Identification of Lama glama as Reservoirs for Acinetobacter lwoffii.

South American Camelids have an increasing relevance in local economies, worldwide. These animals are bred for their meat, fur and as companion and therapy animals. Thus, their sanitary status should be well-established. According to the OIE (World Organization for Animal Health), respiratory infections mainly produced by Pasteurella spp. have been reported for camelids. It has been stated that this microorganism causes a mild disease, although many authors report it is an important cause of mortality among alpacas. Nevertheless, the incidence of infection by Pasteurella spp. in camelids still needs to be investigated. The aim of the present study was to analyze the occurrence of nasopharyngeal colonization of Lama glama by respiratory bacteria, and to assess the usefulness of serological tests for clinical diagnosis. The colonization was studied by culture techniques carried out with material taken by nasopharyngeal swabs. Bacterial isolates were first phenotypically characterized and then identified by MALDI/TOF-MS. The presence of specific serum antibodies was studied by ELISA and Western blot. In the present work Pasteurella spp. was not found. Nevertheless, we report for the first time, the colonization of L. glama by bacteria of the Acinetobacter lwoffii, at a reliable level in 19.4% of the animals. Acinetobacter species are found in different environmental sources, as well as vegetables, animals, and humans, and their role in infections has recently gained relevance. The results presented herein contribute to a better understanding of the respiratory microbiota in camelids, and increase the knowledge about environmental distribution of Acinetobacter non-baumanii species. Given that these respiratory bacteria might be the cause of infection among cattle, and even humans, this report highlights the need for further research.

Immunostimulatory Effects Triggered by Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 Probiotic Strain Involve Activation of Dendritic Cells and Interferon-Gamma Production.

Probiotics can modulate the immune system, conferring beneficial effects on the host. Understanding how these microorganisms contribute to improve the health status is still a challenge. Previously, we have demonstrated that Enterococcus faecalis CECT7121 implants itself and persists in the murine gastrointestinal tract, and enhances and skews the profile of cytokines towards the Th1 phenotype in several biological models. Given the importance of dendritic cells (DCs) in the orchestration of immunity, the aim of this work was to elucidate the influence of E. faecalis CECT7121 on DCs and the outcome of the immune responses. In this work we show that E. faecalis CECT7121 induces a strong dose-dependent activation of DCs and secretion of high levels of IL-12, IL-6, TNFα, and IL-10. This stimulation is dependent on TLR signaling, and skews the activation of T cells towards the production of IFNγ. The influence of this activation in the establishment of Th responses in vivo shows the accumulation of specific IFNγ-producing cells. Our findings indicate that the activation exerted by E. faecalis CECT7121 on DCs and its consequence on the cellular adaptive immune response may have broad therapeutic implications in immunomodulation.

Enfermedad tipo influenza en el Hospital Pediátrico de Moa. Enero-agosto 2010 / Influenza-like Illness at the Pediatric Hospital of Moa. January to August 2010

Fundamento: La enfermedad respiratoria producida por el virus de influenza A H1N1, constituyó la primera pandemia de influenza del siglo XXI, provocando gran morbilidad y miles de fallecidos, los daños no fueron mayores gracias a que el virus no mutó a formas más letales, no se desarrolló resistencia al Oseltamivir y la vacuna tuvo una buena compatibilidad con los virus circulantes. Objetivo: Caracterizar los pacientes ingresados por enfermedad tipo influenza (ETI) en el Hospital Pediátrico Universitario de Moa. Métodos: Se realizó un estudio de serie de casos, de 50 pacientes con diagnóstico de ETI, en el periodo comprendido entre el primero de enero y el 31 de agosto del año 2010. Las variables analizadas fueron: edad, sexo, tiempo de comienzo de los síntomas, factores de riesgo, síntomas y signos, comorbilidad asociada, signos radiológicos, evolución y confirmación del virus. Resultados: Existió predominio en el sexo masculino y en el grupo de uno a cuatro años; la fiebre se observó en el 100% de los pacientes; el principal factor de riesgo fue la edad menor de dos años en 27 pacientes (54 %); 39 (78 %) presentaron comorbilidad y/o factores de riesgo, con mayor comorbilidad del asma bronquial en 11 pacientes (22 %). Conclusión: La presencia de comorbilidad y/o factores de riesgo, así como el tiempo de comienzo de los síntomas, se relacionan de forma notable con la aparición de complicaciones en los pacientes con ETI.

Background: The respiratory illness due to the influenza A (H1N1) virus was the first influenza pandemic of the XXI century, causing high morbidity and mortality. The damage was not greater since the virus did not mutate into more lethal strains, no oseltamivir resistance was developed and there was a good match between the vaccine and the circulating viruses. Objective: To characterize patients hospitalized for influenza-like illness (ILI) at the University Pediatric Hospital of Moa. Methods: A case series study including 50 patients diagnosed with ILI was conducted from January 1st to August 31, 2010. The variables analyzed were age, sex, time of onset, risk factors, signs and symptoms, associated comorbidity, radiographic signs as well as virus evolution and confirmation. Results: Predominance of the disease was found in males and in the group aged one to four years; fever was observed in 100% of patients; age under two years was the main risk factor in 27 patients (54 %); 39 patients (78 %) had comorbidity and/or risk factors, with greater comorbidity of bronchial asthma in 11 cases (22 %). Conclusion: Presence of comorbidity and/or risk factors as well as time of onset are significantly related to the occurrence of complications in patients with ILI.

Passive protection against fasciolosis in mice by immunization with a monoclonal antibody (ES-78 MoAb).

Recently, we reported a partial characterization of the epitope recognized by the ES-78 monoclonal antibody (MoAb). This monoclonal antibody was obtained from spleen lymphocytes of a mouse immunized with excretory-secretory antigens of Fasciola hepatica adult worms. In the present study, we report the results obtained in experiments of passive protection using this MoAb in BALB/c mice infected with 15 Fasciola hepatica metacercariae. The monoclonal antibody was able to reduce the parasite burden when administered 24 h before challenge but not when delivered 7 days after challenge. The antibody recognition of digestive tract structures in 3-week-old parasites was demonstrated by immune histochemical techniques. The antigens purified by affinity chromatography using this antibody had molecular weights of 14-20, 25-29 and 36-45 kDa and demonstrated proteinase activity similar to cathepsin L. These results suggest that the antigens carrying the epitope recognized by the ES-78 MoAb may be used as target in the protection against fasciolosis.