Kinetics and role of antibodies against intimin β in colostrum and in serum from goat kids and longitudinal study of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli in goat kids

The presence of antibodies to the intimin β-binding region (Int280-β) of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) in serum from 20 goat kids from 2 herds, as well as in goat colostrum, was investigated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, the onset and subsequent pattern of shedding of AEEC from the same goat kids over a 6-mo period was investigated. All the colostrum and serum samples tested contained antibodies against Int280-β. The association between the antibody titer and the isolation of AEEC suggests that antibodies to intimin β do not prevent colonization of the intestine by AEEC in goat kids. The AEEC were generally shed only transiently. Most AEEC isolated from the kids belonged to serogroup O26. Three isolates belonged to serogroup O157. These data show that goat kids may be a reservoir of AEEC that are potentially pathogenic for humans.     

Use of avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and avidity Western blot to discriminate between acute and chronic Neospora caninum infection in cattle.

Avidity serological tests (avidity enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA] and avidity Western blot) were developed and used to differentiate between acute (primary infection, reinfection, and recrudescence) and chronic Neospora caninum infection in cattle. In addition, the pattern of immunoglobulin G (IgG) avidity maturation against different specific antigens of N. caninum tachyzoites was studied. Sequential serum samples were collected from cattle naturally and experimentally infected with N. caninum. Four groups of experimentally infected cattle were included in the study and were representative of primary infection, reinfection, chronic infection, and noninfection. Serum samples were also collected from naturally infected cattle classified into nonaborting and aborting cows on the basis of clinical findings and serological profiles, and a third group composed of seronegative cows that seroconverted during the course of the experiment. All samples were tested by avidity ELISA and avidity Western blot. The IgG avidity ELISA allowed the discrimination between primary and chronic infection because all experimentally primary-infection cows showed low avidity indexes at week 4 postinfection (p.i.) compared with the high avidity values found at week 20 postinfection. However, this test did not allow the discrimination of reinfection or recrudescence from chronic infection. Regarding IgG avidity Western blot results, no antigenic markers correlating with acute (primary infection, recrudescence, and reinfection) or chronic infection were recognized. However, the 17-kD immunodominant antigen was mostly responsible for high avidity values obtained by avidity ELISA because it was intensively recognized by high-avidity antibodies in all chronically infected animals after urea treatment.     

Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of the brain and cervical spinal cord in an edema disease affected pig

A 7‐week‐old male pig was presented with signs of a central nervous system disorder. An MRI of the head and cervical spine was performed immediately after euthanasia. The MRI revealed multifocal bilaterally symmetric T2‐weighted hyperintense lesions in the brain and spinal cord, likely due to a toxic metabolic process. Histopathological examination supported the MRI findings and confirmed the diagnosis of edema disease due to Shiga‐like toxin produced by Escherichia coli. This is the first case published of the MRI findings in an edema disease affected pig.     

A retrospective study of pathologic findings in the Amazon and Orinoco river dolphin (Inia geoffrensis) in captivity.

River dolphins are especially susceptible to negative human impacts. For their conservation, attempts of relocation or procreation ex situ may become important in the future to avoid their extinction. Additional knowledge and medical experiences of river dolphin management in captivity may aid such conservation efforts. The medical records and necropsy and histopathology reports on 123 captive Amazon River dolphins (Inia geoffrensis) were re-viewed. Of these 123 animals, 105 were necropsied and 70 necropsies were supported with histopathology. Eighteen animals were not necropsied. Among wild-born animals, mortality was highest in the first 2 mo immediately postcapture and transport, accounting for 32 of 123 deaths. Pneumonia and skin lesions (cutaneous and subcutaneous ulcerations and abscesses) were the most common findings, found in 44 of 105 (42%) and 38 of 105 (36%) of gross diagnoses, respectively. At least 10 of 44 cases of pneumonia diagnosed grossly included a verminous component. Cachexia, from a variety of causes, was a major gross finding in 21 animals. Fifteen animals had histologic evidence of significant renal pathology, and this was the primary cause of death in 13 cases. Hepatic pathology was found in 18 cases, and bacterial sepsis was confirmed via histology in 16 cases. Based on these findings, it may be concluded that keys to successful maintenance of this species include 1) prophylactic anthelminthic and antibiotic therapy immediately post-capture; 2) maintenance of animals in larger enclosures than in past attempts, in compatible groups, and in facilities capable of separating aggressive animals; 3) maintenance in microbiologically hygienic water quality at all times; and 4) a proactive program of preventive medicine during the immediate postcapture, quarantine, and maintenance period of captivity.     

Granulocyte and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors as therapy in human and veterinary medicine

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factors (G-CSFs) and granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factors (GM-CSFs) are endogenous cytokines that regulate granulocyte colonies and play a major role in the stimulation of granulopoiesis (neutrophils, basophils and eosinophils) and in the regulation of microbicidal functions. There are numerous pathological conditions in which neutrophils are decreased, the most common being neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy, which increases the risk of serious microbial infections developing with the potential for high morbidity and mortality. New methods in molecular biology have led to the identification and cloning of CSF genes and biopharmaceutical production. Since then, CSFs have been widely used for the prevention and treatment of neutropenia associated with cancer chemotherapy, for mobilising haematopoietic cell precursors, and for other neutropenia-related pathologies. This review focuses on the use of CSFs within both human and veterinary medicine. Clinical applications, pharmacology, tolerability and the potential role of these factors in veterinary medicine are considered.     

