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

Pathogens ◽  
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.

scholarly journals Prevalence and risk factors of Neospora caninum infection in ovine flocks of central-western Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesús Manuel Romo-Gallegos ◽  
Carlos Cruz-Vázquez ◽  
Leticia Medina-Esparza ◽  
Miguel Ramos-Parra ◽  
Dora Romero-Salas
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Odds Ratio ◽  
Animal Species ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Domestic Animal ◽  
Caninum Infection ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Western Mexico ◽  
The Mean

This study, carried out in 13 sheep flocks of central-western Mexico, aimed to identify the prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies, to develop a risk analysis of the infection and to estimate the prevalence of parasite DNA in blood. A total of 368 serum and blood samples were subjected to ELISA and PCR tests, respectively, and the association between the prevalence of antibodies and some management factors was estimated. The overall prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 13.5% [50/368; 95% confidence interval (CI) 10–17], ranging from 2.7 to 90% per flock, and 92% of the farms had seropositive animals. In ewes the prevalence was 14% (48/348, 95% CI 10–17) and in rams 10% (2/20; 95% CI 1– 33). The mean prevalence of Neospora DNA in blood was 27% (99/368, 95% CI 22–31), implying a range between 16 and 82%. In rams, the prevalence was 5% (1/20 95% CI 2–26), while in ewes it was 28% (98/348, 95% CI 23–33). The agreement between the tests was k = 0.19. The presence of other domestic animal species in the farms [odds ratio (OR) 4.4] and the consumption of placental debris, fetuses and stillborn lambs by dogs living in the farms (OR 5.8) were demonstrated to be risk factors.

scholarly journals Association between Neospora caninum seropositivity and reproductive disorders in girolando cows

2020 ◽  
Vol 72 (6) ◽  
pp. 2069-2076
Author(s):  
V.G. Gaia ◽  
G.F. Grillo ◽  
M.R.B. Mello ◽  
H.B. Palhano ◽  
A.F. Silva
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Antibody Test ◽  
Fisher Exact Test ◽  
Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Clinical Observations ◽  
Indirect Fluorescence Antibody

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in Girolando cows, in order to evaluate the association between seropositivity and reproductive disorders. Blood samples were collected from 40 dairy cows in their reproductive phase from the cranial superficial epigastric vein. The blood samples were tested using the Indirect Fluorescence Antibody Test (IFAT) to detect anti-N.caninum antibodies. The serological results were used to verify whether there was any association with the manifestation of reproductive disorders based on data from the records of reproductive history from 2017 to 2018 as well as the clinical observations of the herd throughout this study. The Fisher exact test was used to verify the existence of an association between the serology and reproductive disorders, adopting a 95% confidence level. The serological results showed a 27.5% seroprevalence in the herd for N. caninum, however, after statistical analysis, no association between seropositivity and reproductive disorders was found in the evaluated herd. Although the studied population is infected with Neospora caninum, we can infer that anti-Neospora caninum antibodies present in Girolando dairy cows at the UFRRJ Dairy Cattle Facility are not associated with the occurrence of reproductive disorders.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with Neospora caninum in crossbred dairy cows in Uberlândia

2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (4) ◽  
pp. 1585 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nayara Resende Nasciutti ◽  
Patrícia Magalhães de Oliveira ◽  
Vinícius De Morais Barbosa ◽  
Selwyn Arlington Headley ◽  
Felipe Gonçalves Garcia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Dairy Cows ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
History Of ◽  
Antibody Titers ◽  
Associated Risk Factors ◽  
The City

