Detection of Brucella canis in a dog in Italy

Brucella spp. is a worldwide zoonotic pathogen. Infection by Brucella canis in dogs is endemic in the Southern USA and in Central and South America, but it appears sporadically in other parts of the world, including Europe. Tissue samples from a dog with chronic prostatitis, discospondylitis and locomotor problems were subjected to clinical and laboratory examinations. B. canis was detected by PCR in biological fluids and tissues of the animal, while antibodies to B. canis were found in the serum, providing additional strong evidence for the circulation of B. canis in Italy.     

Molecular Detection of Ehrlichia canis in Dogs in Malaysia

An epidemiological study of Ehrlichia canis infection in dogs in Peninsular Malaysia was carried out using molecular detection techniques. A total of 500 canine blood samples were collected from veterinary clinics and dog shelters. Molecular screening by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed using genus-specific primers followed by PCR using E. canis species-specific primers. Ten out of 500 dogs were positive for E. canis. A phylogenetic analysis of the E. canis Malaysia strain showed that it was grouped tightly with other E. canis strains from different geographic regions. The present study revealed for the first time, the presence of genetically confirmed E. canis with a prevalence rate of 2.0% in naturally infected dogs in Malaysia.     

犬种布鲁氏菌的遗传多样性分析

【背景】犬种布鲁氏菌是犬种布病的病原菌,主要导致犬流产和繁殖障碍。虽然犬种布鲁氏菌感染人群的病例极为少见,但是犬种布鲁氏菌对人的安全风险仍存在争议。目前,我国犬种布病的流行病学特征及犬种布鲁氏菌的遗传多样性的研究相对缺乏。开展犬种布病的流行特征及遗传多样性调查对加强犬种布病的监测防控具有重要意义。【目的】对犬种布病的流行病学特征和犬种布鲁氏菌的遗传多态性进行调查,为犬种布病的防控提供参考。【方法】采用常规鉴定方法和BCSS-PCR对63株试验菌株进行鉴定。采用HGDI (Hunter and Gaston diversity index)多态性指数调查犬种布鲁氏菌的遗传多态性,用MLVA方法基于BioNumerics5.0软件对菌株进行聚类分析,揭示犬种布病的流行病学特点。此外,基于MLVA-11采用goeBURST软件构建犬种布鲁氏菌的最小生成树(Minimum spanning tree,MST),阐述我国犬种布鲁氏菌的地理起源特征。【结果】常规鉴定方法和BCSS-PCR扩增结果显示63株试验菌株全部为犬种布鲁氏菌。BCSS-PCR与常规鉴定方法的符合率为100%,BCSS-PCR的分析敏感性为10-3 (即50 pg/μL犬种布鲁氏菌DNA)。我国犬种布鲁氏菌具有较高的遗传多样性,基于HGDI分析表明Panel 2B的5个位点具有较高的变异度,等位基因型由高到底依次为bruce09(11) bruce07(8)bruce16(7)bruce04(6)bruce30(5)。MLVA聚类分析表明北京地区出现了3次较小规模的犬种布病暴发流行,其余地区均为零星散发。我国犬种布鲁氏菌可分为5个地理集群,以MLVA-11基因26型克隆群为主导种群,该种群与来自美国、希腊、加拿大、法国、罗马尼亚和韩国等国家的菌株具有共同的地理起源,其余4个种群为中国特有。【结论】我国犬种布鲁氏菌呈现高度的遗传多样性并有广泛的地理来源,表现为输入性和中国特有血统共存的起源进化特征。     

Experimental Isospora canis and Isospora felis Infection in Mice,Cats, and Dogs*

SYNOPSIS. Two 6-month-old gnotobiotic dogs and 4 five-day-old dogs became infected but did not shed oocysts within 15 days after ingesting the feline coccidian, Isospora felis. Infection of the dogs was evidenced by the shedding of I. felis oocysts by cats consuming extra-intestinal organs of dogs fed I. felis. Likewise, cats became infected with the canine coccidian, Isospora canis, without producing oocysts. Dogs also became infected after ingesting mice previously fed I. canis oocysts. The prcpatent period for I. canis was slightly shorter in dogs fed infected mice (8–9 days) than in those fed oocysts (9–11 days).     

