Noninferiority field trial for evaluation of efficacy of ciprofloxacin associated with internal teat sealant as dry-off protocol.

The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of two dry-off protocols: (a) dry cow therapy using ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 400 mg followed by the administration of an internal teat sealant composed of 4 g of bismuth subnitrate, and (b) a positive control using dry cow therapy with 250 mg cephalonium followed by the administration of 2.6 g bismuth subnitrate internal teat sealant. A total of 578 Holstein cows selected from 7 commercial herds were randomly allocated into two groups at drying off: (a) ciprofloxacin hydrochloride 400 mg (CH) associated with ITS, n = 1112 mammary quarters/296 cows, or (b) positive control (PC) = cephalonium (250 mg) associated with ITS, n = 1058 mammary quarters/282 cows). A total of 1787 out of 2170 mammary quarters (82%) had negative culture at drying off. The microorganisms most frequently isolated at drying off were CNS (5.62%), Strep. uberis (1.9%), Corynebacterium spp. (1.8%), and Staphylococcus aureus (1.01%). A total of 465 mammary quarters experienced new intramammary infections (NIMIs), and the main microorganisms causing NIMI were CNS (21.94%), Strep. uberis (17.2%), and Pseudomonas spp. (9.7%). The CH protocol was not inferior to PC, as the cure risk of mammary quarters CH-treated was at the noninferiority limit. However, the mammary quarters treated by CH protocol had 24% and 31% lower risk of overall NIMI and NIMI caused by major pathogens, respectively, than mammary quarters dried with the PC protocol. In addition, the mammary quarters treated with CH protocol had a lower risk of CM through the first 60 DIM than those treated with PC protocol. Both DCT protocols showed similar odds of microbiological cure, but the CH protocol had greater prevention against NIMI during dry-off period.

Multiple abscesses caused by Salmonella enterica and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in a dromedary camel.

A rare case of arthritis, peri-arthiritis and pleurits associated with Salmonella enterica and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection in a dromedary camel is reported. Articular infections caused by Non-typhoidal Salmonella have been exceptionally described in human medicine. To our knowledge, this would be the first description of articular infections associated with Non-thyphoidal Salmonella in other mammals than humans. Possible pathogenesis of the infection is discussed.

Vaccination confers significant protection of sheep against infection with a virulent United Kingdom strain of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis.

Using a virulent United Kingdom Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis isolate, an ovine experimental model of caseous lymphadenitis was developed, in which the manifestation of disease was equivalent to the naturally observed infection in this country. Subsequently, the capacity of several experimental vaccines to protect against experimental challenge was determined. Sheep were immunised with a recombinant derivative of phospholipase D, deriving from the virulent UK isolate, a formalin-killed bacterin of the same strain, or a bacterin supplemented with recombinant phospholipase D. Following homologous experimental challenge, the phospholipase D and bacterin vaccines were observed to confer statistically significant protection against infection, and appeared to restrict dissemination of challenge bacteria beyond the inoculation site in the majority of animals. More importantly, the combined vaccine succeeded in providing absolute protection against infection, whereby challenge bacteria were eradicated from all vaccinates. In addition to the experimental vaccines, a commercially available CLA vaccine, unlicensed for use in the European Union, was assessed for its capacity to protect against heterologous challenge. The vaccine conferred significant protection, although the dissemination of infection beyond the inoculation site was not restricted as it had been with the previous vaccines. However, no animals immunised with this vaccine manifested infection within the lungs; thus, a potentially important route of disease transmission was eliminated. The results of this study provide information pertinent to the development of an effective caseous lymphadenitis vaccination strategy in the UK.

Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infection in dogs and cats: 7 cases (1996-2003).

