Detection of Coxiella burnetii in placenta and abortion samples from British ruminants using real-time PCR

A real-time PCR was developed to detect Coxiella burnetii (the cause of Q fever) in ruminant placentas and aborted fetuses. Primer and probe sets previously developed for human tissue studies were used to target the insertion sequence IS1111 gene for C burnetii. The assay was highly sensitive, with a limit of detection of 10 copies of template, theoretically equating to a single bacterium, and did not cross-react with a panel of other bacteria. To determine sensitivity on field samples submitted for the diagnosis of abortion, results using the IS1111 PCR assay were compared with a com1 PCR assay. When applied to ruminant abortion material, including placental cotyledons and fetal samples, the IS1111 and com1 assays yielded positive results in 23 (25 per cent) of 93 and 19 (20 per cent) of 93 samples, respectively. One infected goat herd was monitored for 31 months: 57 (92 per cent) of 62 placental cotyledon samples from aborting and non-aborting goats, and 10 (30 per cent) of 33 fetal samples were positive by the IS1111 PCR assay.     

牛附红细胞体单管套式PCR检测方法的建立

为快速、准确地检测出牛附红细胞体,根据GenBank上发表的牛温氏附红细胞体(Mycoplasma wenyonii)l6S rRNA基因序列(登录号AF016546)设计合成内外2对引物,建立了牛附红细胞体单管套式PCR检测方法,并进行了特异性、敏感性及应用试验。结果:建立的牛附红细胞体单管套式PCR检测方法扩增的片段大小为361 bp,与GenBank中相应序列同源性为98%,该方法扩增不出牛瑟氏泰勒虫、新孢子虫、布氏杆菌及牛无乳链球菌等基因片段,检测出标准模板DNA的最小量为1.22 fgμ/L。通过对吉林省延边地区66份血液样本的临床检测显示,单管套式PCR检出率28.8%,高于常规PCR的21.2%和鲜血压片镜检的12.1%,具有准确、特异、敏感等优点,是检测牛附红细胞体的一种新型、可靠的诊断技术。     

Seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii in selected populations of domestic ruminants in Newfoundland

The seroprevalence of Coxiella burnetii among cattle, sheep, and goats in Newfoundland was determined by microimmunofluorescence. Seropositivity to phase II antigen increased in sheep from 3.1% in 1997 to 23.5% in 1999-2000 (P < 0.001). Cows (24%) had antibodies to phase I antigen; goats (15.6%) had antibodies to phase II antigen. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii is increasing among sheep.     

Occurrence and risk factors of Coxiella burnetii in domestic ruminants in Lebanon

Coxiella burnetii causes diseases in humans (Q fever) and animals, domestic ruminants playing a major role in the epidemiology of the infection. Information on C. burnetii infection in Lebanon is scanty. In order to assess the prevalence of C. burnetii infection in ruminants, a cross-sectional study was undertaken in 2014. A total of 1633 sera from ruminants (865 cattle, 384 sheep and 384 goats) from 429 farms (173 cattle, 128 sheep and 128 goats), in seven provinces of Lebanon were randomly selected and assayed for the presence of antibodies.39.86% of farms (95% CI: 35.23–44.56) resulted positive. The seroprevalence was 30.63% in Cattle-farms, 46.88% in sheep-farms and 45.31% in goat-farms.Milk samples collected from 282 seropositive animals (86 cows, 93 sheep and 103 goats) from 171 positive farms were tested by a high sensitive Real-Time PCR targeted to the IS1111 transposon of C. burnetii. The overall prevalence in farms was estimated to be 14.04%. Cattle-, sheep- and goat farm prevalence rates were 15.09%, 10% and 17.24%, respectively.The findings of the study show that C. burnetii prevalence in Lebanese domestic ruminants is related to animal species and farming practices. Indeed, the mixed herds with sheep (p < 0.01), the presence of common lambing/kidding areas (p < 0.001) in farms where the use of disinfectants was not a routine practice (p < 0.05) were identified as important risk factors.The results of the study provide baseline information for setting up herd management and public health measures for the prevention and control of Q fever in Lebanon.     

