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PubMed2005

Feline chlamydiosis.

Chlamydiae are an important cause of acute and chronic conjunctivitis in cats. Until recently, only one organism was thought to infect cats, Chlamydophila felis (previously Chlamydia psittaci var. felis). Recently, other Chlamydia-like organisms belonging to the family Parachlamydiaceae, which comprises organisms that reside and proliferate within free-living amoeba, have been identified in cats with neutrophilic and eosinophilic conjunctivitis. The relative importance of these organisms and their amoebic hosts requires investigation. There is also weak evidence that chlamydiae may also be capable of causing reproductive tract disease and lameness in cats. Diagnosis of chlamydial conjunctivitis requires use of specialized culture techniques or the polymerase chain reaction. The antibiotic of choice to treat these infections is doxycycline; azithromycin is less effective. All cats in the household should be treated simultaneously. The zoonotic potential of these organisms appears low, but some precaution is warranted when handling affected cats.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Genotyping of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in AIDS patients from the north west of England.

OBJECTIVES: In this study Enterocytozoon bieneusi -positive faeces samples from AIDS patients in the north west of England were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing for potential zoonotic origins. METHODS: The ITS and flanking regions of the rDNA was amplified by PCR and product sequenced. Sequences were compared with those held on GenBank to ascribe known genotypes. RESULTS: Of 13 E. bieneusi -positive samples tested, all gave a 508 bp amplification product by PCR. The samples yielded the following: genotypes B (n=11; so far only been found in humans), D (n=1; has been reported from humans and a laboratory macaque) and K (n=1; previously identified only from a cat). CONCLUSIONS: A possible zoonotic link with cats has been demonstrated for one human case. The origin of the majority of cases in the north west of England is unknown and may indicate that genotype B is solely a human pathogen.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗
PubMed2004

Avian influenza A virus (H7N7) associated with human conjunctivitis and a fatal case of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses of subtypes H5 and H7 are the causative agents of fowl plague in poultry. Influenza A viruses of subtype H5N1 also caused severe respiratory disease in humans in Hong Kong in 1997 and 2003, including at least seven fatal cases, posing a serious human pandemic threat. Between the end of February and the end of May 2003, a fowl plague outbreak occurred in The Netherlands. A highly pathogenic avian influenza A virus of subtype H7N7, closely related to low pathogenic virus isolates obtained from wild ducks, was isolated from chickens. The same virus was detected subsequently in 86 humans who handled affected poultry and in three of their family members. Of these 89 patients, 78 presented with conjunctivitis, 5 presented with conjunctivitis and influenza-like illness, 2 presented with influenza-like illness, and 4 did not fit the case definitions. Influenza-like illnesses were generally mild, but a fatal case of pneumonia in combination with acute respiratory distress syndrome occurred also. Most virus isolates obtained from humans, including probable secondary cases, had not accumulated significant mutations. However, the virus isolated from the fatal case displayed 14 amino acid substitutions, some of which may be associated with enhanced disease in this case. Because H7N7 viruses have caused disease in mammals, including horses, seals, and humans, on several occasions in the past, they may be unusual in their zoonotic potential and, thus, form a pandemic threat to humans.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2005

The occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Campylobacter and Salmonella in newborn dairy calves in the Manawatu region of New Zealand.

AIM: To determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, Campylobacter spp and Salmonella spp in faecal samples taken from newborn dairy calves on 24 dairy farms in the Manawatu region of New Zealand. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2002 calving season. Faecal samples were collected from 185 newborn calves from a convenience sample of 24 dairy farms. The samples were tested microscopically for the presence of C. parvum oocysts, and bacteriologically for the presence of Campylobacter spp and Salmonella spp. RESULTS: Infections with C. parvum were identified in 33/156 (21.2%) calves from 10 farms. More than 10(6) oocysts/g (OPG) faeces were detected in calves from four farms. Campylobacter spp were isolated from 58/161 (36%) calves from 18 farms; in particular, C. jejuni subsp jejuni was isolated from 11/161 (6.8%) calves from seven farms. Salmonellae were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short and concentrated calving pattern and the long interval between calving seasons characterising most dairy farms in New Zealand, C. parvum is widespread among calves. Campylobacter spp, especially C. jejuni, rapidly colonise the intestinal tract of newborn calves. RELEVANCE: This study provided an estimate of the ecological impact of newborn dairy calves with regard to the potentially zoonotic enteric pathogens most frequently isolated from human gastrointestinal infections in New Zealand.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Current trends in research into the waterborne parasite Giardia.

