Multifocal Coccidioides immitis in a donkey ( Equus asinus )

ABSTRACT The efficacy of intravenously administered liposomal amphotericin B (AmBisome [AmBi]) for the treatment of experimental coccidioidal meningitis was compared with those of oral fluconazole (FLC) and intravenously administered conventional amphotericin B (AMB). Male New Zealand White rabbits were infected by intracisternal inoculation of arthroconidia of Coccidioides immitis. Starting 5 days postinfection, animals received one of the following: 5% dextrose water diluent; AMB given at 1 mg/kg of body weight; AmBi given at 7.5, 15, or 22.5 mg/kg intravenously three times per week for 3 weeks; or oral FLC given at 80 mg/kg for 19 days. One week after the cessation of therapy, all survivors were euthanatized, the numbers of CFU remaining in the spinal cord and brain were determined, and histological analyses were performed. All AmBi-, FLC-, or AMB-treated animals survived and had prolonged lengths of survival compared with those for the controls (P < 0.0001). Treated groups had significantly lower numbers of white blood cells and significantly lower protein concentrations in the cerebrospinal fluid compared with those for the controls (P < 0.01 to 0.0005) and had fewer clinical signs of infection (e.g., weight loss, elevated temperature, and neurological abnormalities including motor abnormalities). The mean histological scores for AmBi-treated rabbits were lower than those for FLC-treated and control rabbits (P < 0.016 and 0.0005, respectively); the scores for AMB-treated animals were lower than those for the controls (P < 0.0005) but were similar to those for FLC-treated rabbits. All regimens reduced the numbers of CFU in the brain and spinal cord compared with those for the controls (P ≤0.0005). AmBi-treated animals had 3- to 11-fold lower numbers of CFU than FLC-treated rabbits and 6- to 35-fold lower numbers of CFU than AmB-treated rabbits. Three of eight animals given 15 mg of AmBi per kg had no detectable infection in either tissue, whereas other doses of AmBi or FLC cleared either the brain or the spinal cord of infection in fewer rabbits. In addition, clearance of the infection from both tissues was achieved in none of the rabbits, and neither tissue was cleared of infection in AMB-treated animals. Overall, these data indicate that intravenously administered AmBi is superior to oral FLC or intravenous AMB and that FLC is better than AMB against experimental coccidioidal meningitis. These data indicate that AmBi may offer an improvement in the treatment of coccidioidal meningitis. Additional studies are warranted.

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Daytime Evaluation of Oxidative Stress and Behavioural Parameters of Donkeys (Equus asinus) During The Hot-Dry and Cold-Dry (Harmattan) Season in a Tropical Savannah

Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science ◽

10.1080/10888705.2021.1894146 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Friday Ocheja Zakari ◽

Joseph Olusegun Ayo ◽

Peter Ibrahim Rekwot ◽

Felix Uchenna Samuel

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Equus Asinus

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Assessment of the accuracy of testicular dysfunction detection in male donkey ( Equus asinus ) with the aid of colour‐spectral Doppler in relation to plasma testosterone and serum nitric oxide levels

Reproduction in Domestic Animals ◽

10.1111/rda.13916 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Elshymaa A. Abdelnaby ◽

Ibrahim A. Emam ◽

Aya M. Fadl

Keyword(s):

Nitric Oxide ◽

Plasma Testosterone ◽

Testicular Dysfunction ◽

Equus Asinus ◽

Spectral Doppler

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Assessment of Donkey (Equus asinus africanus) Whole Blood Stored in CPDA-1 and CPD/SAG-M Blood Bags

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10020133 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 133

Author(s):

Isabella Oliveira Barros ◽

Rejane Santos Sousa ◽

Marcondes Dias Tavares ◽

Renato Otaviano Rêgo ◽

Paulo Ricardo Firmino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Cell ◽

Cell Count ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Blood Collection ◽