Quantification of mucosa-adhered microbiota of lambs and calves by the use of culture methods and fluorescent in situ hybridization coupled with flow cytometry techniques

The intestinal mucosa-associated microbiota could play important biological roles due to its close proximity with the animal host, but knowledge on its composition is still limited. The aim of this study was to characterize the microbial communities tightly associated with different parts (rumen, duodenum and colon) of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of healthy lambs and calves by using both cultural, and fluorescent in situ hybridization-flow cytometry (FCM-FISH) techniques. Lactic acid bacteria genera were one of the predominant bacteria detected in lambs and calves by both methodologies, possibly constituting an index of their healthy status. The levels of Lactobacillus were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the rumen and duodenum of lambs, and in the rumen of calves. The levels of Bifidobacterium were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the colon of both animal species and the rumen of lambs. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in counts of other microbial groups (yeast, Enterococcus, Propionibacterium, Bacteroides, Clostridium and Enterobacteriaceae) at diverse GI sections depending on the animal species. In general, microbial counts follow the same trends regardless the applied technique. The most remarkable differences were found in detection levels of Bacteroides and Clostridium, which tended to be significantly higher (p<0.05) when analysed by FCM-FISH. This technique also allowed the detection of quantitatively important bacteria (sulphate-reducing bacteria, Atopobium and Coriobacterium), which are difficult to cultivate in selective medium. Therefore, FCM-FISH has been proven to be a sensitive high throughput approach that provides additional information to that obtained by traditional culture techniques about the complexity of the GI ecosystem of these animal species.     

Histochemical study of the interstitial tissue in scrotal and abdominal boar testes.

The present study describes the glycosidic content of the interstitial tissue in testes from healthy boars and from unilateral and bilateral abdominal cryptorchid boars using lectin histochemistry. The Leydig cells of healthy boars contained glycans with fucosyl, mannosyl, glucosyl, neuraminic acid and galactosyl residues, which have structural and transport functions, and participate in androgen synthesis and in cell regulation. Unilateral cryptorchidism induced high glucosyl and low galactosyl content in the Leydig cells of scrotal testes, resulting in impaired androgen production. In abdominal testes, the Leydig cells exhibited increased amounts of glucosyl and reduced amounts of galactosyl and neuraminic acid residues, resulting in defective cell regulation and lack of androgen synthesis. In healthy boars, the extracellular glycans contained fucosyl, galactosyl, glucosyl and neuraminic acid residues, which confer viscoelasticity on the interstitial tissue and participate in substrate transport, hormone binding and cell-cell interaction. Unilateral cryptorchidism did not induce anomalies in extracellular glycans in scrotal testes, but unilateral and bilateral cryptorchidism resulted in an increased content of fucosyl and galactosyl, and a decreased content of glucosyl and neuraminic acid residues in abdominal testes, leading to reduced viscoelasticity and defective substrate transport across the extracellular matrix.     

Partial characterization of phagocytic activity in neutrophils of the nine-banded armadillo Dasypus novemcinctus

Though the armadillo is important as a research model in leprosy studies, the activity of armadillo's neutrophils is an aspect of little research. The aim of this study was carried out to partially characterize the chemotaxis, endocytosis and bacteriocidal ability of the neutrophils found in the nine-banded armadillo (Dasypus novemcinctus). Results showed that the chemotactic activity of the neutrophils, evaluated by the movement of the neutrophils through a nitrocellulose membrane (5 microm) in response to a chemo-attractive substance, was greater towards the armadillo serum (5.16+/-1.35 migration index, p<0.05) than towards the formil methionyl leucil phenylalanine (fMLP, 1.43+/-0.18 migration index) or human serum (0.56+/-0.18 migration index). Regarding endocytic capacity of the neutrophils and the monocytes against Escherichia coli was evaluated by a flow cytometry and using opsonized and non-opsonized E. coli-FITC at the following incubation times: 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min. The largest percentage of endocytosis by the neutrophils was 92.32+/-0.12% with opsonized bacteria and 77.73+/-14.33% with non-opsonized bacteria at 10 min incubation time, while the largest percentage of endocytosis by monocytes was 89.94+/-1.40% with opsonized bacteria and 73.07+/-15.6% with non-opsonized bacteria at 20 min incubation time. Evaluation of the bacteriocidal capacity of neutrophils using the methyl-thiazol-tetrazolium salts (MTT) reduction color-measurement assay showed an 89.0+/-10% mortality rate of non-opsonized E. coli and 89.0+10% of opsonized E. coli. In conclusion, the armadillo neutrophils show a good phagocytosis and bacteriocidal activity; however, a deficiency in the migration towards the fMLP was observed. This deficiency could be a cause so that the armadillo neutrophils do not respond quickly to invading microorganism.