Angiostrongylus vasorum Causing Severe Granulomatous Hepatitis with Concurrent Multiple Acquired PSS

A 14 mo old female Jack Russell terrier presented with a 12 hr history of vomiting and inappetence. She was subsequently diagnosed with multiple acquired portosystemic shunts during an exploratory celiotomy. Gross and histopathological hepatic abnormalities were consistent with chronic disease, including features suggestive of portal hypertension that was potentially caused by migrating and resident Angiostrongylus vasorum larvae. Fecal analysis and polymerase chain reaction of hepatic tissue confirmed the presence of Angiostrongylus vasorum. The dog recovered clinically following empirical treatment and supportive care. A lack of parasite burden was confirmed 9 wk postdiagnosis; however, serum biochemical analysis at that time was suggestive of ongoing hepatic dysfunction.

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Clinical Characteristics, Serum Biochemical Changes, and Expression Profile of Serum Cfa-miRNAs in Dogs Confirmed to Have Congenital Portosystemic Shunts Accompanied by Liver Pathologies

Veterinary Sciences ◽

10.3390/vetsci7020035 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (2) ◽

pp. 35 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ahmed M. El-Sebaey ◽

Pavel N. Abramov ◽

Fatma M. Abdelhamid

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Parameters ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Non Invasive ◽

Molecular Events ◽

Portosystemic Shunts ◽

Liver Injuries ◽

Novel Biomarkers ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Healthy Dogs ◽

Polymerase Chain

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) and biochemical parameters cannot specify liver pathologies in dogs with congenital portosystemic shunts (CPSS) that are easily determined by invasive histopathology. This study aims to assess the possibility of using circulating serum canine familiaris (cfa) microRNAs (miRNAs) as novel non-invasive serum-based fingerprints for liver injuries associated with various morphologies of extrahepatic and intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (EHPSS and IHPSS). Data were obtained from 12 healthy dogs and 84 dogs confirmed to have EHPSS (splenocaval, splenophrenic, splenoazygos, right gastrocaval (RGC), right gastrocaval with caudal loop (RGC–CL)) and IHPSS (right divisional and left divisional) using CTA. Hepatic pathologies were determined by histopathology. Serum expression of miRNAs was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Based on the nature of liver injuries in each shunt type, cfa-miR-122 was significantly upregulated in all CPSS groups. Meanwhile, serums cfa-miR-34a and 21 were not significantly expressed in splenophrenic or splenoazygos groups, but they were extensively upregulated in splenocaval, RGC, RGC–CL groups and less frequently in right or left divisional groups. Also, serum cfa-miR126 was significantly upregulated in both IHPSS groups but less significantly expressed in RGC, RGC–CL, and splenocaval groups. Overall, estimated cfa-miRNAs could serve as novel biomarkers to mirror the histopathological and molecular events within the liver in each shunt type.

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Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies Among Health Care Personnel at a Health Care System in Pakistan

Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health ◽

10.1177/10105395211011010 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 101053952110110

Author(s):

Salma Abbas ◽

Aun Raza ◽

Ayesha Iftikhar ◽

Aamir Khan ◽

Shahzaib Khan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Control Measures ◽

Health Care Personnel ◽

Test Results ◽

Antibody Testing ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Past Infection ◽

Infection Control Measures ◽

History Of ◽

Polymerase Chain

Health care personnel (HCP) are at high risk for coronavirus disease-2019 acquisition. Serum antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) indicate past infection. Our institution offered SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to HCP. We surveyed HCP with positive test results to explore past exposure to SARS-CoV-2, details of symptoms during the preceding 6 months, and a history of SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction testing. A total of 2162 HCP underwent antibody testing. Eight hundred fifty-seven (39.6%) employees tested positive and, of these, 820 (95.7%) participated in the survey. When adjusted for age, males had higher odds of testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies compared with females (OR = 1.68; 95% CI = 1.37-2.05; P = .00) and clinical staff had higher odds of SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity compared with nonclinical staff (OR = 1.273; 95% CI = 1.06-1.53; P = .01). Implementation of effective infection control measures is essential to protect HCP from coronavirus disease-2019.

