The effect of doramectin, moxidectin and netobimin against natural infections of Syphacia muris in rats

In this study, the effect of doramectin, moxidectin and netobimin was investigated in naturally infected Syphacia muris in rats. The natural infection was determined by the use of cellophane tape method on the perianal region and by the technique of centrifugal flotation of feces. The infected rats were divided into three treated and one control group (N = 10). Doramectin and moxidectin at the dose of 0.2 mg/kg per day and netobimin at the dose of 7.5 mg/kg per day were given in the diet for 4 days. Cellophane tape preparations were performed in all groups on 4th and 7th day after the last treatment. The rats of treated groups were necropsied on 7th day after the last treatment together with that of control group. While doramectin and netobimin were highly effective against S. muris, moxidectin was not found to be effective for eradication of S. muris.     

小鼠隐藏管状线虫线粒体cox1基因的扩增及序列分析

对从试验小鼠体内分离的蛲虫样品PMZ1-5的线粒体细胞色素c氧化酶第1亚基(cox1)的部分基因(pcox1)进行PCR扩增、测序及序列分析,并与网上相关序列进行比对分析,研究其线粒体pcox1基因遗传变异情况.结果表明,获得pcox1有效序列373 bp,经序列比对分析.发现5个蛲虫样品之间的变异很小,只有1个碱基的差异,序列相似性为99.73%～100%,BLAST分析结果表明为隐藏管状线虫,与同属的Syphacia montana序列差异性为5.24%～5.68%.结果表明,隐藏管状线虫的pcox1序列种内变异很小,种间差异明显,本结果为进一步研究蛲虫的群体遗传学奠定了基础.     

Development of a PCR-based method for specific identification of genotypic markers of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains

A simple, rapid and specific PCR-based method for identification of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was developed. The procedure involves amplification of the E. coli-specific universal stress protein A (uspA) gene (uspa-PCR), with the primer pair described by other authors, which allows differentiation of E. coli (STEC and non-STEC) from other gram-negative bacteria followed by identification of the main genetic virulence traits of the uspA-positive isolates. For this purpose, two multiplex PCR assays, based on previously published primer sequences, were established. Assay 1 (mPCR-1) uses three primer pairs and detects the genes encoding O157 (rfb), enterohemolysin (ebly) and shiga toxin (stx), generating amplification products of 420, 534 and 230 bp, respectively. Assay 2 (mPCR-2) uses four primer pairs specific for rfb (E. coli O157), eaeA (intimin), stx1 and stx2 (shiga toxin 1 and 2, respectively), generating PCR amplicons of 420, 840, 348 and 584 bp, respectively. These two assays were validated by testing several E. coli reference strains and 202 previously characterized E. coli isolates originating from calves and from children, and 100% agreement with previous results was obtained. The method developed can be used for specific identification of STEC bacteria including those of the O157 serogroup.     

广东地区鸭疫里默氏杆菌的分离鉴定及双重PCR检测方法的建立

对来自广东地区疑似鸭疫里默氏杆菌病的病鸭组织进行了病原菌的分离培养和生化鉴定,确定得到20株鸭疫里默氏杆菌,动物回归试验结果表明,分离的鸭疫里默氏杆菌具有很强的致病性.对这20株鸭疫里默氏杆菌进行的药敏试验表明,分离株已广泛产生耐药性.参照已经发表的2对引物以细菌全菌体为模板建立双重PCR方法,结果均能扩增出2条目的片段,经测序证实为鸭疫里默氏杆菌,而对鸭源大肠杆菌、鸭源禽多杀性巴氏杆菌、鸭源沙门菌和鸭源葡萄球菌的扩增结果均为阴性.说明建立的双重PCR方法能快速、准确的检测出鸭疫里默氏杆菌,并具有高度特异性,可用于鸭疫里默氏杆菌的快速鉴定和快速诊断.     

