Diagnosis and treatment of Candida glabrata proventriculitis in an eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus)

CASE DESCRIPTION An 8-year-old sexually intact female eclectus parrot (Eclectus roratus) with a 4-day history of hyporexia and lethargy and a 1-day history of tenesmus was examined. CLINICAL FINDINGS Severe leukocytosis characterized by severe heterophilia and moderate monocytosis was present. Marked dilation of the proventriculus and ventriculus and ascites were identified by means of radiography, coelomic ultrasonography, and contrast-enhanced CT, with no clinically relevant motility noted on ultrasonography. Results of coelomic fluid analysis were consistent with pyogranulomatous effusion. Endoscopy of the upper gastrointestinal tract following proventricular and ventricular lavage showed a thick caseous plaque occupying 30% of the caudal proventricular mucosa. Abundant yeast organisms were evident during cytologic examination of a proventricular and ventricular wash sample, and fecal culture yielded Candida glabrata. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME The bird was treated with SC fluids, assisted feedings, nystatin, fluconazole, amoxicillin–clavulanic acid, enrofloxacin, gastroprotectants, maropitant, and analgesics and slowly improved during hospitalization. A marked decrease in proventricular dilation was evident on serial radiographs obtained over a 12-month period. One year after diagnosis, the bird was presented with a 1-week history of hyporexia and lethargy, and fecal culture grew C glabrata. Antifungal treatment was resumed for 3 months. The bird had no clinical signs of infection 16 months after this recurrence, and subsequent fecal cultures were negative for fungal growth. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Findings illustrate the importance of upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in diagnosing proventricular and ventricular dilation in birds and emphasize the need for long-term antifungal treatment and monitoring in birds with fungal infections.

Assessment of Whey Functional Ingredients in the Modulation of Fecal Bacteria from Donors with Chronic Gastrointestinal Disease In Vitro

Objectives To evaluate whey functional ingredients (WFI) as source of non-digestible nutrients for fecal bacteria from donors with intestinal bowel disease (IBD) in vitro. Methods The WFI whey protein isolate (WPI), glycomacropeptide (GMP) and a galacto-oligosaccharide rich whey protein concentrate (GOS-W), and peptone (control) were subjected to in vitro digestion (IVD) and freeze dried to be used in fecal culture medium. Fecal de-identified samples from 10 healthy and 9 mild-moderate IBD subjects were subjected to in vitro fecal fermentation for 24 h. Fecal bacteria and culture supernatants were analyzed using standard analytical procedures to quantify bacteria relative abundance, and metabolites in culture supernatants. Short chain fatty acids were quantified in fecal supernatants by HPLC analysis. HT29-MTX intestinal cells were treated with sterile-filtered fecal culture supernatants (2.5% v/v) to assess production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) using 10 μM of 2′7′ dichlorodihydrofluorescein diacetate (H2DCFDA) reagent. Results Among the WFI tested, WPI tended to modulate the relative abundance of bacteria that have been reported to decrease during IBD conditions such as R. hominis, R. intestinalis and R. torques. Metabolites in fecal culture supernatants showed that propionic acid concentrations in IBD controls were higher than healthy controls and WFI fermentations decreased those levels making them similar to the healthy controls. In contrast, the concentration of lactic acid tended to be higher in the GOS-W fecal culture supernatant, but only reached significance (P < 0.05) when compared to GMP-supplemented medium. No differences in acetic acid and butyric acid concentrations were found between IBD controls and WFI treatments. Results also showed that WPI, GOS-W and GMP fecal culture supernatants prevented ROS production in HT29-MTX cells when compared to their respective IBD-controls. Conclusions WPI favorably modulated the relative abundance of bacteria relevant in IBD while all WFI metabolites produced after in vitro fecal fermentation mitigated oxidative stress. These findings suggest the potential of WFI to moderate adverse conditions associated with IBD. Funding Sources Build Dairy Program.

