A survey on environmental contamination of suburban parks and playgrounds in Harare, Zimbabwe, with canine helminths of zoonotic significance

In an attempt to assess the possible risk to humans of soil-transmitted canine helminths of of zoonotic significance, 161 faecal samples and 81 soil samples were collected from 6 public parks and playgrounds in Harare between March and June 1998 and examined for nematode ova. Of the 161 faecal samples collected, 17.4% were positive for Ancylostoma sp. ova and 5.6% were positive for T. canis ova. No other nematode species ova were found. Over 50% of the faecal samples positive for Ancylostoma sp. ova were 'moist', and this suggests that the moisture content of faeces contributes to the development and survival of this parasite in the environment. Only 3 of the 81 soil samples collected were positive for T. canis. The low levels of contamination of public playgrounds and parks with T. canis ova suggests that environmental contamination might not be important in the aetiology of human toxocarosis in Harare.     

Survey on the contamination of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in the soil of public parks of Wuhan, China

Toxoplasma gondii of warm-blooded animals and humans is an important pathogenic agent throughout the world. Soil is increasingly recognized as an important source in the transmission of Toxoplasma. To attain the contamination status of T. gondii in the soil of public parks, a total of 252 soil samples were collected from September 2009 to August 2010 at different sites located in 6 public parks of Wuhan, Hubei, China and detected by PCR and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP). The detection limit of PCR/B1, PCR/529 and LAMP was determined to be 50, 5, and 5 tachyzoites in soil, respectively. Forty-one samples were found positive for Toxoplasma DNA by PCR on both genes, whereas LAMP products were generated in 58 samples (χ(2)=3.6328, P=0.0567). All parks were found contaminated and no significant difference was found among the parks (PCR: χ(2)=0.0072, P=0.9325; LAMP: χ(2)=0.6101, P=0.4347). However, contamination was found with significantly different among the four seasons (PCR: χ(2)=11.6066, P=0.0007; LAMP: χ(2)=12.4636, P=0.0004), with a gradual decrease in the prevalence from spring to winter on both analyses. This is the first investigation on soil contamination of public parks in China by T. gondii oocysts. The results indicate that the soil of public parks contaminated with T. gondii oocysts may play a role in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis and effective preventive measures should be considered. Moreover, the conventional PCR and LAMP used in the present study are applicable to detect T. gondii oocysts in soil samples.     

Detection of zoonotic intestinal parasites in public parks of Spain. Potential epidemiological role of microsporidia

Several studies have demonstrated that the soil of public parks presents an important source of infection which has a significant impact on public health. Children are the main group affected by accidentally ingestion of contaminated soil. This study was performed in order to identify the presence of zoonotic parasites in dog and cat faecal and soil samples from public parks of Madrid, Spain. Six hundred twenty-five and seventy-nine soil and faecal samples (presumably from dogs and cats) respectively were collected from 67 parks. Intestinal parasites were identified in 27 parks (40.3%), which were contamined with Giardia sp. (19.4%), microsporidia (19.4%), Toxocara spp. (16.4%), Cryptosporidium sp. (6%), Entamoeba histolytica (3%) and Ancylostomidae (3%). Combinations of two or more intestinal parasites were found in 11 parks, and it was common to find Giardia and microsporidia together in samples. Intestinal parasites were detected in 18% (112/625) of soil samples. The most frequent parasite species found in the examined soil samples were Toxocara spp. (16.4%), followed by Giardia sp. (4.5%) and Strongyloides sp. larvae (3%). The zoonotic parasites found in the 79 faecal samples were Giardia sp. (17.7%), Cryptosporidium sp. (9%), E. histolytica (2.5%), Trichuris vulpis (1.3%), Toxascaris leonina (1.3%) and microsporidia spores (28%). Microsporidia characterization by amplification of DNA confirmed 10 samples as positive, eight for E. bieneusi and two for E. hellem by PCR. The role of those parasites in the environment are discussed.     