Multiplex PCR-based identification of Streptococcus canis,Streptococcus zooepidemicus and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies from dogs

Streptococcus canis (S. canis), Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus) and Streptococcus dysgalactiae subspecies (S. dysgalactiae subspecies) are β-haemolytic Gram positive bacteria infecting animals and humans. S. canis and S. zooepidemicus are considered as two of the major zoonotic species of Streptococcus, while more research is needed on S. dysgalactiae subspecies bacteria. In this work, a multiplex-PCR protocol was tested on strains and clinical samples to detect S. canis, S. dysgalactiae subspecies and S. equi subspecies bacteria in dogs. All strains were correctly identified as S. canis, S. equi subspecies or S. dysgalactiae subspecies by the multiplex-PCR. The main Streptococcus species isolated from symptomatic dogs were confirmed S. canis. The multiplex-PCR protocol described is a rapid, accurate and efficient method for identifying S. canis, S. equi subspecies and S. dysgalactiae subspecies in dogs and could be used for diagnostic purposes and for epidemiological studies.     

Characterization of a Cryptosporidium muris infection and reinfection in CF-1 mice

To establish control values for circulating cells and immune associated organs over the course of a self-limiting Cryptosporidium muris infection and rechallenge infection, mice were sacrificed at intervals starting before oral inoculation and ending after oocyst shedding had ceased. These values were used in other experiments to evaluate changes in these parameters induced by a single dose glucocorticoid immunosuppression model and in other immunosuppression studies. Flow cytometry counts of circulating T-lymphocytes and neutrophils, differential leukocyte counts, leukocyte morphology, spleen and thymus changes, and oocyst shedding were evaluated. Immediately after C. muris oocyst inoculation and up to the start of oocyst production (day 0 to day 7), the circulating blood profile showed a 50% drop in all leukocytes, including both large and small lymphocytes and CD3, CD4 and CD8 T-lymphocytes. There was an initial slight rise in circulating mature neutrophils after oocyst inoculation but numbers promptly dropped below normal and remaineded below normal. In the differential cell counts, monocytes with a fat, oval morphology increased by 60% at 24 h and remained high through oocyst shedding and beyond (day 8 through day 36). During oocyst shedding and continuing past the end of shedding, T-lymphocytes increased 100%. Monocytes with a flat, angular morphology increased in a similar manner. Immediately after oocyst inoculation the spleen contracted by 29%, but became 92% larger than its pre-inoculation size by day 14 when heavy oocyst shedding began. It remained enlarged through the end of oocyst shedding (day 29) and beyond (day 36). Spleen volume decreased and increased similar to changes in T-cell numbers. Throughout the C. muris infection the thymus remained largely unchanged. The transit of an oocyst bolus was followed from the stomach through the gut to the colon. No oocysts could be found in the stomach, caecum or feces of mice one half hour after oocyst inoculation. Likewise, an oral bolus of India ink passed from the stomach entirely into the colon after 3 h; therefore, no oocysts from the inoculum passed completely through the intestine and out into the feces. Recovered mice rechallenged with C. muris showed increased B-lymphocyte numbers; however, T-lymphocyte numbers remained level. The large lymphocytes increased after rechallenge, peaking on day 3, then decreased through day 10. B-cell numbers followed a pattern similar to the large lymphocytes. On day 10 of infection monocytes with a fat oval morphology rose sharply while B-cells fell in number. In both the initial infection and the rechallenge there was no unique blood profile which could definitely indicate a protozoal disease or identify a specific point during the course of the disease. There was no increase in the number of either small or large lymphocytes prior to increases in fat or flat monocytes.     

Applications of PCR-based tools for detection and identification of animal trypanosomes: a review and perspectives

This paper aims to review the applications of the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection and identification of trypanosomes in animals. The diagnosis of trypanosomes, initially based on microscopic observations and the host range of the parasites, has been improved, since the 1980s, by DNA-based identification. These diagnostic techniques evolved successively through DNA probing, PCR associated to DNA probing, and currently to PCR alone. Several DNA sequences have been investigated as possible targets for diagnosis, especially multi-copy genes such as mini-exon, kinetoplastid mini-circles, etc., but the most favoured target is the nuclear satellite DNA of mini-chromosomes, which presents the advantages, and the drawbacks, of highly repetitive short sequences (120-600 bp). Several levels of specificity have been achieved from sub-genus to species, sub-species and even types. Random priming of trypanosome DNA has even allowed "isolate specific" identification. Other work based on microsatellite sequences has provided markers for population genetic studies. For regular diagnosis, the sensitivity of PCR has increased with the advancement of technologies for sample preparation, to reach a level of 1 trypanosome/ml of blood, which has brought to field samples a sensitivity two to three times higher than microscopic observation of the buffy coat. Similarly, PCR has allowed an increase in the specificity and sensitivity of diagnosis in vectors such as tsetse flies. However, because of the diversity of Trypanosoma species potentially present in a single host, PCR diagnosis carried out on host material requires several PCR reactions; for example, in cattle, up to five reactions per sample may be required. Research is now focusing on a diagnosis based on the amplification of the internal transcribed spacer-1 (ITS-1) of ribosomal DNA which presents the advantages of being a multi-copy locus (100-200), having a small size (300-800 bp), which varies from one taxon to another but is conserved in size in a given taxon. This may lead to the development of a multi-species-specific diagnostic protocol using a single PCR. By reducing the cost of the PCR diagnosis, this technique would allow a greater number of field samples to be tested in epidemiological studies and/or would increase the variety of Trypanosoma species that could be detected. Further investigations are required to develop and optimise multi-species-specific diagnostic tools for trypanosomes, which could also serve as a model for such tools in other pathogens.     

