Electron microscopic detection rate of enteral viruses in diarrhea of dogs, cats, calves, swine and foals in the year 1988--electron microscopic study results

During 1988 fecal and gut samples of 641 dogs, 198 cats, 576 calves, 108 piglets and 64 foals with diarrhoea were investigated for virus infections by electron microscopy. In samples of dogs and cats parvovirus was detected at a proportion of 21.9% and 16.7%, respectively; rotavirus alone or together with coronavirus was found only in 0.3-1.5% of the specimens. In samples of calves rotavirus, as well as coronavirus dominated with a detection rate amounting to 17.4% and 26.6% respectively (including 4.5% of mixed infections); parvovirus was present in a ratio of 0.5%. Specimens of piglets mainly contained coronavirus (25.0%), and in lower percentages rotavirus (2.8%), rota- and coronaviruses (0.9%) and parvovirus (0.9%). In feces of foals rotavirus was detected in 6.3% and particles resembling picornavirus in 4.7% of cases. Not identifiable virus particles resembling corona-or picornaviruses were rarely found (between 0.6-2.5) also in specimens of the other animal species.     

Prevalence,prediction and risk factors of enteropathogens in normal and non-normal faeces of young Dutch dairy calves

Between January and April 2007, 424 calves under 22 days of age from 108 Dutch dairy herds were sampled to estimate the prevalence of non-normal faeces (‘custard-like’—yellowish-coloured with custard consistency or diarrhoea: watery-like faeces) and the shedding of enteropathogens Escherichia coli K99 (E. coli), Coronavirus, Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum), Rotavirus and Clostridium perfringens (Cl. perfringens). In addition, information was collected on animal characteristics and herd-management practices. The probability of detecting each one of five enteropathogens given a calf with ‘custard-like’ faeces or diarrhoea was estimated using Bayes’ rule and was based on the predicted probabilities from a multinominal model including each of five enteropathogens as independent variables. In addition, putative risk factors for the presence of each of five enteropathogens were analysed using logistic regression models with random herd effects.Fifty-seven percent of calves had faeces of normal colour (brownish) and consistency (firm), 23.8% (95%CI: 19.8–28.2%) had ‘custard-like’ faeces and 19.1% (95%CI: 15.5–23.2%) had diarrhoea. E. coli was the least detected enteropathogen (2.6% (95%CI: 1.3–4.6%) of calves, 9% (95%CI: 5–16%) of herds) and Cl. perfringens was most detected (54.0% (95%CI: 49.1–58.8%) of calves, 85% (95%CI: 77–91%) of herds). E. coli and Coronavirus were detected incidentally in only one or two calves per herd, whereas C. parvum and Cl. perfringens were frequently detected in up to four calves per herd. For calves with ‘custard-like’ faeces, the probability of detecting Rotavirus from a calf in its first week of age was 0.31 whereas for a calf in its second week, there was a 0.66 probability of detecting C. parvum. The probabilities of detecting E. coli, Rotavirus and C. parvum in calves with diarrhoea in their first week of age were 0.10, 0.20 and 0.43, respectively. In calves with diarrhoea between 1 and 2 weeks of age, the probability of detecting enteropathogens was 0.43 for C. parvum. None of the tested enteropathogens were related to ‘custard-like’ faeces or diarrhoea in the third week of age.Putative risk factors for E. coli, Coronavirus and C. parvum included the presence of peer-calves shedding Coronavirus, C. parvum or Rotavirus, respectively. Additionally, managerial risk factors such as non-optimal hygienic housing (for Coronavirus) and the routine use of antibiotics for diarrhoeic calves (for C. parvum) were found. No animal or managerial factors were associated with shedding of Cl. perfringens.     

Isolation of rotavirus from calves, foals, dogs and cats in New Zealand

The incidence of rotaviruses in calves, foals, dogs and cats in the Dunedin urban and rural areas was investigated using electron microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Of the 283 faecal specimens examined, 26% were positive for rotavirus. Comparison of the genetic electropherotypes was made by separating the viral dsRNA segments using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is possible that rotavirus infection is a zoonotic disease.     

The isolation of rotavirus from calves,foals, dogs and cats in New Zealand.

The incidence of rotaviruses in calves, foals, dogs and cats in the Dunedin urban and rural areas was investigated using electron microscopy and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Of the 283 faecal specimens examined, 26% were positive for rotavirus.

Comparison of the genetic electropherotypes was made by separating the viral dsRNA segments using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It is possible that rotavirus infection is a zoonotic disease.     