Efficacy of Routine Fecal Microbiota Transplantation for Treatment of Recurrent Clostridium difficile Infection: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Background. Patients with recurrent Clostridium difficile infections (CDIs) constitute an increasing treatment problem. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has shown promising results of treating recurrent CDI, where treatment with antibiotics fails repeatedly. Our study describes retrospective cohort treated with FMT at two major hospitals in Stockholm. Methods. Medical records of all patients with recurrent CDI treated with FMT during the period 2013–2017 were reviewed. We evaluated cure of CDI-related diarrhea without relapse 10 weeks after FMT. Results. 47 patients were included. One treatment cured 25 patients (53%), and more than one treatment cured 32 patients (68%). Treatment outcome did not vary significantly with treatment with fresh donor feces or frozen fecal culture, days of use of antibiotics or days of hospitalization prior to CDI, and renal function or time from the first CDI to therapy. Treatment failure was associated with a significantly lower Karnofsky performance status score (70 points vs 90, p=0.02). Conclusion. Fecal instillation, for the treatment of relapsing CDI, is a promising approach, with 68% success rate reported in this study. The success rate of FMT is high, regardless of multiple comorbidities, extended use of antibiotics, or long time hospitalization. Although generally FMT is performed with fresh donor feces, our data show that the usage of frozen fecal culture could be an effective treatment alternative in recurrent CDI.

What is known about Tritrichomonas foetus infection in cats?

Tritrichomonas foetus is a parasite that has been definitively identified as an agent of trichomonosis, a disease characterized by chronic diarrhea. T. foetus colonizes portions of the feline large intestine, and manifests as chronic and recurrent diarrhea with mucus and fresh blood, which is often unresponsive to common drugs. Diagnosis of a trichomonad infection is made by either the demonstration of the trophozoite on a direct fecal smear, fecal culture and subsequent microscopic examination of the parasite, or extraction of DNA in feces and amplification by the use of molecular tools. T. foetus is commonly misidentified as other flagellate protozoa such as Giardia duodenalis and Pentatrichomonas hominis. Without proper treatment, the diarrhea may resolve spontaneously in months to years, but cats can remain carriers of the parasite. This paper intends to serve as a source of information for investigators and veterinarians, reviewing the most important aspects of feline trichomonosis, such as trichomonad history, biology, clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, world distribution, risk factors, diagnosis, and treatment.

Helmintos em equinos de cabanha da cidade de São José dos Pinhais – PR / Helminths in farm horses from the city of São José dos Pinhais - PR

O cavalo sempre apresentou grande importância na história da humanidade, sendo utilizado tanto para trabalho, como para lazer e provas equestres. Dentre as enfermidades que podem os acometer, a verminose é preocupante pois a fauna parasitária é responsável pela diminuição da performance e por causar inúmeros prejuízos na criação de equinos. Diante deste fato, este estudo teve o objetivo de verificar a prevalência de parasitas em equinos da raça crioula, alojados em uma cabanha na cidade de São José dos Pinhais – PR e analisar as possíveis associações entre o parasitismo, a idade e o sexo dos animais. Para isso amostras fecais foram coletadas diretamente da ampola retal de todos os animais da cabanha (n=35) e analisadas pelos métodos Gordon e Whitlock modificado sensível para 25 OPG; de Willis-Mollay e de Hoffmann, Pons e Janer. As coproculturas foram realizadas pela técnica de Roberts e O’Sullivan. As associações entre sexo e idade e parasitismo foram avaliadadas pelo Teste de Fisher e considerando significativo quando p≤0,05. Todos os animais da cabanha apresentaram nas fezes ovos de helmintos, entretanto a carga parasitária foi considerada baixa (102±225 OPG). Nos cavalos com até 2 anos de idade, 100% apresentaram parasitismo por nematódeos da ordem Strongylida e 71,4% por Parascaris equorum. Naqueles cavalos com 3 a 15 anos, 96,4% apresentaram parasitismo por nematódeos da ordem Strongylida, 46,4% por P.equorum, 20,4% por Anoplocephala e 20,4% por Oxyuris equi. Nas culturas de fezes, as larvas eclodidas dos ovos da ordem Strongylida foram todas identificadas como de pequenos estrongilídeos. O parasitismo não teve influência de idade e sexo foram tanto para P. equorum (p=0,4499 idade/p=0,2489 sexo) e Oxyuris equi (p>0,99 idade/p=0,1931 sexo) e no caso do parasitismo por ciatostomíneos, todos os animais apresentaram positividade, não permitindo analisar associações. Conclui-se que medidas profiláticas, terapêuticas e orientação aos proprietários quanto ao controle da verminose equina são necessárias na cabanha. ABSTRACTThe horse has always presented great importance in the history of humanity, being used as for work, as for leisure and equestrian events. From the diseases that can affect them, the verminous is worrying, since the parasitic fauna is responsible for diminishing the performance and for causing numerous damages in the equine breeding. Therefore, the aim of this study was to verify the prevalence of parasites in Creole breed horses from a farm in the city of São José dos Pinhais, Paraná State and analyze the possible associations between the animals’ parasitism, age and sex. For that, fecal samples were collected directly from the rectal ampoule from all animals in the farm (n=35) and analyzed through Gordon and Whitlock modified method, sensitive to 25 EPG; of Willis-Mollay and Hoffmann, Pons and Janer. The coprocultures were performed through Roberts and O'Sullivan technique. The associations between sex, age and parasitism were performed through the Fisher Test and considered significant when p≤0.05. All farm animals presented helminths eggs in the feces, however the parasite load was considered low (102 ± 228 EPG). In horses up to 2 years old, 100% presented parasitism by nematodes within the order Strongylida and 71.4% presented Parascaris equorum. In horses 3 to 15 years old, 96.4% presented parasitism by Strongylid nematodes; 46.4% by P. equorum; 20.4% by Anoplocephala; 20.4% by Oxyuris equi. In fecal culture, the hatched larvae from Strongylida order were all identified as from small Strongylid. The frequency of parasitism independent of age and sex were as for P. equorum (p=0.4499 age / p=0.2489 sex) as for Oxyuris equi (p>0.99 age/ p=0.1931 sex). And in the case of parasitism by cyathostome, all animals were positive, however it was impossible to test association between the animals. It was concluded that prophylactic, therapeutic measures and guidance to the owners regarding the control of equine verminosis are necessary in the farm.

