Cytologic findings, and feline herpesvirus DNA and Chlamydophila felis antigen detection rates in normal cats and cats with conjunctival and corneal lesions

Samples were collected from 36 cats with feline herpesvirus (FHV-1)-related ocular disease (conjunctivitis, epithelial or stromal keratitis, or corneal sequestration), and 17 cats without ocular changes. Corneoconjunctival swabs, scrapings and biopsies were tested in various combinations for presence of FHV-1 DNA using single round (sr) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR (nPCR). Additional swabs from the inferior conjunctival fornix were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for Chlamydophila felis antigen. Cytologic evaluation was carried out on conjunctival (cats with conjunctivitis) and corneal (cats with keratitis) cytobrush preparations. FHV-1 DNA was detected by PCR in 14 (39%) cats with ocular disease and 1 (6%) of the control group. Agreement between srPCR and nPCR results was significant (P < 0.01). FHV-1 DNA was detected in 3/7 cats with conjunctivitis, 5/6 cats with epithelial keratitis, 3/11 cats with stromal keratitis, and 3/12 cats with corneal sequestration. There was a significant association (P = 0.0027) between viral presence and epithelial keratitis. However, no significant association was found between viral presence and conjunctivitis (P = 0.059), stromal keratitis (P = 0.15), or corneal sequestration (P = 0.18). With respect to FHV-1 DNA detection, intersample agreement was significant (P < 0.03). No sampling technique seemed more likely than another to harvest detectable viral DNA, except for cats with corneal sequestrum in which viral DNA was not detected using corneoconjunctival swabs. FHV-1 DNA was detected in 6/9 samples with intranuclear inclusion bodies and in 6/7 cats with eosinophils on cytologic examination. All samples tested negative for C. felis antigen.     

The in vitro effects of proxymetacaine, fluorescein, and fusidic acid on real-time PCR assays used for the diagnosis of Feline herpesvirus 1 and Chlamydophila felis infections

Purpose To investigate the possible inhibition of qPCR assays used for the diagnosis of ocular infections in cats by proxymetacaine, fluorescein, and fusidic acid, which are commonly used in veterinary ophthalmology. Methods Fluorescein, proxymetacaine, and fusidic acid were tested for possible inhibition of a triplex qPCR assay designed to detect Chamydophila felis, Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV‐1), and the feline 28S ribosomal DNA (28S rDNA) gene by comparing threshold cycle (C_t) values of samples with and without the three products. A second experiment was carried out to measure the effects of various dilutions of fusidic acid. Results No statistically significant differences were detected between the C. felis, FHV‐1, and 28S rDNA C_t values with and without proxymetacaine or fluorescein. However, there was a statistically significant increase in FHV‐1 (P < 0.01), C. felis (P < 0.01), and 28S rDNA (P < 0.05) C_t values when fusidic acid was used. When dilutions of fusidic acid were tested, the results revealed that only the 1:2 dilution caused a statistically significant increase (P < 0.01) in the FHV‐1 Ct values. Conclusion Proxymetacaine and fluorescein did not interfere with our qPCR assays for the detection of C. felis and FHV‐1. The presence of fusidic acid caused a small inhibitory effect of doubtful clinical significance. In vivo studies are required to establish the clinical relevance of this study and to confirm our findings.     

猪鼻支原体TaqMan MGB探针荧光定量PCR方法的建立

为建立快速检测猪鼻支原体(M.hyorhinis)的荧光定量PCR方法,本研究根据GenBank中登录的p37基因序列设计并合成引物及MGB探针,构建含有p37基因的重组质粒,以其为标准品绘制标准曲线,并检测该方法的特异性、敏感性和重复性.结果显示该方法具有良好的特异性,与猪肺炎支原体、猪絮状支原体、猪滑液支原体、鸡毒支原体、副猪嗜血杆菌、猪胸膜肺炎放线杆菌、猪圆环病毒、猪瘟病毒及猪流感病毒无交叉反应,对M.hyorhinis的检测敏感性为10拷贝/μL,并且稳定性好,变异系数小于2％.利用建立的荧光定量PCR方法对55份临床样品进行检测,阳性检出率为87.3％(48/55),而分离培养方法和普通PCR的阳性检出率分别为41.8％(23/55)和29.1％ (16/55).该结果表明,建立的方法特异性强、敏感性高、稳定性好,可以用于M.hyorhinis临床样品的检测,对M.hyorhinis的快速和定量检测具有重要意义.     

