合肥野生动物园灵长类动物隐孢子虫感染情况调查

[目的]调查合肥野生动物园灵长类动物隐孢子虫的感染情况。[方法]采用饱和蔗糖水漂浮法对环尾狐猴、赤猴和狒狒等6种灵长类动物粪便进行卵囊浓集,采用抗酸染色法对其卵囊染色后进行形态学观察。在形态学观察基础上,对上述疑似粪样中的卵囊进行DNA提取,并采用PCR技术扩增隐孢子虫卵囊壁蛋白基因(COWP),以1%琼脂糖凝胶电泳鉴定PCR扩增产物,并对该园内灵长类动物感染隐孢子虫情况作统计分析。[结果]经形态学鉴定,初步判定从该动物园灵长类动物粪便中获得的卵囊大小为4.66μm×5.18μm,与报道的隐孢子虫形态特征相一致;利用PCR技术扩增得到的目的基因大小为377bp,与预期结果相一致。数据统计表明:合肥野生动物园灵长类动物隐孢子虫感染率为16.67%。[结论]合肥野生动物园灵长类动物存在隐孢子虫感染情况,具有感染人畜的潜在风险。     

新疆某医院粪便样品中隐孢子虫种类的鉴定

为了解新疆某医院粪便样本中人源性隐孢子虫种系基因型,将收集来的腹泻病人粪便样本采用乙酸乙酯-改良抗酸染色法进行卵囊鉴定,同时提取隐孢子虫感染阳性样本的核酸,设计特异性引物扩增隐孢子虫的18 S rRNA基因和HSP70基因,依据所获得的目的基因序列构建系统发生分析。结果表明,新疆地区人粪便中隐孢子虫的阳性率为16.5%,高于全国平均水平。系统进化分析显示,其分子生物学特征主要为微小隐孢子虫(C.parvum)和人隐孢子虫(C.hominis)。说明新疆地区人源性隐孢子虫种系主要为C.parvum及C.hominis,具备人兽共患传播的可能性。     

河北省奶牛场犊牛安氏隐孢子虫的分离鉴定

本研究从河北省奶牛场有腹泻症状2月龄左右的犊牛粪便中分离卵囊,进行病原分离与虫株鉴定。采集腹泻犊牛的新鲜粪便24份,采用饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮法和抗酸染色法检测隐孢子虫卵囊,观察卵囊形态、大小。提取卵囊基因组DNA,进行18S rRNA基因PCR扩增及琼脂糖凝胶电泳检测。对扩增片段进行序列测定及分析,进一步确定分离虫株隐孢子虫的种类/基因型,根据18S rRNA基因核苷酸序列构建系统发育进化树,确定虫株亲缘关系。结果显示,5份样品检出隐孢子虫卵囊,感染率为20.83%。形态学观察卵囊呈长圆形或椭圆形,大小为(5.0～8.2)μm×(4.2～6.3)μm,平均大小为6.6μm×5.3μm,卵囊指数为1.24,鉴定分离虫株为安氏隐孢子虫。PCR扩增出预期大小为1 188 bp的特异性片段,序列分析和同源性分析结果表明,分离株与安氏隐孢子虫AB089285.2株、AB513856.1株、AY954885.1株的同源性为98.7%～98.8%,进一步表明分离的隐孢子虫虫株为安氏隐孢子虫。在种系进化关系上,分离株与安氏隐孢子虫AB513856.1株亲缘关系最近。本研究为揭示河北省奶牛隐孢子虫病的流行特征,实施有效防制措施提供了科学依据。     

奶牛源微小隐孢子虫的分子鉴定及动物感染试验

采用饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮法检查商丘市某奶牛场牛新鲜粪便样本的隐孢子虫卵囊,用18SrRNA基因对隐孢子虫进行PCR扩增和限制性片段长度多态性分析;基于GP60基因位点对微小隐孢子虫进行基因亚型鉴定。结果显示:103份样本中有50份为隐孢子虫阳性,42份经形态学鉴定为安氏隐孢子虫,8份形态学未能鉴定到种。经限制性片段长度多态性分析,7个分离株为微小隐孢子虫,1个分离株为牛隐孢子虫;序列比对分析,7个微小隐孢子虫均为人兽共患基因亚型IIdA19G1。接种1头3日龄犊牛1×106个卵囊,潜隐期为3d,显露期为14d,于感染后第7天和第10天出现2个排卵囊高峰期,收集到大量纯卵囊。     

