Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli isolates from neonatal alpacas mainly display F17 fimbriae adhesion gene.

Neonatal domestic South American Camelid llamas and alpacas suffer from an enteric disease complex characterized by abdominal distention, lethargy, dehydration, and eventual fatal septicemia. Analysis of rectal swabs from neonatal alpacas suffering clinical diarrheas has constantly isolated Escherichia coli, mainly the EPEC and EHEC pathotypes. The present communication reports the results of molecular analysis of 226 E. coli strains from neonatal alpaca rectal swabs. The isolates were initially tested by multiple PCR, to identify E. coli virulence genes eae, bfp, Lt, Stx1, Stx2, sta, stab, and lt genes and a similar test to detect F4, F5, F6, F17, and F41fimbriae adhesin genes. Forty-two of the 226 (18.5%) isolates tested positive for at least one pathogenic gene, 25 of the 42 were classified as EPEC (3 positives for only eae and 22 for both eae and bfp) and the remaining 17 were classified as EHEC. Twenty-four (57%) of the 42 isolates tested positive to F17 adhesin while one was positive for both F6 and F17.

Genetic diversity and zoonotic potential of rotavirus A strains in the southern Andean highlands, Peru.

Interspecies transmission is an important mechanism of evolution and contributes to rotavirus A (RVA) diversity. In order to evaluate the detection frequency, genetic diversity, epidemiological characteristics and zoonotic potential of RVA strains in faecal specimens from humans and animals cohabiting in the same environment in the department of Cusco, Peru, by molecular analysis, 265 faecal specimens were obtained from alpacas, llamas, sheep and shepherd children, and tested for RVA by RT-PCR. Genotyping was performed by multiplex PCR and sequence analysis. Rotavirus A was detected in 20.3% of alpaca, 47.5% of llama, 100% of sheep and 33.3% of human samples. The most common genetic constellations were G3-P[40]-I8-E3-H6 in alpacas, G1/G3-P[8]-I1-E1-H1 in llamas, G1/G3/G35-P[1]/P[8]-I1-E1-H1 in sheep and G3-P[40]-I1/I8-E3-H1 in humans. The newly described genotypes P[40] and P[50] were identified in all host species, including humans. Genotyping showed that the majority of samples presented coinfection with two or more RVA strains. These data demonstrate the great genetic diversity of RVA in animals and humans in Cusco, Peru. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the strains represent zoonotic transmission among the species studied. Due to the characteristics of the human and animal populations in this study (cohabitation of different host species in conditions of poor sanitation and hygiene), the occurrence of zoonoses is a real possibility.

Draft Genome Sequences of Enterohemorrhagic and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Alpacas in Peru.

The draft genome sequences of two strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from alpacas in Peru, are reported here. ECA1 has been determined to be a strain of enterohemorrhagic E. coli and ECB1 a strain of enteropathogenic E. coli These pathogens are responsible for hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans and diarrhea in different mammals, respectively.

Draft Genome Sequence of a Virulent Strain of Pasteurella Multocida Isolated From Alpaca.

Pasteurella multocida is one of the most frequently isolated bacteria in acute pneumonia cases, being responsible for high mortality rates in Peruvian young alpacas, with consequent social and economic costs. Here we report the genome sequence of P. multocida strain UNMSM, isolated from the lung of an alpaca diagnosed with pneumonia, in Peru. The genome consists of 2,439,814 base pairs assembled into 82 contigs and 2,252 protein encoding genes, revealing the presence of known virulence-associated genes (ompH, ompA, tonB, tbpA, nanA, nanB, nanH, sodA, sodC, plpB and toxA). Further analysis could provide insights about bacterial pathogenesis and control strategies of this disease in Peruvian alpacas.

Detection and genetic characterization of Pasteurella multocida from alpaca (Vicugna pacos) pneumonia cases.

