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Gohari IM, Prescott JF. Clostridium. Vet Microbiol 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/9781119650836.ch34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
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Prescott JF, Turnidge J, Page SW. The publication of studies involving the use of human critically important antimicrobial agents in veterinary species: Reply from the authors. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2021; 44:994-995. [PMID: 34755369 DOI: 10.1111/jvp.13025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - John Turnidge
- Adelaide Medical School and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Stephen W Page
- Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Advanced Veterinary Therapeutics, Newtown, NSW, Australia
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Prescott JF, Martinez MN, Turnidge J, Page SW. The publication of studies involving the use of human critically important antimicrobial agents in veterinary species. J Vet Pharmacol Ther 2021; 44:986-989. [PMID: 34378797 DOI: 10.1111/jvp.13005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2021] [Revised: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Marilyn N Martinez
- Office of New Animal Drug Evaluation, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - John Turnidge
- Adelaide Medical School and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stephen W Page
- Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Advanced Veterinary Therapeutics, Newtown, NSW, Australia
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Unterer S, Whitehead AE, Prescott JF. NetF-producing Clostridium perfringens and its associated diseases in dogs and foals. J Vet Diagn Invest 2020; 32:230-238. [PMID: 32081091 PMCID: PMC7081511 DOI: 10.1177/1040638720904714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The role of type A Clostridium perfringens in canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome and foal necrotizing enteritis is poorly characterized. However, a highly significant association between the presence of novel toxigenic C. perfringens and these specific enteric diseases has been described. These novel toxigenic strains produce 3 novel putative toxins, which have been designated NetE, NetF, and NetG. Although not conclusively demonstrated, current evidence suggests that NetF is likely the major virulence factor in strains responsible for canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome and foal necrotizing enteritis. NetF is a beta-pore-forming toxin that belongs to the same toxin superfamily as CPB and NetB toxins produced by C. perfringens. The netF gene is encoded on a conjugative plasmid that, in the case of netF, also carries another putative toxin gene, netE. In addition, these strains consistently also carry a cpe tcp-conjugative plasmid, and a proportion also carry a separate netG tcp-conjugative plasmid. The netF and netG genes form part of a locus with all the features of the pathogenicity loci of tcp-conjugative plasmids. The netF-positive isolates are clonal in origin and fall into 2 clades. Disease in dogs or foals can be associated with either clade. Thus, these are strains with unique virulence-associated characteristics associated with serious and sometimes fatal cases of important enteric diseases in 2 animal species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - Stefan Unterer
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - Ashley E Whitehead
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA (Mehdizadeh Gohari)
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany (Unterer)
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada (Whitehead)
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott)
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Abstract
Major changes are occurring in veterinary antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) in food animals in Canada and the USA. Advances have been ending the use of medically important antimicrobials (MIAs) as growth promoters and bringing all MIAs for food animals under veterinary prescription in Canada (2018) or MIAs in feed or water under veterinary prescription (2017) in the USA. The USA proposes bringing all MIAs for food and companion animals under veterinary oversight, to reduce the duration of preventive use for food animals and to develop a strategy for companion animals. Both countries are taking a 'One Health' approach as part of their national strategies on addressing AMS. Federal state or province jurisdictional issues have impeded development and implementation of regulation-based stewardship approaches. Veterinary regulatory bodies in some of the larger states and provinces are active in AMS. Both the American and Canadian veterinary medical associations are independently heavily engaged in promoting AMS, as are, variably, the different veterinary 'specialty' groups. Regulatory changes and market demand are markedly reducing the use of antimicrobials in food animals. The promotion of veterinary AMS is happening at an increasing pace.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Lepp D, Ojha S, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Chakravarty B, Prescott JF, Gong J. Immunization with subunits of a novel pilus produced by virulent Clostridium perfringens strains confers partial protection against necrotic enteritis in chickens. Vet Microbiol 2019; 230:7-13. [PMID: 30827407 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 01/05/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of broiler chickens that is caused primarily by Clostridium perfringens strains that produce the NetB toxin. It is controlled in North America principally through the application of in-feed antimicrobials, but alternative control methods, such as vaccination, are urgently needed. We previously identified a cluster of C. perfringens genes prevalent in disease-causing strains, denominated VR-10B, that is predicted to encode a pilus. The current study evaluated the ability of three predicted pilin structural subunits (CnaA, FimA, FimB) to protect against NE in two immunization studies. In the first study, young broiler chickens were immunized twice intramuscularly (i.m.) with CnaA or FimA, which resulted in only a weak serum antibody response, and no reduction in the severity of intestinal lesions following experimental challenge with C. perfringens strain CP1. In the second study, chickens were injected subcutaneously (s.c.) with CnaA, FimB, or a combination of all three proteins, on days 7, 14 and 19, which resulted in a marked antibody response specific to each antigen. Chickens immunized with either CnaA or FimB had significantly reduced NE lesion severity, whereas immunization with all three proteins in combination did not provide protection. Western blot experiments using serum from immunized birds were also performed, providing the first experimental evidence to suggest that this locus may in fact encode a functional pilus structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Lepp
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | - S Ojha
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - I Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - B Chakravarty
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | - J F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - J Gong
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada.