山羊和绵羊嗜血支原体PCR检测方法的建立与应用

为建立羊嗜血支原体(M.ovis)病快速检测方法,本实验根据GenBank中登录的羊M.ovis 16S rRNA基因序列设计一对引物,以山羊和绵羊M.ovis基因组DNA为模板,建立M.ovis PCR检测方法,并进行特异性、敏感性及临床应用试验。结果显示,建立的M.ovis PCR检测方法扩增片段大小为508 bp,与GenBank中M.ovis参考株同源性达99%以上,该方法与猪嗜血支原体、牛嗜血支原体等病原体无交叉反应,最低检测40个拷贝的DNA;通过对延边地区60份山羊和绵羊血液样本的检测结果表明,建立的PCR检测方法具有特异、敏感、准确等优点,完全适用于M.ovis的检测。     

Prevalence of feline herpesvirus 1, Chlamydophila felis, and Mycoplasma spp DNA in conjunctival cells collected from cats with and without conjunctivitis

OBJECTIVE: To use PCR assays to determine the prevalence of feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1), Chlamydophila felis, and Mycoplasma spp DNA in conjunctival cells collected from cats with and without conjunctivitis; to compare results of conventional and real-time fluorogenic PCR assays for amplification of FHV-1 DNA; and to determine whether copy numbers of FHV-1 DNA are correlated with conjunctivitis. ANIMALS: 55 cats with active conjunctivitis, 39 healthy cats that never had conjunctivitis, and 32 cats with a history of conjunctivitis that had been resolved for at least 3 months. PROCEDURES: Samples were obtained by rolling cotton-tipped applicators on the ventral conjunctiva of awake cats treated topically with proparacaine. The DNA was extracted from the swab specimens and assessed in PCR assays to detect DNA of FHV-1 (fluorogenic PCR assay and conventional PCR assay), Mycoplasma spp (conventional PCR assay), and C felis (conventional PCR assay). RESULTS: Overall prevalence rates of FHV-1, C felis, and Mycoplasma spp as assessed by the conventional PCR assays were 6.7%, 3.2%, and 9.6%, respectively. Percentage concordance between conventional PCR and fluorogenic PCR assays for FHV-1 was 92.5%. There were no significant differences among the 3 groups of cats for the mean copy number of FHV-1 divided by the copy number of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Mycoplasma spp were the most prevalent organism detected and was associated with conjunctivitis. This study could not confirm that there are increased copy numbers of FHV-1 DNA in cats with conjunctivitis, compared with the copy numbers for cats without conjunctivitis.     

Design,optimization, and application of a conventional PCR assay with an internal control for detection of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ 16S rDNA in domestic cats from Brazil

Background: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMtc) is a hemotrophic bacterial species that can, alone or in combination, induce anemia in cats. The diagnostic test of choice for hemoplasma infections is PCR. Conventional PCR assays have been developed for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ (CMhm) but not for CMtc. Although real‐time PCR assays have been reported for all of the feline hemoplasmas, the expense of necessary instrumentation precludes its use in Brazil and many other countries. Objectives: The goals of this study were to develop and optimize a conventional PCR assay to diagnose CMtc using an internal control to detect false‐negative results, and to evaluate the occurrence of CMtc infection in domestic cats from Brazil. Methods: Species‐specific primers were designed and a PCR assay was developed for the detection of CMtc 16S rDNA in cat blood. Sensitivity was determined by serial 10‐fold dilutions of plasmid and DNA extracted from blood from an experimentally infected cat. EDTA blood samples from 373 cats were collected. DNA was extracted using a silica‐based protocol and tested using the PCR assay. Results: Primer concentration, annealing temperature, and MgCl₂ concentration were optimized in the presence and absence of the internal control. Two samples negative for the internal control were excluded. Of the remaining 371 samples (117 healthy and 254 unhealthy cats), 17 (4.6%) were positive for CMtc. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the utility of an optimized PCR assay to detect CMtc in feline blood samples. We also report for the first time the prevalence of CMtc infection in domestic cats in Brazil.     