山东部分地区猪源隐孢子虫卵囊的分离与基因型鉴定

应用抗酸染色技术对山东地区部分猪场隐孢子虫感染情况进行检测,通过PCR扩增部分18s r RNA序列,分析同源性,并绘制基因进化树,鉴定其基因型。结果表明,648份猪粪样品的感染率为12.04%,隐孢子虫卵囊有两种形态,18s r RNA序列分析发现与C.parvum"mouse"型和C.muris有100%和99.8%的同源性,并分别处于同一分支。说明山东地区猪隐孢子虫感染率较高,感染的隐孢子虫基因型是C.parvum"mouse"型和C.muris,提示猪与鼠之间存在交叉传播的可能。     

保定地区奶牛源隐孢子虫的分离与基因鉴定

为了解保定地区奶牛源隐孢子虫感染情况,从当地3个奶牛场随机采集145份奶牛粪便经饱和蔗糖溶液漂浮后直接镜检和抗酸染色后镜检,阳性样品采用PCR方法扩增18S rRNA基因,同时将扩增出的目的片段进行克隆和序列分析,并将分离株与其他11个隐孢子虫参考株的18S rRNA序列进行比对和遗传距离比较。结果表明:有10份粪便样本为隐孢子虫阳性,感染率为6.9%(10/145),不同奶牛场、年龄段奶牛隐孢子虫感染率有显著性差异(P0.05)。10份粪便样品采用PCR方法扩增后有7份为18S rRNA基因阳性,扩增出的18S rRNA部分基因片段长528 bp。保定地区隐孢子虫分离株扩增的基因序列与牛源隐孢子虫18S rRNA基因序列(Gen Bank登录号为HQ179571)同源性最高,确定保定地区分离到的奶牛源隐孢子虫为牛隐孢子虫。     

奶牛隐孢子虫Nested PCR—RFLP方法的建立及初步应用

为快速检测并准确鉴别奶牛隐孢子虫种,以隐孢子虫18S rRNA基因的特殊区域为基础,设计内、外引物,并根据软件分析确定相应的内切酶EcoT141,采用Nested PCR-RFLP方法进行虫种种型鉴别分析。在Nested PCR两次PCR反应中,以微小隐孢子虫（Cryptos poridium parvum,C．p）和安氏隐孢子虫（Cryptosporidium andersoni,C．an）卵囊提取的DNA为模板,均能扩增出长约800bp和500bp的明亮条带,且特异性强,其他虫种不能扩增出条带,该方法最低可检测到5个卵囊／g粪便;对于由内引物扩增出的500bp的条带,C.an的PCR产物能被内切酶EcoT141酶切,酶切后的片段分别为416bp和92bp,C.p的PCR产物不能被此酶酶切。用所建立的Nested PCR-RFLP法对上海奶牛389头和进口奶牛200头的共计589份粪样进行检测,Nested PCR的结果表明上海奶牛和进口奶牛的隐孢子虫阳性率分别为19．02％和3．5％,RFLP的结果表明上海奶牛感染的主要是Cp和C．an,进口奶牛感染的主要是C．p。研究结果表明,本研究建立的检测奶牛粪便中的隐孢子虫的NestedPCR-RFLP法,可用于奶牛隐孢子虫流行病学调查并有效鉴别奶牛隐孢子虫种。     

火鸡隐孢子虫18S核糖体DNA部分序列测定与系统发育分析

从长春地区鸭的粪便中分离纯化了火鸡隐孢子虫（Cryptosporidium meleagridis）卵囊，根据隐孢子虫18S rDNA基因序列设计合成引物，用PCR扩增了卵囊基因组DNA大小586bp的片段，PCR产物经电泳鉴定后用试剂盒回收纯化，纯化后PCR产物直接测序，将测得的序列用Dnastar软件分析并与国外已发表的相应序列进行了同源性比较，并绘制了系统发育进化树。结果初步建立了火鸡隐孢子虫的PCR检测方法，序列分析显示长春外国语源火鸡隐孢子虫与国外9株隐孢子虫相应序旬同源性在82.7%-99.8%之间，其中与国外火鸡源火允隐孢子虫相应序列同源性为85.3%；与C.felis同源性最低，与C.muris同源性最高。本研究为火鸡隐孢子虫病诊断及该病分子流行病学研究打下了良好基础。     