Chronic fascioliasis in farmed and wild greater rheas (Rhea americana)

From 50 farmed Rhea americana slaughtered for human consumption, adult forms and eggs of Fasciola hepatica were found in 4. The other three livers were free of flukes but did show lesions caused by larval fluke migration. Histological lesions were similar to those caused by flukes in cattle and sheep. The rheas were from an endemic area of ruminant fascioliasis in Southern Brazil. F. hepatica eggs were also found in faecal samples of wild rheas from another endemic area in Southern Brazil. It is likely that the rheas play a role in the transmission of the disease to ruminants and could be jeopardizing the control of this parasitosis in endemic areas. From the best of our knowledge this is the first report of fascioliasis in R. americana.     

Environmental contamination by eggs of Toxocara species

A study was conducted to determine the level of contamination with Toxocara spp. eggs in parks and playgrounds in several central Illinois communities. A total of 135 composite 50-g soil samples were collected from 23 parks and public places in three cities in central Illinois. Of these soil samples, 22 (16.3%) contained from one to thirteen Toxocara spp. eggs. A total of 40 fecal samples were collected from the same parks. Toxocara spp. eggs were found in two (5%) of the samples.     

Investigation of soil contaminated with Toxoplasma gondii oocyst in urban public environment,in Brazil

In this study, we determined the occurrence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in soil samples from public places. A total of 120 samples were collected from 24 sites, including squares, parks, university, hospitals in the city of Recife. The recovered oocysts were subjected to a nested-PCR test, and nine sites (9/24) were found to be positive for gene of apicomplexan parasites. The PCR product was sequenced, and 8.33% (10/120) of the samples showed 100% similarity to T. gondii DNA. T. gondii oocysts were detected in 75% (3/4) of the evaluated hospital soil samples and in 23.81% (5/21) soils samples from the public squares and parks. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the soil in the areas analyzed as a source of T. gondii infection and therefore highlight the importance of devising educational strategies on the use of these sites, in addition to future cleaning protocols in public areas.     

Exploratory study of Mycoplasma suis (Eperythrozoon suis) on four commercial pig farms in southern Brazil

Mycoplasma suis (Eperythrozoon suis) was detected by PCR and Southern blot in 186 pigs (121 sows, 61 piglets and four boars) on four farms in southern Brazil. DNA was extracted from blood samples and a 16S rRNA gene fragment of M suis was amplified by PCR; Southern blot analysis was then performed on all the samples. Twenty-two of the sows (18.2 per cent) were positive by PCR, and 40 (33.1 per cent) were positive by Southern blot; only one piglet and one boar were positive. The packed cell volume and total plasma protein of the pigs and their PCR and Southern blot results were not significantly different on the four farms, but higher proportions of the pigs were positive by Southern blot than by PCR (P<0.05). The packed cell volume and total plasma protein concentrations of the M suis positive and negative sows were not significantly different.     

Opossum Nematodiasis: Diagnosis and Treatment of Stomach,Intestine, and Lung Nematodes in the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

Internal parasitic infections are common in the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana). More than 50 different species of nematodes have been identified from the genus Didelphis. Of them, 3 can cause significant illness to native opossums in Southern California, 2 gastrointestinal nematodes and 1 pulmonary nematode. This article provides an overview of the life cycles, methods for identification, pathologic findings, diagnostic tests, clinical signs, and options for treating these common nematode species.     

Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

Tetrameriosis in feral pigeons from Murcia, Southeastern Spain

A total of 165 adult feral pigeons (Columba livia) were captured in 7 different parks of the municipality of Murcia, Southeastern Spain. Birds were evaluated clinically and subsequently necropsied. All birds appeared to be in good physical condition and no apparent signs of disease were observed. However, 17.6% of the pigeons were parasitized by Tetrameres (Petrowimeres) fissispina. The nematode burden in the proventriculus ranges from 5 to 64 specimens (median: 19); the median of female and male nematodes was 17 (range: 4–54) and 3 (range: 0–12), respectively. Despite the absence of detectable signs of disease, lesions induced by T. (P.) fissispina were evident. The histopathologic analysis revealed a pressure atrophy of the proventricular glands and a light inflammatory infiltrate surrounding the papillae. Pigeons captured in parks with soil had significantly higher T. (P.) fissispina prevalence compared with those captured in paved areas.     