7种鸭源细菌的分离与16S rDNA测序鉴定

从病死鸭的脏器中无菌分离细菌.根据培养特性、菌落形态、革兰染色和生化特性,鉴定出7种细菌分离株.以分离株的基因组DNA为模板,用16S rDNA试剂盒扩增其DNA片段,测序后NCBI网站进行BLAST搜索比对,鉴定出细菌种类,分别为鼠伤寒沙门菌、大肠杆菌、鸭疫里默氏杆菌、铜绿假单胞杆菌、施氏假单胞菌、浅绿气球菌和麦氏棒杆菌.前3种为鸭的常见分离菌,其余的较为少见.因此在鸭病控制过程中应注意可能存在一些不常见细菌的混合感染.     

96孔板-PCR排除法筛选猪蛔虫雌虫卵黄蛋白原基因

为了从猪蛔虫雌虫cDNA文库中筛选出猪蛔虫雌虫卵黄蛋白原基因,本研究根据猪蛔虫雌虫卵黄蛋白原基因的EST序列为模板设计引物,采用96孔板-PCR排除法对猪蛔虫雌虫cDNA文库进行筛选,并筛选出阳性克隆F993-G10-A10。测序结果表明,该基因序列长621bp,有完整的3'端。经BLAST分析,其推导的氨基酸序列与秀丽隐杆线虫(C.elegans)的卵黄蛋白原基因(Vit1、Vit2、Vit3、Vit4和Vit5)的氨基酸序列的一致性分别为35%、35%、34%、34%和35%,核苷酸序列相似性分别为55%、57%、54%、54%和53%。该阳性克隆的获得为该基因的深入研究奠定了基础。同时也证明了96孔-PCR排除法是一种高效、简便、低成本的筛选文库方法。     

Characterization of a single dose methylprednisolone acetate immune suppression model using Cryptosporidium muris and Cryptosporidium parvum

An immunosuppressive dose of methylprednisolone acetate (MPA) was compared with a non-immunosuppressive dose using Cryptosporidium oocyst production as an indicator of immunosuppression. To be classified as immunosuppressive, the dose had to satisfy five criteria. First, the dose had to abrogate normal immune defenses allowing the propagation of an organism to which the host is normally resistant, i.e. Cryptosporidium parvum in adult mice. Second, the dose had to decrease overall circulating CD4 T-lymphocyte numbers by greater than 80%. Third, the immunosuppressive dose had to prolong the infection beyond the normal infection length, and fourth, increase the severity of an active infection. Lastly, after complete recovery from a C. muris infection, immunosuppression must suppress the naturally acquired post infection immunity and allow reinfection. In mice immunosuppression with 600 mgMPA/kg lasted approximately 14 days and satisfied all five criteria. Fecal oocyst production could be perpetuated by dosing at 10-day intervals. A 200 mgMPA/kg dose transiently lowered CD4 counts by over 80%, but failed to override the naturally acquired post infection immunity or allow infection with C. parvum. The immunosuppressed blood profile consisted of an immediate sharp rise of mature segmented neutrophils combined with a severe decrease in circulating T-lymphocyte numbers. The rise and fall of neutrophils proved to be a good indicator of the severity and duration of immunosuppression. The thymus and spleen likewise contracted and then expanded in accordance with the steroid effect. The metabolism of MPA resulted in the eventual recovery of immune function signified by the cessation of C. parvum oocyst production. The recovery blood profile was associated with circulating CD8 counts near control levels, continuing 80% depression of CD4 counts and a dropping total neutrophil count. This study shows that the 600 mg/kg MPA dose is a good model for immunosuppression, which satisfies all five criteria for immunosuppression with low morbidity and low mortality.     

