Evidence-based identification of the most important livestock related zoonotic diseases in Kampala, Uganda

Urban and peri-urban livestock farming in developing countries plays an important role in food security in cities; however it brings with it zoonotic risks. The present study was conducted to identify the most important livestock farming-related zoonotic diseases among the human population in urban and peri-urban areas of Kampala, Uganda and to assess the risks from such farming. A framework for identifying livestock farming-related significant zoonoses was developed. The process consisted of screening of medical record summaries for zoonotic diagnoses, selection of the zoonoses which are related to livestock farming, case estimation of the identified zoonoses and evidence-based reassurance of the importance of diseases. Medical records in the Mulago National Referral Hospital were used for the analysis. Leaders and residents of 75 Local Councils (LC1s: villages; 48 urban, 11 peri-urban and 16 rural) randomly selected in Kampala were interviewed for information regarding livestock farming systems, value chains and use of medical service units. Twelve zoonoses were identified in the screening and four out of them were related to livestock farming: animal sourced food-borne gastroenteritis, brucellosis, Taenia solium neuro-cysticercosis and Mycobacterium bovis tuberculosis. Livestock farming, value chain and severity of the diseases confirmed that all four diseases were important. Poor geographical correlation between animals in peri-urban and rural areas and patients in urban areas suggested that the majority of these zoonoses were caused by informally-marketed foods.     

Evaluation of deniotrification in two shallow-placed low pressure distribution systems

Nitrate removal by biological denitrification was examined in two shallow-placed low pressure distribution (LPD) systems located in soils that were unsuitable for conventional disposal systems because of shallow depth to restrictive soil horizons in an Edom soil or to fractured shale in a Penn-Bucks soil. Four independent LPD subsystems were installed in the Edom soil with actual loading rates of 2.3, 2.9, 4.6, and 8.9 L d^–1 m^–2 while three subsystems were installed in the Penn-Bucks soil with actual loading rates of 3.6, 7.2 and 15.3 L d^–1 m^–2. Maximal rates of nitrate loss through denitrification were determined in the laboratory based on the acetylene block procedure, while actual field denitrification rates were estimated based on nitrate:chloride ratios. In the Edom soil, all four LPD subsystems demonstrated the same potential rates of denitrification in laboratory tests, while field estimates of nitrate loss ranged from 2% to 21% over the four subsystems. These low field denitrification rates were attributed to lower-than-designed loading rates which maintained aerobic conditions. In the Penn-Bucks soil, the subsystem dosed at 15.3 L d^–1 m^–2 failed within six months of installation and was not used further. The subsystem loaded at the rate of 7.2 L^–1 m^–2 yielded higher rates of denitrification under laboratory studies as compared to the subsystem loaded at 3.6 L d^–1 m^–2, and a similar trend was observed in field nitrate losses through denitrification which were 71% and 65%, respectively. These high denitrification rates (compared to the Edom subsystems) indicated that anaerobic conditions were present in the Penn-Bucks subsystems.     

A study of goldfish oocyte meiosisin vitro: effects of 2,4-dinitrophenol and adenosine-5-triphosphate

Germinal vesicle migration (GVM) and/or dissolution (GVD) were measured in goldfish oocytes, treated with 17α, 20β dihydroxyprogesterone (DHP) and other compounds considered to effect the cytoskeleton and oxidative phosphorylation,in vitro. Administration of DHP reinitiated meiotic maturation, increasing GVM and GVD in goldfish oocytes. Addition of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) to the incubation medium significantly inhibited DHP-induced GVM and GVD. The DNP effect was found to be partially reversible after 24 h and could be reversed fully after a further delay of approximately 24h. Treatment of goldfish oocytes with demecolcine (DE; a colchicine derivative also known as colcemid) induces GVM to the micropyle without effecting GVD; while Cytochalasin-B which inhibits microfilament polymerization impairs both GVM and GVD. Administration of DNP, significantly inhibited DE-induced GVM, suggesting that GVM as well as GVD are dependent upon the process of oxidative phosphorylation. Addition of adenosine-5′ -triphosphate (ATP) at low concentrations (0.01–0.1 mM) did not effect DHP-induced or DNP-inhibited GVD in goldfish oocytes. The present results are consistent with the idea that migration of the oocyte nucleus during meiosis reinitiation has an energy requirement and involves participation by the cytoskeleton.     

Toxicokinetics of the active doxorubicin metabolite, doxorubicinol, in sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita)

The pharmacokinetics of doxorubicinol, a cytotoxic metabolite of the anticancer drug, doxorubicin, were studied in four healthy sulphur-crested cockatoos (Cacatua galerita) after a 20 min intravenous infusion of 2 mg/kg. Plasma doxorubicinol concentrations were measured by HPLC. The pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated using a non-compartmental method. The mean (+/- SD) peak concentration was 8341 +/- 3132 microg/L at 17.5 +/- 5.0 min after the start of the infusion, and doxorubicinol concentrations declined biexponentially to 154.3 +/- 34.5 microg/L, 40 min after the end of the infusion. Systemic clearance was 0.940 +/- 0.473 L/h/kg, mean residence time was 0.165 +/- 0.133 h, and steady-state volume of distribution was 0.123 +/- 0.0526 L/kg. The terminal half-life was 0.660 +/- 0.611 h. Detectible but unquantifiable concentrations of doxorubicinol were present in the plasma ultrafiltrate of two birds during the infusion, indicating very extensive plasma protein binding. Physiological, haematological and biochemical monitoring over 3 weeks showed that doxorubicinol at a single infused dose of 2 mg/kg caused no toxicities of major concern.     

