scholarly journals Detection of potentially pathogenic bacteria from Ixodes ricinus carried by pets in Tuscany, Italy

2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. e000395
Author(s):  
Valentina Chisu ◽  
Cipriano Foxi ◽  
Gabriella Masu ◽  
Barbara D' Amaddio ◽  
Giovanna Masala
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Bartonella Henselae ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Chlamydia Psittaci ◽  
Sequencing Analysis ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Domestic Environments ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Potential Public Health

BackgroundTicks are vectors of disease-causing pathogens that pose a serious threat to animals and people. Dogs and cats are exposed to tick infestation in multiple ways and can easily transport infected ticks into domestic environments and potentially transfer them to people. Pet owners are at increased risk of picking up ticks from their pets and developing tickborne diseases. This study aims to detect the presence of pathogens of potential public health interest in ticks removed from cats and dogs in Tuscany, Italy.MethodsThe collected ticks were screened for the presence of protozoan (Theileria species and Babesia species) and bacterial (Rickettsia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia species, Chlamydia species, Bartonella species and Coxiella burnetii) pathogens using PCR.ResultsPCR and sequencing analysis revealed that 3 per cent of the ticks were PCR-positive for the presence of Rickettsia helvetica DNA, 5 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Bartonella henselae DNA, and 46 per cent of ticks were PCR-positive for Chlamydia psittaci and Chlamydia abortus DNA. None of the examined ticks was PCR-positive for Theileria species, Babesia species, Anaplasma species, Ehrlichia canis or Coxiella burnetii DNA.ConclusionThe results of this preliminary study highlight the importance of monitoring companion animals as indicators to evaluate the health status of their owners. Preventive measures are necessary to limit the spread of zoonotic pathogens from companion animals to people within the home environment.

Systemic inflammatory response and increased risk for ventilator-associated pneumonia: A preliminary study

2009 ◽  
Vol 37 (5) ◽  
pp. 1691-1695 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paula Ramírez ◽  
Miquel Ferrer ◽  
Ricardo Gimeno ◽  
Sergi Tormo ◽  
Mauricio Valencia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Inflammatory Response ◽  
Systemic Inflammatory Response ◽  
Ventilator Associated Pneumonia ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Preliminary Study

The prognostic efficacy of beta2-microglobulin in acute pulmonary embolism

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 52-59
Author(s):  
Sotirios Kakavas ◽  
◽  
Aggeliki Papanikolaou ◽  
Evangelos Balis ◽  
Evgenios Metaxas ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
Acute Pulmonary Embolism ◽  
C Reactive Protein ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Risk Of Death ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Preliminary Study ◽  
Wbc Count ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Acute Pe

Our aim was to prospectively assess the prognostic value of beta2- microglobulin (b2-M) in patients with acute pulmonary embolism (PE). We conducted a prospective study of 109 patients admitted in a pulmonary clinic due to acute PE. A panel of inflammatory markers including b2-M white blood cell (WBC) count and C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined for each patient. In this preliminary study, baseline b2-M levels significantly correlated with the impairment of oxygenation and with all the parameters that are used for the early risk stratification of patients. In multivariate analysis, patients’ age and baseline b2-M levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of death. These findings require further prospective validation.

scholarly journals Inhibition of Fibroblast Apoptosis by Borrrelia afzelii, Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella henselae

2011 ◽  
Vol 60 (3) ◽  
pp. 269-272 ◽  
Author(s):  
TOMASZ CHMIELEWSKI ◽  
STANISŁAWA TYLEWSKA-WIERZBANOWSKA
Keyword(s):  
Cell Death ◽  
Chronic Disease ◽  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Caspase 3 ◽  
Bartonella Henselae ◽  
Tissue Homeostasis ◽  
Host Cells ◽  
Fibroblast Cells ◽  
Human Fibroblast Cells ◽  
Long Time

Apoptosis is a genetically controlled mechanism of cell death involved in the regulation of tissue homeostasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of Borrelia afzelii, Coxiella burnetii, and Bartonella henselae bacteria on apoptosis measured as the level of caspase 3 activity in human fibroblast cells HEL-299. Our findings show that C. burnetii bacteria may inhibit the process of apoptosis in the host cells for a long time. This can permit intracellular survival in the host and mediatingthe development of chronic disease.