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Sindern N, Suchodolski JS, Leutenegger CM, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Prescott JF, Proksch AL, Mueller RS, Busch K, Unterer S. Prevalence of Clostridium perfringens netE and netF toxin genes in the feces of dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome. J Vet Intern Med 2018; 33:100-105. [PMID: 30499621 PMCID: PMC6335515 DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 10/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Recently, novel pore-forming toxin genes designated netE and netF were identified in a Clostridium perfringens type A strain isolated from a dog with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. OBJECTIVES Pore-forming toxins could play an important role in the disease pattern of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS) in dogs. Thus, we aimed to determine the prevalence of C. perfringens genes encoding for netE and netF in the feces of dogs with AHDS and to evaluate any association between selected clinical variables and the presence of these toxin genes. ANIMALS In total, 174 dogs were included in the study. METHODS Fecal samples of all dogs were tested by real-time polymerase chain reaction for netE and netF genes. Time to recovery, hospitalization time, and selected laboratory variables were compared between dogs with AHDS that were positive or negative for the toxin genes. RESULTS A significant difference was found among the 3 groups in the prevalence of the pore-forming toxin genes netE and netF: dogs with AHDS: 26 of 54 (48.1%); dogs with canine parvovirus (CPV) infection: 0 of 54 (0%); and healthy dogs: 8 of 66 (12.1%; P < .001). In dogs with AHDS, no significant difference was detected in any variables evaluated between netE-positive and netF-positive and netE-negative and netF-negative dogs. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE The prevalence of C. perfringens encoding for netE and netF is significantly higher in dogs with AHDS compared to control dogs. Further studies are warranted to evaluate whether these toxins are an inciting cause for AHDS in dogs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Sindern
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Jan S Suchodolski
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Gastrointestinal Laboratory, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas
| | | | | | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anna-Lena Proksch
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Medicine, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, Giessen, Germany
| | - Ralf S Mueller
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Kathrin Busch
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Stefan Unterer
- Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Clinic of Small Animal Internal Medicine, Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, Munich, Germany
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Boerlin P, Prescott JF. Antimicrobial Susceptibility and Clonal Relationship of Tetracycline Resistance Genes in netF-Positive Clostridium perfringens. Microb Drug Resist 2018; 25:627-630. [PMID: 30431389 DOI: 10.1089/mdr.2018.0341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
NetF-producing type A Clostridium perfringens, a pathotype of C. perfringens, causes necrotizing enteritis in neonatal foals and necrotizing and hemorrhagic enteritis in dogs. Recent core genome multilocus sequence typing study revealed that netF+ C. perfringens strains belong to two distinct clonal populations (clonal complexes I and II). There are no reports on susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs of isolates from this pathotype. The susceptibility to 13 different antimicrobial drugs of 49 netF+ strains recovered from foals or dogs with necrotizing enteritis in Canada, the United States, and Switzerland was assessed using a commercial microdilution panel designed for anaerobic human pathogens. All isolates were highly susceptible to 12 antimicrobial agents, including all beta-lactams tested, such as penicillin G and ampicillin, as well as clindamycin, chloramphenicol, and metronidazole. The isolates consistently presented a reduced susceptibility or resistance to tetracycline, which was associated with previously described tetracycline resistance genes. Clonal complex I isolates (n = 41) possessed the tetA408(P) gene, whereas clonal complex II isolates (n = 8) possessed the tetA(P)-tetB(P) genes and were more likely to be fully resistant.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick Boerlin
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Brefo-Mensah EK, Palmer M, Boerlin P, Prescott JF. Sialic acid facilitates binding and cytotoxic activity of the pore-forming Clostridium perfringens NetF toxin to host cells. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206815. [PMID: 30403719 PMCID: PMC6221314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206815] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 10/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NetF-producing type A Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of canine and foal necrotizing enteritis. NetF, related to the β-sheet pore-forming Leukocidin/Hemolysin superfamily, is considered a major virulence factor for this disease. The main purpose of this work is to demonstrate the pore-forming activity of NetF and characterize the chemical nature of its binding site. Electron microscopy using recombinant NetF (rNetF) confirmed that NetF is able to oligomerize and form large pores in equine ovarian (EO) cell membranes and sheep red blood cells. These oligomeric pores appear to be about 4–6 nm in diameter, and the number of oligomer subunits to vary from 6 to 9. Sodium periodate treatment rendered EO cells non-susceptible to NetF, suggesting that NetF binding requires cell surface carbohydrates. NetF cytotoxicity was also inhibited by a lectin that binds sialic acid, by sialidase, and by free sialic acid in excess, all of which clearly implicate sialic acid-containing membrane carbohydrates in NetF binding and/or toxicity for EO cells. Binding of NetF to sheep red blood cells was not inhibited by the gangliosides GM1, GM2 and GM3, nor did the latter promote membrane permeabilization in liposomes, suggesting that they do not constitute the cellular receptors. In contrast, treatment of EO cells with different proteases reduced their susceptibility to NetF, suggesting that the NetF receptor is a sialic acid-containing glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Michael Palmer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Boerlin
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Prescott JF. Commentary: Probing Genomic Aspects of the Multi-Host Pathogen Clostridium perfringens Reveals Significant Pangenome Diversity, and a Diverse Array of Virulence Factors. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:1856. [PMID: 30154769 PMCID: PMC6102478 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.01856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
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Otto SJG, Szkotnicki J, McElwain C, So I, Weese JS, Prescott JF. Building the antimicrobial stewardship leadership plan for animal health in Canada (workshop, Ottawa, October 3-4, 2017). Can Vet J 2018; 59:746-748. [PMID: 30026619 PMCID: PMC6005128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon J G Otto
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
| | - Jean Szkotnicki
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
| | - Colleen McElwain
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
| | - Iyla So
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
| | - J Scott Weese
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
| | - John F Prescott
- School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2G7 (Otto, So); Canadian Animal Health Institute, 160 Research Lane, Suite 102, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5B2 (Szkotnicki, McElwain); Ad Hoc Committee on Antimicrobial Stewardship in Canadian Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine (Szkotnicki, McElwain, Prescott); Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1 (Weese, Prescott)
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Leipig-Rudolph M, Busch K, Prescott JF, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Leutenegger CM, Hermanns W, Wolf G, Hartmann K, Verspohl J, Unterer S. Intestinal lesions in dogs with acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome associated with netF-positive Clostridium perfringens type A. J Vet Diagn Invest 2018; 30:495-503. [PMID: 29621942 DOI: 10.1177/1040638718766983] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome (AHDS), formerly named canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, is one of the most common causes of acute hemorrhagic diarrhea in dogs, and is characterized by acute onset of diarrhea, vomiting, and hemoconcentration. To date, histologic examinations have been limited to postmortem specimens of only a few dogs with AHDS. Thus, the aim of our study was to describe in detail the distribution, character, and grade of microscopic lesions, and to investigate the etiology of AHDS. Our study comprised 10 dogs with AHDS and 9 control dogs of various breeds, age, and sex. Endoscopic biopsies of the gastrointestinal tract were taken and examined histologically (H&E, Giemsa), immunohistochemically ( Clostridium spp., parvovirus), and bacteriologically. The main findings were acute necrotizing and neutrophilic enterocolitis (9 of 10) with histologic detection of clostridia-like, gram-positive bacteria on the necrotic mucosal surface (9 of 10). Clostridium perfringens isolated from the duodenum was identified as type A (5 of 5) by multiplex PCR (5 of 5). In addition, each of the 5 genotyped isolates encoded the pore-forming toxin netF. Clostridium spp. (not C. perfringens) were cultured from duodenal biopsies in 2 of 9 control dogs. These findings suggest that the pore-forming netF toxin is responsible for the necrotizing lesions in the intestines of a significant proportion of dogs with AHDS. Given that the stomach was not involved in the process, the term "acute hemorrhagic diarrhea syndrome" seems more appropriate than the frequently used term "hemorrhagic gastroenteritis."
