Effects of endurance racing on horse plasma extracellular particle miRNA.

BACKGROUND: Physical exercise is an essential factor in preventing and treating metabolic diseases by promoting systemic benefits throughout the body. The molecular factors involved in this process are poorly understood. Micro RNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit mRNA transcription. MiRNAs, which can participate in the benefits of exercise to health, circulate in plasma in extracellular particles (EP). Horses that undergo endurance racing are an excellent model to study the impact of long-duration/low intensity exercise in plasma EP miRNAs. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effects of 160 km endurance racing on horse plasma extracellular particles and their miRNA population. STUDY DESIGN: Cohort study. METHODS: We collected plasma from five Arabian horses during five time-points of an endurance ride. Extracellular particles were purified from plasma and characterised by electron microscopy, resistive pulse sensing (qNano) and western blotting. Small RNAs were purified from horse plasma EP, and sequencing was performed. RESULTS: Endurance racing increased EP concentration and average diameter compared to before the race. Western blotting showed a high concentration of extracellular vesicles proteins 2 hours after the race, which returned to baseline 15 hours after the race. MicroRNA differential expression analysis revealed increasing levels of eca-miR-486-5p during and after the race, and decreasing levels of eca-miR-9083 after the end. CONCLUSIONS: This study adds new data about the variation in plasma EP concentrations after long-distance exercise and brings new insights about the roles of exercise-derived EP miRNAs during low-intensity endurance exercise.

Taxa de infecção pelo Herpesvírus ovino tipo 2 (OvHV-2) em rebanhos de ovinos no Distrito Federal / Ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) infection rate in sheep herds of the Federal District, Brazil

A febre catarral maligna (FCM) é uma doença causada pela infecção de bovinos pelo herpesvírus ovino tipo 2 (OvHV-2), responsável por perdas econômicas em diferentes regiões do Brasil. Neste trabalho descreve-se a detecção molecular por nested-PCR (nPCR) do OvHV-2 em amostras de secreção/esfoliação nasal e fração celular sanguínea (FCS) de ovinos provenientes de 8 propriedades do Distrito Federal. Das 188 amostras nasais analisadas, 88 (41,5%) foram positivas. Ovelhas prenhes não apresentaram diferenças na taxa de infecção em comparação com fêmeas paridas. Fêmeas recém-paridas apresentaram taxa de infecção pelo OvHV-2 maior que em animais que pariram há mais de 60 dias. Amostras de secreção/esfoliação nasal permitiram a detecção por nPCR de animais infectados com uma eficiência aproximadamente duas vezes maior que em amostras de fração celular sanguínea. No Brasil, informações epidemiológicas sobre a infecção pelo OvHV-2 nos rebanhos ovinos e fatores envolvidos no surgimento de surtos de FCM em bovinos são escassos. Este estudo pode servir de subsídio para elucidar as características da enfermidade e para novos estudos sobre a epidemiologia da doença no Distrito Federal e em outros Estados do Brasil.(AU)

Malignant catarrhal fever (MCF) is a disease caused by bovine infection with ovine herpesvirus type 2 (OvHV-2) and responsible for economic losses in different Brazilian regions. This paper describes the molecular detection of OvHV-2 by nested-PCR (nPCR) in nasal secretion/exfoliation samples and blood cell fraction (BCF) of sheep from 8 properties in the Federal District. Among the 188 nasal samples, 88 (41.5%) were positive to OvHV-2. Pregnant ewe presented no differences at the infection rate in comparison with parous females. Newly calved sheep showed higher OvHV-2 infection rate than female over 60 days of calving. Nasal samples allowed the detection of infected animals by nPCR with efficiency about twice than that in the blood cell fraction samples. In Brazil, epidemiological information about OvHV-2 infection in sheep flocks and factors involved in emergence of FCM outbreaks in cattle are still scarce. This study may provide support for elucidating some characteristics of the disease and for further epidemiological studies in the Federal District and other Brazilian States.(AU)