The Bartonella henselae sucB gene encodes a dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase protein reactive with sera from patients with cat-scratch disease

2004 ◽  
Vol 53 (12) ◽  
pp. 1221-1227 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M Litwin ◽  
Joel M Johnson ◽  
Thomas B Martins
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Brucella Melitensis ◽  
Bartonella Henselae ◽  
Immunoblot Analysis ◽  
Cross Reactivity ◽  
Cosmid Library ◽  
Cat Scratch Disease ◽  
Igg Antibodies ◽  
Bacillary Angiomatosis ◽  
Dihydrolipoamide Succinyltransferase

Bartonella henselae is a recently recognized pathogenic bacterium associated with cat-scratch disease, bacillary angiomatosis and bacillary peliosis. A recombinant clone expressing an immunoreactive antigen of B. henselae was isolated by screening a genomic DNA cosmid library by Western blotting with sera pooled from patients positive for B. henselae IgG antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence (IFA). The deduced amino acid sequence of the 43.7 kDa encoded protein was found to be 76.3 % identical to the dihydrolipoamide succinyltransferase enzyme (SucB) of Brucella melitensis. SucB has been shown to be an immunogenic protein during infections by Brucella melitensis, Coxiella burnetii and Bartonella vinsonii. The agreement between reactivity with a recombinant SucB fusion protein on immunoblot analysis and the results obtained by IFA was 55 % for IFA-positive sera and 88 % for IFA-negative sera. Cross-reactivity was observed with sera from patients with antibodies against Brucella melitensis, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Francisella tularensis, Coxiella burnetii and Rickettsia typhi.

Reservoirs of resistance: polymyxin resistance in veterinary-associated companion animal isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

2019 ◽  
Vol 185 (7) ◽  
pp. 206-206 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrea Scott ◽  
Sian Pottenger ◽  
Dorina Timofte ◽  
Matthew Moore ◽  
Laura Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pseudomonas Aeruginosa ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Inhibitory Concentration ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Companion Animals ◽  
Opportunistic Pathogen ◽  
Polymyxin B ◽  
Potential Reservoir ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Animal Isolates

BackgroundPseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic pathogen and a major cause of infections. Widespread resistance in human infections are increasing the use of last resort antimicrobials such as polymyxins. However, these have been used for decades in veterinary medicine. Companion animals are an understudied source of antimicrobial resistant P. aeruginosa isolates. This study evaluated the susceptibility of P. aeruginosa veterinary isolates to polymyxins to determine whether the veterinary niche represents a potential reservoir of resistance genes for pathogenic bacteria in both animals and humans.Methods and resultsClinical P. aeruginosa isolates (n=24) from UK companion animals were compared for antimicrobial susceptibility to a panel of human-associated isolates (n=37). Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for polymyxin B and colistin in the companion animals was significantly higher than in human isolates (P=0.033 and P=0.013, respectively). Genotyping revealed that the veterinary isolates were spread throughout the P. aeruginosa population, with shared array types from human infections such as keratitis and respiratory infections, suggesting the potential for zoonotic transmission. Whole genome sequencing revealed mutations in genes associated with polymyxin resistance and other antimicrobial resistance-related genes.ConclusionThe high levels of resistance to polymyxin shown here, along with genetic similarities between some human and animal isolates, together suggest a need for sustained surveillance of this veterinary niche as a potential reservoir for resistant, clinically relevant bacteria in both animals and humans.

Seroepidemiology of Coxiella burnetii in domestic and companion animals in Japan

1992 ◽  
Vol 131 (21) ◽  
pp. 490-490 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Htwe ◽  
K. Amano ◽  
Y. Sugiyama ◽  
K. Yagami ◽  
N. Minamoto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coxiella Burnetii ◽  
Companion Animals

scholarly journals Fatal canine adenovirus type 1 acute infection in a Yorkshire Terrier puppy in Portugal: a case report

2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (No. 4) ◽  
pp. 210-220
Author(s):  
MD Duarte ◽  
AM Henriques ◽  
C. Lima ◽  
C. Ochoa ◽  
F. Mendes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Mdck Cells ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Acute Infection ◽  
Diagnostic Algorithm ◽  
Adenovirus Type ◽  
Infectious Hepatitis ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Sequencing Analysis

This study reports the diagnostic algorithm followed for the identification of a fatal canine adenovirus type 1 (CAdV-1) infection in an unvaccinated 56 day-old puppy to overcome the limitations imposed by inconclusive histopathology hampered by body freezing. The animal was submitted to necropsy after a clinical history of lethargy, dehydration, vomiting and haemorrhagic diarrhoea. Pathological features, suggestive of infectious illness, included generalised gelatinous subcutaneous oedema, petechial, ecchymotic haemorrhages of the subcutaneous tissues and a friable uniformly yellow mottled liver. Differential diagnosis based on PCR ruled out the presence of most common gastrointestinal canine viruses and bacteriology and coprology confirmed that pathogenic bacteria and intestinal parasites did not account for the puppy’s death. Strong amplification of CAdV-1 DNA was obtained from liver samples. Isolation of CAdV-1 in MDCK cells was subsequently demonstrated and sequencing analysis showed high similarity with CAdV-1 isolates from Europe. In the absence of serum, antibodies against CAdV-1 were investigated in lung tissue extracts. The presence of CAdV-1 infectious particles and absence of immune response was consistent with rapid progression of the infection and death of the animal two days after the onset of clinical signals, allowing a final diagnosis of the acute form of ICH. Antibodies against CAdV-1 were detected in sera collected from clinically healthy dogs from the same premises, 14-months after the index case, suggesting that the virus had circulated in the breeding kennel. We believe this to be the first report of CAdV-1 in Portugal where canine infectious hepatitis is considered a rare infection.  

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