Histophilus somni-associated syndromes in sheep from Southern Brazil

Abstract Histophilus somni is a Gram-negative bacterium that is associated with a disease complex (termed histophilosis) that can produce several clinical syndromes predominantly in cattle, but also in sheep. Histophilosis is well described in North America, Canada, and in some European countries. In Brazil, histophilosis has been described in cattle with respiratory, reproductive, and systemic disease, with only one case described in sheep. This report describes the occurrence of Histophilus somni-associated disease in sheep from Southern Brazil. Eight sheep with different clinical manifestations from five farms were investigated by a combination of pathological and molecular diagnostic methods to identify additional cases of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil. The principal pathological lesions were thrombotic meningoencephalitis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia, pulmonary abscesses, and necrotizing myocarditis. The main clinical syndromes associated with H. somni were thrombotic meningoencephalitis (n = 4), septicemia (n = 4), bronchopneumonia (n = 4), and myocarditis (n = 3). H. somni DNA was amplified from multiple tissues of all sheep with clinical syndromes of histophilosis; sequencing confirmed the PCR results. Further, PCR assays to detect Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica were negative. These findings confirmed the participation of H. somni in the clinical syndromes investigated during this study, and adds to the previous report of histophilosis in sheep from Brazil.

Porphyromonas gingivalis Fim-A genotype distribution among Colombians / Distribución del genotipo Fim-A de Porphyromonas gingivalis entre la población colombiana

Introduction: Porphyromonas gingivalis is associated with periodontitis and exhibit a wide array of virulence factors, including fimbriae which is encoded by the FimA gene representing six known genotypes. Objetive: To identify FimA genotypes of P. gingivalis in subjects from Cali-Colombia, including the co-infection with Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola, and Tannerella forsythia. Methods: Subgingival samples were collected from 151 people exhibiting diverse periodontal condition. The occurrence of P. gingivalis, FimA genotypes and other bacteria was determined by PCR. Results: Porphyromonas gingivalis was positive in 85 patients. Genotype FimA II was more prevalent without reach significant differences among study groups (54.3%), FimA IV was also prevalent in gingivitis (13.0%). A high correlation (p= 0.000) was found among P. gingivalis, T. denticola, and T. forsythia co-infection. The FimA II genotype correlated with concomitant detection of T. denticola and T. forsythia. Conclusions: Porphyromonas gingivalis was high even in the healthy group at the study population. A trend toward a greater frequency of FimA II genotype in patients with moderate and severe periodontitis was determined. The FimA II genotype was also associated with increased pocket depth, greater loss of attachment level, and patients co-infected with T. denticola and T. forsythia.

Introducción: Porphyromonas gingivalis es una bacteria asociada con la periodontitis. Expresa una amplia gama de factores de virulencia, incluyendo las fimbrias, las cuales están codificadas por el gen FimA que representa seis genotipos conocidos. Objetivo: Identificar los genotipos de FimA de P. gingivalis en pacientes de Cali - Colombia, incluyendo la co -infección con Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Treponema denticola y Tannerella forsythia. Métodos: Se obtuvieron muestras subgingivales de 151 individuos con diferentes diagnósticos periodontales. La ocurrencia de P. gingivalis, los genotipos de FimA y otras bacterias se determinó por PCR. Resultados: Porphyromonas gingivalis fue positiva en 85 pacientes. El genotipo FimA II fue más prevalente, pero no hubo diferencias significativas entre los grupos de estudio (54.3%), FimA IV fue el más frecuente en la gingivitis (13.0%). Una alta correlación (p= 0.000) se encontró entre P. gingivalis , T. denticola y T. forsythia. El genotipo FimA II estuvo correlacionado con la detección de T. denticola y T. forsythia. Conclusiones: Porphyromonas gingivalis tuvo una alta frecuencia incluso en el grupo de individuos sanos. Se encontró una tendencia hacia una mayor frecuencia de FimA II en pacientes con periodontitis moderada y severa. El genotipo FimA II también se asoció con una mayor profundidad de la bolsa, una mayor pérdida de nivel de inserción, y con los pacientes en los que se detectó co-infección con T. denticola y T. forsythia.