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Mills EP, Liu CC, Mironovich MA, Taylor CM, Luo M, Emelogu U, Scott EM, Leis ML, Carter RT, Camacho-Luna P, Lewin AC. Relationship between the bacterial ocular surface microbiota and outcomes for cats with feline herpesvirus type 1 ocular surface disease. Vet Ophthalmol 2024; 27:318-329. [PMID: 37876296 DOI: 10.1111/vop.13157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 10/26/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Feline herpesvirus 1 (FHV-1) causes ocular surface disease in domestic cats. The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between bacterial ocular surface microbiota and outcomes for cats with FHV-1 ocular surface disease. ANIMALS STUDIED Twenty-two shelter-housed cats with confirmed FHV-1 ocular surface disease. PROCEDURES Animals were grouped according to FHV-1 shedding and ocular clinical scores following intervention: worsened outcome (WorOut, n = 11) or improved outcome (ImpOut, n = 11). Scoring and conjunctival sampling were completed on Days 1 and 8 of twice daily antiviral treatment. Bacterial DNA was extracted and submitted for 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed for selected bacterial species. Overall DNA concentration between groups was assessed. RESULTS Bacterial microbiota relative abundance composition was significantly different between ImpOut and WorOut groups (weighted UniFrac p = .006). Alpha diversity was significantly higher in the ImpOut group compared with the WorOut group (Shannon p = .042, Simpson's p = .022, Pielou's p = .037). Differences in the relative abundance of various phyla and species were detected between groups. Total DNA concentration was higher in the WorOut group compared with the ImpOut group (p = .04). Feline GAPDH (p = .001) and Bilophila wadsworthia (p = .024) copy number was significantly higher in the ImpOut group compared with the WorOut group. CONCLUSIONS The results highlight the important relationship between the bacterial ocular surface microbiota and FHV-1 infection outcomes in cats treated with antiviral medications. Low bacterial species diversity, higher overall DNA (presumed predominantly bacterial) load, and certain bacterial phyla/species were associated with poor outcomes for cats with FHV-1 ocular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erinn P Mills
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Chin-Chi Liu
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Melanie A Mironovich
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Christopher M Taylor
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Meng Luo
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology, Health Sciences Center, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Ugochi Emelogu
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Erin M Scott
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Marina L Leis
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Renee T Carter
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Pilar Camacho-Luna
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
| | - Andrew C Lewin
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA
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Investigation of selected bacterial agents causing sheep abortion in the Van Province by RT-PCR and histopathological methods. ACTA VET BRNO 2023. [DOI: 10.2754/avb202392010069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Abortion causes significant economic losses in the sheep industry. Determination of the aetiology is important in dealing with abortions. The present study was aimed to identify selected important bacterial pathogens in the abortion cases of sheep. A total of 113 samples (105 aborted sheep foetuses, 4 placentas, and 4 vaginal swab samples) from 85 different sheep flocks were examined by real-time PCR (RT-PCR) regarding Chlamydia (C.) spp., C. abortus, Brucella (B.) spp., B. melitensis, Salmonella (S.) spp., S. Abortusovis, Coxiella (C.) burnetii, Listeria (L.) spp., L. monocytogenes, and Campylobacter spp. All cases that were found to be positive for bacterial agents by RT-PCR, were examined pathologically. Tissue samples of foetuses that were found to be positive for B. melitensis and L. monocytogenes by RT-PCR were also investigated immunohistochemically. A total of 35 (30.9%) samples were found to be positive by RT-PCR, with 15 (42.8%), 9 (25.7%), 5 (14.2%), 4 (11.4%), 1 (2.8%), and 1 (2.8%) of them being identified as C. abortus, B. melitensis, S. Abortusovis, C. burnetii, L. monocytogenes and Campylobacter spp., respectively. The presence of the antigen was confirmed also immunohistochemically in the cases with B. melitensis and L. monocytogenes. As a consequence, C. abortus was found to cause the highest rate of sheep abortion cases, which should be taken into account when implementing control measures in epidemiological investigations.
