Invasive Colonic Entamoebiasis in Wild Cane Toads, Australia

We detected a disease syndrome in free-ranging Australian cane toads involving atypical behavior and emaciation that is associated with a previously undescribed Entamoeba sp. that infiltrates the colonic lining, causing it to slough. The organism may become seasonally pathogenic when toads are under hydric and nutritional stress.

Metabolomic investigation of pathogenesis of myxosporean emaciation disease of tiger puffer fish Takifugu rubripes

Serum biochemical analysis was undertaken to study the pathophysiological details of emaciation disease of the tiger puffer fish Takifugu rubripes (Temminck and Schlegel). Serum parameters were measured by biochemical analysis using automated dry chemistry and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Serum concentrations of albumin, amylase, calcium, creatinine, glucose and total protein were significantly lower in the emaciated fish when compared with those of normal fish. Regression analyses found close correlation between concentrations of total protein, albumin, amylase, glucose and progress of the disease. In contrast, serum alanine aminotransferase increased significantly in emaciated fish indicating liver function disorder. Further, GC/MS metabolic profiling of the puffer serum showed that the profile of the emaciated fish was distinct to that of non-infected control. The serum content of amino acids including glycine, 5-oxo-proline and proline, and ascorbic acid, fumaric acid and glycerol increased significantly in serum in moderately emaciated fish. The serum glucose, linolenic acid and tyrosine level decreased significantly in the late phase of the disease. Our results clearly show that prolonged intestinal damage caused by myxosporean infection impairs absorption of nutrients, resulting in extreme emaciation.

Inflammation and structural changes of splenic lymphoid tissue in visceral leishmaniasis: a study on naturally infected dogs

The aim of this study was to identify splenic immuno-inflammatory patterns associated with natural infection by Leishmania chagasi. Spleen samples were obtained from 72 stray dogs from an endemic area of visceral leishmaniasis. The animals were grouped into four categories as follows: (i) potentially resistant to visceral leishmaniasis, with a positive leishmanin skin test result, and negative splenic culture for Leishmania parasites (ii) potentially susceptible to visceral leishmaniasis, with a negative leishmanin skin test and positive splenic culture for Leishmania (iii) infected with undefined susceptibility status, with a positive leishmanin skin test and positive splenic culture for Leishmania, and (iv) noninfected, with a negative leishmanin skin test, negative splenic culture for Leishmania, and negative serology for anti-Leishmania antibodies. Histopathological analyses showed that there was a higher frequency of perisplenitis (18/25, P < 0.0001), granuloma (7/25, P = 0.0102), structural disorganization (14/25, P < 0.0001), and atrophy of the lymphoid follicles (20/25, P = 0.0036) and of the marginal zone (15/25, P = 0.0025) in the potentially susceptible group than in the other groups. The data presented here show changes in the white pulp of the spleen that are associated with naturally acquired visceral leishmaniasis.

Intestinal parasitosis and nutritional status in schoolchildren of Sahar district, Yemen

The prevalence and intensity of schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted parasites was estimated among third-year schoolchildren of Sahar district, Sa'dah governorate, Yemen, after 4 schistosomiasis control campaigns. Anthropometric measurements were used to assess nutritional status in relation to infection rates. The prevalence of schistosomiasis infection was low at 5.6%: 3.3% for Schistosoma haematobium (geometric mean 0.16 eggs/10 mL urine) and 2.3% for S. mansoni (0.18 eggs/g faeces). Ascaris lumbricoides was found in 0.4% of the children while other soil-transmitted helminths were not found. Stunting was found in 50.9%, wasting in 4.5% and underweight in 48.7% of the children examined; however, no positive association was found between infection and nutritional status indicators.

