Studies on mutlispecific resistance of gastrointestinal nematodes to benzimidazoles on dairy-goat farms

Multispecific resistance to benzimidazoles was studied in three selected farms. These farms had bred dairy goats for more than 15 years. The helminths were introduced with the goats at the establishment of the farms which afterwards remained isolated. Nematode resistance could then be related to their own management practices. Faecal egg count tests and egg hatch assays were performed to assess intensity of resistance. The generic (infective larvae in faecal cultures) and specific richness (adult worms) were assessed. The resistant species were Trichostrongylus colubriformis, Teladorsagia circumcincta, Haemonchus contortus and Oesophagostomum venulosum. Faecal egg count reduction tests and egg-hatch assays did not match exactly. Faecal larval counts after treatments gave a distorted picture of multispecific resistance: Haemonchus and Oesophagostomum were very largely over represented. The number of species found in the three farms was relatively low compared with other reports in goat farms of the area. This reduction of diversity might also be due in part to characteristics of breeding management and history (use of permanent pasture and introduction of goats at the establishment of farm).     

Youssoufenes A2 and A3, Antibiotic Dimeric Cinnamoyl Lipids from the ΔdtlA Mutant of a Marine-Derived Streptomyces Strain

Two new dimeric cinnamoyl lipids (CL) featuring with an unusual dearomatic carbon-bridge, named youssoufenes A2 (1) and A3 (2), were isolated from the ΔdtlA mutant strain of marine-derived Streptomyces youssoufiensis OUC6819. Structures of the isolated compounds were elucidated based on extensive MS and NMR spectroscopic analyses, and their absolute configurations were determined by combination of the long-range NOE-based ¹H-¹H distance measurements and ECD calculations. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited moderate growth inhibition against multi-drug-resistant Enterococcus faecalis CCARM 5172 with an MIC value of 22.2 μM.     

不同来源绿僵菌对油桐鹰尺蠖幼虫的致病力比较

油桐鹰尺蠖Biston suppressaria (Guenée) 是一种杂食性食叶害虫,近年来在速生桉树林分中大 面积发生,造成较大的损失。文中研究了不同来源金龟子绿僵菌Metarhizium anisopliae 菌株生长与产孢 特性及对油桐鹰尺蠖幼虫的致病力,旨在筛选出高效防治该虫的生物资源。试验结果表明：不同来源的 绿僵菌菌株间菌落生长速度和产孢量差异显著,MaZPTR-01 菌株15 d 的菌落直径为6.5 cm,显著较其它 菌株大;MaFZ-13 和MaZPTR-01 菌株培养15 d 产孢量最高,分别为1.33×108 孢子· cm-2 和1.28×108 孢 子· cm-2。致病力测定结果表明：不同菌株对油桐鹰尺蠖幼虫的致病力存在显著差异,其中接种MaFZ-13 和MaZPTR-01 菌株的幼虫校正死亡率、僵虫率均较其它菌株高,接种后15 d 幼虫校正死亡率分别达到 94.5%、92.7%,僵虫率分别为75%、61.7%;这2 个菌株的致死中时（LT50）显著比其它菌株短,分别为 4.34 和4.52 d。绿僵菌MaFZ-13 和MaZPTR-01 菌株对油桐鹰尺蠖幼虫的致病力强,且具有良好的生产性 状,可作为该虫的生物防治资源进一步开发应用。     

Epidemiological observations on stomach worms of donkeys in Morocco

Over two consecutive years, weekly examinations for the presence of nematodes were conducted on 185 stomachs from donkeys originating mainly from the Rabat, Casablanca and Settat regions of Morocco. All the animals, except one, were infected by at least one of four helminth species.Trichostrongylus axei was found in 93.5%,Habronema muscae in 89.7%,H. majus in 85.4% andDraschia megastoma in 1.1% of donkeys. Most animals were infected by two (23.8%) or three (71.9%) species. High burdens ofT. axei were observed in the winter of both years and in the mid-summer of the second year. Peak burdens ofHabronema were found at various times throughout both years. There were more adultH. majus thanH. muscae. The periods of peak levels of infection by these parasites were related to environmental conditions suitable for the development and survival of infective larvae ofT. axei and for the build-up of muscid fly vectors ofHabronema andDraschia spp.     