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Complicated cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by an imported case of Leishmania tropica in Japan: a case report

Tropical Medicine and Health ◽

10.1186/s41182-021-00312-4 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 49 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Kitano ◽

Chizu Sanjoba ◽

Yasuyuki Goto ◽

Kazumasa Iwamoto ◽

Hiroki Kitagawa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cutaneous Leishmaniasis ◽

Skin Lesions ◽

Leishmania Tropica ◽

Case Presentation ◽

Imported Case ◽

Imported Cases ◽

History Of ◽

Hematoxylin And Eosin ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Positive Results

Abstract Background Leishmaniasis is not endemic in Japan, and imported cases are rare. However, there are increasing concerns regarding imported cases of cutaneous leishmaniasis from endemic countries to Japan. This report describes a case of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis that was diagnosed and treated in Japan. Case presentation A 53-year-old Pakistani man presented with skin lesions on both malleoli of his right ankle and the dorsum of the left foot. The skin lesions manifested as erythematous nodules surrounding an ulcer in the center of the lesion. The lesions of the malleoli of his right ankle each measured 3 × 3 cm, and the lesion on the top of his left foot measured 5 × 4 cm. He had been living and working in Japan but had a history of a visit to Pakistan for about 2 months in 2018. The skin lesions were biopsied. Giemsa and hematoxylin and eosin staining of biopsy samples showed amastigotes of Leishmania in macrophages, and the presence of Leishmania was confirmed by skin tissue culture. Polymerase chain reaction using biopsy specimens identified Leishmania parasites, and DNA sequence analysis revealed that the species was Leishmania tropica. The patient was treated with intravenous liposomal amphotericin B for 6 days. The erythema disappeared, and the erythematous nodules resolved within 3 weeks. Conclusion This is the first report of imported cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by L. tropica from Pakistan, and it is interesting that all three testing modalities showed positive results in this case.

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Reinfection Rates Among Patients Who Previously Tested Positive for Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Clinical Infectious Diseases ◽

10.1093/cid/ciab234 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Megan M Sheehan ◽

Anita J Reddy ◽

Michael B Rothberg

Keyword(s):

Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort Study ◽

Retrospective Cohort ◽

Symptomatic Infection ◽

Symptomatic Disease ◽

Viral Shedding ◽

History Of ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Prior Infection ◽

Over Time

Abstract Background Protection afforded from prior disease among patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection is unknown. If infection provides substantial long-lasting immunity, it may be appropriate to reconsider vaccination distribution. Methods This retrospective cohort study of 1 health system included 150 325 patients tested for COVID-19 infection via polymerase chain reaction from 12 March 2020 to 30 August 2020. Testing performed up to 24 February 2021 in these patients was included. The main outcome was reinfection, defined as infection ≥90 days after initial testing. Secondary outcomes were symptomatic infection and protection of prior infection against reinfection. Results Of 150 325 patients, 8845 (5.9%) tested positive and 141 480 (94.1%) tested negative before 30 August. A total of 1278 (14.4%) positive patients were retested after 90 days, and 62 had possible reinfection. Of those, 31 (50%) were symptomatic. Of those with initial negative testing, 5449 (3.9%) were subsequently positive and 3191 of those (58.5%) were symptomatic. Protection offered from prior infection was 81.8% (95% confidence interval [CI], 76.6–85.8) and against symptomatic infection was 84.5% (95% CI, 77.9–89.1). This protection increased over time. Conclusions Prior infection in patients with COVID-19 was highly protective against reinfection and symptomatic disease. This protection increased over time, suggesting that viral shedding or ongoing immune response may persist beyond 90 days and may not represent true reinfection. As vaccine supply is limited, patients with known history of COVID-19 could delay early vaccination to allow for the most vulnerable to access the vaccine and slow transmission.