The waterborne flagellated parasite Giardia intestinalis continues to be the most frequent protozoan agent of intestinal disease world-wide, causing an estimated 2.8 x 10(8) cases per annum. Severe symptoms of diarrhea and sickness can be persistent and even life threatening in the immunocompromised, in infants, and in the aged, although self-limiting in the majority of patients. Despite a growing awareness and intensified research many uncertainties remain, especially with respect to the risk of potential zoonotic transmission. Water supplies can be monitored for cysts using automated cytofluorimetric immunoassays, but this does not measure infectivity. Filtration provides the best protection, because cysts are highly resistant to chlorine and ozone. Other incompletely elucidated aspects include mechanisms of pathogenicity, host reaction to infection, immunity and parasite control using vaccines or antigiardial compounds; the 5-nitroimidazole metronidazole is the most effective of these. Molecular typing of various isolates indicates that most animal parasites are not infective to humans, but those that are can be genotypically classified as assemblage A or B. The phylogeny of the organism remains uncertain, but there is a growing opinion that Giardia is not an ancient primitive eukaryote, but that it is derived from a more complex mitochondria-containing protozoon.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Encephalitozoon cuniculi strain III is a cause of encephalitozoonosis in both humans and dogs.

Microsporidia are obligate intracellular eukaryotic organisms found in a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Encephalitozoon cuniculi is commonly found in domestic rabbits and rodents and also occurs in dogs, other canids, and primates, including humans. DNA sequencing of the ribosomal RNA genes has been used to identify these parasites to a species level and to define E. cuniculi strains I, II, and III. Eight new dog isolates were characterized as E. cuniculi strain III by use of molecular methods. This strain has also been identified in isolates from immunocompromised humans, suggesting the zoonotic potential of this parasite species. Prolonged microsporidial spore shedding from asymptomatic dogs is also reported.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Domestic animals as carriers of Bordetella species in Senegal.

Despite intense efforts to maintain a high level of vaccine coverage against human whooping cough, rural senegalese areas are still endemic for Bordetella pertussis. One explanation being the potential existence of animal reservoirs, the objective of this work was to precise the carriage by domestic animals of bacteria belonging to the genus Bordetella in Senegal. Bacteriological samples (swabs and aspirates) were obtained from various domestic animals living in different parts of the country. No B. pertussis nor B. parapertussis were isolated. However, for the first time to our knowledge, B. bronchiseptica was identified from small ruminants located in Africa. The positive animals were two goats and two sheep from Dakar slaughterhouse together with a goat living in a rural compound. The fact that it was identified in goats and sheep underlines the potential zoonotic of that bacterial species in countries where small ruminants are of economical and cultural relevance.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Cryptosporidiosis: an update in molecular epidemiology.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Molecular tools have been developed to detect and differentiate Cryptosporidium at the species/genotype and subtype levels. These tools have been increasingly used in the characterization of the transmission of Cryptosporidium spp. This review addresses the most recent developments in molecular epidemiology of cryptosporidiosis. RECENT FINDINGS: The recent development of subtyping tools has led to better understanding of the population genetics and transmission of Cryptosporidium in humans. The population structure of C. parvum and C. hominis is apparently more complicated than previously suggested, with the likely existence of both clonal and panmictic populations. Thus, the transmission of C. parvum (genotype II) in humans is shown to be different in different areas, with zoonotic transmission important in certain places and anthroponotic transmission in others. The use of molecular tools has also led to the identification of geographic and temporal differences in the transmission of C. parvum and C. hominis, and better appreciation of the public health importance of other Cryptosporidium species/genotypes and the frequency of infections with mixed genotypes or subtypes. SUMMARY: Factors involved in the transmission of human cryptosporidiosis are difficult to examine using conventional methods. The use of molecular tools has been helpful in the assessment of the zoonotic potential of various Cryptosporidium spp. and sources of human infections, and has started to play a significant role in the characterization of transmission dynamic in endemic and epidemic areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Development and validation of a Western immunoblot assay for detection of antibodies to porcine endogenous retrovirus.

BACKGROUND: Reports that pig endogenous retrovirus (PERV) infects human cells in vitro have heightened the importance of molecular and serologic monitoring of xenograft recipients for evidence of infection with PERV. We report the development and validation of a PERV-specific Western immunoblot assay for the diagnostic testing of porcine xenografts recipients. This assay is based upon the serological cross-reactivity observed between PERV variants capable of infecting human cells in vitro and other mammalian C type retroviruses. METHODS AND RESULTS: Strong reactivity between PERV expressing embryonic pig kidney PK-15 cells and antisera raised against whole virus preparations of murine leukemia virus, gibbon ape leukemia virus (GALV), and simian sarcoma-associated virus was demonstrated by an immunofluorescence assay, suggesting specific antigenic cross-reactivity between this group of viruses and PERV. Western immunoblot analysis demonstrated that anti-GALV antisera reacted with three proteins in PK-15 cells having molecular masses of 30, 55, and 66 kDa. Antisera specific for the Gag proteins of either GALV or simian sarcoma-associated virus reacted with the 30-kDa (major) and 55-kDa (minor) proteins present in PK-15 cells and in PERV-infected 293 human kidney cells, likely representing reactivity to the processed and precursor forms of the PERV Gag protein, respectively. No reactivity was seen in uninfected 293 cells. Analysis of plasma samples from 200 United States blood donors and from 58 human immunodeficiency virus-1, 18 human immunodeficiency virus-2, 13 human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-I, 21 human T-cell lymphotrophic virus-II, and 15 cytomegalovirus infected controls were negative. CONCLUSIONS: As this assay is based on PERV antigen derived from infected human cells, it clearly has the capacity to detect a serologic response towards PERV variants that have zoonotic potential and will allow for the accurate determination of PERV-specific seroreactivity in porcine xenograft recipients.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Man, monkeys and malaria.