Blood Gas ◽

Blood Cell Count ◽

Animal Blood ◽

Equus Asinus ◽

Citrate Phosphate Dextrose ◽

Citrate Phosphate

Hemotherapy using whole blood and its components is being increasingly used in veterinary therapy. Since it is important to store animal blood while maintaining acceptable hematological, blood gas, and biochemical characteristics, increasing our knowledge of available technologies for strategic blood storage is imperative. Thus, we aimed to assess the hematological, blood gas, and biochemical changes in donkey whole blood using blood bags with two different types of storage agents. Eight adult healthy male donkeys were used; 900 mL of blood was collected from each, with 450 mL stored in citrate-phosphate-dextrose and adenine bags (CPDA-1) and 450 mL stored in bags containing citrate-phosphate-dextrose, adenine, mannitol, and sodium chloride (CPD/SAG-M). Both bags were kept refrigerated between 1 and 6 °C for 42 days. Blood samples were removed from the bags eight times (T): T0 (immediately after blood collection), T1, T3, T7, T14, T21, T35, and T42 (1, 3, 7, 14, 21, 35 and 42 days after storage). Hematological, blood gas, biochemical, and microbiological parameters were assessed. The CPDA-1 bags had a higher packed cell volume when compared to CPD/ SAG-M. The red blood cell count reduced by around 19% in both the bags due to hemolysis, which was confirmed by an increase in plasma hemoglobin. The white blood cell count; pH; concentrations of glucose, sodium, bicarbonate, and 2,3 diphosphoglycerate were reduced in both bags. Meanwhile, pO2, pCO2, lactate dehydrogenase, and levels of potassium increased in the CPDA-1 and CPD/SAG-M bags. Blood bags were efficient for the storage of donkey blood for up to 42 days.

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Apicomplexan Protozoa Responsible for Reproductive Disorders: Occurrence of DNA in Blood and Milk of Donkeys (Equus asinus) and Minireview of the Related Literature

Pathogens ◽

10.3390/pathogens10020111 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 111

Author(s):

Stefania Perrucci ◽

Lisa Guardone ◽

Iolanda Altomonte ◽

Federica Salari ◽

Simona Nardoni ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Species ◽

Neospora Caninum ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

Theileria Equi ◽

Blood Samples ◽

Related Literature ◽

Milk Samples ◽

Equus Asinus ◽

Time Periods ◽

Blood Specimens

Donkeys may be susceptible to many pathological agents and may act as carriers of pathogens for other animal species and humans. This study evaluated the occurrence of potentially abortifacient apicomplexan protozoa DNA in blood and milk samples collected at different time periods during lactation (1, 6, and 10 months) from 33 healthy dairy jennies. A total of 73 blood and 73 milk samples were used for DNA extraction and analysis. Blood specimens from 11/33 (33%) jennies scored positive for Theileria equi, while milk samples scored negative. Blood and milk of 3/33 jennies yielded DNA of Toxoplasma gondii at 6 months (n. 1) and 10 months (n. 2) after parturition. Neospora caninum DNA was found in four milk and in five blood samples only at one month after parturition. This study is the first report about the presence of N. caninum DNA in milk of naturally infected jennies. Moreover, the excretion of N. caninum DNA in some of these jennies at 30 days from the parturition may suggest a possible occurrence of an endogenous cycle, while the presence of T. gondii DNA in the milk collected at 6 and 10 months after parturition may be suggestive of a discontinuous excretion.

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All That Coughs Is Not Covid-19: A Delayed Diagnosis of Disseminated Coccidioidomycosis Following SARS-CoV-2

Open Forum Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/ofid/ofab246 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joshua C Chen ◽

Darren Wong ◽

Sina Rabi ◽

Scott Worswick ◽

Brittney DeClerck ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soft Tissues ◽

Delayed Diagnosis ◽

Severe Pneumonia ◽

Coccidioides Immitis ◽

Cutaneous Lesions ◽

Additional Risk ◽

Northern Mexico ◽

The Central Nervous System ◽

Endemic Fungi ◽

Respiratory Complaints

Abstract Coccidioides immitis (and C. posadasii) are endemic fungi of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Uncomplicated, symptomatic Coccidioides infection most commonly causes a self-limited pneumonia; however, immunocompromised patients can manifest severe pneumonia with an additional risk of dissemination to bone, joints, soft tissues, and in the most severe the cases, the central nervous system. In the year 2020 clinicians are challenged with a previously unseen volume of acute respiratory complaints as a result of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. We present a patient with respiratory failure secondary to SARS-CoV-2 who experienced prolonged hypoxia and neurologic deterioration, eventually leading to a diagnosis of occult disseminated coccidiomycosis involving meningitis, miliary-pattern pneumonia, and cutaneous lesions.

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