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Chisu V, Zobba R, Masala G, Tran TL, Ngo Viet QT, Tran DB, Nguyen HB, Tran KT, Alberti A. First Molecular Detection of Zoonotic Chlamydia Species in Vietnamese Goats. Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11080903. [PMID: 36015020 PMCID: PMC9415483 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11080903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Chlamydia comprises obligate intracellular bacteria that infect a wide variety of hosts, with infection leading to a range of diseases in humans and animals; they thus constitute a major public health threat. Among the members of the Chlamydiaceae family, Chlamydia suis, C. abortus, C. pecorum, and C. psittaci represent the most important pathogenic species infecting a large range of hosts and are a well-established threat to livestock. Information regarding the circulation of Chlamydia species in ruminants from Vietnam is lacking. In this study, DNA extracted from 60 blood samples collected from goats in Hue province was used for Chlamydia spp. identification by classic PCR and Sanger sequencing. Chlamydia spp. were detected in eleven samples (18.3%) and C. abortus and C. psittaci were molecularly identified by sequencing. Despite the limited sample size in this study, findings point out the relevance of ruminants as hosts of chlamydial species in Central Vietnam and the importance of monitoring chlamydial strains through the activation of surveillance programs in this country. The need for a deeper evaluation of human and animal health risk analysis in terms of chlamydiosis should be also considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Chisu
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (A.A.)
| | - Rosanna Zobba
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Giovanna Masala
- Department of Animal Health, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Via Vienna, 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
| | - Thanh Loan Tran
- Department of Immunology and Pathophysiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Quynh Tram Ngo Viet
- Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Dinh Binh Tran
- Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Hoang Bach Nguyen
- Department of Microbiology, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Khanh Toan Tran
- Department of Testing and Quality Assurance, Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Hue University, Hue 530000, Vietnam
| | - Alberto Alberti
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Sassari, Via Vienna 2, 07100 Sassari, Italy
- Correspondence: (V.C.); (A.A.)
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Bowater RO, Horwood PF, Picard J, Huisman I, Hayes L, Mackie T, Taylor JD. A novel alphaherpesvirus and concurrent respiratory cryptococcosis in a captive koala (
Phascolarctos cinereus
). Aust Vet J 2022; 100:329-335. [PMID: 35490398 PMCID: PMC9544133 DOI: 10.1111/avj.13164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 04/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A novel alphaherpesvirus was detected in a captive adult, lactating, female koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) admitted to James Cook University Veterinary Emergency Teaching & Clinical Hospital in March 2019, showing signs of anorexia and severe respiratory disease. Postmortem examination revealed gross pathology indicative of pneumonia. Histopathology demonstrated a chronic interstitial pneumonia, multifocal necrotising adrenalitis and hepatitis. Intranuclear inclusion bodies were detected by light microscopy in the respiratory epithelium of the bronchi, bronchioles, alveoli, and hepatocytes, biliary epithelium and adrenal gland associated with foci of necrosis. Cryptococcus gattii was isolated from fresh lung on necropsy, positively identified by PCR, and detected histologically by light microscopy, only in the lung tissue. A universal viral family‐level PCR indicated that the virus was a member of the Herpesviruses. Sequence analysis in comparison to other known and published herpesviruses, indicated the virus was a novel alphaherpesvirus, with 97% nucleotide identity to macropodid alphaherpesvirus 1. We provisionally name the novel virus phascolarctid alphaherpesvirus 3 (PhaHV‐3). Further research is needed to determine the distribution of this novel alphaherpesvirus in koala populations and establish associations with disease in this host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- RO Bowater
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - PF Horwood
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - J Picard
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - I Huisman
- Melrose Veterinary Hospital Wodonga Victoria Australia
| | - L Hayes
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - T Mackie
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
| | - JD Taylor
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, Division of Tropical Health & Medicine James Cook University Townsville Queensland Australia
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5
