Echinococcus granulosus in the Northern Territory,Australia: hydatid disease reported in beef cattle from the region

Hydatid disease in beef cattle has been reported to be widespread throughout Australia, but cattle bred and raised in the Northern Territory were previously believed to be free of the disease. Between 2010 and 2016, 1061 cattle from the Northern Territory were slaughtered at a New South Wales abattoir and inspected for hydatid disease. The proportion of cattle reported infected with hydatid disease was 3.5%. Individual cattle identification numbers indicated that the cattle included in the study had most likely remained within the Northern Territory from birth until immediately prior to slaughter, so were assumed to have become infected within the region. We suspect that the sylvatic cycle of Echinococcus granulosus transmission could be responsible for infection of cattle in this region.     

新疆塔城地区绵羊细粒棘球蚴流行株基因分型研究

为了探明新疆塔城地区绵羊细粒棘球蚴流行株基因型,根据GenBank公布的12S rRNA基因和CO1基因分别设计特异性引物,对58个绵羊细粒棘球蚴包囊进行PCR检测,再通过CO1特异性引物对检测阳性病料进行PCR扩增、测序及基因分型。通过12SrRNA基因检测发现58份样品均为阳性;对所测得的58条CO1基因序列分析,发现新疆塔城地区绵羊细粒棘球蚴流行株基因型均为G1型,且CO1基因序列存在多态性,为塔城地区绵羊细粒棘球蚴病的防控提供了科学依据。     

Public Health Follow‐up of Suspected Exposure to Echinococcus multilocularis in Southwestern Ontario

In the 3 years since the first report of canine alveolar echinococcosis (AE) in Ontario, three additional cases have been diagnosed in the province. Of the four cases reported to date, three have had no known history of travel outside the province. It is possible that this development is an indication of previously unrecognized environmental contamination with Echinococcus multilocularis eggs in some areas of the province. If so, there is the potential for an emerging threat to human health. This article describes a local public health department's investigation of the possible exposure to E. multilocularis of a number of individuals who had had contact with the latest of the four cases of canine AE, and summarizes a comprehensive decision process that can be used by public health departments to assist in the follow‐up of such exposures.     

Detection of Echinococcus granulosus coproantigens in faeces from naturally infected rural domestic dogs in south eastern Australia

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of Echinococcus granulosus in rural domestic dogs in farming areas around Yass, New South Wales, and Mansfield and Whitfield, Victoria. DESIGN: Faeces were collected per-rectally from farm dogs voluntarily presented by their owners in four farming districts in New South Wales and two in Victoria. PROCEDURE: Faeces were collected in the field, an extract prepared from each sample and E granulosus coproantigens detected in an ELISA. Farmers were also questioned about their dog feeding and worming practices. RESULTS: Echinococcus granulosus coproantigens were detected in 99 of 344 dogs (29%) from 95 farms in south eastern New South Wales and 38 of 217 dogs (17.5%) from 43 farms in Victoria. Cross-reactions between E granulosus coproantigen trapping antibody and coproantigens in faeces from dogs monospecifically infected with other species of intestinal helminthes (Taenia ovis, T hydatigena, T pisiformis, Spirometra ericacei, Dipylidium caninum, hookworm, Toxocara canis, Trichuris vulpis) were not evident. Dietary and worming data revealed many owners fed raw meat and occasionally offal from domestic livestock and wildlife to their dogs and few owners wormed their dogs frequently enough to preclude the chance of patent E granulosus being present in their dogs. CONCLUSION: Echinococcus granulosus occurs commonly in rural dogs in south eastern Australia and an education program promoting the public health importance of responsible management of rural dogs is urgently needed.     

Intraspecific variation of Echinococcus granulosus in livestock from Peru

Echinococcus granulosus infection is a problem of public health in livestock-rearing regions of Latin America, like in Peru. This species is characterized by the morphometry of the large and small rostellar hooks in both metacestodes and adult worms. The aim of this work was to study biometrical characteristics of rostellar hooks in hydatid cysts (lung and liver) from some Peruvian provinces (Arequipa, Cuzco, Huancavelica, Junin and Puno). The biometrical analysis was obtained in a digital system for image analysis. The following parameters were studied: area, perimeter, length and width total of the handle, the blade and the distance between the blade and the guard of large and small hooks. For statistical analysis Student's t-test and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) with Pos-test of Tukey were used, considering the values of p< or =0.05 as of statistic significance. All morphometric characters of large and small hooks were highly significant (p<0.000), when data were compared among the samples from the different provinces. Rostellar hooks in specimens from Huancavelica presented smallest measurements, whereas hooks in specimens from Junin were bigger in relation to the total and blade measurements. Generally, samples from Arequipa presented the biggest large hooks in relation to the handle parameters. The rostellar hooks of cattle and sheep hosts varied depending on the geographic localization, host and organ. Hooks recovered from the lungs were larger than those collected in the liver. It was concluded that morphometry using computer image analysis allows the characterization of E. granulosus. The rostellar hooks presented morphometric polymorphism.     