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Leipig-Rudolph
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Kathrin Busch
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - John F Prescott
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Christian M Leutenegger
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Walter Hermanns
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Georg Wolf
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Katrin Hartmann
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Jutta Verspohl
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
| | - Stefan Unterer
- Institute of Veterinary Pathology (Leipig-Rudolph, Hermanns), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Institute for Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses (Wolf), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Clinic of Small Animal Medicine at the Centre for Clinical Veterinary Medicine (Busch, Hartmann, Unterer), Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.,Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada (Prescott, Mehdizadeh Gohari).,IDEXX Laboratories Inc., West Sacramento, CA (Leutenegger).,Institute for Microbiology, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Hannover, Germany (Verspohl)
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13
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Abstract
This review discusses key factors important in successful experimental reproduction of necrotic enteritis (NE) in chickens, and how these factors can be adjusted to affect the severity of the lesions induced. The critical bacterial factor is the need to use virulent, netB-positive, strains of Clostridium perfringens; disease severity can be enhanced by using netB-positive C. perfringens strains that are also tpeL-positive, by the use of young rather than old broth cultures, and by the number of days of inoculation and the number of bacteria used. Use of cereals rich in non-starch polysaccharides can enhance disease, as does use of animal proteins. Administration of coccidia, including coccidial vaccines, combined with netB-positive C. perfringens, increases the severity of experimentally-induced NE. Dietary manipulation may be less important in coccidia-based models since the latter are so effective. Disease scoring systems and welfare considerations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Prescott
- a Department of Pathobiology , University of Guelph , Guelph , ON , Canada
| | - Joan A Smyth
- b Department of Pathobiology and Veterinary Science , University of Connecticut , Storrs , CT , USA
| | - Bahram Shojadoost
- a Department of Pathobiology , University of Guelph , Guelph , ON , Canada
| | - Andrew Vince
- a Department of Pathobiology , University of Guelph , Guelph , ON , Canada
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Parreira VR, Ojha S, Lepp D, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Zhou H, Susta L, Gong J, Prescott JF. Necrotic enteritis locus 1 diguanylate cyclase and phosphodiesterase (cyclic-di-GMP) gene mutation attenuates virulence in an avian necrotic enteritis isolate of Clostridium perfringens. Vet Microbiol 2017; 208:69-73. [PMID: 28888651 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2017] [Revised: 07/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by netB-positive strains of Clostridium perfringens is an important disease of intensively-reared broiler chickens. It is widely controlled by antibiotic use, but this practice that has come under increasing scrutiny and alternative approaches are required. As part of the search for alternative approaches over the last decade, advances have been made in understanding its pathogenesis but much remains to be understood and applied to the control of NE. The objective of this work was to assess the effect on virulence of mutation of the cyclic-di-GMP signaling genes present on the large pathogenicity locus (NELoc-1) in the tcp-encoding conjugative virulence plasmid, pNetB. For this purpose, the diguanylate cyclase (dgc) and phosphodiesterase (pde) genes were individually insertionally inactivated and the two mutants were subsequently complemented with their respective genes. Southern blotting showed that a single gene insertion was present. Mutation of either gene resulted in almost total attenuation of the mutants to cause NE in experimentally-infected broiler chickens, which was fully restored in each case by complementation of the respective mutated gene. Production of NetB-associated cytotoxicity for Leghorn male hepatoma (LMH) cells was unaffected in mutants. We conclude that the cyclic-di-GMP signaling system is important in controlling virulence in a NE C. perfringens strain and might be a target for control of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria R Parreira
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Shivani Ojha
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Dion Lepp
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | | | - Hongzhuan Zhou
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada; Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China
| | - Leonardo Susta
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Jianhua Gong
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Guelph, Ontario N1G 5C9, Canada
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada.
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15
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Affiliation(s)
- John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; e-mail:
| | - Patrick Boerlin
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada; e-mail:
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16
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Zhou H, Lepp D, Pei Y, Liu M, Yin X, Ma R, Prescott JF, Gong J. Influence of pCP1NetB ancillary genes on the virulence of Clostridium perfringens poultry necrotic enteritis strain CP1. Gut Pathog 2017; 9:6. [PMID: 28127404 PMCID: PMC5251324 DOI: 10.1186/s13099-016-0152-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Necrotic enteritis (NE) is an economically important disease of poultry caused by certain Clostridium perfringens type A strains. The NetB toxin plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of NE. We previously demonstrated that netB is located within a 42 kb plasmid-encoded pathogenicity locus (NELoc-1), which also encodes 36 additional genes. Although NetB clearly plays a role in pathogenesis, the involvement of the other NELoc-1 genes has not yet been established. The current study was to provide experimental evidence to confirm the involvement of these genes in NE pathogenesis. Results The present study has characterized a virulent C. perfringens strain (CP1) that has spontaneously lost the NELoc-1-encoding plasmid, pCP1netB. When assessed for cytotoxicity on Leghorn Male Hepatoma (LMH) cells, the culture supernatant of the pCP1netB-deficient CP1 variant (CP1ΔpCP1netB) demonstrated significantly reduced cytotoxicity compared to the wild-type. In addition, CP1ΔpCP1netB was unable to cause intestinal lesions in chickens in a NE disease model. When netB alone was introduced into CP1ΔpCP1netB, in vitro cytotoxicity was restored to the wild-type level; however, it did not completely restore virulence when used to challenge broiler chickens [mean lesion score of 0.71 compared to 3.23 in the wild type control group (n = 14)]. Conclusions The results of this study suggest that other genes present in NELoc-1, in addition to netB, are required for full virulence in the chicken challenge model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongzhuan Zhou
- Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China.,Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Dion Lepp
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Yanlong Pei
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Mei Liu
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Xianhua Yin
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
| | - Rongcai Ma
- Beijing Agro-Biotechnology Research Center, Beijing Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences, Beijing, 100097 China
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
| | - Joshua Gong
- Guelph Research and Development Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 93 Stone Road West, Guelph, ON N1G 5C9 Canada
