Efficacy of Argentine propolis formulation for topical treatment of canine otitis externa / Eficácia da formulação da propólis Argentina para o tratamento tópico de otite externa canina

The therapeutic effects of Argentine propolis ear drop formulation on canine otitis externa were evaluated. Forty-eight dogs with symptoms of otitis externa were randomly assigned to double-blinded, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of topical formulation with propolis versus a topical placebo in the treatment of otitis externa. The propolis preparation and placebo were administrated into both external ear canals, twice daily for 14 days. Throughout the study, clinical examination and microbiological analysis of dogs ear exudates were made. The most frequent microorganisms isolated in culture media were: Malassezia pachydermatis (54.2 percent), Staphylococcus aureus (43.8 percent), coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (25.0 percent), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20.8 percent), Candida albicans (18.8 percent), Proteus mirabilis (16.7 percent), Streptococcus spp. (16.7 percent), Enteroccocus faecalis (12.5 percent), Escherichia coli (12.5 percent), Staphylococcus intermedius (6.3 percent), Klebsiella spp. (4.2 percent), andCandida glabrata (2.1 percent). Whereas the control group did not recover from the infectious ear disease, the propolis preparation exhibited antimicrobial activity against most of the microorganisms isolated from samples of the treated group. In addition, no propolis-adverse effects were observed. This allowed propolis-treated patients to show a significant improvement of the clinical parameters. Thus, this new Argentine propolis ear drop formulation may be used for topical treatment of otitis externa in dogs.

Os efeitos terapêuticos da formulação em gotas óticas de própolis procedentes da Argentina foram avaliados no tratamento da otite externa canina. Quarenta e oito cães com sintomas de otite externa foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em ensaio clínico duplo-cego controlado para avaliar a eficácia da formulação tópica com a própolis contra um placebo tópico no tratamento da otite externa. A preparação de própolis e placebo foi administrada em ambos os canais da orelha externa, duas vezes por dia, durante 14 dias. Ao longo do estudo, os cães foram submetidos a exame físico e à análise microbiológica de exsudatos auriculares. Os mais frequentes microrganismos isolados em meios de cultura foram: Malassezia pachydermatis (54,2 por cento), Staphylococcus aureus (43,8 por cento), Staphylococcus coagulase-negativo (25,0 por cento), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (20,8 por cento), Candida albicans (18,8 por cento), Proteus mirabilis (16,7 por cento), Streptococcus spp.(16,7 por cento), Enterococcus faecalis (12,5 por cento), Escherichia coli (12,5 por cento), Staphylococcus intermedius (6,3 por cento), Klebsiella spp.(4,2 por cento) e Candida glabrata (2,1 por cento). A preparação de própolis apresentou atividade antimicrobiana contra a maioria dos microrganismos isolados de amostras do grupo de tratamento, sendo que os do grupo-controle não se recuperaram da doença infecciosa auricular, e não foram observados efeitos adversos à própolis. Isso permitiu aos pacientes tratados com própolis melhora significativa dos parâmetros clínicos. Essa nova formulação da própolis argentina para o ouvido apresenta potencial utilidade no tratamento tópico da otite externa em cães.

Toxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from pigs in Argentina.

The presence of porcine toxigenic E. coli (ETEC, VTEC) in 28 piggeries (5% of total) of the central and northeast region of Argentina was studied for a better understanding of the epidemiology of porcine strains. Samples were taken by rectal swabs from healthy piglets and from those with diarrhoea, in addition to their dams. Between 5-10 colonies were isolated from each one of 223 animals sampled from 1992 to 1997. By using specific primers each strain was screened by PCR for VT1, VT2all, VT2e, STIa, and LTI toxin genes. Only strains positive for any of the toxins mentioned above were screened for STb. Their O serogroups were determined by agglutination. All of the above enterotoxins and verocytotoxins were found in E. coli isolated from the animals. The STIa gene was detected in E. coli isolated from 27/127 piglets with diarrhoea, in comparison with LTI (4/127 pigs). No toxin gene was amplified from E. coli isolated from either healthy piglets or their dams. When strains isolated from 48 piglets without diarrhoea but showing delayed growth were analysed by PCR, their toxin profile was determined to be VT1 (1/48 piglets), VT2all (5/48), STIa (1/48), LTI (3/48) and VT2e (3/48). Serogroup O64 prevailed among ETEC; O138 prevailed for ETEC/VTEC strains. This is the first extensive study regarding porcine toxigenic E. coli in Argentina and constitutes an important database for the implementation of prevention measures.

[Colibacillosis in swine: proof of vaccine efficacy]. / Colibacilosis en lechones: prueba de eficacia de una vacuna.

The damage caused in the economy and animal sanity by the porcine colibacilosis are significant and they deserve the investigation of preventive measures that give answers to the producers. Existing at the present time approximately 21,000 pigs in Corrientes and 110,000 in Chaco provinces of Argentine, the losses for diarrhea that exterminate whole litters, acquire relevance, specially if they can be prevented or cured. For that reason, having 21 strains of enteropathogenic and verocitotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC/VTEC) isolated from pigs of the North East of Argentine, that were recognized by PCR, two were selected, containing the genes for STIa, STIb, LTI, VT2e (SLT-IIv) and F4 (K88). They were spread on nutrient agar and Minca medium, to obtain the suspension in PBS, which was inactivated with formol. After the sterility and innocuity controls, it was diluted to a 12 x 10(8) concentration to make the mouse protection test in 20 mice, of 18-20 g, inoculating the vaccine the days 1, 4, 7 and 10, by the intraperitoneal route, doses of 0.25 ml each one. The day 21 after beginning the test the animals were challenged with 50 LD50, and a protection of 85% was obtained. To determine the LD50, we prepared a suspension in physiologic solution, corresponding to Mac Farland's tube No 10, making dilutions from 10(-1) to 10(-5) and applying the statistical method of Reed and Muench. These first results encourage us to continue working after a prophylactic measure that were effective, potent and elaborated with strains of this area.

[Trichophyton simii in a "Caí" monkey (Cebus apella) colony in the province of Corrientes, Argentina.]. / Trichophyton simii en una colonia de monos "Caí" (Cebus apella), en la provincia de Corrientes, Argentina.

The objective is to describe an outbreak of Trichophyton simii in a Cebus apella monkey colony in Argentine. During summer, alopecic zones appeared on dorsal regions from head to base of the tail of the animals. The hair and skin of nine animals were streaked onto Sabouraud dextrose with cloramphenicol and incubated at 25 degrees C. By the 10th day, white, filamentous colonies, which turned pale pink, developed from simples of four animals. Microscopical examinations were carried out and, because of colony and macroconidia morphology, were classified as Trichopyton simii. Although infection with T. simii is considered a zoonosis, we did not find human cases.