Attempeted transmission of feline coccidia from chronically infected queens to their kittens

Eight female, 12- to 34-month-old, specific-pathogen free cats were inoculated orally with Toxoplasma gondii cysts on day 0, then with Isospora felis and Isospora rivolta oocysts on day 39, and cysts of Hammondia hammondi on day 86 after inoculation with Toxoplasma. All cats shed oocysts of all 4 of these coccidia within 11 postinoculation days. The female cats were caged with 4 male Toxoplasma-free cats, starting 66 days after inoculation with Toxoplasma, until they were 5 to 6 weeks pregnant. Kittens that were born were housed with their mothers until necropsied or weaned. One 42-day-old kitten shed T gondii oocysts in feces. It was necropsied 2 days later and asexual stages of Toxoplasma (types D and E), gametocytes, and oocysts were demonstrated in sections of superficial epithelial cells of its small intestine. Lesions or forms of Toxoplasma were not demonstrated histologically in tis extraintestinal organs. Toxoplasma was not isolated from feces or tissues of the remaining 47 kittens born to these 8 queens. Toxoplasma was not isolated from the 4 male cats that were caged with infected females for 53, 59, 217, and 217 days. The source of toxoplasma infection in the kitten remained unknown but was considered unlikely to be congenital or through fecal contamination. Oocysts of I felis, I rivolta, and H hammondi were not found in the feces of any kittens, indicating that these coccidia are unlikely to be transmitted congenitally.     

石榴皮提取物对离体培养兔球虫卵囊的杀灭作用

本试验旨在研究石榴皮提取物对离体培养兔球虫卵囊的杀灭作用。采集已感染球虫的18只家兔(体重2.0~2.5 kg)的新鲜粪便(24 h内,35 g/只),用饱和盐水漂浮法分离、提取球虫卵囊。球虫卵囊分别在蒸馏水、石榴皮水提物、石榴皮黄酮、石榴皮多酚、盐酸氯苯胍中培养24、48、72 h,光镜下观察不同浓度的各种药物对兔球虫卵囊数量的影响。结果显示,与蒸馏水组比较,5、10 mg/mL剂量组培养72 h,4种药物均使兔球虫卵囊数量明显减少。球虫卵囊的减少率石榴皮水提物组大于石榴皮黄酮组,石榴皮黄酮组大于石榴皮多酚组和盐酸氯苯胍组;起效时间约为48~72 h。1 mg/mL剂量组4种药物虽可使兔球虫卵囊数量减少,但无显著差异(P＞0.05)。结果提示,石榴皮提取物对体外培养的兔球虫卵囊有较强的杀灭作用,其中石榴皮水提物对兔球虫卵囊杀灭作用最强,石榴皮黄酮和石榴皮多酚次之,其杀灭作用呈一定的正相关量效关系。     

The development of a molecular approach for coprodiagnosis of Toxoplasma gondii

Copro-diagnostic methods for Toxoplasma gondii infected cats have been traditionally based on the identification of oocysts by light microscopy or by bioassays. The first method is not sensitive and also unable to differentiate between Toxoplasma oocysts from other coccidian parasites in cats, and the second is cumbersome, time consuming and expensive. We have adapted a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect T. gondii oocyst DNA in fecal samples. Oocysts were successfully disrupted by freeze thawing coupled with mechanical means, and DNA extraction was subsequently accomplished. The test, based on amplifying a 529 bp repeated sequence, proved sensitive for detecting 1-2 oocysts in 200 microg of stool sample. The test specificity was established by showing that DNA from other cat coccidia tested negative. Specificity was reconfirmed by Southern hybridization of the PCR products with a specific probe. Of 122 stool samples from Jerusalem cats surveyed for the presence of Toxoplasma oocysts, 11 were found positive by PCR while none was detected by microscopy.     

Comparison of different commercial DNA extraction kits to detect Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat faeces

The cat is the definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii and plays an important role in the transmission of this and other coccidian parasites, e.g. Hammondia hammondi, a protozoon closely related and morphologically similar to T. gondii. A number of techniques to detect T. gondii nucleic acids in feline faeces are described and several extraction kits for isolating pathogen DNA from faeces or soil are commercially available. To compare the performance of such kits with regard to isolating oocyst DNA, a feline sample that had tested negative for coccidian parasites including T. gondii and H. hammondi was spiked with 10(4), 10(3), 10(2), 50 and 10 H. hammondi oocysts. Several ready-to-use stool or soil kits and an in-house method were then used to extract parasite DNA from these spiked faecal samples. Of six kits tested, two were found suitable for the detection of H. hammondi oocysts DNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in faecal samples with a detection limit of 250 oocysts per 1 g of faecal sample. These two kits revealed a similar, even slightly lower detection limit (50 oocysts per 1 g of sample) when tested with faecal samples spiked with T gondii oocysts.     

