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Merlin A, Ravinet N, Briot L, Chauvin A, Hébert L, Valle-Casuso JC, Delerue M. Prevalence and seasonal dynamic of gastrointestinal parasites in equids in France during two years. Prev Vet Med 2024; 223:106100. [PMID: 38198900 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.106100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Grazing equids are constantly exposed to three clinically important gastrointestinal parasites (small strongyles/cyathostomins, Anoplocephala spp. and Parascaris spp.). Knowledge of the local seasonal dynamic of these parasitic infections is important for constructing a sustainable parasite control program with a rational number of anthelmintic treatments. However, studies describing these patterns are sparse in France. In this context, a two-year study was carried out to assess i) the seasonal dynamic and variability of strongyle faecal egg counts (FEC) and infective larvae (L3) counts on pastures, and ii) the prevalence of Anoplocephala spp. and Parascaris spp. and the dynamic evolution of their presence. During 2021 and 2022 grazing seasons, monthly individual faecal egg counts (FEC) and diarrhea scores (DS) were determined on 428 equids divided into 33 groups. A monthly body condition score (BCS) was also attributed to animals ≥3 years old and a monthly bodyweight was estimated for each animal <3 years old. At the group level, the strongyle L3 counts on grazed pastures were carried out at least in spring, summer and autumn. Eggs of strongyles were observed in 97% of equids. In 64% of the groups, the peaks of FEC were noted in September and October. At the individual level, the maximum strongyle FEC was related to age, group of breeds, number of grazed plots and number of anthelmintic treatments. No negative association was observed between strongyle FEC and BCS or average daily weight gain. In the pastures, cyathostomin larvae were found almost exclusively. Over the two years, the peaks of cyathostomin L3 counts occurred in 87% of the groups between September and November and ranged from 635 to 87,500 L3 kg-1 dry herbage. The variability of the maximum cyathostomin L3 count in each group was explained by the year and the number of grazed plots. Eggs of Anoplocephala spp. were observed in 12% of equids. Eggs of Parascaris spp. were noted in 34% of one year-old animals, 9% of two years-olds and 2% of olders. Anoplocephala spp. and Parascaris spp. eggs were observed every month with a peak in the percentage of shedders in groups in October for Anoplocephala spp. and May-June for Parascaris spp.This study highlights the prevalence of each parasite, the variability in cyathostomin egg excretion and L3 counts amongst groups and individuals and the factors involved in this variation These local epidemiological data will help us to re-think a newer strategy against these parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurélie Merlin
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, 14430 Goustranville, France; Mixed Technological Unit "Equine Health and Welfare - Organisation and Traceability of the Equine Industry" (UMT SABOT), France.
| | | | - Laurie Briot
- Mixed Technological Unit "Equine Health and Welfare - Organisation and Traceability of the Equine Industry" (UMT SABOT), France; French Horse and Riding Institute (IFCE), Development, Innovation, Research Department, 61310 Gouffern-en-Auge, France
| | | | - Laurent Hébert
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, 14430 Goustranville, France; Mixed Technological Unit "Equine Health and Welfare - Organisation and Traceability of the Equine Industry" (UMT SABOT), France
| | - José-Carlos Valle-Casuso
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Diseases Unit, 14430 Goustranville, France; Mixed Technological Unit "Equine Health and Welfare - Organisation and Traceability of the Equine Industry" (UMT SABOT), France
| | - Marie Delerue
- Mixed Technological Unit "Equine Health and Welfare - Organisation and Traceability of the Equine Industry" (UMT SABOT), France; French Horse and Riding Institute (IFCE), Development, Innovation, Research Department, 61310 Gouffern-en-Auge, France
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Bragaglio A, Romano E, Cutini M, Nannoni E, Mota-Rojas D, Claps S, De Palo P. Study on the suitability of life cycle assessment for the estimation of donkey milk environmental impact. Animal 2024; 18:101057. [PMID: 38215679 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2023.101057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/14/2024] Open
Abstract
In the last decades, western Countries increased their interest in innovative products like donkey milk and other activities carried out with donkeys (onotherapy, onotourism). Donkey milk is considered a high-added-value food and is very similar to human breast milk. It is also used as an ingredient in cosmetics. The growing public interest suggests the need for a pilot study on the sustainability of donkey milk production, according to Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) criteria. Milk was used as the Declared Functional Unit (DFU) and two different models were described, a Real Scenario Model (RSM, i.e. a farm with its declared milk yield), and an Increased Milk Production Model (IMPM, i.e., the same farm with theoretically increased milk yield). Allocation was applied both in RSM and IMPM; thus, different values of impact categories, i.e., Global Warming Potential (GWP, kg CO2 equivalents), Acidification Potential (ACP, g SO2 equivalents) and Eutrophication Potential (EUP, g PO43-) were observed. GWP improved after mass allocation and showed the lowest equivalents in IMPM, compared to economic and reference allocation criterion (P < 0.05). In RSM, allocations affected GWP in a different way: the smaller size of the DFU resulted in the largest estimation of CO2 equivalents (P < 0.05) for reference allocation, whereas the mass allocation estimates were lower than with economic allocation (P < 0.05). ACP and EUP followed the same trends. No differences were found in IMPM results across the three allocation methods used. Moreover, mass allocation values recorded in RSM did not significantly differ from IMPM. ACP and EUP of RSM improved after economic allocation, although they were less sustainable (P < 0.05) than all IMPM values and RSM equivalents after mass allocation (P < 0.05). As expected, the theoretical model with increased milk yield improved the sustainability of the system. Both scenarios were affected by allocation criteria. In RSM, the economic and mass allocations described a representative scenario where donkey meat contributed to subtracting equivalents from milk (the main product). The present paper is a pilot study estimating for the first time the environmental impact of donkey milk production, with the aim to stimulate further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Bragaglio
- CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, BG, Italy
| | - Elio Romano
- CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, BG, Italy
| | - Maurizio Cutini
- CREA Research Centre for Engineering and Agro-Food Processing, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, Via Milano 43, 24047 Treviglio, BG, Italy
| | - Eleonora Nannoni
- Department of Veterinary Medical Sciences (DIMVET), University of Bologna, Via Tolara di Sopra 50, 40064 Ozzano Emilia, BO, Italy.
| | - Daniel Mota-Rojas
- Departamento de Producción Agricola y Animal (DPAA), Neurophysiology, Behavior and Animal Welfare Assessment, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana (UAM), Unidad Xochimilco, Calzada del Hueso 1100, Colonia Villa Quietud, Alcaldía Coyoacán, 04960 Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico
| | - Salvatore Claps
- CREA Research Centre for Animal Production and Aquacolture, Consiglio per la Ricerca in Agricoltura e l'Analisi dell'Economia Agraria, S.S.7 Via Appia, 85051 Bella Muro, PZ, Italy
| | - Pasquale De Palo
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEV), University "Aldo Moro" of Bari, S.P. per Casamassima, km 3, 70010 Valenzano, BA, Italy
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Pompermayer E, Ysebaert MP, Vinardell T, Oikawa MA, Johnson JP, Fernandes T, David F. One-stage surgical case management of a two-year-old Arabian horse affected by male-pseudo hermaphroditism. J Equine Vet Sci 2024; 133:105007. [PMID: 38237706 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2024.105007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/15/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
A two-year-old Arabian horse presented for abnormal external genitalia and dangerous stallion-like behavior was diagnosed with disorder of sexual development (DSD), also known as intersex/hermaphroditism. Standing 1-stage surgical procedure performed under sedation, and local anesthesia to concurrently eliminate stallion-like behavior, risk of neoplastic transformation of intraabdominal gonads, and to replace ambiguous external genital with a functional, and cosmetically more acceptable anatomy. Step-1) Laparoscopic abdominal exploration and gonadectomy; Step-2) Rudimentary penis resection and perineal urethrostomy. The horse tolerated surgery well (combined surgery time 185 min) with no complications. At macroscopic examination of the gonads, they resembled hypoplastic testis-like tissues. Microscopic examination confirmed presence of seminiferous tubules, Leydig and Sertoli/granulosa cells. Cytogenetic evaluation revealed a 64,XX karyotype, SRY-negative. The stallion-like behavior subsided within days post-operatively. Long-term follow-up revealed the genitoplasty site healed without urine scalding or urethral stricture. The owner satisfaction was excellent and the horse could be used post-surgery as an athlete.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pompermayer
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Al Shaqab Street, Al Rayyan, Doha, Qatar
| | - M P Ysebaert
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, 1601 Campus Delivery, Fort Collins, CO 80523-1601, USA
| | - T Vinardell
- Equine Care Group, Paalstraat 8, 3560 Lummen, Belgium
| | - M-A Oikawa
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Al Shaqab Street, Al Rayyan, Doha, Qatar
| | - J P Johnson
- Equine & Camel Hospital, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
| | - T Fernandes
- Equine Veterinary Medical Center - Member of Qatar Foundation, Al Shaqab Street, Al Rayyan, Doha, Qatar
| | - F David
- EquiTom - Namur, member of the Equine Care Group, 15 Chaussée de Nivelles, 5032 Mazy, Belgium.