Phenotypic and genetic characterization of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium isolated from pigs in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the relatedness of porcine Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (S.) serovar Typhimurium strains isolated in Southern Brazil. Sixty-six isolates from pigs belonging to three commercial companies were submitted to phage typing, XbaI-macrorestriction (PFGE), IS200 hybridization, rep-PCR, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and PCR assay targeting the spvR region. All strains presented a unique rep-PCR pattern and 63 strains had a common IS200 profile. One pulse-type (XA) was the most prevalent (39/66 strains) and included strains of phage types DT177, DT192, DT194 and RDNC. The spvR region was detected in three strains, which harboured plasmids of 90 kb. High rates of tetracycline, sulfonamide and streptomycin resistance were found. Isolates from farms located in different geographic regions but associated to the same commercial companies clustered together and presented a common resistance profile. Results suggested that clonal groups of S. Typhimurium are present in pig commercial companies in Southern Brazil.     

Zoonotic disease transmission associated with feral cats in a metropolitan area: A geospatial analysis

Feral cats raise public health concerns due to their large population numbers and ability to harbour pathogens that cause disease in people, pets, and wildlife. Information regarding the potential for feral cats to intersect with areas frequented by humans is lacking. This study examined the potential for feral cats and human territories to overlap in the Richmond metropolitan area of Central Virginia. Feral cats (n = 275) were trapped for monthly trap‐neuter‐release (TNR) clinics from July to November 2016. A geographic information system (GIS) was used to map feral cat trapping locations, elementary and preschools, public parks, and community gardens, and to evaluate the potential for cat interaction with these areas, presuming a maximum habitat radius of 0.44 miles. We found that 8.0% of feral cats in the Richmond metropolitan area had potential to range onto public elementary or preschool property, and 81.5% of feral cats trapped in Richmond City had potential to roam into one or more places of interest, including elementary and preschool grounds, public parks, and community gardens. This provides public health, veterinary, and human health professionals with important information that can be used to focus resources in an effort to reduce zoonosis associated with feral cat populations.     

Genotyping of Giardia duodenalis from Southern Brown Howler Monkeys (Alouatta clamitans) from Brazil

Giardia duodenalis is a widespread intestinal protozoan that can infect humans and animals, both domestic and wild. Independent of host, infections present with the same symptoms. However, based on host specificity, Giardia isolates have been grouped into genotypes A to G. Parasites of assemblage A and B are known to infect humans, in addition to primates and a wide variety of mammals. In Brazil, hitherto Giardia genotypes were defined only for humans and domestic animals. To evaluate the genotypes of different Giardia present among other animals, fecal samples from 28 Southern Brown Howler Monkeys (Alouatta clamitans) kept in captivity from South Brazil were screened for G. duodenalis using parasitological methods. All of them were asymptomatic, but positive for Giardia. The genotype of the G. duodenalis circulating among these animals was ascertained by molecular typing, performed using amplification and sequencing of the beta-giardin gene. Sixteen of 28 samples were successfully amplified by PCR and sequencing of this gene s revealed that all of them were of the genotype A1. These findings suggest that A. clamitans represent a potential risk of environmental contamination of a G. duodenalis genotype that also infect humans, and therefore can be considered a potential reservoir for G. duodenalis of a genotype that can also infects humans. Therefore, these results highlight a potential public health problem due to the epidemiological and molecular evidence for anthropozoonotic transmission.     

