ABSTRACT
Cryptococcus spp. is a pathogenic fungus which is an increasingly important cause of infection, particularly in the immunocompromised hosts. Diagnosis of cryptococcosis in animals can be carried out by isolation of the fungus but this requires several days to detect and identify the organism. Detection of cryptococcal antigen by latex agglutination test and enzyme immunoassay in serum is a rapid and easy method for diagnosis of cryptococcosis. In the present study, a total of 142 blood samples were collected from apparently healthy (n=89) and diseased dogs (n=53) for diagnosis of cryptococcosis. Latex agglutination test and enzyme immunosorbent assay (EIA) were carried out for the detection of cryptococcal antigen in serum. Of the 142 serum samples tested, six samples tested positive by Latex agglutination test while one sample tested positive by EIA. The sample which was positive by EIA was also positive by Latex agglutination test. The serum samples of dogs that tested positive for cryptococcal antigen were obtained from dogs suffering from symptoms like bloody faeces and vomit, emesis, chronic ear infection and discharge. Based on our findings, we conclude that the latex agglutination test in combination with the enzyme immunoassay can be used for the diagnosis of Cryptococcosis in dogs
ABSTRACT
Purpose: To determine the levels of dopamine in tear fluid and demonstrate the use of tear fluid as a non-invasive source for dopamine measurements in humans. Methods: The study cohort included 30 clinically healthy individuals without any pre-existing ocular or systemic conditions. Matched tear fluid (using Schirmer's strips and capillary tubes) and plasma were collected from the subjects. Dopamine levels were evaluated using direct competitive chemiluminescent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dopamine kit (Cloud Clone Corp, TX, USA). Results: Significantly higher dopamine levels were found in the tear fluid compared to plasma in the study subjects. The level of dopamine was 97.2 ± 11.80 pg/ml (mean ± SEM), 279 ± 14.8 pg/ml (mean ± SEM), and 470.4 ± 37.64 pg/ml (mean ± SEM) in the plasma and in the tears collected using Schirmer's strips and capillary tubes, respectively. Conclusion: Dopamine was detectable in all the tear fluid samples tested and was also found to be at a higher concentration than in plasma samples. Tear fluid can be used as a non-invasive sample source to monitor dopamine levels.
ABSTRACT
Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, the causative agent of Johne’s disease is a degenerative chronic granulomatous disease of bovines. In the present study, quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) using TaqMan chemistry targeting the IS900 sequence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) was employed for the molecular diagnosis of the disease in bovine faecal samples. Out of 200 bovine faecal samples processed, 7 samples were tested as positive by IS900 qRT-PCR. The sensitivity limit of detection of MAP DNA in faecal samples by qRT-PCR TaqMan assay was found to be 0.05pg. No amplification was observed in other Mycobacterial spp. viz. M. phlei, M. smegmatis, M. intracellulare and M. kansasii.