Bizarre though it may now seem, in the last century a whole series of experiments was conducted that involved injecting fresh monkey blood into human volunteers or patients. The reasons, valid at the time, were either to treat neurosyphilis with a relatively benign simian malaria infection (so-called pyrogen therapy), or to establish which monkey malaria species were potential zoonotic reservoirs of infection that then may have interfered with malaria eradication campaigns. Although direct inoculation of fresh blood is the most effective way of retroviruses as well as malaria parasites crossing the species barrier, this hypothesis was never taken up or researched. Unlikely, but not disproved, it is important to remember some of the more hazardous experiments that were done in good faith, too long ago to be recorded on electronic databases.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Pharmacological approaches towards rationalizing the use of endoparasitic drugs in small animals.

Parasitic diseases are an important health concern to small animal veterinarians worldwide, and their zoonotic potential is also of relevance to human medicine. The treatment and control of such conditions relies heavily on pharmaceutical intervention using a range of antiparasitic drugs and/or their biologically active metabolites. Broad spectrum agents have been produced, although narrow and even monospecific drugs are used in some situations. Their efficacy may depend on dosage, the target pathogen(s), the host species and/or the site of infection. Optimal use of antiparasitics requires a detailed consideration of the pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of the drugs in specific clinical contexts. This review summarizes the present status of knowledge on the metabolism, and physicochemical and pharmacological properties of the major antiparasitic drugs currently used in small animal veterinary practice. In addition, data relevant to therapeutic dosage, efficacy and clinical indication/contraindication, particularly in relation to combination drug therapy, are included.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Prevalence of enzootic simian viruses among urban performance monkeys in Indonesia.

Animal reservoirs are the most important sources of emerging infectious diseases that threaten human populations. Global travel and tourism bring ever-increasing numbers of humans into contact with animals, increasing the likelihood of cross species transmission of infectious agents. Non-human primates come into contact with humans in a variety of contexts and may harbor infectious agents with zoonotic potential. We investigated the prevalence of infection with enzootic simian viruses among 20 urban performance monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) in Jakarta, Indonesia. This report documents for the first time evidence of infection with four simian viruses in urban performance monkeys. Simian foamy virus was detected by PCR in 52.9% of the macaques. Antibodies to simian retrovirus were detected in 10.5% of the macaques. Antibodies to Cercopithecine Herpesvirus 1, were detected in 5.3% of the macaques. Similarly, antibodies to simian T-cell lymphotropic virus were detected in 5.3% of the macaques. No evidence of infection with simian immunodeficiency virus was detected in these macaques. These results suggest that urban performance monkeys are a reservoir for enzootic simian viruses known to be capable of infecting humans.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Encephalitozoon hellem in two eclectus parrots (Eclectus roratus): identification from archival tissues.

Members of the phylum Microspora are obligate, intracellular, single-celled parasites identified in a wide range of vertebrate and invertebrate hosts. Only a few cases of microsporidial infections have been documented in psittacine birds including peach-faced, masked, and Fischer's lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis, A. personata, and A. fischeri, respectively), budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), and a double yellow-headed Amazon parrot (Amazona ochrocephala). Parasite identification has typically been limited to phylum or genus, and no avian species of microsporidia has clearly been described. In this report, microsporidia were identified in the kidney and intestine of a new host, the eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus). Parasites were identified as Encephalitozoon hellem using morphologic, ultrastructural, and small subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequence data obtained from archived tissues. This parasite species was first identified in immunocompromised humans and may be a potential zoonotic pathogen. The epidemiology and prevalence of this parasite in humans and birds should be further explored.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Distribution of papG alleles among uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from different species.

