Occurrence and species level diagnostics of Campylobacter spp., enteric Helicobacter spp. and Anaerobiospirillum spp. in healthy and diarrheic dogs and cats

In order to study the occurrence and co-infection of different species of Campylobacter, enteric Helicobacter and Anaerobiospirillum in dogs and cats and define a possible association between these microrganisms and gastrointestinal disorders, 190 dogs and 84 cats, either healthy or with diarrhea, were sampled between 2002 and 2003. Thirty-three C. upsaliensis, 17 C. jejuni, 2 C. helveticus, 1 C. lari isolates from dogs and 14 C. helveticus, 7 C. jejuni, 6 C. upsaliensis isolates from cats were identified using species-specific PCR and phenotypic tests. Whole cell protein profile analysis, phenotypic tests, PCR-RFLP of gyrB and a phylogenetic study of partial groEL and 16S rRNA sequences were used to identify 37 H. bilis, 22 H. canis and 14 H. cinaedi in dogs and 12 H. canis, 5 H. bilis and 2 H. cinaedi in cats. Whole cell protein profile analysis, phenotypic tests and species-specific PCR of 16S rRNA were used to identify 14 A. succiniciproducens, 12 A. thomasii isolates and one unidentified Anaerobiospirillum sp. isolate in dogs and 3 A. thomasii isolates in cats. Fifty-two animals (19%) were positive for the isolation of more than one genus. No significant statistical correlation was found between any isolates of Campylobacter, Helicobacter or Anaerobiospirillum spp. or the various co-infection rates, and the presence of diarrhea in either dogs or cats. Campylobacter isolates were also tested for antibiotic resistance using the agar dilution method.     

犬猫皮肤病细菌性病原分离鉴定及天然产物抑菌效果分析

【目的】 分离鉴定武汉市患皮肤病犬猫细菌性病原,并探索其对传统抗菌药物与天然活性产物藤黄酸(GA)和6-溴靛玉红-3’-肟(BIO)的敏感性。【方法】 对患皮肤病犬猫采样并分离病原,通过生长特性观察、革兰氏染色镜检、PCR等方法鉴定并利用SPF小鼠验证致病性;通过药敏纸片验证其对传统药物的耐药性,并测定天然产物对其最小抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)值。【结果】 分离得到2株金黄色葡萄球菌、3株伪中间型葡萄球菌、2株猫葡萄球菌、1株犬链球菌及1株奇异变形杆菌。SPF小鼠皮肤创伤感染验证分离菌株均有致病性。犬链球菌及奇异变形杆菌对各自受试药物均敏感;葡萄球菌对复方新诺明、青霉素、红霉素、四环素、左氧氟沙星、苯唑西林、庆大霉素、克林霉素及氯霉素存在不同程度耐药。天然活性产物GA和BIO对上述9株菌均具有良好抑菌效果,且除分离菌株F5外GA对分离菌株的MIC值均小于BIO。【结论】 本研究共分离得到5种、9株犬猫皮肤细菌。犬链球菌、奇异变形杆菌对传统抗菌药物均敏感,部分葡萄球菌存在耐药。GA和BIO对犬猫皮肤病原菌均有明显抑菌活性,显示其可作为防控犬猫细菌性皮肤病的候选药物。     

A quantitative PCR assay for the detection and quantification of Babesia bovis and B. bigemina

The haemoparasites Babesia bovis and Babesia bigemina affect cattle over vast areas of the tropics and temperate parts of the world. Microscopic examination of blood smears allows the detection of clinical cases of babesiosis, but this procedure lacks sensitivity when parasitaemia levels are low. In addition, differentiating between similar haemoparasites can be very difficult. Molecular diagnostic procedures can, however, overcome these problems. This paper reports a quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay involving the use of SYBR Green. Based on the amplification of a small fragment of the cytochrome b gene, this method shows both high sensitivity and specificity, and allows quantification of parasite DNA. In tests, reproducible quantitative results were obtained over the range of 0.1 ng to 0.1 fg of parasite DNA. Melting curve analysis differentiated between B. bovis and B. bigemina. To assess the performance of the new qPCR procedure it was used to screen for babesiosis in 40 cows and 80 horses. B. bigemina was detected in five cows (three of these were also found to be positive by standard PCR techniques targeting the 18S rRNA gene). In addition, B. bovis was detected in one horse and B. bigemina in two horses using the proposed method, while none was found positive by ribosomal standard PCR. The sequences of the B. bigemina cytochrome b and 18S rRNA genes were completely conserved in isolates from Spain and Argentina, while those of B. bovis showed moderate polymorphism.     