OBJECTIVE: To identify clinical features of Corynebacterium urealyticum urinary tract infection in dogs and cats and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of C urealyticum isolates. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 5 dogs and 2 cats. PROCEDURE: Medical records of dogs and cats for which C urealyticum was isolated from urine samples were reviewed. Isolates from clinical cases, along with previously lyophilized unsubtyped isolates of Corynebacterium spp collected between 1977 and 1995, were examined and, if subtyped as C urealyticum, tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. RESULTS: Signalment of infected animals was variable. Prior micturition disorders were common, and all animals had signs of lower urinary tract disease at the time C urealyticum infection was diagnosed. Median urine pH was 8.0; WBCs and bacteria were variably seen in urine sediment. In vitro antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 14 C urealyticum isolates revealed that all were susceptible or had intermediate susceptibility to chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and vancomycin and most were susceptible to enrofloxacin. Thickening of the bladder wall and accumulation of sediment were common ultrasonographic findings. Contrast radiography or cystoscopy revealed findings consistent with encrusting cystitis in 3 dogs. Infection resolved in 2 dogs following surgical debridement of bladder plaques and antimicrobial administration. In 2 other dogs and 1 cat treated with antimicrobials, infection with C urealyticum resolved, but urinary tract infection with a different bacterial species developed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggest that preexisting urinary tract disorders are common in dogs and cats with C urealyticum infection. Treatment with appropriate antimicrobials in combination with surgical debridement might eliminate C urealyticum infection.

Infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis in five alpacas.

Among the population of an alpaca breeding farm, 5 alpacas (22 days to 14 months old) developed focal swellings in the subcutaneous tissues of the head or neck. Infection with Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis was confirmed on the basis of results of microbial culture of abscess material and a serum hemolysis inhibition assay to detect C. pseudotuberculosis toxin. The dams of the affected alpacas were seronegative for C. pseudotuberculosis toxin. The affected alpacas underwent surgical excision of the abscesses and were isolated from herdmates for 90 days; treatment was successful, and no other alpacas in the herd became infected. Common risk factors for sources of infection in the affected alpacas included housing in a maternity barn and a pasture. Also, the infection potentially originated from new alpacas introduced into the herd during the preceding 3 months. Infection with C. pseudotuberculosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis for camelids with peripheral lymphadenopathy or abscesses in subcutaneous tissues.

Identification of corynebacterium bovis and other coryneforms isolated from bovine mammary glands.

Bovine mastitis remains the most economically important disease in dairy cows. Corynebacterium bovis, a lipid-requiring Corynebacterium spp., is frequently isolated from the milk of infected mammary glands of dairy cows and is associated with reduced milk production. A total of 212 coryneform bacteria isolated from the milk of dairy cows were obtained from mastitis reference laboratories in the United States and Canada. All isolates had been presumptively identified as Corynebacterium bovis based on colony morphology and growth in the presence of butterfat. Preliminary identification of the isolates was based on Gram stain, oxidase, catalase, and growth on unsupplemented trypticase soy agar (TSA), TSA supplemented with 5% sheep blood, and TSA supplemented with 1% Tween 80. Of the 212 isolates tested, 183 were identified as Corynebacterium spp. based on preliminary characteristics. Of the strains misidentified, one was identified as a yeast, two as Bacillus spp., 11 as Enterobacteriaceae, 18 as staphylococci, one as a Streptococcus spp., and one as an Enterococcus spp. Eighty-seven coryneforms were selected for identification to the species level by direct sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, the Biolog system and the API Coryne system. Fifty strains were identified as C. bovis by 16S rRNA gene similarity studies: the Biolog and API Coryne systems correctly identified 54.0 and 88.0% of these strains, respectively. The other coryneforms were identified as other Corynebacterium spp., Rhodococcus spp., or Microbacterium spp. These data indicate that the coryneform bacteria isolated from bovine mammary glands are a heterogeneous group of organisms. Routine identification of C. bovis should include Gram-stain, cell morphology, catalase production, nitrate reduction, stimulated growth on 1% Tween 80 supplemented media, and beta-galactosidase production as the minimum requirements.

[Pharmacokinetics of amoxicillin trihydrate in sheep infected experimentally with Corynebacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli]. / Farmakokinetika na amoksitsilin-trikhidrat pri ovtse, zarazeni eksperimentalno s Corynebacterium pyogenes i Escherichia coli.

