SARS-CoV-2 natural infection in animals: a systematic review of studies and case reports and series

COVID-19 pandemic is essentially a zoonotic disease. In this context, early in 2020, transmission from humans to certain animals began reporting; the number of studies has grown since. To estimate the pooled prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection in animals and to determine differences in prevalence between countries, years, animal types and diagnostic methods (RT-PCR or serological tests). A systematic literature review with meta-analysis using eight databases. Observational studies were included but analyzed separately. We performed a random-effects model meta-analysis to calculate the pooled prevalence and 95% confidence interval (95% CI) for prevalence studies and case series. After the screening, 65 reports were selected for full-text assessment and included for qualitative and quantitative analyses. A total of 24 reports assessed SARS-CoV-2 infection by RT-PCR, combining a total of 321,785 animals, yielding a pooled prevalence of 12.3% (95% CI 11.6%–13.0%). Also, a total of 17 studies additionally assessed serological response against SARS-CoV-2, including nine by ELISA, four by PRTN, one by MIA, one by immunochromatography (rest, two studies, the method was not specified), combining a total of 5319 animals, yielding a pooled prevalence of 29.4% (95% CI 22.9%–35.9%). A considerable proportion of animals resulted infected by SARS-CoV-2, ranking minks among the highest value, followed by dogs and cats. Further studies in other animals are required to define the extent and importance of natural infection due to SARS-CoV-2. These findings have multiple implications for public human and animal health. One Health approach in this context is critical for prevention and control.     

Extrapituitary and Pituitary Pathological Findings in Horses with Pituitary Pars Intermedia Dysfunction: A Retrospective Study

The objective of this study was to describe the histopathologic changes observed in extrapituitary organs as well as the pituitary glands of horses with pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction (PPID). Adrenal gland, thyroid gland, liver, lung, kidney, heart, and pituitary gland from 32 horses with clinical and histologic evidence of PPID and 20 control horses were reviewed histologically. Ten of the control horses were aged animals (≥15 years), allowing those changes attributed to age to be identified. In addition to previously reported changes in adrenal gland and liver, an association was established between PPID and several extrapituitary histopathologic changes, namely bronchiolitis, proliferative glomerulopathy, and myocardial lipofuscinosis and fibrosis. The potential biologic significance of these changes is discussed and, although the retrospective design of the current study precludes establishment of causal relationships between the observed extrapituitary changes and PPID, these findings suggest that further investigations are warranted.     

The factors affecting the distribution of babesiosis in dogs in Poland

The aim of this paper was to determine the factors affecting the development of canine babesiosis in Poland. The studies included 800 animals from 16 polish voivodeships-districts (50 from each voivodeship) with suspected piroplasmosis. Hematological and molecular tests confirmed infections in 158 animals. Analysis of the genetic material using the Real-Time Sybr Green HRM technique showed that 96 dogs were infected with Babesia canis 18S RNA-A and 62 with B. canis 18S RNA-B. It was observed that the disease occurs more often in eastern Poland (OR: 8.91; CI: 5.7-13.8), in males (OR: 1.04; CI: 0.7-1.5) and especially in rural areas (OR: 1.7; CI: 1.2-2.4). More prone to infection were pure-bred dogs (OR: 2.24; CI: 1.6-3.2), young animals under 1 year old (OR: 0.73; CI: 0.4-1.5), animals that had suffered from babesiosis in the past (OR: 17.9; CI: 10.9-29.2) and those that had not received preventive measures against ectoparasites (OR: 0.32; CI: 0.2-0.5). Knowledge of the factors facilitating the development of canine babesiosis helps to understand the causal connection between the dogs' exposure to the pathogen and the development of the disease and to limit the occurrence of the infection in these animals, to diagnose it early and to start proper treatment before serious complications develop.     

Productive behavior in growing kid goats and methane production with the inclusion of chokecherry leaf (Prunus salicifolia)

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Currently for the reduction of methane (CH4) emissions are using fodder rich in condensed tannins, however, not yet known exactly how they act in the rumen...     

