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Richardson S, Bell CR, Medhavi F, Tanner T, Lundy S, Omosun Y, Igietseme JU, Eko FO. A novel cold-chain free VCG-based subunit vaccine protects against Chlamydia abortus-induced neonatal mortality in a pregnant mouse model. Front Immunol 2023; 14:1243743. [PMID: 37915580 PMCID: PMC10616880 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1243743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus (Cab) causes spontaneous abortion and neonatal mortality in infected ruminants and pregnant women. Most Cab infections are asymptomatic, although they can be treated with antibiotics, signifying that control of these infections may require alternative strategies, including the use of effective vaccines. However, the limitations imposed by live attenuated and inactivated vaccines further suggest that employment of subunit vaccines may need to be considered. The efficacy of a newly generated Vibrio cholerae ghost (rVCG)-based subunit vaccine harboring the N-terminal portion of the Cab Pmp18D protein (rVCG-Pmp18.3) in preventing Cab-induced abortion or neonatal mortality was evaluated in pregnant mice. Mice were intranasally (IN) immunized and boosted twice, 2 weeks apart with the vaccine, and immunized and unimmunized mice were caged with males 4 weeks postimmunization. The mice were then infected either IN or transcervically (TC) 10 days after pregnancy, and the fertility rate was determined 7 days postpartum. Eight days after delivery, the mice were sacrificed, and Cab infectivity in the lungs and spleens was evaluated by culturing tissue homogenates in tissue culture. Our results demonstrated that the vaccine induced immune effectors that mediated complete clearance of infection in the lungs and significantly reduced Cab infectivity in the spleen following IN immunization. Vaccine immunization also afforded protection against Cab-induced upper genital tract pathology (uterine dilation). Furthermore, while there was no incidence of abortion in both immunized and unimmunized mice, immunized mice were completely protected against neonatal mortality compared to unimmunized infected controls, which lost a significant percentage of their litter 7 days postpartum. Our results establish the capability of the rVCG-Pmp18.3 vaccine to prevent infection in the lungs (mucosal) and spleen (systemic) and protect mice from Cab-induced tubal pathologies and neonatal mortality, a hallmark of Cab infection in ruminants. To advance the commercial potential of this vaccine, future studies will optimize the antigen dose and the number of vaccine doses required for protection of ruminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakyra Richardson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Courtnee R. Bell
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fnu Medhavi
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tayhlor Tanner
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Stephanie Lundy
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yusuf Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph U. Igietseme
- National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Francis O. Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Turin L, Surini S, Wheelhouse N, Rocchi MS. Recent advances and public health implications for environmental exposure to Chlamydia abortus: from enzootic to zoonotic disease. Vet Res 2022; 53:37. [PMID: 35642008 PMCID: PMC9152823 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-022-01052-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Environmental transmission of Chlamydia abortus as a result of enzootic disease or disease outbreaks and the threats posed by this pathogen has been previously reported, however a state-of-the-science review of these reports and the identification of future research priorities in this area is still lacking. This study provides an overview of the current knowledge of host–pathogen–environment interactions, addressing public health risks and identifying critical questions and research gaps. We performed a systematic PubMed and Web of Science search for publications related to Chlamydia abortus in the past four decades, and we reviewed and combined the evidence critically discussing and commenting the results. A total of 182 studies, 5 chapters of specific books and the “OIE terrestrial manual” were included in this review. There were substantial variations between the studies in topic addressed and experimental design. Overall, the literature largely supports the crucial role played by environmental exposure on the acquisition of zoonotic disease caused by Chlamydia abortus. We also identify the paucity of information related to interspecies transmission and pathogen adaptation in relation to environmental dissemination and zoonotic risk. This analysis further highlights the need for additional research given that environmental transmission represents a serious risk not only to susceptible patients (pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals), but also for other species including wildlife.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauretta Turin
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sara Surini
- Department of Veterinary Medicine (DIMEVET), University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Nick Wheelhouse
- School of Applied Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, Sighthill Court, Edinburgh, EH11 4BN, UK
| | - Mara Silvia Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, Bush Loan, Pentlands Science Park, Penicuik, EH26 0PZ, Scotland, UK
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3
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Richardson S, Medhavi F, Tanner T, Lundy S, Omosun Y, Igietseme JU, Carroll D, Eko FO. Cellular Basis for the Enhanced Efficacy of the Fms-Like Tyrosine Kinase 3 Ligand (FL) Adjuvanted VCG-Based Chlamydia abortus Vaccine. Front Immunol 2021; 12:698737. [PMID: 34249004 PMCID: PMC8264281 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.698737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Efficacious vaccines are needed to control genital chlamydial diseases in humans and the veterinary industry. We previously reported a C. abortus (Cab) vaccine comprising recombinant Vibrio cholerae ghosts (rVCG) expressing the conserved and immunogenic N-terminal region of the Cab polymorphic membrane protein D (rVCG-Pmp18.1) protein that protected mice against intravaginal challenge. In this study, we investigated the immunomodulatory effect of the hematopoietic progenitor activator cytokine, Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3-ligand (FL) when co-administered with the rVCG-Pmp18.1 vaccine as a strategy to enhance the protective efficacy and the potential mechanism of immunomodulation. Groups of female C57BL/6J mice were immunized and boosted twice intranasally (IN) with rVCG-PmpD18.1 with and without FL or purified rPmp18.1 or rVCG-gD2 (antigen control) or PBS (medium) per mouse. The results revealed that co-administration of the vaccine with FL enhanced antigen-specific cellular and humoral immune responses and protected against live Cab genital infection. Comparative analysis of immune cell phenotypes infiltrating mucosal and systemic immune inductive tissue sites following immunization revealed that co-administration of rVCG-Pmp18.1 with FL significantly enhanced the number of macrophages, dendritic and NK cells, γδ and NK T cells in the spleen (systemic) and iliac lymph nodes (ILN) draining the genital tract (mucosal) tissues compared to rVCG-Pmp18.1 alone. Furthermore, FL enhanced monocyte infiltration in the ILN, while CD19+ B cells and CD4+ T cells were enhanced in the spleen. These results indicate that the immunomodulatory effect of FL is associated with its ability to mobilize innate immune cells and subsequent activation of robust antigen-specific immune effectors in mucosal and systemic lymphoid tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shakyra Richardson