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Amairia S, Jbeli M, Mrabet S, Mahjoubi Jebabli L, Gharbi M. Molecular Prevalence of Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii in Slaughtered Equids in Northern Tunisia. J Equine Vet Sci 2023; 129:104894. [PMID: 37506984 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2023.104894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Sarcocystis spp. and Toxoplasma gondii are two apicomplexan protozoa that infect a broad range of vertebrates, however, little is known about the infection of equids with these parasites. A total of 184 slaughtered equids from slaughterhouses of Bizerte and Tunis located in Northern Tunisia, were examined for meat infections with Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii by PCR. The prevalence of infections with Sarcocystis spp. and T. gondii were 38% (95% CI: 31-45) and 39.7% (95% CI: 32.6-46.7), respectively. The highest prevalence of infection with Sarcocystis spp. was observed in donkeys (48.6%; 95% CI: 37.3-60) followed by mules (32.8%; 95%CI: 21.3-44.3), and horses (28.3%; 95% CI: 15.2-41.2) (P = .04). Similarly, the highest prevalence of infection with T. gondii was also observed in donkeys (66.2%; 95% CI: 55.4-77), followed by mules (18.7%; 95%CI: 9.2-28.3), and horses (26.1%; 95%CI: 13.4-38.8) (P < .001). The coinfection prevalence was estimated to be 17.4% (95%CI: 11.9-22.9). Taking into consideration that humans can be infected following consumption of infected equid meat with T. gondii and/or some Sarcocystis species, it is important to assess the risk of human infection. Thus, further studies are needed to better understand the epidemiology of these zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Safa Amairia
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, University of Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Mounir Jbeli
- Health and Veterinary Control Division, Ministry of Defense, Ksar Saïd Military Base, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Slim Mrabet
- Department of Hygiene, Municipality of Bizerte, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Leila Mahjoubi Jebabli
- Tunis Abattoir, Health, Hygiene and Environment Service, Ministry of Interior, Montfleury, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Gharbi
- Laboratoire de Parasitologie, University of Manouba, Institution de la Recherche et de l'Enseignement Supérieur Agricoles, École Nationale de Médecine Vétérinaire de Sidi Thabet, Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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Mesafint E, Dejene H, Maru M, Tarekegn ZS. A systematic review and meta-analysis of the prevalence of parasitic infections in equids in Ethiopia. J Parasit Dis 2023; 47:451-464. [PMID: 37520199 PMCID: PMC10382411 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023] Open
Abstract
We performed this review to determine the weighted prevalence of equids parasitic infections in Ethiopia. Article searches on parasites of equids were conducted using PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Web of Sciences, Scopus, AJOLs and Research Gate. A random effects model was used to estimate the weighted prevalence and to study heterogeneity. The primary searches generated, 3082 potential studies, of which 66 reports met the inclusion criteria and were included in the meta-analysis. There were 32 reports involving two or more equids species, eighteen on donkeys, and sixteen on horses. Moreover, fifty of the reports mentioned helminth infections in equids, thirteen on protozoans, and three on ectoparasites. The estimated weighted prevalence of parasitic infections in equids was 58.3% (95% CI 50.8-65.4%, I2 = 99%). Helminths were the most prevalent parasites in equids, accounting for 77.1% (95% CI 71.4%, 82%, I2 = 98.5%), followed by ectoparasites at 35.4% (95% CI 33.4-37.52%, I2 = 88.2%) and haemoparasites (protozoans) at 10.84% (95% CI 6.6%, 17.3%, I2 = 98.1%). Furthermore, with a prevalence of 82.3% (95% CI 75.9-87.3%, I2 = 97.4%), donkeys were the most affected equids with helminth parasites. From the reports, we found forty-three species of helminth parasites affecting equids, including thirty-four nematode species (Strongylus, Cyathostomum, Coronocyclus, Cylicocyclus, Cylicostephanus, Trichostrongylus, Oesophagodontus, Strongyloides, Triodontophorus, Gyalocephalus, Poteriostomum, Dictyocaulus, Oxyuris, Habronema, Draschia, Parascaris, Setaria, and Probstmayria species), three trematodes (two Fasciola and one Gastrodiscus species), three cestodes (two Anoplocephala and one Anoplocephaloides species) and three botfly larvae (one Rhinoestrus and two Gasterophilus species). Trypanosoma species (T. congolense, T. vivax, T. brucei, T. equiperdum, and T. evansi), piroplasms (Theileria equi and Babesia caballi), and Eimeria species have also been reported to affect equids. Ticks (Amblyomma variegatum, A. gemma, Rhipicephalus decoloratus, R. evertisi evertisi, R. pulchellus, R. muhsame, R. sanguineus, Hyalomma rufipes, and Hy. truncatum) and lice (Bovicola equi and Haematopinus asini) were the ectoparasites recorded to affect equids. The risk of publication bias across studies was likely to be high due to differences in publication year and diagnostic techniques. In conclusion, parasitic infections of equids are common in Ethiopia and are caused by a variety of parasite species, putting the performance and well-being of these packing animals at risk. Therefore, more research is needed to identify infection risk factors and raise awareness of the consequences of parasitism in order to provide strategies to mitigate the problems in equids. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12639-023-01598-3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edom Mesafint
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Haileyesus Dejene
- Department of Veterinary Epidemiology and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Moges Maru
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Zewdu Seyoum Tarekegn
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Pires BC, Dos Santos JBF, de Almeida Ferreira Dos Santos JP, Silva DM, Dos Reis TFM, Cuccato LP, Ciuffa AZ, Rezende LM, Ribeiro RAC, Lima AMC. Occurrence of serological reactions for Leptospira spp. in donkeys and mules from Minas Gerais, Brazil. Trop Anim Health Prod 2023; 55:258. [PMID: 37400748 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-023-03683-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
Research concerning leptospirosis in donkeys and mules has been neglected around the world. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the epidemiological situation of the prevalence of anti-Leptospira spp. antibodies in donkeys and mules from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Blood serum samples were collected from 180 animals (109 donkeys and 71 mules) in two rural properties from the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and then submitted to a microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Urea and creatinine values were also quantified. Epidemiological variables such as age, breeding system, contact with other animal species, source of water and food, vaccination against leptospirosis, presence of reproductive alterations, and rodent control were also investigated. From 180 samples collected, 39 (21.67%) showed positive results in the MAT, at a dilution ≥ 1:100. Some animals were reactive for more than one serovar. The serovar Tarassovi was the most frequent (14.07%), followed by Hardjo (11.85%) and Wolffi (11.11%). There was a statistically significant difference between animals from 0 to 3 years of age reactive in the MAT in comparison to the other age groups. Most of the animals had urea and creatinine concentrations within the acceptable reference limit; however, there was a significant increase in creatinine levels in some of the test animals. The studied properties showed differences in some epidemiological aspects such as vaccination of the animals, presence of reproductive problems in the herd, and rodent control. Such aspects pointed as risk factors that may influence the frequency of positive serological results in property 1. The present study demonstrated that the prevalence of leptospirosis in donkeys and mules is high and several serovars are being maintained by these animals, representing a potential public health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Cabral Pires
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil.
| | - João Batista Ferreira Dos Santos
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - João Paulo de Almeida Ferreira Dos Santos
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Danilo Mundim Silva
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Thais Fernanda Martins Dos Reis
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Lígia Pinho Cuccato
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Andreia Zago Ciuffa
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Laís Miguel Rezende
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Rosanne Aparecida Capanema Ribeiro
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
| | - Anna Monteiro Correia Lima
- Laboratory of infectious disease, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Street Ceará, Block 2D, room 33, Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, 38405-315, Brazil
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Kohnen AB, Wiedenheft AM, Traub-Dargatz JL, Short DM, Cook KL, Lantz K, Morningstar-Shaw B, Lawrence JP, House S, Marshall KL, Rao S. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and Escherichia coli from equids sampled in the NAHMS 2015-16 equine study and association of management factors with resistance. Prev Vet Med 2023; 213:105857. [PMID: 36773374 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2023.105857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Several studies have investigated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. and Escherichia coli isolated from hospitalized horses, but studies conducted on community-based populations of equids are limited. The factors associated with AMR in these bacteria in the general horse population are not well understood. The primary objective of our study was to estimate the prevalence of Salmonella and describe antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella and E. coli from equids across the United States. The second objective was to identify associations between health management and biosecurity practices and AMR. Fecal samples submitted from 1357 equids on 199 operations were tested for Salmonella, identifying 27 positive samples with 29 isolates belonging to 18 serotypes. Fecal sample and operation-level prevalence of Salmonella was 2.0% (27/1357) and 7.0% (14/199), respectively. Most (25/29) isolates were pan-susceptible while four isolates exhibited resistance, three of which were multidrug resistant. Of the 721 samples cultured for E. coli, 85% (613/721) were positive. Eighty-six percent of the E. coli isolates recovered were pan-susceptible (529/612). Ten isolates were intermediate to one antimicrobial drug and susceptible to all others. Seventy-three E. coli isolates (11.9%, SE=1.3) were resistant to one or more antimicrobials, corresponding to a 33.0% (64/194) operation-level prevalence. Resistance to sulfonamide drugs was most common with 63 isolates (10.3%) resistant to sulfisoxazole, 57 of which (9.3%) were resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole. MDR in E. coli was rare (1.8%, SE=0.5). Univariate and multivariable regression were used to evaluate associations between health management and biosecurity questionnaire items and AMR in E. coli. The outcome modeled was resistance to any of the 14 tested antimicrobials. Depending on the operation type, operations with greater than 20 resident equids were significantly associated with resistance. In addition, performance operations were significantly associated with resistance when compared to farm/ranch operations. Operations with feed containers that prevent fecal contamination and those that had treated any equids for illness or injury were associated with a lower AMR. The study results suggest that equids in the general population appear to pose low risk of shedding antimicrobial resistant strains of Salmonella and E. coli, and therefore low transmission potential to other equids, animals, humans, or the environment. However, it is prudent to practice good hand hygiene to prevent spread of Salmonella as well as AMR, and to protect both animal and human health. Despite study limitations, potential management factors that may influence prevalence and prevent spread of AMR shed by equids were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Allison B Kohnen
- National Animal Health Monitoring System, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Alyson M Wiedenheft
- National Animal Health Monitoring System, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Josie L Traub-Dargatz
- National Animal Health Monitoring System, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA; Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Diana M Short
- National Animal Health Monitoring System, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Kim L Cook
- United States Department of Agriculture, Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, Agricultural Research Services, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Kristina Lantz
- United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Brenda Morningstar-Shaw
- United States Department of Agriculture, Veterinary Services, National Veterinary Services Laboratories, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jodie Plumblee Lawrence
- United States Department of Agriculture, Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, Agricultural Research Services, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Sandra House
- United States Department of Agriculture, Bacterial Epidemiology and Antimicrobial Resistance Research Unit, Agricultural Research Services, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Katherine L Marshall
- National Animal Health Monitoring System, Center for Epidemiology and Animal Health, Veterinary Services, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Sangeeta Rao
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
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Ghafar A, Abbas G, Beasley A, Bauquier J, Wilkes EJA, Jacobson C, McConnell E, El-Hage C, Carrigan P, Cudmore L, Tennent-Brown B, Hurley J, Nielsen MK, Gauci CG, Beveridge I, Hughes KJ, Jabbar A. Molecular diagnostics for gastrointestinal helminths in equids: Past, present and future. Vet Parasitol 2023; 313:109851. [PMID: 36521296 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2022.109851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2022] [Revised: 11/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This review is aimed to (i) appraise the literature on the use of molecular techniques for the detection, quantification and differentiation of gastrointestinal helminths (GIH) of equids, (ii) identify the knowledge gaps and, (iii) discuss diagnostic prospects in equine parasitology. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for systematic reviews, we retrieved 54 studies (horses: 50/54; donkeys and zebras: 4/54) from four databases. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was employed in all of the studies whereas PCR amplicons were sequenced in only 18 of them. Other techniques used (including modifications of PCR) were reverse line blot, quantitative (q)PCR, restriction fragment length polymorphism, nested-PCR, PCR-directed next-generation sequencing, Southern blotting, single strand conformation polymorphism, PCR-enzyme linked immunosorbent assay, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation-time of flight and random amplification of polymorphic DNA. Most of the studies (53/54) used nuclear ribosomal RNA (including the internal transcribed spacers, intergenic spacer, 5.8 S, 18 S, 28 S and 12 S) as target loci while cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and random genomic regions were targeted in only three and one studies, respectively. Overall, to date, the majority of molecular studies have focused on the diagnosis and identification of GIHs of equids (i.e. species of Anoplocephala, Craterostomum, cyathostomins, Oesophagodontus, Parascaris, Strongylus, Strongyloides and Triodontophorus), with a recent shift towards investigations on anthelmintic resistance and the use of high-throughput nemabiome metabarcoding. With the increasing reports of anthelmintic resistance in equid GIHs, it is crucial to develop and apply techniques such as advanced metabarcoding for surveillance of parasite populations in order to gain detailed insights into their diversity and sustainable control. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first systematic review that evaluates molecular investigations published on the diagnosis and quantification of equid GIHs and provides useful insights into important knowledge gaps and future research directions in equid molecular parasitology.