Neospora caninum causes reproductive disorders in dairy cattle such as repeat breeding, abortion, and anestrus, which are risk factors associated with the seroprevalence of N. caninum in Brazil and worldwide. This study aimed to verify the risk factors related to the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in crossbred dairy cows in the city of Uberlândia, Minas Gerais. During, January to July 2013, 740 blood samples were collected from 57 herds with a history of reproductive disorders and determinations of antibody titers against N. caninum were obtained by ELISA assay. The seroprevalence of N. caninum was 18.4% (136/740). Risk factors for N. caninum were cows greater than 2 years of age (P = 0.034), mechanical milking (P = 0.012), and frequent purchase of animals (P = 0.004), in addition to individual history of abortion (P = 0.007) and repeat breeding (P = 0.030). The highest probability of occurrence of associated risk factors was associated with individual history of abortion and repeated breeding and the frequent purchase of animals, with odds of 12.8, 5.9, and 3.8 times, respectively. In conclusion, the risk factors associated with N. caninum: members of the female sex and cows with more than 2 years-of-age, mechanical milking, and the frequent purchase of animals, in addition to individual history of abortion and repeated breeding.

Reproductive disorders in relation to Neospora caninum, Brucella spp. and bovine viral diarrhoea virus serostatus in breeding and dairy farms of central and southern Ethiopia

2012 ◽  
Vol 141 (8) ◽  
pp. 1772-1780 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. ASMARE ◽  
F. REGASSA ◽  
L. J. ROBERTSON ◽  
A. D. MARTIN ◽  
E. SKJERVE
Keyword(s):  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus ◽  
Dairy Farms ◽  
Southern Ethiopia ◽  
Infectious Agents ◽  
Bovine Viral Diarrhoea ◽  
Reproductive Disorders ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Diarrhoea Virus

SUMMARYAbortion and stillbirth are important reproductive disorders in the dairy industry and are often caused by infectious agents. This study investigated whether bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV), Brucella spp., and Neospora caninum are associated with abortion and/or stillbirth in dairy cattle in Ethiopia. Dairy cattle from 99 farms were categorized as cases (n = 134) or controls (n = 268) according to reproductive data. Blood samples were screened for antibodies for these infectious agents. The overall proportion of cattle that were seropositive for BVDV, Brucella spp., and N. caninum was 11·7%, 3·2%, and 17·2%, respectively. Seropositivity for BVDV and Brucella spp. was similar for cases and controls, but significantly more cases were seropositive for N. caninum (29·8%) than controls (10·8%). This is the first report demonstrating N. caninum is common in dairy cattle in Ethiopia, and is probably a greater impediment to reproductive success in Ethiopian dairy farms than either BVDV or Brucella spp.

Measurement of thyroid hormones in donkey (Equus asinus) blood and milk: validation of ELISA kits and evaluation of sample collection, handling and storage

2010 ◽  
Vol 77 (4) ◽  
pp. 419-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Todini ◽  
Alessandro Malfatti ◽  
Elisabetta Salimei ◽  
Francesco Fantuz
Keyword(s):  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Blood Serum ◽  
Sensitivity Threshold ◽  
Plasma Samples ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Human Infants ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Equus Asinus ◽  
Prevention Of Atherosclerosis

Donkey's milk is well tolerated by human infants with cow's milk allergy and is useful in the treatment of human immune-related diseases and in the prevention of atherosclerosis. Thyroid hormones (TH) stimulate lactation and active triiodothyronine (T3) in colostrum and milk could take paracrine action supporting lactogenesis in the mother, and play physiological roles for the suckling offspring (systemic or within the gastrointestinal tract). The aims were to measure TH concentrations in donkey blood and milk, validate ELISA methods, evaluate the effects of sample collection and post-collection handling and the stability of TH in milk and blood serum and plasma samples. In milk and blood samples obtained from lactating jennies total concentrations of TH were assayed using competitive-type ELISA kits. Good validation results were obtained for both TH concentrations in blood serum and plasma and T3 in milk samples extracted with cold (−20°C) ethanol alkalinized (pH 9·0) with NH4OH. In most of the milk extract samples, thyroxine (T4) concentrations resulted below the sensitivity threshold. Intra- and inter-assay coefficients of variations of TH concentrations in different blood and milk samples were below 10%. Parallelism tests gave displacement lines parallel to those of the calibrators for both TH in blood serum and plasma and for T3 in milk extracts. Mean recovery rates were between 95% and 123%, but the concentration values approaching the highest calibrators were overestimated. Therefore, serum and plasma samples for T3 assay must be previously diluted with buffer. Both TH concentrations in blood serum and plasma and T3 in milk did not change during storage for up to 6 months at −20°C. In conclusion, the ELISA methods tested in the present study are suitable for determination of both TH concentrations in donkey blood samples, and for T3 measurement in milk, after extraction with cold alkaline ethanol.