Prevalence of and risk factors for bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection in non-vaccinated dairy and dual-purpose cattle herds in Ecuador

A cross-sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors associated with bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) infection in non-vaccinated dairy and dual-purpose cattle herds from Ecuador. A total of 2,367 serum samples from 346 herds were collected from June 2008 to February 2009. A questionnaire, which included variables related to cattle, health, management measures, and the environment, was filled out in each herd. Presence of antibodies against BRSV was analyzed using a commercial indirect ELISA test. A logistic regression model was used to determine risk factors associated with BRSV at herd level. The individual seroprevalence against BRSV in non-vaccinated herds in Ecuador was 80.48% [1,905/2,367; 95% confidence interval (CI)?=?78.9-82.1]. The herd prevalence was 91.3% (316/346; 95% CI?=?88.3-94.3), and the intra-herd prevalence ranged between 25% and 100% (mean, 90.47%). The logistic regression model showed that the existence of bordering cattle farms, the dual-purpose farms, and the altitude of the farm (more than 2,338?m above sea level) were risk factors associated with BRSV infection. This is the first study about BRSV prevalence in Ecuador. It shows the wide spread of the BRSV infection in the country. The risk factors found will help to design effective control strategies.     

Isolation of Escherichia fergusonii from the feces and internal organs of a goat with diarrhea

A fecal sample from a 42-year-old goat with a 2-month history of poor weight gain and diarrhea yielded a moderate growth of an organism resembling Salmonella spp. on MacConkey agar. The organism was identified as Escherichia fergusonii. The animal was euthanized. Samples of intestine, lung, liver, and kidney yielded the same organism, E. fergusonii.     

The N-acetyl-D-glucosamine specific adhesin from Mannheimia haemolytica activates bovine neutrophils oxidative burst

In this work we identified specific bovine leukocytes that were bound by the Mannheimia haemolytica adhesin molecule (MhA) and the biological effect on the leukocytes. Histochemical staining and flow cytometry showed that MhA bind neutrophils (90%) and monocytes (5%). MhA induced an oxidative response in purified neutrophils; this effect was 1.5-fold higher than the effect observed with control cells activated with Zymosan. Cellular binding by MhA was inhibited with GlcNAc and its oligomers, as well as by glycoproteins containing tri- and tetra-antennary N-glycosydically linked glycans. MhA-induced oxidative burst was significantly inhibited by GlcNAc, iodoacetamide, superoxide dismutase, and piroxicam (p<0.05). Our findings suggest that among bovine leukocytes, neutrophils are the main target for MhA, inducing production of oxidative radicals by non-opsonic mechanism that seem to play an important role in tissue damage during mannheimiosis.     

Re-emergence of Pigeon Fever (Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis) Infection in Texas Horses: Epidemiologic Investigation of Laboratory-Diagnosed Cases

In recent years, Texas has seen a dramatic increase in the number of clinical cases of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis (pigeon fever) infection in horses. Equine pigeon fever cases at Texas Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratories (TVMDL) were analyzed with the objectives of investigating the spatiotemporal distribution and seasonal and annual trends of pigeon fever infection in horses in Texas between 2005 and 2011 and identifying high-risk areas and create a risk map for pigeon fever in horses in Texas. The study population consisted of horses culture-positive for C. pseudotuberculosis between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2011 at TVMDL. The Poisson model of scan statistics was fitted to identify disease clusters. Empirical Bayesian smoothing was performed with the crude incidence estimates, followed by the geostatistical method of kriging to delineate high-risk areas. Cases increased 10-fold between 2005 and 2011. The annual cumulative incidence ranged from 9.3 to 99.5 per 100,000 horses at risk. Two seasonal peaks in the number of cases were observed in June and in December. Scan statistics identified a primary cluster in central Texas in 2011 (P < .0001 and relative risk of 9.2). Isopleth risk mapping also delineated a high-risk area in central Texas. High-risk areas were also detected in the panhandle and northern Texas. The epidemiological investigation supported anecdotal reports that pigeon fever is re-emerging in the Texas horse population. This study provides a baseline for future investigations of pigeon fever in the Texas horse population and serves as a reference for the disease distribution for veterinarians and horse owners.