ABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium is a common intestinal protozoan that can lead to diarrhea in humans and dogs. The predominant species of infection are C. hominis and C. parvum in humans, and C. canis in dogs. However, C. canis can infect immunocompromised humans. Considering the close contact with humans, dogs have the potential to be reservoirs for human cryptosporidiosis. Breeding kennels are the major supply source of puppies for pet shops. The present study is to determine the molecular prevalence and characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. found in breeding kennel dogs. A total of 314 fecal samples were collected from young and adult dogs kept in 5 breeding kennels. A polymerase chain reaction targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. To determine the species, the DNA sequences were compared to GenBank data. Overall, 21.0% of the fecal samples were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. infection. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in all 5 facilities. A sequencing analysis demonstrated that all isolates shared 99–100% similarity with C. canis. The results suggest that Cryptosporidium spp. infection is present at a high-level in breeding kennel dogs. However, because dominant species in this survey was C. canis, the importance of breeding kennel dogs as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium spp. transmission to humans is likely to be low in Japan.
Subject(s)
Adult , Animals , Dogs , Humans , Base Sequence , Breeding , Cryptosporidiosis , Cryptosporidium , Databases, Nucleic Acid , Diarrhea , Genes, rRNA , Japan , Polymerase Chain Reaction , PrevalenceABSTRACT
Cryptosporidium is the most common protozoan that can infect a wide range of animals, including mammals and birds. Avian Cryptosporidium spp. can cause enteric and respiratory diseases which can be fatal in birds and some species are zoonotic. Companion birds have the potential as reservoir due to their close contact with humans. Pet shops are the major source of companion birds. However, few reports are available regarding Cryptosporidium spp. infection among companion birds kept in pet shops. The present study reports the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. among companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan. A total of 265 fresh fecal samples were obtained from birds kept in 4 pet shops; these birds belonged to 41 species in 3 bird orders. A nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. A total of 24 samples (9.1%) were positive, and Cryptosporidium spp. were detected from all pet shops. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. in each of the bird orders was 6.5% (10/153) in Psittaciformes, 14.4% (13/90) in Passeriformes, and 4.5% (1/22) in Galliformes. Based on sequence analysis, 13 (54.2%) isolates were classified to C. galli, 8 (33.3%) were avian genotype III, and the remaining 3 (12.5%) were C. baileyi. No infection with zoonotic C. meleagridis and no coinfection with multiple Cryptosporidium spp. and/or genotypes were observed. The zoonotic potential of Cryptosporidium spp. infecting companion birds kept in pet shops in Japan is likely to be low.
Subject(s)
Animals , Humans , Pregnancy , Birds , Coinfection , Cryptosporidium , Friends , Galliformes , Genes, rRNA , Genotype , Japan , Mammals , Passeriformes , Polymerase Chain Reaction , Prevalence , Psittaciformes , Sequence AnalysisABSTRACT
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) have recently occurred in communities in people lacking known healthcare risk factors. This MRSA infection is referred to as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infection, and is distinct from hospital-associated MRSA infection, which occurs in people with risk factors. We experienced a patient diagnosed with CA-MRSA cellulitis, as culture of pus revealed MRSA and he had not been exposed to healthcare environments for the past year. The patient was a previously healthy 38-year-old man with suppurative cellulitis in his right index finger following injury to the finger at his worksite. The cellulitis was successfully managed with incision and drainage (I&D), followed by cefazolin during a 10-day clinical course, although the patient’s MRSA strain was resistant to cefazolin. There are several reports that suggest that I&D followed by antibiotic treatment for CA-MRSA skin infection produces equivalent clinical outcomes, whether the antibiotic prescribed was effective or not. Given that MRSA emerged in an outpatient setting, CA-MRSA should be considered a possible etiology of skin infection in healthy individuals with no classical risk factors for acquisition of MRSA.
ABSTRACT
Infections caused by methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus Aureus</i> (MRSA) have recently occurred in communities in people lacking known healthcare risk factors. This MRSA infection is referred to as community-associated MRSA (CA-MRSA) infection, and is distinct from hospital-associated MRSA infection, which occurs in people with risk factors. We experienced a patient diagnosed with CA-MRSA cellulitis, as culture of pus revealed MRSA and he had not been exposed to healthcare environments for the past year. The patient was a previously healthy 38-year-old man with suppurative cellulitis in his right index finger following injury to the finger at his worksite. The cellulitis was successfully managed with incision and drainage (I&D), followed by cefazolin during a 10-day clinical course, although the patient’s MRSA strain was resistant to cefazolin. There are several reports that suggest that I&D followed by antibiotic treatment for CA-MRSA skin infection produces equivalent clinical outcomes, whether the antibiotic prescribed was effective or not. Given that MRSA emerged in an outpatient setting, CA-MRSA should be considered a possible etiology of skin infection in healthy individuals with no classical risk factors for acquisition of MRSA.<br>
ABSTRACT
Intestinal anisakiasis is rarely diagnosed because it is thought to be uncommon and is poorly recognized. It produces severe abdominal pain and an inflammatory reaction often resulting in reactive intestinal obstruction, which is sometimes treated with an unnecessary laparotomy as acute abdomen or intestinal obstruction. We reported a 58-year-old female with acute intestinal obstruction caused by intestinal anisakiasis, which resulted in a self-limiting clinical course. The diagnosis was based on a history of recent ingestion of raw fish and abdominal computed tomographic findings of partial thickening of the intestinal wall accompanied by focal luminal narrowing with ascites. In spite of the severity of the abdominal pain, the bowel obstruction induced by inflammation and edema was resolved with conservative treatment after three weeks. Accordingly, intestinal anisakiasis was considered in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, which can be treated with conservative therapy.