云南省蛋鸡源隐孢子虫鉴定及18S rRNA生物信息学分析

为了了解云南省规模化蛋鸡场腹泻病鸡隐孢子虫的感染情况,试验采用卢戈氏碘液和改良抗酸染色镜检、巢式PCR扩增隐孢子虫18S rRNA基因、BLAST程序测序及遗传进化分析等方法对2020年12月份从云南省多个规模化蛋鸡场采集的71份腹泻蛋鸡的粪便样品进行研究。结果表明：经卢戈氏碘液染色后可见呈棕色近似香蕉形的子孢子,经改良抗酸染色后可见呈红色近似球形的卵囊和近似香蕉形的子孢子。巢氏PCR扩增得到大小为821 bp的目的片段,将获得的虫株命名为YX202106虫株。YX202106虫株与GenBank中已公布的火鸡隐孢子虫的同源性最高,为99.14%～99.51%,且在进化树上处于同一个分支,该虫株还与能引起人畜共患的五种主要隐孢子虫——人隐孢子虫、微小隐孢子虫、火鸡隐孢子虫、猫隐孢子虫、犬隐孢子虫在进化树上构成一个大分支,具有重要的公共卫生学意义。说明云南地区蛋鸡群中存在火鸡隐孢子虫感染,应加强蛋鸡隐孢子虫病的防治。     

猪源隐孢子虫Hsp70基因的测定与种系发育关系分析

从河南两个地区猪的粪便中分离纯化了猪源隐孢子虫卵囊。参考隐孢子虫Hsp70基因属特异性引物,用PCR分别扩增了卵囊基因组DNA大小均为1 948 bp的片段,PCR产物经电泳鉴定后用试剂盒回收纯化,纯化后PCR产物直接测序。将测得的序列和推测出的氨基酸序列分别用ClustalX软件与已报道的相应序列比对,用DNASTAR中的MegAlign分析其同源性,并用PAUP绘制系统发育进化树。序列分析结果显示河南猪源隐孢子虫两个分离株Hsp70 DNA序列的同源性为99.9%,与其他隐孢子虫相应序列同源性介于81.9%~99.8%之间,其中与猪隐孢子虫(Cryptosporidium suis,AF221533)同源性最高分别为99.8%,97.9%;与安氏隐孢子虫(C.andersoni,AY954592)同源性最低。两个分离株推导Hsp70氨基酸序列的同源性为100%,同其他隐孢子虫相关序列的同源性在92.8%~99.8%之间。本研究为隐孢子虫诊断及流行病学研究打下了良好基础。     

Risk of infection with Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis in dairy cattle in the New York City watershed

OBJECTIVE: To determine the risk posed by Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium hominis from dairy cattle in the New York City watershed (NYCW). SAMPLE POPULATION: Samples from cattle at risk for shedding Cryptosporidium organisms on randomly selected dairy farms in the NYCW. PROCEDURE: Feces were collected for 4 years from calves at risk for infection on 37 dairies. Oocysts were detected by use of centrifugation concentration-flotation microscopy. The DNA was directly isolated from fecal samples and used to amplify fragments of the small subunit ribosomal RNA and thrombospondin-related adhesion protein C-2 genes by use of nested polymerase chain reaction assays. Small subunit ribosomal RNA fragments were restriction digested by the enzyme Vspl and thrombospondin-related adhesion protein C-2 fragments were digested by Eco91l to distinguish between C hominis (formerly known as genotype 1) and C parvum (formerly known as genotype 2). RESULTS: Of 437 fecal samples examined, 214 contained oocysts. Amplicons were generated for 200 samples. We can be certain, with 95% confidence, that cattle in the NYCW did not harbor C hominis. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cryptosporidium infections in cattle are under examination because of the potential contamination of public waters by manure. Although cattle may be the source of zoonotic infection via C parvum, they pose little risk for C hominis (the strain commonly isolated from humans in waterborne outbreaks of disease). Other sources of oocysts should be considered when investigating outbreaks attributable to contaminated urban drinking water because cattle pose only a small risk via shedding of C hominis.     

Optimization of a species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay for identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in canine fecal specimens

OBJECTIVE: To determine the optimum reaction conditions and detection limits of PCR assay for identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in DNA extracted from canine feces. SAMPLE POPULATION: DNA extracted from feces of 4 dogs with diarrhea from which trichomonads were observed, 81 dogs that had feces submitted to a diagnostic laboratory, and 19 dogs residing in a laboratory animal facility. PROCEDURES: Optimum reaction conditions and absolute and practical detection limits of 2 P hominis 18S species-specific primer pairs were determined by use of an in vitro cultivated canine isolate of P hominis in the presence and absence of canine feces. The optimized PCR assay was applied to amplification of P hominis 18S rRNA genes from DNA extracted from the feces of dogs. RESULTS: Under optimized conditions, a primer pair was identified as able to detect as few as 1 P hominis organism/180-mg fecal sample. The PCR assay identified P hominis in diarrheic feces of 4 dogs in which trichomonads were seen by light microscopy. The P hominis genes were not amplified from other fecal samples examined. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Molecular identification of P hominis in feces of 4 dogs with trichomonosis and diarrhea reported here validates the identity of this species in such infections. Sensitive and specific PCR amplification of P hominis 18S rRNA genes from DNA extracted from feces will directly facilitate studies examining pathogenicity of this trichomonad and enable differentiation of P hominis from other known or novel species of trichomonads that may infect the gastrointestinal tract of dogs.     