Characterization and identification of caprine, genital mycoplasmas

A total of 55 mycoplasma strains, isolated from the vagina of goats, were examined. Three strains, being arginine positive and glucose negative, could not be finally classified. Five isolates were identified as Acholeplasma laidlawii. Fourty-seven strains were phosphatase positive, glucose and arginine negative. Nine of these formed “film and spots” on standard growth medium, and reduced tetrazolium aerobically. Serological examination identified 7 as M. agalactiae, while 2 were M. bovis. The remaining 38 isolates did not reduce tetrazolium aerobically, and did not produce “film and spots.” on standard growth medium. All these except one were identified as M. bovigenitalium by immunofluorescence. Their relationship to group 11 otf Al-Aubaidi is discussed.     

Development of a method for the identification, using the polymerase chain reaction, of Aspergillus fumigatus isolated from ostriches

Objective To develop a method for identifying DNA of Aspergillus fumigatus from ostriches, using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A fumigatus is the principal causative agent of avian aspergillosis.
Design A biochemical trial.
Sample population Twelve Aspergillus fumigatus isolates and three other Aspergillus species.
Procedure PCR primers that were based on the sequence of the alkaline protease gene from human isolates of A fumigatus were used.
Results We successfully tested the method on ostrich isolates from five states and showed that the test is specific for A fumigatus.
Conclusions In most cases the DNA sequence of A fumigatus isolates from ostriches is similar to that of human isolates. DNA sequences vary significantly among A fumigatus isolates, including those from affected ostriches in the same flock. The genetic variation may be used to trace aspergillus infections in ostrich flocks and determine if the disease is transmitted by contact with infected birds.     

Determination of donor-type chimerism using a semi-quantitative PCR-based method in a canine model for bone marrow transplantation

Dogs are used in preclinical transplantation models to study methods of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT). The evaluation of chimerism is of major significance for the investigation of graft-vs.-host (GvH) and host-vs.-graft (HvG) reactions. To detect and quantitate male donor cells after a sex-mismatched (male to female) allogeneic BMT, we established a semi-quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Based on the canine Y-chromosome sex-determining region (Sry) sequence, we designed primer specific for the detection of male DNA and optimised PCR conditions and cycle numbers. Artificial mixtures of male and female leukocytes were used to analyse the sensitivity of the assay. To validate our established method, we determined the percentage of chimerism in three transplanted female dogs. Under optimised conditions, the established PCR assay specifically detected male cells down to 0.01%, which corresponds to 0.1ng of transplanted male DNA. The percentage of chimerism could be quantitated either by agarose gel analysis or Southern blot analysis. Using our assay, we could confirm the percentage of chimerism in blood samples of three transplanted female canines, previously determined by karyotype analysis as 0, 100 and 100%, respectively. The established semi-quantitative PCR assay offers a quick, simple, accurate and sensitive way of evaluating and quantitating the percentage of chimerism in a sex-mismatched canine BMT model.     

Characterization and identification of a bovine respiratory syncytial virus isolated from young calves.

Two identical viruses designated 371 and 375 were recovered from nasal secretions of 2 of 7 calves in a beef cow-calf herd in which calves (45 to 105 days of age) had signs of acute respiratory tract disease. The cytopathic, morphologic and physico-chemical characteristics of the isolates were those of bovine respiratory syncytial virus. Although a humoral antibody response to bovine respiratory syncytial virus was not observed, it was concluded that this virus probably had a part in the respiratory tract disease in these calves.     