碱茅耐盐性的研究

对碱茅不同生育期的耐盐性试验表明：碱茅成株的耐盐性强，种子和苗期的耐盐性低。种子对硫酸盐土混合盐、碳酸钠单盐和氯化钠单盐室内萌发的耐盐度分别是（溶液浓度）３．４７％、１．０８％、１．５８％。种子出苗期适宜的土壤盐渍度为１．７１２％，临界盐渍度为３．１０％。苗期以后耐盐性逐渐提高，可在２．４７～２．７９％的土壤盐渍度下生长发育正常。成株的耐盐度高达４．２４８％。田间播种碱茅草在０～１０ｃｍ土壤含盐量１．６５％以下时，可以正常出苗。盐分达到１．８５％时，需要加大实际播量，以便全苗。     

A filter-assisted culture method for isolation of Treponema spp. from bovine digital dermatitis and their identification by MALDI-TOF MS

Digital dermatitis (DD) is a major infectious foot disease of cattle worldwide. Some DD stages are associated with lameness, and the disease has significant economic and animal welfare consequences. The pathogenesis of the disease is not yet fully understood, but Treponema spp. have been associated consistently with clinical cases. Isolation of these fastidious bacteria is difficult and cumbersome. We describe an improved method enabling the culturing of the 3 Treponema spp. (T. pedis, T. phagedenis, and T. medium) from bovine foot specimens derived from DD lesions, using a combination of membrane filtering and subsequent growth on selective agar media. The entire procedure from sampling to verification of individual Treponema spp. takes up to 24 d. In addition, we established a MALDI-TOF MS–based identification method to be applied for confirmation of the different Treponema spp. This scheme provides an unambiguous, simple, and straightforward identification procedure for DD-associated Treponema spp.     

植物病原镰刀菌产生的毒素种类及其危害

镰刀菌(Fusarium spp.)是多种重要农作物的病原体,不仅可造成农作物产量和品质的严重损失还可在离体培养条件下或植物寄主体内产生一系列被称为镰刀菌毒素的次生代谢产物.这些毒素一方面作为致病因子与镰刀菌对宿主植物的致病力密切相关,另一方面可导致家畜生产性能下降和相关病症的出现,进而影响农业生态系统并对人类健康造成...     

An investigation of Leishmania spp. in Didelphis spp. from urban and peri-urban areas in Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil)

Blood and bone marrow samples were taken from 112 Didelphis spp., collected between March 2005 and February 2006, from urban and peri-urban areas of Bauru, São Paulo State, Brazil, to evaluate the hypothesis that these animals might constitute a reservoir of Leishmania spp. Anti-Leishmania ssp. antibodies were screened in the serum samples using an enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). PCR was performed on fragments of DNA samples from Leishmania spp. using primers 13A and 13B, and showed a positive outcome in 91.6% of the 112 samples tested. Of the 107 samples analyzed by ELISA, 71% were positive. Evidence of epidemiological risk factors such as a circulating parasite and freely moving vectors suggests that Didelphis spp. may participate in the transmission cycle of Leishmania spp. in Bauru.     

Infection with Menangle virus in flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) in Australia

Objective To examine flying foxes (Pteropus spp.) for evidence of infection with Menangle virus. Design Clustered non‐random sampling for serology, virus isolation and electron microscopy (EM). Procedure Serum samples were collected from 306 Pteropus spp. in northern and eastern Australia and tested for antibodies against Menangle virus (MenV) using a virus neutralisation test (VNT). Virus isolation was attempted from tissues and faeces collected from 215 Pteropus spp. in New South Wales. Faecal samples from 68 individual Pteropus spp. and four pools of faeces were examined by transmission EM following routine negative staining and immunogold labelling. Results Neutralising antibodies (VNT titres ≥ 8) against MenV were detected in 46% of black flying foxes (P. alecto), 41% of grey‐headed flying foxes (P. poliocephalus), 25% of spectacled flying foxes (P. conspicillatus) and 1% of little red flying foxes (P. scapulatus) in Australia. Positive sera included samples collected from P. poliocephalus in a colony adjacent to a piggery that had experienced reproductive disease caused by MenV. Virus‐like particles were observed by EM in faeces from Pteropus spp. and reactivity was detected in pooled faeces and urine by immunogold EM using sera from sows that had been exposed to MenV. Attempts to isolate the virus from the faeces and tissues from Pteropus spp. were unsuccessful. Conclusion Serological evidence of infection with MenV was detected in Pteropus spp. in Australia. Although virus‐like particles were detected in faeces, no viruses were isolated from faeces, urine or tissues of Pteropus spp.     

Presumptive Nocardia spp. infection in a dog treated with cyclosporin and ketoconazole

Abstract

CASE HISTORY: A dog that had received 8 months of cyclosporin and ketoconazole therapy for treatment of atopic dermatitis subsequently developed severe neurological disease, that failed to respond to treatment with trimethoprim-sulphadiazine and clindamycin.

HISTOPATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: Histopathological examination of the pulmonary parenchyma and spinal cord revealed loose aggregates of Gram-positive, partially acid-fast, fine, beaded, filamentous bacteria, most consistent with Nocardia spp.

DIAGNOSIS: A presumptive diagnosis was made of disseminated nocardiosis of the spinal cord and lungs.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Nocardia spp. is an opportunistic actinomycete that may cause disseminated disease, particularly in immunocompromised animals. Cyclosporin is used in veterinary medicine to control immune-mediated and allergic disorders, with few reported adverse side effects. This case gives further evidence that involvement of the spinal cord in nocardiosis of the central nervous system (CNS) carries a poor prognosis, and opportunistic infection by Nocardia spp. may be a potential complication of immunosuppressive cyclosporin therapy in the dog.