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Limeira CH, Oliveira MD, Júnior JPA, Malossi CD, Ullmann LS, Silva MLCR, Azevedo SS, Alves CJ. Molecular detection of Trypanosoma cruzi in equids in a semiarid zone of Pernambuco - Brazil. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2023; 37:100815. [PMID: 36623895 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2022.100815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosoma cruzi is the etiological agent of Chagas disease, a neglected and frequently occurring zoonosis in Central and South American countries. Wild mammals and domestic dogs are the main reservoirs of the parasite in the wild and domestic cycles, respectively. The vectors have a wide variety of food sources that can influence transmission cycles. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of T. cruzi infection in donkeys (Equus asininos) and mules (Equus mulus) living in rural areas of the Brazilian semi-arid region. Whole-blood samples from 72 equids (65 donkeys and 7 mules) were analyzed by nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR). A total of 51.39% of the samples (37/72) were positive. Phylogenetic analysis identified discrete typing units TcI and TcII, which suggested the possibility that donkeys and mules might be participating in domestic/peridomestic and wild transmission cycles. This was the first report of T. cruzi infection in donkeys and mules in Brazil, with high prevalence of positive animals. This places these animals as potential reservoirs for the parasite and the particular features of these hosts, the presence of vectors and the socioeconomic characteristics of the population under semiarid conditions create interactions that may favor transmission and overlapping T. cruzi infection cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clécio Henrique Limeira
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Saúde Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Av. Universitária s/n, CEP 58708-110 Patos, Paraíba, Brazil.
| | - Murilo Duarte Oliveira
- Instituto Federal de Educação do Sertão Pernambucano, Rodovia BR 232, km 508, Salgueiro, Pernambuco, Brazil
| | - João Pessoa Araújo Júnior
- Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Alameda das Tecomarias, s/n, Chácara Capão Bonito, CEP 18607-440 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Dantas Malossi
- Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Alameda das Tecomarias, s/n, Chácara Capão Bonito, CEP 18607-440 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leila Sabrina Ullmann
- Instituto de Biotecnologia (IBTEC), Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), Alameda das Tecomarias, s/n, Chácara Capão Bonito, CEP 18607-440 Botucatu, São Paulo, Brazil; Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia (FAMEZ), Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Avenida Senador Filinto Müller, 2443, Pioneiros, CEP 79070-900 Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil
| | - Maria Luana Cristiny Rodrigues Silva
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Saúde Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Av. Universitária s/n, CEP 58708-110 Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Sérgio Santos Azevedo
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Saúde Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Av. Universitária s/n, CEP 58708-110 Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
| | - Clebert José Alves
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Saúde Animal, Universidade Federal de Campina Grande, Av. Universitária s/n, CEP 58708-110 Patos, Paraíba, Brazil
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Catalán J, Martínez-Rodero I, Yánez-Ortiz I, Mateo-Otero Y, Bragulat AF, Nolis P, Carluccio A, Yeste M, Miró J. Metabolic profiling of preovulatory follicular fluid in jennies. Res Vet Sci 2022; 153:127-136. [PMID: 36356420 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2022.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Follicular fluid is formed from the transudation of theca and granulosa cells in the growing follicular antrum. Its main function is to provide an optimal intrafollicular microenvironment to modulate oocyte maturation. The aim of this study was to determine the metabolomic profile of preovulatory follicular fluid (PFF) in jennies. For this purpose, PFF was collected from 10 follicles of five jennies in heat. Then, PFF samples were analysed by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and heteronuclear single quantum correlation (2D 1H/13C HSQC). Our study revealed the presence of at least 27 metabolites in the PFF of jennies (including common amino acids, carboxylic acids, amino acid derivatives, alcohols, saccharides, fatty acids, and lactams): 3-hydroxybutyrate, acetate, alanine, betaine, citrate, creatine, creatine phosphate, creatinine, ethanol, formate, glucose, glutamine, glycerol, glycine, hippurate, isoleucine, lactate, leucine, lysine, methanol, phenylalanine, proline, pyruvate, threonine, tyrosine, valine, and τ-methylhistidine. The metabolites found here have an important role in the oocyte development and maturation, since the PFF surrounds the follicle and provides it with the needed nutrients. Our results indicate a unique metabolic profile of the jennies PFF, as it differs from those previously observed in the PFF of the mare, a phylogenetically close species that is taken as a reference for establishing reproductive biotechnology techniques in donkeys. The metabolites found here also differ from those described in the TCM-199 medium enriched with fetal bovine serum (FBS), which is the most used medium for in vitro oocyte maturation in equids. These differences would suggest that the established conditions for in vitro maturation used so far may not be suitable for donkeys. By providing the metabolic composition of jenny PFF, this study could help understand the physiology of oocyte maturation as a first step to establish in vitro reproductive techniques in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Catalán
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, ES-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, IT-64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Iris Martínez-Rodero
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, ES-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Iván Yánez-Ortiz
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, ES-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain; Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Yentel Mateo-Otero
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain
| | - Ana Flores Bragulat
- Equine Production Laboratory, Faculty of Agronomy and Veterinary Medicine, National University of Río Cuarto, AR- X5800 Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Pau Nolis
- Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Facility, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, ES-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Augusto Carluccio
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Teramo, Loc. Piano d'Accio, IT-64100 Teramo, Italy
| | - Marc Yeste
- Biotechnology of Animal and Human Reproduction (TechnoSperm), Institute of Food and Agricultural Technology, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Unit of Cell Biology, Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, University of Girona, ES-17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies (ICREA), ES-08010 Barcelona, Spain..
| | - Jordi Miró
- Unit of Animal Reproduction, Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, ES-08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Barcelona, Spain.
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Minervino AHH, Andersson E, Norlander E, Moreira TR, Gennari SM, Mercado Caruso N, Moraes Filho J, Marcili A, Martins TF, Labruna MB. Serosurvey of spotted fever group Rickettsia in equids from western Pará, Amazon, Brazil. Exp Appl Acarol 2022; 88:361-370. [PMID: 36331665 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-022-00753-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
From a previous large epidemiological survey, we randomly selected 474 serum samples (463 horses and 11 mules) distributed among four municipalities of Pará state, Amazon region, Brazil, and from three types: farm animal, urban carthorse, and sport horse. Samples were tested by indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFAT ≥ 64) for antibodies reactive to spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiae using Rickettsia rickettsii as crude antigens. From the 474 equids tested, 149 (31.4%) had ticks attached during sampling, belonging mostly to the species Dermacentor nitens. The overall seroprevalence for SFG rickettsiae was 31.4% (95% confidence interval: 27.3-35.9%) with 149 seropositive animals out of 474 screened. Notably, 77 equids (16.2%) had high endpoint titers ranging from 512 to 16,384, indicating that they had been exposed to SFG rickettsiae not long before sampling. Animal type affected rickettsial seroprevalence, with significantly higher values among farm horses when compared with urban and sport animals. Presence of dogs and tick infestation were negatively associated with equid seropositivity to R. rickettsii. This is the first report of SFG rickettsiae-reactive antibodies in equids from Pará state, Brazilian Amazon.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emelie Andersson
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emma Norlander
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Thiago Rocha Moreira
- Laboratory of Animal Health, LARSANA, Federal University of Western Pará, UFOPA, Santarém, Pará, Brazil
| | - Solange Maria Gennari
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Nohora Mercado Caruso
- Departamento Productividad e Innovación, Universidad de la Costa, CUC. Calle 58 n.55-66, Barranquilla, Atlántico, Colombia
| | - Jonas Moraes Filho
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Arlei Marcili
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Master's and Doctorate in One Health, Santo Amaro University, UNISA, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Thiago Fernandes Martins
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, FMVZ, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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12
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P K, M M, S M, Kr P, T D, G W, Ma V, K L. First glanders cases detected in Nepal underscore the need for surveillance and border controls. BMC Vet Res 2022; 18:132. [PMID: 35387664 PMCID: PMC8985341 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03233-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Glanders is a transmissible zoonotic disease caused by Burkholderia mallei that infects equids and humans. No glanders cases in equids were reported so far in Nepal. Case presentation Following suspected glanders in animals with clinical signs in different regions in Nepal, serum samples were tested by CFT, ELISA and Luminex® tests. Two horses and a mule tested positive for glanders by all tests, while two other equids only tested positive by ELISA and Luminex®. Analysis of swabs and pus samples by a PCR system targeting B. mallei confirmed the presence of the bacterium in the samples collected from the 3 equids that yielded positive results in all serological tests. Genotyping of the three PCR positive samples with a SNP-based method identified a genotype closely related to the B. mallei strains circulating in India. Conclusion Confirmation of glanders cases underscores the need of implementing a surveillance program in Nepal and a strict control of the animal movement across the borders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koirala P
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal.
| | - Maharjan M
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Manandhar S
- Central Veterinary Laboratory, Kathmandu, Nepal
| | - Pandey Kr
- Veterinary Laboratory, Surkhet, Nepal
| | - Deshayes T
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, European and OIE Reference Laboratory for Glanders, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Wang G
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Valvano Ma
- Wellcome-Wolfson Institute for Experimental Medicine, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, UK
| | - Laroucau K
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, European and OIE Reference Laboratory for Glanders, Paris-Est University, Maisons-Alfort, France.