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Molecular Detection and Identification of Chlamydiaceae in the Eyes of Wild and Domestic Ruminant Hosts from Northern Spain. Pathogens 2021; 10:pathogens10030383. [PMID: 33806840 PMCID: PMC8005166 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10030383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Revised: 03/14/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Infections by Chlamydiae are associated with ocular disease in humans and animals. In this study, the presence and diversity of Chlamydia spp. was assessed in diseased and healthy eyes of domestic sheep and wild ruminants that share mountain habitats in northern Spain. The presence of Chlamydia spp. was tested by real-time PCR in 1786 conjunctival swabs collected from both eyes of 893 animals from mountain habitats in northern Spain, and chlamydial species were identified in the positive samples by ArrayTube microarray methods. Chlamydial DNA was detected in 0.6% (CI95% 0.2–1.3) of the Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica) and 1.4% (CI95% <0.01–8.1) of the sheep (Ovis aries) sampled, with Chlamydia pecorum the only chlamydial species identified. No association of C. pecorum with ocular disease or co-infection with Mycoplasma conjunctivae was found. Further studies on the pathogenesis of infectious keratoconjunctivitis are needed to better understand the ecology of C. pecorum and its possible role as a ruminant pathogen at the wildlife–livestock interface.
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Valdebenito JO, Martínez-de la Puente J, Castro M, Pérez-Hurtado A, Tejera G, Székely T, Halimubieke N, Schroeder J, Figuerola J. Association of insularity and body condition to cloacal bacteria prevalence in a small shorebird. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0237369. [PMID: 32804958 PMCID: PMC7430747 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0237369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Do islands harbour less diverse disease communities than mainland? The island biogeography theory predicts more diverse communities on mainland than on islands due to more niches, more diverse habitats and availability of greater range of hosts. We compared bacteria prevalences of Campylobacter, Chlamydia and Salmonella in cloacal samples of a small shorebird, the Kentish plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) between two island populations of Macaronesia and two mainland locations in the Iberian Peninsula. Bacteria were found in all populations but, contrary to the expectations, prevalences did not differ between islands and mainland. Females had higher prevalences than males for Salmonella and when three bacteria genera were pooled together. Bacteria infection was unrelated to bird’s body condition but females from mainland were heavier than males and birds from mainland were heavier than those from islands. Abiotic variables consistent throughout breeding sites, like high salinity that is known to inhibit bacteria growth, could explain the lack of differences in the bacteria prevalence between areas. We argue about the possible drivers and implications of sex differences in bacteria prevalence in Kentish plovers.
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Affiliation(s)
- José O. Valdebenito
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Josué Martínez-de la Puente
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Seville, Spain
| | - Macarena Castro
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Alejandro Pérez-Hurtado
- Instituto Universitario de Investigación Marina, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz, Puerto Real, Spain
| | - Gustavo Tejera
- Canary Islands’ Ornithology and Natural History Group (GOHNIC), Buenavista del Norte, Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain
| | - Tamás Székely
- Milner Centre for Evolution, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
- Departmen of Evolutionary Zoology and Human Biology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary
| | | | - Julia Schroeder
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, United Kingdom
| | - Jordi Figuerola
- Department of Wetland Ecology, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD-CSIC), Seville, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Seville, Spain
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7
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Navarro J, Grémillet D, Afán I, Miranda F, Bouten W, Forero MG, Figuerola J. Pathogen transmission risk by opportunistic gulls moving across human landscapes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:10659. [PMID: 31337777 PMCID: PMC6650491 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-46326-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/21/2019] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife that exploit human-made habitats hosts and spreads bacterial pathogens. This shapes the epidemiology of infectious diseases and facilitates pathogen spill-over between wildlife and humans. This is a global problem, yet little is known about the dissemination potential of pathogen-infected animals. By combining molecular pathogen diagnosis with GPS tracking of pathogen-infected gulls, we show how this knowledge gap could be filled at regional scales. Specifically, we generated pathogen risk maps of Salmonella, Campylobacter and Chlamydia based on the spatial movements of pathogen-infected yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis) equipped with GPS recorders. Also, crossing this spatial information with habitat information, we identified critical habitats for the potential transmission of these bacteria in southern Europe. The use of human-made habitats by infected-gulls could potentially increase the potential risk of direct and indirect bidirectional transmission of pathogens between humans and wildlife. Our findings show that pathogen-infected wildlife equipped with GPS recorders can provide accurate information on the spatial spread risk for zoonotic bacteria. Integration of GPS-tracking with classical epidemiological approaches may help to improve zoonosis surveillance and control programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joan Navarro
- Institut de Ciències del Mar - CSIC, Barcelona, Spain.
