Saccharomyces boulardii reduces infection intensity of mice with toxocariasis

Several studies have shown the benefit of the use of probiotics in the prevention and treatment of diseases; however, few of them have investigated the effect of probiotics on parasitosis. In this study, the effect of Saccharomyces boulardii on the intensity of infection of mice with toxocariasis was evaluated. The animals were fed with a diet supplemented with S. boulardii for 15 days before inoculation with Toxocara canis eggs and for 2 or 60 days post-inoculation. S. boulardii promoted a reduction of approximately 36% in the average number of recovered T. canis larvae, suggesting that it can be used as an alternative to help control toxocariasis.     

Seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus, feline leukaemia virus and Toxoplasma gondii in stray cat colonies in northern Italy and correlation with clinical and laboratory data

Stray cat colonies in urban and rural areas of Lombardy, northern Italy, were surveyed for seroprevalence of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) antibodies, feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) antigen and Toxoplasma gondii IgG. Of 316 cats tested, 6.6% were positive for FIV and 3.8% were positive for FeLV infection; 203 cats were tested for T gondii IgG antibodies and a prevalence of 30.5% was detected. Statistical analysis tested the influence of provenience, age, gender, health status and laboratory results on seroprevalence and found male gender and adult age were risk factors for FIV infection. FIV-infected cats were more likely to have a decreased red blood cell count than FIV seronegative cats. No predictors were significantly associated with FeLV and T gondii seropositivity. Colony cats in this study posed a limited risk for retrovirus infection to pet cats allowed outdoors, whereas toxoplasmosis exposure was comparable with the worldwide data.     

Multiple strains of Mycobacterium bovis revealed by molecular typing in a herd of cattle

Mycobacterium bovis isolates from an outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in a herd of cattle in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, were analysed by spoligotyping and variable-number tandem repeat PCR analysis of the mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit and exact tandem repeats. Molecular typing revealed a high genetic diversity of strains in the herd. The genetic diversity could be explained by the introduction of infected animals from different sources.     

Outbreak of type C botulism in captive wild birds

In late summer 2010, an outbreak of type C botulism affected the birds kept in a dam at a southern Brazilian zoo. A total of 14(10 black-necked swans, Cygnus melancoryphus; 3 Muscovy ducks, Cairina moschata; and 1 fulvous whistling-duck, Dendrocygna bicolor) out of 100 birds died after showing flaccid paralysis of the skeletal muscles characterized by general locomotion deficit, flight and swimming disorders, dropped neck, and severe dyspnea. Carcasses of dead birds (some infested by larvae of sarcophagus fly) scattered in the bird enclosure, and oxygen-free, organically rich mud and/or shallow standing waters present at the edges of the weir were identified as possible toxin sources. Postmortem examinations revealed no significant pathological changes. Epidemiologic and clinical findings indicated the diagnosis of type C botulism toxin, which was confirmed by mouse bioassay and seroneutralization.     

Myeloid differentiation factor 88 is required for resistance to Neospora caninum infection

Neospora caninum is an intracellular parasite that causes major economic impact on cattle raising farms, and infects a wide range of warm-blooded hosts worldwide. Innate immune mechanisms that lead to protection against this parasite are still unknown. In order to investigate whether myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88) is required for resistance against N. caninum, genetically deficient mice (MyD88^−/−) and wild type littermates were infected with live tachyzoites and the resistance to infection was evaluated. We found that sub-lethal tachyzoite doses induced acute mortality of MyD88^−/− mice, which succumbed to infection due to uncontrolled parasite replication. Higher parasitism in MyD88^−/− mice was associated with the lack of IL-12 production by dendritic cells, delayed IFN-γ responses by NKT, CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes, and production of high levels of IL-10. MyD88^−/− mice replenished with IL-12 and IFN-γ abolished susceptibility as the animals survived throughout the experimental period. We conclude that protective IFN-γ-mediated immunity to N. caninum is dependent on initial MyD88 signaling, in a mechanism triggered by production of IL-12 by dendritic cells. Further knowledge on Toll-like receptor recognition of N. caninum antigens is encouraged, since it could generate new prophylactic and therapeutic tools to control parasite burden.     

Rhizoctonia solani Kühn AG 2-1 on kohlrabi in Italy

Rhizoctonia solani AG 2-1 was recorded in Central Italy on kohlrabi plants showing root and stem rot. After artificial inoculation the fungus caused damping-off of 7-day-old seedlings and root and stem rot of 4-month-old plants developed after 15 days of incubation. This seems to be the first record ofR. solani AG 2-1 on kohlrabi.     