犬细粒棘球绦虫粪抗原夹心ELISA检测方法的建立

为建立特异性和敏感性高的检验犬细粒棘球绦虫感染的方法。用细粒棘球绦虫(简称,Eg)成虫抗原分别免疫兔和绵羊,收集高免血清,纯化的高免抗体。依据抗体夹心ELISA工作原理,以兔抗体包被,检测感染Eg、不同犬带科绦虫的实验犬和空白犬粪样,绵羊抗体扑捉抗原,HRP标记兔抗绵羊IgG(1∶8 000)催化显色,用酶标仪测定OD 405nm吸光度,用以确定其特异性和敏感性。试验结果表明,敏感性为82.69%(43/52),特异性为85.88%(140/163);粪抗原在感染细粒棘球绦虫16d后可检出,最低抗原浓度为9.7ng/mL即犬感染5条成虫时可检测出阳性。该检测方法具有较好的特异性和灵敏性,为进一步研制检测细粒棘球绦虫虫体抗原ELISA检测试剂盒奠定了基础。     

基于线粒体12S基因对青海地区细粒棘球蚴种群遗传多态性研究

本研究旨在分析青海地区细粒棘球蚴的种群基因多态性,为细粒棘球蚴病的防控提供基础资料。对采自青海地区的42株细粒棘球蚴(33株采自绵羊肝脏,9株采自绵羊肺脏)进行了线粒体12S基因的全序列测序并构建了NJ系统发生树。结果显示:在本研究样品的线粒体12S基因序列中共检测出5种单倍型(即H1～H5),其中以单倍型H5为主(占32株),并且系统发生树分析支持这一结果。单倍型多样性(H)和核苷酸多样性(Pi)分别为0.418、0.000 66,与E.granulosus G1(AF297617)的12S基因序列的核苷酸相似性达到99.86%以上。采自青海地区的42株细粒棘球蚴均鉴定为E.granulosus sensu stricto(基因型G1-G3),在检测出的5种单倍型中,单倍型H1～H4是本地区特有的单倍型。     

细粒棘球绦虫BAG3和EB1基因的克隆、表达及其在原头蚴细胞凋亡中的作用

旨在探究细粒棘球绦虫BAG3(Eg-BAG3)和EB1(Eg-EB1)的分子特征及在原头蚴细胞凋亡过程中的作用,采用原核表达方法获得重组Eg-BAG3和Eg-EB1,利用生物信息学、蛋白免疫印迹及免疫荧光定位方法对Eg-BAG3和Eg-EB1的分子特征进行了初步探究,随后利用10 mmol·L^-1H₂O₂诱导原头蚴细胞凋亡,qRT-PCR方法检测Eg-BAG3和Eg-EB1的转录水平,并通过RNA干扰技术进一步探究二者与原头蚴细胞凋亡之间的关系。结果显示,Eg-BAG3含有BAG蛋白家族特征性的BAG结构域,Eg-EB1含有内吞蛋白家族特征性的BAR结构域,二者分别属于典型的BAG蛋白和内吞蛋白。免疫荧光定位结果显示Eg-BAG3广泛分布于细粒棘球绦虫的各个发育时期,Eg-EB1主要定位于原头蚴皮层、吸盘及顶突和包囊生发层,而在成虫未见特异性分布。H₂O₂可以成功诱导原头蚴细胞凋亡,且原头蚴中Eg-BAG3和Eg-EB1的相对转录水平都随着H₂O₂处理时间的延长而显著上升,在8 h后的相对转录水平与0 h相比具有显著性差异(P<0.05)。RNA干扰结果显示,Eg-BAG3干扰组原头蚴细胞凋亡率显著高于未干扰组(P<0.05),而Eg-EB1干扰组原头蚴细胞凋亡率低于未干扰组(P<0.05),表明Eg-BAG3在H₂O₂诱导的原头蚴细胞凋亡过程中起到抗凋亡作用,而Eg-EB1起到促凋亡作用。Eg-BAG3可以抑制氧化应激诱导的原头蚴细胞凋亡而Eg-EB1促进细胞凋亡,且二者可能参与调控不育囊的形成。     

Factors associated with Echinococcus multilocularis infection in coyotes in southern Ontario