Seroepidemiology of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis in a hospital population

Canine ehrlichiosis and babesiosis have a worldwide distribution with geographic variation in prevalence and main clinical manifestations. We prospectively determined seroprevalence of canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis, and risk factors for seropositivity. Three hundred and eighty-one dogs were randomly selected to represent the canine population at a Veterinary Teaching Hospital in south Brazil (latitude 23° S). Dogs were tested with a point-of-care ELISA for Ehrlichia canis antibodies and IFA to confirm previous exposure to Babesia vogeli. Multiple logistic regression analysis was then used to estimate adjusted odds ratio (OR) and their 95% confidence intervals. One hundred and thirty-six (36%) dogs were seropositive for B. vogeli antibodies, whereas 87 (23%) dogs were seropositive to E. canis antibodies. Fifty-four (14%) dogs seroreacted to both agents. Adult dogs previously infested with ticks were more likely to seroreact to B. vogeli or E. canis. Superficial bleeding (OR = 12.4) was more common in dogs exposed to B. vogeli, whereas neurological signs (OR = 7.7) were more common in dogs seropositive to E. canis. Neurological signs (OR = 12.0) and lameness (OR = 12.8) were more prevalent in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms. Owners of dogs with ticks were more likely to have been exposed to ticks themselves (OR = 3.2). Canine babesiosis and ehrlichiosis appear to be highly prevalent in this hospital population. Clinical signs differed from the most common signs in other regions with bleeding occurring more in dogs seropositive to babesiosis, but not ehrlichiosis; neurologic signs in dogs with E. canis antibodies; and lameness in dogs that seroreacted to both organisms.     

Detection of Leishmania infantum DNA by real-time PCR in saliva of dogs

This study developed a real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) assay to detect L. infantum kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) in canine saliva. The qPCR showed an efficiency of 93.8%, a coefficient of correlation of 0.996 and a detection limit of 0.5 fg/reaction (0.005 parasites), although it detected until 0.25 fg/reaction (0.0025 parasites). When samples from 12 dogs experimentally infected with L. infantum were collected, L. infantum kDNA was detected at 16-weeks post-infection (wpi) in 41.7% and 91.7% of saliva and bone marrow samples, respectively, and at 47-wpi in 75% of both samples. L. infantum kDNA can be detected by qPCR in canine saliva, with lower sensitivity in the early stages of infection and a lower parasite load estimation compared to bone marrow. However, saliva had similar sensitivities to bone marrow in the later stages of the infection and could be used to detect L. infantum kDNA being aware of its limitations.     

Molecular identification of Cryptosporidium spp. from fecal samples of felines, canines and bovines in the state of São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of this study was to obtain information of epidemiological nature through genotypic characterization of Cryptosporidium isolates from dogs, cats and bovines from the state of São Paulo, Brazil. The extraction of DNA from oocysts was carried out and polymerase chain reaction was accomplished using specific primers to 18S rRNA gene. The amplicons were directed sequenced. Seven cat samples, nine dog samples and nine bovine samples were analysed. From the seven cat samples the genotypic analyses revealed Cryptosporidium felis in all. These were the first genotypic characterization of Cryptosporidium from domestic felines in Brazil. In nine sequenced samples from dogs, genotypic identities compatible with Cryptosporidium canis were revealed in all samples. The genotypic analyses in bovines revealed Cryptosporidium parvum in eight samples and Cryptosporidium bovis in another sample, the last one being a non-zoonotic species, not related to clinical symptoms and described for the first time in Brazil.     