Genetic Polymorphism Characteristics of Brucella canis Isolated in China

In China, brucellosis is an endemic disease typically caused by Brucella melitensis infection (biovars 1 and 3). Brucella canis infection in dogs has not traditionally recognized as a major problem. In recent years however, brucellosis resulting from Brucella canis infection has also been reported, suggesting that infections from this species may be increasing. Data concerning the epidemiology of brucellosis resulting from Brucella canis infection is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the diversity among Chinese Brucella canis strains for epidemiological purposes. First, we employed a 16-marker VNTR assay (Brucella MLVA-16) to assess the diversity and epidemiological relationship of 29 Brucella canis isolates from diverse locations throughout China with 38 isolates from other countries. MLVA-16 analysis separated the 67 Brucella canis isolates into 57 genotypes that grouped into five clusters with genetic similarity coefficients ranging from 67.73 to 100%. Moreover, this analysis revealed a new genotype (2-3-9-11-3-1-5-1:118), which was present in two isolates recovered from Guangxi in 1986 and 1987. Second, multiplex PCR and sequencing analysis were used to determine whether the 29 Chinese Brucella canis isolates had the characteristic BMEI1435 gene deletion. Only two isolates had this deletion. Third, amplification of the omp25 gene revealed that 26 isolates from China had a T545C mutation. Collectively, this study reveals that considerable diversity exists among Brucella canis isolates in China and provides resources for studying the genetic variation and microevolution of Brucella.     

Serological diagnosis of brucellosis caused by Brucella canis

Blood serum samples from 2,328 dogs were tested to detect antibodies against Brucella canis with the agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) and 2-mercaptoethanol slide agglutination test (ME-SAT) using Brucella ovis as the antigen. All blood serum samples were also evaluated for antibodies against Brucella abortus and Brucella melitensis using the Rose Bengal test. Twentyfive (1.07%) of the sera evaluated were considered positive with AGID test. Only 4 (16%) of these blood serum samples were positive when evaluated with ME-SAT. The 25 AGID positive samples and 25 AGID negative serum samples were also examined by: the complement fixation test (CFT) using B. ovis hot saline extract (HSE) as the antigen, indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunoblotting (IB) using B. canis and B. ovis HSE antigens. Two positive canine sera from culture positive dogs and the serum of an experimentally RM6/66 B. canis-infected rabbit were employed as positive controls and one serum from a known uninfected dog as a negative control. ELISA with B. canis antigen gave 9 (18%) positive results (6 AGID-positive and 3 AGID-negative sera). ELISA performed with B. ovis antigen detected 15 (30%) positive samples (10 AGID-positive, 5 AGID-negative and 8 B. canis ELISA positive sera). IB analysis of known positive controls sera employing B. canis antigen detected bands with molecular weights of 94-80, 64-50, 35, 32-30, 28, 23, 20-18, 15-12 kDa. The same sera tested with B. ovis antigen revealed bands of 35, 32-30, 25, 23, 20-18, 15-12 kDa. No bands were observed with the negative control serum and the 50 canine tested sera.     

Microtiter Plate Agglutination Test for Brucella canis Antibodies

A micro-agglutination test for the antibodies to Brucella canis produced similar results to those obtained with the standard tube agglutination method in human and canine sera. The micromethod does provide an economical means of screening sera for the presence of antibodies.     

Comparative Experimental Infection Study in Dogs with Ehrlichia canis,E. chaffeensis,Anaplasma platys and A. phagocytophilum

Dogs acquire infections with the Anaplasmataceae family pathogens, E. canis, E. chaffeensis, E. ewingii, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum mostly during summer months when ticks are actively feeding on animals. These pathogens are also identified as causing diseases in people. Despite the long history of tick-borne diseases in dogs, much remains to be defined pertaining to the clinical and pathological outcomes of infections with these pathogens. In the current study, we performed experimental infections in dogs with E. canis, E. chaffeensis, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. Animals were monitored for 42 days to evaluate infection-specific clinical, hematological and pathological differences. All four pathogens caused systemic persistent infections detectible throughout the 6 weeks of infection assessment. Fever was frequently detected in animals infected with E. canis, E. chaffeensis, and A. platys, but not in dogs infected with A. phagocytophilum. Hematological differences were evident in all four infected groups, although significant overlap existed between the groups. A marked reduction in packed cell volume that correlated with reduced erythrocytes and hemoglobin was observed only in E. canis infected animals. A decline in platelet numbers was common with E. canis, A. platys and A. phagocytophilum infections. Histopathological lesions in lung, liver and spleen were observed in all four groups of infected dogs; infection with E. canis had the highest pathological scores, followed by E. chaffeensis, then A. platys and A. phagocytophilum. All four pathogens induced IgG responses starting on day 7 post infection, which was predominantly comprised of IgG2 subclass antibodies. This is the first detailed investigation comparing the infection progression and host responses in dogs after inoculation with four pathogens belonging to the Anaplasmataceae family. The study revealed a significant overlap in clinical, hematological and pathological changes resulting from the infections.     