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Fnu Medhavi
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Tayhlor Tanner
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Stephanie Lundy
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Yusuf Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Joseph U. Igietseme
- National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Darin Carroll
- National Center for Emerging Zoonotic and Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Francis O. Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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Esmaeili H, Bolourchi M, Mokhber-Dezfouli MR, khaltabadi farahani R, Teimourpour A. Detection of Chlamydia abortus and risk factors for infection in small ruminants in Iran. Small Rumin Res 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2021.106339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Wattegedera SR, Livingstone M, Maley S, Rocchi M, Lee S, Pang Y, Wheelhouse NM, Aitchison K, Palarea-Albaladejo J, Buxton D, Longbottom D, Entrican G. Defining immune correlates during latent and active chlamydial infection in sheep. Vet Res 2020; 51:75. [PMID: 32487248 PMCID: PMC7268686 DOI: 10.1186/s13567-020-00798-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) caused by the obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus), is an endemic disease in most sheep-rearing countries worldwide. Following infection, C. abortus establishes a complex host-pathogen interaction with a latent phase in non-pregnant sheep followed by an active disease phase in the placenta during pregnancy leading to OEA. Improved knowledge of the host-pathogen interactions at these different phases of disease will accelerate the development of new diagnostic tests and vaccines to control OEA. Current evidence indicates that cellular immunity is essential for controlling C. abortus infection. We have previously described a model of mucosal (intranasal) infection of non-pregnant sheep with C. abortus that replicates the latent and active phases of OEA. We have investigated antigen-specific recall responses of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in sheep infected with C. abortus via the intranasal route to determine how these change during the latent and active phases of disease. By analysing cytokines associated with the major CD4+ve Thelper (Th) cell subsets (Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ)/Th1; Interleukin (IL)-4/Th2; IL-17A/Th17; IL-10/Tregulatory), we show that there is selective activation of PBMC producing IFN-γ and/or IL-10 during the latent phase following infection. These cytokines are also elevated during the active disease phase and while they are produced by sheep that are protected from OEA, they are also produced by sheep that abort, highlighting the difficulties in finding specific cellular immunological correlates of protection for complex intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean R. Wattegedera
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Morag Livingstone
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Stephen Maley
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Mara Rocchi
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Susan Lee
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Yvonne Pang
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Nick M. Wheelhouse
- School of Applied Sciences, Napier University, Edinburgh, Scotland EH11 4BN UK
| | - Kevin Aitchison
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Javier Palarea-Albaladejo
- Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, JCMB, The King’s Buildings, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, Edinburgh, Scotland EH9 3FD UK
| | - David Buxton
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - David Longbottom
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
| | - Gary Entrican
- Moredun Research Institute, International Research Centre, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Scotland EH26 0PZ UK
- The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, Scotland EH25 9RG UK
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Mamlouk A, Guesmi K, Ouertani I, Kalthoum S, Selmi R, Ben Aicha E, Bel Haj Mohamed B, Gharbi R, Lachtar M, Dhaouadi A, Seghaier C, Messadi L. Seroprevalence and associated risk factors of Chlamydia abortus infection in ewes in Tunisia. Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 71:101500. [PMID: 32505766 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2020.101500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2019] [Revised: 05/10/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) caused by Chlamydia abortus is a disease of ruminants that results in serious economic losses in livestock industry. The zoonotic potential of the pathogen adds a public health concern on the efforts to control the disease. We report herein a cross-sectional study that was conducted during the lambing season (June and July) in Tunisia to estimate the seroprevalence of C. abortus infection in large sheep herds with abortion history. A total of 803 ewes were sampled and tested using indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (iELISA). The overall apparent seroprevalence at herd and individual levels were 58 % (95 %CI = 39-74.5 %) and 6.6 % (95 %CI = 4.9-8.3 %), respectively. Significant risk factors investigated using univariate and multivariate analyses were history of infertility (OR = 5.7; 95 %CI = 3.05-10.66), the number of reproductive ewes (OR = 2.1; 95 %CI = 1.12-3.94), the control of new animals at introduction (OR = 4.35; 95 %CI = 2.46-7.68), the sharing of drinking water (OR = 2.18; 95 %CI = 1.22-3.9), the exchange of breeding males (OR = 2.56; 95 %CI = 1.003-6.54), the disposal of abortion materials without precaution (OR = 4.36; 95 %CI = 2.42-7.87), the lack of lambing barn (OR = 2.39; 95 %CI = 1.13-5.04), the non-application of hygienic post-abortion measures (OR = 10.35; 95 %CI = 5.28-20.26) and the manure management (OR = 11.35; 95 %CI = 3.26-39.48). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first sero-epidemiological survey conducted on an abortive disease in Tunisian ewes that investigated the risk factors of C. abortus infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aymen Mamlouk
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.