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Kropinski AM, Weese SJ, Whitehead AE, Parreira VR, Boerlin P, Prescott JF. NetF-producing Clostridium perfringens: Clonality and plasmid pathogenicity loci analysis. Infect Genet Evol 2017; 49:32-38. [PMID: 28062388 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2016.12.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 12/21/2016] [Accepted: 12/23/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of foal necrotizing enteritis and canine acute hemorrhagic diarrhea. A major virulence determinant of the strains associated with these diseases appears to be a beta-sheet pore-forming toxin, NetF, encoded within a pathogenicity locus (NetF locus) on a large tcp-conjugative plasmid. Strains producing NetF also produce the putative toxin NetE, encoded within the same pathogenicity locus, as well as CPE enterotoxin and CPB2 on a second plasmid, and sometimes the putative toxin NetG within a pathogenicity locus (NetG locus) on another separate large conjugative plasmid. Previous genome sequences of two netF-positive C. perfringens showed that they both shared three similar plasmids, including the NetF/NetE and CPE/CPB2 toxins-encoding plasmids mentioned above and a putative bacteriocin-encoding plasmid. The main purpose of this study was to determine whether all NetF-producing strains share this common plasmid profile and whether their distinct NetF and CPE pathogenicity loci are conserved. To answer this question, 15 equine and 15 canine netF-positive isolates of C. perfringens were sequenced using Illumina Hiseq2000 technology. In addition, the clonal relationships among the NetF-producing strains were evaluated by core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). The data obtained showed that all NetF-producing strains have a common plasmid profile and that the defined pathogenicity loci on the plasmids are conserved in all these strains. cgMLST analysis showed that the NetF-producing C. perfringens strains belong to two distinct clonal complexes. The pNetG plasmid was absent from isolates of one of the clonal complexes, and there were minor but consistent differences in the NetF/NetE and CPE/CPB2 plasmids between the two clonal complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew M Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Scott J Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashley E Whitehead
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
| | - Valeria R Parreira
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - Patrick Boerlin
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
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18
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Parreira VR, Russell K, Athanasiadou S, Prescott JF. Comparative transcriptome analysis by RNAseq of necrotic enteritis Clostridium perfringens during in vivo colonization and in vitro conditions. BMC Microbiol 2016; 16:186. [PMID: 27520106 PMCID: PMC4983038 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-016-0792-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 07/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by netB-positive type A Clostridium perfringens is an important bacterial disease of poultry. Through its complex regulatory system, C. perfringens orchestrates the expression of a collection of toxins and extracellular enzymes that are crucial for the development of the disease; environmental conditions play an important role in their regulation. In this study, and for the first time, global transcriptomic analysis was performed on ligated intestinal loops in chickens colonized with a netB-positive C. perfringens strain, as well as the same strain propagated in vitro under various nutritional and environmental conditions. RESULTS Analysis of the respective pathogen transcriptomes revealed up to 673 genes that were significantly expressed in vivo. Gene expression profiles in vivo were most similar to those of C. perfringens grown in nutritionally-deprived conditions. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, our results suggest a bacterial transcriptome responses to the early stages of adaptation, and colonization of, the chicken intestine. Our work also reveals how netB-positive C. perfringens reacts to different environmental conditions including those in the chicken intestine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kay Russell
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - Spiridoula Athanasiadou
- Disease Systems, Animal and Veterinary Sciences SRUC, Roslin Institute Building, Midlothian, EH25 9RG Scotland
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1 Canada
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19
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Finley A, Gohari IM, Parreira VR, Abrahams M, Staempfli HR, Prescott JF. Prevalence of netF-positive Clostridium perfringens in foals in southwestern Ontario. Can J Vet Res 2016; 80:242-244. [PMID: 27408339 PMCID: PMC4924560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
NetF-producing Clostridium perfringens have recently been identified as a cause of necrotizing enteritis in neonatal foals, but little is known about its prevalence in clinically normal foals. Foals (n = 88) ranging in age from < 1 wk to 2 to 4 mo (median age 2 to 4 wk) on 8 horse-breeding farms in Ontario were examined on 1 or 2 occasions for the presence of C. perfringens. Of the foals that tested positive, 5 isolates (n = 675) were examined for the netF and enterotoxin (cpe) genes. Colonization by C. perfringens was most marked in foals < 1 wk of age [4.85 ± 2.70 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)] and declined markedly over time (1.23 ± 1.06 log10 CFU at 1 to 2 mo of age). Only 2 isolates possessed the cpe gene and none possessed netF. We concluded that netF-positive C. perfringens does not colonize young foals with any detectable frequency in Ontario and this organism is not likely to be adapted to the intestine of the horse.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - John F. Prescott
- Address all correspondence to Dr. John F. Prescott; telephone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 54716; fax: (519) 824-5939; e-mail:
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Prescott JF, Parreira VR, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Lepp D, Gong J. The pathogenesis of necrotic enteritis in chickens: what we know and what we need to know: a review. Avian Pathol 2016; 45:288-94. [DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2016.1139688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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21
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Gohari IM, Parreira V, Kropinski A, Boerlin P, Prescott JF. Association of NetF-positive type A Clostridium perfringens with necrotizing enteritis in neonatal foals. J Equine Vet Sci 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2016.02.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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22
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Kropinski AM, Weese SJ, Parreira VR, Whitehead AE, Boerlin P, Prescott JF. Plasmid Characterization and Chromosome Analysis of Two netF+ Clostridium perfringens Isolates Associated with Foal and Canine Necrotizing Enteritis. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0148344. [PMID: 26859667 PMCID: PMC4747519 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0148344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
The recent discovery of a novel beta-pore-forming toxin, NetF, which is strongly associated with canine and foal necrotizing enteritis should improve our understanding of the role of type A Clostridium perfringens associated disease in these animals. The current study presents the complete genome sequence of two netF-positive strains, JFP55 and JFP838, which were recovered from cases of foal necrotizing enteritis and canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis, respectively. Genome sequencing was done using Single Molecule, Real-Time (SMRT) technology-PacBio and Illumina Hiseq2000. The JFP55 and JFP838 genomes include a single 3.34 Mb and 3.53 Mb chromosome, respectively, and both genomes include five circular plasmids. Plasmid annotation revealed that three plasmids were shared by the two newly sequenced genomes, including a NetF/NetE toxins-encoding tcp-conjugative plasmid, a CPE/CPB2 toxins-encoding tcp-conjugative plasmid and a putative bacteriocin-encoding plasmid. The putative beta-pore-forming toxin genes, netF, netE and netG, were located in unique pathogenicity loci on tcp-conjugative plasmids. The C. perfringens JFP55 chromosome carries 2,825 protein-coding genes whereas the chromosome of JFP838 contains 3,014 protein-encoding genes. Comparison of these two chromosomes with three available reference C. perfringens chromosome sequences identified 48 (~247 kb) and 81 (~430 kb) regions unique to JFP55 and JFP838, respectively. Some of these divergent genomic regions in both chromosomes are phage- and plasmid-related segments. Sixteen of these unique chromosomal regions (~69 kb) were shared between the two isolates. Five of these shared regions formed a mosaic of plasmid-integrated segments, suggesting that these elements were acquired early in a clonal lineage of netF-positive C. perfringens strains. These results provide significant insight into the basis of canine and foal necrotizing enteritis and are the first to demonstrate that netF resides on a large and unique plasmid-encoded locus.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew M. Kropinski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Scott J. Weese
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Valeria R. Parreira
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Ashley E. Whitehead
- Department of Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, CSB 101E, Canada
| | - Patrick Boerlin
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
- * E-mail:
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23
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Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Parreira VR, Timoney JF, Fallon L, Slovis N, Prescott JF. NetF-positive Clostridium perfringens in neonatal foal necrotising enteritis in Kentucky. Vet Rec 2016; 178:216. [PMID: 26829965 DOI: 10.1136/vr.103606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/08/2016] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- I Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - V R Parreira
