Campylobacter fetus releases S-layered and immunoreactive outer membrane vesicles

Abstract The study of outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) became relevant because of theirprobable important role in the transfer of virulence factors to host cells. Campylobacter fetusis mainly a mammal pathogen whose virulence characterization is still limited. The aim of thisstudy was to evaluate and to characterize the secretion of OMVs in this bacterium. By trans-mission electron microscopy, we confirmed the production of OMVs in all the strains assayed.Purified OMVs showed a spherical shape and variable size, although comparable to those ofother gram-negative bacteria. We also confirmed the presence of the S-layer on the surface ofthe OMVs of all the strains assayed with the exception of those derived from the NTCC referencestrain. In addition, we demonstrated their immunoreactivity by the dot-blot assay. Hence, C.fetus OMVs could contribute to the modulation of the host response and constitute a candidateto be evaluated as an adjuvant of current vaccines used in the veterinary field. This work rep-resents a platform to drive future studies towards the role of these subcellular structures in C.fetus-host interaction.

Resumen El estudio de las vesículas de membrana externa (VME) tomó un rol protagónico, yaque se las ha relacionado con la transferencia de factores de virulencia a la célula hospedadora.Campylobacter fetus es, principalmente, un patógeno de mamíferos cuya virulencia solo hasido caracterizada de forma limitada. El objetivo de este trabajo fue evaluar y caracterizar la secreción de VME en esta bacteria. Mediante microscopía electrónica de transmisión confir-mamos la producción espontánea de VME en todas las cepas estudiadas. Las VME purificadasmostraron una morfología esférica y un tama˜no variable, pero compatible con el reporte deotras bacterias gram negativas. Asimismo, hemos demostrado que estas vesículas conservanla capa S en todas las cepas, menos en la cepa de referencia NCTC y hemos confirmado suinmunorreactividad por dot-blot inmunoblot. Estas VME de C. fetus podrían contribuir a la mod-ulación de la respuesta del hospedador y constituir un buen candidato como adyuvante de lasactuales vacunas empleadas en el campo veterinario. Este trabajo representa una plataformapara impulsar estudios futuros en torno al rol de estas estructuras subcelulares en la interfaseC. fetus-hospedador.

Evidence of in utero infection by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis using Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis: first report in Argentina / Evidência de infecção intra-uterina por Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis usando Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis: primeiro relato na Argentina

A pregnant heifer with an advanced clinical stage of paratuberculosis was reported in a herd in Argentina. Thus, the animal was euthanized and samples of organs of the cow and its fetus was taken and cultured for bacteriology in specific medium. Tissues were analyzed by histopathology (hematoxylin-eosin and Ziehl-Neelsen staining). Histopathological analysis of the cow's samples revealed the presence of lesions consistent with paratuberculosis, and Ziehl-Neelsen staining revealed the presence of acid-fast bacilli, whereas the fetal tissues showed absence of lesions but the presence of acid-fast bacilli by Ziehl-Neelsen staining. After growing in specific medium, colonies in tissues from both cow and fetus were positive for IS900-PCR, confirming the presence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). Finally, the isolates were typed by Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis (MLVA), which confirmed the epidemiological link between them. This study is the first in Argentina to report the detection of MAP that shares an identical MLVA type in a pregnant cow and its fetus. The results of this study are consistent with previous reports and highlight the intra-uterine transmission of MAP as an important source of infection within herds.(AU)

Uma novilha prenha em estado clínico avançado de paratuberculose foi observada em um rebanho bovino na Argentina. O animal foi eutanasiado e foram colhidas amostras dos seus órgãos e dos órgãos feto as quais foram cultivadas para bacteriologia em meio específico. Os tecidos foram examinados por histopatologia (coloração de hematoxilina-eosina e Ziehl-Neelsen). Na histopatologia das amostras colhidas da novilha foram observadas lesões compatíveis com paratuberculose e a coloração de Ziehl-Neelsen revelou a presença de bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes, nos tecidos fetais não foram observadas lesões, porém a coloração de Ziehl-Neelsen revelou a presença de bacilos álcool-ácido resistentes. Após o crescimento em meio específico, as colônias foram positivas para o teste IS900-PCR nos tecidos de ambos, vaca e feto, confirmando a presença de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis. Por fim, os isolados foram tipados por Multiple-Locus Variable-number tandem-repeat Analysis, confirmando a relação epidemiológica entre eles. Este estudo relata a primeira detecção de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis na Argentina em que houve o compartilhamento de um tipo idêntico de MLVA em uma vaca prenhe e no seu feto. Os resultados deste estudo são consistentes com relatos anteriores e destacam a transmissão intra-uterina de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis como importante fonte de infecção nos rebanhos de bovinos.(AU)