猪附红细胞体单管巢式PCR诊断方法的建立及应用

根据GenBank上发表的猪附红细胞体16S rRNA基因序列(登录号U88565)设计合成2对引物,建立了猪附红细胞体单管巢式PCR诊断方法,经酶切分析、单管巢式PCR进一步鉴定后进行序列测定,并与血涂片染色镜检、常规PCR进行了比较。结果:扩增的猪附红细胞体基因序列与GenBank中发表的猪附红细胞体基因序列(U88565)同源性为96%;特异性试验表明,设计的引物不能扩增弓形虫、链球菌、大肠杆菌、葡萄球菌及羊附红细胞体等病原体;敏感性试验表明,单管巢式PCR诊断方法最低能够检测出0.116 fg的标准模板DNA。通过对75份血液样本的检测表明,建立的单管巢式PCR方法明显优于血涂片染色镜检法及常规PCR方法,具有较高的敏感性和实用性。本试验建立的单管巢式PCR诊断方法具有特异、敏感、实用等优点,为猪附红细胞体的检测提供了一种新型、可靠的诊断技术。     

Approaches to increase recovery of bacterial and fungal abortion agents in domestic ruminants

Abortions in domestic ruminants cause significant economic losses to farmers. Determining the cause of an abortion is important for control efforts, but it can be challenging. All available diagnostic methods in the bacteriology laboratory should be employed in every case due to the many limiting factors (autolysis, lack of history, range of samples) that complicate the investigation process. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the recovery of diagnostically significant isolates from domestic ruminant abortion cases could be increased through the use of a combination of the existing aerobic culture and Brucella selective method with methods that are commonly recommended in the literature reporting abortion investigations. These methods are examination of wet preparations and impression smears stained by the modified Ziehl–Neelsen method, anaerobic, microaerophilic, Leptospira, Mycoplasma and fungal culture. Samples of placenta and aborted foetuses from 135 routine clinical abortion cases of cattle (n = 88), sheep (n = 25) and goats (n = 22) were analysed by the new combination of methods. In 46 cases, bacteria were identified as aetiological agents and in one case a fungus. Isolation of Brucella species increased to 7.4% over two years compared with the previous 10 years (7.3%), as well as Campylobacter jejuni (n = 2) and Rhizopus species (n = 1). Salmonella species (5.9%) and Trueperella pyogenes (4.4%) were also isolated more often. In conclusion, the approach was effective in removing test selection bias in the bacteriology laboratory. The importance of performing an in-depth study on the products of abortion by means of an extensive, combination of conventional culture methods was emphasised by increased isolation of Brucella abortus and isolation of C. jejuni. The combination of methods that yielded the most clinically relevant isolates was aerobic, microaerophilic, Brucella and fungal cultures.     

Discrimination between sheep-associated and wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever virus by means of a single-tube duplex nested PCR

A single-tube duplex nested polymerase chain reaction (sdn-PCR) was developed for the detection of and discrimination between ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2) and alcelaphine herpesvirus-1 (AIHV-1). These viruses respectively cause sheep- and wildebeest-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF and WA-MCF). In the first step of the sdn-PCR, two primers with high annealing temperatures based on conserved regions of the tegument genes were used for DNA amplification. In the second step, two primer sets based on variable regions of the respective OvHV-2 and AIHV-1 genes and with annealing temperatures > 11 degrees C below the primers used in the first step, were used. Internal regions of different sizes from amplicons produced in the first step were amplified. This single-tube test obviates the need for two separate assays to detect both viral types, thereby reducing time, labour and cost.     