The distribution of alleles I, II and III of the P adhesin gene papG among Escherichia coli isolated from urinary tract infections in humans, dogs and cats was studied by PCR. Allele I was present in 6% and 5% of the human and cat isolates. Allele II as such was present in 30% and 22%, or in association with allele III in 12% and 2% of the human and canine isolates, respectively. Allele III was present in 33% of the human strains and predominated largely over allele II in E. coli isolates from cystitis of animal origin (72% in dog and 95% in cat strains). The three different classes of the PapG adhesin have been suggested to play a role in host specificity, for example human versus canine specificity. Recent studies, however, showed papG III positive human and dog cystitis isolates to be largely indistinguishable. We found the Class II allele in animal isolates and detected for the first time in Europe the Class I allele in a different genetic background than the J96-like clonal group. Our findings show that uropathogenic E. coli isolates from different species can have the same papG alleles and thus may have zoonotic potential.

Adhesins, Escherichia coli↗
PubMed1992

Macroepidemiology of the HIVs-AIDS (HAIDS) pandemic. Insufficiently considered zoological and geopolitical aspects.

The human immunodeficiency viruses (HIVs)-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or HAIDS pandemic originated from lentiviruses of nonhuman primates (thus qualifying as a zoonosis) that moved into humans in Africa. The HAIDS patients eventually die of opportunistic infections, all potentially zoonotic. The HAIDS infection remained parochial, first endemically and then epidemically, until the African urbanization that occurred in each of the countries postindependence. The latter included wars and the massive movement of soldiers (virologically naive) from the American continent to Africa and back. The HAIDS viral ecology coincided with African swine fever (ASF) in the Americas. Haiti became the focal point for both infections. Some infected Haitians also became, together with some infected drug addicts in the United States, a source of contaminated human blood for transfusions and production of plasma derivatives.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: a neuropathological perspective.

The occurrence of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), recognition that it is a new scrapie-like disease epidemic in domestic cattle in the United Kingdom and concern of a remote zoonotic potential has, in four years, produced a plethora of documented information. While much of this information has been communicated outwith the scientific literature, this review attempts to summarise, from a neuropathological viewpoint, the main findings to emerge. The initial studies established the nosological homology of BSE with the subacute spongiform encephalopathies or "prion" diseases of animals and man. Epidemiological data are consistent with an extended common source epidemic originating from an abrupt change, commencing in 1981-82, in the exposure of domestic cattle to a scrapie-like agent in meat and bone meal incorporated into commercial animal feedstuffs. It is currently proposed that the method of production of meat and bone meal has contributed vital factors to the change in exposure. Invariability of the distribution pattern of vacuolar pathology in the natural disease and on primary transmission to cattle suggests a uniformity of the pathogenesis of BSE. Studies in mice suggest uniformity also of the biological properties of different BSE isolates but indicate that the properties differ from those of sheep scrapie isolates. Human health risks, although perceived to be negligible, have been addressed by various strategies including statutory measures and long term monitoring.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1999

Molecular and biological characterisation of Cryptosporidium in pigs.

OBJECTIVE: Genetic and biological characterisation of 12 isolates of Cryptosporidium from pigs and comparing them with Cryptosporidium isolates from humans and cattle. DESIGN: Cryptosporidium isolates from pigs were compared with those obtained from human and cattle using rDNA sequence analysis. The infectivity of two of the porcine isolates was determined in neonatal mice and the clinical history of the infected pigs recorded. RESULTS: Pig-derived isolates of Cryptosporidium exhibited two distinct genotypes; a porcine genotype and a bovine genotype, which is common to cattle and other livestock. The porcine genotype did not produce any infection in neonatal mice whereas the bovine genotype did. CONCLUSION: Two distinct genetically and biologically differing strains of Cryptosporidium appeared to be associated with acute diarrhoea in pigs. Whether Cryptosporidium was a primary or secondary pathogen is unclear but warrants further investigation. As the bovine genotype is known to infect humans, the results suggest that pigs can act as reservoirs of cryptosporidial infections for humans and other live-stock. The zoonotic potential of the pig-adapted genotype is uncertain and requires further study.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Endemic visceral leishmaniasis in a dog from Texas.

Visceral leishmaniasis was diagnosed by cytology and positive indirect immunofluorescent antibody titers to Leishmania donovani in a 7-month-old female Basenji dog from Texas. Clinical and laboratory findings included weight loss, hematochezia, hyperglobulinemia, hypoalbuminemia, anemia, and neutrophilic leukocytosis. Evidence of response to treatment with diminazene aceturate and ketoconazole included improvement in the abnormal clinical, hematologic, and biochemical findings, decreased serum globulin concentration and antibody titer to Leishmania donovani, and absence of organisms in examined tissues. Several foci of endemic leishmaniasis have been reported in the United States. Because of its zoonotic potential and the lack of approved treatments for dogs with leishmaniasis in the United States, the development of effective treatment strategies is needed.

Animals↗