家养观赏地图鱼肺炎克雷伯氏菌、维氏气单胞菌与黏质沙雷氏菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

本试验旨在通过细菌分离鉴定,明确家养观赏地图鱼的死因,筛选敏感药物。采用常规方法分离纯化细菌后,进行细菌形态学观察,并通过小白鼠致病性试验、细菌主要生化鉴定、16SrDNA序列测定分析、药敏试验及耐药基因检测等方法对分离的细菌进行鉴定及耐药分析。分离出3株革兰氏阴性短杆菌,根据细菌形态特征及理化特性,结合16SrDNA序列测定与系统发育分析结果,判定其分别为肺炎克雷伯氏菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae)、维氏气单胞菌(Aeromonas veronii)和黏质沙雷氏菌(Serratia marcescens),其中肺炎克雷伯氏菌具有较强致病性。3株细菌均对洛美沙星、氧氟沙星、阿米卡星、卡那霉素敏感,对阿莫西林、氟苯尼考、克林霉素、甲硝唑等具有较强耐药性。结果表明,肺炎克雷伯氏菌、维氏气单胞菌、黏质沙雷氏菌的混合感染是家养观赏地图鱼的死亡原因。     

Co-isolation of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii from blood, joint and subcutaneous seroma fluids from two naturally infected dogs

This report describes the clinical presentation, isolation and treatment of two dogs naturally infected with Bartonella henselae and Bartonella vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii. Chronic and progressive polyarthritis was the primary complaint for dog #1, from which B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii were cultured on three independent occasions from blood and joint fluid samples, despite administration of nearly 4 months of non-consecutive antibiotic therapy. A clinically atypical and progressively severe trauma-associated seroma was the primary complaint for dog #2, from which B. henselae and B. vinsonii subsp. berkhoffii were isolated from serum, blood and seroma fluid. Dogs can be co-infected with two Bartonella spp. and infection with these organisms should not be ruled out if specific antibodies are not detected. Specialized culture techniques should be used for isolation and to assess antibiotic efficacy.     

First isolation and identification of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica from cultured tiger frog, Rana tigerina rugulosa

Elizabethkingia meningoseptica has been recognised as an occasional but serious opportunistic bacterial pathogen to human beings. Recently, it was frequently isolated from tiger frog, Rana tigerina rugulosa, with cataract disease, which is the most common disease of unknown aetiology of frogs in Hainan, China. The purpose of this study was to identify and characterise the bacterial strains isolated from the recent outbreaks of cataract disease in farmed tiger frog in Hainan, China, and to evaluate their pathogenicity to the frog and their sensitivity to 20 chemotherapeutic agents.The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains W0701 (1478 bp), W0702 (1477 bp) and W0703 (1478 bp) showed 98.6–98.7% similarity with the sequence of E. meningoseptica type strain (ATCC 13253) and 99.9–100% similarity with that of E. meningoseptica NTU 870424-IL. Six strains (W0701–W0706) were selected to represent 24 isolates retrieved from six moribund frogs. The morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics of the six representative isolates were consistent with those of E. meningoseptica strains. The organisms were only susceptible to vancomycin and moderately susceptible to cefoperazone among the 20 investigated chemotherapeutic agents. Virulence test with strain W0702 was conducted and pathogenicity (by intramuscular injection) was demonstrated in the tiger frog. In conclusion, 24 isolates obtained from frogs with cataract disease were the E. meningoseptica strains highly pathogenic to tiger frog, and this is the first report of E. meningoseptica as a pathogen for tiger frog.     

Identification of Brucella abortus, B. canis, B. melitensis, and B. suis by carbon substrate assimilation tests

By using the results of seven carbon substrate assimilation tests from the Biotype 100 system (bioMérieux, Marcy-l’Etoile, France), we correctly identified 79 (85.9%) of 92 Brucella strains tested. The specificity of the method varied from 97.4 to 100% depending on the species. Although a biological safety cabinet must be used, this method represents an easy and fast alternative for the identification of Brucella species.     