Peste des petits ruminants infection in domestic ruminants in Sudan

The existence of peste des petits ruminants (PPR) in domestic ruminants and camels in Sudan during 2008–2012 was investigated. Lung tissues and serum samples were randomly collected from sheep, goats, cattle, and camels at different areas of Sudan. A total of 12,384 serum samples were collected from clinically healthy 7413 sheep, 1988 camels, 1501 cattle, 1459 goats, and 23 gazelles at different areas in the Sudan. They were examined for PPR antibodies using competitive ELISA (cELISA). The overall detected seroprevalence of PPR in tested sera was 49.4%; seroprevalence values within species were 67.1, 48.2, 25.8, 2.1, and 21.7% in sheep, goat, cattle, camels, and gazelles, respectively. The highest seroprevalence (68.1%) was observed in sera collected from Darfur states, then the central states (54.3%). A total of 1276 lung tissue samples (623 sheep, 324 cattle, 220 camels, and 109 goats) were collected. The majority of lung samples were collected from clinically healthy animals that showed lesions on PM in slaughterhouses (95%) and during PPR outbreaks; samples were tested for PPR antigen using immunocapture ELISA (IcELISA). PPR antigen was detected in 233 out of the 1276 tested samples (18.3%). Positive results were observed in samples collected from clinically healthy and diseased animals. The observed prevalence values in each species were 33.6, 21.1, 15.4, and 12.3% in camel, goat, sheep, and cattle, respectively. PPR antigen was detected in samples from different areas; however, the highest prevalence (63.9%) was found in samples collected from the eastern states, then Khartoum state (28%). Trials for virus isolation were done in different cell cultures. Out of 30 IcELISA-positive samples inoculated in primary bovine and ovine kidney cells, Vero cells, the PPR virus was successfully isolated from 15 (eight sheep, five camels, and two goats) samples in the three cell culture types. Using RT-PCR, PPRV nucleic acid was detected in all 25 IcELISA-positive tested samples.     

Heartwater in hosts other than domestic ruminants

The importance of further research on the susceptibility of wild hosts to Cowdria ruminantium infection is discussed. The literature is surveyed and an attempt is made to divide the various species described into susceptible and refractory hosts. The reasons for the numerous apparently conflicting reports are considered and it is suggested that those making further inquiries in this field of work take these factors into account.     

Herpesviral abortion in domestic animals

Abortion or neonatal disease may follow infection with several α, β and γ-herpesviruses. The α-herpesvirus, equid herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1), causes single or epizootic abortions or neonatal deaths in equids, and the closely related virus EHV-4 causes sporadic equine abortions. In cattle, the α-herpesviruses, bovine herpesvirus-1 (infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus) and bovine herpesvirus-5 (bovine encephalitis virus), and a γ-herpesvirus, bovine herpesvirus-4, have all been implicated as causes of abortion. In pigs, suid herpesvirus-1 (SHV-1: pseudorabies virus), an α-herpesvirus, and SHV-2 (porcine cytomegalovirus), a β-herpesvirus, each cause abortion or neonatal piglet losses. Caprine herpesvirus-1, canine herpesvirus and feline herpesvirus-1, all α-herpesviruses, cause abortions or neonatal deaths in goats, dogs and cats, respectively. This review discusses the pathogenesis, pathology and laboratory diagnosis of these herpesviral abortions and neonatal diseases, with an emphasis on experimental studies of each disease. Alternative reviews covering other aspects of each infection, such as the genetic and antigenic structure of the viruses, host immune responses and approaches to vaccination and disease control are indicated at appropriate points in the text. nts in the text.     

家养动物的疱疹病毒性流产

疱疹病毒是一群较大的有囊膜的双链 DNA病毒 ,到目前为止 ,几乎所有家畜和家禽都有各自的疱疹病毒 ,但一种家畜可能感染几种 (型 )疱疹病毒 ,一种疱疹病毒也可能感染几种动物。至今发现的疱疹病毒已有 80余种。早期 ,根据其生物及分子生物学特性 ,将疱疹病毒科分为 α-疱疹病毒、β-疱疹病毒和γ-疱疹病毒 3个亚科 ,而 1 995年国际病毒分类委员会则将疱疹病毒科分类为甲、乙和丙 3个亚科。但许多疱疹病毒感染可引起流产或新生动物疾病 ,如马疱疹病毒 1型 ( EHV- 1 )引起马的单一性或地方流行性流产或新生马驹死亡 ,而与之密切相关病毒EH…