Mycobacterium paratuberculosis detection in cow's milk in Argentina by immunomagnetic separation-PCR

Abstract The aim of this study was to standardize a diagnosis procedure to detect Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) DNA in raw cow milk samples under field conditions. A procedure that combines both immunomagnetic separation and IS900 -PCR detection (IMS-IS1 PCR) was employed on milk samples from 265 lactating Holstein cows from Map infected and uninfected herds in Argentina. IMS-IS1 PCR results were analyzed and compared with those obtained from milk and fecal culture and serum ELISA. The extent of agreement between both tests was determined by the Kappa test. IMS-IS1 PCR showed a detection limit of 101 CFU of Map/mL of milk, when 50:50 mix of monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies were used to coat magnetic beads. All of the 118 samples from the Map uninfected herds were negative for the set of the tests. In Map infected herds, 80 out of 147 cows tested positive by milk IMS-IS1 PCR (55%), of which 2 (1.4%) were also positive by milk culture, 15 (10%) by fecal culture, and 20 (14%) by serum ELISA. Kappa statistics (95% CI) showed a slight agreement between the different tests (<0.20), and the proportions of agreement were ≤0.55. The IMS-IS1 PCR method detected Map in milk of the cows that were not positive in other techniques. This is the first report dealing with the application of IMS-IS1 PCR in the detection of Map in raw milk samples under field conditions in Argentina.

Eficiencia del cultivo bacteriológico y de la inmunofluorescencia en la detección de Campylobacter fetus en fluidos genitales bovinos / Efficiency of bacteriological culture and the immunofluorescent assay to detect Campylobacter fetus in bovine genital fluids

La campilobacteriosis genital bovina es una enfermedad reproductiva que afecta la producción bovina. Es causada por las subespecies de Campylobacter fetus, C. fetus fetus (Cff) y C. fetus venerealis (Cfv). El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar la presencia de C. fetus en fluidos genitales mediante cultivo bacteriológico e inmunofluorescencia directa (IFD) y comparar los resultados. Se conformaron 2 grupos de 6 vaquillonas y 5 toros cada uno. Uno se infectó con Cff (grupo Cff) y el otro con Cfv (grupo Cfv). Dos vaquillonas y 2 toros sin infectar conformaron el grupo control. Periódicamente se tomaron muestras de mucus cervicovaginal y fluido prepucial, las que se procesaron por cultivo e IFD. En el grupo Cff se infectó el 100 % de las vaquillonas y el 80 % de los toros, mientras que en el grupo Cfv se infectó el 50 y el 60 %, respectivamente. Los valores de concordancia (Kappa) obtenidos al comparar las técnicas diagnósticas fueron de 0,57 para las vaquillonas del grupo Cff y 0,52 para las del grupo Cfv, y para los toros fueron de 0,17 y 0,27, respectivamente. En las vaquillonas, la IFD arrojó más resultados positivos que el cultivo, un 5,6 % más para el grupo Cff y un 7,4 % más para el grupo Cfv. El menor porcentaje de resultados positivos por IFD en los toros, un 40 % menos que por cultivo para el grupo Cff y un 5,3 % menos para el grupo Cfv, podría deberse a un muestreo incorrecto. Los valores de Kappa indican una concordancia moderada en las vaquillonas y baja en los toros.