Antibody levels to Brucella abortus, toxoplasma gondii, and Leptospira serogroups, in sera collected from healthy people in Fiji

A collection of 300 sera from a predominantly rural community on the island of Viti Levu in Fiji were studied for the presence of antibodies to B. abortus, T. gondii and Leptospira serogroups. Significant levels of immunity were found to B. abortus and T. gondii and over half the population had diagnostic leptospiral antibody levels.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus intermedius and Staphylococcus schleiferi isolated from dogs

The susceptibility to 23 antimicrobial agents was determined in 114 isolates of Staphylococcus intermedius and eight isolates of Staphylococcus schleiferi of canine origin. Overall, 73% of S. intermedius isolates and 37.5% of S. schleiferi isolates were susceptible to all the 23 antimicrobials tested. The large majority of S. intermedius strains retained susceptibility to antimicrobials currently employed in treatment of pyoderma (cephalosporins, cotrimoxazole and association amoxicillin–clavulanic acid) as well as to those effective against staphylococci (fusidic acid, rifampicin and fluoroquinolones). Resistance in S. intermedius was observed mainly against macrolides, chloramphenicol and lincosamides, while S. schleiferi isolates retained susceptibility to all antimicrobials except three of six fluoroquinolones. Although, our results confirm susceptibility to antimicrobials currently employed in pyoderma treatment, the several different resistance patterns observed for S. intermedius emphasize the importance of antimicrobial susceptibility testing of canine staphylococci to choose the most appropriate treatment of infections and to allow the prudent use of antimicrobial drugs in companion animals.     

Interactions between genes involved in growth and muscularity in pigs: IGF-2, myostatin, ryanodine receptor 1, and melanocortin-4 receptor

In the swine breeding industry, two economical traits are of particular importance in sires, namely, muscle growth and average daily gain (ADG). These traits are quantitative, which implies that they are under the control of multiple genes. Mutations in these genes, associated with either muscularity or growth, are useful quantitative trait nucleotides (QTN) for unraveling genetic variation of these traits and can be used in marker-assisted selection. Until now, QTN involved in muscle growth and/or ADG in pigs were identified in porcine ryanodine receptor 1 (RYR1), insulin-like growth factor-2 (IGF-2), and melanocortin-4 receptor (MC4R). Recently, a fourth possible QTN was found in porcine myostatin (MSTN). All four QTN have an influence on muscle growth and/or somatic growth, so an influence of one mutation on one or more of the other mutations should not be excluded. However, although the polymorphisms in the RYR1 and the MC4R gene affect the function of the respective protein, the polymorphisms of the IGF-2 and MSTN gene influence the mRNA expression of the respective gene. Therefore, this study investigated possible interactions between the genotypes of MSTN, IGF-2, and MC4R (population 1) or the RYR1, IGF-2, and MSTN QTN (population 2) on IGF-2 and MSTN expression in different muscle types in pigs. In both skeletal muscle and heart muscle growth, the IGF-2:MSTN ratio seems to play an important role. Also, the RYR1 genotype had a significant effect on IGF-2 expression in m. longissimus dorsi. No effect of the MC4R QTN could be seen.     

Prevalence of agglutinating antibodies to Sarcocystis neurona in raccoons, Procyon lotor, from the United States

Equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM) is the most important protozoal disease of horses in North America and it is caused by Sarcocystis neurona. Natural cases of encephalitis due to S. neurona have been reported in raccoons, Procyon lotor. We examined 99 raccoons for agglutinating antibodies to S. neurona using the S. neurona agglutination test (SAT) employing formalin-fixed merozoites as antigen. Raccoons originated in Florida (N=24, collected in 1996), New Jersey (N=25, collected in 1993), Pennsylvania (N=25, collected in 1999), and Massachusetts (N=25, collected in 1993 and 1994). We found that 58 (58.6%) of the 99 raccoons were positive for antibodies to S. neurona using the SAT; 44 of 99 raccoons (44%) had titers of ≥1:500. This prevalence is similar to the reported seroprevalence of 33–60% for S. neurona antibodies in horses from the United States using the Western blot test.     

Prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii and anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in sheep from Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular parasite with a variety of hosts, responsible for reproductive problems and economic losses in sheep flocks. Neospora caninum was recently identified and its clinical presentation in sheep is similar to that of toxoplasmosis, which can cause repeated abortions, though less frequently in this species. In order to confirm the prevalence of these agents in the city of Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, 409 serum samples from adult sheep (364 females and 45 males) were tested by the indirect immunofluorescence antibody test, using cut-off point at a dilution of 1:64 and 1:50 for T. gondii and N. caninum, respectively. From the 35 properties examined, 23 (65.7%) had at least one seropositive animal for T. gondii and six (17.1%) for N. caninum. The prevalence of seropositive animals for T. gondii was 20.7% and for N. caninum 1.8%. There was no association between the presence of the agent’s antibody and gender, reports of reproductive problems and presence of dogs and/or cats in the properties. T. gondii is well distributed and N. caninum has low prevalence in sheep and in the properties of the studied region.     

鲤鱼杀鲑气单胞菌的分离鉴定及耐药性分析

为探究鲤鱼病原菌的生物学特性及耐药状况,从患病鲤鱼中分离到菌株CS126,对其进行形态学观察、生理生化性质测定、16SrDNA序列分析及药敏性测定。结果显示,菌株CS126为革兰氏阴性菌,不产生吲哚、不具有动力性,分解半乳糖、甘露醇,VP试验、赖氨酸脱羧酶、氧化酶阴性,七叶苷阳性。16SrDNA序列长度为1 459bp,GenBank登录号为KJ942580,与GenBank中杀鲑气单胞菌的相似性高达100%,进化树显示与杀鲑气单胞菌杀鲑亚种聚为一分支。这表明菌株CS126为杀鲑气单胞菌杀鲑亚种。该菌株对菌必治、诺氟沙星、氟苯尼考等8种药物高度敏感,但对氨苄西林、氨苄西林/舒巴坦、甲氧卞胺嘧啶和磺胺异恶唑等耐药。本试验结果为鱼类杀鲑气单胞菌的快速鉴定及鱼类疾病诊治提供参考依据。     

Phylogentic analysis of Anaplasma ovis strains isolated from sheep and goats using groEL and mps4 genes

Evidence of Anaplasma spp. in goats and sheep in Cyprus has been demonstrated by previous research. Herein, further research was performed for the identification of the exact Anaplasma spp. resulting in the identification of Anaplasma ovis strains in all samples examined. We used a bioinformatics as well as a molecular approach (study of groEl and mps4 genes) in order to verify the validity of the results. All samples depicted the presence of A. ovis regardless of the host (goat or sheep).     

Antibody dependent haemolysin, complement and opsonin in sera of a major carp, Cirrhina mrigala and catfish, Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis

The present communication is a continuation of our earlier study on the natural serum haemagglutinin/lectins of Cirrhina mrigala, Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis. Sera of Cirrhina mrigala, belonging to the major carp family, could not only agglutinate heterologous rabbit erythrocytes, but also lyse them spontaneously. This lysis of rabbit RBC by Cirrhina mrigala sera was calcium ion dependent and heat sensitive, indicating thereby that the haemolysis was mediated by the fish serum complement system via the classical pathway. Quantification of CH50 and APCH50 levels in the sera of Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis as well as in the sera of amphibia, aves and mammals showed that lower vertebrates predominantly possessed an alternative pathway of the complement system, while on the other hand, in the higher vertebrates the major pathway of complement activation was classical. Furthermore sera of Clarias batrachus and Heteropneustes fossilis had opsonins, which could stimulate heterologous rat peritoneal macrophages to engulf Staphylococcus aureus with the production of superoxide anion. From this study we concluded that fishes have been armed with various powerful natural humoral defense systems for their protection against environmental pathogens.     