Comparison of direct electron microscopy and enzyme immunoassay for the detection of rotaviruses in calves, lambs, piglets and foals

Direct electron microscopy (EM) and enzyme-immunoassay (rotazyme) results for the detection of rotaviruses in 346 enteric specimens from calves, lambs, piglets and foals were compared. The rotazyme test was at least 3 times more sensitive than direct EM in diagnosing infection. Rotavirus antigen was demonstrated by rotazyme in 22% of 280 scour samples and in 27% of 66 samples from non-scouring animals. There was an association between diarrhoea and higher amounts of rotavirus antigen. This prevalence of rotaviruses detected in animals with diarrhoea highlights the significant involvement of other pathogens identified in the study including Eimeria, Cryptosporidia, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and other viruses.     

Infectious agents associated with diarrhoea of calves in the canton of Tilarán, Costa Rica

A case-control study of calves under 3 months of age was carried out by weekly visits to 15 farms in the canton of Tilarán, Costa Rica. Most farms were dedicated to beef or dual-purpose (DP) production. Faecal samples were collected over a 6-month period from a total of 194 calves with clinical signs and from 186 animals without clinical signs of diarrhoea as assessed by a scoring system. The samples were investigated for the presence of viruses, bacteria and parasites. Torovirus was detected for the first time in Costa Rica and was present in 14% of calves with diarrhoea and in 6% of the controls. Coronavirus and Rotavirus were less frequently encountered in either one of the groups (in 9 and 7% of scouring calves and in 1 and 2% of controls, respectively). Escherichia coli was detected in 94% of all the faecal samples, but isolates from only three samples from calves with diarrhoea contained the K99 antigen. Similarly, Salmonella was found only in scouring calves. Cryptosporidium oocysts were detected in animals with signs of diarrhoea, while other coccidia oocysts, Strongylida and Strongyloides eggs were frequently found in animals both with and without diarrhoea. A conditional logistic regression (CLR) analysis to compare healthy and scouring calves showed a significant difference with regard to the presence of Torovirus, Rotavirus and Coronavirus.     

The occurrence of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens strains in the feces of dogs and cats

A total of 147 faecal specimen of dogs and cats was examined with cultural method for the occurrence of Cl. perfringens and its enterotoxin by using a reversed passive latex agglutination test (Pet-RPLA). Cl. perfringens could be detected in 77.9% of the samples of dogs (n = 68) and 65.6% of cats (n = 32) with diarrhoea in germ counts of 10(4)-10(10) cfu/g faeces. In the group of non diarrhoeic dogs (n = 39) and cats (n = 8) Cl. perfringens was found in 53.9% and 50% of the samples, the germ counts revealed 10(4)-10(8) cfu/g faeces. The enterotoxin of Cl. perfringens was detected in 48.5% of the samples of dogs and 28.1% of cats with diarrhoea. On the other hand this toxin could not be detected in any faecal specimen of non diarrhoeic animals. The in vitro detection of Cl. perfringens enterotoxin was successful at 65% of 20 strains, that had been isolated from faecal samples with enterotoxin. Also 2 Cl. perfringens strains isolated from faeces of non diarrhoeic dogs proved to be enterotoxigenic. The present test results given reason to believe that enterotoxigenic Cl. perfringens strains are involved in the complex of enteric disease of dogs and cats.     

Cryptosporidium infection in calves from a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina

Dairy calves less than 1 month of age are commonly infected with Cryptosporidium spp. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. among dairy calves or=810 oocysts/field. This study shows that Cryptosporidium spp. is one of the causes of calf neonatal diarrhoea in a rural area of Buenos Aires, Argentina. The highest intensity of infection reported for the 相似文献   

Effect of vaccination on fecal cortisol metabolites in cats and dogs

The aim of this study was to apply a cortisol metabolite determination in the faeces of cats and dogs for monitoring disturbances. In this experiment faeces from every spontaneous defecation of 10 cats and 10 dogs (5 of each sex) were collected starting from one day before until two days after the yearly vaccination. Concentrations of 11,17-dioxoandrostanes (cat) and cortisol equivalents (dog) were determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Faecal cortisol metabolites increased and reached peak concentrations (median: 412% in cats and 417% in dogs, respectively above baseline values) in one of the next two samples following the vaccination. This indicated an activation of the adrenocortex, the degree to which the different parts (physical and psychological components) of the whole vaccination procedure contributed to it was not evaluated. From this experiment we conclude that measuring cortisol metabolites in the faeces is a non-invasive method to monitor stressful conditions in cats and dogs and thus is a valuable tool for evaluating animal welfare.     

