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Weissenbacher-Lang C, Grenl A, Blasi B. Meta-Analysis and Systematic Literature Review of the Genus Pneumocystis in Pet, Farm, Zoo, and Wild Mammal Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:1081. [PMID: 37998885 PMCID: PMC10672670 DOI: 10.3390/jof9111081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
A systematic literature search on Pneumocystis in 276 pet, farm, zoo, and wild mammal species resulted in 124 publications originating from 38 countries that were analyzed descriptively and statistically, for which inclusion and exclusion criteria were exactly defined. The range of recorded Pneumocystis prevalence was broad, yet in half of the citations a prevalence of ≤25% was documented. Prevalence was significantly dependent on the method used for Pneumocystis detection, with PCR revealing the highest percentages. Pet animals showed the lowest median Pneumocystis prevalence, followed by farm, wild, and zoo animals. In contrast, pet and farm animals showed higher proportions of high-grade infection levels compared to zoo and wild mammals. Only in individual cases, all of them associated with severe Pneumocystis pneumonia, was an underlying immunosuppression confirmed. Acquired immunosuppression caused by other diseases was frequently discussed, but its significance, especially in highly immunosuppressive cases, needs to be clarified. This meta-analysis supported a potential influence of the social and environmental factors of the host on Pneumocystis transmission in wildlife, which must be further elucidated, as well as the genetic diversity of the fungus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiane Weissenbacher-Lang
- Department for Pathobiology, Institute of Pathology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Veterinärplatz 1, 1210 Vienna, Austria; (A.G.); (B.B.)
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Marr CM. A pyramid needs a foundation: Exploding some myths about what EVJ's editors are looking for from authors? Equine Vet J 2023; 55:931-937. [PMID: 37827177 DOI: 10.1111/evj.14006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
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Detection of Pneumocystis and Morphological Description of Fungal Distribution and Severity of Infection in Thirty-Six Mammal Species. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:jof9020220. [PMID: 36836334 PMCID: PMC9960768 DOI: 10.3390/jof9020220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 12/22/2022] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Pneumocystis spp. are thought to adapt to the lungs of potentially all mammals. However, the full host range, fungal burden and severity of infection are unknown for many species. In this study, lung tissue samples originating from 845 animals of 31 different families of eight mammal orders were screened by in situ hybridization (ISH) using a universal 18S rRNA probe for Pneumocystis, followed by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining for determining histopathological lesions. A total of 216 (26%) samples were positive for Pneumocystis spp., encompassing 36 of 98 investigated mammal species, with 17 of them being described for the first time for the presence of Pneumocystis spp. The prevalence of Pneumocystis spp. as assessed by ISH varied greatly among different mammal species while the organism load was overall low, suggesting a status of colonization or subclinical infection. Severe Pneumocystis pneumonia seemed to be very rare. For most of the Pneumocystis-positive samples, comparative microscopic examination of H&E- and ISH-stained serial sections revealed an association of the fungus with minor lesions, consistent with an interstitial pneumonia. Colonization or subclinical infection of Pneumocystis in the lung might be important in many mammal species because the animals may serve as a reservoir.
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Kang H, Sole-Guitart A, Mellor VA, Gaughan JB, Zsoldos RR. The use of percutaneous thermal sensing microchips for non-invasive measurement of body temperature in foals during summer seasons in a subtropical region. Animal 2022; 16:100620. [PMID: 35994970 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/17/2022] [Accepted: 07/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Continuous accurate attainment of the body temperature of foals is important to detect early stages of severe heat stress or fever due to a systemic illness. Among a number of methods to measure body temperature, measuring rectal temperature with a digital thermometer is most frequently used due to being relatively fast and simple method. It is also comparatively accurate and correlates well with the core body temperature. However, this method requires restraining the foal for a few seconds to obtain the temperature, and it can be dangerous for the handling person. Percutaneous thermal sensing microchips (PTSMs) are a means of monitoring the body temperature of horses, which offers a non-invasive, hygienic, quick, and accurate way to measure body temperature and provide an identification number for each individual, once it is implanted. This study tested the hypothesis that PTSM has a strong relationship with a conventional body temperature measurement, i.e., measuring rectal temperature with a digital thermometer of foals during summer seasons. Thirty-two foals in three consecutive foaling seasons (2018, 2019, and 2020 season) were implanted a PTSM into the right pectoral muscle, the right splenius muscle, the right gluteal muscle, and the nuchal ligament as early as two weeks after birth. The four PTSM temperatures, rectal temperature, and climate conditions (air temperature, relative humidity, and wet-bulb globe temperature) were obtained simultaneously during the three summer seasons and paired for comparison analysis. Among the PTSM temperatures, the pectoral muscle had the highest correlation and the least differences with rectal temperature. Using PTSM was safe, easy, and reliable for attaining body temperature in foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Kang
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia.