Evaluation of interspecific hybrids of the chicken, guinea fowl, and Japanese quail for innate resistance to coccidia

Experimental chicken/guinea fowl hybrids, guinea fowl, and chickens were orally inoculated with Eimeria acervulina or E. tenella, which are specific for chickens, or with E. grenieri, which is specific for guinea fowl. No intact oocysts were found in feces within 24 hr of inoculation, suggesting that excystation occurred in the normal and abnormal hosts. No oocysts were found in the feces of hybrids during a 9-day postinoculation period. The guinea fowl passed oocysts of guinea fowl coccidia (E. grenieri) but not those of chicken coccidia, and the chickens passed oocysts of chicken coccidia (E. acervulina and E. tenella) but not those of guinea fowl coccidia. Some asexual development (schizogony) occurred in hybrids inoculated with E. tenella, but sexual development (gametogony) did not. In contrast, quail/chicken hybrids became infected with oocysts of chicken coccidia (E. acervulina, E. tenella, and E. maxima) and quail coccidia (E. bateri) and passed a few oocysts during the normal patent period; control chickens and quails became heavily infected with oocysts of chicken and quail coccidia, respectively.     

假蒟提取物对感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫鸡血液指标的影响

本试验旨在研究假蒟提取物对感染柔嫩艾美耳球虫鸡血液指标的影响。270只1日龄海南文昌公鸡,随机分为6个组,每组3个重复,每重复15只,T1、T2和T3组为对照组(依次分为不感染不给药组、感染不给药组、感染给药组);T4、T5和T6组为假蒟添加组,分别在基础日粮中添加200、400、600mg/kg假蒟提取物粉剂。15日龄时,每组随机抽取30只鸡,除T1组灌服生理盐水外,其他各组鸡均经口接种柔嫩艾美耳球虫卵囊悬液,分别于接种前1d,接种后3、6、9d清晨采血测定其血液指标。结果表明,与感染球虫不给药的T2组相比,假蒟组(T4、T5、T6)可以显著降低感染球虫鸡粪便中球虫卵囊值(P0.05)。假蒟组在感染球虫后第6天,与T1组比,RBC、HGB、HCT、Ca2+、Na+、Cl-、TP、ALB、GLB、TG、CHOL、T4等指标呈下降趋势;但在感染球虫后第9天,TP、GLB含量均显著高于T1组(P0.05);在感染球虫后第6天,假蒟组与对照组相比,ALT、AST浓度水平均显著降低(P0.05)。结果提示,假蒟提取物能提高感染球虫后鸡机体免疫机能,降低肝脏损伤,降低鸡感染球虫后粪便卵囊值,具有一定的抗球虫效果。     

安徽省肥西县家兔球虫感染情况初步调查

对安徽省肥西县不同地区的家兔球虫种类及感染情况进行调查,结果表明该地区家兔球虫感染率为100%,并均为混合感染。鉴定出9种艾美耳球虫(Eimeria),即大型艾美耳球虫(E.magna)、盲肠艾美耳球虫(E.coecicola)、穿孔艾美耳球虫(E.perforans)、斯氏艾美耳球虫(E.stiedai)、小型艾美耳球虫(E.exigua)、中型艾美耳球虫(E.media)、松林艾美耳球虫(E.matsubayashii)、肠艾美耳球虫(E.intestinalis)和那格浦耳艾美耳球虫(E.nagpurensis),并对家兔球虫的感染强度和优势虫种等进行了记述。     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫广西南宁株的分离及鉴定

利用从南宁市郊养鸡场球虫病鸡粪便中收集的球虫混合种卵囊感染小鸡,再应用单卵囊分离感染技术,从感染鸡盲肠中收集的卵囊分离纯化获得1株纯种球虫,经鸡体传代增殖,对该虫株的卵囊大小和卵形指数、潜在期、排卵高峰期、最短孢子化时间、寄生部位、致病性等指标进行观察和测定。结果测得该虫株卵囊的平均大小为(25.743±1.94126)μm×(21.4±1.85985)μm,平均卵型指数为1.2067±0.07;潜在期为140 h;其排卵囊峰期在第6～9天,最高峰在第7天;最短孢子化时间为19 h;寄生部位在盲肠;对两周龄的艾维茵鸡,当使用5×104的孢子化卵囊感染剂量时死亡率为7.5%。根据这些测定和观察到的指标综合鉴定该分离株球虫为柔嫩艾美耳球虫,并命名为柔嫩艾美耳球虫广西南宁株(Eimeria.tenella-GXNN),该研究结果为进一步研究本地区鸡球虫病的药物治疗和免疫预防等奠定了基础。     

Concurrent experimentally induced infection with Eimeria bovis and coronavirus in unweaned dairy calves.