Studies on neonatal calf diarrhoea caused by rotavirus: transmission of the disease and attempted vaccination of colostrum-deprived calves

Mild to severe scouring could be produced in colostrum-deprived calves with tissue culture-adapted rotavirus and feacal material from field cases of calf diarrhoea. The feaces of experimentally infected calves contained rotavirus for at least 3 days. Pathogenic bacteria were presented in one calf only and this calf also showed the most severe gastroenteritis. Eight calves were vaccinated with a live rotaviral calf diarrhoea vaccine and subsequently challenged with infective rotavirus. Mild scouring was observed after vaccination, but the calves remained normal after challenge. Rotavirus particles were detectable in the faeces for a few days after vaccination and challenge.     

Prevalence of Toxocara spp. and other parasites in dogs and cats in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Several cases of visceral larva migrans syndrome in children led to an investigation of the ova of Toxocara spp. and other species in stool specimens from stray dogs and cats in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Fecal samples from 474 stray dogs and 299 stray cats were examined. Ova of Toxocara canis or cati were present in stools from 26.6% of the dogs and 25.1% of the cats. In dogs the prevalence of Toxocara canis was noticeably greater in puppies (56.1%) than in mature animals (11.9%).     

Aetiology of diarrhoea in young calves

Faeces samples were collected from 302 untreated calves on the day of onset of diarrhoea and from 49 healthy calves at 32 farms experiencing outbreaks of diarrhoea. At least four diarrhoeic calves were sampled on each farm, and samples were examined for rotavirus, coronavirus, cryptosporidium, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella species. Although all these enteropathogens were excreted more frequently by the diarrhoeic than by the healthy calves, the difference was significant overall only for rotavirus. Rotavirus was excreted by 18 per cent of healthy calves, coronavirus by 4 per cent, cryptosporidium by 14 per cent, and no enterotoxigenic E coli or Salmonella species were detected. The most common enteropathogen in diarrhoeic calves was rotavirus, which was excreted by more than half the diarrhoeic calves on 18 farms. Coronavirus was excreted at a similar high prevalence on one farm, cryptosporidium on five farms and enterotoxigenic E coli on three farms. Concurrent infection with two or more microorganisms occurred in 15 per cent of diarrhoeic calves. There was no difference in the isolation rate of campylobacters between diarrhoeic and healthy calves.     

The occurrence of Clostridium difficile in fecal samples of dogs and cats

Fecal samples of 150 dogs and 175 cats originating from different veterinary practices were investigated for assessing the occurrence of Clostridium (Cl.) difficile by using a selective medium for cultural isolation. From dogs without enteric symptoms 7 (9.3%) of 75 samples were positive for Cl. difficile, with 2 strains being cytotoxic for bovine embryonic lung fibroblast cells, which could be neutralized by Cl. difficile-antitoxin. In samples of 75 dogs with enteric symptoms Cl. difficile could be isolated in 2 cases (2.7%). In cats 9 (9%) of 100 fecal samples deriving from animals without enteric symptoms contained Cl. difficile, while in 75 cats with enteric symptoms, the isolation rate was 6.7% (5 strains). Of either group only 1 Cl. difficile-strain showed cytotoxicity for tissue culture. The results of this study allow to conclude, that in contrast to the significance for man Cl. difficile is neither for dogs nor for cats an important enteric agent. However these pets can harbour and shed strains of Cl. difficile, even cytotoxigenic ones, in faeces. In view of these findings the possibility of occasional human infections by household dogs or cats needs attention and further investigation.     

Toxocara eggs shed by dogs and cats and their molecular and morphometric species-specific identification: is the finding of T. cati eggs shed by dogs of epidemiological relevance?

Intestinal infections with Toxocara cati and Toxocara canis in their definitive host (felids and canids, respectively) are diagnosed by egg identification in faeces using coproscopical techniques. The Toxocara species is assumed to comply with the species from which the examined faeces were obtained, i.e. T. cati in cats and T. canis in dogs. We isolated and measured Toxocara eggs from faecal samples of 36 cats and 35 dogs from Switzerland and identified the Toxocara species by PCR. Amongst the isolates originating from dogs, 24 (68.5%) were determined as T. canis and 11 (31.5%) as T. cati. In all samples originating from cats, only T. cati was identified. Based on PCR identification, eggs of T. canis (n=241) and T. cati (n=442) were measured, revealing statistically significant different (p<0.001) mean sizes of 62.3 by 72.7 μm for T. cati and 74.8 by 86.0 μm for T. canis eggs. Considering that coprophagy is not unusual for dogs, a considerable percentage of Toxocara infections coproscopically diagnosed in dogs, as well as assumptions on anthelminthic resistance in regularly treated dogs, might in fact relate to intestinal passages of eggs following the uptake of other animals' faeces.     

