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At least 541 records · Page 30Linked to original sources
PubMed2003

Development of a multitarget real-time TaqMan PCR assay for enhanced detection of Francisella tularensis in complex specimens.

Tularemia is the zoonotic disease caused by the gram-negative coccobacillus Francisella tularensis. Its wide distribution in the environment poses a challenge for understanding the transmission, ecology, and epidemiology of the disease. F. tularensis is also considered a potential biological weapon due to its extreme infectivity. We have developed a multitarget real-time TaqMan PCR assay capable of rapidly and accurately detecting F. tularensis in complex specimens. Targeted regions included the ISFtu2 element and the 23kDa, fopA, and tul4 genes. Analysis of the four TaqMan assays demonstrated that three (ISFtu2, 23kDa, and tul4) performed within our established criterion of a detection limit of one organism. The combined use of the three assays was highly specific, displaying no cross-reactivity with the non-Francisella bacteria tested and capable of differentially diagnosing both F. tularensis and Francisella philomiragia. When the multitarget TaqMan assay (ISFtu2, 23kDa, and tul4) was compared to culturing, using environmentally contaminated specimens, the TaqMan PCR assay was significantly more sensitive than culturing (P </= 0.05). The sensitive and specific nature of this rapid multitarget TaqMan assay provides a valuable new tool that with future evaluations can be used for analyzing clinical specimens, field samples during bioterrorism threat assessment, and samples from outbreaks and for improving our understanding of the ecology and environmental prevalence of F. tularensis.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Xenografts and the probability of viral zoonotic risk: reflections based on the sanitary control of a pig population free from specific pathogenic organisms and risk analysis].

An analysis of the risk factors involved has been made and a classical approach has been adopted, consisting of at least six stages. In the context of risk assessment and identification of potential danger, the pathogenic agents in the pig have been identified and those which are potentially pathogenic to man have been indicated. The risk of spreading, and exposure to certain pathogenic agents (SEPA) varies depending on the nature of the donor organs. The risk factors should be managed by a quality-control approach, which at the sanitary level should consist of controlling all production levels in the pig population, from rearing to slaughtering, and the subsequent removal of vital organs and tissue for xenotransplantation or xenografts. The personnel involved should also undergo rigorous medical examination.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2002

Different host defences are required to protect mice from primary systemic vs pulmonary infection with the facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen, Francisella tularensis LVS.

Francisella tularensis is a zoonotic, facultative intracellular bacterial pathogen capable of initiating infection, tularemia, via multiple routes including dermal micro-abrasions and inhalation. Mouse models of systemically-initiated infection with F. tularensis LVS have been used extensively to reveal potential host defence mechanisms against the pathogen. Such studies have demonstrated the critical need for neutrophils and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) to combat the early stages of primary experimental tularaemia initiated by systemic routes. Surprisingly, however, the present study shows that these defences appear not to combat early pulmonary tularaemia initiated by inhalation of the pathogen into the lower airways. The results imply that the effectiveness of particular anti-bacterial host defences vary with invasion site. Thus, it is impossible to predict effective host defence mechanisms against inhalation-initiated tularaemia from current knowledge of anti- Francisella defences that have been shown to combat systemically-initiated infection.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed2003

Packaging of human endogenous retrovirus sequences is undetectable in porcine endogenous retrovirus particles produced from human cells.

The chronic shortage of human donor organs and tissues for allotransplantation could be relieved if clinical xenotransplantation were to become a viable clinical therapy. Balanced against the benefits of xenotransplantation are the possible consequences of zoonotic infections, and in particular, infection by porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV). An often-proclaimed risk of PERV infection is the possible recombination of PERV with human endogenous retroviruses (HERV). To address this issue, we examined the potential for HERV sequences to be cross-packaged into PERV particles produced from infected human 293 cells. Although HERV-K, W, E, R, and ERV-9 RNA transcripts are expressed in 293 cells, we did not detect cross-packaging of any of these HERV groups. Quantitative analysis indicated that less than approximately 1 in 10(4)-10(7) PERV particles might contain HERV sequences. In comparison, we found that murine leukemia virus (MLV)-based vector transcripts were cross-packaged at a rate of approximately one copy in 10(4) PERV particles. Our results indicate that the potential for recombination of PERV and HERV sequences is low and that novel viruses generated by this mechanism are unlikely to represent a significant risk for xenotransplantation.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Complete genome sequence of the Q-fever pathogen Coxiella burnetii.