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Haematological and serum biochemical indices of growing rabbits fed graded levels of Yam peel meal as replacement for maize

Nigerian Journal of Animal Production ◽

10.51791/njap.v47i4.67 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (4) ◽

pp. 167-175

Author(s):

I. B. Amaza ◽

A. Maidala ◽

C. E. Isidahomen

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Blood Chemistry ◽

Feeding Trial ◽

Randomized Design ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Inclusion Level ◽

Completely Randomized Design ◽

Biochemical Indices ◽

Dietary Treatments

Haematological and serum biochemical parameters are indicators of physiological, nutritional and pathological status of animals. Investigation of these parameters provide information for diagnostic purposes. The study was conducted to determine the influence of feeding graded levels of yam peel meal (YPM) as a replacement for maize on haematology; blood chemistry was evaluated in rabbits. Thirty- six (New Zealand white X Chinchilla) were randomly assigned to four dietary treatments in a completely randomized design with nine rabbits per treatment. The rabbits were fed diets containing 0, 12.5, 25 and 37.5% of Yam peel meal (YPM) as a replacement for maize, designated as T1, T2, T3 and T4, respectively. The experimental diets and clean drinking water were supplied ad libitum throughout the experimental period of nine weeks. At the end of the feeding trial, three rabbits per treatment were randomly selected for hematological and serum biochemical analysis. All the haematological and serum biochemical indices except AST were affected (P<0.05) by dietary inclusion of YPM. Although most of the parameters investigated were affected by rabbits fed test ingredient, the values fell within the normal literature reference values for rabbits. It can therefore be concluded that up to 37.5% inclusion level of YPM can be fed to growing rabbits without deleterious effects on health status.

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Tuberculosis in Children in a Pediatric Hospital in Mexico

American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene ◽

10.4269/ajtmh.20-1482 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Napoleón González Saldaña ◽

Mercedes Macías Parra ◽

Hugo Juárez Olguín ◽

José Iván Castillo Bejarano ◽

Monica Punzo Soto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pediatric Hospital ◽

Diagnostic Challenge ◽

Abnormal Chest ◽

Culture Sensitivity ◽

History Of ◽

Chest X Ray ◽

Epidemiological Evaluation ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Tuberculosis In Children ◽

Skin Test Result

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global problem and a diagnostic challenge, especially in pediatrics. The aim of this study was to describe the clinical, microbiological, radiological, and histopathological data of TB in children. A 7-year retrospective and descriptive cohort study that included 127 patients under 18 years of age with diagnosis of active TB was conducted from 2011 to 2018 in a pediatric hospital. Tuberculosis was microbiologically confirmed using Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) staining, culture or polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in a total of 94 (74%) cases. Thirty-three cases were defined as probable TB based on tuberculin skin test result and epidemiological evaluation. The TB forms found were lymph node (39.3%), bone (15.7%), lung (13.6%), and meningeal TB (8.6%). The most common symptoms were fever (48.8%) and adenopathy (45.6%). History of contact was established in 34.6%. Positive ZN staining (sensitivity 30%) and culture (sensitivity 37%) were found in 29% and 37.7% of subjects, respectively. About 64.5% depicted abnormal chest X-ray. Xpert MTB/RIF® (PCR) was positive in 9.4% and biopsy was compatible in 52.7% of these samples. It is fundamental to have laboratory and epidemiological evaluation that support the diagnosis of the disease in children and thus, define its management; since, in most cases, early microbiologic confirmation is lacking.

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Studies on Diagnosis of Bovine Brucellosis by Immunocyto-chemistry and Immunohistochemistry

Indian Journal of Animal Research ◽

10.18805/ijar.b-4203 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

K.S. Lakshmikanth ◽

N.S. Sharma ◽

D. Pathak ◽

Paviter Kaur

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Placental Tissue ◽

Diagnostic Techniques ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Bovine Brucellosis ◽

Reproductive Disorders ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Tissue Samples ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Positive Results