Giant unruptured aneurysm of the left sinus of Valsalva in the left ventricular outflow tract of a young dog

A young adult, 28 kg, intact female Siberian husky-mixed breed dog was presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) Emergency Service for evaluation of a dysrhythmia and an abnormal cardiac structure. The dog had been adopted from an animal shelter approximately 3 months before presentation. The dog occasionally showed exercise intolerance, and the owners suspected that she had impaired vision. Initial clinical signs appeared 2 days before presentation during strenuous activity—the dog uncharacteristically stopped and lay down while tachypneic. The dog produced dark liquid feces and was lethargic and anorexic overnight.     

Population-based study of fecal shedding of Clostridium perfringens in broodmares and foals

OBJECTIVE: To determine the percentage of broodmares and foals that shed Clostridium perfringens in their feces and classify the genotypes of those isolates. DESIGN: Prospective cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 128 broodmares and their foals on 6 equine premises. PROCEDURES: Anaerobic and aerobic bacteriologic cultures were performed on feces collected 3 times from broodmares and foals. All isolates of C. perfringens were genotyped. RESULTS: Clostridium perfringens was isolated from the feces of 90% of 3-day-old foals and 64% of foals at 8 to 12 hours of age. A lower percentage of broodmares and 1- to 2-month-old foals shed C. perfringens in their feces, compared with neonatal foals. Among samples with positive results, C. perfringens type A was the most common genotype identified (85%); C. perfringens type A with the beta2 toxin gene was identified in 12% of samples, C. perfringens type A with the enterotoxin gene was identified in 2.1% of samples, and C. perfringens type C was identified in < 1% of samples. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Clostridium perfringens was identified from the feces of all but 6 foals by 3 days of age and is likely part of the normal microflora of neonatal foals. Most isolates from broodmares and foals are C. perfringens type A; thus, the clinical relevance of culture results alone is questionable. Clostridium perfringens type C, which has been associated with neonatal enterocolitis, is rarely found in the feces of horses.     

Response of Bacterial Biofilms in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems to Various Sanitizers

ABSTRACT

Pathogenic microorganisms may be incorporated into biofilms found in aquaculture systems, causing recurring exposure to potential disease agents. Aerobic plate counts, the presence of Enterobacteriaceae, and the presence of Escherichia coli, modified to express a green fluorescent protein (GFP E. coli), was used to evaluate the effectiveness of various sanitizers in decreasing bacterial incorporation into newly generated biofilms in recirculating aquaculture systems. Disks of Buna-N rubber, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlorinated PVC, glass, fiberglass, and stainless steel were placed in aquariums stocked with Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus. The effectiveness of water, an alkaline cleanser, sodium hypochlorite, a quaternary ammonium compound, or peracetic acid as a sanitizer was evaluated on each substrate by enumerating total plate counts, GFP E. coli, and Enterobacteriaceae. Sodium hypochlorite and peracetic acid were the most effective sanitizers, with an overall percentage reduction of GFP E. coli of approximately 2 logs₁₀. The quaternary ammonium compound was moderately effective, 1 log₁₀, against the target organisms. Water demonstrated a 2 log₁₀ reduction of the total plate count, suggesting that some mechanical cleaning was achieved. The type of material used as substrate for the biofilm had no significant (P?>?0.05) effect on the effectiveness of the sanitizers.     

Immune response and antigen recognition in non-pregnant ewes experimentally infected with Neospora caninum tachyzoites

The cellular and humoral responses as well as the antigen recognition during the acute stage of a Neospora caninum (NC) infection were investigated in non-pregnant ewes. The experimentally infected ewes developed specific lymphoproliferative and humoral responses within 2 weeks post-infection (PI). The magnitude of the cellular response showed large variations between animals. A significant decrease in the proliferative response to Con A mitogen and N. caninum, Toxoplasma gondii (TG) antigens was recorded on day 21 post-infection (PI). The humoral response and the pattern of antigen recognition were similar among infected ewes. Proteins of 44, 42, 40, 39 and 28 kDa were intensively recognized by the infected animals during the experiment. The 42 and 28 kDa antigens should be considered as useful for the diagnostic of N. caninum infection, as the intensity of recognition infection of the other antigens had decreased markedly 8 weeks post-infection. For some antigens a sequential recognition was recorded. The 59, 54 and 38-37 kDa proteins were frequently recognized by infected sera during the first weeks of the infection, but recognition of these antigens was absent or rare at the end of the experiment. These antigens could be related to the acute stage of the infection.     

Successful immunization of naturally reared pigs against porcine cysticercosis with a recombinant oncosphere antigen vaccine

Taenia solium causes cysticercosis in pigs and taeniasis and neurocysticercosis in humans. Oncosphere antigens have proven to be effective as vaccines to protect pigs against an experimental infection with T. solium. A pair-matched vaccination trial field, using a combination of two recombinant antigens, TSOL16 and TSOL18, was undertaken in rural villages of Peru to evaluate the efficacy of this vaccine under natural conditions. Pairs of pigs (n=137) comprising one vaccinated and one control animal, were allocated to local villagers. Animals received two vaccinations with 200 μg of each of TSOL16 and TSOL18, plus 5mg Quil-A. Necropsies were performed 7 months after the animals were distributed to the farmers. Vaccination reduced 99.7% and 99.9% (p<0.01) the total number of cysts and the number of viable cysts, respectively. Immunization with the TSOL16-TSOL18 vaccines has the potential to control T. solium transmission in areas where the disease is endemic, reducing the source for tapeworm infections in humans.