| | - Kaouther Guesmi
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Imen Ouertani
- Department of Animal Infectious Diseases, Zoonoses and Sanitary Regulation, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Sana Kalthoum
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Rachid Selmi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
| | - Elhem Ben Aicha
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Bassem Bel Haj Mohamed
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Raja Gharbi
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Monia Lachtar
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Anissa Dhaouadi
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Chedia Seghaier
- National Centre for Zoosanitary Vigilance, 38 Avenue. Charles Nicolle, 1082 Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Lilia Messadi
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Immunology, National School of Veterinary Medicine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, University of Manouba, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia
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7
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O'Neill LM, Keane OM, Ross PJ, Nally JE, Seshu J, Markey B. Evaluation of protective and immune responses following vaccination with recombinant MIP and CPAF from Chlamydia abortus as novel vaccines for enzootic abortion of ewes. Vaccine 2019; 37:5428-5438. [PMID: 31375438 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2019.06.088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/28/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
MIP and CPAF from Chlamydia have been shown to be effective in inducing immune responses important in clearing chlamydial infections. This study evaluates the protection conferred by MIP and CPAF as novel vaccines in pregnant C. abortus challenged ewes. Fifty C. abortus sero-negative sheep were randomly allocated into 5 groups of 10 according to the treatment they were to receive (1) 100 µg of MBP-MIP (2) 100 µg CPAF (3) 50 µg MBP-MIP and 50 µg CPAF (4) Tris-buffer (negative control) (5) Enzovax (positive control). Booster inoculations were administered 3 weeks after primary inoculations. Blood samples were taken pre-vaccination and weekly for 5 weeks. Five months after vaccination the ewes were mated. Pregnant ewes were then challenged on day 90 of gestation. Blood samples taken at four time-points post challenge were analysed for IFNγ levels, TNFα and IL-10 expression and anti-chlamydial antibody levels. Vaginal swabs, placental and foetal tissue and bacterial shedding were analysed using qPCR to quantify levels of C. abortus. Enzovax was 100% effective with no abortions occurring. The MIP/CPAF combined vaccine offered the greatest protection of the novel vaccines with 67% of ewes giving birth to one or more live lambs equating to a 50% vaccine efficacy rate. MIP and CPAF administered singly did not confer protection. Enzovax and MIP/CPAF vaccinated ewes had longer gestations and lambs with higher birth weights than negative control ewes. Aborting ewes shed higher numbers of C. abortus than ewes that had live lambs, all vaccinated ewes demonstrated lower levels of bacterial shedding than negative control ewes with Enzovax ewes shedding significantly fewer bacteria. Ewes that went on to abort had significantly higher levels of IFNγ and IL-10 at day 35 post challenge and significantly higher levels of anti-chlamydial antibodies at 24 h post lambing compared to ewes that had live lambs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L M O'Neill
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland; Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland.
| | - O M Keane
- Animal & Bioscience Department, Teagasc Grange, Dunsany, Co. Meath, Ireland
| | - P J Ross
- Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Central Veterinary Research Laboratory, Backweston, Co. Kildare, Ireland
| | - J E Nally
- Infectious Bacterial Diseases, National Animal Disease Center, Agriculture Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Ames, IA, USA
| | - J Seshu
- South Texas Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, Centre of Excellence in Infection Genomics and Department of Biology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USA
| | - B Markey
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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Di Paolo LA, Alvarado Pinedo MF, Origlia J, Fernández G, Uzal FA, Travería GE. First report of caprine abortions due to Chlamydia abortus in Argentina. Vet Med Sci 2019; 5:162-167. [PMID: 30663870 PMCID: PMC6556757 DOI: 10.1002/vms3.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious abortions of goats in Argentina are mainly associated with brucellosis and toxoplasmosis. In this paper, we describe an abortion outbreak in goats caused by Chlamydia abortus. Seventy out of 400 goats aborted. Placental smears stained with modified Ziehl‐Neelsen stain showed many chlamydia‐like bodies within trophoblasts. One stillborn fetus was necropsied and the placenta was examined. No gross lesions were seen in the fetus, but the inter‐cotyledonary areas of the placenta were thickened and covered by fibrino‐suppurative exudate. The most consistent microscopic finding was found in the placenta and consisted of fibrinoid necrotic vasculitis, with mixed inflammatory infiltration in the tunica media. Immunohistochemistry of the placenta was positive for Chlamydia spp. The results of polymerase chain reaction targeting 23S rRNA gene performed on placenta were positive for Chlamydia spp. An analysis of 417 amplified nucleotide sequences revealed 99% identity to those of C. abortus pm225 (GenBank AJ005617) and pm112 (GenBank AJ005613) isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of abortion associated with C. abortus in Argentina.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leandro A Di Paolo
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CEDIVE, La Plata, Argentina
| | - María F Alvarado Pinedo
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CEDIVE, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Javier Origlia
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Cátedra de Aves y Pilíferos, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | | | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory, School of Veterinary Medicine, San Bernardino branch, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Gabriel E Travería
- Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, CEDIVE, La Plata, Argentina
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Pellerin JL, Oseikria M, Moreno D, Rodolakis A, Vorimore F, Laroucau K, Bruyas JF, Roux C, Michaud S, Larrat M, Fieni F. Risk of Chlamydia abortus transmission via embryo transfer using in vitro produced early bovine embryos. Theriogenology 2018; 126:114-120. [PMID: 30551017 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.11.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Revised: 11/27/2018] [Accepted: 11/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine (i) whether Chlamydia (C.) abortus would adhere to the intact zona pellucida (ZP-intact) of early in vitro produced bovine embryos; (ii) whether the bacteria would adhere to the embryos (ZP-free) after in vitro infection; and (iii) the efficacy of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) washing protocol. The experimentation was made twice. For each replicate 100 (8-16-cell) bovine embryos produced in vitro were randomly divided into 10 batches. Height batches (4 ZP-intact and 4 ZP-free) of 10 embryos were incubated in a medium containing 4 × 107Chlamydia/ml of AB7 strain. After incubation for 18 h at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, the embryos were washed in accordance with the IETS guidelines. In parallel, two batches (1 ZP-intact and 1 ZP-free) of 10 embryos were subjected to similar procedures but without exposure to C. abortus as a control group. The 10 washing fluids from each batch were collected and centrifuged for 1 h at 13,000×g. Each batch of washed embryos and each wash pellets were tested using PCR. C. abortus DNA was found in all ZP-intact and ZP-free batches of 10 embryos after 10 successive washes. For ZP-intact infected embryos, Chlamydia-DNA was also detected in all 10 wash baths for two batches (2/8) of embryos, whereas for ZP-free infected embryos, Chlamydia-DNA was detected in all 10 wash baths for 6/8 batches of embryos. In contrast, none of the embryos or their washing fluids in the control batches was DNA positive. The bacterial load for batches of 10 embryos after the 10 wash baths was significantly higher for batches of ZP-free embryos (20.7 ± 9 × 103 bacteria/mL) than for batches of ZP-intact embryos (0.47 ± 0.19 × 103 bacteria/mL). These results demonstrate that C. abortus adheres to the ZP as well as the early embryonic cells of in vitro produced bovine embryos after in vitro infection, and that the standard washing protocol recommended by the IETS fails to remove it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean-Louis Pellerin
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Mouhamad Oseikria
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Diego Moreno
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Annie Rodolakis
- INRA, Animal Infectious Diseases and Public Health Tours, France
| | - Fabien Vorimore
- ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Karine Laroucau
- ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Jean-Fancois Bruyas
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Cécile Roux
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Sandrine Michaud
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Myriam Larrat
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - Francis Fieni
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France.