Echinococcus multilocularis was recently reported in wild canids across southern Ontario, a newly recognized endemic area in Canada. In such areas, a comprehensive understanding of factors associated with infection in definitive hosts (wild canids) is critical for mitigating risk of transmission to humans. However, little is known about the transmission dynamics of the parasite in definitive hosts for this region. A study was therefore carried out to investigate the association of host‐level (sex, body condition), environmental (southern Ontario region, land cover), temporal (season, hunting season, calendar year) and extraneous factors (submitter type) with E. multilocularis infection in coyotes in southern Ontario. Between November 2015 and March 2017, 416 coyotes were collected from across the region as part of a study that investigated the prevalence and distribution of the parasite in wild canids; approximately 24% of coyotes were positive for E. multilocularis. Associations between infection and factors of interest were assessed via a mixed‐effects logistic regression model with a random intercept for submitter to account for clustering. Coyotes with poor body condition were at greater odds of E. multilocularis infection than those in good condition (odds ratio [OR] 2.14; 95% CI: 1.08–4.26; p = .030). A negative association was observed between infection in coyotes and the proportion of natural land in a coyote's estimated home range (OR: 0.67; 95% CI: 0.52–0.85; p = .001). Coyotes from the western region of southern Ontario had lower odds of infection compared to coyotes from the central region (OR: 0.26; 95% CI: 0.12–0.55; p < .001). These results can be used to help guide future public health prevention strategies for human alveolar echinococcosis.     

Immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia in 110 dogs in Victoria, Australia

Objective   Evaluate the survival and prognostic indicators (i.e. breed predilection, season, blood transfusion, and the prevalence of autoagglutination) of dogs with immune-mediated haemolytic anaemia (IMHA) in Victoria, Australia.
Design   Retrospective study of 110 diagnosed with primary IMHA at the University of Melbourne Veterinary Clinic and Hospital.
Results   In total, 80 of the dogs (72.7%) were discharged from hospital and 48 of 65 (73.8%) dogs available for follow-up were known to be alive at 1 year, giving an overall 1-year survival of 48 (50.5%) of 95 dogs for which survival data were available. Regarding breed, 80 (18.2%) of the 110 dogs were Maltese-breed dogs compared with 81 (7.4%) of 1100 control dogs (P < 0.001). Springer Spaniels (P = 0.02), Hungarian Vizslas (P = 0.02) and Airedale Terriers (P < 0.001) were also over-represented compared with the control sample. There was no evidence of an association between the occurrence of IMHA in dogs and season in this study. Receiving one or more blood transfusions did not affect survival to the time of discharge from hospital. On initial blood smear examination, 57 (51.8%) of the 110 dogs had spontaneous autoagglutination and its presence was associated with decreased survival to discharge from hospital (P = 0.03). Packed cell volume, white cell count, platelet count and serum total bilirubin on admission had no effect on survival to the time of discharge from hospital or 1 year later.
Conclusion   Dogs with IMHA have a guarded prognosis as only half are still alive 1 year after the acute event.     

Socioeconomic burden of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome in endemic areas of Anhui Province,eastern China

Understanding the socioeconomic burden of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is important for making decisions on health resources allocation. This study aimed to assess the economic burden of patients with this syndrome in endemic areas of the Anhui Province in 2018. A total of 114 patients were recruited, and the median age was 63.5 years, 62 (54.4%) were female, 97 (85.1%) were farmers, 108 (94.7%) were survival patients, and 71 (62.3%) had a family monthly income less than $453.3. The median times of hospital visits and hospitalizations of patients were three times, and the median lost work days of these patients, caregivers and visitors were 14.5 days, 14.5 days and 7.5 days, respectively. The median direct costs of the patient were $3,761.6, and the median indirect costs were $508.3. Taking direct and indirect costs into consideration, the median total economic costs of patients were $4,323.9, and the total annual cost of 2018 was $1,396,913.6. Although 113 (99.1%) patients had medical insurance, only 25.8% of costs were covered by reimbursement, and the total cost paid for by the patients and their families was $1,041,073.6 in 2018. Our findings revealed that the patients and their families had a significant economic burden, and preventive measures should be strengthened in endemic areas. The findings also provided baseline data for assessing the cost‐effectiveness of the vaccines or anti‐viral drugs in the near future in China.     

Avian Schistosomes and Human Cercarial Dermatitis in a Wildlife Refuge in Mazandaran Province,Northern Iran

Each year, hundreds of aquatic migratory birds migrate from northern hemisphere to the Mazandaran Province, northern Iran. Little information is available on prevalence and density of schistosomes in water birds in Iran and around the world. The objectives of this study were to determine definitive and intermediate hosts of avian schistosomes as well as to assess human cercarial dermatitis (HCD) in a wildlife refuge in Mazandaran Province. Of 1106 examined people, 589 (53.2%) had maculopapular rashes mainly on feet but also on hand. The majority of cases were adults and local residents. Of 260 ducks, 41 (15.8%) were found to be infected with Trichobilharzia spp. eggs or adult worms. Prevalence was highest in Anas clypeata and Anas platyrhynchos, 79% and 18.9%, respectively. A total of 1.2% snails, examined by both shedding and crushing methods, were infected with furcocercariae belonging to avian schistosomes. The most frequently infected snail was Lymnaea gedrosiana (5.9%). Our results showed that cercarial dermatitis and avian schistosomiasis is a common and yet neglected disease in this area. Anas clypeata played the most important role in exposing snails to miracidia in ponds and paddy fields. Moreover, because of the high prevalence in ducks and high prevalence of HCD in the region, it is considered as a new endemic focus in Iran.     