Pasteurella multocida is a common constituent of upper respiratory tract microbiota but is frequently isolated of alpaca lung tissues from pulmonary infections. Despite its importance, very little is known about this bacteria at molecular level. In order to characterize P. multocida isolates, 24 isolates recovered from 46 mortal acute cases in young alpacas with suspected pneumonia were analyzed, using biochemical and molecular tests for capsule and LPS typing, virulence factors detection, and ERIC-PCR genetic diversity analysis. All the P. multocida isolates belonged to the capsular type A, LPS genotype L6 (related to serotypes 10, 11, 12, and 15), and possessed virulence factors gene toxA and tbpA. ERIC-PCR analysis revealed two electrophoretic profiles, and the majority of isolates (23/24) shared the same fingerprint, indicating strong evidence that there was a common source of infection for all the affect animals. This study revealed the detection of P. multocida type A, LPS genotype L6, and toxA+ and tbpA+ from dead young alpacas with pneumonia in Peru.

Evidence against a role for jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus in human lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) causes a contagious lung cancer in sheep and goats that can be transmitted by aerosols produced by infected animals. Virus entry into cells is initiated by binding of the viral envelope (Env) protein to a specific cell-surface receptor, Hyal2. Unlike almost all other retroviruses, the JSRV Env protein is also a potent oncoprotein and is responsible for lung cancer in animals. Of concern, Hyal2 is a functional receptor for JSRV in humans. RESULTS: We show here that JSRV is fully capable of infecting human cells, as measured by its reverse transcription and persistence in the DNA of cultured human cells. Several studies have indicated a role for JSRV in human lung cancer while other studies dispute these results. To further investigate the role of JSRV in human lung cancer, we used highly-specific mouse monoclonal antibodies and a rabbit polyclonal antiserum against JSRV Env to test for JSRV expression in human lung cancer. JSRV Env expression was undetectable in lung cancers from 128 human subjects, including 73 cases of bronchioalveolar carcinoma (BAC; currently reclassified as lung invasive adenocarcinoma with a predominant lepidic component), a lung cancer with histology similar to that found in JSRV-infected sheep. The BAC samples included 8 JSRV DNA-positive samples from subjects residing in Sardinia, Italy, where sheep farming is prevalent and JSRV is present. We also tested for neutralizing antibodies in sera from 138 Peruvians living in an area where sheep farming is prevalent and JSRV is present, 24 of whom were directly exposed to sheep, and found none. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that while JSRV can infect human cells, JSRV plays little if any role in human lung cancer.

Health impact evaluation of alternative management systems in vicuña (Vicugna vicugna mensalis) populations in Peru.

To determine the impact of farming over vicuña population in Peru, serum samples were collected from 207 vicuñas (126 captive vicuñas and 81 free-ranging vicuñas) and 614 domestic South American camelids (571 alpacas and 43 llamas), in ten Andean communities at the Salinas y Aguada Blanca reserve, province of Arequipa, southern Peru. Samples were tested for the presence of leptospirosis, foot and mouth disease (FMD), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BHV-1), brucellosis, bluetongue disease (BT), paratuberculosis, and neosporosis. Serological results showed that 1.9% (4/207) of vicuñas, 18.6% (106/571) of alpacas, and 23.3% (10/43) of llamas were positive to one or more Leptospira serovars. One percent of vicuñas (2/207) and 2.4% of domestic camelids (15/614) had Neospora caninum antibodies tested by ELISA, but only two vicuñas and two alpacas were confirmed by Western blot. Epidemiological evaluation found an association of leptospirosis to sex and age (p < 0.001), with female subjects older than 2.5 years at higher risk of infection. Interestingly, antibodies against Leptospira serovars were only found in captive vicuñas. This is the first study where health status of free-ranging and captive vicuñas has been compared. Results indicate minimal to nil presence of FMD, BVD, BHV-1, brucellosis, BT, paratuberculosis, and neosporosis allied to health disorders in our sample. The detection of seropositive animals against Leptospira, however, unveils the likely significance of leptospirosis in wild and domestic South American camelids, the impact of mixed husbandry over vicuña population and the risk to human health.