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13
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Merlin A, Foucher N, Linster M, Cazeau G, Marsot M, Delerue M, Sala C, Schneider J, Ferry B, Amat JP, Tapprest J. Factors Associated with Owner-Reported Euthanasia in Equids in France. J Equine Vet Sci 2021; 105:103723. [PMID: 34607690 DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2021.103723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Revised: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
There is limited evidence regarding the proportion of dead equids in France that were euthanized and the factors influencing the decision-making of euthanasia. The better understanding of which could facilitate research on improvement of welfare, especially on end of life issues. The aim of this study was to estimate the proportion of euthanasia and identify associated factors in equids in France. A web-based survey was created and distributed by the French horse and riding institute to owners who reported an equine death between April 2017 and April 2018 (n = 5 158). Factors associated with euthanasia were identified using a multivariable logistic regression model. The percentage of responses was 10.6% (n = 548/5 158; 95% CI 9.8% to 11.5%). The proportion of euthanasia was 71.0% (n = 389/548; 95% CI 67.2% to 74.8%). The factors "age category", "cause of natural death or reason for euthanasia" and "the length of time during which the animal was reported to be ill by the owner" were significantly associated with euthanasia (P <0.001). The results highlighted that a large majority of owners faced euthanasia decisions and our findings could support veterinarians and owners to better prepare for such an eventuality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Merlin
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Disease Unit, Goustranville, France.
| | - N Foucher
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Disease Unit, Goustranville, France
| | - M Linster
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Disease Unit, Goustranville, France; Pathological Anatomy Unit, National Veterinary School of Alfort (ENVA), Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - G Cazeau
- University of Lyon, ANSES, Laboratory of Lyon, Epidemiology and support to Surveillance Unit, France
| | - M Marsot
- Université Paris Est, ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health, Epidemiology Unit, Maisons-Alfort Cedex, France
| | - M Delerue
- French horse and riding institute (IFCE), Arnac-Pompadour, France
| | - C Sala
- University of Lyon, ANSES, Laboratory of Lyon, Epidemiology and support to Surveillance Unit, France
| | - J Schneider
- French horse and riding institute (IFCE), Arnac-Pompadour, France
| | - B Ferry
- French horse and riding institute (IFCE), Arnac-Pompadour, France
| | - J P Amat
- University of Lyon, ANSES, Laboratory of Lyon, Epidemiology and support to Surveillance Unit, France
| | - J Tapprest
- ANSES, Laboratory for Animal Health in Normandy, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Equine Disease Unit, Goustranville, France
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14
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Acevedo-Gutiérrez LY, Paternina LE, Labruna MB, Rodas JD. Presence of two species of the Amblyomma cajennense complex (Acari: Ixodidae) and probable zones of sympatry in northwestern Colombia. Ticks Tick Borne Dis 2021; 12:101815. [PMID: 34461396 DOI: 10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The A. cajennense tick complex has been thought to be the main vector of Rickettsia rickettsii in Central and South America. Studies in Colombia have determined the presence of species A. patinoi and A. mixtum of the A. cajennense complex, but it is unknown which species of this complex exist in northwestern Colombia. Our aim was to identify the species of the A. cajennense complex that are present in northwestern Colombia. We sampled ticks of A. cajennense sensu lato infesting equids. Females identified according to the morphology of their genital pore were selected for genetic confirmation. Specimens from each locality were selected to perform molecular and genetic analysis. Specimens were analyzed from five departments (Antioquia, Bolívar, Córdoba, Magdalena, and Sucre). Morphologically 65 specimens were identified as A. patinoi and 5 as A. mixtum. Molecular analysis allowed to confirm the morphological identification of 27 specimens. In this study A. patinoi was widely distributed in the departments of Antioquia, Bolívar, and Córdoba with allopatric and sympatric distribution in some places. These two species in the region could have unexpected effects on the epidemiology of rickettsiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luis E Paternina
- Biomedical Research Group, University of Sucre, Sincelejo, Colombia
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juan D Rodas
- Research Group in Veterinary Sciences Centauro, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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15
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Ali A, Zahid H, Zeb I, Tufail M, Khan S, Haroon M, Tufail M, Bilal M, Hussain M, Alouffi AS, Muñoz-Leal S, Labruna MB. Risk factors associated with tick infestations on equids in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, with notes on Rickettsia massiliae detection. Parasit Vectors 2021; 14:363. [PMID: 34256806 PMCID: PMC8276440 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-021-04836-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies on ticks infesting equids are lacking in various parts of the world, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Pakistan. The aim of this study was to investigate the diversity of ticks infesting equids, associated risk factors and rickettsial detection in ticks from equids in KP. METHODS Inspection of 404 equid hosts from November 2018 to October 2019 resulted in the collection of 550 ticks. Data on tick-associated risk factors were collected from equid owners by means of a questionnaire. After morphological identification, partial DNA sequences of the tick mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene were used for taxonomic confirmation of species. Partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes were used for Rickettsia detection in ticks. RESULTS A total of 550 tick specimens were collected on 324 (80.2%) of the equids inspected, of which 161 were horses (50%), 145 (45%) were donkeys and 18 were mules (5%). The ticks were identified as belonging to the following five species: Rhipicephalus microplus (341 specimens, 62% of the total ticks), Rh. haemaphysaloides (126, 23%), Rh. turanicus (39, 7%), Rh. sanguineus (s.l.) (33, 6%) and Hyalomma anatolicum (11, 2%). The most prevalent tick life stage was adult females (279, 51%) followed by adult males (186, 34%) and nymphs (85, 15%). Higher tick infestations were observed on male equids (relative risk [RR] 0.7432, P < 0.0005) and adult equids (RR 1.268, P < 0.0020). Ticks were frequently attached to the axial region of horses (55, 21%), sternum of donkeys (44, 21%) and belly of mules (19, 23%) (P < 0.04). Temporal patterns of tick infestation in association with temperature and humidity were highly significant (P < 0.05). Risk factors, such as animal housing (P < 0.0003), living management (P < 0.006), grazing type (P < 0.01) and location in hilly areas (P < 0.02), significantly enhanced the chances for tick infestation. Tick species analyzed in this study were phylogenetically related to species from Afghanistan, China, South Africa and Taiwan. Partial sequences of the gltA and ompA genes obtained from Rh. microplus and Rh. haemaphysaloides were 100% identical to the spotted fever group pathogen Rickettsia massiliae. CONCLUSIONS Equids exposed to significant risk factors were infected by one or more of at least five tick species in KP, Pakistan, and some of the ticks harbored the human pathogen R. massiliae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Ali
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.
| | - Hafsa Zahid
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Ismail Zeb
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tufail
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Sulaiman Khan
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Haroon
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Tufail
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Bilal
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | - Majid Hussain
- Department of Zoology, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
| | | | - Sebastián Muñoz-Leal
- Departamento de Ciencia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Concepción, Av. Vicente Méndez 595, casilla 537, Chillán, Ñuble, Chile
| | - Marcelo B Labruna
- Department of Preventive Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Levá M, Pluháček J. Does social facilitation affect suckling behaviour in zebras? Behav Processes 2021; 185:104347. [PMID: 33556479 DOI: 10.1016/j.beproc.2021.104347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Many recent studies show that synchronisation of various behaviours are advantageous for group-living mammals. However, studies on synchronisation of suckling behaviour inmonotocous species are nearly absent. We observed 49 individual foals of three zebra species in Dvůr Králové Zoo, and recorded a total of 5 890 suckling bouts, almost one fifth (1 036) of which were synchronised (defined as at least two bouts overlapping at the same time). We found that synchronised suckling bouts lasted longer and were less likely to be terminated by the mother than non-synchronised ones. This is in line with social facilitation theory. In addition the occurrence of synchronised suckling bout differed interspecifically. In plains (Equus quagga) and mountain zebra (E. zebra) the probability of synchronised bouts increased with increasing numbers of foals, whereas the opposite result was found in Grevy's zebra (E. grevyi). We suggest that the interspecific differences may reflect differences in social organisation of respective species as suckling synchronisation rate was higher in species that form nurseries in the wild.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michaela Levá
- Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences, University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamýcká, 1176, Czech Republic.
| | - Jan Pluháček
- Department of Ethology, Institute of Animal Science, Přátelství 815, Praha - Uhříněves, Czech Republic; Ostrava Zoo and Botanical Park, Michálkovická 197/2081, 710 00 Ostrava, Czech Republic; Department of Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of Ostrava, Chittussiho 10, 710 00, Ostrava, Czech Republic
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Villa-Mancera A, Aldeco-Pérez M, Molina-Mendoza P, Hernández-Guzmán K, Figueroa-Castillo JA, Reynoso-Palomar A. Prevalence and risk factors of gastrointestinal nematode infestation of horses, donkeys and mules in tropical, dry and temperate regions in Mexico. Parasitol Int 2020; 81:102265. [PMID: 33278604 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2020.102265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2020] [Revised: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
The aims of this study were to determine the prevalence of gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) in horses, donkeys and mules and its associations with age, sex and climatic factors (derived from satellite data) to identify the potential risk factors of different climate regions in four Mexican states. From May 2017 to April 2018, a total of 560 farm owners or managers answered the questionnaire, and the data were used to establish three Köppen climate classes (tropical, dry, temperate). The overall prevalence of GIN parasites in equines was 77.9% (436 out of 560). The highest percentage of GIN was detected in mules (87.5%). In addition, the highest prevalence among the climate regions was found in the temperate climate (79.9%). The identified nematodes were strongyle type (77.9%), Parascaris equorum (5.7%), Strongyloides (0.7%) and Oxyuris equi (2.9%). The highest mean value of strongylid eggs per g faeces was found in the dry climate (632.6 ± 96.8), followed by that in the tropical climate (518.3 ± 49.7) and temperate climate (383.8 ± 30.2); however, a similar prevalence was observed between different climate regions. Age and sex were identified as risk factors for high shedding of strongyle eggs: the odds ratios for higher shedding intensities were 3.858 for geldings compared to mares, 2.602 for 6-10-year-old equines and 3.597 for ≤16-year-olds compared to young equines (≤5 years old).
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Affiliation(s)
- Abel Villa-Mancera
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla, Mexico.
