A propósito de complicaciones infrecuentes de enfermedades comunes. Síndrome de Ekiri / About Infrequent complications of common diseases: Ekiri Syndrome

Resumen La infección por enterobacterias desencadena usualmente síntomas gastrointestinales caracterizados por vómito, diarrea y dolor abdominal, de severidad y curso variable. El compromiso extraintestinal esta descrito, inclusive sin las manifestaciones gastrointestinales clásicas lo que favorece diagnósticos y tratamientos tardíos pudiendo llegar a ser incapacitantes y letales. El síndrome de Ekiri, también denominado síndrome de encefalopatía letal tóxico, se caracteriza por una disfunción aguda del sistema nervioso central secundaria a infección por enterobacterias las cuales favorecen el desarrollo de microtrombos a nivel cerebral con inflamación mediada por el factor de necrosis tumoral α e IL- 1β y disfunción de la barrera hematoencefálica con una alta tasa de mortalidad. Dentro de nuestro conocimiento, presentamos el primer caso reportado en Colombia sobre el síndrome de Ekiri.

Abstract Gastrointestinal infection usually manifests with nausea, vomit and abdominal pain, all of them wit course and variable severity. Extrainstestinal compromise is described, even without gastrointestinal symptoms, what causes a delay on diagnosis and treatment, worsening the prognosis. Ekiri syndrome, also known as lethal toxic encephalopathy is characterized by an acute neurological dysfunction secondary to enterobacterial infection which favor thrombi development and local inflammation mediated by tumor necrosis factor alpha and IL-1β with blood brain barrier dysfunction and high mortality. As we know, we present the first Ekiri syndrome case reported in Colombia.

Occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in feces of wild birds from Central Italy

Objective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses. In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes. In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2. An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain. However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons. Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of E. coli infection for other animals and humans.

Occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in feces of wild birds from Central Italy

Objective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses. In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes. In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2. An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain. However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons. Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of E. coli infection for other animals and humans.

Construction of STxB-VP1 and MDC-VP1 fusion DNA vaccine and study on its immunological effects on mice / 解放军医学杂志

Objective To Construct fusion gene DNA vaccine pcDNA3/STxB-VP1 and fusion gene DNA vaccine pcDNA3/MDC-VP1,then the two vaccines were inoculated to mice and stuy their immunological effects.Methods B subunit of Shiga Toxin(STxB)gene fragment were amplified by PCR from the DNA of Shigella dysenteriae and Macrophage-derived chemokine(MDC)gene fragment was amplified by RT-PCR from the total RNA of a mouse spleen cells.The DNA fragments of STxB and MDC waere respectively linked to coxsackievirus B3(CVB3)VP1 by a DNA sequence which encode a flexible polypeptide(15 amino acids)to construct eukaryotic expression plasmids pcDNA3/STxB-VP1 and pcDNA3/MDC-VP1.BALB/c mice were randomized to 6 groups which were respectively immunized pcDNA3,pcDNA3/STxB,pcDNA3/MDC,pcDNA3/VP1,pcDNA3/STxB-VP1 and pcDNA3/MDC-VP1 for 3 times at 3-week intervals,intramuscularly(i.m.)in tibialis anterior muscle.The levels of the serum neutralizing antibodies were detected 20d after each inoculation.The mice were challenged with 7 LD50 CVB3 3 weeks after the last immunization.Results The fusion gene vaccines pcDNA3/STxB-VP1 and pcDNA3/MDC-VP1 were constructed successfully.The survival rates of each group were 10%,10%,15%,40%,20% and 75%,respectively,and the levels of neutralizing antibody titers,virused titers,were all consistent with those survive rates in each group.Conclusion Comparing with pcDNA3/VP1,pcDNA3/MDC-VP1 vaccine can induce a high level of neutralizing antibody titers and result in a higher survival rate in mice,while pcDNA3/STxB-VP1 induce a low level of neutralizing antibody titers and result in a lower survival rate in mice.