BACTERIAL ENDOCARDITIS WITH THROMBUS FORMATION AND ABSCESSATION IN A HORSE

A 2.5 year old Appaloosa stallion with progressive weight loss and a heart murmur was diagnosed as having vegetative endocarditis of the right atrioventricular valves with a mass in the right atrium. The ultrasonographic appearance of the lesion was characterized by extreme reverberation. On postmortem examination, a 9 cm diameter thrombus was found within the right atrium and auricle, occupying approximately 80% of the chamber volume. Additionally, a lenticular abscess extended throughout the parietal cusp of the right atrioventricular valve. Histologic examination revealed that the lesions were septic with numerous gram positive cocci in short chains, suggestive of Streptococcus equi , and gram negative rods.     

Molecular characterisation of Theileria equi and risk factors associated with the occurrence of theileriosis in horses of Punjab (Pakistan)

Theileria equi (T. equi) is an obligate intra- and extra-erythrocytic parasite that causes equine theileriosis (ET) in equids. Equine theileriosis is considered a notifiable disease of global significance, a major constraint to the international movement of horses, and endemic in many countries. This disease may be difficult to diagnose, as it can produce variable and nonspecific clinical signs. A cross-sectional study was designed for the molecular characterisation of T. equi and to investigate the associated risk factors of ET accompanied by its consequences on haematological and sero-biochemical parameters. A convenience sampling of 500 blood samples were collected from ET suspect horses from January to December 2017. PCR was performed on all blood samples targeting the 18S rRNA gene of T. equi followed by sequencing; 9% animals tested positive with confirmed sequences. The isolates of this study showed high homology with Cuban, Russian and Brazilian isolates of T. equi (accession numbers KY111762.2 , MG551915.1 and KY952237.1 , respectively). Based on multivariate analysis, the principal risk factors consisted of absence of dogs on the premises and presence of tick infestation. The haemato-biochemical parameters showed a decrease in granulocytes and erythrocytes, and an increase in lymphocytes, monocytes, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean platelet volume, glucose, phosphorus and aspartate aminotransferase in positive horses. This is the first study which identified ET in Punjab (Pakistan) using molecular techniques and risk factors together with the haemato-biochemical variations in horses.     

Medical management of Rhodococcus equi infections: A clinical epidemiology perspective

Rhodococcus equi infections cause severe pulmonary disease in foals, affecting animal welfare and increasing production costs in horse-breeding farms. Extra-pulmonary disorders (EPD) are relatively common and can occur independently of pulmonary disease; foals with EPD have a more guarded prognosis. The accompanying paper by Shaw et al. (2021) reports the successful diagnosis and medical treatment of a large abdominal abscess caused by R. equi infection. The authors report on the benefits of using gallium maltolate, a semimetal compound with antimicrobial activity, in combination with traditional R. equi infection antimicrobial treatment (combination of a macrolide and rifampicin). Experimental studies are needed to understand further the benefits of this combined therapy, to evaluate the synergistic effects and if it improves the concentration of antimicrobial drugs into infected tissues. The publication of this case report in Equine Veterinary Education is of clinical importance to equine practitioners when diagnosing and treating R. equi infected foals with or without EPD.     

The effect of two different oxytetracycline treatments in experimental Ehrlichia phagocytophila infected lambs

The effect of 2 different oxytetracycline treatments in acute E. phagocytophila infected lambs was investigated. Twenty 5-month-old lambs of the Dala and Rygja breeds were used. Ten lambs were inoculated intravenously with a stabilate of an ovine E. phagocytophila strain. On the third day of fever, 4 lambs were given long-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycin prolongatum vet, Pfizer) (20 mg/kg) intramuscularly and another 4 lambs were given short-acting oxytetracycline (Terramycin vet, Pfizer) (10 mg/kg) intravenously for 5 consecutive days. The lambs were examined for the presence of Ehrlichia infection by blood smear evaluation, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibody titre against E. equi. One month after the last antibiotic treatment, 250 ml citrate blood from each of these lambs were inoculated into each of 10 susceptible lambs, which were observed during the following 6 weeks. The results indicate that oxytetracycline given in the acute stage of the infection may effectively terminate the development of fever, rickettsemia and weight reduction in E. phagocytophila infected lambs. No difference was observed between the 2 treatment groups. However, at least 3 of 8 antibiotic treated lambs (37.5%) were still infected with granulocytic Ehrlichia 3 months after treatment.     

马链球菌兽疫亚种类M蛋白亚单位疫苗小鼠免疫试验

为获得控制猪链球菌病安全高效的疫苗，本试验进行了马链球菌兽疫亚种类M蛋白亚单位疫苗的研制。应用热酸法提取马链球菌兽疫亚种ATCC35246株类M蛋白，并分别采用羟基磷灰石（HAT）层析和冷酒精沉淀法进行纯化，结果得到较纯的类M蛋白。用热酸提取的粗制类M蛋白、2种纯化的类M蛋白及全菌苗免疫小鼠，结果保护率分别为92％（11／12）、100％（12／12）、100％（12／12）和83％（10／12），表明类M蛋白亚单位疫苗有进一步开发的必要。     