A comparison of adherence by four strains of Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus hominis to canine corneocytes collected from normal dogs and dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis

The aim of this study was to compare the adherence of four strains of Staphylococcus intermedius and a single strain of Staphylococcus hominis to corneocytes from both normal dogs and dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis. Cells from the skin surface, corneocytes, were collected from 10 normal dogs and 10 dogs suffering from atopic dermatitis. Four strains of S. intermedius, three isolated from canine pyoderma skin lesions (strains A, B and C), and one isolated form from canine synovial membrane sample from a case of septic arthritis (strain D) were compared. S. hominis, which is not normally associated with canine disease, was also evaluated for its ability to adhere to canine corneocytes. S. hominis did not adhere to canine corneocytes. All four strains of S. intermedius adhered well to canine corneocytes collected from both normal and atopic dogs. All strains of S. intermedius showed statistically greater adherence to corneocytes collected from atopic dogs compared with those collected from normal dogs. It was concluded that the adherence assay employed here showed that S. hominis does not adhere to canine corneocytes, S. intermedius adheres preferentially to atopic corneocytes.     

Staphylococcus aureus variety hominis in a cattle herd

A site-linked hominis variety of Staphylococcus aureus was isolated from a cattle herd. The find coincided with accumulated occurrence of clinical mastitis in cows and the affliction of one milker with a nose furuncle. The origin of the strain was not elucidated. The same strain had been isolated throughout three years of observation from clinical and subclinical mastitis as well as from chronic udder affection of cows, but no extraordinary accumulation of clinically manifest mastitis had been observed. The hominis site variety was quite rare among Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from other cow herds. Enterotoxin formation was recorded from strains of the hominis site variety and from strains which could not be coordinated with any other of the known site varieties and fell under crystal-violet Type A. No enterotoxin formation was recordable from the strains of the bovis variety. The same applied to the group of staphylococci of crystal-violet Type C which could not be coordinated either with any known site variety and which is assumed to have originated from the hominis site variety. The above findings do not support any conclusion as to whether the cows had been infected by the milker or vice versa.     

Identification of Pentatrichomonas hominis in feline fecal samples by polymerase chain reaction assay

Pentatrichomonas hominis is considered to be a commensal protozoan of the vertebrate digestive tract. On the basis of light microscopic examination of feces, some investigators presumptively identified P. hominis as a causative agent of feline diarrhea. However, molecular identification of P. hominis infection in the cat has not been reported. Another trichomonad, Tritrichomonas foetus, is recognized as an intestinal pathogen in cats and often presumptively diagnosed on the basis of the presence of trichomonads in diarrheic feces. It is of importance to determine if cats are natural hosts for P. hominis, as the presence of this organism could result in inaccurate assumption of T. foetus infection. In this study, we used a species-specific PCR assay to identify P. hominis 18S rRNA genes in fecal samples collected from a convenience population of cats in which a high prevalence of T. foetus infection had been previously identified (cat show) or suspected (submitted for T. foetus diagnostic testing). The prevalence of T. foetus infection in these samples was 31% and 28.6%, respectively. P. hominis infection was identified by PCR of DNA extracted from feces of five cats (1.9% and 2.1% of fecal samples, respectively). All cats in which P. hominis was identified were also infected with T. foetus. PCR identification of P. hominis infection in the cat should facilitate future studies to determine the pathogenicity of this species and enable differentiation of P. hominis from other known or as-yet unidentified species of trichomonads that may infect cats.     