Background: Brucellosis is a major threat to livestock economy and an important zoonotic disease. A rapid and accurate diagnosis is a necessity to curb the spread and progress of the disease. The current study aimed to evaluate sensitivity of Immunocytochemistry and Immunohistochemistry methods for detection of Brucella spp.Methods: A total of 50 samples comprising of fetal stomach content, vaginal discharges and placenta were collected from cattle and buffaloes suffering from abortions and other reproductive disorders in and around Ludhiana, Punjab during the period 2017-2018. All the samples were processed for isolation and confirmed with biochemical analysis and Polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The isolates obtained and 43 clinical samples excluding placental samples were subjected to Immunocytochemistry (ICC). Immunohistochemistry (ICH) was performed on placental samples.Result: A total of four isolates were recovered from the screened samples. The four isolates also yielded positive results in Immunocytochemistry. Among the 43 clinical samples screened by Immunocytochemistry, five were positive, however only 3 isolates were recovered on isolation. A total of seven placental tissue samples were processed and subjected to immunohistochemistry. Of the three placental samples positive by immunohistochemistry, only one sample was isolated on culture. The results suggest that both immunocytochemistry and immunohistochemistry are sensitive diagnostic techniques in comparison to isolation.

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Application of a Polymerase Chain Reaction Assay for Detection of Proliferative Enteritis-Affected Swine Herds

Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation ◽

10.1177/104063879600800207 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 181-185 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Patricia K. Holyoake ◽

Gary F. Jones ◽

Peter R. Davies ◽

Dennis L. Foss ◽

Michael P. Murtaugh

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

Nursery Pigs ◽

Clinically Normal ◽

Source Of Infection ◽

History Of ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Swine Herds ◽

Age Range

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay was used to confirm the presence of ileal symbiont (IS) intracellularis in 3 swine herds with a history of proliferative enteritis (PE). Two pooled fecal specimens, each comprising 5 individual stool samples, were collected from pen floors to screen for the presence of IS intracellularis and determine the age range of pigs shedding the organism. IS intracellularis was detected in the feces of clinically normal 10–25week-old grower/finisher pigs, indicating that this age range of pigs was the main source of infection for younger nursery pigs. Shedding continued without clinical disease when 10–100 g/ton of tylosin or 10 g/ton of chlortetracycline was added to the feed. PCR testing of pooled fecal samples can be used to identify groups of pigs affected with PE. The results of this study indicate that this PCR assay has the potential to accurately assess the IS intracellularis infection status of swine herds and the association of IS intracellular-is with PE and growth performance.

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Cirrhosis in rats does not resolve in the long-term after induction by thioacetamide model

Journal of Morphological Sciences ◽

10.4322/jms.ao060313 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 31 (01) ◽

pp. 033-041

Author(s):

L. Rui ◽

E. Silva ◽

T. Silva ◽

T. Portela ◽

A. Silva ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Biochemical Analysis ◽

Hepatic Cirrhosis ◽

Activity Index ◽

Experimental Period ◽

Female Wistar Rats ◽

Serum Biochemical ◽

Histological Activity ◽

Therapy Studies ◽

Future Therapy

Abstract Introductions: Hepatic cirrhosis is a final common pathway of all chronic liver diseases, characterized by deposit of fibrillar collagen and liver failure. Materials and Methods: In this experiment, hepatic cirrhosis was induced in 15 female Wistar rats by a 14-week period, with thioacetamide solution in a 200 mg/kg dosage, via intraperitoneal. Animals were submitted to liver biopsy, and euthanized after a 80-day post-induction period. Serum biochemical analysis was performed, in addition to histopathology by H.E., Picrosirius, Alcian Blue and P.A.S. stainings, following analysis of histological activity index and staging of fibrosis. Morphometric analysis of collagen on Picrosirius slides was also performed. Results: Mortality during experimental period was low (13.33%), and after 80-day period, liver function improved, cellular changes did not altered, and deposition of acidic mucopolysaccharides and glycogen were increased. Liver histological activity did not change significantly (7.25 ± 1.30 to 6.41 ± 1.32), but staging of fibrosis was altered (3.91 ± 0.76 to 4.70 ± 1.11). Interlobular collagen showed a significant decrease (5.14 ± 2.00 to 4.00 ± 1.20), while intralobular collagen was increased (0.23 ± 0.06 to 0.36 ± 0.08). Conclusions: These findings characterize thioacetamide as a safe experimental model for induction cirrhosis, which may be used for future therapy studies.

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