川西北牦牛肉中产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的分离鉴定及stx2基因的序列分析

为了解中国川西北牦牛肉中产志贺毒素大肠杆菌(STEC)的携带情况及stx2的亚型和特征,试验将采集的204份川西北牦牛肉样品(各25g)增菌培养后,每份挑取5个可疑菌落,采用stx1、stx2双重PCR方法检测STEC,对分离株中的stx2分型并克隆测定stx2编码区序列。结果显示,在204份样品中分离出8株STEC,平均分离率为3.9%(8/204);存在4个不同的O血清型,分别为O38(4)、O50(1)、O74(2)、O150(1);在6株含有stx2的菌株中,其中有2株为stx2a型、4株为stx2c型。结果表明牦牛源分离株氨基酸序列与人源和牛源菌株同源性较高;由stx2A、B亚基的氨基酸序列系统进化树可知,牦牛源分离株与人源、牛源菌株聚为一支,表明它们之间遗传距离相对较近,牦牛源stx2各自分布在自己的小分支中,表明牦牛源STEC stx2与人源和牛源stx2相比,尽管亲缘关系较近,但仍存在一定程度的差异。     

鸡源肺炎克雷伯菌的分离鉴定和耐药性分析

为探究鸡源肺炎克雷伯菌的流行性和耐药情况,本试验采集蛋鸡新鲜粪便60份(雏鸡36只/产蛋鸡24只),通过分离培养、VITEK2 Compact生化鉴定、特异性基因PCR扩增和微量肉汤稀释法对分离菌株进行了菌种鉴定、耐药表型、耐药基因以及毒力基因检测。结果显示,从粪便样本中共分离出48株肺炎克雷伯菌;分离菌株对氨苄西林、大观霉素、四环素、氟苯尼考、磺胺异噁唑和复方新诺明表现出高度耐药,耐药率范围为50.00%～100.00%,对奥格门丁、庆大霉素、头孢类和喹诺酮类药物耐药程度较低,耐药率范围为14.58%～27.08%,对黏菌素和美罗培南敏感;75.02%的菌株表现为多重耐药,最高表现为8重耐药,占10.42%。耐药基因和毒力基因检测结果显示,48株肺炎克雷伯菌共检出aadA1、tetA、oqxA、oqxB、bla_TEM和qnrB等6种耐药基因,以及entB、wabG、uge和kfuBC等4种毒力基因,本试验结果可为临床用药、动物源细菌耐药性监测和健康养殖提供数据支持。     

Seroprevalence of antibodies to Encephalitozoon cuniculi and Encephalitozoon intestinalis in humans and animals

The presence of antibodies against Encephalitozoon cuniculi (E. cuniculi) and Encephalitozoon intestinalis (E. intestinalis) was examined in 215 samples from humans and in 488 samples from five different species of domestic and companion animals in Slovakia. The 215 human samples and samples from 90 swine, 123 non-infected cattle (cattle), 24 cattle infected with bovine leukosis virus (BLV-positive cattle), 140 sheep and 111 dogs were examined by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Samples with serum titres 1:200 or higher were considered as positive. Specific anti-E. cuniculi antibodies were found in humans (0.9%), swine (52%), cattle (2%), sheep (9%) and dogs (15%) except for the BLV-positive cattle at the titre of 1:200. The titre of 1:400 was detected only in humans (0.5%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:200 was confirmed in humans (6%), swine (51%), cattle (11%), BLV-positive cattle (13%) and dogs (6%) but not in sheep. The anti-E. intestinalis antibodies reached the 1:400 in humans (1%), swine (4%) and BLV-positive cattle (17%). The presence of specific anti-E. intestinalis antibodies at the titre of 1:600 was observed only in one swine (1%). Significant differences were observed in animals at titres 1:200 and 1:400 (chi-squared test: p < 0.0001) for both pathogens and in humans only for E. cuniculi at the titre of 1:400 (chi-squared test: p < 0.0075).     