The 1,995,275-bp genome of Coxiella burnetii, Nine Mile phase I RSA493, a highly virulent zoonotic pathogen and category B bioterrorism agent, was sequenced by the random shotgun method. This bacterium is an obligate intracellular acidophile that is highly adapted for life within the eukaryotic phagolysosome. Genome analysis revealed many genes with potential roles in adhesion, invasion, intracellular trafficking, host-cell modulation, and detoxification. A previously uncharacterized 13-member family of ankyrin repeat-containing proteins is implicated in the pathogenesis of this organism. Although the lifestyle and parasitic strategies of C. burnetii resemble that of Rickettsiae and Chlamydiae, their genome architectures differ considerably in terms of presence of mobile elements, extent of genome reduction, metabolic capabilities, and transporter profiles. The presence of 83 pseudogenes displays an ongoing process of gene degradation. Unlike other obligate intracellular bacteria, 32 insertion sequences are found dispersed in the chromosome, indicating some plasticity in the C. burnetii genome. These analyses suggest that the obligate intracellular lifestyle of C. burnetii may be a relatively recent innovation.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMed2000

Epidemiology of resistance to antibiotics. Links between animals and humans.

An inevitable side effect of the use of antibiotics is the emergence and dissemination of resistant bacteria. Most retrospective and prospective studies show that after the introduction of an antibiotic not only the level of resistance of pathogenic bacteria, but also of commensal bacteria increases. Commensal bacteria constitute a reservior of resistance genes for (potentially) pathogenic bacteria. Their level of resistance is considered to be a good indicator for selection pressure by antibiotic use and for resistance problems to be expected in pathogens. Resistant commensal bacteria of food animals might contaminate, like zoonotic bacteria, meat (products) and so reach the intestinal tract of humans. Monitoring the prevalence of resistance in indicator bacteria such as faecal Escherichia coli and enterococci in different populations, animals, patients and healthy humans, makes it feasible to compare the prevalence of resistance and to detect transfer of resistant bacteria or resistance genes from animals to humans and vice versa. Only in countries that use or used avoparcin (a glycopeptide antibiotic, like vancomycin) as antimicrobial growth promoter (AMGP), is vancomycin resistance common in intestinal enterococci, not only in exposed animals, but also in the human population outside hospitals. Resistance genes against antibiotics, that are or have only been used in animals, i.e. nourseothricin, apramycin etc. were found soon after their introduction, not only in animal bacteria but also in the commensal flora of humans, in zoonotic pathogens like salmonellae, but also in strictly human pathogens, like shigellae. This makes it clear that not only clonal spread of resistant strains occurs, but also transfer of resistance genes between human and animal bacteria. Moreover, since the EU ban of avoparcin, a significant decrease has been observed in several European countries in the prevalence of vancomycin resistant enterococci in meat (products), in faecal samples of food animals and healthy humans, which underlines the role of antimicrobial usage in food animals in the selection of bacterial resistance and the transport of these resistances via the food chain to humans. To safeguard public health, the selection and dissemination of resistant bacteria from animals should be controlled. This can only be achieved by reducing the amounts of antibiotics used in animals. Discontinuing the practice of routinely adding AMGP to animal feeds would reduce the amounts of antibiotics used for animals in the EU by a minimum of 30% and in some member states even by 50%.

Animal Feed↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Influence of anthropogenic and natural factors on the ecology-epidemiological situation in a number of zoonotic infections in the Northern Caucasus].

The aggravation of the epidemiological situation in the North Caucasian region of Russia was shown to be possible in view of the unfavorable conditions in a number of dangerous zoonotic infections in this region. The positive effect of human activities, aimed mainly at obtaining economic advantages, on the natural environment was noted. Only in a number of cases these activities lead to a decrease in the epidemic potential of infections.

Agriculture↗
PubMed2004

Gastrointestinal disorders: are health care professionals missing zoonotic causes?

