Differences in helminth infections between captive and wild spur-thighed tortoises Testudo graeca in southern Spain: a potential risk of reintroductions of this species

Although the spur-thighed tortoise, Testudo graeca, is one of the most widely distributed species of tortoises, its natural populations are threatened through its whole range. Particularly at south-eastern Spain, the species is mainly threatened by habitat destruction and over-collection, given that this chelonian has been traditionally considered an appreciate pet. As south-eastern Spanish wildlife recovery centers shelter hundreds of captive animals mainly coming from illegal trade or captive-bred, there is a strong debate about what to do with these animals: maintaining them in captivity all along their lives or reintroducing them to wildlife. It is well known that the reintroduction of captive animals supposes a risk for the wild population due to the uncertainty of their genetic origin and to the possible spread of infectious diseases. However, despite the increasing evidence that infectious agents are a potential health hazard for wildlife, little is known about the risk that introduced parasites could suppose for the wild populations of spur-thighed tortoise. The present study investigates for the first time the presence of helminth eggs and worms in faeces from 107 wild and captive individuals collected from mid-March to mid-June 2010, and relates the findings to different environmental and host variables. Sixteen oxyurid species and the ascarid Angusticaecum holopterum were identified. This last nematode and the oxyurid species Tachygonetria palearticus and T. seurati had not been reported in Spanish wild T. graeca previously. The prevalence of oxyurid eggs and worms were 94% and 70%, respectively; while, ascarid eggs and worms were found in 26% and 5% of tortoises, respectively. Ascarid infections affected mostly captive animals and were associated to caparace deformities and symptoms of upper respiratory tract disease (p<0.05). Oxyurid infections were not associated to negative health traits and prevalence increased with age. In free-living tortoises, the distribution of pharingodonid genera also varied according to habitat; moreover, T. longicollis, T. pusilla, T. conica, T. robusta and Mehdiella stylosa where significantly more frequent in wild compared to captive tortoises (p<0.05). Study results highlight important differences in the nematode fauna of captive and free-living tortoises and questions one more time if the reintroductions of captive animals suppose a risk for the wild population since the former ones can harbor and distribute among free populations pathogens like ascarid nematodes.     

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.     

Humoral and cellular immune responses in pigs immunized intranasally with crude rhoptry proteins of Toxoplasma gondii plus Quil-A

We evaluated the humoral and cellular immune responses in pigs immunized intranasally with crude rhoptry proteins of Toxoplasma gondii plus Quil-A. The experiment used 13 mixed-breed pigs divided into the following three groups: G1 (vaccinated-challenged, n=6), which received the rhoptry vaccine (200(g/dose); G2 (adjuvant-challenged, n=4), which received PBS plus Quil-A; and G3 (unvaccinated-challenged, n=3), which was the control group. The treatments were performed intranasally at days 0, 21, and 42. Three pigs from G1 produced IgG and IgM antibody levels above the cut-off in the ELISA on the challenge day. Partial protection was observed in G1 at the chronic phase of infection when compared with G3. The preventable fractions were 41.6% and 6.5%, in G1 and G2, respectively. The results of this study suggest that rhoptry proteins plus Quil-A stimulated humoral, local, and systemic immune responses, which were able to partially protect the brain from cyst formation.     

Gastric Torsion from an Intestinal Hernia Through a Rent in the Gastrosplenic Ligament in a Horse

The present report describes an 8-year-old gelding presenting with signs of severe abdominal pain. After performing a thorough physical examination, including rectal palpation and additional diagnostic tests, an exploratory laparotomy was recommended. The jejunum was found herniated through the gastrosplenic ligament, and the stomach was severely distended with gas. Given a poor prognosis, the horse was euthanized on the table. At necropsy, the stomach appeared dilated, with an 180° horizontal gastric torsion, from left (lateral) to right (medial), dividing the organ into dorsal and ventral compartments. We believe that the chronic traction exerted by an incarcerated and distended loop of jejunum, in the dorsal aspect of the gastrosplenic ligament, associated with trauma during episodes of intense rolling, enlarged the rent until it ruptured. Because of this rupture, the lateral dorsal aspect of the stomach became unattached, predisposing it to the torsion.     

The virB-encoded type IV secretion system is critical for establishment of infection and persistence of Brucella ovis infection in mice

Brucella spp. are gram-negative intracellular bacterial pathogens that cause chronic infections. Brucella virulence factors include a type IV secretion system (T4SS) and its lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which are essential for persistence. However, the role of the virB-encoded T4SS has not been investigated in naturally rough Brucella species such as Brucella ovis. In this study, male 6-week old BALBc mice were infected with B. ovis, Brucella abortus, and their respective ΔvirB2 mutant strains. During early infection, B. ovis and B. abortus wild type strains were similarly recovered from spleen. Interestingly, in contrast to ΔvirB2 B. abortus that was recovered at similar levels when compared to the wild type strain, the ΔvirB2 B. ovis was markedly attenuated as early as 24h post infection (hpi). The ΔvirB2 B. ovis was unable to survive and multiply in murine peritoneal macrophages and extracellularly within the peritoneal cavity at 12 and 24 hpi with lower splenic colonization than the parental strain at 6, 12 and 24 hpi. In contrast, wild type B. abortus and ΔvirB2 B. abortus had a similar kinetics of infection in this model. As expected, the T4SS was essential for intracellular replication of smooth and rough strains in RAW macrophages at 48 hpi. These results suggest that T4SS is important for survival of B. ovis in murine model, and that a T4SS deficient B. ovis strain is cleared at earlier stages of infection when compared to a similar B. abortus mutant.     