马泰勒虫不同PCR检测方法的比较

为寻求一种快速、有效的马泰勒虫PCR检测方法，用Bec-UF2、Equi-R；EMA-1F、EMA-1R两对引物对56份马血液样本中马泰勒虫的核蛋白体基因和表面蛋白基因进行了常规PCR方法检测，用EMA-5、EMA-6；EMA-7、EMA-8两对引物对56份马血液样本中马泰勒虫的表面蛋白基因进行了PCR和套式PCR方法检测。结果显示，以Bec-UF2、Equi-R为引物的PCR方法的阳性检出率为57．1％（32／56），以EMA-5、EMA-6；EMA-7、EMA-8为引物的套式PCR方法的阳性检出率为51．8％（29／56），以EMA-1F、EMA-1R为引物的PCR方法的阳性检出率为17．9％（10／56）。结果表明，以Bec-UF2、Equi-R为引物的常规PCR方法为检测马泰勒虫的最佳方法。     

猪链球菌病及其疫苗研究进展

猪链球菌病(Swine streptococosis)是由多种不同血清群的致病性链球菌引起的一种疾病总称.近年来猪链球菌病在我国已广泛流行,特别是C群兽疫链球菌(现称马链球茵兽疫亚种)病,严重影响着我国的养殖业,造成了很大的经济损失.文章主要从其病原学、流行病学、毒力因子、病理变化、疫苗的研究进展做了系统的阐述,为该病的深入研究提供参考.     

新疆地区2株驴源马流产沙门菌的分离鉴定及致病性分析

[目的] 研究确定导致新疆地区2个规模化驴场出现流产的疑似病原沙门菌,并探究其致病能力和耐药性情况。[方法] 通过细菌分离培养、形态学观察、生化试验对分离菌进行了鉴定,并对分离菌的鞭毛基因FliC进行了PCR扩增及序列分析,通过致病性测定、荷菌量检测及病理组织学观察,鉴定和分析了分离菌的致病性,并通过药敏试验分析其耐药性。[结果] 通过细菌分离培养、形态学观察、生化试验,确定分离到的2株细菌均为马流产沙门菌,分别命名为G1-1和XD1-2。对这2个分离株的鞭毛基因FliC的遗传进化分析结果显示,2株分离菌FliC氨基酸序列之间的相似性为99.0%,2株分离菌FliC氨基酸序列与爱尔兰马源马流产沙门菌分离株Ireland-HE801373、Ireland-HE801378株相似性均最高,且均为99.3%;分离株G1-1与爱尔兰马源马流产沙门菌分离株Ireland-HE801373和Ireland-HE801378及国内马源马流产沙门菌分离株China-KJ486797.1和China-KJ486769.1亲缘关系较近,分离株XD1-2则与美国肠炎沙门菌分离株USA-EBQ1214032.1亲缘关系较近,相似性分析与进化树结果一致。小鼠致病性试验显示,2株分离菌对小鼠的毒性均较强且致病性存在差异,XD1-2对小鼠的致病性强于G1-1。分离菌G1-1对9种抗菌药物耐药,对11种抗菌药物敏感。分离菌XD1-2对11种抗菌药物耐药,对5种抗菌药物敏感。[结论] 本试验成功分离到2株驴源沙门菌,不同养殖场来源的驴源沙门菌的致病能力和耐药性有一定差异,对鞭毛基因FliC的进化分析也显示出差异,本研究结果为驴源沙门菌的防治提供了一定的参考依据。     

金银花、连翘及其药对对马链球菌马亚种耐药基因和毒力基因的影响

【目的】 研究金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对(金银花-连翘1∶1)对北疆地区携带fneB毒力基因的马链球菌马亚种(Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, SEE)耐药基因和毒力基因的影响。【方法】 首先对1 g/mL的金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对(金银花-连翘1∶1)水提物进行中药配比浓度梯度试验, 然后与携带fneB毒力基因的L1菌株、lytA+fneB+ply毒力基因的D1菌株和qnrA+bla_TEM+fneB基因的Y1菌株3种SEE菌株共培养, 检测中药对SEE菌株耐药基因bla_TEM、qnrA及毒力基因ply、fneB的影响; 将192只SPF级昆明小鼠均分为16组: 空白对照组(生理盐水)、金银花组、连翘组、金银花-连翘1∶1组、阴性对照组(Y1、L1和D1菌株组)及3种菌株分别与金银花、连翘和金银花-连翘1∶1共培养组, 各组药物或菌液经腹腔注射0.5 mL进行小鼠体内抑菌试验, 检测药物对小鼠的致病性和fneB毒力基因的影响。【结果】 中药最适配比浓度为中药水提物∶THB培养基∶待测菌液(D_{600 nm}值均为0.6)为1 000 μL∶500 μL∶20 μL; 与中药水提取物共培养的3株SEE菌株均未检出耐药基因和毒力基因, 且菌株形态结构均未发生改变。小鼠致病性试验结果显示, 阴性对照组的小鼠成活率分别为16.7%、8.3%和0;而L1+连翘、L1+金银花共培养组小鼠存活率分别为83.3%、75.0%, 金银花-连翘1∶1药对与3株SEE菌株共培养组小鼠成活率分别为41.7%、16.7%、50.0%;小鼠病理解剖结果显示, 除接种SEE菌株的小鼠肝脏肿大淤血、边缘钝圆外, 其余各组肝脏均正常。小鼠体内fneB毒力基因检测结果显示, Y1+金银花、Y1+连翘、Y1+金银花-连翘1∶1、L1+金银花、L1+金银花-连翘1∶1、D1+金银花、D1+连翘、D1+金银花-连翘组均携带fneB毒力基因, L1+连翘组未检出fneB毒力基因, 表明小鼠体内SEE菌株有重新获得fneB毒力基因的能力, 出现菌种反毒复壮, 其机制有待进一步研究。【结论】 金银花、连翘及金银花-连翘药对能够减弱SEE菌株的毒力基因和耐药基因, 从而对马腺疫疾病的防治具有指导意义, 为减抗、替抗提供理论支撑。