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from dogs with diarrhoea

Faecal samples from 148 dogs with diarrhoea and from 15 healthy dogs were cultured for bacterial pathogens with enterotoxigenic properties. The aim of the study was to define the toxin profile (production of heat-labile [LT] and heat-stable [ST] toxins) and possible surface fimbrial antigens. Enterotoxigenic bacteria were isolated from 6 (4.1%) dogs with diarrhoea, four of these were Escherichia coli and two were Klebsiella pneumoniae. The E. coli strains and K. pneumoniae strains were producing both LT and ST toxins. The LT toxin from these strains was not neutralized by human anti-LT serum or anti-choleragen and did not cause coagglutination with Staphylococcus aureus coated with anti-human-LT. This suggests that the LT toxin produced by these canine isolates is non-identical to LT toxin from human strains.

Three of the ETEC strains were haemagglutinating and showed surface hydrophobic properties. Electron microscopy showed that canine ETEC isolates possessed fimbriae of two different types: thick (5–5.5 nm) and thin (2–3 nm).     

猪源多杀性巴氏杆菌荚膜分型及外膜蛋白H基因序列分析

为了解国内猪源多杀性巴氏杆菌外膜蛋白H基因的变异情况及与荚膜型之间的相关性,本试验采用PCR方法对44株猪源多杀性巴氏杆菌进行荚膜分型和ompH基因的扩增测序。结果显示,44株菌株中22株为荚膜A型,17株为荚膜B型,5株为荚膜D型;44株菌株的ompH基因开放阅读框在1 002~1 056bp之间;SignaIP 4.1预测结果显示,信号肽为N端20个氨基酸残基;ProtParam分析结果显示,成熟蛋白氨基酸残基数量在313~331aa之间,推测的分子质量在33.83~36.46ku之间。序列分析结果显示,44株菌株核苷酸同源性为86.2%~100.0%,氨基酸同源性为86.0%~100.0%;ompH基因核苷酸序列遗传进化树结果显示,荚膜A型、B型和D型菌株分别在不同的分支。试验结果表明,猪源多杀性巴氏杆菌ompH基因在不同血清型之间具有较高的同源性,与荚膜型之间存在相关性。     

Prevalence and intensity of Otodectes cynotis in kittens from Thessaloniki area, Greece

From May 2007 to May 2008 we have examined by otoscopy a total number of 214 cats, aged between 0 and 6 months, brought in for their first veterinary examination to a private veterinary clinic. All cats were of urban origin. In all positive cats we performed a washing of the ear using warm paraffin oil in order to determine intensity of infection. Statistical analysis was performed using the Chi-square test. A total number of 30 cats were found to be infected with Otodectes cynotis (prevalence 14.02%). Prevalence of infection was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in cats aged between 3 and 6 months (17.58%) than in cats aged below 3 months (11.38). Intensity of infection ranged between 7 and 85 (mean intensity 35.60) mites per infected cat. The same age group of cats between 3 and 6 months had significantly (p < 0.05) higher mean intensity (47.19) compared to cats aged under 3 months (22.36). No statistical significance was found between males and females for neither prevalence nor intensity. Differences and similarities with other studies are discussed.     

Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora caninum in feral cats (Felis silvestris catus) in Majorca, Balearic Islands, Spain

Cryptosporidium spp. are common intestinal protozoan parasites that infect a wide range of hosts, including humans and livestock, worldwide. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in dairy calves in Prince Edward Island, Canada, and the potential for transmission of this parasite between dairy calves and humans. Fecal samples were collected from 183 dairy calves from 11 farms in Prince Edward Island. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infections in these animals was determined by examining for the presence of oocysts in the fecal samples, using immunofluorescence microscopy. Molecular characterization was done using a nested-PCR protocol to amplify fragments of the Cryptosporidium heat-shock protein 70 gene, followed by DNA sequencing. Ten calves (6.2%), representing 4 out of 11 farms tested, were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. DNA sequence analysis on five PCR positive samples demonstrated that Cryptosporidium parvum was the only species present in the calves tested, suggesting that there is a potential risk of zoonotic transmission between dairy calves and humans in this region.