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - J F Timoney
- Department of Veterinary Science, Gluck Equine Research Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40546-0099, USA
| | - L Fallon
- Hagyard Equine Veterinary Science, 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511- 8412, USA
| | - N Slovis
- Hagyard Equine Veterinary Science, 4250 Iron Works Pike, Lexington, KY 40511- 8412, USA
| | - J F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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24
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Abstract
Despite the increasing recognition of the critical role for antimicrobial stewardship in preventing the spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria, examples of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs are rare in small animal veterinary practice. This article highlights the basic requirements for establishing stewardship programs at the clinic level. The authors provide suggestions and approaches to overcome constraints and to move from theoretic concepts toward implementation of effective antimicrobial stewardship programs in small animal clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Guardabassi
- Department of Veterinary Disease Biology, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Stigbøjlen 4, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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25
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Gohari IM, Parreira VR, Nowell VJ, Nicholson VM, Oliphant K, Prescott JF. A novel pore-forming toxin in type A Clostridium perfringens is associated with both fatal canine hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and fatal foal necrotizing enterocolitis. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0122684. [PMID: 25853427 PMCID: PMC4390311 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0122684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Accepted: 02/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A role for type A Clostridium perfringens in acute hemorrhagic and necrotizing gastroenteritis in dogs and in necrotizing enterocolitis of neonatal foals has long been suspected but incompletely characterized. The supernatants of an isolate made from a dog and from a foal that died from these diseases were both found to be highly cytotoxic for an equine ovarian (EO) cell line. Partial genome sequencing of the canine isolate revealed three novel putative toxin genes encoding proteins related to the pore-forming Leukocidin/Hemolysin Superfamily; these were designated netE, netF, and netG. netE and netF were located on one large conjugative plasmid, and netG was located with a cpe enterotoxin gene on a second large conjugative plasmid. Mutation and complementation showed that only netF was associated with the cytotoxicity. Although netE and netG were not associated with cytotoxicity, immunoblotting with specific antisera showed these proteins to be expressed in vitro. There was a highly significant association between the presence of netF with type A strains isolated from cases of canine acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis and foal necrotizing enterocolitis. netE and netF were found in all cytotoxic isolates, as was cpe, but netG was less consistently present. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that netF-positive isolates belonged to a clonal population; some canine and equine netF-positive isolates were genetically indistinguishable. Equine antisera to recombinant Net proteins showed that only antiserum to rNetF had high supernatant cytotoxin neutralizing activity. The identifica-tion of this novel necrotizing toxin is an important advance in understanding the virulence of type A C. perfringens in specific enteric disease of animals.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Victoria J. Nowell
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Kaitlyn Oliphant
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
| | - John F. Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
- * E-mail:
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27
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González-Iglesias P, Scortti M, MacArthur I, Hapeshi A, Rodriguez H, Prescott JF, Vazquez-Boland JA. Mouse lung infection model to assess Rhodococcus equi virulence and vaccine protection. Vet Microbiol 2014; 172:256-64. [PMID: 24852140 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2014.03.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Revised: 03/19/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The pathogenic actinomycete Rhodococcus equi causes severe purulent lung infections in foals and immunocompromised people. Although relatively unsusceptible to R. equi, mice are widely used for in vivo studies with this pathogen. The most commonly employed mouse model is based on systemic (intravenous) infection and determination of R. equi burdens in spleen and liver. Here, we investigated the murine lung for experimental infection studies with R. equi. Using a 10(7)CFU intranasal challenge in BALB/c mice, virulent R. equi consistently survived in quantifiable numbers up to 10 days in the lungs whereas virulence-deficient R. equi bacteria were rapidly cleared. An internally controlled virulence assay was developed in which the test R. equi strains are co-inoculated and monitored in the same mouse. Isogenic R. equi bacteria lacking either the plasmid vapA gene or the entire virulence plasmid were compared using this competitive assay. Both strains showed no significant differences in in vivo fitness in the lung, indicating that the single loss of the virulence factor VapA was sufficient to account for the full attenuation seen in the absence of the virulence plasmid. To test the adequacy of the lung infection model for monitoring R. equi vaccine efficacy, BALB/c mice were immunized with live R. equi and challenged intranasally. Vaccination conferred protection against acute pulmonary challenge with virulent R. equi. Our data indicate that the murine lung infection model provides a useful tool for both R. equi virulence and vaccine studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia González-Iglesias
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Mariela Scortti
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular IV, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Iain MacArthur
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Alexia Hapeshi
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Héctor Rodriguez
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK; Irish Equine Centre, Johnstown, Naas, Ireland
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Canada
| | - José A Vazquez-Boland
- Microbial Pathogenesis Unit, School of Biomedical Sciences and The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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Cauchard S, Giguère S, Venner M, Muscatello G, Cauchard J, Cohen ND, Haas A, Hines SA, Hondalus MK, Horohov DW, Meijer WG, Prescott JF, Vázquez-Boland J. Rhodococcus equi research 2008-2012: report of the Fifth International Havemeyer Workshop. Equine Vet J 2014; 45:523-6. [PMID: 23909447 DOI: 10.1111/evj.12103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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Pei Y, Parreira VR, Roland KL, Curtiss R, Prescott JF. Assessment of attenuated Salmonella vaccine strains in controlling experimental Salmonella Typhimurium infection in chickens. Can J Vet Res 2014; 78:23-30. [PMID: 24396177 PMCID: PMC3878005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2012] [Accepted: 03/15/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Salmonella hold considerable promise as vaccine delivery vectors for heterologous antigens in chickens. Such vaccines have the potential additional benefit of also controlling Salmonella infection in immunized birds. As a way of selecting attenuated strains with optimal immunogenic potential as antigen delivery vectors, this study screened 20 novel Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine strains, differing in mutations associated with delayed antigen synthesis and delayed attenuation, for their efficacy in controlling colonization by virulent Salmonella Typhimurium, as well as for their persistence in the intestine and the spleen. Marked differences were observed between strains in these characteristics, which provide the basis for selection for further study as vaccine vectors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John F. Prescott
- Address all correspondence to Dr. John F. Prescott; telephone: (519) 824-4120 ext. 54716; fax: (519) 824-5930; e-mail:
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Gohari IM, Arroyo L, MacInnes JI, Timoney JF, Parreira VR, Prescott JF. Characterization of Clostridium perfringens in the feces of adult horses and foals with acute enterocolitis. Can J Vet Res 2014; 78:1-7. [PMID: 24396174 PMCID: PMC3878003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Up to 60% of cases of equine colitis have no known cause. To improve understanding of the causes of acute colitis in horses, we hypothesized that Clostridium perfringens producing enterotoxin (CPE) and/or beta2 toxin (CPB2) are common and important causes of severe colitis in horses and/or that C. perfringens producing an as-yet-undescribed cytotoxin may also cause colitis in horses. Fecal samples from 55 horses (43 adults, 12 foals) with clinical evidence of colitis were evaluated by culture for the presence of Clostridium difficile, C. perfringens, and Salmonella. Feces were also examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for C. difficile A/B toxins and C. perfringens alpha toxin (CPA), beta2 toxin (CPB2), and enterotoxin (CPE). Five C. perfringens isolates per sample were genotyped for the following genes: cpa, cpb, cpb2 consensus, cpb2 atypical, cpe (enterotoxin), etx (epsilon toxin), itx (iota toxin), netB (necrotic enteritis toxin B), and tpeL (large C. perfringens cytotoxin). The supernatants of these isolates were also evaluated for toxicity for an equine cell line. All fecal samples were negative for Salmonella. Clostridium perfringens and C. difficile were isolated from 40% and 5.4% of samples, respectively. All fecal samples were negative for CPE. Clostridium perfringens CPA and CPB2 toxins were detected in 14.5% and 7.2% of fecal samples, respectively, all of which were culture-positive for C. perfringens. No isolates were cpe, etx, netB, or tpeL gene-positive. Atypical cpb2 and consensus cpb2 genes were identified in 15 (13.6%) and 4 (3.6%) of 110 isolates, respectively. All equine C. perfringens isolates showed far milder cytotoxicity effects than a CPB-producing positive control, although cpb2-positive isolates were slightly but significantly more cytotoxic than negative isolates. Based on this studied population, we were unable to confirm our hypothesis that CPE and CPB2-producing C. perfringens are common in horses with colitis in Ontario and we failed to identify cytotoxic activity in vitro in the type A isolates recovered.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - John F. Prescott
- Address all correspondence to Dr. John F. Prescott; telephone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 54716; fax: (519) 824-5939; e-mail:
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Chan G, Farzan A, DeLay J, McEwen B, Prescott JF, Friendship RM. A retrospective study on the etiological diagnoses of diarrhea in neonatal piglets in Ontario, Canada, between 2001 and 2010. Can J Vet Res 2013; 77:254-260. [PMID: 24124267 PMCID: PMC3788656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 12/02/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Laboratory surveillance data from the Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, on the etiological diagnoses of neonatal diarrhea in piglets were analyzed to determine the relative importance and trends of different enteric pathogens in Ontario. A total of 237 cases, including live and dead 1- to 7-day-old piglets, were submitted for diagnosis of gastrointestinal illness between 2001 and 2010. The combined frequencies for cases of gastrointestinal illness involving Escherichia coli, Clostridium perfringens type A, rotavirus, and Clostridium difficile, either as single pathogens or a complex of pathogens, accounted for 56% of the total cases. In a total of 33% of cases of gastrointestinal illness, an etiological agent was not identified. The frequency of cases diagnosed with enterotoxigenic E. coli was decreased from 2007. Cases submitted in 2010 were more likely to be diagnosed with C. perfringens type A compared to cases submitted in 2002 to 2007 (P < 0.05). There was a significant trend for cases submitted in the winter to be diagnosed with C. perfringens type A, enterotoxigenic E. coli, rotavirus, and Cystoisospora suis (formerly Isospora suis) (P < 0.05). Enterotoxigenic E. coli was less likely diagnosed if C. difficile, C. perfringens, or rotavirus were detected (P < 0.05). Younger piglets were more likely to be diagnosed with C. perfringens type A (P < 0.05) and C. difficile (P < 0.05) than older piglets. This study shows that E. coli, C. perfringens type A, rotavirus, and C. difficile are enteric pathogens of concern for Ontario swine farrowing operations and further research is required to understand the reasons for the cases that are not diagnosed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Robert M. Friendship
- Address all correspondence and reprint requests to Dr. Robert M. Friendship; telephone: (519) 824-4120, ext. 54873; fax: (519) 763-3117; e-mail:
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Chan G, Farzan A, Prescott JF, Friendship R. How do swine practitioners and veterinary pathologists arrive at a diagnosis of Clostridium perfringens type A enteritis in neonatal piglets? Can Vet J 2013; 54:504-506. [PMID: 24155437 PMCID: PMC3624925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A questionnaire was administered to 22 veterinary practitioners and 17 veterinary pathologists to investigate the methods used for diagnosis of Clostridium perfringens type A enteritis in neonatal pigs. Practitioners generally diagnosed C. perfringens type A associated enteritis by age of onset of diarrhea (between 1 to 7 days of age). Most practitioners (95%) were moderately to very confident in their diagnosis. Pathologists generally diagnosed C. perfringens type A associated enteritis by combinations of isolation of the organism, genotyping or detecting the toxins of the organism, and ruling out other pathogens through histopathology. Almost half (41%) of the pathologists were not confident of their diagnosis. This study reports that the current diagnostic method for C. perfringens type A enteritis is not specific, and although many pathologists expressed reservations about making a diagnosis of C. perfringens type A enteritis, most practitioners were confident in their diagnosis, even though reported clinical signs of clostridial diarrhea are similar to those of a number of other enteric diseases.
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Farzan A, Kircanski J, DeLay J, Soltes G, Songer JG, Friendship R, Prescott JF. An investigation into the association between cpb2-encoding Clostridium perfringens type A and diarrhea in neonatal piglets. Can J Vet Res 2013; 77:45-53. [PMID: 23814355 PMCID: PMC3525171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2011] [Accepted: 02/16/2012] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
To investigate the possible role of cpb2-positive type A Clostridium perfringens in neonatal diarrheal illness in pigs, the jejunum and colon of matched normal and diarrheic piglets from 10 farms with a history of neonatal diarrhea were examined grossly and by histopathology, and tested for C. perfringens, for C. perfringens beta2 (CPB2) toxin, as well as for Clostridium difficile toxins, Salmonella, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, rotavirus, transmissible gastroenteritis (TGE) virus, and coccidia. Clostridium perfringens isolates were tested using a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to determine the presence of cpa, consensus and atypical cpb2, and other virulence-associated genes. The numbers of C. perfringens in the intestinal contents were lower in diarrheic piglets (log₁₀ 5.4 CFU/g) compared with normal piglets (log₁₀ 6.5 CFU/g) (P < 0.05). The consensus cpb2 was present in 93% of isolates in each group, but atypical cpb2 was less common (56% healthy, 32% diarrheic piglets isolates, respectively, P < 0.05). The presence of CPB2 toxin in the intestinal contents of normal and diarrheic piglets did not differ significantly. Clostridium difficile toxins and rotavirus were each detected in 7 of the 21 (33%) diarrheic piglets. Rotavirus, C. difficile toxins, Salmonella, or enterotoxigenic E. coli were concurrently recovered in different combinations in 4 diarrheic piglets. The cause of diarrhea in 8 of the 21 (38%) piglets on 6 farms remained unknown. The etiological diagnosis of diarrhea could not be determined in any of the piglets on 2 of the farms. This study demonstrated that the number of cpb2-positive type A C. perfringens in the intestinal contents was not a useful approach for making a diagnosis of type A C. perfringens enteritis in piglets. Further work is required to confirm whether cpb2-carrying type A C. perfringens have a pathogenic role in enteric infection in neonatal swine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - John F. Prescott
- Address all correspondence to Dr. John F. Prescott; telephone: 519-824-4120 ext. 54716; fax: 519-824-5930; e-mail:
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Sydor T, von Bargen K, Hsu FF, Huth G, Holst O, Wohlmann J, Becken U, Dykstra T, Söhl K, Lindner B, Prescott JF, Schaible UE, Utermöhlen O, Haas A. Diversion of phagosome trafficking by pathogenic Rhodococcus equi depends on mycolic acid chain length. Cell Microbiol 2012; 15:458-73. [PMID: 23078612 PMCID: PMC3864644 DOI: 10.1111/cmi.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2012] [Revised: 09/19/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi is a close relative of Mycobacterium spp. and a facultative intracellular pathogen which arrests phagosome maturation in macrophages before the late endocytic stage. We have screened a transposon mutant library of R. equi for mutants with decreased capability to prevent phagolysosome formation. This screen yielded a mutant in the gene for β-ketoacyl-(acyl carrier protein)-synthase A (KasA), a key enzyme of the long-chain mycolic acid synthesizing FAS-II system. The longest kasA mutant mycolic acid chains were 10 carbon units shorter than those of wild-type bacteria. Coating of non-pathogenic E. coli with purified wild-type trehalose dimycolate reduced phagolysosome formation substantially which was not the case with shorter kasA mutant-derived trehalose dimycolate. The mutant was moderately attenuated in macrophages and in a mouse infection model, but was fully cytotoxic.Whereas loss of KasA is lethal in mycobacteria, R. equi kasA mutant multiplication in broth was normal proving that long-chain mycolic acid compounds are not necessarily required for cellular integrity and viability of the bacteria that typically produce them. This study demonstrates a central role of mycolic acid chain length in diversion of trafficking by R. equi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tobias Sydor