Over a period of 3 summers, 21 colostrum-fed Holstein bull calves, 1 to 3 days old, were assigned to 7 replicates, each consisting of 3 calves. Within each replicate of 3 calves, 2 were selected at random, to be given 100,000 to 146,000 sporulated coccidia oocysts (principally Eimeria bovis) orally 60 hours after arrival at the college research farm. On the thirteenth day after coccidia inoculation, 1 of the 2 calves that had been given coccidia and the third calf that had not been inoculated, were given coronavirus by intranasal and oral routes. Calves were observed daily, and consistency of feces was scored visually. Nasal swab specimens for indirect immunofluorescent antibody testing for coronavirus and fecal samples for oocyst determination were obtained approximately every third day. Of 7 calves that were given only coronavirus, 3 developed diarrhea of short duration. Of 7 calves that were given only coccidia oocysts, 6 developed diarrhea. All 7 calves inoculated initially with coccidia and subsequently with coronavirus developed diarrhea. For 5 of 7 replicates, calves that were given coccidia and coronavirus developed diarrhea first. When overall severity, measured by fecal score and by blood in the feces, was compared, calves inoculated with coccidia followed by coronavirus were more severely affected (P less than 0.05) than were calves that were given only coronavirus. Calves that were given only coccidia oocysts appeared more severely affected than calves that were given only coronavirus, but differences were not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

陕西省某羊场简阳大耳山羊球虫感染情况调查及种类鉴定

为了解陕西省某简阳大耳山羊场球虫种类和感染情况,采集不同年龄段简阳大耳山羊新鲜粪便55份,用形态学方法并结合麦克马斯特虫卵计数法(McMaster's method)对该场简阳大耳山羊球虫进行种类鉴定和感染情况调查。结果表明,大耳山羊球虫总感染率为92.7%,其中3月龄~7月龄、10月龄~12月龄、3岁山羊球虫检出率分别为100%、90%和86.7%,各年龄段平均OPG值为3 300、1 050、854。共鉴定出8种山羊球虫,其中阿氏艾美耳球虫(Eimeria arloingi)、雅氏艾美耳球虫(E.ninakohlyakimovae)和艾氏艾美耳球虫(E.alijevi)为该羊场优势虫种。     

湘黄鸡球虫病病原学调查与鉴定

鸡球虫病是危害养鸡业的主要疾病之一,为了解湘黄鸡球虫病病原学流行情况,选择湘黄鸡饲养较集中的衡东、衡山、衡南、衡阳县以及衡阳市郊区五个县区,以地面散养的湘黄鸡为病原学调查对象。通过粪样分肠段采集,采用琼脂薄板单卵囊的分离培养和球虫单卵囊感染试验。经鉴定,结果发现湘黄鸡球虫病的病原体有堆型艾美耳球虫、早熟艾美耳球虫、柔嫩艾美耳球虫、毒害艾美耳球虫、巨型艾美耳球虫等五种球虫。鉴定中,采用4%琼脂糖块将单卵囊分离最合适,此法与其他分离方法比较,简单易行,不需要专门的分离仪器。     

Secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles in an Amazonian forest fragment of Colombia: influence of dung type and edge effect

Seeds of many plant species are secondarily dispersed by dung beetles, but the outcome of this interaction is highly context‐specific. Little is known about how certain anthropogenic disturbances affect this plant–animal interaction. The aims of this study were to assess the effect of dung type on secondary dispersal by dung beetles in a forest fragment, and to determine whether this interaction is affected by edge effects. Using pitfall traps, we captured dung beetles attracted to dung of 2 frugivorous mammals: woolly monkeys and howler monkeys. We found differences between both dung beetle assemblages, but these differences were not consistent in time. Using seeds surrounded by both dung types, we carried out a field experiment using seeds of 2 plant species. We found that the probability of secondary dispersal by dung beetles was higher for seeds placed in woolly monkey dung. Finally, we carried out a field experiment using plastic beads as seed mimics to assess edge effects. We found that secondary seed dispersal by dung beetles was negatively affected by edges. The disruption of plant–animal interactions along anthropogenic forest edges could have long‐term negative effects on forest dynamics by affecting processes of regeneration.     

