Whole-genome sequences of Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni isolates from rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) with and without intestinal disease.

Campylobacter jejuni or Campylobacter coli infection can lead to post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome in humans and may produce a similar syndrome in rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). We report the complete genomes of 8 C. jejuni isolates and 103 C. coli isolates obtained from rhesus macaques with and without intestinal disease.

Analysis of cell populations in the normal rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) lower intestinal tract and diagnostic thresholds for chronic enterocolitis.

Rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) are used extensively in biomedical research, often with a focus on the gastrointestinal tract, and yet a full characterization of their normal resident intestinal cell populations has not been published. In addition, chronic enterocolitis (CE), also known as idiopathic chronic diarrhea, affects up to 25% of colony-housed rhesus macaques, often requiring euthanasia for welfare concerns and severely limiting their value as a breeding animal or research subject. We aimed to characterize subjective and objective variables in sections of the ileum, cecum, colon, and rectum in 16 healthy rhesus macaques and compare these results with a cohort of 37 animals euthanized for CE to produce relevant diagnostic thresholds and to improve case definitions for future studies. We found neutrophils to be an infrequent but expected component of the large intestinal leukocyte population. Animals with CE had significantly increased total leukocyte populations between crypts in the cecum, colon, and rectum; variable increases in specific cell populations across all levels of the distal intestinal tract; and significantly increased intraepithelial CD3+ T cells in the colon and rectum. Concentrations of enteroendocrine cells, enterochromaffin cells, and intestinal mast cells were not significantly different between healthy and affected individuals. This study characterizes individual leukocyte populations in the rhesus macaque lower intestinal tract, is the first to evaluate rhesus macaque intestinal mast cells, and provides key diagnostic thresholds for evaluating animals with potential CE.

Talaromyces spp. infections in dogs from the Southern United States.

Talaromyces spp. are soil-dwelling fungi sporadically reported to cause disease in humans and dogs. This study summarized the clinical presentations, histologic findings, and Talaromyces sp. involved in 5 dogs diagnosed through the panfungal polymerase chain reaction service (PCR) at Texas A&M University, with a review of previously reported cases. Of the 5 cases, 3 were Labrador Retrievers, 2 were male, and 3 were female. Three of 5 involved the musculoskeletal or lymphatic systems, and 2 of 5 dogs presented with meningoencephalitis. Talaromyces helicus, Talaromyces aurantiacus, and Talaromyces boninensis were identified based on panfungal PCR, showing 99% to 100% sequence matches in combination with morphologic features. Three of 5 dogs had static disease at the time of publication, 1 was euthanized, and 1 was lost to follow-up. This study describes Talaromyces spp. as a cause of meningoencephalitis in dogs, identifies 2 novel Talaromyces spp. involved in infections, and adds to the existing knowledge of clinical presentations and outcomes.