- Institute for Cell Biology, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
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Shojadoost B, Vince AR, Prescott JF. The successful experimental induction of necrotic enteritis in chickens by Clostridium perfringens: a critical review. Vet Res 2012; 43:74. [PMID: 23101966 PMCID: PMC3546943 DOI: 10.1186/1297-9716-43-74] [Citation(s) in RCA: 202] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2012] [Accepted: 10/02/2012] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Necrotic enteritis (NE) is one of the most important enteric diseases in poultry and is a high cost to the industry worldwide. It is caused by avian-specific, Necrotic Enteritis Beta toxin (NetB)-producing, strains of Clostridium perfringens that also possess in common other virulence-associated genes. In Europe the disease incidence has increased since the ban on in-feed "growth promoting" antibiotics. Because of this, many recent studies of NE have focused on finding different ways to control the disease, and on understanding its pathogenesis. Frustratingly, reproduction of the disease has proven impossible for some researchers. This review describes and discusses factors known to be important in reproducing the disease experimentally, as well as other considerations in reproducing the disease. The critical bacterial factor is the use of virulent, netB-positive, strains; virulence can be enhanced by using tpeL- positive strains and by the use of young rather than old broth cultures to increase toxin expression. Intestinal damaging factors, notably the use of concurrent or preceding coccidial infection, or administration of coccidial vaccines, combined with netB-positive C. perfringens administration, can also be used to induce NE. Nutritional factors, particularly feeding high percentage of cereals containing non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) (wheat, rye, and barley) enhance disease by increasing digesta viscosity, mucus production and bacterial growth. Animal proteins, especially fish meal, enhance C. perfringens proliferation and toxin production. Other factors are discussed that may affect outcome but for which evidence of their importance is lacking. The review compares the different challenge approaches; depending on the aim of particular studies, the different critical factors can be adjusted to affect the severity of the lesions induced. A standardized scoring system is proposed for international adoption based on gross rather than histopathological lesions; if universally adopted this will allow better comparison between studies done by different researchers. Also a scoring system is provided to assist decisions on humane euthanasia of sick birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahram Shojadoost
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tehran, Tehran, P.O. Box: 14155–6453, Iran
| | - Andrew R Vince
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
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Prescott JF. Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin A gene. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2012; 241:1019; author reply 1019. [PMID: 23210158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
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Schlegel BJ, Nowell VJ, Parreira VR, Soltes G, Prescott JF. Toxin-associated and other genes in Clostridium perfringens type A isolates from bovine clostridial abomasitis (BCA) and jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS). Can J Vet Res 2012; 76:248-254. [PMID: 23543949 PMCID: PMC3460601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2011] [Accepted: 10/23/2011] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
This study examined known or possible virulence-associated genes in type A Clostridium perfringens from cases of both bovine clostridial abomasitis (BCA) and jejunal hemorrhage syndrome (JHS) and compared these to isolates from calves that were healthy or had undifferentiated diarrheal illness. A real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to genotype the 218 C. perfringens isolates. Isolates were sourced from healthy and diarrheic young and mature cattle (n = 191), from calves with confirmed or suspected BCA (n = 22), and from mature cattle with JHS (n = 5). Of 216 isolates (96%), 208 were positive for the cpa gene and 13% (29/218) were positive for atypical cpb2. Three of 8 (37.5%) confirmed BCA isolates, 2 of 13 (15.4%) suspected BCA isolates, and no JHS isolates tested positive for atypical cpb2. As all isolates were negative for cpb, cpb2, cpe, etx, netB, and tpeL, the results of the present study do not support a role for these genes in BCA or JHS. A subset of unique genes identified in 1 bovine clostridial abomasitis isolate (F262), for which a genome sequence is available, was searched for in 8 BCA isolates by PCR. None of the 10 genes was consistently present in all or even in a majority of BCA isolates. Many of these genes were also variably and inconsistently present in type A isolates from calves that did not have BCA. Although a virulence signature to aid in the diagnosis of BCA caused by C. perfringens type A was not identified, further work may discover a gene or group of genes that would constitute such a signature.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - John F. Prescott
- Address all correspondence to Dr. John F. Prescott; telephone: (519) 824-4120 ext 54716; fax: (519) 824-5930; e-mail:
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Chan G, Farzan A, Soltes G, Nicholson VM, Pei Y, Friendship R, Prescott JF. The epidemiology of Clostridium perfringens type A on Ontario swine farms, with special reference to cpb2-positive isolates. BMC Vet Res 2012; 8:156. [PMID: 22947389 PMCID: PMC3503845 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-8-156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Background There is poor understanding of most aspects of Clostridium perfringens type A as a possible cause of neonatal diarrhea in piglets, and the prevalence and types of C. perfringens present on Ontario swine farms is unknown. To study the prevalence of fecal C. perfringens and selected toxin genes, 48 Ontario swine farms were visited between August 2010 and May 2011, and 354 fecal samples were collected from suckling pigs, lactating sows, weanling pigs, grower-finisher pigs, and gestating sows, as well as from manure pits. The fecal samples were cultured quantitatively, and toxin genes were detected by real-time multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results In mixed multivariable linear analysis, log10C. perfringens in fecal samples from suckling pigs were higher than that of weanling pigs, grower-finisher pigs, and manure pit samples (P <0.05). In mixed multivariable logistic analysis, the C. perfringens isolates recovered from lactating sows (OR = 0.069, P <0.001), gestating sows (OR = 0.020, P <0.001), grower-finishers (OR = 0.017, P <0.001), and manure pits (OR = 0.11, P <0.001) were less likely to be positive for the consensus beta2 toxin gene cpb2 compared to the isolates from suckling pigs. The prevalence of cpb2 in the isolates recovered from weanlings did not differ significantly from suckling pigs. C. perfringens isolates that were positive for cpb2 were more likely to carry the atypical cpb2 gene (atyp-cpb2) (OR = 19, P <0.001) compared to isolates that were negative for cpb2. Multivariable analysis did not identify farm factors affecting the presence of consensus cpb2 and atyp-cpb2 genes. Conclusions This study provides baseline data on the prevalence of C. perfringens and associated toxin genes in healthy pigs at different stages of production on Ontario swine farms. The study suggests that if C. perfringens type A are involved in neonatal enteritis, there may be strains with specific characteristics that cannot be identified by the existing genotyping system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gloria Chan
- Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada
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Schlegel BJ, Van Dreumel T, Slavić D, Prescott JF. Clostridium perfringens type A fatal acute hemorrhagic gastroenteritis in a dog. Can Vet J 2012; 53:555-557. [PMID: 23115371 PMCID: PMC3327598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The morning after participating in a dog show, a 2-year-old Pomeranian dog was found dead in a pool of bloody feces. Necropsy revealed hemorrhagic gastroenteritis of the entire gastrointestinal tract, with many Gram-positive bacilli on the surface and in the lumen and crypts of the intestine. Enterotoxin-positive type A Clostridium perfringens were isolated in large numbers. This dramatic case of fatal C. perfringens gastroenteritis highlights the need to better understand the role of this bacterium in enteric disease of dogs.