Evidence of Two Formae Speciales in Venturia inaequalis, Responsible for Apple and Pyracantha Scab

ABSTRACT Genetic relationships, mating crosses, and host specificity of Venturia inaequalis isolates from Malus spp. and of Spilocaea pyracanthae isolates from Pyracantha spp. were evaluated. Sequence analysis of the complete internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region (ITS1-5.8S to ITS2) revealed a total similarity between these two putative species. ITS restriction fragment length polymorphism carried out with five restriction enzymes on a collection of 28 isolates confirmed a lack of diversity in this region between and within these two populations. Additional isolates from three related species (V. pirina, V. nashicola, and S. eriobotryae) were divided into two distinct monophyletic groups in a phylogenetic tree using ITS sequence comparison. These groups were related to their anamorph (i.e., Spilocaea or Fusicladium). When inoculated on their host of origin, fields isolates caused typical symptoms of scab disease, and a host specificity was demonstrated by cross pathogenicity of isolates from Malus x domestica and Pyracantha spp. Mating on dried leaves in vitro between one isolate of each putative species led to production of numerous perithecia. Ninety-six sporulating monoascosporic progenies were isolated from this cross. Based on these genetic and pathogenic data, we proposed that pathogens responsible for scab on Malus spp. and Pyracantha spp. are considered as two formae speciales belonging to V. inaequalis.     

Occurrence of antibodies to Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in dogs from Pernambuco, Northeast Brazil

A serological survey was carried out to assess the occurrence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in dogs from the State of Pernambuco. A total of 625 serum samples of dogs (289 from Paulista, 168 from Amaraji and 168 from Garanhuns) were tested by an immunofluorescence antibody assay for the detection of anti-N. caninum antibodies. A total of 177 (28.3%; IC 95%, 24.9-32.1) samples were positive. The seropositivity rates found in Paulista, Amaraji and Garanhuns were 26% (IC 95%, 21-31.4), 26.2% (IC 95%, 19.7-33.5) and 34.5% (IC 95%, 27.4-42.2), respectively. Of the 177 serum samples positive to anti-N. caninum antibodies, 170 were additionally tested for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies and out of these 57.6% (IC 95%, 49.8-65.2) were positive. The results indicate that dogs from Amaraji, Paulista and Garanhuns are exposed to both N. caninum and T. gondii infections. The presence of dogs infected by N. caninum in Pernambuco represents a potential risk factor for the occurrence of outbreaks of abortion in cattle and small ruminants in this state. This study is the largest serological survey on the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in dogs carried out in Brazil and reports for the first time the exposure to N. caninum and T. gondii in dogs from Pernambuco.     

Design,optimization, and application of a conventional PCR assay with an internal control for detection of ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ 16S rDNA in domestic cats from Brazil

Background: ‘Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis’ (CMtc) is a hemotrophic bacterial species that can, alone or in combination, induce anemia in cats. The diagnostic test of choice for hemoplasma infections is PCR. Conventional PCR assays have been developed for the detection of Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf) and ‘Candidatus M. haemominutum’ (CMhm) but not for CMtc. Although real‐time PCR assays have been reported for all of the feline hemoplasmas, the expense of necessary instrumentation precludes its use in Brazil and many other countries. Objectives: The goals of this study were to develop and optimize a conventional PCR assay to diagnose CMtc using an internal control to detect false‐negative results, and to evaluate the occurrence of CMtc infection in domestic cats from Brazil. Methods: Species‐specific primers were designed and a PCR assay was developed for the detection of CMtc 16S rDNA in cat blood. Sensitivity was determined by serial 10‐fold dilutions of plasmid and DNA extracted from blood from an experimentally infected cat. EDTA blood samples from 373 cats were collected. DNA was extracted using a silica‐based protocol and tested using the PCR assay. Results: Primer concentration, annealing temperature, and MgCl₂ concentration were optimized in the presence and absence of the internal control. Two samples negative for the internal control were excluded. Of the remaining 371 samples (117 healthy and 254 unhealthy cats), 17 (4.6%) were positive for CMtc. Conclusion: These results demonstrate the utility of an optimized PCR assay to detect CMtc in feline blood samples. We also report for the first time the prevalence of CMtc infection in domestic cats in Brazil.