Histochemical study of Encephalitozoon cuniculi spores in the kidneys of naturally infected New Zealand rabbits.

Encephalitozoon cuniculi is an important microsporidian pathogen that is considered an emergent, zoonotic, and opportunistic. It infects both domestic and laboratory rabbits, generating severe chronic interstitial and granulomatous nephritis with fibrosis and granulomatous encephalitis. Encephalitozoonosis is diagnosed in paraffin-embedded sections by examining the spores in the host tissues. The spores are difficult to observe when the samples are stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E), particularly when there is an inflammatory reaction and tissue damage. The spores are easily mistaken for other microorganisms, such as fungi (yeasts), protozoa, and bacteria. In our study, we used kidney samples from E. cuniculi-positive rabbits and employed 14 recommended histologic stains for detecting microsporidia spores: alcian blue, calcofluor white, Giemsa, Gram, Grocott, H&E, Luna, Luxol fast blue, Masson trichrome, modified trichrome stain (MTS), periodic acid-Schiff reaction (PAS), Van Gieson, Warthin-Starry (WS), and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN).We concluded that MTS and Gram stain, detected by light microscopy, and calcofluor white stain, detected by ultraviolet light microscopy, are the best stains for detecting spores of E. cuniculi in paraffin-embedded tissues from infected rabbits. These stains were superior to WS, ZN, Giemsa, and PAS for identifying spores without background "noise" or monochromatic interference. Also, they allow individual spores to be discerned in paraffin-embedded tissues. MTS allows observation of the polar tube, polaroplast, and posterior vacuole, the most distinctive parts of the spore.

Interferon γ and interleukin 10 responses in immunocompetent and immunosuppressed New Zealand White rabbits naturally infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi.

Levels of interferon (IFN)-γ and interleukin (IL)-10 were measured in the serum of immunocompetent and immunosuppressed New Zealand White rabbits naturally infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. IFN-γ levels were elevated in infected rabbits, and a synergic effect was observed in animals treated with the immunosuppressive agent dexamethasone (Dex). The role of IL-10 in infected rabbits remains unclear, as IL-10 levels were similar to those of negative controls. Dex appeared to exhibit a proinflammatory effect, as IFN-γ levels were elevated in infected immunosuppressed rabbits. Similarly, Dex exhibited a synergic effect in infected immunosuppressed rabbits, as evidenced by the elevation in IFN-γ production. These data indicate that the immune response to this glucocorticoid should be considered in the design of future animal model studies of immunosuppression.

Encephalitozoon cuniculi: Grading the Histological Lesions in Brain, Kidney, and Liver during Primoinfection Outbreak in Rabbits.

This is the first confirmed report of Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) in farm meat rabbits located in Northern Mexico. Eighty young rabbits exhibited clinical signs of this zoonotic emerging disease, like torticollis, ataxia, paresis, circling, and rolling. Samples of brain, kidney, and liver were examined for histology lesions. For the first time the lesions caused by E. cuniculi were graded according to their severity (I, II, and III) and the size of the granulomas (Types A, B, and C). The main cerebral injuries were Grade III, coinciding with the presence of Type C granulomas. The cerebral lesions were located in the cortex, brain stem, and medulla. The renal lesions were also Grade III distributed throughout cortex and renal medulla, with no granuloma formation. The involvement of hypersensitivity Types III and IV is suggested. All of the rabbits were seropositive to E. cuniculi by CIA testing, suggesting that this zoonotic and emerging pathogen is widely distributed among animals intended for human consumption. We believe this work could be used as a guide when examining E. cuniculi and will provide direction to confirm the diagnosis of this pathogen.

Histopathological analogies in chronic pulmonary lesions between cattle and humans: basis for an alternative animal model.

Most of the natural cases of pneumonia in feedlot cattle are characterized by a longer clinical course due to chronic lung lesions. Microscopically, these lesions include interstitial fibroplasia, bronchitis, bronchiectasis, bronchiolitis obliterans, and epithelial metaplasia of the airways. Herein, the aim was to review, under a medical perspective, the pathologic mechanisms operating in these chronic pneumonic lesions in calves. Based on the similarities of these changes to those reported in bronchiolitis obliterans/organising pneumonia (BO/OP) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in human beings, calves are proposed as an alternative animal model.

Etiología, patogénesis, diagnóstico y tratamiento de osteocondrosis (OC) / Etiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of osteochondrosis (OC)

Osteochondrosis (OC) is a term used to describe a wide range of different skeletal lesions between different species. Osteochondrosis is a problem that affects fast growing animals and it has been defined as a failure in the endochondral ossification of the articular-epiphyseal cartilage. This failure leads to cartilage thickening and retention, basal necrosis, subchondral bone damage and loose bone fragments in the articular joint. Osteochondrosis is a multifactorial disease in which nutritional, hereditary, endocrine factors, biomechanical influences, and failures of blood supply to growth cartilage play an important role. The aim of this review is to offer an updated approach to the knowledge of the mechanisms that intervene in the pathogenesis of osteochondrosis, as well as alternatives to its diagnosis and treatment.