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for detecting Mycoplasma hyosynoviae and Mycoplasma hyorhinis in pen-based oral,tonsillar, and nasal fluids

Mycoplasma (M.) hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae are pathogens known to cause disease in pigs post-weaning. Due to their fastidious nature, there is increased need for culture-independent diagnostic platforms to detect these microorganisms. Therefore, this study was performed to develop and optimize quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays to rapidly detect M. hyorhinis and M. hyosynoviae in pen-based oral fluids as well as nasal and tonsillar fluids as proxies for samples used in swine herd surveillance. Two methods of genomic DNA extraction, automated versus manual, were used to compare diagnostic test performance. A wean-to-finish longitudinal study was also carried out to demonstrate the reproducibility of using pen-based oral fluids. Overall, pen-based oral and tonsillar fluids were more likely to be positive for both types of bacteria whereas only M. hyorhinis was detected in nasal fluids. DNA extraction protocols were shown to significantly influence test result. Although the initial detection time somewhat differed, both organisms were repeatedly detected in the longitudinal study. Overall, this study evaluated two qPCR methods for rapid and specific detection of either mycoplasma. Results from the present investigation can serve as a foundation for future studies to determine the prevalence of the two microorganisms, environmental load, and effectiveness of veterinary interventions for infection control.     

Evaluation of PCR inhibitory effect of enrichment broths and comparison of DNA extraction methods for detection of Salmonella Enteritidis using real-time PCR assay

The best enrichment broth and DNA extraction scheme was determined for rapid and sensitive detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in steamed pork using real-time PCR. The inhibitory effect of commonly used Salmonella enrichment broths, Rappaport-Vassiliadis (RV) and Muller-Kauffmann tetrathionate with novobiocin (MKTTn), on real-time PCR was confirmed. The inhibition of PCR was statistically significant (p < 0.05) in RV and MKTTn, as compared with buffered peptone water (BPW) or phosphate-buffered saline. The inhibitory effect of the selective enrichment media was successfully removed by using a modified DNA extraction, PrepMan Ultra Reagent with an additional washing step or the DNeasy Tissue Kit. In three experiments, when applied to detection of Salmonella Enteritidis in steamed pork, the real-time PCR coupled with single 24 h enrichment with BPW performed better than double 48 h enrichment with BPW plus RV or MKTTn. The simple real-time PCR assay using BPW proved to be a rapid and sensitive test for detection of low concentrations of Salmonella Enteritidis in steamed pork samples as compared with the conventional culture method.     

1株禽传染性支气管炎病毒的分离鉴定及其实时荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立

自禽传染性支气管炎病毒流行较严重地区的患鸡组织病料中分离得到1株疑似毒株,利用鸡胚培养、气管环及动物回归试验、电镜观察、RT-PCR等多种方法及对其S1基因序列进行比较分析,确定该分离毒株为禽传染性支气管炎病毒QX型。同时针对该新分离的传染性支气管炎病毒建立了实时荧光定量PCR检测方法。结果显示:针对该分离毒株的S1基因区设计1对引物和TaqMan探针,制备质粒标准品,建立标准曲线,其线性关系为y=-3.385 7x+42.235,R^2=0.999,扩增效率为97.5%,该法能区分常见禽类流行病毒,检测灵敏度可达42.1拷贝数/μL,比普通PCR检测限度高,重复性良好,因而该实时荧光定量PCR检测方法可靠。本试验同时进行了拷贝数与半数鸡胚感染量(EID50)对应关系研究,证明了在控制病毒代次、冻融次数等条件下,建立线性关系为y=0.249 2x+1.341×10^6(以拷贝数为x轴,EID50为y轴),R^2=0.956 4,可实现拷贝数替代EID50。     