犬弓首蛔虫感染比格犬不同阶段肝circRNAs表达模式的分析

旨在探究终末宿主肝环状RNA （circRNAs）在犬弓首蛔虫诱导致病过程中的潜在调控作用。18只6~7周龄的比格犬被平均分为3组（感染后0.5 d组、感染后1 d组和感染后36 d组），每组包括感染和对照各3只，分别于感染后对应的时间点收集肝样品。提取感染和对照组肝的总RNA，利用高通量RNA测序，构建circRNA文库，对差异表达的circRNAs进行分析，并对差异表达circRNAs的亲本基因进行GO注释和KEGG富集分析。随机选取9个差异表达circRNAs进行实时荧光定量PCR验证。结果显示，与对照组相比，在感染后0.5、1和36 d分别有94、103和84个犬肝的差异表达circRNAs。Venn图显示，3个感染阶段没有共同表达的差异circRNAs；GO和KEGG分析显示，差异表达的circRNAs参与了宿主肝免疫与炎症的相关通路，其中差异表达的circRNA novel_circ_0016108、novel_circ_0016184和novel_circ_0027468与犬弓首蛔虫引起的天然免疫相关；novel_circ_0002212参与了犬弓首蛔虫引起的肝炎症反应；novel_circ_0002212和novel_circ_0019907在宿主肝抵抗犬弓首蛔虫侵袭的过程中发挥作用。RT-qPCR验证结果显示大多数差异表达的circRNAs与高通量测序结果一致。结果表明，肝circRNAs在犬弓首蛔虫感染终末宿主的过程中发挥着重要作用，这为进一步探究犬弓首蛔虫与宿主之间的相互作用提供了新的信息，并且也为促进疾病干预措施的制定提供参考。     

Infectivity of Hepatozoon americanum cystozoites for a dog

Hepatozoon americanum cystozoites from experimentally infected, laboratory-raised rodents were fed to a Hepatozoon-free dog. Gamonts were detected by examination of blood smear 42 and 56 days post-exposure. PCR analysis of blood was positive for the 18S rRNA Hepatozoon gene on days gamonts were demonstrated. Meronts were detected histologically in a skeletal muscle biopsy 90 days after ingestion of cystozoites. Sequencing confirmed that the parasite in the dog was H. americanum. Xenodiagnosis was conducted by replete feeding of Ambylomma maculatum larvae on the dog; 40 days after detachment, sporulated oocysts were recovered from recently molted nymphs.     

Development of quantitative polymerase chain reaction assays for allelic discrimination of gangliosidoses in cats

OBJECTIVE: To develop quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays with allele-specific primers to provide a rapid and accurate diagnostic and screening test for the 3 mutations identified as causes of gangliosidoses in domestic cats. SAMPLE POPULATION: DNA samples obtained from archived feline blood samples submitted for GM1 and GM2 testing. PROCEDURES: A qPCR assay was developed for each mutation to monitor the efficiency of PCR amplification. Results were determined on the basis of the fluorescent intensity of DNA staining. RESULTS: Samples from 60 cats were screened by use of the 3 qPCR assays. Of these, 59 qPCR results agreed with the sequence-derived genotypes. The phenotype (affected) for the other cat agreed with results for the qPCR assay, which indicated that interpretation of the sequence-based result was incorrect. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The qPCR assays offer a sensitive, rapid, and reproducible technique for allelic discrimination without the need for complicated processing steps, such as hybridization or sequencing, after PCR procedures. These assays may prove beneficial for a rapid diagnosis of gangliosidoses in cats and could also provide a means for reliable large-scale screening for the carrier state, thereby accelerating the eradication of these debilitating diseases from feline populations.     

Canine intestinal helminths in Finland: prevalence, risk factors and endoparasite control practices

In this survey, the prevalence of canine gastrointestinal helminths in Finland was investigated by coprological examination (n = 541) and possible risk factors for helminth infections in dogs were analysed. In addition, the dog owners (n = 296) completed a questionnaire about use of anthelmintics, sources of information about parasites and antiparasitic treatments and reasons for choosing the drugs.