Acute gastrointestinal disorders (AGIDs) of presumed infectious origin are common illnesses and among the most frequent infective diseases referred to hospital. Much is known about the diagnosis and aetiology of AGIDs, but relatively little work appears to have been done regarding the assessment of relevant general practitioner (GP) history-taking and the potential for under-recognition of sources such as zoonoses. Established sources of zoonosis (for example exotic pet-keeping, farmyards and zoological parks) seem either rarely considered or annotated. Surveillance of food-borne illness and its aetiology attracts rapidly increasing attention in the public health community and these infections have been targeted for serious reduction. Zoonoses may present as food-borne illness. The aim of this study was to assess the potential for under-ascertainment and under-reporting of important sources of gastrointestinal infection. The study examined history-taking habits among GPs with reference to their general scope for either detecting or missing diverse sources of acute gastrointestinal infections. From a medical practice perspective, more specific identification of pathogenic factors may potentially promote wider preventive measures by alerting the public to unconsidered or recurrent problems. The study was conducted at a busy British health centre that currently accommodates eight GPs and several training personnel. The health centre has approximately 12,000-13,000 patients. The patient presentation records and GP notes were accessed via the health centre's computer database. Data on acute gastrointestinal disorders were obtained using the Read codes for both 'diarrhoea of presumed infectious origin' (DPI) and 'gastroenteritis of presumed infectious origin' (GPI). The first 35 cases were selected from the DPI list (10% of 'names'), and the first 24 cases were selected from the GPI list (10% of 'names'). Symptoms were unspecified in 11 out of the 24 GPI presentations compared to four unspecified out of 35 DPI presentations. Potentially significant history was unspecified in 22 out of the 24 GPI presentations compared to 27 unspecified out of 35 DPI presentations. Among potential sources of infection are: pet shops; exotic and domestic pets; farm animals/environments; and zoos and other wildlife centres. These established sources of potential infection are, however, only infrequently enquired into by GPs; thus their pathological significance may be easily overlooked. By using a standard setting 'pathogen source questionnaire' GPs might alert themselves to domestic or wider media of infection as well as enable more precise cues regarding when to sample and when to refer to hospital.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2026

Advancing One Health genomics in Africa: opportunities and challenges for outbreak and antimicrobial resistance control.

SUMMARYAfrica's ongoing struggles with emerging epidemics and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) underscore the urgency of integrating pathogen genomics and surveillance systems into the continent's One Health strategy, particularly given the existing limitations in preparedness and technological resources. This review brings together current evidence on the growth of sequencing infrastructure, the development of regional genomic hubs, and the establishment of governance frameworks, while identifying critical challenges in data integration, bioinformatics capacity, and sustainable financing. Special focus is placed on the lack of African-based genomic data, with our analysis showing that only 1.82% of the global total is available. Case studies illustrate the immense potential and importance of pathogen genomics, giving policymakers a tangible sense of its impact. These examples demonstrate how genomic technologies integrated with artificial intelligence (AI) are transforming outbreak response, AMR surveillance, and stewardship programs by enabling early detection of zoonotic threats, mapping transmission pathways, and guiding vaccine development. However, to fully realize this scientific intel, it is essential to embed One Health pathogen surveillance within strong policy and system frameworks to ensure the translation of technical progress into lasting institutional capacity and sustainable impact. Long-term implementation depends on coordinated investment and advocacy across four interdependent pillars: data architecture, governance and sovereignty, human capital, and technical capacity.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Dairy farm reservoir of Listeria monocytogenes sporadic and epidemic strains.

Identifying the reservoirs of a pathogen is vital for control of sporadic disease and epidemics. Listeria monocytogenes is a zoonotic foodborne pathogen that is responsible for 28% of food-related deaths in the United States annually, as well as a major cause of massive product recalls worldwide. To examine the role of the dairy farm as a potential source or reservoir for L. monocytogenes subtypes shown to cause human listeriosis, we compared the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) restriction enzyme digestion profiles of L. monocytogenes dairy farm-associated strains (milk, environmental, and bovine) to human sporadic and epidemic disease strains. Twenty-three percent of human sporadic strains had PFGE patterns identical to that of farm isolate(s). Additionally, three farm environmental strains and one human sporadic strain had a PFGE pattern identical to a strain of L. monocytogenes responsible for the 1985 California epidemic. These data indicate that this epidemic strain continues to cause sporadic human illness and has a potential dairy farm as a reservoir.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Human behaviors elevating exposure to Ixodes pacificus (Acari: Ixodidae) nymphs and their associated bacterial zoonotic agents in a hardwood forest.

