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Feng S, Chang H, Wang Y, Luo F, Wu Q, Han S, He H. Lethal infection caused by Tetratrichomonas gallinarum in black swans (Cygnus atratus). BMC Vet Res 2021; 17:191. [PMID: 33985499 PMCID: PMC8117575 DOI: 10.1186/s12917-021-02894-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tetratrichomonas gallinarum is parasitic protozoa with a wide host range. However, its lethal infection is rare reported. CASE PRESENTATION Here, we described the first lethal cases of T. gallinarum infection in black swans in China. Five black swans died within a week in succession without obvious symptoms except mild diarrhea. At necropsy, severe lesions were observed in caeca with thickened caecal walls and hemorrhages in the mucosa. A large number of moving trophozoites were found in the contents of the cecum by microscopic examination. The livers were enlarged with multiple bleeding spots on the surface. Histopathology of the livers showed mononuclear cell infiltration and moderate hyperplasia of fibrous tissue. The histopathology of the cecum showed that the villi of the cecum were edematous. Finally, the presence of T. gallinarum was determined by specific PCR andin-situ hybridization assay. Additionally, common pathogens that can cause similar symptoms were excluded. CONCLUSIONS The death of the black swan was caused by T. gallinarum, suggesting that the parasite might be a new threat to the Cygnus birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengyong Feng
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1-5 Beichenxilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, PR China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Han Chang
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1-5 Beichenxilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, PR China.,College of Life Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, China
| | - Yutian Wang
- Beijing General Station of Animal Husbandry, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100107, China
| | - Fubing Luo
- Beijing Center for Animal Disease Control, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoxing Wu
- Shaanxi Institute of zoology, Xi'an, 710032, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuyi Han
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1-5 Beichenxilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, PR China
| | - Hongxuan He
- National Research Center for Wildlife Borne Diseases, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 1-5 Beichenxilu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100101, PR China.
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García G, Ramos F, Pérez RG, Yañez J, Estrada MS, Mendoza LH, Martinez-Hernandez F, Gaytán P. Molecular epidemiology and genetic diversity of Entamoeba species in a chelonian collection. J Med Microbiol 2013; 63:271-283. [PMID: 24194557 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.061820-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Veterinary medicine has focused recently on reptiles, due to the existence of captive collections in zoos and an increase in the acquisition of reptiles as pets. The protozoan parasite, Entamoeba can cause amoebiasis in various animal species and humans. Although amoebiasis disease is remarkably rare in most species of chelonians and crocodiles, these species may serve as Entamoeba species carriers that transmit parasites to susceptible reptile species, such as snakes and lizards, which can become sick and die. In this study, we identified the Entamoeba species in a population of healthy (disease-free) chelonians, and evaluated their diversity through the amplification and sequencing of a small subunit rDNA region. Using this procedure, three Entamoeba species were identified: Entamoeba invadens in 4.76 % of chelonians, Entamoeba moshkovskii in 3.96 % and Entamoeba terrapinae in 50 %. We did not detect mixed Entamoeba infections. Comparative analysis of the amplified region allowed us to determine the intra-species variations. The E. invadens and E. moshkovskii strains isolated in this study did not exhibit marked differences with respect to the sequences reported in GenBank. The analysis of the E. terrapinae isolates revealed three different subgroups (A, B and C). Although subgroups A and C were very similar, subgroup B showed a relatively marked difference with respect to subgroups A and C (Fst = 0.984 and Fst = 1.000, respectively; 10-14 % nucleotide variation, as determined by blast) and with respect to the sequences reported in GenBank. These results suggested that E. terrapinae subgroup B may be either in a process of speciation or belong to a different lineage. However, additional research is necessary to support this statement conclusively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela García
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Colonia Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacan, México DF, CP 04510, México