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O’Neill LM, O’Driscoll Á, Markey B. Comparison of three commercial serological tests for the detection of Chlamydia abortus infection in ewes. Ir Vet J 2018; 71:13. [PMID: 29854397 PMCID: PMC5975472 DOI: 10.1186/s13620-018-0124-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2018] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 20.9% of diagnosable abortions in Ireland in 2015 were caused by Chlamydia abortus infection. Abortion usually occurs in the last 2-3 weeks of gestation, and up to 30% of ewes may be affected in naïve flocks. Serological diagnosis of EAE in flocks using LPS or whole bacteria as antigens is often hindered by cross reactions with C. pecorum. Although the complement fixation test is the official test for diagnosis of EAE, more sensitive and specific ELISA based tests have been developed. This study aimed to compare three commercial ELISA kits to detect C. abortus antibodies in ewes and to determine which of the kits had the highest sensitivity. The IDvet kit utilises a MOMP peptide antigen, the MVD-Enfer kit is based on a POMP90-3 antigen while the LSI kit plates are coated with chlamydial LPS. The study also aimed to examine the potential of these ELISAs to distinguish infected animals that go on to abort compared to those that have live lambs. Ewes were vaccinated with either a commercial live vaccine (n = 10) or Tris-buffer sham inoculation (n = 9) 5 months prior to gestation, these ewes were then challenged with C. abortus (1 × 106 IFU/ml) on day 90 of gestation. Sera were collected at pre-vaccination, 14 days post vaccination, 35 days post vaccination, pre-challenge, 35 days post challenge and 3 weeks post lambing/abortion (~ 70 days post challenge) and tested using the 3 aforementioned ELISAs to determine if one ELISA was more sensitive at detecting circulating anti-chlamydial antibodies. RESULTS Sensitivity was highest with the LSI test kit at 94.74%, followed by the MVD-Enfer and IDvet kits, at 78.95 and 73.68% respectively. Ewes vaccinated with Enzovax became seropositive at 14 days post vaccination with all kits. Following challenge at day 90 of gestation, antibody titres steadily rose in all groups of ewes. With all ELISA kits, antibody levels were higher in ewes that aborted compared to ewes that had live lambs at 35 days post challenge and three weeks post lambing, and statistically significantly higher antibody levels were recorded in ewes that aborted compared to ewes that had live lambs using the MVD-ENFER ELISA at three weeks post lambing (P = 0.0482). CONCLUSIONS The LSI assay was the most sensitive out of the three kits tested in this study, when sera were tested at three weeks post lambing. As the LPS used in this kit is cross-reactive with all chlamydia, it is good for identifying flocks infected with any chlamydial species, but it is not considered specific for C. abortus. Furthermore, antibody levels were higher in ewes that aborted compared to ewes that had live lambs, at both 35 days post challenge and at three weeks post lambing. Future work should include evaluation of a larger number of sera at a wider range of time-points as well as an estimation of the specificity of commercially available assays.