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Kircanski J, Parreira VR, Whiteside S, Pei Y, Prescott JF. The majority of atypical cpb2 genes in Clostridium perfringens isolates of different domestic animal origin are expressed. Vet Microbiol 2012; 159:371-4. [PMID: 22542269 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2012.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2012] [Revised: 04/04/2012] [Accepted: 04/05/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the prevalence and expression of the "consensus" and the "atypical"cpb2 genes in Clostridium perfringens isolates from cattle, chickens, dogs, goats, horses, pigs and sheep using polymerase chain reaction (PCR), sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis followed by Western blotting. Almost all porcine isolates (12/14) carried and expressed the consensus form of cpb2 but, when present in 108 non-porcine isolates, the gene was usually the atypical form (40 atypical versus 9 consensus). Western blotting showed expression in 30 of 40 (75%) atypical cpb2-positive isolates, considerably more frequently than reported previously. CPB2 was expressed by almost all (20/21) the consensus cpb2-positive isolates, regardless of source.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasmina Kircanski
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Prescott JF, Szkotnicki J, McClure JT, Reid-Smith RJ, Léger DF. Conference report: antimicrobial stewardship in Canadian agriculture and veterinary medicine. How is Canada doing and what still needs to be done? Can Vet J 2012; 53:402-407. [PMID: 23024388 PMCID: PMC3299512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- John F Prescott
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Nowell VJ, Kropinski AM, Songer JG, MacInnes JI, Parreira VR, Prescott JF. Genome sequencing and analysis of a type A Clostridium perfringens isolate from a case of bovine clostridial abomasitis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e32271. [PMID: 22412860 PMCID: PMC3297601 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2011] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is a common inhabitant of the avian and mammalian gastrointestinal tracts and can behave commensally or pathogenically. Some enteric diseases caused by type A C. perfringens, including bovine clostridial abomasitis, remain poorly understood. To investigate the potential basis of virulence in strains causing this disease, we sequenced the genome of a type A C. perfringens isolate (strain F262) from a case of bovine clostridial abomasitis. The ∼3.34 Mbp chromosome of C. perfringens F262 is predicted to contain 3163 protein-coding genes, 76 tRNA genes, and an integrated plasmid sequence, Cfrag (∼18 kb). In addition, sequences of two complete circular plasmids, pF262C (4.8 kb) and pF262D (9.1 kb), and two incomplete plasmid fragments, pF262A (48.5 kb) and pF262B (50.0 kb), were identified. Comparison of the chromosome sequence of C. perfringens F262 to complete C. perfringens chromosomes, plasmids and phages revealed 261 unique genes. No novel toxin genes related to previously described clostridial toxins were identified: 60% of the 261 unique genes were hypothetical proteins. There was a two base pair deletion in virS, a gene reported to encode the main sensor kinase involved in virulence gene activation. Despite this frameshift mutation, C. perfringens F262 expressed perfringolysin O, alpha-toxin and the beta2-toxin, suggesting that another regulation system might contribute to the pathogenicity of this strain. Two complete plasmids, pF262C (4.8 kb) and pF262D (9.1 kb), unique to this strain of C. perfringens were identified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria J Nowell
- Department of Pathobiology, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Murphy CP, Reid-Smith RJ, Boerlin P, Weese JS, Prescott JF, Janecko N, McEwen SA. Out-patient antimicrobial drug use in dogs and cats for new disease events from community companion animal practices in Ontario. Can Vet J 2012; 53:291-298. [PMID: 22942447 PMCID: PMC3280785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study investigated oral and parenteral antimicrobial use in dogs and cats, and evaluated antimicrobial use in feline upper respiratory tract disease (FURTD), feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD), and canine infectious tracheobronchitis. Study journals (n = 1807) were submitted by 84 veterinarians. Sixty-five percent of the antimicrobials prescribed in dogs and 67% in cats were β-lactams. Most frequently prescribed in dogs were cephalexin (33%) and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (16%), and in cats, amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (40%) and cefovecin (17%); 7% of the prescriptions in dogs and 12% in cats were for fluoroquinolones. Sixty-seven percent of the disease events associated with canine infectious tracheobronchitis, and 70% and 74% associated with FURTD and FLUTD, respectively, were treated with antimicrobials. These results suggest that cefovecin and fluoroquinolones may be over-used and antimicrobial use for the treatment of FURTD, FLUTD, and canine infectious tracheobronchitis could probably be reduced to lessen resistance selection pressure without compromising patient health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colleen P Murphy
- Department of Population Medicine, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1.
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Giguère S, Cohen ND, Chaffin MK, Slovis NM, Hondalus MK, Hines SA, Prescott JF. Diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of infections caused by Rhodococcus equi in foals. J Vet Intern Med 2011; 25:1209-20. [PMID: 22092608 DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2011.00835.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Revised: 09/22/2011] [Accepted: 10/04/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Rhodococcus equi, a gram-positive facultative intracellular pathogen, is one of the most common causes of pneumonia in foals. Although R. equi can be cultured from the environment of virtually all horse farms, the clinical disease in foals is endemic at some farms, sporadic at others, and unrecognized at many. On farms where the disease is endemic, costs associated with morbidity and mortality attributable to R. equi may be very high. The purpose of this consensus statement is to provide recommendations regarding the diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of infections caused by R. equi in foals.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Giguère
- Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA.
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Whitehead AE, Parreira VR, Hewson J, Watson JL, Prescott JF. Development of a live, attenuated, potential vaccine strain of R. equi expressing vapA and the virR operon, and virulence assessment in the mouse. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 145:479-84. [PMID: 22088674 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2011] [Revised: 07/04/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Pneumonia caused by Rhodococcus equi remains a significant problem in foals. The objective of this study was to develop a safe and efficacious attenuated strain of R. equi for eventual use in oral immunization of foals. The approach involved expression of vapA in a live, virulence plasmid-negative, strain of R. equi (strain 103-). PCR-amplified fragments of the vapA gene, with and without the upstream genes virR, orf5, vapH, orf7 and orf8 (orf4-8), were cloned into a shuttle vector pNBV1. These plasmids, named pAW48A and pAWVapA respectively, were electroporated into strain 103-. The presence of the recombinant vectors in the attenuated strain (103-) and the integrity of the inserted genes were confirmed, and both constructs expressed VapA. The virulence of the two strains was compared to that of wild type R. equi 103+ and negative controls by their intravenous inoculation into mice, followed by examination of liver clearance 4 days later. Mice inoculated with R. equi 103-, 103-/pAWVapA and 103-/pNBV1 completely cleared infection, whereas strain 103-/pAW48A persisted in 47% of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley E Whitehead
- Department of Clinical Studies, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada
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Abstract
Beta 2 (β2)-toxigenic Clostridium perfringens type A was recovered in large numbers from the intestine of a neonatal foal with colitis. The foal had been treated with gentamicin. Necropsy revealed marked distension of cecum and colon with watery, rust-colored homogeneous fluid and gastric infarction. Microscopic colonic lesions were superficial necrosis of 50% of the colonic mucosal surface and scattered 1-3-mm ulcers with subjacent neutrophilic infiltration and large Gram-positive bacilli in the necrotic mucosa. Beta-2 toxin was demonstrated in the lesions by immunohistochemical staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murray J Hazlett
- Animal Health Laboratory, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada N1G 2W1.
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MacArthur I, Parreira VR, Lepp D, Mutharia LM, Vazquez-Boland JA, Prescott JF. The sensor kinase MprB is required for Rhodococcus equi virulence. Vet Microbiol 2011; 147:133-41. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2010.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2010] [Revised: 06/12/2010] [Accepted: 06/16/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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