Differentiation of Brucella canis from Other Brucellae by Gas Chromatography

Gas chromatographic techniques allow for differentiation between a strain of Brucella canis and strains of other brucellae.     

Sensitive and Rapid Detection of Giardia lamblia Infection in Pet Dogs using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification

Giardia lamblia is recognized as one of the most prevalent parasites in dogs. The present study aimed to establish a loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for rapid and specific detection of G. lamblia from dogs. The fecal samples were collected and prepared for microscopic analysis, and then the genomic DNA was extracted directly from purified cysts. The concentration of DNA samples of G. lamblia were diluted by 10-fold serially ranging from 10^-1 to 10^-5 ng/µl for LAMP and PCR assays. The LAMP assay allows the amplification to be finished within 60 min under isothermal conditions of 63℃ by employing 6 oligonucleotide primers designed based on G. lamblia elongation factor 1 alpha (EF1α) gene sequence. Our tests showed that the specific amplification products were obtained only with G. lamblia, while no amplification products were detected with DNA of other related protozoans. Sensitivity evaluation indicated that the LAMP assay was sensitive 10 times more than PCR. It is concluded that LAMP is a rapid, highly sensitive and specific DNA amplification technique for detection of G. lamblia, which has implications for effective control and prevention of giardiasis.     

宠物犬和猫流感病毒感染

近十年来犬和猫流感病毒感染报道迅速增多,不仅威胁到犬和猫的健康,也对公共卫生造成了影响。自2004年首次发生H3N8亚型流感病毒感染赛犬事件以来,犬流感一直在美国的赛犬和宠物犬中流行。在韩国和我国南方的犬群中出现了因H3N2亚型禽流感感染引起的肺炎病例。亚洲和欧洲均报道了猫H5N1亚型高致病性禽流感致死性感染病例,还通过实验研究发现H5N1亚型流感病毒可在猫与猫之间水平传播。这些现象预示着流感病毒进一步获得了感染哺乳动物的能力,其公共卫生意义需引起关注。为此,本文对犬和猫流感病毒感染的流行病学、临床症状、发病机制、诊断和防控措施进行了综述。     

Clinical Problems: Subclinical Brucella Infection in Man

Much subclinical infection with Brucella abortus affects the dairy farming community, slaughterhouse workers, and veterinary surgeons. High titres of antibody to B. abortus by the saline agglutination, antihuman globulin, or complement fixation test may be shown in subjects from the first two groups and generally there are no symptoms or signs of brucella infection whatever. Veterinary surgeons are prone to subclinical infection and young practitioners frequently display high titres against the usual tests at the same time apparently enjoying good health. Repeated reinfection of this group, however, may result in hypersensitivity to B. abortus and bouts of ill health at intervals may be due to this. Infection seems to come more often from contact with infected material than by drinking untreated milk, particularly in the herdsman, slaughterhouse worker, and veterinary surgeon. A doctor investigating illness of a patient from the dairy farming community and allied occupations should not accept a high titre against B. abortus as the only clue to diagnosis of the patient''s condition.     

Outbreak of Brucella melitensis Type 2 Infection in London

An outbreak of seven cases of Brucella melitensis infection in London was traced to Italian pecorino cheese (cheese made from unpasteurized sheep''s milk) which had been obtained from village markets in central Italy, brought back to England, and distributed to the affected persons.It is emphasized that pecorino cheese made from unpasteurized milk should not be eaten unless it is known to have been stored for at least 90 days, the period during which these cheeses have been shown to become free from viable brucella organisms.