The prevalence of gastrointestinal helminths was 5.9%. Eggs from four different species were identified in the faecal samples. Toxocara canis eggs were present in 17 dogs (3.1%), Uncinaria stenocephala eggs in 14 dogs (2.6%) and Diphyllobothrium latum eggs in 2 dogs (0.4%). Moreover, one sample contained eggs of Trichuris vulpis (0.2%). Kennel housing and visits abroad were identified as risk factors for T. canis and U. stenocephala infections.

Most dogs (86.0%) received anthelmintic treatment at least once a year. Hunting dogs were dewormed least; one-third was treated less than once a year. Approximately, half of the owners occasionally changed the anthelmintic used. The most important trait of the anthelmintic was its broad spectrum, fenbendazole being the most commonly chosen. Veterinarians, dog magazines and dog breeders were the predominant sources of information concerning parasites and deworming strategies.     

Determining the zoonotic significance of Giardia and Cryptosporidium in Australian dogs and cats

In a recent study of intestinal parasites in dogs and cats in Australia, Giardia was found to be the most prevalent parasite in dogs. The aim of the current study through the use of molecular tools was to determine the zoonotic significance of the Giardia and Cryptosporidium isolates recovered from dogs and cats during the Australian study. Of the isolates successfully amplified all but one of the Giardia from dogs was either Assemblage C and/or D, with one Assemblage A. Of the cat samples amplified all but one were Assemblage F, with one Assemblage D. We hypothesize that the lack of zoonotic Giardia Assemblages recovered is a result of their being a low prevalence of Giardia in the human population. The Cryptosporidium recovered from dogs and cats was determined to be C. canis and C. felis, respectively, a finding which supports growing evidence that Cryptosporidiumin companion animals is of limited public health significance to healthy people.     

Serosurvey of Babesia canis, Babesia gibsoni and Ehrlichia canis in pound dogs in California, USA

The seroprevalence of three canine tick-transmitted parasites, Babesia gibsoni, Babesia canis and Ehrlichia canis, was estimated in selected regions of California. Blood smears and sera were obtained from 971 dogs in seven animal shelters: four in Los Angeles County, one in Yolo County, one in El Dorado County in California and one in Minden, Nevada. Seroprevalence in Los Angeles County shelters were 0–13%, 0–2.6% and 0% for B. canis, B. gibsoni and E. canis, respectively. Seroprevalences of the same three parasites in Yolo County and El Dorado County Shelters were 0% except for a 1% seroprevalence of B. canis in dogs from Yolo County Shelter.

Potential risk factors (breed, age, sex and evidence of ticks on the dogs) for B. canis seropositivity were evaluated. Dogs 3 years of age or older had a significantly higher risk (odds ratio 5.04) of being seropositive to B. canis compared with dogs less than 1 year old. Breed, sex and evidence of ticks were not associated with seropositive reactions to B. canis. Of 29 coyotes captured in Los Angeles County, three (10.3%) were seropositive for B. gibsoni, with titers of 1280 to 2560. This study indicated that dogs in Los Angeles County were at higher risk of being seropositive and potentially infected with canine babesial parasites than dogs in Yolo and El Dorado Counties. Movement of chronically infected dogs from Los Angeles County into other areas could contribute to the spread of these important pathogens.     