Molecular analysis of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Agona isolated from slaughter pigs

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica (S.) serovar Agona plays an important role in Brazil as causative agent of salmonellosis in food-producing animals - in particular, pigs and poultry - as well as in humans. A total of 45 S. Agona isolates collected from slaughter pigs at three different slaughterhouses in Southern Brazil was investigated in this study for their phenotypic and genotypic relatedness. For this, the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and the phage types were determined. Molecular analysis included the determination of plasmid profiles as well as the analysis of XbaI- and BlnI-generated macro-restriction patterns. Moreover, a novel typing method called subtracted restriction fingerprinting (SRF) was successfully applied to the S. Agona isolates. Based on all properties determined, a dominant clonal group comprising 33 of the 45 isolates was identified. Members of this group were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested, did not carry plasmids, shared the same phage type and were closely related or even indistinguishable by their EcoRI-PauI SRF patterns as well as their XbaI and BlnI macro-restriction patterns. Members of this clonal group were identified at all 3 slaughterhouses at variable frequencies and originated from pig herds raised in 15 different cities in Southern Brazil which were located up to 450 km apart from each other. Since the S. Agona-carrying slaughter pigs were from various integrated production lines, the results of this study suggest that a specific clonal group of S. Agona had entered numerous pig production lines. This observation supports the requirement for the establishment of monitoring and control programmes in Brazil which should also include molecular techniques to better trace the dissemination of S. Agona and other Salmonella serovars in pigs and other food-producing animals.     

Contamination of soil with Toxocara eggs in urban (Prague) and rural areas in the Czech Republic

Contamination of soil with feline and canine ascarid eggs in public parks, backyards and sand pits in Prague, Czech Republic was investigated in this work. Soil samples from shelters and rural areas were also collected. The comparison of soil from different areas (urban, rural, backyards and shelters) exhibited significant difference (chi(2)=32.16, d.f.=3 and p<0.0001). The highest rate of contamination (45%) was found in backyards inhabited by feral cats. The eggs of Toxocara spp. were found in 20.4% of parks, 10% of shelters and 5% of rural samples. Mean egg density per sample from Prague parks was 6.2 eggs/100g of soil. In 126 composite samples from children's and pits, the prevalence of Toxocara eggs was 11.90%. The number of eggs in positive samples varied from 2 to 22 (per 100g). A high proportion (46.9%) of eggs was fully embryonated. There was no difference between the sand pits with or without formal exclusion of dogs (chi(2)=0.6, d.f.=1 and p<0.0001).     

Prevalence of Juvenile Osteochondral Conditions in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorses in Southern Brazil

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of juvenile osteochondral conditions (JOCCs) in yearling Thoroughbred (TB) racehorses in Southern Brazil, as well as to examine the same animals studied as weanlings by Bastos et al. (2017) and compare the radiographic findings for the two ages. Radiographs of 76 male and female TB yearlings from Paraná State, Southern Brazil, were investigated. The proximal interphalangeal, metacarpophalangeal/metatarsophalangeal (MC/MT), tarsal, and femorotibial (FT) joints were evaluated using 24 radiographic projections. The evaluation consisted of a severity index (rated as 0, 1, 2, 4, or 8), the sum of which resulted in an osteoarticular status (OAS) of good, intermediate, or poor for each animal. Radiographs of 92% of the investigated animals presented at least one finding consistent with JOCCs. The most affected region was the tarsal joint (72.9%), followed by the FT (50%), MT (25%), and MC (23%) joints. Thirty-three (43.4%) horses presented a decline in their OAS, whereas nine (11.8%) presented an improvement from the weanling to yearling age. The radiographic findings suggest that JOCCs are frequent in TB yearlings, but the meaning and relevance of these radiographic findings require further study.     