El término osteocondrosis (OC) se refiere a una gran variedad de lesiones esqueléticas en diferentes especies. La osteocondrosis es un problema que afecta a los animales de rápido crecimiento y se ha definido como una falla en la osificación endocondral del cartílago articular epifiseal. Dicha falla provoca un engrosamiento y retención del cartílago, necrosis basal, daño al hueso subcondral y desprendimiento de fragmentos óseos en la cavidad articular. La osteocondrosis es una enfermedad de etiología multifactorial donde factores nutricionales, hereditarios, biomecánicos, endocrinos, así como la falla en el aporte sanguíneo del cartílago en crecimiento juegan un papel importante. La finalidad de esta revisión es ofrecer un acercamiento al conocimiento de los mecanismos que intervienen en la patogénesis de la osteocondrosis, así como a las alternativas para su diagnóstico y tratamiento.

Localización de Serratia marcescens en perfil bacteriológico y fúngico de la conjuntiva de caballos clínicamente sanos en Monterrey, Nuevo León, México / Localization of Serratia marcescens in bacterial and fungal profile of conjunctiva of clinically healthy horses from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico

The conjunctival normal microflora, formed by fungi, yeast and bacteria, of 50 clinically healthy horses from Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, was identified using three to 12 year-old horses of different breeds and gender. Samples were taken from the conjunctival sac of both eyes (n =100 eyes) using a cotton swab under sterile conditions. No eye was negative to the presence of the microorganism. There were differences in colony types in each eye of the same animal. One hundred percent were positive to fungal and bacteria colonies in both eyes, while 60% were positive to yeast. In the present study Serratia marcescens, a pathogenic, opportunist and multidrug-resistant organism, is reported for the first time in the conjunctival sac in horses. Serratia marcescens was isolated from 21 clinically healthy horses (42%) with a number of colony forming units (cfu) that ranged from 9 to 42.

Se identificó la microflora normal, formada por hongos, levaduras y bacterias, de la conjuntiva en 50 caballos clínicamente sanos, de diferente raza y sexo, de tres a 12 años de edad, del área metropolitana de Monterrey, Nuevo León. Las muestras se tomaron del saco conjuntival de ambos ojos (n = 100 ojos) con un hisopo bajo condiciones estériles. Ningún ojo fue negativo a la presencia de microorganismos. Hubo a menudo diferencias en los tipos de colonias entre los ojos del mismo animal, 100% fueron positivos a la presencia de hongos y bacterias en ambos ojos, y 60% positivos a la presencia de levaduras. Este estudio presenta, por vez primera en conjuntiva de caballos, la presencia de Serratia marcescens, considerada microorganismo patógeno oportunista con multirresistencia a fármacos. En esta investigación, Serratia marcescens se logró aislar de 21 caballos clínicamente sanos (42%) con rango de nueve a 42 unidades formadoras de colonias (ufc).

Demostración inmunohistoquímica de Mycoplasma bovis en lesiones neumónicas crónicas en ganado en corral de engorda / Immunohistochemical demonstration of Mycoplasma bovis in chronic lung lesions in feedlot cattle

Bovine feedlots are intensive production systems of significant importance in México, United States of America and Canadá. Respiratory diseases are the single most important cause of morbidity and mortality in feedlot cattle. Herein, the gross and microscopic findings in the lungs of cattle with unusually persistent pneumonia unresponsive to aggressive antibiotic treatment in feedlots localized in General Escobedo, Nuevo Leon; Morelia, Michoacan; Mexicali, Baja California, and Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico are described. Eight chronic suppurative bronchopneumonia cases with multifocal areas of casseous necrosis were selected. Microscopically, these lesions were bronchocentric and characterized by foci of necrosis surrounded by a pyogranulomatous reaction. Immunohistochemical studies revealed positive reaction to Mycoplasma bovis in all cases. Gross and microscopic lesions associated with M. bovis pneumonia have a conspicuous pattern. This is the first report of M. bovis causing pneumonia in feedlot cattle in Mexico.

El corral de engorda es un sistema de producción intensivo de gran importancia en la ganadería de carne en México, Canadá y Estados Unidos de América. Estudios epidemiológicos indican que las enfermedades respiratorias de los bovinos son el principal problema en corrales de engorda. En este trabajo se describen las lesiones macroscópicas y microscópicas en pulmones de ganado de carne con severa neumonía crónica, a pesar de haber recibido tratamiento con antibióticos en más de tres ocasiones. Se realizaron estudios post mortem de ganado en corrales de engorda localizados en General Escobedo, Nuevo León; Morelia, Michoacán; Mexicali, Baja California y Culiacán, Sinaloa, todos en México. Se seleccionaron ocho casos crónicos de bronconeumonía supurativa con múltiples focos nodulares de exudado necrótico-caseoso. Estos focos necróticos estaban microscópicamente centrados en bronquios y bronquiolos y sus bordes estaban claramente limitados por una reacción piogranulomatosa. Los estudios de inmunohistoquímica demostraron positividad a Mycoplasma bovis en todos los casos. Las lesiones neumónicas macro y microscópicas asociadas con M. bovis tienen un patrón conspicuo. Este es el primer informe de M. bovis en neumonías en ganado de corral de engorda en México.