Frequency and hematological alterations of different hemoplasma infections with retrovirusis co-infections in domestic cats from Brazil / Frequência e alterações hematológicas causadas por diferentes infecções por hemoplasmas com co-infecções por retrovírus em gatos domésticos do Brasil

Mycoplasma haemofelis is the agent of feline infectious anemia, although Candidatus M. haemominutum can also be associated. This study evaluated the frequency and hematological alterations caused by hemoplasma infections and co-infections with FeLV, FIV and Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats from two distinct areas (urban - G1 and periurban - G2) of Brasília, Brazil. One hundred cats were evaluated, 51 from the G1 area and 49 from G2. No cats were positive for T. gondii. Hemoplasma infection was diagnosed in 33% cats from G1 and 32.6% from G2 (p>0.05). In G1 35.3% of the positive cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 47.06% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 17.64% with mixed hemoplasma species infection; 12.5% of the cats identified as PCR positive in G2 were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 18.75% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 68.75% with mixed infection. Cats from the periurban area had higher mixed hemoplasmas infection rates than those from urban area, and most of them were asymptomatic carriers. Cytology results were positive in only 5% of cats from G1. Mycoplasma haemofelis infected cats had normocytic normochromic anemia while the cats infected with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum or with both species did not. 37.2% of G1 cats were co-infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis and FeLV, and presented lower PCV and hemoglobin concentration than those infected only with Mycoplasma haemofelis. The co-infection with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and FeLV produced lower WBC, segmented cells and platelets, and increased total protein concentration.(AU)

Mycoplasma haemofelis é o principal agente causador da anemia infecciosa felina, apesar de outras espécies de hemoplasmas, Candidatus M. haemominutum e Candidatus M. turicensis, também estarem associadas à hemoplasmose felina. O presente estudo avaliou a frequência de hemoplasmas, as principais alterações hematológicas associadas com a infecção e co-infecções com FeLV, FIV e Toxoplasma gondii em gatos domésticos de duas áreas diferentes (urbana - G1 e periurbana - G2) de Brasília, Brasil. 100 gatos foram avaliados, 51 de G1 e 49 de G2. Nenhum gato foi positivo para T. gondii. Hemoplasmose foi diagnosticada em 33% dos gatos de G1 e 32,6% de G2 (p>0,05). Em G1, 35.3% dos gatos hemoplasma positivos estavam infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis, 47,06% por Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum e 17,64% apresentaram infecção concomitante por Mycoplasma haemofelis e Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum. Em G2, 12,5% dos gatos hemoplasma positivos estavam infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis, 18,75% por Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum e 68,75% apresentaram infecção concomitante por Mycoplasma haemofelis e Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum. Gatos da região periurbana eram, em sua maioria, assintomáticos e apresentaram mais infecção concomitante por duas espécies de hemoplasmas do que gatos da região urbana. Os resultados da citologia foram positivos apenas em 5% dos gatos de G1. Gatos com infectados apenas com Mycoplasma haemofelis apresentaram anemia normocítica normocrômica e gatos com infecção única com Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum ou em combinação com Mycoplasma haemofelis não apresentaram alterações hematológicas. 37,2% dos gatos de G1 estavam co-infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis e FeLV, e apresentaram VG e concentração de hemoglobina menores do que os gatos infectados apenas por Mycoplasma haemofelis. A co-infecção por Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum e FeLV resultou em baixo número de leucócitos, segmentados e plaquetes, além de aumento das concentrações de proteínas totais.(AU)

Frequency and hematological alterations of different hemoplasma infections with retrovirusis co-infections in domestic cats from Brazil / Frequência e alterações hematológicas causadas por diferentes infecções por hemoplasmas com co-infecções por retrovírus em gatos domésticos do Brasil

