Domestic dog health worsens with socio-economic deprivation of their home communities

Dogs play an important role in infectious disease transmission as reservoir hosts of many zoonotic and wildlife pathogens. Nevertheless, unlike wildlife species involved in the life cycle of pathogens, whose health status might be a direct reflection of their fitness and competitive abilities, dog health condition could be sensitive to socio-economic factors impacting the well-being of their owners. Here, we compare several dog health indicators in three rural communities of Panama with different degrees of socio-economic deprivation. From a total of 78 individuals, we collected blood and fecal samples, and assessed their body condition. With the blood samples, we performed routine hematologic evaluation (complete blood counts) and measured cytokine levels (Interferon-γ and Interleukin-10) through enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. With the fecal samples we diagnosed helminthiases. Dogs were also serologically tested for exposure to Trypanosoma cruzi and canine distemper virus, and molecular tests were done to assess T. cruzi infection status. We found significant differences between dog health measurements, pathogen prevalence, parasite richness, and economic status of the human communities where the dogs lived. We found dogs that were less healthy, more likely to be infected with zoonotic pathogens, and more likely to be seropositive to canine distemper virus in the communities with lower economic status. This study concludes that isolated communities of lower economic status in Panama may have less healthy dogs that could become major reservoirs in the transmission of diseases to humans and sympatric wildlife.     

The use of pseudotypes to study viruses,virus sero-epidemiology and vaccination

The globalization of the world's economies, accompanied by increasing international travel, changing climates, altered human behaviour and demographics is leading to the emergence of different viral diseases, many of which are highly pathogenic and hence are considered of great public and animal health importance. To undertake basic research and therapeutic development, many of these viruses require handling by highly trained staff in BSL-3/4 facilities not readily available to the majority of the global R&D community. In order to circumvent the enhanced biosafety requirement, the development of non-pathogenic, replication-defective pseudotyped viruses is an effective and established solution to permit the study of many aspects of virus biology in a low containment biosafety level (BSL)-1/2 laboratory. Under the spectre of the unfolding Ebola crisis, this timely conference (the second to be organised by the Viral Pseudotype Unit, www.viralpseudotypeunit.info*) discusses the recent advances in pseudotype technology and how it is revolutionizing the study of important human and animal pathogens (human and avian influenza viruses, rabies/lyssaviruses, HIV, Marburg and Ebola viruses). Key topics addressed in this conference include the exploitation of pseudotypes for serology and serosurveillance, immunogenicity testing of current and next-generation vaccines and new pseudotype assay formats (multiplexing, kit development).*The first pseudotype-focused Euroscicon conference organised by the Viral Pseudotype Unit was recently reviewed [1].     

Increased detection of G3P[9] and G6P[9] rotavirus strains in hospitalized children with acute diarrhea in Bulgaria

Rotavirus severe disease in children is now vaccine-preventable and the roll-out of vaccination programs globally is expected to make a significant impact in the reduction of morbidity and mortality in children <5 years of age. Rotavirus is also a pathogen of other mammals and birds, and its segmented RNA genome can lead to the emergence of new or unusual strains in human population via interspecies transmission and reassortment events. Despite the efficacy and impact of rotavirus vaccine in preventing severe diarrhea, the correlates of protection remain largely unknown. Therefore, rotavirus strain surveillance before, during and after the introduction of immunization programs remains a crucial for monitoring rotavirus vaccine efficacy and impact. In this context, molecular characterization of 1323 Bulgarian rotavirus strains collected between June 2010 and May 2013 was performed. A total of 17 strains of interest were analyzed by partial sequence analysis. Twelve strains were characterized as G3P[9] and G6P[9] of potential animal origin. Phylogenetic analysis and comparisons with the same specificity strains detected sporadically between 2006 and 2010 revealed the constant circulation of these unusual human strains in Bulgaria, although in low prevalence, and their increased potential for person-to-person spread.     