| | - David Grémillet
- Centre d'Ecologie Fonctionnelle et Evolutive, UMR 5175, CNRS - Université de Montpellier, Université Paul-Valéry Montpellier - EPHE, Montpellier, France
- FitzPatrick Institute, University of Cape Town, Rondebosch, South Africa
| | - Isabel Afán
- Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
| | | | - Willem Bouten
- Computational Geo-Ecology, Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED), University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | | | - Jordi Figuerola
- Estación Biológica de Doñana - CSIC, Sevilla, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER-ESP), Sevilla, Spain
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Quantitative PCR Analysis of Gut Disease-Discriminatory Phyla for Determining Shrimp Disease Incidence. Appl Environ Microbiol 2018; 84:AEM.01387-18. [PMID: 30006395 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01387-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 07/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
There is evidence that gut microbial signatures are indicative of host health status. However, few efforts have been devoted to establishing an applicable technique for determining disease incidence by using gut microbial signatures. Herein, we established a quantitative PCR (qPCR)-based approach to detect the relative abundances of gut disease-discriminatory phyla, which in turn afforded independent variables for quantitatively determining the incidence of shrimp disease. Given the temporal dynamics of gut bacterial communities as healthy shrimp aged, we identified disease-discriminatory phyla after ruling out age-discriminatory phyla. The top 10 disease-discriminatory phyla contributed to an overall 93.2% accuracy in diagnosis (n = 103 samples from shrimp that were determined with high confidence to be healthy or that exhibited apparent disease symptoms and subsequent death), with 70% diagnosis accuracy at the disease onset stage, when symptoms or signs of disease were not apparent. 16S rRNA gene-targeted group-specific primers of five disease-discriminatory phyla were then designed according to their compositions within shrimp gut microbiota, and other primers were borrowed from previous studies. The relative abundances of the 10 disease-discriminatory phyla assayed by qPCR exhibited a high consistency (r = 0.946, P < 0.001) with those detected by Illumina sequencing. Notably, using the profiles of disease-discriminatory phyla assayed by qPCR and the corresponding weight coefficients as independent variables, we were able to accurately estimate the incidences of future disease outcome. This work establishes an applicable technique to quantitatively determine the incidence and onset of shrimp disease, which is a valuable attempt to translate scientific research into a practical application.IMPORTANCE Current studies have identified gut microbial signatures of host health using high-throughput sequencing (HTS) techniques. However, HTS is still expensive and time-consuming and requires a high technical ability, thereby impeding its application in routine monitoring in aquaculture. Hence, it is necessary to seek an alternative strategy to overcome these shortcomings. Herein, we establish a qPCR-based approach to detect the relative abundances of gut disease-discriminatory phyla, which in turn afford independent variables to quantitatively determine the incidence and onset of shrimp disease. Notably, there is a high consistency between the accuracies of disease diagnosis achieved by qPCR and HTS. This applicable technique makes important progress toward defining a diseased state in shrimp and toward solving an important animal health management-driven economic problem.