Bovine genital campylobacteriosis is a reproductive disease that affects cattle production. It is caused by Campylobacter fetus subspecies, C. fetus fetus (Cff) and C. fetus venerealis (Cfv). The aim of this study was to identify the presence of C. fetus in genital fluids by bacteriological culture and direct immunofluorescence (DIF) and to compare the results. Two groups of 6 heifers and 5 bulls, one infected with Cff (Cff group) and the other with Cfv (Cfv group) were formed. Two heifers and 2 bulls, all of them uninfected, made up the control group. Samples of cervicovaginal mucus and preputial fluid were processed by culture and DIF. In the Cff group, 100 % of the heifers and 80 % of the bulls were infected, while in the Cfv group, 50 % of the heifers and 60 % of the bulls were infected. The degree of agreement (Kappa values) from benchmarking diagnostic techniques were 0.57 for heifers in the Cff group and 0.52 for heifers in the Cfv group, whereas the values for bulls were 0.17 and 0.27, respectively. Heifers yielded more positive results in the DIF assay than in the culture, exhibiting 5.6 % increase in the Cff group and 7.4 % in the Cfv group. The lowest percentage of positive results for DIF in bulls, 40 % less for the Cff group and 5.2 % for the Cfv group, could be due to improper sampling. Kappa values showed moderate agreement for the heifers and low for the bulls.

Molecular typing of Argentinian Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis isolates by multiple-locus variable number-tandem repeat analysis

Multiple-locus variable number-tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) isolates may contribute to the knowledge of strain diversity in Argentina. Although the diversity of MAP has been previously investigated in Argentina using IS900-RFLP, a small number of isolates were employed, and a low discriminative power was reached. The aim of the present study was to test the genetic diversity among MAP isolates using an MLVA approach based on 8 repetitive loci. We studied 97 isolates from cattle, goat and sheep and could describe 7 different patterns: INMV1, INMV2, INMV11, INMV13, INMV16, INMV33 and one incomplete pattern. INMV1 and INMV2 were the most frequent patterns, grouping 76.3% of the isolates. We were also able to demonstrate the coexistence of genotypes in herds and co-infection at the organism level. This study shows that all the patterns described are common to those described in Europe, suggesting an epidemiological link between the continents.

Bovine response to lipoarabinomannan vaccination and challenge with Mycobacterium paratuberculosis

This study aimed to evaluate the immune response in bovines following immunization with a mycobaterial Lipoarabinomannan extract (LAMe) and the effect of Map challenge. LAMe vaccine induced specific antibody levels that diminished after the challenge and affected Map excretion at least for 100 days thereafter.

First isolation of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis from commercial pasteurized milk in Argentina

Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis was isolated from two out of seventy samples (2.86 %) of pasteurized and ultra-pasteurized milk. The isolates were positives to IS900 PCR and showed a C17 RFLP pattern, the most prevalent in Argentina. The present study is the first report of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis culture from pasteurized milk in Argentina.

Obtención y evaluación de un derivado proteico purificado de una cepa argentina de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis / Production and evaluation of a purified protein derivative from an Argentine strain of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP)

Los derivados proteicos purificados (PPD) son mezclas antigénicas no definidas obtenidas de distintas micobacterias. Los PPD bovino (PPDb) y PPD aviar (PPDa) son los antígenos que se emplean para evaluar la respuesta inmunitaria celular en infecciones como tuberculosis y paratuberculosis en el bovino. El PPDa comercial se produce a partir de Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium, y no a partir de la subespecie paratuberculosis. En este trabajo se seleccionó una cepa local de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis cuyo patrón molecular por RFLP es el más frecuente entre los aislamientos de nuestro país que han sido estudiados, y a partir de esta, se obtuvo un derivado proteico purificado: PPDj-IB. Se emplearon tanto el PPDa comercial como el PPDj-IB como antígenos en la prueba de liberación de gamma-interferón en animales de un tambo con paratuberculosis y en animales control. Aun cuando ambos PPD fueron capaces de estimular diferencialmente la liberación de la citoquina en el tambo infectado (respecto de los tambos control), no hubo diferencias significativas en los niveles de estimulación producidos y solo dos animales fueron positivos mediante el empleo de PPDj-IB. A partir del análisis por Western blot se demostró que el contenido de lipoarabinomano y del antígeno Apa/ModD era distinto en los PDD evaluados. Estas diferencias podrían explicar, en parte, las diferencias en los niveles de estimulación en términos individuales. Si bien el empleo de PPDj-IB no mejoró significativamente los resultados de la prueba de liberación de ?IFN, es importante destacar que se logró producir en el laboratorio un PPD apto para su empleo en ensayos in vitro.