A comparative experiment was carried out with sheep that were infected i/v and via the joints with Corynebacterium pyogenes and Escherichia coli, and with normal sheep left as controls. The pharmacokinetic parameters were determined of amoxicillin-trihydrate following its i/m application to all animals in a 20 percent oil suspension. It was found that there was delayed excretion of the antibiotic, and as a rule it was maintained in higher concentrations in the diseased animals. the differences were likely to be due to changes in the metabolic processes and to injury of the kidneys.

[Effect of ultraviolet-irradiated autologous blood on the biochemical indices of sheep with a Corynebacterium infection]. / Vliianie na obluchenata s ultravioletovi luchi autogenna kruv vurkhu niakoi biokhimichni pokazateli pri ovtse s korinebakterialna infektsiia.

Twelve sheep were used in two groups of six animals each (a control and a test one). Both control and test animals were infected with a 24-hour broth culture of Corynebacterium pyogenes. The infection was followed up in the course of five days after which the animals of both groups were subjected to autohemotransfusion, whereas the blood transfused with the controls was not treated, and the blood transfused with the test animals was treated with ultra violet rays in vitro. Following the transfusion of both untreated and treated blood the amount of blood sugar rose, it reaching higher levels in the case UV-treated blood. There were changes in the total protein and the protein fractions induced by the Corynebacterial infection, however, the initial levels were more rapidly restored in the case of transfusing UV-treated blood. With autohemotransfusion the values of glutamate-oxalacetate transaminase and glutamate-pyruvate transaminase in all animals dropped. The change was more rapidly and more strongly expressed with the transfusion of UV-treated blood.

[Effect of herbazin 50 on the course of suppurative surgical infection in sheep]. / Vliianie na kherbazin 50 vurkhu protichaneto na gnoina khirurgicheska infektsiia pri ovtsete.

Twelve sheep, divided into two groups of 6 animals each, were used. The first (test) group was offered herbazin -50 with the feed in the course of 90 days after which the animals were infected via the joints with Corynebacterium pyogenes. The second (control) group was also infected with the same pathogen in the same way. During the time the preparation was given and 30 days post infection the animals were kept under observation, following up their clinical, condition, and the occasional morphological and biochemical changes taking place in the blood and the immunobiologic responsiveness. It was found that sheep treated with herbazin -50 with a following infection with Corynebacterium pyogenes raised their blood levels of sugar, total protein, potassium, sodium, magnesium, SGOT, SGPT, and manifested an increased ESR, and lower calcium, inorganic phosphorus, carotene, vitamin A, and cholesterine serum level. It was also established that surgical infections brought about through such introduction of C. pyogenes developed much more rapidly and ran a much more severe course in sheep after the preliminary treatment with herbazin -50. It is believed that they emerged after suppressing the immunologic responsiveness with the use of the preparation.

[Effect of the in vitro ultraviolet irradiation of autogenous blood on hematological, biochemical and biological indices in sheep with experimentally induced sepsis]. / Vliianie na obluchenata s ultravioletovi luchi in vitro autogenna kruv vurkhu niakoi khematologichni, biokhimichni i biologichi pokazateli pri ovtse s eksperimentalno predizvikan sepsis.

Studies were carried out with 10 sheep infected with a 24th hour broth culture of strain 1088 of Corynebacterium pyogenes. The animals were divided into two groups of 5 each--control and test. Autotransfusion of untreated blood was carried out with the control group, and autotransfusion of UV-treated (in vitro) blood--with the test group. Used was a M-LK5 type lamp, and irradiation lasted 10 min. The autotransfusion of both treated and untreated blood was well tolerated by the sheep. It did not cause deviations from the normal clinical indices. It was established that the autohemotransfusion with untreated blood did not bring about changes in reactions that could be clinically followed up in the course of the disease. On the other hand, the autohemotransfusion of blood that was treated in vitro with ultra-violet rays had a beneficial effect on the body as a whole and on the individual clinical indices.