| | - Mariana Aldeco-Pérez
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla, Mexico
| | - Pedro Molina-Mendoza
- Ingeniería en Agronomía y Zootecnia, División de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Puebla, Calle Principal a Lipuntahuaca S/N, C.P. 73475, Lipuntahuaca, Huehuetla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Karina Hernández-Guzmán
- Ingeniería en Agronomía y Zootecnia, División de Ciencias Naturales, Universidad Intercultural del Estado de Puebla, Calle Principal a Lipuntahuaca S/N, C.P. 73475, Lipuntahuaca, Huehuetla, Puebla, Mexico
| | - Juan Antonio Figueroa-Castillo
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Delegación Coyoacán, C.P. 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Alejandro Reynoso-Palomar
- Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Benemérita Universidad Autónoma de Puebla, Tecamachalco Puebla, Mexico
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Schvartz G, Farnoushi Y, Berkowitz A, Edery N, Hahn S, Steinman A, Lublin A, Erster O. Molecular characterization of the re-emerging West Nile virus in avian species and equids in Israel, 2018, and pathological description of the disease. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:528. [PMID: 33092614 PMCID: PMC7579921 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04399-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In this report we describe the molecular and pathological characteristics of West Nile virus (WNV) infection that occurred during the summer and fall of 2018 in avian species and equines. WNV is reported in Israel since the 1950s, with occasional outbreaks leading to significant morbidity and mortality in birds, high infection in horses and humans, and sporadic fatalities in humans. METHODS Animal and avian carcasses in a suitable condition were examined by post-mortem analysis. Tissue samples were examined for WNV by RT-qPCR and the viral load was quantified. Samples with sufficient material quality were further analyzed by Endpoint PCR and sequencing, which was used for phylogenetic analysis. Tissue samples from positive animals were used for culturing the virus in Vero and C6/36 cells. RESULTS WNV RNA was detected in one yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis), two long-eared owls (Asio otus), two domesticated geese (Anser anser), one pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), four hooded crows (Corvus cornix), three horses and one donkey. Pathological and histopathological findings were characteristic of viral infection. Molecular analysis and viral load quantification showed varying degrees of infection, ranging between 70-1.4 × 106 target copies per sample. Phylogenetic analysis of a 906-bp genomic segment showed that all samples belonged to Lineage 1 clade 1a, with the following partition: five samples from 2018 and one sample detected in 2016 were of Cluster 2 Eastern European, two of Cluster 2 Mediterranean and four of Cluster 4. Four of the positive samples was successfully propagated in C6/36 and Vero cell lines for further work. CONCLUSIONS WNV is constantly circulating in wild and domesticated birds and animals in Israel, necessitating constant surveillance in birds and equines. At least three WNV strains were circulating in the suspected birds and animals examined. Quantitative analysis showed that the viral load varies significantly between different organs and tissues of the infected animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gili Schvartz
- Division of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Yigal Farnoushi
- Division of Avian diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Asaf Berkowitz
- Division of Avian diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Nir Edery
- Division of Pathology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Shelly Hahn
- Division of Pathology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Amir Steinman
- Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, The Robert H. Smith, Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 7610001 Rehovot, Israel
| | - Avishai Lublin
- Division of Avian diseases, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
| | - Oran Erster
- Division of Virology, Kimron Veterinary Institute, Bet Dagan, Israel
- Present Address: Central Virology Laboratory, Israel Ministry of Health, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
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Santos Alves J, da Silva Anjos M, Silva Bastos M, Sarmento Martins de Oliveira L, Pereira Pinto Oliveira I, Batista Pinto LF, Albano de Araújo de Oliveira C, Bermal Costa R, Miguel Ferreira de Camargo G. Variability analyses of the maternal lineage of horses and donkeys. Gene 2020; 769:145231. [PMID: 33065240 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2020.145231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Equid breeds originating from the Iberian Peninsula and North Africa are believed to have genetically contributed to the formation of breeds and ecotypes from Brazil. The country has numerous breeds and ecotypes of horses and donkeys but there are no extensive studies on maternal genetic diversity and their origins. This study reports the results of the first genetic analysis of all horse and donkey breeds/ecotypes from Brazil based on sequences of the mitochondrial DNA control region (D-loop) whose main objective was to characterize the genetic variation in these animals. These analyses will contribute to the understanding of the current population structure and diversity of breeds/ecotypes of horses and donkeys raised in the Brazil. We analyzed 310 D-loop sequences representing 41 breeds/ecotypes of Equus caballus and Equus asinus, including 14 native horse breeds/ecotypes, 3 native donkey breeds/ecotypes and 24 cosmopolite horse breeds. The results revealed that the breeds are well structured genetically and that they comprise different groups. A total of 80 and 14 haplotypes were identified for horses and donkeys, respectively. Most of the horse mtDNA haplotypes were shared by many breeds, whereas donkey mtDNA haplotypes seemed to be more group-especif. Some groups presented a low intrabreed distance and/or a low haplotype/nucleotide diversity such as Lavradeiro, Crioulo, Piquira and Percheron horses and Brazilian donkey. Thus, specific actions must be designed for each population. The different levels of genetic diversity provided important information for conservation resource management of adapted groups as well as for mating orientation of breed associations. Some autochthonous ecotypes require attention because of their low genetic variability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackeline Santos Alves
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Marcia da Silva Anjos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Evolução da UFBA, Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | - Marisa Silva Bastos
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | - Raphael Bermal Costa
- Escola de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Federal da Bahia, (UFBA), Salvador, BA, Brazil
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Marković N, Stevanović O, Krstić N, Marinković D, Buckley M. A case study of vertebral fusion in a 19 th-century horse from Serbia. Int J Paleopathol 2019; 27:17-23. [PMID: 31550619 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2019.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2019] [Revised: 07/13/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the etiology of skeletal changes noted in equid vertebrae from a 19th- century context near Belgrade, Serbia. MATERIALS A vertebral column consisting of 15 fused thoracic vertebrae (T2-T16), with right ribs fused to T4 and T5 and small remnants of ribs articulating with T4, T5 and T6 on the left side were accidentally recovered during industrial exploitation of sand. METHODS The specimen was subjected to morphological analysis and collagen fingerprinting by mass spectrometry for species identification. In order to determine the absolute temporal context, radiocarbon dating was employed. Pathological changes were analyzed macroscopically and then underwent X-ray and (CT) imaging. RESULTS Species identification indicates that the vertebral column belonged to a domestic horse (Equus caballus) living in the early 19th century. Pathological changes included exuberant bone proliferation, fusion of small articulations, enthesopathy formation, complete fusion between the vertebral bodies, and ossification of the anterior longitudinal ligament. CONCLUSIONS Pathological changes represent signs of an advanced stage of vertebral fusion consistent with diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). SIGNIFICANCE This case study provides a clear distinction between diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and other vertebral column diseases in equids. It also presents a new and significant contribution to the nascent discipline of animal paleopathology in present-day Serbia. LIMITATIONS Given that only 15 thoracic vertebrae were discovered, the impact of this disease on other parts of the horse skeleton remains unknown, as does the archaeological context of the remains. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Research into the frequency of DISH in equids, as well as the historical context of equine husbandry in Serbia will allow greater insight into the causes and effects of this pathological condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Marković
- Institute of Archaeology, Kneza Mihaila 35/IV, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Oliver Stevanović
- Veterinary clinic "BL vet" Banja Luka, Stepe Stepanovića 173, 78000, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Nikola Krstić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Darko Marinković
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Oslobođenja 18, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
| | - Michael Buckley
- Manchester Institute of Biotechnology, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Manchester, 131 Princess Street, Manchester, M1 7DN, UK.
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Fernandes CB, Ball BA, Loux SC, Boakari YL, Scoggin KE, El-Sheikh Ali H, Cogliati B, Esteller-Vico A. Uterine cervix as a fundamental part of the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss associated with ascending placentitis in mares. Theriogenology 2020; 145:167-75. [PMID: 31732164 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Revised: 10/10/2019] [Accepted: 10/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Anatomical and molecular changes in the cervical barrier in women are a fundamental part of the pathogenesis of pregnancy loss associated with chorioamnionitis. However, there is little information regarding changes in the cervix associated with ascending infection in pregnant mares. To better characterize morphological and molecular changes in the cervix during placentitis, we examined full thickness histology and mRNA expression for a number of inflammatory and endocrine factors in the mucosa and stroma of the cervix of mares (n = 5) after experimental induction of placentitis via transcervical inoculation with Streptococcus equi ssp zooepidemicus at approximately 290d of gestation. Gestationally age-matched mares (n = 4) served as controls. Target transcripts included steroid receptors (PGR, ESR1 and 2), OXTR, prostaglandins synthases and receptors (PTGS1, PTGS2, PGES, PGFS, PTGER2 and PTGER4), cytokines (IL1b, IL6, CLCX8, IL10 and TNFα) and acute phase proteins (SAA). Histologically, a marked modification in the cervical epithelia and stroma was characterizing cervicitis. Additionally, the mRNA expression of IL1β, IL6, CXCL8, SAA and PTGS2 was greater (P < 0.05) in both mucosa and stroma of the inoculated mares; whereas TNFα, IL10 and PGES were upregulated (P < 0.05) only in the cervical mucosa. Progesterone receptor, ESR1 and PTGER4 were upregulated in the cervical stroma of placentitis mares. In conclusion, the cervical response to placentitis was characterized by an upregulation of inflammatory cytokines that was accompanied by induction of PTGS2 and PGES. Further, receptors known to be associated with relaxation of the cervix in other species (ESR1 and PTGER4) were upregulated in the cervical stroma of placentitis mares. These findings indicate that the cervix is not only a physical barrier but that it has an active role in the pathogenesis of ascending placentitis.
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Vianna AM, Santos AC, Cunha RC, de Souza Stori de Lara AP, Weege GB, Leivas Leite FP. Antigenicity assessment of the Theileria equi merozoite antigen (EMA-2) expressed in Pichia pastoris in mice and horses. Exp Parasitol 2019; 206:107757. [PMID: 31494216 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2019.107757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2019] [Revised: 09/02/2019] [Accepted: 09/03/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Equine theileriosis is a severe equine disease caused by the protozoan Theileria equi, which is prevalent in tropical and subtropical areas. In this study, a recombinant equi merozoite antigen-2 (rEMA-2) of T. equi was used as an immunogen. Two groups of 10 mice each were divided into control and vaccinated groups. Sixty mares seronegative for theileriosis were divided in two groups, one vaccinated and another group as a control animal. Mice and mares of the vaccinated groups were inoculated with 150 μL of the vaccine containing 50 μg of rEMA-2 and 2 mL of the vaccine containing 200 μg of rEMA-2, respectively, at days 0 and 21. The immunogenicity of rEMA-2 was evaluated by ELISA and fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) using serum from vaccinated mice, mares and antigenicity in naturally infected horse. At every point throughout the ELISA study, there were significant differences between the vaccinated and control groups (p < 0.05). The vaccine induced 3- and 4-fold IgG increases in mice at the 14th and 28th day, respectively, compared to the control group. The horses' IgG dynamics showed a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the total IgG titer as early as day 7, which increased until day 28 at which time a more significant (p < 0.001) IgG titer was observed. In evaluating the isotypes, we observed a trend similar to that of total IgG, where IgG(T) (IgG3-5) were significantly (p < 0.05) more elevated than the other isotypes analyzed, followed by IgGb (IgG4-7) and IgGa (IgG1). Positive fluorescence was detected by IFAT, suggesting that the protein is immunogenic and conserves some epitopes identical to the native T. equi antigens present in the equine blood smear. Thus, our results suggest that rEMA-2 can be a promising vaccinal antigen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Muñoz Vianna
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | - Alice Correa Santos
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | - Rodrigo Casquero Cunha
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, 96010-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Guilherme Borges Weege
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
| | - Fábio Pereira Leivas Leite
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Núcleo de Biotecnologia, Centro de Desenvolvimento Tecnológico, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, 96010-900, Brazil; Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de Pelotas, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Argüelles D, Saitua A, de Medina AS, Muñoz JA, Muñoz A. Clinical efficacy of clodronic acid in horses diagnosed with navicular syndrome: A field study using objective and subjective lameness evaluation. Res Vet Sci 2019; 125:298-304. [PMID: 31351199 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2019.07.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2018] [Revised: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Navicular syndrome, a common cause of equine forelimb lameness, is associated with pathological changes in the navicular bone. Consequently, administration of bisphosphonates (BPs) has been advocated in order to modify the rate of bone turnover. The present study aimed to assess the clinical efficacy of intramuscularly administered clodronic acid for the treatment of 11 horses with clinical and radiographic findings compatible with navicular syndrome. Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 5 of the 11 horses. The animals were treated with an intramuscular dose of clodronic acid of 765 mg/horse, administered over three separate injection sites. Before and at 7, 30 and 90 days after treatment, horses were subjected to lameness and accelerometric evaluations. A clinical improvement was observed in 6 of the 11 horses. These 6 horses showed a mean reduction of two degrees in lameness score. Accelerometry in these horses revealed increased velocity, stride length, stride regularity and dorsoventral displacement of the gravity of centre together with a reduction in stride frequency, suggesting a gait improvement. This study demonstrates that intramuscular clodronic acid can be useful for lameness reduction in some horses with navicular syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Argüelles
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Córdoba, Spain
| | - Aritz Saitua
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Autonomous University of Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain; Equine Sport Medicine Centre CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Spain
| | - Antonia Sánchez de Medina
- Veterinary Teaching Hospital, University of Córdoba, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Spain
| | - Juan A Muñoz
- Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidad Alfonso X el Sabio, Villanueva de la Cañada, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ana Muñoz
- Equine Sport Medicine Centre CEMEDE, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Spain; Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Spain.