肝螺杆菌CdtB基因缺失株的构建与验证

试验旨在敲除肝螺杆菌（Helicobacter hepaticus,H.hepaticus）的CdtB基因,采用pcDNA质粒构建自杀质粒,用于敲除肝螺杆菌ATCC 51449菌株CdtB基因。根据同源重组原理,通过电击转化方法将质粒转入肝螺杆菌构建肝螺杆菌CdtB基因缺失株（ΔCdtB）。采用PCR及测序技术对ΔCdtB缺失株进行鉴定。采用生化试验、生长曲线测定检测ΔCdtB缺失株与野生型肝螺杆菌区别。结果显示,获得以质粒pcDNA构建的同源重组敲除质粒pcDNA-ΔCdtB,电击转化肝螺杆菌后经过传代筛选可获得氯霉素阳性转化子。缺失株替换片段的PCR产物为964 bp,大于野生型肝螺杆菌对应产物884 bp,测序结果表明,氯霉素抗性基因已替换了CdtB基因。比较发现,ΔCdtB缺失株与野生型菌株的尿素酶试验结果均呈阳性,并且在生长速率方面与普通血琼脂平板上无显著差异,但最终缺失株在含氯霉素的血琼脂平板上生长更多。除此之外,将获得的缺失株持续传代并进行PCR鉴定未发现回复突变,有较好的遗传稳定性。综上所述,本研究构建的基因敲除质粒pcDNA-ΔCdtB实现了对肝螺杆菌中目标基因的敲除,为肝螺杆菌基因功能研究和致病因子的发掘提供了有效的基因操作工具。     

3种食源性致病菌TaqMan多重荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

旨在建立一种可同时快速检测大肠杆菌O157 ∶ H7、沙门菌和产单核细胞李氏杆菌3种食源性致病菌的TaqMan多重荧光定量PCR(qPCR)方法.针对大肠杆菌O157 ∶ H7 rfbE基因、沙门菌invA基因和产单核细胞李氏杆菌hlyA基因的保守序列分别设计特异性引物和TaqMan探针,建立多重qPCR反应体系,进行...     

钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫ITS2序列测定及其种系发育分析

本试验将从犬猫肠道中分离的钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫用盐酸卡红染色后观察其形态学特征;PCR扩增其ITS2基因序列并测序,并将测序结果与GenBank同属异形科的多棘单睾吸虫和横川后殖吸虫序列进行比对;应用Mega 6.05软件采用邻位相连法构建种系发育树进行分析。盐酸卡红染色后显示,钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫各形态学特征符合经典的分类学描述。PCR测序后获得钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫ITS2序列长度分别为295和297 bp,G+C含量分别为49.5%(146/295)和54.2%(161/297)。提交至GenBank后获得登录号分别为钩棘单睾吸虫KJ137221~KJ137223,KP165437~KP165439;扇棘单睾吸虫KP165440。序列比对结果显示,钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫种内差异性为0,4种异形吸虫种间差异为15.2%~28.9%。基于ITS2序列建立的种系发育树显示钩棘单睾吸虫和扇棘单睾吸虫构成自展值为78%的拓扑分支。     

Qualitative and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of Leishmania in spleen samples from naturally infected dogs

Because infected dogs are widely considered to be the main domestic reservoir for Leishmania infantum (syn Leishmania chagasi) parasites in Brazil, the diagnosis of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) must be made both accurately and promptly. The present study attempted to standardize a conventional polymerase chain reaction (cPCR) protocol for the detection of L. infantum DNA in canine spleen samples. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) technique was used to confirm the presence of Leishmania DNA in the canine spleen fragments. A comparison was made between the efficacies of these molecular diagnostic techniques and conventional parasitological and serological methods. cPCR protocols for spleen samples were standardized using primers that amplify a 145 bp fragment, located at the parasite kinetoplast minicircle. The genus specificity of the cPCR protocol was assessed by its inability to amplify the DNA of other common canine pathogens, such as Ehrlichia canis, Babesia canis, Toxoplasma gondii and Trypanosoma cruzi. cPCR protocol sensitivity was tested by assessing the reaction detection limit, determined to be 10 fg of L. infantum reference strain DNA, which corresponds to a range of 0.03-0.1 parasites per fragment. Standardized cPCR protocol was used to detect the presence of Leishmania in 45 dog spleen samples. Our results showed that 40% of the spleen fragment cultures were positive for Leishmania parasites, 58% of the dog serum samples tested positive using ELISA, and parasite DNA was detected in 44% using qPCR, while 47% of the spleen samples using cPCR. Diagnostic methods performance was assessed and revealed a better degree of ascertainment for cPCR when compared to other diagnostic methods. The sensitivity of ELISA was 83.3%, qPCR was 83.3%, and cPCR was 88.9%; PPV for ELISA was 57.7%, qPCR was 75% and cPCR was 76.2%; the Kappa coefficients were found to be 0.40 (fair) for ELISA, 0.64 (substantial) for qPCR and 0.68 (substantial) for cPCR. In both oligosymptomatic and polysymptomatic dogs, cPCR revealed the better performance analysis when compared to other diagnostic methods. The findings presented herein establish cPCR as the most indicated test to detect Leishmania when compared to the other two diagnostic methods evaluated. Despite the fact that the qPCR protocol provides a highly accurate quantification of parasites when targeting the SSU rRNA gene, this technique does not significantly improve the diagnosis of CVL when compared with the performance of the cPCR protocol, which focused on the kinetoplast minicircle.     