Epidemiological evidence suggests that the nymph of the western black-legged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley and Kohls, is the primary vector of the Lyme disease spirochete, Borrelia burgdorferi Johnson, Schmid, Hyde, Steigerwalt, and Brenner, to humans in northwestern California. In spring 2002, six different human behaviors were evaluated as potential risk factors for acquiring I. pacificus nymphs in a deciduous woodland in Mendocino County, California. Also, the prevalence of B. burgdorferi sensu lato (s.l.) and the causative agents of human granulocytic (Anaplasma phagocytophilum [Foggie] Dumler, Barbet, Bekker, Dasch, Palmer, Ray, Rikihisa, and Rurangirwa) and monocytic ehrlichioses (Ehrlichia chaffeensis Anderson, Dawson, Jones, and Wilson) was determined in nymphs that had been collected from subjects or by dragging leaf litter. Activities involving a considerable degree of contact with wood resulted in greater acquisition of nymphs than those involving exposure solely to leaf litter. Time-adjusted tick-acquisition rates demonstrated that sitting on logs was the riskiest behavior, followed, in descending rank, by gathering wood, sitting against trees, walking, stirring and sitting on leaf litter, and just sitting on leaf litter. The number of ticks acquired appeared to be unrelated to the type of footwear worn (hiking boots, hiking sandals, or running shoes). Overall, 3.4% (n = 234) of the nymphs were infected with A. phagocytophilum, 3.9% (n = 181) with B. burgdorferi s.l., and none (n = 234) with E. chaffeensis. Of 13 nymphs infected with either A. phagocytophilum or B. burgdorferi s.l., 2 (15.4%) were coinfected with both bacteria, as were 1.3% of 158 nymphs obtained from leaf litter, the first report of coinfection in this life stage of I. pacificus. Four unattached, infected nymphs were removed from subjects, including two acquired while sitting on logs that contained A. phagocytophilum, another with the same bacterium obtained while walking, and one acquired while gathering wood that was infected with B. burgdorferi s.l. Despite the use of extreme personal preventive measures by both subjects, two attached, uninfected nymphs were removed from one of them > or = 1-2 d postexposure. The public health implications of these findings are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed2001

Zoonotic infections from pets. Understanding the risks and treatment.

As much as we hate to admit it, even the gentlest of our friendly pets can harbor harmful pathogens, and although the fact is not widely known, pet-associated infections can significantly affect the health of humans. In this article, Dr Morrison focuses on pets and their accompanying potential zoonoses, outlining how these diseases can be transmitted to humans and how the infections are treated. Special attention is paid to rabies and toxoplasmosis, which have attained particular notoriety over time.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Geographic potential for outbreaks of Marburg hemorrhagic fever.

Marburg virus represents one of the least well-known of the hemorrhagic fever-causing viruses worldwide; in particular, its geographic potential in Africa remains quite mysterious. Ecologic niche modeling was used to explore the geographic and ecologic potential of Marburg virus in Africa. Model results permitted a reinterpretation of the geographic point of infection in the initiation of the 1975 cases in Zimbabwe, and also anticipated the potential for cases in Angola, where a large outbreak recently (2004-2005) occurred. The geographic potential for additional outbreaks is outlined, including in several countries in which the virus is not known. Overall, results demonstrate that ecologic niche modeling can be a powerful tool in understanding geographic distributions of species and other biologic phenomena such as zoonotic disease transmission from natural reservoir populations.

Angola↗
PubMed2001

Host--parasite relationships of Schistosoma japonicum in mammalian hosts.

Control of schistosomiasis caused by Schistosoma japonicum has been severely hindered by the fact that several non-human mammalian species, including domesticated as well as wild animals, serve as zoonotic carriers of this infection. For effective control, it is imperative that the full host spectrum of this infection is understood. Although about 46 species of mammals are known to carry natural infection with S. japonicum, only a few might be of potential threat to human infection. Generally, in an endemic area, transmission of schistosomiasis to human depends largely on the availability and abundance of permissive hosts. Another important factor that needs to be taken into consideration in developing control measures against S. japonicum is potential strain differences. This review collates pertinent host-parasite relationship of S. japonicum in mammals in an endemic area and assesses the epidemiological significance of these findings for human infection.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[New studies on the characterization of virulence factors in Microsporum canis].

Microsporum canis is a worldwide distributed zoophilic and zoonotic dermatophyte which is responsible for most cases of feline ringworm. Its prevalence is on the rise in developed countries. Since 1995, the author and his Laboratory have developed a research programme to better understand the pathogenesis of M. canis dermatophytosis. Both the potential fungal virulence factors and the host immune response were investigated. A 31.5 kDa keratinolytic subtilase (SUB) and a 43.5 kDa keratinolytic metalloprotease (MEP) were purified from a crude exoantigen consisted in a mixture of inducible proteins secreted by the fungus in a medium enriched with keratin. Additionally, two gene families encoding respectively 3 SUBs and 3 MEPs, including the 2 keratinases previously purified (called SUB3 and MEP3), were characterized. The genes encoding several MEPs and SUBs were shown to be transcribed in vivo during infection by nested RT-PCR. Finally, we demonstrated that a specific cellular immune response towards the crude exoantigen, MEP3 and SUB3 was induced in experimentally infected guinea pigs. This indicates that the potential immunoprotective properties of these antigens are interesting to evaluate in the frame of the development of an efficient vaccine against feline ringworm.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Prevalence of enteric zoonotic agents in cats less than 1 year old in central New York State.