Pathogens transmitted in animal feces in low- and middle-income countries

Animals found in close proximity to humans in low-and middle-income countries (LMICs) harbor many pathogens capable of infecting humans, transmissible via their feces. Contact with animal feces poses a currently unquantified—though likely substantial—risk to human health. In LMIC settings, human exposure to animal feces may explain some of the limited success of recent water, sanitation, and hygiene interventions that have focused on limiting exposure to human excreta, with less attention to containing animal feces.We conducted a review to identify pathogens that may substantially contribute to the global burden of disease in humans through their spread in animal feces in the domestic environment in LMICs. Of the 65 potentially pathogenic organisms considered, 15 were deemed relevant, based on burden of disease and potential for zoonotic transmission. Of these, five were considered of highest concern based on a substantial burden of disease for which transmission in animal feces is potentially important: Campylobacter, non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS), Lassa virus, Cryptosporidium, and Toxoplasma gondii. Most of these have a wide range of animal hosts, except Lassa virus, which is spread through the feces of rats indigenous to sub-Saharan Africa. Combined, these five pathogens cause close to one million deaths annually. More than half of these deaths are attributed to invasive NTS. We do not estimate an overall burden of disease from improperly managed animal feces in LMICs, because it is unknown what proportion of illnesses caused by these pathogens can be attributed to contact with animal feces.Typical water quantity, water quality, and handwashing interventions promoted in public health and development address transmission routes for both human and animal feces; however, sanitation interventions typically focus on containing human waste, often neglecting the residual burden of disease from pathogens transmitted via animal feces. This review compiles evidence on which pathogens may contribute to the burden of disease through transmission in animal feces; these data will help prioritize intervention types and regions that could most benefit from interventions aimed at reducing human contact with animal feces.     

Pasteurella multocida multiple intrapelvic abscesses in a young woman with uterine cervical cancer

Pasteurella multocida, a zoonotic pathogen in humans, is known to be associated with skin and soft tissue infections following animal bites, but rarely causes visceral infections. We report a case of P. multocida-associated multiple intrapelvic abscesses in a young woman with uterine cervical cancer. A 29-year-old unmarried woman was referred to us because of prolonged high fever accompanying abdominal pain with muscular guarding. She had a domestic cat but denied of any bites or scratches before that. Computed tomography demonstrated ascites and multiple abscesses around her uterus. Her condition did not improve with an initial treatment with flomoxef, clindamycin, and azithromycin. Further, we performed percutaneous pus drainage and switched the antimicrobial therapy to a combination of piperacillin/tazobactam and minocycline for 10 days. Although P. multocida was isolated from vaginal culture, no organisms were isolated from the pus culture. However, further investigation with specimen-direct 16S rDNA analysis diagnosed P. multocida as possibly a single pathogen responsible for the intrapelvic infection. After taking oral levofloxacin for two weeks, no recurrence was reported. Although P. multocida is known as an animal-related pathogen, it can transmit to humans without apparent bites or scratches. The present case illustrates that P. multocida can cause intrapelvic abscess as a result of ascending genital infection.     

Hepatitis E: An emerging disease

Currently, the infection with the hepatitis E virus represents the most frequent cause for acute hepatitis and jaundice in the world. According to WHO estimations, around two billion people, representing one third of the world’s population, live in endemic areas for HEV and, therefore, are at risk of infection. In developed countries, the circulation of the virus in both human and animal (swine, boar, deer) sewage has been confirmed; however, the incidence rate is low compared to that of developing countries where outbreaks of acute hepatitis transmitted via the fecal-oral route are originated, more frequently in the flooding season or after natural disasters, combined with deficient sanitary conditions.There are currently 4 known genotypes of HEV. Genotypes 1 and 2 are isolated in all human epidemic outbreaks in developing countries, while genotypes 3 and 4 are isolated not only in humans but also in animals, in both developing and industrialized countries. These data support genotypes 3 and 4 having zoonotic nature. The diagnosis of this disease is based in the detection of anti-HEV IgG and IgM in blood serum using enzyme-linked immunosorbent methods. However, the method that best confirms the diagnosis is the RT-PCR, which detects HEV RNA in blood serum and also provides the genotype. The clinical course is generally that of an acute hepatitis which in some cases may require hospitalization and that, in transplant patients or HIV infected individuals can become a chronic hepatitis. Furthermore, the virus constitutes an important risk for pregnant women. The hepatitis E can present a wide range of symptoms, from a subclinical case to chronic liver disease with extrahepatic manifestations. For this reason, the diagnostic is challenging if no differential diagnosis is included. There is no specific antiviral drug for hepatitis E, but satisfactory results have been observed in some patients treated with pegylated interferon alfa2a and/or ribavirin.This revision is an update of all the molecular, epidemiological, clinic and preventive knowledge on this emergent disease up to date.     