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Schedlbauer C, Blaue D, Gericke M, Blüher M, Starzonek J, Gittel C, Brehm W, Vervuert I. Impact of body weight gain on hepatic metabolism and hepatic inflammatory cytokines in comparison of Shetland pony geldings and Warmblood horse geldings. PeerJ 2019; 7:e7069. [PMID: 31211018 PMCID: PMC6557249 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.7069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 05/06/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is known as determining part of human obesity. The impact of body weight (BW) gain on liver metabolism has not been extensively investigated yet. Objectives To investigate hepatic alterations caused by increasing BW in ponies and horses. Animals A total of 19 non-obese equines (10 Shetland ponies, geldings; nine Warmblood horses, geldings). Methods Animals received 200% of their metabolizable maintenance energy requirements for 2 years. Serum alkaline phosphatase, glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase activities and bile acids were analyzed several times during 2 years of hypercaloric diet. Hepatic lipid content and hepatic levels of the interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), cluster of differentiation (CD) 68, IL-1β, lipoprotein lipase (LPL), fatty acid-binding protein 1, chemerin and nuclear factor-κB mRNAs were assessed at the start of the study and after 1 and 2 years of excess energy intake. Results The mean (±SD) BW gain recorded during 2 years of excess energy intake was 29.9 ± 19.4% for ponies and 17 ± 6.74% for horses. The hepatic lipid content was not profoundly affected by increasing BW. Levels of the IL-6, TNFα, CD68 and IL-1β mRNAs did not change during BW gain. Levels of the chemerin mRNA increased significantly in both breeds (ponies: P = 0.02; horses: P = 0.02) in response to BW gain. Significant differences in serum GLDH and AST activities, serum bile acid concentrations and hepatic levels of the LPL mRNA were observed between ponies and horses at the end of the study. Conclusions Chemerin might represent an interesting marker for future equine obesity research. Interestingly, steatosis caused by increasing BW may occur later in the development of obesity in equines than in humans. Additionally, the hepatic metabolism exhibits differences between ponies and horses, which may explain in part the greater susceptibility of ponies to obesity-associated metabolic dysregulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carola Schedlbauer
- Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Dominique Blaue
- Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Martin Gericke
- Leipzig University, Institute of Anatomy, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Matthias Blüher
- Leipzig University, Department of Medicine, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Janine Starzonek
- Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Claudia Gittel
- Leipzig University, Department for Horses, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Walter Brehm
- Leipzig University, Department for Horses, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
| | - Ingrid Vervuert
- Leipzig University, Institute of Animal Nutrition, Nutrition Diseases and Dietetics, Leipzig, Saxony, Germany
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25
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Ramírez-Hernández A, Polo G, Robayo-Sánchez LN, Cruz-Maldonado OA, Imbacuán-Pantoja WO, Cortés-Vecino JA. Gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasites of working horses from Colombia. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2019; 17:100296. [PMID: 31303234 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2019.100296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2018] [Revised: 01/18/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Working equids are used in different countries for numerous purposes and regularly are crucial for multiple communities' income and profit. Historically, in Bogotá D.C. they were used as animal-powered vehicles but in 2013 it was initiated a substitution and adoption program as a result of society pressure and lawful processes. Infectious diseases and mainly parasitic diseases, poses a threat in the health and productivity of these animals. Our aim was to identify, by coproparasitological methods, the gastrointestinal and pulmonary parasite species infecting working horses submitted to the mentioned substitution and adoption program. Between May and December 2013 and February and July 2014, fresh faecal samples were obtained from 1004 and 648 horses from Bogotá D.C. and other Colombian municipalities, respectively. They were processed by flotation and Baermann tests in order to visualize faecal parasitic forms (eggs, oocysts, and larvae). Prevalences were calculated for each gastrointestinal parasite at origin and one year after, at destination, and analysed by age group and coinfection. At origin (Bogotá D.C.), prevalence for at least one parasite species was 87.5% and one year later, at destination (other municipalities), was 89.5%. The most prevalent species were strongyles (86.4-89.4%) followed by Parascaris spp. (0.7-6.2%), cestodes (Anoplocephalidae) (3.7-4.9%) and Oxyuris sp. (2.8-4.3%). Other species detected were Eimeria sp., Strongyloides sp. and Dictyocaulus sp. Coinfection by two or more species ranged between 14.4 and 38.3% being strongyle, Parascaris spp., Oxyuris sp. and cestodes (Anoplocephalidae) the most common species involved. Some parasitic infections commonly associated with younger animals (e.g. Parascaris spp.) were detected in all age groups. Flow patterns of parasites linking Bogotá D.C. and other municipalities are presented. Finally, these results support the widespread distribution of most of species and the plausible health and welfare impact of this infections in working equids submitted to particular epidemiological risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Ramírez-Hernández
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio 481, Bogotá D.C., Colombia; Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 0 5508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Gina Polo
- Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva e Saúde Animal, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Prof. Orlando Marques de Paiva, 87, CEP 0 5508-000, Cidade Universitária, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Laura N Robayo-Sánchez
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio 481, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Oscar A Cruz-Maldonado
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio 481, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Wilson O Imbacuán-Pantoja
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio 481, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Jesús A Cortés-Vecino
- Grupo Parasitología Veterinaria, Departamento Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y de Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Cra. 30 No. 45-03, Ciudad Universitaria, Edificio 481, Bogotá D.C., Colombia.
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Abdalhamed AM, Hassanain MA, Zeedan GSG, Shaapan RM. Evaluation of Toxoplasma gondii propagated in specific pathogen free embryonated chicken egg, for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in equids and human. J Parasit Dis 2019; 43:498-505. [PMID: 31406416 DOI: 10.1007/s12639-019-01117-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a worldwide distribution infects a wide variety of mammals, including humans. The present study aimed to detect the efficacy of soluble and whole T. gondii antigens propagated in specific pathogen-free of embryonated chicken egg (SPF-ECE) used to improve the potency of serological assays for diagnosis of toxoplasmosis in equids and human. Total of 220 serum samples from 170 equids (90 donkeys and 55 horses and 25 mules) and 50 humans were collected from different governorates in Egypt during the period from October 2017 to March 2018. Crude T. gondii tachyzoites antigens from low or high passages propagated in mice or SPF-ECE was used for modifying some serological tests. The experiment showed that the mortality rate of T. gondii for 103 and 104 low passages were 6/8 (75%) and 7/8 (88%) dead embryos but, lower mortality rate in high passage T. gondii were 4/8 (50%) and 5/8 (63%) dead embryos, respectively. No mortality or inflammatory signs were observed in control of negative groups. In equids sera were examined by S-ELISA using soluble T. gondii antigen propagated in SPF-ECE showed the highest positive results 26 (28.8%), followed by LAT 37 (22%) and MAGPT 36 (21.17%). While, W-ELISA and IFAT used whole T. gondii antigen prepared in SPF-ECE were 35 (20.58%) and 28 (19.41%) showed highly positive results than the same test used the whole antigen prepared in mice. The highest seroprevalence of T. gondii in human and donkeys were 19/50 (38%). and 26/90 (28.88%), more than mules were 6/25 (24%) and horses were 9/55 (16.3%) examined by S-ELISA respectively. SPF-ECE is considered an appropriate experimental model for isolation and propagation of T. gondii tachyzoites, and their soluble antigens used in serological tests (S-ELISA, LAT, and MAGPT) have sensitivity and specificity more than the whole antigen and provided reliable diagnostic tools for detection of toxoplasmosis in human and equids.
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Moreira TR, Sarturi C, Stelmachtchuk FN, Andersson E, Norlander E, de Oliveira FLC, Machado Portela J, Marcili A, Emanuelson U, Gennari SM, Minervino AHH. Prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in equids of Western Pará, Brazil. Acta Trop 2019; 189:39-45. [PMID: 30267659 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.09.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2018] [Revised: 09/10/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to determine the prevalence of antibodies against Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. in equids raised for distinct purposes in the western state of Pará, Brazil, and to identify potential risk factors associated with parasite infection. A cross-sectional study was conducted with cluster sampling in 101 farms from 18 municipalities (farm horses). In visited municipalities, samples from sport and cart horses were included. Serum was obtained for detecting antibodies against T. gondii and Neospora spp. using indirect fluorescent antibody test, with a cut-off point of 1:64 and 1:50, respectively. Association analysis, using the chi-square test, was performed to evaluate possible risk factors related to the prevalence of antibodies. A total of 1298 equids were sampled (947 farm, 240 sport, and 111 cart horses), including 1244 horses, 2 donkeys, and 52 mules. The number of equids sampled per property ranged from 1 to 49. Of the total examined, 134 (10.3%) had antibodies against T. gondii, and of the 18 municipalities visited, 11 (61%) had at least one positive animal. Seventy-three of the 1298 equids (5.62%) from 44% of the municipalities tested positive for Neospora spp. The type of the animal (farm, sport, or carthorse) was not associated with the prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii; however, antibodies against Neospora spp. was more prevalent in carthorses (P = 0.001) (13.5%) than in farm (5.0%) and sport (4.6%) horses. Breed of the horse and the presence of cats were risk factors for the prevalence of antibodies against T. gondii, and presence of dogs was a risk factor for the prevalence of antibodies against Neospora spp. This is the first report of seropositive equids for T. gondii and Neospora spp. in the state of Pará contributing to the knowledge on epidemiology of the two parasites.
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Grady ST, Watts AE, Thompson JA, Penedo MCT, Konganti K, Hinrichs K. Effect of intra-ovarian injection of mesenchymal stem cells in aged mares. J Assist Reprod Genet 2019; 36:543-56. [PMID: 30470961 DOI: 10.1007/s10815-018-1371-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE This study aims to determine if intra-ovarian injection of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) improves or restores ovarian function in aged females. METHODS Prospective randomized study of eight aged mares and six young mares receiving intra-ovarian injection of MSCs or vehicle. Main outcome measures were antral follicle count and serum anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) (aged and young mares), and for aged mares, oocyte meiotic and developmental competence; gross and histological ovarian assessment; evaluation of presence of chimerism in recovered granulosa cells and in ovarian tissue samples; and gene expression in ovarian tissue as assessed by RNA sequencing. RESULTS Injection of MSCs was not associated with significant changes in follicle number, oocyte recovery rate on follicle aspiration, oocyte maturation rate, or blastocyst rate after ICSI in aged mares, or in changes in follicle number in young mares. There were no significant changes in peripheral AMH concentrations, indicating a lack of effect on growing follicles. MSC donor DNA was not recovered in granulosa cells or in ovarian tissue, indicating lack of persistence of injected MSC. RNA sequencing revealed significant differences in gene expression between MSC- and vehicle-injected ovaries. CONCLUSIONS Intra-ovarian injection of bone marrow-derived MSCs altered gene expression but did not improve ovarian function in aged mares.
