Diagnosis of fasciolosis antibodies in Brazilian cattle through ELISA employing both native and recombinant antigens.

Bovine fasciolosis is a parasitic disease with a global reach. Coprological based on egg detection in fecal samples and liver inspection to evaluate the presence of the parasite is currently the gold standard for diagnosing chronic fasciolosis in cattle. However, these techniques are labor-intensive and ineffective during the acute phase of the disease. Serodiagnosis using native and recombinant antigens has become an interesting alternative in efforts to identify cattle fasciolosis. We evaluated cattle from abattoir (n = 139) and farms (n = 500) through liver inspection and coprological examination, respectively. Our laboratory team optimized and validated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay tests based on somatic antigen, excretory/secretory proteins, and the recombinant antigen cathepsin L-1 to detect serum antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle. For animals from abattoir, 10 were positive for fasciolosis according to liver inspection. Both FhES and FhrCL-1 presented an area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve of 0.80, with a sensitivity of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.46-0.95) and 0.70 (95% CI: 0.38-0.90) and specificity of 0.81 (95% CI: 0.73-0.87) and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.80-0.92), respectively. For those cattle from farms, 28 were positive only for fasciolosis according to coprological examination. In this scenario, FhES gave the best performance, with an AUROC of 0.84, sensitivity of 0.79 (95% CI: 0.60-0.90), and specificity of 0.86 (95% CI: 0.82-0.89). In conclusion, our study highlights the potential of serodiagnosis for accurately screening cattle fasciolosis. The promising sensitivity and specificity values of FhES when compared to liver inspection or coprological examination enhance its importance for cattle fasciolosis diagnosis. IMPORTANCE: The aim of this article was to identify antibodies against fasciolosis in cattle in Brazil. The methodology was reproduced in our laboratory and applied for the first time to the Brazilian cattle herd. The antigens tested can be used as a screening test and thus speed up the diagnosis of bovine fascioliasis.

Serological diagnosis of fasciolosis (Fasciola hepatica) in humans, cattle, and sheep: a meta-analysis.

Fasciola hepatica can cause problems in both animals and humans. Fasciolosis can be diagnosed through the indirect ELISA immunodiagnostic test. Serological diagnosis of Fasciola is based on recombinant antigens secreted by this worm. We used PubMed and Google Scholar databases to review the published literature on 'antigens with immunogenic potential' used in serological tests to identify antibodies against F. hepatica in humans, cattle, and sheep. Studies that investigated diagnostic tests with common reference standards were included in the sensitivity and/or specificity bivariate meta-analysis. In the quality and susceptibility to bias analysis of the 33 included studies, 26 fulfilled at least six (75%) of the eight QUADAS criteria and were considered good-quality papers. We found that most of the studies used native excretory-secretory antigens and recombinant cathepsin in ELISA tests for serological diagnosis of fascioliasis in humans, cattle, and sheep. The meta-analysis revealed that all antigens demonstrated good accuracy. The best results in terms of sensitivity [0.931-2.5% confidence interval (CI) and 0.985-97.5% CI] and specificity (0.959-2.5% CI and 0.997-97.5% CI) were found in human FhES. FhrCL-1, FhES, and FhrSAP-2 antigens gave the best results for the serum diagnosis of human and animal fasciolosis.

Epidemiological Survey and Confirmation of Autochthonous Cases of Bovine Fasciolosis in the Serrana Mesoregion of Santa Catarina, Brazil.

Fasciola hepatica is reported as a trematode of great importance, causing fasciolosis, one of the most neglected zoonotic parasitic diseases in the world. In Brazil, potential losses of around US$ 210 million per year were calculated, with bovine fasciolosis alone. The State of Santa Catarina is located in the South Region of Brazil, with a herd of more than 4 million ruminants. The Serrana Mesoregion, historically free of fasciolosis, is composed of 30 municipalities, which have a consolidated agricultural tradition, mainly in extensive ruminant livestock. The objective of the present work was to investigate the occurrence and distribution of autochthonous cases of bovine fasciolosis in the region. For this, different analyzes were carried out in rural properties from eight municipalities, and in three slaughterhouses under the State Inspection Service (SIE), which received animals from all the Serrana Mesoregion. The rural properties were randomly selected, and up to 20 fecal samples were collected from random cattle older than 1 year, for analysis by coproparasitological sedimentation test. The traceability records of the positives were checked, for identifying autochthonous cases. Additionally, the tracking data of cattle slaughtered between the years of 2018 and 2021, which presented liver condemnations, were analyzed for defining autochthonous cases of bovine fasciolosis. In total, there were fecal samplings in 106 farms, with 1,927 tested cattle. From these, 178 (9.2%) were positive and autochthonous, but the overall result did not reflect the heterogeneity found between the evaluated municipalities. During the analyzed period, 11,556 cattle were slaughtered, with 1,744 (15.1%) liver condemnations due to fasciolosis in animals that never left the Serrana Mesoregion. The present study confirmed the presence of autochthonous cases of bovine fasciolosis in municipalities of the Serrana Mesoregion, and verified a high rate of positivity in animals slaughtered in the regional slaughterhouses. When the prevalence of bovine fasciolosis in vivo was compared with the postmortem positivity index in five municipalities, the results disagreed in four municipalities (p-value < 0.05), emphasizing the need for field investigation for the better understanding of the distribution and frequency of the parasitosis.