scholarly journals Neospora caninum and/or Toxoplasma gondii Seroprevalence: Vaccination against PCV2 and Muscle Enzyme Activity in Seropositive and Seronegative Pigs

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 1097
Author(s):  
Labrini V. Athanasiou ◽  
Vasileios G. Papatsiros ◽  
Victoria M. Spanou ◽  
Eleni G. Katsogiannou ◽  
Anna Dedousi
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Human Infection ◽  
Porcine Circovirus ◽  
Muscle Enzyme ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Zoonotic Pathogen ◽  
Muscle Enzyme Activity ◽  
Immunofluorescence Antibody

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii affect both humans and animals worldwide. To investigate their seroprevalence and differences in seropositivity between pigs vaccinated and unvaccinated against porcine circovirus 2 (PCV2), as well as differences in muscle enzyme activity between seropositive and seronegative pigs, blood samples were collected from 380 sows. Antibodies against T. gondii and N. caninum were detected by an indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) assay, while the activities of creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were biochemically assessed. Out of the 364 sows finally included in the study, 4.4%, 3.5%, and 0.5% were seropositive to T. gondii, N. caninum, or both. A significantly higher percentage of seropositivity against T. gondii and/or N. caninum in PCV2 unvaccinated pigs compared with vaccinated pigs was observed. Increased serum activities of CK and AST were detected in 71.43% and 100% of only against T. gondii (T+) and 63.64% and 90.91% of only against N. caninum (N+) seropositive sows, respectively, and were significantly higher compared to seronegative animals. T. gondii and N. caninum seropositivity, especially in presumed immunocompromised pigs, and the evidence of muscle damage highlight their importance as a zoonotic pathogen and animal model of human infection, respectively.

An epidemiological survey of Theileria equi parasite in donkeys (Equus asinus) in Egypt

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 100449
Author(s):  
Shimaa Abd El-Salam El-Sayed ◽  
Mahmoud AbouLaila ◽  
Ahmed ElKhatam ◽  
Azaa Abdel-Wahab ◽  
Mohamed Abdo Rizk
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Survey ◽  
Theileria Equi ◽  
Equus Asinus

LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION OF THE ANTI-NUCLEOCAPSID IGG AFTER THE CONFIRMED COVID-19 IN NORTHERN CROATIAN POPULATION

2021 ◽  
pp. 55-58
Author(s):  
Tamara Bezek ◽  
Petra Meliš ◽  
Bojana Kranjčec ◽  
Snježana Semenski ◽  
Kornelija Klenkar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Antibody Response ◽  
Grey Zone ◽  
Antibody Testing ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
N Protein ◽  
Symptomatic Disease ◽  
Blood Specimens ◽  
Northern Croatia ◽  
Time Point