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Gedye KR, Fremaux M, Garcia-Ramirez JC, Gartrell BD. A preliminary survey of Chlamydia psittaci genotypes from native and introduced birds in New Zealand. N Z Vet J 2018; 66:162-165. [DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2018.1439779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- KR Gedye
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
| | - M Fremaux
- Equine Parentage and Animal Genetic Services Centre, Institute of Veterinary, Animal and Biomedical Sciences, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
| | - JC Garcia-Ramirez
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
| | - BD Gartrell
- School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North 4410, New Zealand
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10
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Fernández-Aguilar X, Rossi L, Cabezón Ó, Giorgino A, Victoriano Llopis I, Frey J, López-Olvera JR. Infectious keratoconjunctivitis and occurrence of Mycoplasma conjunctivae and Chlamydiaceae in small domestic ruminants from Central Karakoram, Pakistan. Vet Rec 2017; 181:237. [PMID: 28765500 PMCID: PMC5738590 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2016] [Revised: 06/20/2017] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Infectious keratoconjunctivitis (IKC) is a contagious eye disease primarily caused by Mycoplasma conjunctivae in domestic and wild Caprinae. Chlamydophila species have also been detected in ruminants with IKC. The objectives of this study are to investigate the ocular infection of M. conjunctivae and Chlamydiaceae and assess its interaction in relation to IKC in sheep and goats from remote communities around the Central Karakoram National Park in Pakistan, performing a combination of cross-sectional and case–control study design. Mostly asymptomatic and endemic infections of M. conjunctivae and Chlamydiaceae were found in sheep (19.3 per cent and 4.5 per cent, respectively) and goats (9.5 per cent and 1.9 per cent, respectively) from all communities, assessed by qPCR. Prevalence significantly differed between species only for M. conjunctivae (P=0.0184), which was also more prevalent in younger sheep (P<0.01). Chlamydophila pecorum was identified by sequencing and was related with IKC only when coinfection with M. conjunctivae occurred, which suggest a synergic interaction. Cluster analysis of M. conjunctivae strains revealed higher diversity of strains than expected, evidenced interspecific transmission and suggested a higher local livestock trade than previously assumed. These results highlight the widespread occurrence of M conjunctivae in sheep worldwide and its implications for wildlife should be assessed from a conservation perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Fernández-Aguilar
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luca Rossi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | - Óscar Cabezón
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain.,Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA), Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), Campus de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Andrea Giorgino
- Dipartimento di Scienze Veterinarie, University of Torino, Grugliasco, Italy
| | | | - Joachim Frey
- Vetsuisse Faculty, Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Jorge Ramón López-Olvera
- Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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11
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Yang R, Jacobson C, Gardner G, Carmichael I, Campbell AJD, Ryan U. Longitudinal prevalence and faecal shedding of Chlamydia pecorum in sheep. Vet J 2014; 201:322-6. [PMID: 24954870 DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2014.05.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2014] [Revised: 05/06/2014] [Accepted: 05/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The prevalence and faecal shedding of Chlamydia spp. in sheep in Australia has not been well described. Two species-specific quantitative PCRs (qPCRs) targeting the chlamydial outer membrane protein cell surface antigen gene (ompA) were validated and used to determine the prevalence and faecal shedding of C. abortus and C. pecorum from faecal samples of lambs at three sampling times (weaning, post-weaning and pre-slaughter) from eight farms in South Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and Western Australia. A total of 3412 faecal samples were collected and screened from approximately 1189 lambs across the four states. C. abortus was not detected in any of the samples screened. The overall prevalence of C. pecorum was 1027/3412 (30.1%) and median bacterial concentrations at weaning, post-weaning and pre-slaughter were 1.8 × 10(7), 1.2 × 10(7) and 9.6 × 10(5)/g faeces, respectively. A subset of C. pecorum positive samples from each farm, (n = 48) was sequenced to confirm their identity. The present study demonstrates that C. pecorum is prevalent in Australian sheep, highlighting a need for further research on the impact of this bacterium on production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rongchang Yang
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Caroline Jacobson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Graham Gardner
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Ian Carmichael
- South Australian Research and Development Institute, 33 Flemington Street, Glenside, SA 5065, Australia
| | - Angus J D Campbell
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia
| | - Una Ryan
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
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