Mycoplasma haemofelis is the agent of feline infectious anemia, although Candidatus M. haemominutum can also be associated. This study evaluated the frequency and hematological alterations caused by hemoplasma infections and co-infections with FeLV, FIV and Toxoplasma gondii in domestic cats from two distinct areas (urban - G1 and periurban - G2) of Brasília, Brazil. One hundred cats were evaluated, 51 from the G1 area and 49 from G2. No cats were positive for T. gondii. Hemoplasma infection was diagnosed in 33% cats from G1 and 32.6% from G2 (p>0.05). In G1 35.3% of the positive cats were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 47.06% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 17.64% with mixed hemoplasma species infection; 12.5% of the cats identified as PCR positive in G2 were infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis, 18.75% with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and 68.75% with mixed infection. Cats from the periurban area had higher mixed hemoplasmas infection rates than those from urban area, and most of them were asymptomatic carriers. Cytology results were positive in only 5% of cats from G1. Mycoplasma haemofelis infected cats had normocytic normochromic anemia while the cats infected with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum or with both species did not. 37.2% of G1 cats were co-infected with Mycoplasma haemofelis and FeLV, and presented lower PCV and hemoglobin concentration than those infected only with Mycoplasma haemofelis. The co-infection with Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum and FeLV produced lower WBC, segmented cells and platelets, and increased total protein concentration.

Mycoplasma haemofelis é o principal agente causador da anemia infecciosa felina, apesar de outras espécies de hemoplasmas, Candidatus M. haemominutum e Candidatus M. turicensis, também estarem associadas à hemoplasmose felina. O presente estudo avaliou a frequência de hemoplasmas, as principais alterações hematológicas associadas com a infecção e co-infecções com FeLV, FIV e Toxoplasma gondii em gatos domésticos de duas áreas diferentes (urbana - G1 e periurbana - G2) de Brasília, Brasil. 100 gatos foram avaliados, 51 de G1 e 49 de G2. Nenhum gato foi positivo para T. gondii. Hemoplasmose foi diagnosticada em 33% dos gatos de G1 e 32,6% de G2 (p>0,05). Em G1, 35.3% dos gatos hemoplasma positivos estavam infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis, 47,06% por Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum e 17,64% apresentaram infecção concomitante por Mycoplasma haemofelis e Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum. Em G2, 12,5% dos gatos hemoplasma positivos estavam infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis, 18,75% por Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum e 68,75% apresentaram infecção concomitante por Mycoplasma haemofelis e Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum. Gatos da região periurbana eram, em sua maioria, assintomáticos e apresentaram mais infecção concomitante por duas espécies de hemoplasmas do que gatos da região urbana. Os resultados da citologia foram positivos apenas em 5% dos gatos de G1. Gatos com infectados apenas com Mycoplasma haemofelis apresentaram anemia normocítica normocrômica e gatos com infecção única com Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum ou em combinação com Mycoplasma haemofelis não apresentaram alterações hematológicas. 37,2% dos gatos de G1 estavam co-infectados por Mycoplasma haemofelis e FeLV, e apresentaram VG e concentração de hemoglobina menores do que os gatos infectados apenas por Mycoplasma haemofelis.[...]

Detection of Theileria equi in spleen and blood of asymptomatic piroplasm carrier horses.

This study aimed to determine whether asymptomatic horses naturally infected with Theileria equi retain infected erythrocytes in the spleen and whether the presence of the hemoparasite in this organ is associated with parasitemia. We collected samples from 25 adult horses without clinical signs of any disease. From each animal, we collected whole blood samples from the jugular vein and a splenic puncture blood sample. All samples were submited to blood cell counts and detection of Theileria or Babesia. DNA extraction and PCR were performed in all samples for identification of piroplasm infection (T. equi and B. caballi). From the 25 horses evaluated for piroplasm detection by PCR, seven horses (28%) were positive in jugular vein blood but negative in splenic blood samples, five horses (20%) were positive in splenic blood samples but negative in jugular vein blood samples, and 13 horses (52%) were positive in both jugular vein and splenic blood samples. The hematological evaluation revealed anemia in 13 of 25 (52%) infected horses, lymphopenia in five (20%), neutrophilia in two (8%), neutropenia in one (4%), and thrombocytopenia in one (4%) infected horse. The present study demonstrated that several (20%) of the asymptomatic piroplasm carrier horses did not show parasitemia, but show infected erythrocytes in the spleen.