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Affiliation(s)
- L. M. O’Neill
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Room 07A, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Á. O’Driscoll
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Room 07A, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - B. Markey
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Room 07A, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
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11
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Pan Q, Zhang Q, Chu J, Pais R, Liu S, He C, Eko FO. Chlamydia abortus Pmp18.1 Induces IL-1β Secretion by TLR4 Activation through the MyD88, NF-κB, and Caspase-1 Signaling Pathways. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2017; 7:514. [PMID: 29326885 PMCID: PMC5741698 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2017.00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 11/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The polymorphic membrane protein D (Pmp18D) is a 160-kDa outer membrane protein that is conserved and plays an important role in Chlamydia abortus pathogenesis. We have identified an N-terminal fragment of Pmp18D (designated Pmp18.1) as a possible subunit vaccine antigen. In this study, we evaluated the vaccine potential of Pmp18.1 by investigating its ability to induce innate immune responses in dendritic cells and the signaling pathway(s) involved in rPmp18.1-induced IL-1β secretion. We next investigated the immunomodulatory impact of VCG, in comparison with the more established Th1-promoting adjuvants, CpG and FL, on rPmp18.1-mediated innate immune activation. Finally, the effect of siRNA targeting TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p50, and Caspase-1 mRNA in DCs on IL-1β cytokine secretion was also investigated. Bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) were stimulated with rPmp18.1 in the presence or absence of VCG or CpG or FL and the magnitude of cytokines produced was assessed using a multiplex cytokine ELISA assay. Expression of costimulatory molecules and Toll-like receptors (TLRs) was analyzed by flow cytometry. Quantitation of intracellular levels of myeloid differentiation factor 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-κB p50/p65), and Caspase-1 was evaluated by Western immunoblotting analysis while NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation was assessed by confocal microscopy. The results showed DC stimulation with rPmp18.1 provoked the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and upregulated expression of TLRs and co-stimulatory molecules associated with DC maturation. These responses were significantly (p ≤ 0.001) enhanced by VCG but not CpG or FL. In addition, rPmp18.1 activated the expression of MyD88, NF-κB p50, and Caspase-1 as well as the nuclear expression of NF-κB p65 in treated DCs. Furthermore, targeting TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB p50, and Caspase-1 mRNA in BMDCs with siRNA significantly reduced their expression levels, resulting in decreased IL-1β cytokine secretion, strongly suggesting their involvement in the rPmp18.1-induced IL-1β cytokine secretion. Taken together, these results indicate that C. abortus Pmp18.1 induces IL-1β secretion by TLR4 activation through the MyD88, NF-κB as well as the Caspase-1 signaling pathways and may be a potential C. abortus vaccine candidate. The vaccine potential of Pmp18.1 will subsequently be evaluated in an appropriate animal model, using VCG as an immunomodulator, following immunization and challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Pan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States.,Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jun Chu
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Roshan Pais
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Shanshan Liu
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Cheng He
- Key Lab of Animal Epidemiology and Zoonosis of Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Francis O Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
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12
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Diseases Primarily Affecting the Reproductive System. Vet Med (Auckl) 2017. [PMCID: PMC7150237 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-7020-5246-0.00018-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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13
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García-Seco T, Pérez-Sancho M, Salinas J, Navarro A, Díez-Guerrier A, García N, Pozo P, Goyache J, Domínguez L, Álvarez J. Effect of Preventive Chlamydia abortus Vaccination in Offspring Development in Sheep Challenged Experimentally. Front Vet Sci 2016; 3:67. [PMID: 27610362 PMCID: PMC4997790 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2016.00067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2016] [Accepted: 08/09/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ovine enzootic abortion, caused by Chlamydia abortus, leads to important economic losses worldwide. In addition to reproductive failures, infection may impact lamb growth during the first weeks after birth, yet this effect has not been well characterized. Vaccination can help to control the disease but variable efficacy values have been described, possibly related with factors associated with the host, the vaccine, the parameter used for efficacy determination, and the challenge conditions. In this context, we evaluated the efficacy of an inactivated standard commercial vaccine and a 1/2 diluted dose in pregnant sheep challenged with C. abortus by examining multiple indicators of vaccine effect (including incidence of reproductive failures, bacterial excretion, and evolution of weight gain of viable lambs during the first month of life). Three groups of ewes [control non-vaccinated, C (n = 18); vaccinated with standard dose, SV (n = 16); and vaccinated with 1/2 dose, DV (n = 17)], were challenged approximately 90 days post-mating and tested using direct PCR (tissue samples and vaginal swabs) and ELISA (serum) until 31 days post-reproductive outcome. There were not significant differences in the proportions of reproductive failures or bacterial shedding after birth/abortion regardless the vaccination protocol. However, a beneficial effect of vaccination on offspring growth was detected in both vaccinated groups compared with the controls, with a mean increase in weight measured at 30 days of life of 1.5 and 2.5 kg (p = 0.056) and an increase in the geometric mean of the daily gain of 8.4 and 9.7% in lambs born from DV and SV ewes compared with controls, respectively. Our results demonstrate the effect of an inactivated vaccine in the development of the offspring of C. abortus-infected ewes at a standard and a diluted dose, an interesting finding given the difficulty in achieving sufficient antigen concentration in the production of enzootic abortion of ewes-commercial vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Teresa García-Seco
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid , Spain
| | - Marta Pérez-Sancho
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Campus de Excelencia Internacional (CEI) Moncloa, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM)-Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jesús Salinas
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia , Murcia , Spain
| | - Alejandro Navarro
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid , Spain
| | | | - Nerea García
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid , Spain
| | - Pilar Pozo
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid , Madrid , Spain
| | - Joaquín Goyache
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Domínguez
- Centro de Vigilancia Sanitaria Veterinaria (VISAVET), Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain; Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julio Álvarez
- Department of Veterinary Population Medicine, University of Minnesota , Saint Paul, MN , USA
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14
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Oseikria M, Pellerin JL, Rodolakis A, Vorimore F, Laroucau K, Bruyas JF, Roux C, Michaud S, Larrat M, Fieni F. Can Chlamydia abortus be transmitted by embryo transfer in goats? Theriogenology 2016; 86:1482-1488. [PMID: 27341774 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2016.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2015] [Revised: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to determine (i) whether Chlamydia abortus would adhere to or penetrate the intact zona pellucida (ZP-intact) of early in vivo-derived caprine embryos, after in vitro infection; and (ii) the efficacy of the International Embryo Transfer Society (IETS) washing protocol for bovine embryos. Fifty-two ZP-intact embryos (8-16 cells), obtained from 14 donors were used in this experiment. The embryos were randomly divided into 12 batches. Nine batches (ZP-intact) of five embryos were incubated in a medium containing 4 × 10(7)Chlamydia/mL of AB7 strain. After incubation for 18 hours at 37 °C in an atmosphere of 5% CO2, the embryos were washed in batches in 10 successive baths of a phosphate buffer saline and 5% fetal calf serum solution in accordance with IETS guidelines. In parallel, three batches of ZP-intact embryos were used as controls by being subjected to similar procedures but without exposure to C. abortus. The 10 wash baths were collected separately and centrifuged for 1 hour at 13,000 × g. The washed embryos and the pellets of the 10 centrifuged wash baths were frozen at -20 °C before examination for evidence of C. abortus using polymerase chain reaction. C. abortus DNA was found in all of the infected batches of ZP-intact embryos (9/9) after 10 successive washes. It was also detected in the 10th wash fluid for seven batches of embryos, whereas for the two other batches, the last positive wash bath was the eighth and the ninth, respectively. In contrast, none of the embryos or their washing fluids in the control batches were DNA positive. These results report that C. abortus adheres to and/or penetrates the ZP of in vivo caprine embryos after in vitro infection, and that the standard washing protocol recommended by the IETS for bovine embryos, failed to remove it. The persistence of these bacteria after washing makes the embryo a potential means of transmission of the bacterium during embryo transfer from infected donor goats to healthy recipients and/or their offspring. Nevertheless, the detection of C. abortus DNA by polymerase chain reaction does not prove that the bacteria found was infectious. Further studies are required to investigate whether enzymatic and/or antibiotic treatment of caprine embryos infected by C. abortus would eliminate the bacteria from the ZP.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Oseikria
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - J L Pellerin
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - A Rodolakis
- INRA, Animal Infectious Diseases and Public Health, Tours, France
| | - F Vorimore
- ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - K Laroucau
- ANSES, Animal Health Laboratory, Bacterial Zoonosis Unit, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - J F Bruyas
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - C Roux
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - S Michaud
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - M Larrat
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France
| | - F Fieni
- LUNAM University, Oniris, Nantes-Atlantic National College of Veterinary Medicine, Food Science and Engineering, Sanitary Security of Reproduction Biotechnology Unit, Nantes, France.