淮南地区禽畜体内寄生人兽共患吸虫的种类

目的 目的 了解安徽省淮南地区禽畜体内寄生人兽共患吸虫的种类, 为防治人兽共患吸虫病提供参考依据。方法 方法 从淮南市禽畜市场选购人兽共患吸虫的终宿主, 处死后取出内脏并解剖, 获取虫体, 制片鉴定, 同时检索整理有关淮南地 区禽畜体内寄生吸虫的文献。结果 结果 经分类、 鉴定和整理, 淮南地区禽畜体内寄生吸虫迄今共发现41种, 其中人兽共患吸 虫23种, 仅在禽畜体内寄生吸虫18种, 分属4目12科21属, 分别寄生于鸡、 鸭、 鹅、 猪、 黄牛、 水牛、 绵羊、 山羊和犬等9种终 宿主。结论 结论 淮南地区禽畜体内寄生人兽共患吸虫的种类较多, 引起人群人兽共患吸虫病传播与流行的危险较高, 应引 起高度重视。     

蝙蝠携带重要人兽共患病毒研究进展

蝙蝠是多种重要人兽共患病毒的储存宿主,迄今为止已在蝙蝠体内分离到80多种病毒,随着二代测序等技术的发展,新的蝙蝠病毒还将不断被发现.研究显示,有25个病毒科病毒能够感染脊椎动物,其中有10个科被证实与蝙蝠有关,包括黄病毒科、布尼亚病毒科、副粘病毒科、丝状病毒科、弹状病毒科、冠状病毒科、披膜病毒科、正粘病毒科、呼肠孤病毒科等.除此之外,蝙蝠还被证实可携带禽流感病毒、森林脑炎病毒等.大部分病毒曾引起人或动物间的疾病流行,有些病毒还会导致蝙蝠个体的发病和死亡.因此,从人类健康和蝙蝠生态保护角度来看,研究蝙蝠携带病毒的病毒谱、蝙蝠和病毒的关系、可能的传播途径以及潜在危害性等,对我们全面认识蝙蝠携带病毒特性及加强蝙蝠传播病毒的防治十分重要.     

The Pampas fox (Lycalopex gymnocercus) as new definitive host for Spirometra erinacei (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidae)

Spirometra erinacei, Faust, Campbell and Kellogg, 1929, is a pseudophyllidean cestode of the family Diphyllobothriidae. The genus Spirometra is cosmopolitan and these parasites infect carnivores, specially felids and canids. In Argentina, S. erinacei and S. mansonoides have been reported sporadically only in domestic definitive hosts. The Pampas fox, Lycalopex gymnocercus, is the most abundant native carnivore in southern South America, where it inhabits grasslands and open woodlands and areas highly modified by extensive ranching and agricultural activities. This report describes the first finding of S. erinacei infecting Pampas fox, and provides an estimate prevalence of this cestode in rural areas of southern Buenos Aires province, Argentina based on 78 complete Pampas fox intestine samples analysis. This study found a 15.4% of prevalence of S. erinacei in small intestine (adult stage) and a 21.8% in fecal samples (egg stage). In the present work, the first case of S. erinacei in a wild definitive host from Argentina was reported expanding the list of definitive hosts of S. erinacei in South America.