Cryptosporidium species detected in calves and cattle in Dagoretti, Nairobi, Kenya

A total of 1,734 cattle faecal samples from 296 dairy-keeping households were collected from urban settings in Nairobi, Kenya. Modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining method and an immunofluorescence assay were used to identify those samples with Cryptosporidium oocyst infection. Oocysts from positive faecal samples were isolated by Sheather's sucrose flotation method and picked from the concentrate using cover slips. Genomic DNA was extracted from 124 of the faecal samples that were positive for Cryptosporidium and was used as template for nested PCR of the 18S rRNA gene. Twenty-five samples (20?%) were PCR-positive for Cryptosporidium, and 24 of the PCR products were successfully cloned and sequenced. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis identified 17 samples (68?%) as Cryptosporidium parvum-like, four samples (16?%) as Cryptosporidium ryanae, three samples (12?%) as Cryptosporidium andersoni and one sample (4?%) as Cryptosporidium hominis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first genotyping study to report C. parvum-like, C. andersoni and C. hominis in cattle from Kenya. The results of this study show Cryptosporidium infections in calves and cattle may be potential zoonotic reservoirs of the parasite that infects humans.     

Tetratrichomonas spp. and Pentatrichomonas hominis are not persistently detectable after intravaginal inoculation of estrous heifers

Virgin heifers (44) were intravaginally inoculated at estrus with low (10(6)) or high (10(8)) doses of live Tetratrichomonas sp., Pentatrichomonas hominis (P. hominis), or Tritrichomonas foetus (T. foetus). Controls were inoculated with Diamond's trypticase yeast extract maltose media. Genital infection was determined by culture of cervico-vaginal mucus (CVM) in Schneider's media and InPouch TF as well as by polymerase chain reaction/restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR/RFLP). The presence of trichomonads in fecal samples was determined by culture in Schneider's medium and PCR/RFLP. In CVM samples, tetratrichomonads were found by PCR/RFLP and Schneider's culture only sporadically at intermittent weeks. The presence of tetratrichomonads was not associated with the dose in the experimental vaginal inoculation since Tetratrichomonas sp. appeared more frequently in heifers inoculated with a low dose of tetratrichomonads than in heifers inoculated with a high dose of tetratrichomonads. Moreover, Tetratrichomonas spp. were isolated not only in heifers inoculated with tetratrichomonads but also in control heifers and in heifers inoculated with P. hominis. In feces, Tetratrichomonas spp. were frequently identified by culture in Schneider's and by PCR/RFLP in heifers of all groups. P. hominis was never found in CVM or feces by any method. Based on the common appearance of tetratrichomonads in feces and vaginal secretions, it appears that tetratrichomonads were detected periodically in the vagina of heifers as a consequence of repeated contamination from feces and not as a result of experimental infection. In summary, in this study, the strains of Tetratrichomonas sp. and P. hominis did not establish persistent infection in heifers.     

Use of a commercially available culture system for diagnosis of Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of and optimize a commercially available culture system for sensitive and specific in-clinic culture of Tritrichomonas foetus from cat feces. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: Samples of freshly voided feces from 117 purebred cats and pure cultures of T. foetus obtained from a cat with chronic diarrhea. PROCEDURE: Optimal conditions for use of the culture system, such as quantity of fecal inoculum (0.025 to 0.2 g) and cultivation temperature (25 or 37 degrees C [98.6 or 77.0 degrees F]), were determined. Specificity of the system was examined by attempted culture of Giardia lamblia and Pentatrichomonas hominis. Sensitivity of the system to detect T. foetus was determined by inoculation of culture system pouches with serially diluted T. foetus suspensions with and without feces. RESULTS: Detection limit of the culture system was 1 and 1,000 T. foetus organisms without and with feces from cats, respectively. Optimal fecal inoculum was < 0.1 g of feces. At 37 degrees C, cultures yielded positive results in 24 hours; organisms remained viable for 1 to 6 days, and bacterial overgrowth was common. At 25 degrees C, cultures yielded positive results in 1 to 11 days; organisms were long-lived, and bacterial overgrowth was uncommon. Neither G. lamblia or P. hominis survived in the culture system. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The culture system was sensitive and specific for culture of T. foetus in feces of cats. Performance was optimal when test kits were inoculated with < or = 0.1 g of freshly voided feces and cultured at 25 degrees C.     

Genotypic characterization of cryptosporidium oocysts isolated from healthy people in three different counties of Korea

To investigate Cryptosporidium infection among healthy people, we collected stool samples from 150 healthy individuals in Gokseong, Muan, and Imshil Counties, southwest Korea, where neighbors on both an animal farm and a river respectively. In 12 of 150 samples, Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected by means of modified acid-fast staining. The bovine genotype, Cryptosporidium parvum, was identified by PCR/RFLP and 18S rRNA sequencing. C. parvum existed endemically in these areas, and the residents showed a relatively higher infection rate for C. parvum than that for C. hominis. Our results indicate that countermeasures against Cryptosporidium infection must be taken in these areas to ensure human health.