Comparison of the diagnostic methods for studying parvovirus and rotavirus infections of dogs

79 feces samples of dogs between 7 weeks till 13.5 years of age, showing clinical signs of a hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, were tested by a commercial ELISA (DiaSystems Canine Parvo, Tech-America) for Canine Parvovirus (CPV) and by two Latex-Agglutination tests for Rotavirus (30 probes were tested by Rota Screen, 49 samples by Slidex Rota-Kit 2, both tests from BioMerieux). All samples were also examined by electron microscopy. The results of the simultaneous investigations showed 28 times positive and 28 times negative for CPV (70.9%). In 93.7% the investigations for Rotavirus-infection showed identical results by the Latex-Agglutination and electron microscopy: 73 samples were negative, one case showed a positive reaction. In 4 feces samples Rotavirus could only be detected by the Latex-test. In one sample a double-infection (CPV/Rotavirus) could be observed by all methods, in two cases the double-infection was only found by using the Latex-Agglutination. No other viruses could be found by the electron microscope than those described above. The results and the performance of the methods are discussed and compared with the data of other authors.     

Parvovirus enteritis in Nigerian dogs

Parvovirus enteritis in dogs presented with clinical diarrhoea was studied. Parvovirus was identified in seven out of 11 dogs with diarrhoea by means of haemagglutination and haemagglutination-inhibition tests. Haemagglutination activity was found to persist in faeces for up to 22 days after onset of diarrhoea. Antibody to canine parvovirus was detected in 24 out of 40 dogs selected randomly from dogs presented for clinical examination. Antibody prevalence was highest in dogs 1 year old or younger.     

Sarcocystis infection in pigs of Hissar, Haryana, India and its transmission to dogs

Sarcocystis zoites were found in pepsin digests of 68.8% of 157 pigs from Hissar, Haryana. Sarcocystis-infected meat was fed to 4 young dogs and 2 cats. The dogs shed Sarcocystis sporocysts in their faeces 12 days after eating infected meat whereas cats did not shed sporocysts.     

Distribution of Toxocara infection in the environment and in definitive and paratenic hosts in Estonia

The aim of the study was to elucidate the distribution and possible transmission routes of Toxocara spp. infection in Estonia. Out of 454 faecal and sand samples collected from park lawns and sandpits in the town of Tartu, 19 were Toxocara positive (4.2%). Out of the 45 sandpit samples 17.8% were Toxocara positive. Cat faeces was found in 21 sandpit samples. Parasitological necropsies were performed on 41 euthanised stray dogs and 27 cats in the Tallinn Dog Home. Additionally, 13 wild free-roaming brown rats (Rattus norvegicus) were captured from the Tallinn Dog Home territory, necropsied and studied for the presence of Toxocara larvae. Toxocara canis adults were found in 14.6% of the dogs and Toxocara cati (syn. mystax) adults in the small intestines of 48.2% of the cats examined. Larval infection was detected in the kidney and liver in 5 dogs (12.2%). Our study demonstrated only low-level larval Toxocara infections in adult dogs. Toxocara larvae were not found in cats and brown rats. According to the results of this study, cats more often carry Toxocara infection than dogs. Under our conditions, stray and free-roaming cats are the main contaminators of the environment with Toxocara eggs. Children playing in sandpits are the main risk group for larval toxocarosis.     

Virus and virus-like particles in the faeces of cats with and without diarrhoea

Negative staining electron microscopy was used to identify viruses in 166 normal and 62 diarrhoeal faecal samples from 208 cats admitted to an animal shelter during a 16-month period (March 1984 to June 1985). On the basis of size and shape 7 distinct viral types were detected: 24 nm parvovirus-like particles, 30 nm astrovirus, 30 nm picornavirus-like particles, reovirus, rotavirus, coronavirus and a 75 nm "togavirus-like" particle. The incidence of these particles in the 208 cats was 11%, 7%, 6%, 0.4%, 5%, 1% and 1% respectively. Virus isolation studies using 40 of the faecal samples succeeded in isolating reovirus 1 in 2 cases. Immune electron microscope studies demonstrated the presence of antibody in a human serum to cat astrovirus, but failed to clarify the identity of the parvovirus-like particles and picornavirus-like particles, other than showing that some of the parvovirus-like particles were not related to feline panleukopenia virus. It was found that parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles, reovirus and rotavirus could be excreted by cats with normal faeces as well as cats with diarrhoeal faeces. Parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles and rotavirus could be excreted in high concentration in normal faeces. There was no simple relationship between age and diarrhoea in the population of cats studied. Age was not a critical factor in the excretion of parvovirus-like particles, astrovirus, picornavirus-like particles and rotavirus. The incidence of diarrhoea was not clearly associated with the seasons.