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15
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16
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Álvarez D, Salinas J, Buendía AJ, Ortega N, del Río L, Sánchez J, Navarro JA, Gallego MC, Murcia-Belmonte A, Cuello F, Caro MR. Intratracheal infection as an efficient route for testing vaccines against Chlamydia abortus in sheep. Vet J 2015; 205:393-8. [PMID: 26095034 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2015.04.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2014] [Revised: 04/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Pregnant ewes have been widely used to test vaccines against Chlamydia abortus. However, this model entails many disadvantages such as high economic costs and long periods of pregnancy. The murine model is very useful for specific studies but cannot replace the natural host for the later stages of vaccine evaluation. Therefore, a non-pregnant model of the natural host might be useful for a vaccine trial to select the best vaccine candidates prior to use of the pregnant model. With this aim, two routes of infection were assessed in young non-pregnant sheep, namely, intranasal (IN) and intratracheal (IT). In addition, groups of non-vaccinated sheep and sheep immunised with an inactivated vaccine were established to investigate the suitability of the model for testing vaccines. After the experimental infection, isolation of the microorganism in several organs, with pathological and immunohistochemical analyses, antibody production assessment and investigation by PCR of the presence of chlamydia in the vagina or rectum were carried out. Experimental IT inoculation of C. abortus induced pneumonia in sheep during the first few days post-infection, confirming the suitability of the IT route for testing vaccines in the natural host. The course of infection and the resulting pathological signs were less severe in vaccinated sheep compared with non-vaccinated animals, demonstrating the success of vaccination. IN infection did not produce evident lesions or demonstrate the presence of chlamydial antigen in the lungs and cannot be considered an appropriate model for testing vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Álvarez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - J Salinas
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - A J Buendía
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - N Ortega
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - L del Río
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - J Sánchez
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - J A Navarro
- Departamento de Anatomía y Anatomía Patológica Comparadas, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - M C Gallego
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - A Murcia-Belmonte
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - F Cuello
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain
| | - M R Caro
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Regional Campus of International Excellence 'Campus Mare Nostrum', Universidad de Murcia, Spain.
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Chlamydia abortus: New Aspects of Infectious Abortion in Sheep and Potential Risk for Pregnant Women. CURRENT CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY REPORTS 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s40588-015-0014-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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18
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Pan Q, Pais R, Ohandjo A, He C, He Q, Omosun Y, Igietseme JU, Eko FO. Comparative evaluation of the protective efficacy of two formulations of a recombinant Chlamydia abortus subunit candidate vaccine in a mouse model. Vaccine 2015; 33:1865-72. [PMID: 25698486 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2015.02.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2014] [Revised: 01/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/04/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydia abortus (C. abortus) is the causative agent of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) and poses a zoonotic risk to pregnant women. Current live attenuated 1B vaccines are efficacious but cause disease in vaccinated animals and inactivated vaccines are only marginally protective. We tested the ability of a new C. abortus subunit vaccine candidate based on the conserved and immunogenic polymorphic membrane protein D (Pmp18D) formulated in CpG1826+FL (Fms-like tyrosine kinase 3 Ligand; Flt3L) or Vibrio cholerae ghosts (VCG) to induce innate and cross protective immunity against genital C. abortus infection. We found that delivery of rPmp18D with VCG was more effective than with CpG+FL in up-regulating the expression of molecules critically involved in T cell activation and differentiation, including MHC II, CD40, CD80, and CD86, activation of TLRs and NLRP3 inflammasome engagement, and secretion of IL-1β and TNF-α but not IL-10 and IL-4. rVCG-Pmp18D-immunized mice elicited more robust antigen-specific IFN-γ, IgA and IgG2c antibody responses compared to CpG+FL-delivered rPmp18D. Based on the number of mice with positive vaginal cultures, length of vaginal shedding, and number of inclusion forming units recovered following challenge with the heterologous C. abortus strain B577, vaccine delivery with VCG induced superior protective immunity than delivery with a combination of CpG1826 and FL, a nasal DC-targeting adjuvant. These results demonstrate that the ability of VCG to enhance protective immunity against genital C. abortus infection is superior to that of CpG+FL adjuvants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Pan
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA; College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Roshan Pais
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Adaugo Ohandjo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Cheng He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Qing He
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yusuf Omosun
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - J U Igietseme
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - F O Eko
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry and Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Frontline treatment with gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and erlotinib for the treatment of advanced or metastatic pancreatic cancer: a multicenter phase II study of the Hellenic Oncology Research Group (HORG). Cancer Chemother Pharmacol 2014; 74:333-40. [PMID: 24930058 DOI: 10.1007/s00280-014-2509-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 06/02/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Intravenous gemcitabine is the standard of care for patients with metastatic cancer of the pancreas. Gemcitabine-based chemotherapy combinations, either doublets or triplets, have been tested in the past but have offered a small advantage (Brodoefel et al. in Eur J Radiol 73:594-600, 2010). In the present study, we present the results of the triplet gemcitabine-oxaliplatin-erlotinib combination as firstline treatment in this setting. PATIENTS AND METHODS Seventy-one eligible patients were included in this study. All patients received chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1,100 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8) plus oxaliplatin (130 mg/m(2) on day 8) and erlotinib (100 mg p.o./day for 21 days). The treatment cycle was 21 days. RESULTS Partial response was achieved in 15 patients (21%; 95% CI 11.63-30.62) and stable disease in 15 patients (21%). Forty-one patients (57.8%) experienced disease progression. Median progression-free survival was 5.2 months (range 0.6-34.7; 95% CI 3.71-6.76). The median overall survival was 10.5 months (95% CI 7.39-13.61) and the 1-year survival estimate 47.3%. The main adverse events were grade 3/4 anemia occurring in three (4.2%) patients and grade 3 and 4 thrombocytopenia occurring in eight (11.3%) and three (4.2%) patients, respectively. Grade 4 neutropenia was rare (1.4%), and one patient presented febrile neutropenia. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that the combination of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin and erlotinib is active, well tolerated and safe for patients with metastatic adenocarcinoma of the pancreas. However, the results do not seem to be better than those reported with chemotherapy alone.