Porcine respiratory disease complex after the introduction of H1N1/2009 influenza virus in Brazil

From 2009 to 2015, 74 lungs from suckling (6.8%), nursing (70.3%), fattening (20.3%) pigs and pregnant sows (2.7%) with respiratory signs from pig farms in Southern Brazil were submitted to a diagnostic laboratory for necropsy and/or histologic examination and screening for respiratory agents by RT‐qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC), virus isolation (VI) and subtyping for influenza A virus (IAV), IHC and nested PCR for Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo), PCR for porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), RT‐qPCR for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) and bacterial culture. All lung samples were positive for IAV using RT‐qPCR. Seventy‐two lungs had histologic lesions associated with acute to subacute IAV infection characterized by necrotizing bronchiolitis/bronchitis or bronchointerstitial pneumonia with lymphocytic peribronchiolitis and bronchiolar/bronchial hyperplasia, respectively. Forty‐nine lungs (66.2%) were positive by IHC for IAV nucleoprotein. The H1N1/2009 was the most common subtype and the only IAV detected in 58.1% of lungs, followed by H1N2 (9.5%) and H3N2 (6.8%). Coinfection of IAV and Mhyo was seen in 23 (31%) cases. Although 14.9% of the lungs were positive for PCV2 using PCR, no suggestive lesions of PCV2 disease were observed. Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) was not detected, consistent with the PRRS‐free status of Brazil. Secondary bacterial infections (8/38) were associated with suppurative bronchopneumonia and/or pleuritis. Primary IAV infection with Mhyo coinfection was the most common agents found in porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in pigs in Southern Brazil.     

免疫介导的胃肠线虫驱除机制研究进展

寄生线虫对人类的侵染一直是公认的健康问题，给全球经济造成了重大损失。近年来，人们利用肠道线虫侵染鼠模型，研究寄主如何通过免疫系统调控对线虫侵染的抗性、敏感性及相关的细胞分子基础，取得了一定的成果。寄主对线虫侵染的敏感性是由T细胞1类细胞因子反应调控的，而对寄生在肠道的成虫的免疫性则严格依赖2类细胞因子反应。然而，在肠道微环境中，2类细胞因子是如何引发逐出蠕虫的免疫效应的，至今仍不清楚。文章综述了寄主对线虫的主要免疫效应的研究进展，具体讨论两种近期发现的依赖2类细胞因子的免疫分子，内源凝集蛋白、抵抗素类似分子及其在逐出线虫过程中的作用，以及由肠道上皮细胞翻转调控逐出线虫的机制。     

Screening for several potential pathogens in feral pigeons (Columba livia) in Madrid

Background

Pathogens with the zoonotic potential to infect humans, such as Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli and Chlamydophila psittaci, can be found in feral pigeons (Columba livia). Given the high density of these birds in the public parks and gardens of most cities, they may pose a direct threat to public health.

Methods

A total of 118 pigeons were captured in three samplings carried out in 2006-2007 in public parks and gardens in Madrid, Spain. Standard haematological and morphological analyses were carried out on the pigeons. PCR was used to screen for the presence of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli and Chlamydophila psittaci. Positive samples were confirmed by DNA sequencing.

Results

The analyses demonstrated a high prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci (52.6%) and Campylobacter jejuni (69.1%) among the birds captured. In contrast, Campylobacter coli was rarely detected (1.1%).

Conclusions

Pigeons in Madrid can carry Chlamydophila psittaci and Campylobacter jejuni. They may be asymptomatic or subclinical carriers of both pathogens.     

Occurrence of Libyostrongylus sp. (Nematoda) in ostriches (Struthio camelus Linnaeus, 1758) from the north region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Domestic production of ostrich in Brazil started in the beginning of the last decade, but its sanitary state has not been reported. Libyostrongylus sp. is an ostrich specific nematode whose parasitism can severely affect the birds. Thus, Libyostrongylus spp. larvae were identified in commercial ostriches in the north region of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The EPG was determined and fecal cultivation was performed. The eggs presented typical characteristics of strongylid and were present in five out of six farms. The mean EPG varied from 22 to 2395 and Libyostrongylus spp. prevalence was from 0 to 100%, with adult birds more infected. Two types of infective larvae with tail finishing in a tipped spiny knob were distinguished. The first had a mean length of 848 microm (710-1010) with a long sheath tail of about 66 microm (52-112). The other had a mean length of 826 microm (620-940) with a short, more abruptly ending sheath tail of 32 microm (22-40) and a less rounded cephalic end. The differences between these larvae suggest two Libyostrongylus species.