A prevalence study of several enteric zoonotic bacterial and parasitic infections was conducted in 263 fecal samples from cats that were between 1 and 12 months old, and that were in humane shelters (n = 149) or were presented to primary-care veterinarians (n = 114). Of these samples, 2 (0.8%) were positive for Campylobacter, 2 (0.8%) were positive for Salmonella, and 10 (3.8%) were positive for Cryptosporidium, confirming that these zoonotic agents are relatively rare in cats. Toxocara cati (33.0%) and Giardia (7.3%) were found more commonly. At least 1 zoonotic agent was detected in 105 samples (40.7%). Our results suggest that clinical signs such as diarrhea are not reliable predictors of whether a cat is actively shedding enteric organisms. Therefore, the decision to test a newly adopted cat should be based on the potential risks to the client rather than on the cat's clinical presentation. The high prevalence of T. cati confirms that comprehensive testing or treatment for ascarids is warranted in newly adopted kittens.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Are happy chickens safer chickens? Poultry welfare and disease susceptibility.

1. Contaminated chicken meat remains an internationally important vehicle for human infection with Salmonella and Campylobacter spp. In addition, the last 20 years has seen an international pandemic of human salmonellosis caused by the contamination of eggs with Salmonella Enteritidis. 2. It has been a long held scientific view that Campylobacter spp. and most, if not all of the common zoonotic salmonella, are essentially commensal in chickens. They usually form part of the gut flora and contaminate chicken carcases, for example, by faecal spillage at slaughter. Even when certain salmonella serovars like S. Enteritidis are invasive in laying hens overt evidence of clinical disease is rare and the birds appear to behave normally. 3. Are these bacteria just 'passing through' the avian host and only transient members of the bacterial flora or is there a more dynamic perspective to this infection/colonisation process? Chickens mount antibody responses to both pathogens, which indicate something other than commensalism. Such immune responses, however, do not always result in the clearance of the pathogen. 4. Not all animals in a group will carry salmonella or campylobacter, even under experimental conditions, and will vary, especially those that are outbred, in their responses to pathogen challenge. Identifying the reasons behind this could have important implications for disease control. 5. Both salmonella and campylobacter are more likely to be found in animals, which are compromised and this may explain at least part of the variations seen. Animals are more susceptible to infection when they are in a poor environment, fed a poor diet and/or under physical or psychological stress. 6. Work in this area has naturally focused on pathogens of medical significance and has shown that neurotransmitters such as noradrenaline can markedly alter pathogen behaviour. Other host responses like Interferon gamma can also affect host tissues in a way, which facilitates invasion by pathogens and may also interact directly with certain bacteria. 7. From a food safety perspective, there is evidence that egg contents contamination in ovo may be linked to transient stress in the hen. Current work at the University of Bristol on the epidemiology of campylobacter in broiler production is also showing a potential link between gut health and campylobacter colonisation and challenging the concept that these bacteria are common commensals. 8. The poor economic returns received by the egg and poultry industries mean that intensive production methods are common. Is it possible to rear chickens under these conditions in such a way as to exclude zoonotic pathogens like salmonella and campylobacter? Data from the UK strongly suggest that this is possible with the former pathogen. Can similar advances be achieved with campylobacter?

Animal Welfare↗
PubMed2001

Laboratory and field evaluation of Schistosoma japonicum DNA vaccines in sheep and water buffalo in China.

Vaccines are needed to control zoonotic Schistosoma japonicum infection and several vaccine candidates have now been identified. Two of these (Sj28GST and Sj23) have shown particular promise in sheep when injected with Freund's adjuvants. The objective of the present work was to find a vaccine formulation which may have potential for widespread use in the field. DNA vaccine formulations of these antigens were produced and tested first in sheep under laboratory conditions and then in both the laboratory and the field in water buffalo. In both host species partial protection as evidenced by a reduction in parasite counts in vaccinated compared with control animals was induced by both vaccines, and in water buffalo the vaccines were shown to be partially protective in the field as well as in the laboratory. These results suggest that the two DNA vaccines tested here may have potential for large-scale field use.

Animals↗