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Barkallah M, Gharbi Y, Hassena AB, Slima AB, Mallek Z, Gautier M, Greub G, Gdoura R, Fendri I. Survey of infectious etiologies of bovine abortion during mid- to late gestation in dairy herds. PLoS One 2014; 9:e91549. [PMID: 24662769 PMCID: PMC3963856 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0091549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2013] [Accepted: 02/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Bovine abortion of unknown infectious etiology still remains a major economic problem. Thus, we investigated whether Brucella spp., Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella spp., Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii are associated with abortion and/or stillbirth in Tunisian dairy cattle. Using a pan-Chlamydiales PCR, we also investigated the role of Chlamydiaceae, Waddlia chondrophila, Parachlamydia acanthamoebae and other members of the Chlamydiales order in this setting. Veterinary samples taken from mid to late-term abortions from twenty dairy herds were tested. From a total of 150 abortion cases collected, infectious agents were detected by PCR in 73 (48.66%) cases, 13 (8.66%) of which represented co-infections with two infectious agents. Detected pathogens include Brucella spp (31.3%), Chlamydiaceae (4.66%), Waddlia chondrophila (8%), Parachlamydia acanthamoebae (5.33%), Listeria monocytogenes (4.66%) and Salmonella spp. (3.33%). In contrast, Campylobacter spp. and Coxiella burnetii DNA were not detected among the investigated veterinary samples. This demonstrates that different bacterial agents may cause bovine abortion in Tunisia. This is the first report suggesting the role of Parachlamydia acanthamoebae in bovine abortion in Africa. Further studies with a larger number of samples are necessary to confirm whether this emerging pathogen is directly linked to abortion in cattle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Barkallah
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Yaakoub Gharbi
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Amal Ben Hassena
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Ahlem Ben Slima
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
| | | | - Michel Gautier
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Département agroalimentaire, Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France
| | - Gilbert Greub
- Institute of Microbiology, University Hospital Center and University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Radhouane Gdoura
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Imen Fendri
- Unité de recherche Toxicologie – Microbiologie Environnementale et Santé (UR11ES70), Faculté des Sciences de Sfax, Université de Sfax-Tunisia, Sfax, Tunisia
- Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Département agroalimentaire, Agrocampus Ouest, Rennes, France
- * E-mail:
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Hazlett MJ, McDowall R, DeLay J, Stalker M, McEwen B, van Dreumel T, Spinato M, Binnington B, Slavic D, Carman S, Cai HY. A prospective study of sheep and goat abortion using real-time polymerase chain reaction and cut point estimation shows Coxiella burnetii and Chlamydophila abortus infection concurrently with other major pathogens. J Vet Diagn Invest 2013; 25:359-68. [DOI: 10.1177/1040638713484729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
From 2009 to 2011, 163 sheep and 96 goat abortion submissions were received at the Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, for gross and histologic examination, as well as real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for Chlamydophila abortus and/or Coxiella burnetii. Additional testing included immunohistochemistry for Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila spp., routine bacterial culture and selective culture for Campylobacter spp., examination of modified acid-fast–stained placenta smears, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay testing for Chlamydophila spp., and virus isolation. The final diagnosis made for each case by individual pathologists, based on gross and histologic lesions, as well as ancillary testing, was used as a standard to determine the significance of C. abortus and C. burnetii infection. Coxiella burnetii was identified by real-time PCR in 113 of 163 (69.0%) and 72 of 96 (75%) sheep and goat abortion submissions, respectively, but was considered to be significant in causing abortion in only 11 of 113 (10%) sheep and 15 out of 72 (21%) goat submissions that tested positive. Chlamydophila abortus was identified by real-time PCR in 42 of 162 (26%) and 54 of 92 (59%) sheep and goat submissions, respectively, but was considered the cause of the abortion in 16 of 42 (38%) sheep and 34 of 54 (63%) goat submissions that tested positive. Optimal sensitivity and specificity cut points for the real-time PCR copy number for C. abortus and C. burnetii were determined using the final pathology diagnosis as the reference test.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray J. Hazlett
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Rebeccah McDowall
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Josepha DeLay
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Margaret Stalker
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Beverly McEwen
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Tony van Dreumel
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Maria Spinato
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Brian Binnington
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Durda Slavic
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Susy Carman
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
| | - Hugh Y. Cai
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada (Hazlett, McDowall, DeLay, Stalker, McEwen, van Dreumel, Spinato, Slavic, Carman, Cai)
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Kemptville, ON, Canada (Binnington)
