission, ultimately more effectively reducing bacterial load, transmission, and sources of infection in dairy herds.

Access to Liver Transplantation in Different ABO-Blood Groups and "Exceptions Points" in a Model for End-Stage Liver Disease Allocation System: A Brazilian Single-Center Study.

BACKGROUND: In the Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) system, patients with "MELD exceptions" points may have unfair privilege in the competition for liver grafts. Furthermore, organ distribution following identical ABO blood types may also result in unjust organ allocation. The aim of this study was to investigate access to liver transplantation in a tertiary Brazilian center, regarding "MELD exceptions" situations and among ABO-blood groups. METHODS: A total of 465 adult patients on the liver waitlist from August 2015 to August 2016 were followed up until August 2017. Patients were divided into groups according to ABO-blood type and presence of "exceptions points." RESULTS: No differences in outcomes were observed among ABO-blood groups. However, patients from B and AB blood types spent less time on the list than patients from A and O groups (median, 46, 176, 415, and 401 days, respectively; P = .03). "Exceptions points" were granted for 141 patients (30.1%), hepatocellular carcinoma being the most common reason (52.4%). Patients with "exceptions points" showed higher transplantation rate, lower mortality on the list, and lower delta-MELD than non-exceptions patients (56.7% vs 19.1% [P < .01]; 18.4% vs 38.5% [P < .01], and 2.0 ± 2.6 vs 6.9 ± 7.0 [P < .01], respectively). Patients with refractory ascites had a higher mortality rate than those with other "exceptions" or without (48%). CONCLUSIONS: The MELD system provides equal access to liver transplantation among ABO-blood types, despite shorter time on the waitlist for AB and B groups. The current MELD exception system provides advantages for candidates with "exception points," resulting in superior outcomes compared with those without exceptions.

Better Selection Criteria With Prognostic Factors for Liver Transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Liver transplantation has evolved significantly in recent years, with each advancement part of the effort toward increasing patient and graft survival as well as quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate the prognostic factors and selection criteria for liver transplantation. METHODS: Our study was a statistical analysis, logistic regression, and survival evaluation of a total of 80 liver transplants that were performed between June 1, 2016 and September 24, 2016. Recipient factors evaluated included age, retransplantation, hemodialysis, cardiac risk, portal vein thrombosis, hospitalization, fulminant hepatitis, previous surgery, renal failure, and Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) score. Donor factors included age, cardiac arrest, acidosis, days in the intensive care unit, steatosis, and vasoactive drug use. RESULTS: Of the 80 patients transplanted, 65 deceased donor liver transplants (DDLTs) and 15 living donor liver transplants (LDLTs) were performed. LDLT overall 1-year patient survival was 77.5% and graft survival 75%, and DDLT overall patient survival was 89.23% and graft survival was 86.15%. On evaluated score criteria analyzed we observed a significant score on recipient (P = .01) and not significant on donor (P =.45). Isolated factors evaluated included recipient age (relative risk [RR] 3.15, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.89 to 11.09; P = .074), retransplant (RR 4.22, 95% CI 1.36 to 13.1; P = .013), and hemodialysis (RR 4.23, 95% CI 1.45 to 12.31, P = .008). On donor evaluation, we observed moderate and severe steatosis (RR 3.8, 95% CI 0.86 to 16.62; P = .06). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, we demonstrate a relevant model of criteria selection of liver transplant patients that is able to make a better match between the donor and recipient allocation for a better graft and patient survival.

Analysis of EGFR and HER-2 expressions in ductal carcinomas in situ in canine mammary glands / Análise da expressão de EGFR e HER-2 em carcinomas ductais in situ da glândula mamária canina

Biomolecular evidence has shown that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) may develop into invasive carcinoma of the canine mammary gland, and mutations in proto-oncogenes HER2 and EGFR; two members of the family of epidermal growth factor receptors, may be involved in this process. The purpose of this study was the characterization of the immunohistochemical expression of the EGFR and HER2 proteins in the process of neoplastic transformation, supposedly present in ductal carcinomas in situ in canine mammary glands. Fifteen cases of DCIS were evaluated, with a higher expression of HER2 and EGFR being observed in low-grade carcinomas when compared with high-grade neoplasms, and with a high positive statistical correlation in the latter. Results suggest that aggressive tumors tend to lose the expression of EGFR and HER2 simultaneously. The loss of the expression of these markers may be related to the process of neoplastic progression in canine mammary tumors...

Evidências biomoleculares sugerem que o carcinoma ductal in situ (CDIS) pode progredir para carcinoma invasor na mama canina e que mutações nos proto-oncogenes HER-2 e EGFR, dois membros da família de receptores para fatores de crescimento epidérmicos, podem estar envolvidas neste processo. A partir disso, este trabalho teve por objetivo caracterizar a expressão imuno-histoquímica das proteínas EGFR e HER-2 no processo de transformação neoplásica supostamente presente em carcinomas ductais in situ da glândula mamária canina. Foram avaliados 15 casos de CDIS, sendo observada maior expressão de HER-2 e EGFR em carcinomas de baixo grau em comparação às neoplasias de alto grau, com correlação estatística positiva alta nestes últimos. Os resultados sugerem que tumores mais agressivos tendem a perder, simultaneamente, a expressão de EGFR e HER-2. A perda na expressão desses marcadores pode estar envolvida no processo de progressão neoplásica em tumores mamários caninos...

Simulium cuasiexiguum, a new blackfly species (Diptera: Simuliidae) from the Minaçu area in the State of Goiás, Central Brazil

During studies of Simuliidae at a suspected new focus of human onchocerciasis in central Brazil a new species of Simulium was found. Full descriptions of the adults and pupae of this species, S. cuasiexiguum, are described here, its affinities to closely related species in the subgenus Notolepria are discussed and its distribution in Brazil recorded