BACKGROUND: This study longitudinally evaluated the IgG response against the N-protein after the onset of COVID19 infection. We determined the kinetics and magnitude of the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in conrmed COVID-19 patients who were the rst infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Krapina-Zagorje county in northern Croatia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied 177 blood specimens from 51 patients who tested positive by PCR for COVID-19 and provided longitudinal blood samples over a duration of several months, allowing to evaluate the IgG response against the N-protein. SARS-CoV-2 IgG assay was interpreted as positive (ratio1.4 S/C) or negative (ratio<1.4 S/C). RESULTS: The majority of subjects (48/51) reported symptomatic disease. Among the 49 patients who underwent serological antibody testing at rst time point (median: 47 days), 47/49 were positive for IgG 6.02 (0.24-10.54 S/C), while at sixth time point (median: 275 days) 4/16 patients were positive for IgG, 9/16 were in grey zone, and 3/16 were negative. Using Wilcoxon statistical analysis we found statistically signicant decrease of SARS-CoV-2 N-protein IgG indices between the rst and the sixth time point (median signal to cut-off ratio, S/C, 8.18 IQR 6.91, 9.51 to 0.94 IQR 0.56, 1.18, P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We claried the kinetics and magnitude of the antibody response against SARS-CoV-2 in conrmed COVID-19 patients. Our results provide critical evidence that N-protein IgG response persists in the majority of patients for at least six to eight months after COVID19 infection.

scholarly journals Seroprevalence and risk factors associated with infection by Neospora caninum of dairy cattle in the state of Alagoas, Brazil

2012 ◽  
Vol 32 (10) ◽  
pp. 1009-1013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria E. Sousa ◽  
J.N. Porto Wagnner ◽  
Pedro P.F. Albuquerque ◽  
Orestes L. Souza Neto ◽  
Eduardo B. Faria ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Risk Factors ◽  
Dairy Cattle ◽  
Indirect Immunofluorescence ◽  
Neospora Caninum ◽  
Infection Risk ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
Risk Indicators ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Factors Associated ◽  
Serological Investigation

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of anti-Neospora caninum antibodies in cattle from milk producing farms of the microregion of Batalha, state of Alagoas, Brazil, as well as to identify the risk factors associated with the infection. Blood samples were collected from 1,004 cattle of 17 farms for the serological investigation regarding the presence of anti-N. caninum antibodies by the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction Technique (IMRT). From the total amount of samples analyzed, 77/1,004 (7.67%) were positive and 927/1,004 (92.33%) were negative. The logistical regression identified that cattle from farms without consortium breeding have an infection risk 6.33 (p<0.001; C.I. 2.89-13.10) times higher than cattle from farms with that type of breeding. Cattle from farms where the aborted fetuses are not adequately buried have an infection risk 3.04 (p<0.001; C.I. 1.64-5.63) times higher than cattle from farms with adequate destination of these fetuses. Infection by N. caninum occurs in cattle of the investigated region. The factors identified in our study can be used as risk indicators, so that control measures could be implemented to avoid infection by N. caninum in the herds of this region.

Excretion of Iohexol and Metrizoate in Human Breast Milk

1987 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 523-526 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. T. Nielsen ◽  
I. Matheson ◽  
J. N. Rasmussen ◽  
K. Skinnemoen ◽  
E. Andrew ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Breast Milk ◽  
Low Dose ◽  
Decay Curve ◽  
Human Breast Milk ◽  
Human Breast ◽  
Blood Samples ◽  
Lactating Women ◽  
Milk Samples ◽  
Slow Decay ◽  
Contrast Medium Injection

Six lactating women undergoing contrast media examination had milk and blood taken to determine the rate and extent of excretion of iohexol (Omnipaque) (four mothers) and metrizoate (Isopaque) (two mothers). Blood samples were taken up to 45 minutes and milk samples up to 48 hours after the contrast medium injection. The excretion was low, reaching a maximum at 3 to 6 hours and showing a slow decay curve (t 1/2 = 15 to 108 hours). One mother, who was weaning her baby, showed a different excretion pattern. The amount excreted during 24 hours was about 0.5 per cent of the weight adjusted maternal dose for both iohexol and metrizoate. It is not likely, that such a low dose of poorly absorbed drug would cause any adverse effects in the infant, unless it is hypersensitive to the drug already. The authors consider breast feeding to be acceptable for mothers receiving iohexol or metrizoate.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document