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van den Brom R, van Engelen E, Vos J, Luttikholt S, Moll L, Roest H, van der Heijden H, Vellema P. Detection of Coxiella burnetii in the bulk tank milk from a farm with vaccinated goats, by using a specific PCR technique. Small Rumin Res 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2012.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Longbottom D, Livingstone M, Maley S, van der Zon A, Rocchi M, Wilson K, Wheelhouse N, Dagleish M, Aitchison K, Wattegedera S, Nath M, Entrican G, Buxton D. Intranasal infection with Chlamydia abortus induces dose-dependent latency and abortion in sheep. PLoS One 2013; 8:e57950. [PMID: 23469113 PMCID: PMC3585262 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Accepted: 01/27/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Latency is a key feature of the animal pathogen Chlamydia abortus, where infection remains inapparent in the non-pregnant animal and only becomes evident during a subsequent pregnancy. Often the first sign that an animal is infected is abortion occurring late in gestation. Despite this, little is understood of the underlying mechanisms that control latency or the recrudescence of infection that occurs during subsequent pregnancy. The aim of this study was to develop an experimental model of latency by mimicking the natural route of infection through the intranasal inoculation of non-pregnant sheep with C. abortus. Methodology/Principal Findings Three groups of sheep (groups 1, 2 and 3) were experimentally infected with different doses of C. abortus (5×103, 5×105 and 5×107 inclusion forming units (IFU), respectively) prior to mating and monitored over 2 breeding cycles for clinical, microbiological, pathological, immunological and serological outcomes. Two further groups received either negative control inoculum (group 4a,b) or were inoculated subcutaneously on day 70 of gestation with 2×106 IFU C. abortus (group 5). Animals in groups 1, 2 and 5 experienced an abortion rate of 50–67%, while only one animal aborted in group 3 and none in group 4a,b. Pathological, microbiological, immunological and serological analyses support the view that the maternal protective immune response is influenced by initial exposure to the bacterium. Conclusions/Significance The results show that intranasal administration of non-pregnant sheep with a low/medium dose of C. abortus results in a latent infection that leads in a subsequent pregnancy to infection of the placenta and abortion. In contrast a high dose stimulates protective immunity, resulting in a much lower abortion rate. This model will be useful in understanding the mechanisms of infection underlying latency and onset of disease, as well as in the development of novel therapeutics and vaccines for controlling infection.
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Gutierrez J, O'Donovan J, Proctor A, Brady C, Marques PX, Worrall S, Nally JE, McElroy M, Bassett H, Fagan J, Maley S, Buxton D, Sammin D, Markey BK. Application of quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction for the diagnosis of toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion of ewes. J Vet Diagn Invest 2012; 24:846-54. [PMID: 22807509 DOI: 10.1177/1040638712452730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii and Chlamydophila abortus are the 2 most common infectious causes of ovine abortion worldwide. These obligate intracellular pathogens are associated with severe placentitis leading to abortion or stillbirth in pregnant ewes, and resulting in significant economic losses. The objectives of the current study were the development, validation, and application of a duplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay capable of quantifying the burden of infection by T. gondii and C. abortus in material submitted for diagnostic purposes. The validation was carried out using samples from ewes experimentally infected with these organisms. Based on the numbers of genome copies detected, an arbitrary cutoff level was established to correlate with significant pathological changes sufficient to give rise to abortion. When the PCR assay was applied to samples from 66 Irish farms with naturally occurring outbreaks of ovine abortion, toxoplasmosis and enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE) accounted for 14% and 20% of the farms, respectively, while on 6% of the farms, there was evidence of dual infection. When standard diagnostic techniques including histopathological examination, serological analysis, chlamydial antigen detection, and bacteriological culture, were used on samples from the same farms, toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in 17% of farms, and EAE in 12%; dual infection was diagnosed on 3% of the farms. In general, good agreement was found between the PCR and the standard methods. The duplex real-time PCR assay developed in this study has proved to be a very sensitive and rapid tool that might provide a valuable addition to the methods currently available for routine diagnosis of ovine abortions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Gutierrez
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Salamanca IRNASA-CSIC, Spain
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Identification of immunologically relevant proteins of Chlamydophila abortus using sera from experimentally infected pregnant ewes. CLINICAL AND VACCINE IMMUNOLOGY : CVI 2010; 17:1274-81. [PMID: 20554807 DOI: 10.1128/cvi.00163-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Chlamydophila abortus is an intracellular pathogen and the etiological agent of enzootic abortion of ewes (EAE). C. abortus has a biphasic development cycle; extracellular infectious elementary bodies (EB) attach and penetrate host cells, where they give rise to intracellular, metabolically active reticulate bodies (RB). RB divide by binary fission and subsequently mature to EB, which, on rupture of infected cells, are released to infect new host cells. Pregnant ewes were challenged with 2 x 10(6) inclusion forming units (IFU) of C. abortus cultured in yolk sac (comprising both EB and RB). Serum samples were collected at 0, 7, 14, 21, 27, 30, 35, 40, and 43 days postinfection (dpi) and used to identify antigens of C. abortus expressed during disease. Additionally, sera from fetal lambs were collected at 30, 35, 40, and 43 dpi. All serum samples collected from experimentally infected pregnant ewes reacted specifically with several antigens of EB as determined by one-dimensional (1-D) and 2-D gel electrophoresis; reactive antigens identified by mass spectrometry included the major outer membrane protein (MOMP), polymorphic outer membrane protein (POMP), and macrophage infectivity potentiator (MIP) lipoprotein.
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