Potassium iodide capsule treatment of feline sporotrichosis

Sporotrichosis is a mycosis caused by Sporothrix schenckii. The most affected animal is the cat; it has played an important role in the zoonotic transmission of this disease, especially in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, since 1998. In order to evaluate the treatment of feline sporotrichosis with potassium iodide, an observational cohort was conducted in 48 cats with sporotrichosis at Instituto de Pesquisa Clínica Evandro Chagas, Fiocruz. All cats received potassium iodide capsules, 2.5 mg/kg to 20 mg/kg q24h. The cure rate was 47.9%, treatment failure was 37.5%, treatment abandonment was 10.4% and death was 4.2%. Clinical adverse effects were observed in 52.1% of the cases. Thirteen cats had a mild increase in hepatic transaminase levels during the treatment, six of them presented clinical signs suggestive of hepatotoxicity. Compared to previous studies with itraconazole and iodide in saturated solution, potassium iodide capsules are an alternative for feline sporotrichosis treatment.     

Is it possible to store spotted wolffish (Anarhichas minor) sperm by refrigeration?

Fish Physiology and Biochemistry - Spotted wolffish Anarhichas minor reproduction in captivity is dependent on in vitro fertilization. However, it is often challenging to acquire sufficient fresh...     

Huizache (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Acacia farnesiana</Emphasis>) whole pods (flesh and seeds) as an alternative feed for sheep in Mexico

Two experiments were undertaken to evaluate the use of pods from Huizache (Acacia farnesiana), common in the arid and semiarid regions of Mexico, on the perfromance and apparent digestibility in Pelibuey Mexican hair growing ewe lambs. Twenty-four Pelibuey ewe lambs were used in the animal performance experiment, with a mean live weight of 14.91 ± 1.48 kg, randomnly allocated to three groups which received ad libitum for 77 days (11 weeks) experimental whole rations T0 with 0%, T12 with 12% or T24 with 24% inclusión of dried and ground Huizache pods. Dry matter intakes (g/kg ^0.75 daily) were 83, 95, 90 for T0, T12, and T24 respectively (P > 0.05). Mean daily live-weight gain was 90, 75, and 63 g/day for T0, T12, and T24 (P < 0.001). Nine Pelibuey ewe lambs were used to determine apparent digestibility in vivo of the experimental diets using a 3 × 3 latin square design repeated three times. There were differences in the digestibility of dry matter (P < 0.001), organic matter (P < 0.001), nitrogen (P < 0.031), neutral detergent fibre (P < 0.002), and acid detergent fibre (P < 0.001) being lower in T24. Huizache pods may be an alternative feed when included up to 12% of dry matter in the diets for sheep growing moderately.     

MM3-ELISA evaluation of coproantigen release and serum antibody production in sheep experimentally infected with Fasciola hepatica and F. gigantica

During an experimental infection of sheep with Fasciola hepatica or F. gigantica, MM3-SERO and MM3-COPRO ELISA tests were applied to compare the kinetics of antibody production and coproantigen release between the 2nd and 32nd week post-infection (wpi). The Kato-Katz technique was used to measure the kinetics of egg shedding by both Fasciola species (eggs per gram of feces, epg). The kinetics of IgG antibodies for all sheep infected with F. hepatica and F. gigantica followed a similar pattern. Optical density (OD) increased rapidly between the 4th until the 12th wpi, when the highest values were reached and then decreased slowly until the 32nd wpi. Coproantigen levels increased above the cut-off value between 6 and 9 wpi in the F. hepatica group, and between 9 and 11 wpi in the F. gigantica group. The comparison between coproantigen levels and epg indicated that F. hepatica-infected sheep had detectable amounts of coproantigens 4–7 weeks before patency (egg shedding), while F. gigantica-infected sheep had detectable amounts of coproantigens 3–6 weeks before patency. When comparing the kinetics of coproantigen release vs the kinetics of epg, a similar pattern emerged, but with a two-week time-lag in epg, for both F. hepatica and F. gigantica infections. The amount of coproantigen release by each adult was not burden dependent for F. hepatica infection (burden of 33–66 adults), while it was for F. gigantica infection (burden of 17–69 adults). The results demonstrate the usefulness of the MM3-SERO and MM3-COPRO ELISAs as tools for the diagnosis of early as well as long-term fascioliasis infections, and suggest that they can potentially be applied to human fascioliasis even in countries where F. hepatica and F. gigantica co-exist. These tests can be employed not only in the diagnosis, but also in studies on epidemiology as well as pathogenesis and treatment in animals and humans since they allow post-treatment infection monitoring.     

Initial Development of Bovine Placentation (Bos indicus) from the Point of View of the Allantois and Amnion

The aim of this study was to perform a morphological characterization of the initial bovine placental development, between 20 and 70 days post-insemination (p.i.), with emphasis on the differentiation of the allantois and amnion. After collection, the conceptuses were dissected, macroscopically measured and photographically documented. The extraembryonic membranes were cut into fragments measuring 5 cm², and then fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde for analysis using light microscopy, and in 2.5% glutaraldehyde for use in scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The extraembryonic and fetal membranes presented variable degrees of development throughout the periods analysed. The macroscopic appearance of vascularization of the allantois, its attempt to merge with the chorium and the effective appearance of the first cotyledons in development were the events observed from 30 to 40 days of pregnancy. The measurements of the amnion increased gradually as gestation developed. The allantoic epithelia presented cellular dimorphism from 20 to 25 days of pregnancy, but was shown to be immature from 60 to 70 days of pregnancy.