Th1/Th2型免疫反应相关基因在巨噬细胞RAW 264.7应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激时的表达谱研究

本研究旨在解析巨噬细胞RAW264.7在应对细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴刺激时其Th1、Th2型免疫反应相关基因的差异表达规律,为进一步揭示巨噬细胞抗细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴免疫调控机制奠定理论基础.将细粒棘球绦虫原头蚴和巨噬细胞RAW264.7共培养6、24、72 h,收集RAW264.7细胞,提取总RNA,构建cDNA文库,利用R...     

The challenges of implementing an integrated One Health surveillance system in Australia

As 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are of animal origin, a One Health approach that integrates the health of humans, animals and the environment could provide an earlier opportunity for zoonotic disease detection and prevention. In Australia, human, animal and ecological health are managed by separate sectors with limited communication. This study aims to explore how professionals in these fields perceive a One Health approach to zoonotic disease surveillance, aiming to identify the challenges to the implementation of an integrated system in Australia. Using a qualitative research method, ten semistructured interviews were conducted with academic experts to gain insight into the possibility of developing an integrated surveillance system in Australia. A thematic analysis of the data was undertaken. Findings showed the absence of a clear definition and subsequent vision for the future of One Health act as a barrier to interdisciplinary collaboration, and that siloed approaches by different sectors restrict the ability for professionals to work collaboratively across disciplines. An understanding of disease transmission was considered by participants to be a necessary requirement for a successful One Health approach. Finally, participants considered political will an essential requirement for the integration of surveillance systems. This study demonstrates that for a One Health approach to be implemented in an Australian setting, those working in the fields of human, animal and ecological health must agree on several aspects. The establishment of a formal governance body with representatives from each sector could assist in overcoming long‐standing barriers of privacy and distrust. Further, developing interdisciplinary training in One Health concepts for medical, environmental and veterinary students may encourage cross‐disciplinary collaboration. Finally, demonstrating to policymakers the economic benefit of improved and timely detection of zoonoses may help in facilitating a structured One Health approach to disease surveillance in Australia.     

Wild dog management in Australia: An interactional approach to case studies of community-led action

Wild dogs are a widespread, established pest in Australia and have economic, environmental, and social impacts. Best practice management recommends coordinated community-led action as a key strategy to reduce this vertebrate pest. This research increased understanding of how citizens organize to collectively manage wild dogs in three case studies from Australia, with attention to the interaction of cultural, structural, and interactional domains of group action. Information asymmetry and changing demographic profiles emerge as challenges to effective group development. Visible community leaders and strong group identity are important, as is peer recognition of community efforts to develop collective action norms. This article complements and extends existing quantitative data sets with qualitative analysis and contextual understanding, while also reflecting on the implications of collective action for wild dog management more broadly. This research is relevant for those concerned with community action and complex issues of vertebrate pest management.     

A survey of aged horses in Queensland, Australia. Part 1: management and preventive health care

Objective To describe management practices and routine preventive care of aged horses in Queensland, Australia, including effects of owner characteristics, affiliation to an equestrian group and retirement of the horse. Methods Owners of horses were contacted via Equestrian Australia (EA) and asked to complete a questionnaire about their aged horses (e.g. age, breed, sex and colour); their use and management, including preventive health care; and use of equine healthcare providers. Results Horses aged 15 years or greater represented one-third of the total horses owned in the population sample. The median age of the horses was 20.7 years (range 15–44 years). Basic husbandry and preventive health care varied depending on demographic region, age of the horse and its use. Affiliation with EA was associated with the breed and use of the horse, but not with management or preventive health care other than frequency of hoof care visits. Retired horses had reduced basic husbandry and preventive health care compared with non-retired horses. There was reduced preventive health care in rural compared with urban areas. The majority (61%) of horses in the current study had not been visited by a veterinarian in the previous 12 months. Conclusion Aged horses constitute a large subgroup of the Australian horse population. Although basic management is at a high level for most aged horses, it appears to be reduced following the horse's retirement and in the more rural areas. There was limited veterinary involvement in preventive healthcare strategies for aged horses, especially in rural areas.