Toxoplasmosis Update and Public Health Implications

Toxoplasma gondii has a coccidian life cycle in the intestine of domestic and wild felids that includes a series of asexual and sexual stages and an oocyst stage that is shed in the feces. Oocysts complete their development outside the body, eventually becoming infective for about 350 species of vertebrates including cats and man. The effects of climate on oocyst survival and the physical and biological means of oocyst dispersal are discussed. Infectivity and pathogenicity for livestock species vary. Acute disease results from rapidly multiplying tachyzoites that may be transmitted by carnivorism, transfusion, vertical transmission and other routes. Patent infections may persist for the life of a host as bradyzoites within tissue cysts. Bradyzoites initiate acute infection in other hosts after carnivorism or organ transplantation or in the same host after immunosuppression. Also discussed are: (a) prevalence of T. gondii in livestock as determined by digestion and serological techniques, (b) identification in humans as accomplished by isolation, serological and skin test techniques and (c) identification in cats as accomplished primarily by fecal examinations for oocysts infective for mice. Source of human infections, major outbreaks, treatment, effects on mental health and methods for preventing toxoplasmosis in man and livestock are listed.     

Clinical coccidiosis in a boar stud.

This report describes an outbreak of coccidiosis in a boar stud. A live, untreated, adult boar with a history of diarrhea was submitted to the Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Ames, IA. For a 3-month period, approximately 40% of the boars in this stud had developed gray to brown diarrhea that lasted 1-3 days. Affected boars did not lose condition, and antibiotic therapy did not appear to affect the clinical course ofthe disease. At necropsy, the distal ileum was palpably thickened and covered by a thick, yellow-green, fibrinous exudate. Microscopic changes in the ileum consisted of an erosive enteritis associated with the presence of numerous coccidia within mid to superficial villus enterocytes. The mucosa was covered by a fibrinous exudate admixed with numerous nonsporulated coccidian oocysts. A light growth of Salmonella enterica serovar Derby was isolated from the small intestine of this animal, but laboratory tests were negative for Lawsonia and Brachyspira spp. Individual or paired fecal samples were obtained from 6 additional boars experiencing similar clinical signs. Numerous Eimeria spinosa oocysts were identified in these samples. Neither Salmonella nor Brachyspira spp. were cultured from submitted fecal samples. Necropsy of a live boar and examination of feces from 6 additional animals confirmed that the mild, sporadic, transient diarrhea in this boar stud was due to coccidiosis.     

绢蒿荒漠粪甲虫对牛粪、马粪分解及粪下土壤养分的影响

采用野外实验和室内实验相结合的方法,研究绢蒿荒漠草地中粪甲虫的介导对牛粪和马粪的分解状况及其对粪便下方土壤养分的影响。结果表明,有粪甲虫活动的粪便随着分解时间的延长酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、全碳、全氮和全磷降解率逐渐升高。有粪甲虫活动的粪便养分降解率均高于无粪甲虫活动的粪便,牛粪分解末期较无粪甲虫参与的自然分解ADF、NDF、全碳、全氮、全磷降解率分别提高17.54%、13.41%、20.91%、5.3%、10.66%;马粪分解末期较无粪甲虫参与的自然分解ADF、NDF、全碳、全氮降解率分别提高28.66%、63.34%、17.67%、9.89%;有粪甲虫活动的粪便下土壤养分均高于无粪甲虫活动的土壤养分,与无粪甲虫参与的粪便自然分解相比,牛粪粪甲虫分解末期土壤全碳、全氮、全磷分别提高9.02g/kg、0.16g/kg、0.27g/kg,马粪粪甲虫分解末期分别提高3.05g/kg、0.03g/kg、0.12g/kg。牛粪、马粪和土壤全氮、全碳、全磷变化呈负相关关系,和pH变化呈正相关关系。粪甲虫的活动能加速粪便分解,同时提高粪便下方土壤养分。     

Incidence of Toxoplasma gondii oocysts in cat feces

Within two years and a half, the faeces of 620 cats coming from Brno and the area around the city were subjected to parasitological examination with special regard to the occurrence of the oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii. Sucrose solution at the specific weight of 1,150 was used as flotation medium. Oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii were eliminated by eight cats (1.29%) at the age from 16 days to 1.5 years. Six of the eight cats were younger than seven months. The Toxoplasma gondii oocysts were eliminated by the cats for 1-16 days while exhibiting signs of short-term scours and swelling of lymph nodes. In all cases the oocysts of Toxoplasma gondii were produced in the summer and autumn seasons (June-December). During the patent period, other coccidia (Isospora felis and Isospora rivolta) were also present in the cats.     