| | - Fernando Ramos
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Colonia Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacan, México DF, CP 04510, México
| | - Rodrigo Gutiérrez Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Colonia Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacan, México DF, CP 04510, México
| | - Jorge Yañez
- Unidad de Síntesis y Secuenciación de DNA, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca Morelos, CP 62210, México
| | - Mónica Salmerón Estrada
- Herpetario de la Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Colonia Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacan, México DF, CP 04510, México
| | - Lilian Hernández Mendoza
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. Universidad 3000, Colonia Copilco Universidad, Delegación Coyoacan, México DF, CP 04510, México
| | - Fernando Martinez-Hernandez
- Departamento de Ecología de Agentes Patógenos, Hospital General Doctor Manuel Gea González, Calz de Tlalpan 4800, Tlalpan, México DF, CP 14000, México
| | - Paul Gaytán
- Unidad de Síntesis y Secuenciación de DNA, Instituto de Biotecnología, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México. Av. Universidad 2001, Cuernavaca Morelos, CP 62210, México
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Mostegl MM, Richter B, Dinhopl N, Weissenböck H. Influence of prolonged formalin fixation of tissue samples on the sensitivity of chromogenic in situ hybridization. J Vet Diagn Invest 2011; 23:1212-6. [PMID: 22362804 DOI: 10.1177/1040638711425584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromogenic in situ hybridization (ISH) is a commonly used tool in diagnostic pathology to detect pathogens in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue sections. Prolonged formalin fixation time was identified to be a limiting factor for the successful detection of nucleic acid from different pathogens, most probably due to the cross-linking activity of formalin between RNA, DNA, and proteins. Therefore, in the current study, the influence of formalin fixation time on ISH signal intensity of 2 viral (Porcine circovirus-2 [PCV-2] and Porcine respiratory and reproductive virus [PRRSV]) and 2 protozoal agents (Cryptosporidium serpentis and Tritrichomonas sp.) was evaluated. Tissue samples were fixed in 7% neutral buffered formaldehyde solution, and at defined intervals, pieces were embedded in paraffin wax and subjected to pathogen-specific ISH. For all 4 pathogens, the signal intensity remained comparable with the starting ISH signal for different periods of fixation (PCV-2: 6 weeks, PRRSV: 23 weeks, C. serpentis: 55 weeks, Tritrichomonas sp.: 53 weeks). Thereafter, the signal started to decline until loss of nucleic acid detection. The influence of increased proteinase K concentrations for inverting the formalin-induced cross-linking activity was examined compared with the standard protocol. With all 4 infectious agents, a 4-fold proteinase K concentration restored the ISH signals to a level comparable with 1 day of fixation. In conclusion, the influence of prolonged formalin fixation on the intensity of detected ISH signal highly depends on the analyzed infectious agent and the pretreatment protocol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike M Mostegl
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Veterinärplatz 1, A-1210 Vienna, Austria
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Richter B, Schulze C, Kämmerling J, Mostegl M, Weissenbock H. First report of typhlitis/typhlohepatitis caused by Tetratrichomonas gallinarum in three duck species. Avian Pathol 2011; 39:499-503. [PMID: 21154060 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2010.518137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Two Red-breasted Mergansers (Mergus serrator), one Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus), and one Common Eider (Somateria mollissima) from a German zoological collection died of necrotizing typhlitis/typhlohepatitis within 2 years. Using a newly established chromogenic in situ hybridization assay, numerous intralesional trophozoites of Tetratrichomonas gallinarum could be detected in formalin-fixed and paraffin-embedded tissues from the caeca and livers of the affected birds. Partial sequencing of the 18S rRNA-gene revealed two unique nucleotide sequences very similar to T. gallinarum strains isolated from avian and human hosts. One turkey kept in the same zoological collection succumbed to histomonosis (blackhead disease) confirmed with chromogenic in situ hybridization at the time of the first duck fatalities. This turkey also harboured T. gallinarum trophozoites within necrotic cell debris in the caecal lumen, which might be epidemiologically related to the T. gallinarum infections in the ducks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Richter
- Institute of Pathology and Forensic Veterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, Vienna, Austria.
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