牦牛肠道与粪便乳酸菌的分离鉴定及PCR-16SrDNA鉴定

以取自四川省不同地区的牦牛粪便、肠道内空物为材料，用MRS琼脂双层培养基进行厌氧培养，分离到50株乳酸菌，经生化鉴定为嗜热链球菌（2株）、乳酸乳球菌（1株）、保加利亚乳杆菌（5株）、嗜粪乳杆菌（10株）、嗜酸乳杆菌（8株）、乳酸乳杆菌（9株）、肠乳杆菌（10株）、弯曲乳杆菌（5株）。采用乳酸菌16 SrDNA通用引物，对分离的8种菌的16S rDNA-段可变区序列进行扩增，均得到大小约470bp的产物；扩增产物经纯化、测序后与GenBank中标准菌株的核甘酸序列比较，同源性均大于97．5％，同源性分析与生化试验的结果是一致的。证实，牦牛肠道和粪便的乳酸菌较为丰富，且乳杆菌的数量较多，这可能与牦牛复杂的生长环境有关。     

Evaluation of a 23S rDNA polymerase chain reaction assay for identification of Serpulina intermedia, and strain typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

A polymerase chain reaction assay, amplifying a 1027 base pair portion of the 23S rDNA gene, was evaluated for identification of the intestinal spirochaete Serpulina intermedia. A total of 34 strains of S. intermedia isolated from pigs and chickens and 195 strains of other related species were tested. The optimised assay correctly identified all the S. intermedia strains, but generated 11 false positive reactions, giving a test sensitivity of 100% and a test specificity of 94.3%. The false positive reactions were generated from strains of four different species of intestinal spirochaetes, and the product was of the original predicted size. This suggests that the primer sites selected on the 23S rRNA gene were not completely specific for S. intermedia. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was then developed to investigate diversity amongst the S. intermedia strains. All strains tested had distinct DNA banding patterns using Mlu1, although three isolates from chickens on the same farm appeared closely related. The collection exhibited considerable genetic diversity, and strains from pigs and chickens were distributed in clusters throughout the dendrogram produced. The most closely related porcine and avian strains shared only 62% similarity.     

Molecular taxonomic relationships of Psoroptes and Chorioptes mites from China based on COI and 18S rDNA gene sequences

In this present study, the mitochondrial DNA gene cytochrome coxidase subunit I (COI) and the small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rDNA) gene were used to determine the taxonomic relationships of Psoroptes and Chorioptes mites from China. The neighbor-joining and maximum-parasimony approach were used to evaluate the evolutionary relatedness among different hosts in the genera Psoroptes and Chorioptes. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Psoroptes cuniculi and Psoroptes natalensis may be two different species within the genus Psoroptes, and Chorioptes texanus and Chorioptes panda are different species within the genus Chorioptes.     

牛源化脓隐秘杆菌的分离鉴定及其PCR检测方法的建立

摘要:为分离鉴定牛源化脓隐秘杆菌(Arcanobacterium pyogenes)并建立其PCR检测方法,本研究从某规模化奶牛场患牛肺组织中分离出两株细菌,根据其形态特征、培养特性及生化特性,结合16S rRNA分析确定分离茵为A.pyogenes.对小鼠致病性试验显示纯培养物对小鼠致死率较高,药敏试验表明分离茵仅对少数种类抗生素如头孢唑啉、氧氟沙星、阿奇霉素等敏感.本研究同时建立了快速检测A.pyogenes溶血素(PLO)基因的PCR方法,敏感性试验显示最低检出菌数为9.2×103 cfu/mL,特异性试验表明与其他细菌如布鲁氏茵、大肠杆菌等无交叉反应,通过对已知临床样本检测评估显示该方法适用于临床感染样品的检测.     

Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences from pathogenic Leptospira serovars and use of single nucleotide polymorphisms for rapid speciation by D-HPLC

Leptospira have a worldwide distribution and include important zoonotic pathogens yet diagnosis and differentiation still tend to rely on traditional bacteriological and serological approaches. In this study a 1.3 kb fragment of the rrs gene (16S rDNA) was sequenced from a panel of 22 control strains, representing serovars within the pathogenic species Leptospira interrogans, Leptospiraborgpetersenii, and Leptospirakirschneri, to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). These were identified in the 5′ variable region of the 16S sequence and a 181 bp PCR fragment encompassing this region was used for speciation by Denaturing High Performance Liquid Chromatography (D-HPLC). This method was applied to eleven additional species, representing pathogenic, non-pathogenic and intermediate species and was demonstrated to rapidly differentiate all but 2 of the non-pathogenic Leptospira species. The method was applied successfully to infected tissues from field samples proving its value for diagnosing leptospiral infections found in animals in the UK.