Purified Protein Derivatives (PPDs) are non-defined antigens prepared from mycobacteria cultures. They are usually employed to evaluate the specific cellular immune response both in animals and humans. Bovine and avian PPDs are usually employed as antigens in mycobacterial infections such as tuberculosis and paratuberculosis. Nevertheless, PPD from Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, (PPDj) is neither commonly used nor frequently available. However, PPD from Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium is in fact used. We aimed to obtain and evaluate the performance of a PPDj from a local isolate of MAP using the ãInterferon-release assay. The stimulation of ãInterferon-release was significantly different between infected and control cattle when this antigen, named PPDj-IB, was used. Stimulation in the infected animals was similar with both antigens (PPDa and PPDj-IB). However, some animals were positively stimulated with PPDj-IB and not with PPDa. We demonstrated by Western blot that two antigenic molecules, lipoarabinoman and APA/ModD antigen were differentially represented in both PPDs. This could explain the difference in stimulation induction of ?IFN observed at individual level. Although PPDj-IB could not improve PPDa performance, we could easily produce an effective purified protein derivative for in vitro assays.

Tipificación de Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis a partir de aislamientos de materia fecal y órganos de ciervos / Typing of mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis from isolations of feces and organs of deer

El desarrollo de la tecnología del P.C.R. y RFLP constituyen metodologías adecuadas para la identificación y tipificación del Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Mtpbc), microorganismo que produce paratuberculosis animal y que está relacionado a la Enfermedad de Crohn en humanos. Los objetivos del presente trabajo fueron: 1) Aislar cepas de Mptbc a partir de materia fecal y órganos e identificar M. paratuberculosis. 2) Establecer mediante R.F.L.P. el patrón genético de las cepas aisladas. 3) Analizar las proteínas celulares y extracelulares expresadas en Mptbc. Se cultivó materia fecal y órganos de ciervos en los medios Herrold yema-huevo, con y sin el agregado de mycobactina, adicionando piruvato y antibióticos, para el aislamiento de Mptbc. Las cepas aisladas fueron identificadas por P.C.R., y analizadas por R.F.L.P., e Inmunoblotting (IB). Se aislaron 12 cepas de Mptbc, 6 de materia fecal y 6 a partir de los órganos. Las cepas aisladas se desarrollaron únicamente en el medio Herrold con mycobactina evidenciando su dependencia característica. El análisis por P.C.R. realizado a partir de cepas desarrolladas en el medio de cultivo resultó positivo. Los aislamientos revelaron idéntico patrón genético de R.F.L.P. del tipo "A", con la sonda de 217 pares de bases (endonucleasa BstE II y Pst I). Con el inmunoblotting se detectaron antígenos proteicos de 65 KDa (shock térmico), 42 KDa, 35 KDa y 28 KDa, correspondientes a Mptbc de un animal con sintomatología clínica y lesiones histológicas características en órganos. Se identificó un único patrón genético "A", en la población estudiada; se amplificó la secuencia IS900 específica de Mptbc. y se identificaron las proteínas excretadas y contenidas en el soma bacteriano, pero para aumentar la sensibilidad de las pruebas inmunológicas se considera necesario caracterizar mejor los antígenos específicos de Mptbc

Estudio comparativo de medios de cultivo para aislar Brucella ovis / Comparative study of culture media for isolating Brucella ovis

Se compararon los medios de cultivo agar Thayer-Martin modificado adicionado con 0,01 *g/mlde timetropina y 100 UI de nistatina (TMM) y Agar Skirrow (SK) para el aislamiento de Brucella ovis. Se utilizaron 11 cepas de B. ovis y se evaluaron mediante la técnica de recuento de viables comparando los resultados con agar base Columbia con sangre bovina 7% (ASC). También se cultivaron en los mismos medios 94 muestras de semen pertenecientes a 33 carneros de una majada con antecedentes de infección. El crecimiento de las cepas de B. ovis fue similar en los 3 médios, excepto una cepa que no desarrolló en TMM. Los resultados de las siembras de semen fueron similares para los medios TMM y SK, aislándose B. ovis del 27% de las muestras. Los resultados indican que los medios TMM y SK ofrecen excelentes alternativas para aislar B. ovis del semen de carneros en condiciones de campo