Comparison of nested PCR and real-time PCR for the detection of Toxoplasma gondii in biological samples from naturally infected cats

There are different protocols of molecular diagnosis methods available including DNA extraction methods to diagnose of Toxoplasma gondii, being necessary to perform comparative studies in biological samples. The aim of this study is to compare real-time PCR (rtPCR) and nested PCR (nPCR) to evaluate the detection of T. gondii in naturally infected cats. Biological samples of Toxoplasma-seropositive cats were assayed for detection of T. gondii DNA - extracted by both the lysis buffer and proteinase K (LB proteinase K) method and the acid guanidinium thiocyanate (GuSCN) method - using rtPCR and nPCR. T. gondii DNA was detected by nPCR in 43.6% and 40.8% of the samples from which it was extracted by the LB proteinase K and the GuSCN method, respectively. With rtPCR these figures fell significantly to 33.8% and 14.1%. Despite of nPCR showed higher sensitivity, the agreement observed between two PCRs was good; this agreement, however, was affected by the DNA extraction method used, LB proteinase K method showed better results.     

猪博卡病毒G1基因群和猪流行性腹泻病毒双重TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

为建立同时快速定量检测猪博卡病毒(PBoV)G1基因群和猪流行性腹泻病毒(PEDV)的方法,本研究参照GenBank登录的PBoV的NP1基因和PEDV的M基因保守序列,设计了引物和探针,经优化反应条件后,建立了能够同时检测PBoVG1基因群和PEDV的双重TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法。特异性试验结果显示该方法与PCV2、PRV、PDCoV、PRoV和TGEV无交叉反应,敏感性试验结果显示该方法对PBoV、PEDV的质粒标准品检测下限分别为21.8拷贝/μL和31.7拷贝/μL;且组内、组间变异系数均小于4%,重复性好。应用本实验建立的方法对2017年5月~2018年8月,河北省部分地区采集的142份仔猪腹泻样品检测结果显示,PBoVG1阳性率为18.3%(26/142),PEDV阳性率为62.7%(89/142),其中PBoVG1与PEDV共感染率为10.6%(15/142),该方法优于常规PCR方法。本研究建立的双重TaqMan荧光定量PCR方法对PBoV和PEDV的准确检测、病原监测、流行病学调查等均具有重要意义。     

Evaluation of conventional and real-time PCR assays for detection and differentiation of Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia in dog blood

Spotted Fever Group Rickettsia is important cause of emerging and re-emerging infectious disease in people and dogs. Importantly, dogs can serve as sentinels for disease in people. Sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that differentiate among species of infecting Rickettsia are needed. The objective of this study was to develop a sensitive and specific PCR that differentiates SFG Rickettsia infecting dog blood. Conventional and real-time PCR assays were developed using primers that targeted a small region of the ompA gene. Their sensitivity, determined by testing a cloned target sequence in the presence of host DNA, was 15–30 and 5 copies of DNA, respectively. Testing of Rickettsia cultures and analysis of Rickettsia gene sequences deposited in GenBank verified DNA could be amplified and used to differentiate species. DNA from the blood of infected dogs was also tested. Importantly, Rickettsia DNA was detected before seroconversion in some dogs. The species of infecting Rickettsia was also identified. We conclude these assays may assist in the timely diagnosis of infection with SFG Rickettsia. They may also facilitate the discovery of novel SFG Rickettsia infecting dogs, and in the investigation of dogs as sentinels for emerging rickettsioses.     