皖西地区鸡球虫病流行情况调查

采用群体采样法分别从安徽省六安、寿县、霍邱三地调查点采集新鲜鸡粪,检查粪样.阳性粪样采用饱和食盐水漂浮和离心沉淀法进行卵囊分离.显微镜下观察卵囊进行虫种鉴定,并统计各调查点的鸡球虫感染率和感染强度等.调查结果:检查50份鸡的新鲜粪样.得出鸡球虫感染率为100%;共检出6种球虫,经鉴定均隶属于艾关耳属,分别为毒害艾美耳球虫(Eimeria rwcatrix)、堆型艾美耳球虫(E.acervulina)、巨型艾美耳球虫(Emaxima)、柔嫩艾美耳球虫(E.tenel-la)、缓艾美耳球虫(E.mitis)和早熟艾美耳球虫(E.praecox).调查结果说明:鸡球虫在皖西地区普遍存在,且有的调查点感染强度很高,养殖户的科学防治意识不强.     

Interaction between coccidia and Nematodirus battus in lambs on pasture

Five thousand oocysts of each of two species of coccidia, Eimeria crandallis and E ovinoidalis or 30,000 infective larvae of Nematodirus battus, given as single infections to three- to five-week-old lambs, caused only transient diarrhoea and had no effect on growth. Lambs infected first with coccidia and two weeks later with N battus suffered severe diarrhoea, weight loss and some deaths. Simultaneous administration of the coccidia and the nematodes increased the clinical severity of the syndrome and increased the numbers of nematode eggs produced.     

球虫消毒剂的筛选及氨水对艾美耳球虫卵囊抑杀条件的优化

为了筛选有效的球虫消毒剂,本研究将柔嫩艾美耳球虫卵囊分别与16种常用消毒剂和1种高效抗球虫药物溶液（250 mg/L妥曲珠利溶液）混合作用2 h然后在2.5%重铬酸钾溶液中孢子化培养,或混合作用4 h后接种14日龄雏鸡,根据卵囊孢子化率、孢子化抑制率、每克粪便卵囊数量（oocysts per gram of feces,OPG）、病变计分和血便情况评价消毒剂和抗球虫药物抑杀球虫卵囊效果。结果显示,8%氨水对未孢子化卵囊和孢子化卵囊均表现为100%的抑杀效果;250 mg/L妥曲珠利、3%甲醛、4%苯酚、0.5%过氧乙酸、5% NaOH+10% NaCl和5% NaOH对球虫卵囊活性具有一定的抑制作用,孢子化抑制率超过10%,但是对孢子化卵囊抑杀作用不明显;而剩余10种常用消毒剂对球虫卵囊没有明显的抑杀作用。氨水抑杀球虫卵囊条件优化的试验结果显示,1%~8%氨水与未孢子化卵囊作用1 h以上,均可100%抑杀球虫卵囊活性。粪便干扰试验结果显示,粪便不影响2%和4%氨水对球虫卵囊的抑杀效果。本研究结果说明常用消毒剂和抗球虫药物不能有效杀灭球虫卵囊的活性,而氨水是一种高效球虫消毒剂。本研究结果可为开发新型高效球虫消毒剂和球虫病控制提供参考。     

Infectivity of Cryptosporidium sp isolated from wild mice for calves and mice

A study was conducted to determine the incidence of cryptosporidiosis in wild mice (Mus musculus) and the infectivity of oocysts from their feces for susceptible calves. The presence of oocysts and the duration of shedding of oocysts in the feces were evaluated in 115 wild mice. Approximately 30% of the mice shed Cryptosporidium sp oocysts, without evidence of clinical infection; recurrence of oocyst shedding was found in about 50% of the mice. Oocysts from the feces of naturally infected mice were infective for calves and mice. Calves began shedding oocysts at 7 days and shed oocysts for about 10 days. Nonfatal, clinical cryptosporidiosis developed in 7 infected calves. The mice began shedding oocysts at 6 days and shed oocysts for 12 days. Fatalities or clinical infection did not develop in 5 infected mice. The results indicated that Cryptosporidium-infected wild mice may be a source of cryptosporidiosis in susceptible calves.