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Françoso R, Riccio AV, Fernandes CB, Alonso MA, Belli CB. Transplacental transmission of Theileria equi in mules: Should we worry? Vet Parasitol 2018; 264:39-41. [PMID: 30503089 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2018.10.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2018] [Revised: 10/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Equine piroplasmosis, disease globally responsible for significant economic losses, is caused by the transmission of the hemoprotozoa Theileria equi and Babesia caballi by ticks. Transplacental transmission has been reported previously in horses, which is not the case for mules´ foals. The present study investigated, by Real Time-PCR (RT-PCR), the presence of both Theileria equi and Babesia caballi in newborn mules before the ingestion of colostrum. Blood samples of 18 mares and their respective mules´ foals were collected and analyzed by RT-PCR. Only one mare was positive for B. caballi. In contrast, 13 mares were positive for T. equi, with two foals (11.1%) positive for the same protozoon, both of affected mares. We may conclude that transplacental transmission of Theileria equi also occurs in mules which may be an important concern while breeding such animals.
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Tedla M, Abichu B. Cross-sectional study on gastro-intestinal parasites of equids in South-western Ethiopia. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2018; 3:e00076. [PMID: 30364581 PMCID: PMC6197163 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2018.e00076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 10/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A cross sectional study was conducted in Jimma town from October 2010 to March 2011 with the objective of determining the status of intestinal nematode parasites of equids, and the association of different variables with infection rate. To address this, a total of 400 equids; donkeys (n = 29), horses (n = 317) and mules (n = 54) were used in this study and based on the coprological examination to identify parasite eggs, three species of nematodes were identified with an overall prevalence of 72.25%. A prevalence of 63.25%, 16.50%, 4.25%, and 10.75% were identified for Strongyles, Parascaris equorum, Oxyuris equi, and mixed infection respectively. Highest to lowest prevalence of Strongyles (63.72, 51.85 and 79.31%), P. equorum (17.98, 12.96 and 6.89%) and O. equi (5.04, 1.85 and 0.00%) were observed in horse, mule and donkey, respectively. The statistical analysis between the species of equine and strongyle infection rate, body condition scores with strongyle and P. equorum infection rate (p < 0.05). However, species of the animal was not significantly associated with P. equorum (p < 0.05). The infection rate of O. equi was not significantly associated with body condition score, age and species of equines (p > 0.05 for all variables) and no significant difference (p > 0.05) between the prevalence of intestinal nematodes and sex of the animal was showed. Therefore, the present study revealed that intestinal nematodes are an important health problem in the area affecting the wellbeing and productivity of equids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mebrahtu Tedla
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
| | - Bamlaku Abichu
- College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of Gondar, P.O. Box 196, Gondar, Ethiopia
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Parashar R, Singla LD, Batra K, Kumar R, Kashyap N, Kaur P, Bal MS. Unraveling cryptic epizootiology of equid trypanosomosis in Punjab state of India by parasitological and sero-molecular techniques. Acta Trop 2018; 185:18-26. [PMID: 29698659 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2018.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2018] [Revised: 04/01/2018] [Accepted: 04/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
To unravel equid trypanosomosis caused by Trypanosoma evansi in Punjab state of India, a cross sectional study was designed by utilizing parasitological and sero-molecular tools with objective to assess the prevalence of T. evansi in association with various risk factors in all agroclimatic zones of Punjab state of India. Parasitological Romanowksy stained thin blood smears (RSTBS) to detect patent infection, molecular techniques polymerase chain reaction I (PCR I; TBR 1/2 primers; targeting minichromosomal satellite DNA of T. evansi), polymerase chain reaction II (PCR II; TR 3/4 primers; targeting variable surface glycoprotein region DNA of T. evansi) & LAMP (Loop mediated isothermal amplification) assay to detect latent infection and serological assays card agglutination test (CATT/T. evansi) & ELISA (Enzyme linked immunosorbent assay) to detect exposure status of trypanosomosis were utilized in the present study. A total 429 equid blood and serum samples from all the five agroclimatic zones of Punjab state tested by these techniques showed a prevalence of 1.39% (CL: 0-15.28) by RSTBS, 6.52% (10.94-45.09) by both TBR 1/2 PCR and LAMP assay, 5.82% (11.57-38.42) by TR 3/4 PCR, 15.15% (36.57-135.42) with CATT/T. evansi and 22.84% (17.77-840.22) with ELISA. Interpretation of various risk factors revealed that the donkey/mules population (RR = 5.46, 95% [CI] = 0.15-15.56) was found to be at higher risk of T. evansi infection predominantly at 'unorganized' farms (RR = 4.06, 95% [CI] = 0.12-4.51). Animal used for commercial purposes (RR = 3.25, 95% [CI] = 0.06-7.42), rearing of equids with other domestic animals (RR = 2.36, 95% [CI] = 0.10-17.11) and farms without application of fly repellant/insecticides/net (RR = 3.68, 95% [CI] = 0.08-5.94) made them more prone to the disease. This comprehensive report utilizing the classical, serological and molecular diagnostic tools for epidemiology of T. evansi establishes the endemic stability of this infection in all agro climatic zones of Punjab with LAMP assay to be a promisingly sensitive and specific technique for the diagnosis of T. evansi under isothermal conditions in field situations.
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Villa L, Gazzonis AL, Álvarez-García G, Diezma-Díaz C, Zanzani SA, Manfredi MT. First detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in horses and donkeys in Italy. Parasitol Int 2018; 67:640-643. [PMID: 29935266 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Among Apicomplexa protozoa infecting equids, Besnoitia spp., Toxoplasma gondii and Neospora spp. represent important issues from a sanitary and zootechnical viewpoint. However, only scarce epidemiological data are available on the spread of the infections in horses and donkeys in Europe. Therefore, a serosurvey was planned to estimate the prevalence of these Sarcocystidae species in Italian equids. Serum samples from 268 horses and 18 donkeys raised in Italy were collected and serologically analyzed to detect anti-Besnoitia spp., anti-T. gondii and anti-Neospora spp. antibodies: an approach based on an initial screening by in-house ELISA followed by a confirmatory WB was used. Two horses (0.7%) and four donkeys (22.2%), showed antibodies anti-Besnoitia spp. Ten horses (3.7%) resulted positive to T. gondii and one of these (0.4%) was seropositive also to Neospora spp. This is the first detection of anti-Besnoitia spp. specific antibodies in Italian horses and donkeys. The study confirmed the circulation of Besnoitia spp. among equids in Europe. Low prevalence of T. gondii and Neospora spp. in horses raised in Italy was reported. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy to consider that consumption of horse meat could represent a source for human toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Villa
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Alessia Libera Gazzonis
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Gema Álvarez-García
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carlos Diezma-Díaz
- SALUVET, Animal Health Department, Faculty of Veterinary Sciences, Complutense University of Madrid, Ciudad Universitaria s/n, 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sergio Aurelio Zanzani
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
| | - Maria Teresa Manfredi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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Onyiche TE, Okute TO, Oseni OS, Okoro DO, Biu AA, Mbaya AW. Parasitic and zoonotic meningoencephalitis in humans and equids: Current knowledge and the role of Halicephalobus gingivalis. Parasite Epidemiol Control 2017; 3:36-42. [PMID: 29774297 PMCID: PMC5952678 DOI: 10.1016/j.parepi.2017.12.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/10/2017] [Accepted: 12/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Halicephalobus gingivalis is a saprophytic nematode parasite that causes a rare form of fatal meningoencephalomyelitis in equids, humans, and ruminants. This nematode has neurotropic activity, but has also been found in the kidney, liver, lungs, optic nerves and even heart of its host. Despite the zoonotic potential and severity of the disease, the epidemiology, pathogenesis, life cycle, and risk factors are poorly understood. Cases have been reported from several countries in Europe countries and North America but none is recorded in Africa except Egypt. This review looks at the historical overview, morphology, diagnosis, treatment and summary of reported cases in humans and equids. We recommend the parasitic helminthic infection in the differential list of meningoencephalitis involving humans and animals worldwide despite its rareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- ThankGod E. Onyiche
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Nigeria
- Corresponding author at: Dept. of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
| | - Theresa O. Okute
- Department of Anatomy, Bayero University Kano, P.M.B 3010, Nigeria
| | - Oluwasina S. Oseni
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33431, USA
| | - Dennis O. Okoro
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Nigeria
| | - Abdullahi A. Biu
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Nigeria
| | - Albert W. Mbaya
- Department of Veterinary Parasitology and Entomology, University of Maiduguri, P.M.B 1069, Nigeria
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Haltmayer E, Schwendenwein I, Licka TF. Course of serum amyloid A (SAA) plasma concentrations in horses undergoing surgery for injuries penetrating synovial structures, an observational clinical study. BMC Vet Res 2017; 13:137. [PMID: 28532514 PMCID: PMC5441074 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-017-1057-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Injuries penetrating synovial structures are common in equine practice and often result in septic synovitis. Significantly increased plasma levels of serum amyloid A (SAA) have been found in various infectious conditions in horses including wounds and septic arthritis. Plasma SAA levels were found to decrease rapidly once the infectious stimulus was eliminated. The purpose of the current study was to investigate the usefulness of serial measurements of plasma SAA as a monitoring tool for the response to treatment of horses presented with injuries penetrating synovial structures. In the current study plasma SAA concentrations were measured every 48 hours (h) during the course of treatment. RESULTS A total of 19 horses with a wound penetrating a synovial structure were included in the current study. Horses in Group 1 (n = 12) (injuries older than 24 h) only needed one surgical intervention. Patients in this group had significantly lower median plasma SAA levels (P = 0.001) between 48 h (median 776 mg/L) and 96 h (median 202 mg/L) after surgery. A significant decrease (P = 0.004) in plasma SAA levels was also observed between 96 h after surgery (median 270 mg/L) and 6 days (d) after surgery (median 3 mg/L). Four horses (Group 2) required more than one surgical intervention. In contrast to Group 1 patients in Group 2 had either very high initial plasma concentrations (3378 mg/L), an increase or persistently high concentrations of plasma SAA after the first surgery (median 2525 mg/L). A small group of patients (n = 3) (Group 3) were admitted less than 24 h after sustaining a wound. In this group low SAA values at admission (median 23 mg/L) and peak concentrations at 48 h after surgery (median 1016 mg/L) were observed followed by a decrease in plasma SAA concentration over time. CONCLUSIONS A decrease in plasma SAA concentrations between two consecutive time points could be associated with positive response to treatment in the current study. Therefore, serial measurements of plasma SAA could potentially be used as an additional inexpensive, quick and easy tool for monitoring the treatment response in otherwise healthy horses presented with injuries penetrating synovial structures. However further studies will be necessary to ascertain its clinical utility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Haltmayer
- Department of Small Animals and Horses, Clinic for Horses, Equine Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Ilse Schwendenwein
- Department of Pathobiology, Clinical Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - Theresia F Licka
- Department of Small Animals and Horses, Clinic for Horses, Equine Surgery, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, Scotland
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Corbi-Botto CM, Sadaba SA, Zappa ME, Peral-García P, Díaz S. Nonsynonymous changes of equine lentivirus receptor-1 (ELR1) gene in amino acids involved in the interaction with equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV). Res Vet Sci 2017; 112:185-91. [PMID: 28500993 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Revised: 03/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Equine lentivirus receptor-1 (ELR1) has been characterized as the specific functional receptor that mediates equine infectious anemia virus (EIAV) entrance to horse macrophages. This receptor is tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 14 (TNFRSF14). The aim of this study was to investigate the occurrence of allelic variants in the coding sequence of equine TNFRSF14 gene by screening for single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in different equine populations. Forty seven horse samples were randomly selected from a reservoir of EIAV-seropositive and seronegative samples collected from different outbreaks and regions of Argentina. DNA samples were scanned via PCR and direct sequencing of exon 3 and exon 5 of TNFRSF14 gene. A total of 21 SNPs were identified, of which 11 were located in coding sequences. Within exon 5, four SNPs caused nonsynonymous substitutions, while two other SNPs caused synonymous substitutions in crucial residues (Ser112 and Thr114) implicated in the interaction with EIAV. Despite some of exon 5 variants occurred exclusively in EIAV-positive or EIAV-negative horses, critical residues for the function of the mature protein were conserved, accounting for selective pressures in favor of preserving the specific function of TNFRSF members and the host immune response. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the existence of allelic variations involving some crucial amino acid residues in horse ELR1. Further, it could be an initial step to test the possible functional relevance and relationship of these variants with EIAV infection and disease progression as well as to develop preventive strategies.