| | - A Sole-Guitart
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
| | - V A Mellor
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
| | - J B Gaughan
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
| | - R R Zsoldos
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton 4343, Australia
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Altan E, Hui A, Li Y, Pesavento P, Asín J, Crossley B, Deng X, Uzal FA, Delwart E. New Parvoviruses and Picornavirus in Tissues and Feces of Foals with Interstitial Pneumonia. Viruses 2021; 13:v13081612. [PMID: 34452477 PMCID: PMC8402702 DOI: 10.3390/v13081612] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 07/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Six foals with interstitial pneumonia of undetermined etiology from Southern California were analyzed by viral metagenomics. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples obtained during necropsy from each animal were pooled, and nucleic acids from virus-like particles enriched for deep sequencing. The recently described equine copiparvovirus named eqcopivirus, as well as three previously uncharacterized viruses, were identified. The complete ORFs genomes of two closely related protoparvoviruses, and of a bocaparvovirus, plus the partial genome of a picornavirus were assembled. The parvoviruses were classified as members of new ungulate protoparvovirus and bocaparvovirus species in the Parvoviridae family. The picornavirus was classified as a new species in the Salivirus genus of the Picornaviridae family. Spleen, lung, and colon content samples from each foal were then tested for these viral genomes by nested PCR and RT-PCR. When present, parvoviruses were detected in both feces and spleen. The picornavirus, protoparvovirus, and eqcopivirus genomes were detected in the lungs of one animal each. Three foals were co-infected with the picornavirus and either a protoparvovirus, bocaparvovirus, or eqcopivirus. Two other foals were infected with a protoparvovirus only. No viral infection was detected in one animal. The complete ORFs of the first equine protoparvoviruses and bocaparvovirus, the partial ORF of the third equine picornavirus, and their detection in tissues of foals with interstitial pneumonia are described here. Testing the involvement of these viruses in fatal interstitial pneumonia or other equine diseases will require larger epidemiological and/or inoculation studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eda Altan
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; (E.A.); (A.H.); (Y.L.); (X.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Alvin Hui
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; (E.A.); (A.H.); (Y.L.); (X.D.)
| | - Yanpeng Li
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; (E.A.); (A.H.); (Y.L.); (X.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Patricia Pesavento
- Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (P.P.); (J.A.); (F.A.U.)
| | - Javier Asín
- Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (P.P.); (J.A.); (F.A.U.)
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Beate Crossley
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
- Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - Xutao Deng
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; (E.A.); (A.H.); (Y.L.); (X.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
| | - Francisco A. Uzal
- Department of Pathology Microbiology and Immunology, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (P.P.); (J.A.); (F.A.U.)
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, UC Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA;
| | - Eric Delwart
- Vitalant Research Institute, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA; (E.A.); (A.H.); (Y.L.); (X.D.)
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94118, USA
- Correspondence:
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Punsmann S, Hellige M, Hoppe J, Freise F, Venner M. Diagnostic imaging in acute interstitial pneumonia in foals: High variability of interpretation of chest radiographs and good conformity between ultrasonographic and post-mortem findings. Vet Radiol Ultrasound 2021; 62:490-497. [PMID: 33823075 DOI: 10.1111/vru.12972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute interstitial pneumonia (AIP) in foals is a rare but challenging syndrome. Diagnostic imaging is crucial for its diagnosis. While there are some reports on radiographic findings, ultrasound is sparsely described. Variability in the evaluation of radiographs in AIP has been well described in human literature. Part one of this study is a prospective, observational, observer agreement study investigating inter- and intraobserver agreement in the assessment of thoracic radiographs. Part two is a prospective, controlled, descriptive study on thoracic ultrasonography in foals with AIP. Eighteen foals with AIP were examined daily by thoracic ultrasound. Thoracic radiographs were taken on three successive occasions. Blinded radiographs were assessed by three observers based on two semi-quantitative scores (pattern recognition, subjective evaluation). Foals that died underwent postmortem examination (n = 9); postmortem findings were compared to ultrasound findings on the day of death. Ultrasonographic findings were consistent with postmortem findings. Comet tail scores in foals with AIP were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than in control foals. Interrater agreement for the assessment of radiographs was none to moderate (κ = 0.07-0.65) for pattern recognition and weak to moderate (κ = 0.58-0.62) for subjective scoring. Intrarater agreement varied from minimal to strong (κ = 0.30-0.80) for pattern recognition but was strong (κ = 0.83) for subjective scoring. In conclusion, the diagnostic value of thoracic ultrasound in foals with AIP is high due to good conformity with postmortem findings. The evaluation of thoracic radiographs showed high variability in inter- and intra-agreement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia Punsmann
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Maren Hellige
- Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
| | - Judith Hoppe
- Department of Veterinary Pathology, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Fritjof Freise
- Institute for Biometry, Epidemiology, and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany
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