伴侣动物源肺炎克雷伯氏菌的分离鉴定及毒力和耐药性分析

为探究南宁伴侣动物源肺炎克雷伯氏菌的毒力和耐药情况，本研究采集犬、猫粪便拭子，通过分离培养、形态学观察、药敏试验及PCR扩增16S rRNA、khe基因、毒力基因及耐药基因等方法对细菌特性进行分析。结果显示，分离的菌株中有4株能在麦康凯培养基上形成液状菌落，轻挑拉丝且镜检为短杆状革兰氏阴性菌，疑为肺炎克雷伯氏菌。16S rRNA测序结果显示，分离菌与肺炎克雷伯氏菌同源性达99%，同时肺炎克雷伯氏菌特异性基因（khe）阳性。其中，分离株GXKP-C14、GXKP-D15对大部分临床常用抗菌药物敏感，分离株GXKP-D1则表现出高水平多重耐药，分离株GXKP-D4耐药性稍低于GXKP-D1，对临床常用药氨苄西林、哌拉西林、头孢呋辛、四环素、多西环素、呋喃妥因、复方新诺明表现耐药，对头孢吡肟、美罗培南、亚胺培南、阿米卡星、庆大霉素、链霉素、多黏菌素等敏感。部分菌株携带tet（A）、QnrS、bla_SHV、sul2、mcr-1等耐药基因和WabG毒力基因。本研究结果为犬、猫源肺炎克雷伯氏菌病的检测、诊断及治疗提供了试验依据。同时，黏菌素耐药基因mcr-1的检出将为多黏菌素的耐药性控制和合理使用提供参考。     

羊泰勒虫不同PCR检测方法的比较

为寻求快速、有效检测羊泰勒虫的PCR方法,本试验建立了检测羊泰勒虫18SrRNA基因和表面蛋白基因的两种常规PCR方法和一种检测18SrRNA基因的半套式PCR方法,并从其敏感性和临床样本检出率等方面进行了比较。结果显示:上述方法检测羊泰勒虫基因组DNA的最小检测量分别为1.6fg/μL、16fg/μL和0.016fg/μL;检测临床样本阳性检出率分别为31.37%(16/51)、17.64%(9/51)和45.10%(23/51)。3种方法中,检测18SrRNA基因的半套式PCR方法敏感性和临床样本检出率最高,其次为检测18SrRNA基因的常规PCR方法,最后为检测表面蛋白基因的常规PCR方法。结果说明,所建立的半套式PCR方法是一种较好的羊泰勒虫检测方法。     

Ehrlichia canis in dogs of Mexico: Prevalence,incidence, co–infection and factors associated

Rickettsial infections in dogs of Mexico were investigated. A total of 246 dogs were blood sampled and initially screened to detect Ehrlichia canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Rickettsia rickettsii by a quantitative real–time PCR (qPCR) assay. Sixty–five dogs were monitored and sampled twice 7–8 months apart. Using the qPCR, 72 positive dogs to E. canis were detected (prevalence of 29.26%). These dogs were also tested by nested PCR to detect the same pathogens. None of the studied dogs were positive to E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, R. rickettsii nor A. phagocytophilum by both PCR assays. The cumulative incidence of E. canis infection was 38.46%. Sequencing analysis of the nested PCR products revealed 100% and 98.1% identity of E. canis and R. parkeri, respectively. We found a dog co–infected with E. canis and R. parkeri.