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Liu Q, Meli ML, Zhang Y, Meili T, Stirn M, Riond B, Weibel B, Hofmann-Lehmann R. Sequence heterogeneity in the 18S rRNA gene in Theileria equi from horses presented in Switzerland. Vet Parasitol 2016; 221:24-9. [PMID: 27084467 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2016.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2015] [Revised: 01/08/2016] [Accepted: 03/03/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
A reverse line blot (RLB) hybridization assay was adapted and applied for equine blood samples collected at the animal hospital of the University of Zurich to determine the presence of piroplasms in horses in Switzerland. A total of 100 equine blood samples were included in the study. The V4 hypervariable region of the 18S rRNA gene was amplified by polymerase chain reaction and analyzed using the RLB assay. Samples from seven horses hybridized to a Theileria/Babesia genus-specific and a Theileria genus-specific probe. Of these, two hybridized also to the Theileria equi-specific probe. The other five positive samples did not hybridize to any of the species-specific probes, suggesting the presence of unrecognized Theileria variants or genotypes. The 18S rRNA gene of the latter five samples were sequenced and found to be closely related to T. equi isolated from horses in Spain (AY534822) and China (KF559357) (≥98.4% identity). Four of the seven horses that tested positive had a documented travel history (France, Italy, and Spain) or lived abroad (Hungary). The present study adds new insight into the presence and sequence heterogeneity of T. equi in Switzerland. The results prompt that species-specific probes must be designed in regions of the gene unique to T. equi. Of note, none of the seven positive horses were suspected of having Theileria infection at the time of presentation to the clinic. Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of equine piroplasma infections outside of endemic areas and in horses without signs of piroplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Liu
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Marina L Meli
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Yi Zhang
- National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Key Laboratory of Parasite and Vector Biology, Ministry of Health, WHO Collaborating Center for Tropical Diseases, Shanghai 200025, China.
| | - Theres Meili
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Martina Stirn
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Barbara Riond
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Beatrice Weibel
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Regina Hofmann-Lehmann
- Clinical Laboratory, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland; Center for Clinical Studies, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland.
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Peugnet P, Robles M, Wimel L, Tarrade A, Chavatte-Palmer P. Management of the pregnant mare and long-term consequences on the offspring. Theriogenology 2016; 86:99-109. [PMID: 26954944 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.01.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
The study of early developmental conditioning of health and disease in adulthood is particularly relevant in the horse, which is bred mainly to perform in demanding sport challenges. On the basis of this concept, the management of the broodmare could be considered an effective means to produce animals with the desired features. Knowledge on the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease in the equine species remains relatively scarce, with some experimental studies and one single epidemiologic study. Data highlight the determinant role of the maternal environment for postnatal body conformation, immune response, energy homeostasis, osteoarticular status and thyroidal, adrenocortical, and cardiovascular functions of the foal. Most research, however, focuses on the first months/years after birth. Long-term effects on the adult horse phenotype have not been investigated so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline Peugnet
- UMR 1198 Developmental Biology and Reproduction, French Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France.
| | - Morgane Robles
- UMR 1198 Developmental Biology and Reproduction, French Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Laurence Wimel
- Experimental farm, French Horse and Riding Institute (IFCE), Chamberet, France
| | - Anne Tarrade
- UMR 1198 Developmental Biology and Reproduction, French Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Pascale Chavatte-Palmer
- UMR 1198 Developmental Biology and Reproduction, French Institute for Agricultural Research (INRA), Jouy-en-Josas, France
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Julien MA, Rivals F, Serangeli J, Bocherens H, Conard NJ. A new approach for deciphering between single and multiple accumulation events using intra-tooth isotopic variations: Application to the Middle Pleistocene bone bed of Schöningen 13 II-4. J Hum Evol 2015; 89:114-28. [PMID: 25912820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhevol.2015.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2013] [Revised: 01/31/2015] [Accepted: 02/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
It is often difficult to differentiate between archaeological bonebeds formed by one event such as a mass kill of a single herd, and those formed by multiple events that occurred over a longer period of time. The application of high temporal resolution studies such as intra-tooth isotopic profiles on archaeological mammal cohorts offers new possibilities for exploring this issue, allowing investigators to decipher between single and multiple accumulation events. We examined (18)O and (13)C isotopic variations from the enamel carbonate of 23 horse third molars from the Middle Pleistocene archaeological site of Schöningen. We employed a new approach to investigate processes of fossil accumulation that uses both bulk and intra-tooth isotopic variations and takes into account animal behavior, age at death and dental development to test the degree of isotopic affinity of animals from the same fossil assemblage. Oxygen and carbon isotope bulk values indicate that the horses from Schöningen 13 II-4 experienced relatively similar climatic and dietary regimes. Inter-individual differences of the bulk values of the horses sampled in the current study present nevertheless inter-individual variability similar to individuals from multi-layered localities. In addition, the intra-tooth isotopic variation of specimens of the same age at death seems to indicate that the studied cohort corresponds to a mix of individuals that recorded both similar and different isotopic histories. Finally, the conditions recorded in the isotopic signal shortly before death (i.e., for teeth not fully mineralized) varied between sampled individuals, suggesting possible differences in the seasonality of death. Considering those results, we discuss the possibility that the horses from Schöningen 13 II-4 correspond to an accumulation of different death events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Anne Julien
- Institute for Archaeological Sciences, University of Tübingen, Rümelinstr. 23, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Centre for the Archaeology of Human Origins, Archaeology Department, University of Southampton, Avenue Campus, Southampton SO17 1BF, UK; Unité Histoire Naturelle de l'Homme Préhistorique (UMR 7194), Sorbonne Universités, Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle, CNRS, 1 rue René Panhard, 75013 Paris, France.
| | - Florent Rivals
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain; Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social, C. Marcel.lí Domingo s/n, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007, Tarragona, Spain; Area de Prehistòria, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Catalunya 35, 43002, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Jordi Serangeli
- Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, University of Tübingen, Schloss Hohentübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Hervé Bocherens
- Department of Geosciences, Biogeology, University of Tübingen, Hölderlinstr. 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoecology, Hölderlinstr. 12, 72074, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Nicholas J Conard
- Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology, University of Tübingen, Schloss Hohentübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany; Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoecology, University of Tübingen, Schloss Hohentübingen, 72070 Tübingen, Germany
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Ometto T, Durigon EL, de Araujo J, Aprelon R, de Aguiar DM, Cavalcante GT, Melo RM, Levi JE, de Azevedo Júnior SM, Petry MV, Neto IS, Serafini P, Villalobos E, Cunha EMS, Lara MDCCSH, Nava AFD, Nardi MS, Hurtado R, Rodrigues R, Sherer AL, Sherer JDFM, Geraldi MP, de Seixas MMM, Peterka C, Bandeira DDS, Pradel J, Vachiery N, Labruna MB, de Camargo LMA, Lanciotti R, Lefrançois T. West Nile virus surveillance, Brazil, 2008-2010. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2013; 107:723-30. [PMID: 24008895 DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/trt081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND West Nile virus (WNV) is an emergent pathogen that is widely distributed in North and Central America. The recent introduction in South America has focused attention on the spread of WNV across Southern American countries. The transmission network involves mosquitoes, birds, horses and humans. METHODS The serological evaluation of sera from 678 equids and 478 birds was performed using a WNV-specific blocking ELISA, and only the positive results were confirmed by plaque reduction neutralisation tests (PRNTs). Molecular analysis was performed on sera from 992 healthy equids and on 63 macerates of brains from equids that died of encephalitis and had previously tested negative for other pathogens. We also tested swabs from 928 birds. The samples analysed were collected in different biomes of Brazil. RESULTS We identified WNV antibodies by ELISA in thirteen equids and five birds, and PRNT90 confirmed WNV positivity in four equid samples collected in 2009 in an area between the Amazon and the Pantanal. None of the ELISA positive bird samples were confirmed by PRNT90, and all samples tested by RT-PCR were negative. CONCLUSION WNV circulation is confirmed by this large scale survey even in the absence of detection of clinical cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatiana Ometto
- BSL3 Laboratório de Virologia Clínica e Molecular Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas (ICB), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), 05508-900 São Paulo, Brasil
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Angenvoort J, Brault AC, Bowen RA, Groschup MH. West Nile viral infection of equids. Vet Microbiol 2013; 167:168-80. [PMID: 24035480 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2013.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2013] [Revised: 08/15/2013] [Accepted: 08/16/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
West Nile virus (WNV) is a flavivirus transmitted between certain species of birds and mosquito vectors. Tangential infections of equids and subsequent equine epizootics have occurred historically. Although the attack rate has been estimated to be below 10%, mortality rates can approach 50% in horses that present clinical disease. Symptoms are most commonly presenting in the form of encephalitis with ataxia as well as limb weakness, recumbency and muscle fasciculation. The most effective strategy for prevention of equine disease is proper vaccination with one of the numerous commercially available vaccines available in North America or the European Union. Recently, WNV has been increasingly associated with equine epizootics resulting from novel non-lineage-1a viruses in expanding geographic areas. However, specific experimental data on the virulence of these novel virus strains is lacking and questions remain as to the etiology of the expanded epizootics: whether it be a function of inherent virulence or ecological and/or climactic factors that could precipitate the altered epidemiological patterns observed.
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