Validation of an in-house real-time PCR fecal assay and comparison with two commercial assays for the antemortem detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in culled sheep

Paratuberculosis is a chronic infectious enteritis of ruminants caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). In sheep, the antemortem detection of the infection is challenging given the slow progression of the disease and the lack of sensitive, specific, and cost-effective validated tests. We adapted an in-house real-time PCR (rtPCR) assay targeting the multi-copy IS 900 element of MAP. The sensitivity and specificity of this essay for the detection of MAP infection were estimated in a convenience sample of culled ewes from 7 infected flocks and compared to a commercial fecal rtPCR, a commercial ELISA, and fecal culture. An infected ewe was defined as a ewe with a positive culture of the ileum and/or mesenteric lymph node. A non-infected ewe was defined as a ewe negative in intestinal tissue culture, negative in fecal culture, and with no lesions consistent with paratuberculosis. The in-house rtPCR had a sensitivity estimate of 84% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 59%, 97%) among the 44 infected ewes, which was significantly higher ( p ⩽ 0.05) than the sensitivity of a commercial fecal rtPCR (52%, 95% CI: 27%, 76%; or 63%, 95% CI: 35%, 87% depending on the cutoff used), an ELISA (14%, 95% CI:2.0%, 41%), and fecal culture (21%, 95% CI: 2.7%, 59%). No statistical difference in assay specificities was observed for the 30 non-infected ewes. The in-house rtPCR is a promising tool that could be used advantageously for the antemortem detection of MAP infection in sheep.

Gastrointestinal nematodes of equine in the region of Thessaloniki

During a period of approximately two months (January-February 1995), 91 out of 119 riding horses of the seven riding clubs of Thessaloniki their feces were examined. The purpose of this survey was to find out and identify parasites after examining their reproductive elements. In the feces of the horses of two riding clubs had not been found any reproductive elements, while in the remaining five were found strongylid eggs in population whieh ranged from 2-5 to 85-94 / g of feces; per club ( rate infection 68; 1 %). After the examination of the 3rd stage larval, which obtained from fecal culture, were identified, from large strongylids (sub-family Strongylinae), the species Triontophorus sp (42%), Strongylus equinus (29%), Strongylus edentatus (21 %), Strongylus vulgaris (6%), and Trichostrongylus axei (2%) from the family of Trichostrongylidae. From the small strongylids (sub-family Cyathostominae) were identified the genera Cyathostomum (42%), Cylicostephanus (24%), Gyalocephalus (22%) and Poteriostomum (12%). The identified genera Triontophorus, Gyalocephalus and Poteriostomum as well as the species Trichostrongylus axei, are mentioned for the first time in horses in greek region.