Evaluation of serologic and viral detection methods for diagnosing feline herpesvirus-1 infection in cats with acute respiratory tract or chronic ocular disease

OBJECTIVE: To determine the value of virus isolation (VI), immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) assay, serum neutralization (SN), and ELISA for the diagnosis of clinical feline herpesvirus-1 (FHV-1) infection in cats. ANIMALS: 46 clinically normal cats, 17 cats with signs of acute respiratory tract disease, and 38 cats with signs of chronic ocular disease. PROCEDURE: Conjunctival swabs for VI, conjunctival scrapings for IFA testing, and venous blood samples for SN or ELISA testing were obtained from all cats. RESULTS: FHV-1 was detected in 10.9 and 28.3% of clinically normal cats and in 18.2 and 33.3% of cats with FHV-1-associated disease by VI and the IFA assay, respectively. There were no significant differences in the viral detection rate between cats with acute respiratory tract disease and cats with chronic ocular disease or between diseased cats and clinically normal cats; however, FHV-1 was never detected by both methods in clinically normal cats. Overall FHV-1 seroprevalence was 97% when tested by ELISA and 66% when tested by SN. Seroprevalence did not vary significantly among the 3 groups for either serologic test. Magnitude of SN and ELISA titers varied greatly but independently of presence or absence of clinical signs of FHV-1-associated disease. Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were assessed for VI and the IFA assay--jointly and individually--and for each SN and ELISA titer magnitude. Values never all exceeded 50%. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Because FHV-1 can be detected commonly in clinically normal cats by the IFA assay or VI, neither test appears to aid in the clinical diagnosis of FHV-1 infection. Seroprevalence does not appear to vary between affected and clinically normal cats. SN, ELISA, VI, and the IFA assay appear to be of limited value in the diagnosis of FHV-1-associated disease in cats. Concurrent assessment of the IFA assay and VI results may permit exclusion of FHV-1 as an etiologic agent if results of both tests are negative.     

猪源大肠杆菌floR、CTX-M、mcr-1耐药基因多重PCR检测方法的建立

为了建立猪源大肠杆菌对氟苯尼考、β-内酰胺类与粘杆菌素耐药基因的多重PCR检测方法,本研究以氟苯尼考耐药基因floR、β-内酰胺耐药基因CTX-M、粘杆菌素耐药基因mcr-1作为目的基因,设计3对特异性引物,通过对多重PCR反应体系及条件的优化,成功建立了多重PCR检测方法。该方法的灵敏度为1.46×10^5CFU/m L,具有高度特异性、敏感性和可重复性。本方法的建立为大肠杆菌中常见耐药基因的快速检测及分子流行病学调查提供了新的手段。     

Quantitative real-time PCR assays for the concurrent diagnosis of infectious laryngotracheitis virus,Newcastle disease virus and avian metapneumovirus in poultry

Newcastle disease (ND), infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) can be similar making it critical to quickly differentiate them. Herein, we adapted pre-existing molecular-based diagnostic assays for NDV and ILTV, and developed new assays for aMPV A and B, for use under synchronized thermocycling conditions. All assays performed equivalently with linearity over a 5 log₁₀ dynamic range, a reproducible (R² > 0.99) limit of detection of ≥ 10 target copies, and amplification efficiencies between 86.8%–98.2%. Using biological specimens for NDV and ILTV showed 100% specificity. Identical amplification conditions will simplify procedures for detection in diagnostic laboratories.     

Quantitative real-time PCR for detection of neurotoxin genes of Clostridium botulinum types A,B and C in equine samples

Botulism in horses in the USA is attributed to Clostridium botulinum types A, B or C. In this study, a duplex quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) for detection of the neurotoxin genes of C. botulinum types A and B, and a singleplex qPCR for detection of the neurotoxin gene of C. botulinum type C, were optimized and validated for equine gastrointestinal, faecal and feed samples. The performance of these assays was evaluated and compared to the standard mouse bioassay (MBA) using 148 well-characterized samples, most of which were acquired from a repository of veterinary diagnostic samples from cases of botulism: 106 samples positive for C. botulinum (25 type A, 27 type B, 28 type C, 1 type D and 25 type E) and 42 negative samples. The sensitivities of the qPCR assays were 89%, 86% and 96% for C. botulinum types A, B and C, respectively. The overall sensitivity of the mouse bioassay for types A, B and C was 81%. The specificities of the qPCR assays were 99–100% and the specificity of the mouse bioassay was 95%.