Sylvatic trichinellosis in southwestern Spain

The epidemiology of Trichinella spp. in their main sylvatic hosts, wild boar (Sus scrofa ferus and red fox (Vulpes vulpes), in Extremadura (southwestern Spain) was studied. We examined 88 Trichinella spp.-positive wild boar muscle-tissue samples from a total of 29,333 killed animals, referred to the Veterinary Parasitology Department (University of Extremadura, Spain) by the Extremadura Veterinary Service. Additionally, 227 red foxes killed during the hunting season and thus not subject to veterinary controls were examined for trichinellosis. Trichinella spp. larvae were found in six (3%) of the red foxes. All samples were examined using direct diagnostic techniques, including trichinoscopy and artificial digestion. The mean intensity of infection was 74.8 larvae/g (LPG) of muscle tissue in wild boars, compared to 30.6 LPG in foxes. Trichinella spiralis (sensu stricto) predominated over T. britovi in wild boars. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and alloenzyme typing showed that 74% of infected wild boars had only T. spiralis, 21% had only T. britovi, and 5% showed mixed infections. In contrast, 33% of infected foxes were infected only with T. spiralis, while 67% had T. britovi, suggesting a clear predominance of the latter in foxes. We suspect the existence of a paranthropic or sylvatic cycle in large areas of this region; given the ease of transfer between sylvatic and domestic or semi-domestic animals, this implies a high epidemiological risk.     

Analysis on Factors Related to Rabies Epidemic in China from 2007-2011

To analyze features of the rabies epidemic in China between 2007 and 2011,identify factors influencing the epidemic and to provide a scientific basis for further control and prevention of rabies,Descri...     

Sylvatic trichinosis in Ontario, Canada

Samples of muscle from 4,773 specimens of 18 species of wild mammals from Ontario were examined for Trichinella. One of 12 mink (Mustela vison), 83 of 1,821 fisher (Martes pennanti) and 68 of 1,980 marten (Martes americana) had T. spiralis. Prevalences of infections by Trichinella were determined for fisher and marten from the Algonquin region, over a 10-yr period. Prevalences ranged from 0.9-9.2% in fisher and 1.3-8.7% in marten indicating that the parasite is well-established in the region. Prevalences of Trichinella increased with age of both fisher and marten. Intensities determined for the 1981-1982 sample ranged from 0.4-15.8 larvae/g for fisher and 22.4-159.7 larvae/g for marten. Higher intensities were not correlated with older hosts. Fisher and marten appeared to be the key hosts maintaining Trichinella in the Algonquin region, but transmission dynamics were unclear. Transmission may include an unidentified small rodent or other host and natural carrion-feeding.     

Sylvatic plague reduces genetic variability in black-tailed prairie dogs

Small, isolated populations are vulnerable to loss of genetic diversity through in-breeding and genetic drift. Sylvatic plague due to infection by the bacterium Yersinia pestis caused an epizootic in the early 1990s resullting in declines and extirpations of many black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus) colonies in north-central Montana, USA. Plague-induced population bottlenecks may contribute to significant reductions in genetic variability. In contrast, gene flow maintains genetic variability within colonies. We investigated the impacts of the plague epizootic and distance to nearest colony on levels of genetic variability in six prairie dog colonies sampled between June 1999 and July 2001 using 24 variable randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. Number of effective alleles per locus (n(e)) and gene diversity (h) were significantly decreased in the three colonies affected by plague that were recovering from the resulting bottlenecks compared with the three colonies that did not experience plague. Genetic variability was not significantly affected by geographic distance between colonies. The majority of variance in gene fieqnencies was found within prairie clog colonies. Conservation of genetic variability in black-tailed prairie dogs will require the preservation of both large and small colony complexes and the gene flow amonog them.     

贵州省安龙县狂犬病的流行病学研究

为了探讨局部地区暴发流行的因素,对2004年与2005年间在贵州省安龙县及其周边发生的人间狂犬病进行个案调查,用直接免疫荧光法检测犬脑组织中的狂犬病毒抗原,用RT-PCR法扩增G基因片段,测定核苷酸序列并构建系统发生树进行遗传特征分析。自1994-2003年安龙县报告无人间狂犬病疫情,但于2004与2005年分别报告44例与27例人狂犬病。71例狂犬病患者中68人被犬所伤,3人被猫所伤。在有完整记录的69例患者中,潜伏期平均为47.5d(10～282),13例狂犬病患者的潜伏期≤15d(18.84%);32例的潜伏期≤30d(46.38%),尤其是在2004年的患者中,潜伏期≤20d的病例有13例,占30%。2005年在疫点周围采集的85只犬脑组织中,5只犬脑组织狂犬病毒抗原阳性,阳性率为5.88%。A13株与A48株病毒之间的G基因核苷酸序列同源性为86.5%,与已报道病毒株比较发现,A13株与广西分离株有最高的同源性,而A48株却与印度尼西亚分离株SN01-23的同源性最高。比较分析两株病毒G基因编码的氨基酸序列,发现包括GⅠ、GⅡ,以及GⅢ抗原位点内的区间,A13与A48分别有19和28个氨基酸位点发生了氨基酸的替代。用全G基因核苷酸序列进行系统分析发现,两株毒株全为Ⅰ型狂犬病毒。结果表明引起安龙县的狂犬病流行的病毒不是新型狂犬病毒,犬饲养量大与病毒携带率高是狂犬病发病暴发流行的直接原因。     

贵州省安龙县狂犬病的流行病学研究

为了探讨局部地区暴发流行的因素,对2004年与2005年间在贵州省安龙县及其周边发生的人间狂犬病进行个案调查,用直接免疫荧光法检测犬脑组织中的狂犬病毒抗原,用RT-PCR法扩增G基因片段,测定核苷酸序列并构建系统发生树进行遗传特征分析.自1994-2003年安龙县报告无人间狂犬病疫情,但于2004与2005年分别报告44例与27例人狂犬病.71例狂犬病患者中68人被犬所伤,3人被猫所伤.在有完整记录的69例患者中,潜伏期平均为47.5d(10～282),13例狂犬病患者的潜伏期≤15d(18.84%);32例的潜伏期≤30d(46.38%),尤其是在2004年的患者中,潜伏期≤20d的病例有13例,占30%.2005年在疫点周围采集的85只犬脑组织中,5只犬脑组织狂犬病毒抗原阳性,阳性率为5.88%.A13株与A48株病毒之间的G基因核苷酸序列同源性为86.5%,与已报道病毒株比较发现,A13株与广西分离株有最高的同源性,而A48株却与印度尼西亚分离株SN01-23的同源性最高.比较分析两株病毒G基因编码的氨基酸序列,发现包括GⅠ、GⅡ,以及GⅢ抗原位点内的区间,A13与A48分别有19和28个氨基酸位点发生了氨基酸的替代.用全G基因核苷酸序列进行系统分析发现,两株毒株全为Ⅰ型狂犬病毒.结果表明引起安龙县的狂犬病流行的病毒不是新型狂犬病毒,犬饲养量大与病毒携带率高是狂犬病发病暴发流行的直接原因.