Clinical and serological aspects of visceral leishmaniasis in Northeast Brazilian dogs naturally infected with Leishmania chagasi

Human visceral leishmaniasis is endemic in the northeast of Brazil, where the domestic dog is an important parasite reservoir in the infectious cycle of Leishmania chagasi. In this study, we evaluated the clinical signs of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL), serum protein profile and the antileishmanial IgG antibody production in 86 dogs living in northeast endemic areas of leishmaniasis. Thirty dogs from a leishmaniasis-free area were used as a control group. The major clinical signs of CVL seen were emaciation and skin ulcers (80%), followed by onychogryphosis and conjunctivitis (73%). Depilation was observed in 60% of animals while lymphadenomegaly, splenomegaly, liver enlargement or kidney involvement was less frequent (< or =20%). VL seropositive dogs presented with serum hyperproteinemia, hypoalbuminemia, hypergammaglobulinemia and decreased albumin/globulin ratio. A lower sensitivity and higher specificity was observed for promastigote indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) (83 and 100%, respectively) compared with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) (94 and 90%), which uses a crude extract of Leishmania. There was a positive correlation between IFAT and ELISA titers of antileishmanial IgG antibodies (Spearman test, P < 0.05), which was augmented in CVL dogs. This study found that the determination of serum protein, A/G ratio and the use of two different leishmanial serological tests like IFAT and ELISA are essential in CVL screening.

Mortality in Laysan Ducks (Anas laysanensis) by Emaciation Complicated by Echinuria uncinata on Laysan Island, Hawaii, 1993

In November 1993, unusual mortality occurred among endangered Laysan ducks on Laysan Island, one of the remote refugia of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge (USA). Ten live ducks were emaciated, and blood samples documented anemia, heterophilia, and eosinophilia. Pathology in 13 duck carcasses revealed emaciation, marked thickening of the proventricular wall, abundant mucus, and nodules in the gastrointestinal tract. Histology revealed granulomata associated with nematodes in the proventriculus, small intestines, and body walls of nine of 10 ducks examined on histology. We suspect that low rainfall and low food abundance that year contributed to enhanced pathogenicity of parasite infection, either through increased exposure or decreased host resistance. Because the Laysan duck is found only on Laysan island and is critically endangered, translocation of this species to other islands is being considered. Given that we have not seen pathology associated with Echinuria spp. in native waterfowl on other Hawaiian Islands and given the parasite's potential to cause significant lesions in Laysan ducks, it will be important to prevent the translocation of Echinuria spp.

Non-lethal infection parameters in mice separate sheep Type II Toxoplasma gondii isolates by virulence

The zoonotic protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii can infect all warm-blooded animals, but virulence of isolates has previously been characterised mainly by the ability to kill mice after experimental infections. In the present study, 15 Type II strains of T. gondii, isolated from five adult sheep, six sheep abortions, two pigs, one cat and one fox were examined for their virulence to young mice by less dramatic parameters. Clinical disease of inoculated mice, directly evidenced by reduced weight gain, was correlated to increase in serum level of haptoglobin and level of specific antibodies. Although Type II T. gondii strains are non-virulent to mice by lethality studies, significant differences in mouse virulence were observed between the strains of T. gondii isolated either from adult sheep or from sheep abortions. It was not possible to characterise strains isolated from sheep abortions as being more or less virulent than strains isolated from adult slaughter sheep.

Hexamitiasis and an emaciation syndrome in pheasant poults: clinical aspects and differential diagnosis

Clinical hexamitiasis was recorded in pheasant poults between six and 12 weeks old, after placing the birds into release pens, and was characterised by reduced appetite, lethargy and emaciation. Post mortem the carcases were dehydrated. The presence in the lumen of the gut of characteristic motile organisms which could often be found several hours after death, provided a good clinical diagnosis. An emaciation syndrome, clinically similar but not associated with hexamitiasis or other pathogens also occurs in poults. It is characterised by extreme emaciation, largely confined to the pectoral muscles, and dehydration although the birds continue to eat and drink; the cause is unknown. Both hexamitiasis and the emaciation syndrome can cause high morbidity and mortality.