Characterization of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica strains isolated from Brazilian poultry production.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles and presence of resistance determinants and integrons were evaluated in Salmonella enterica strains from Brazilian poultry. The analysis of 203 isolates showed that those from the poultry environment (88 isolates) were significantly more resistant to antimicrobials than isolates from other sources, particularly those isolated from poultry by-product meal (106 isolates). Thirty-seven isolates were resistant to at least three antimicrobial classes. Class 1 integrons were detected in 26 isolates, and the analysis of the variable region between the 5' conserved segment (CS) and 3' CS of each class 1 integron-positive isolate showed that 13 contained a typical 3' CS and 14 contained an atypical 3' CS. One Salmonella Senftenberg isolate harbored two class 1 integrons, showing both typical and atypical 3' CSs. The highest percentage of resistance was found to sulfonamides, and sul genes were detected in the majority of the resistant isolates. Aminoglycoside resistance was detected in 50 isolates, and aadA and aadB were present in 28 and 32 isolates, respectively. In addition, strA and strB were detected in 78.1 and 65.6% isolates resistant to streptomycin, respectively. Twenty-one isolates presented reduced susceptibility to ß-lactams and harbored bla(TEM), bla(CMY), and/or bla(CTX-M). Forty isolates showed reduced susceptibility to tetracycline, and most presented tet genes. These results highlight the importance of the environment as a reservoir of resistant Salmonella, which may enable the persistence of resistance determinants in the poultry production chain, contributing, therefore, to the debate regarding the impacts that antimicrobial use in animal production may exert in human health.

Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract of swine in southern of Brazil / Fatores de virulência e resistência aos antimicrobianos de Escherichia coli isoladas do trato urinário de suínos do Sul do Brasil

The present study determined the molecular and resistance patterns of E. coli isolates from urinary tract of swine in Southern of Brazil. Molecular characterization of urinary vesicle samples was performed by PCR detection of virulence factors from ETEC, STEC and UPEC. From a total of 82 E. coli isolates, 34 (38.63 percent) harbored one or more virulence factors. The frequency of virulence factors genes detected by PCR were: pap (10.97 percent), hlyA (10.97 percent), iha (9.75 percent), lt (8.53 percent), sta (7.31 percent) sfa (6.09 percent), f4 (4.87 percent), f5 (4.87 percent), stb (4.87 percent), f6 (1.21 percent) and f41 (1.21 percent). Isolates were resistant to penicillin (95.12 percent), lincomycin (93.9 percent), erythromycin (92.68 percent), tetracycline (90.24 percent), amoxicillin (82.92 percent), ampicillin (74.39 percent), josamycin (79.26 percent), norfloxacin (58.53 percent), enrofloxacin (57.31 percent), gentamicin (39.02 percent), neomycin (37.8 percent), apramycin (30.48 percent), colistine (30.48 percent) and cefalexin (6.09 percent). A number of 32 (39.02 percent) E. coli isolates harbored plasmids.

O presente estudo teve por objetivo determinar os padrões moleculares e de resistência aos antimicrobianos de isolados de E. coli provenientes do trato urinário de suínos no Sul do Brasil. Os fatores estudados dividiram os patotipos ETEC, STEC e UPEC. Trinta e quatro (38,63 por cento) isolados avaliados apresentavam um ou mais dos fatores de virulência pesquisados. A freqüência dos genes de virulência detectados foram: pap (10,97 por cento), hlyA (10,97 por cento), iha (9,75 por cento), lt (8,53 por cento), sta (7,31 por cento) sfa (6,09 por cento), f4 (4,87 por cento), f5 (4,87 por cento), stb (4,87 por cento), f6 (1,21 por cento) e f41 (1,21 por cento). Os isolados foram resistentes à penicilina (95,12 por cento), lincomicina (93,9 por cento), eritromicina (92,68 por cento), tetraciclina (90,24 por cento), amoxacilina (82,92 por cento), ampicilina (74,39 por cento), josamicina (79,26 por cento), norfloxacina (58,53 por cento), enrofloxacina (57,31 por cento), gentamicina (39,02 por cento), neomicina (37,8 por cento), apramicina (30,48 por cento), colistina (30,48 por cento) e cefalexina (6,09 por cento). Trinta e dois (39,02 por cento) isolados de E. coli continham plasmídeos.

Virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance of escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract of swine in southern of Brazil.

The present study determined the molecular and resistance patterns of E. coli isolates from urinary tract of swine in Southern of Brazil. Molecular characterization of urinary vesicle samples was performed by PCR detection of virulence factors from ETEC, STEC and UPEC. From a total of 82 E. coli isolates, 34 (38.63%) harbored one or more virulence factors. The frequency of virulence factors genes detected by PCR were: pap (10.97%), hlyA (10.97%), iha (9.75%), lt (8.53%), sta (7.31%) sfa (6.09%), f4 (4.87%), f5 (4.87%), stb (4.87%), f6 (1.21%) and f41 (1.21%). Isolates were resistant to penicillin (95.12%), lincomycin (93.9%), erythromycin (92.68%), tetracycline (90.24%), amoxicillin (82.92%), ampicillin (74.39%), josamycin (79.26%), norfloxacin (58.53%), enrofloxacin (57.31%), gentamicin (39.02%), neomycin (37.8%), apramycin (30.48%), colistine (30.48%) and cefalexin (6.09%). A number of 32 (39.02%) E. coli isolates harbored plasmids.