Pooled molecular occurrence of Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae in poultry: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Worldwide, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and M. synoviae (MS) are the main agents responsible for chronic respiratory disease in poultry. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate their occurrence. We searched electronic databases to find peer-reviewed publications reporting the molecular detection of MG and MS in poultry and used meta-analysis to estimate their pooled global occurrence (combined flock and individual), aggregating results at the regional and national levels. We performed a subgroup meta-analysis for subpopulations (broilers, layers, breeders and diverse poultry including turkeys, ducks and ostriches) and used meta-regression with categorical modifiers. We retrieved 2294 publications from six electronic databases and included 85 publications from 33 countries that reported 62 studies with 22,162 samples for MG and 48 studies with 26,413 samples for MS. The pooled global occurrence was 38.4% (95% CI: 23.5-54.5) for MS and 27.0% (20.4-34.2) for MG. Among regions, Europe and Central Asia had the lowest occurrence for both pathogens, while MG and MS were highly prevalent in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, respectively. At the national level, MG occurrence was higher in Algeria, Saudi Arabia and Sudan, whereas China, Egypt and Ethiopia reported higher values of MS. Among the poultry subpopulations, MS and MG were more prevalent in the breeders and layers (62.6% and 31.2%, respectively) than in diverse poultry. The year of publication, the sample size and the level of ambient air pollution (measured indirectly by PM2.5) were associated with the occurrence of both mycoplasmas. Our study revealed high and heterogeneous occurrence values of MG and MS and justifies the need for early detection and improved control measures to reduce the spread of these pathogens.

The effect of short term peripheral parenteral nutrition on treatment outcomes and mortality in critically ill pediatric canine patients.

BACKGROUND: Peripheral parenteral nutrition (PPN) is increasingly considered as an alternative to central parenteral nutrition (CPN) given the higher cost and more frequent clinical complications associated with the latter. However, the assessment of potential risks and benefits of PPN in critically ill pediatric canine patients has not been extensively performed. In this study, we aimed to explore the effect of short-term, hypocaloric PPN on weight loss, length of hospital stay, the incidence of complications, adverse effects, and mortality in critically ill pediatric canine patients. RESULTS: Between August 2015 and August 2018, a total of 59 critically ill pediatric canine patients aged from 1 to 6 months admitted at the Veterinary Sciences Research Institute of the Autonomous University of Baja California were included in this non-randomized clinical trial. Canine pediatric patients were initially allocated to 3 groups: 11 in group 1 receiving parenteral nutrition (PN) supplementation equivalent to 40% of the resting energy requirement (RER), 12 in group 2 receiving supplementation of 50% of the RER, and 36 in group 3 receiving no PN supplementation. After establishing that there was no significant difference between 40 and 50% of PN supplementation, these groups were not separated for downstream analysis. Similar lengths of hospital stays were noted among study subjects who received PN supplementation and those who did not (4.3 ± 1.5 vs. 5.0 ± 1.5, days, p = 0.097). No metabolic-, sepsis- or phlebitis-related complications were observed in any animal in the PPN supplemented group. Higher mortality (19.4% vs. 0%, p = 0.036), and a greater percentage of weight loss (9.24% vs. 0%, p <  0.001) were observed in patients who received no supplementation. CONCLUSION: Even though short-term, hypocaloric PPN did not reduce the length of hospital stay, it was associated with lower mortality and resulted in mitigation of weight loss. In contrast to previous studies evaluating central and peripheral parenteral nutrition protocols, we observed a lower frequency of metabolic, septic, and phlebitis complications using a 40-50% parenteral nutrition treatment. The parenteral nutrition therapeutic intervention used in our study may reduce PN-related adverse effects and promote a favorable disease outcome in critically ill canine patients. Larger studies will be needed to confirm these observations.

Canine thoracic radiographic images as an educational dataset for distance learning and research on vertebral heart score.

Distance learning is a rapidly spreading form of education worldwide and it plays a crucial role to provide access to millions of people in developing countries. However, the benefits of online learning extend far beyond and became increasingly popular also in medical schools, including veterinary medicine [1,2]. In these new teaching settings, high-quality, validated and easily accessible multimedia materials are of great importance, especially in specific fields, such as radiology, where graphic resources can greatly support learning [3]. The dataset presented along with this article reviews examples of 153 canine latero-lateral thoracic radiographic medical images taken and collected at the Small Animal Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Veterinary Sciences Research Institute, Autonomous University of Baja California. serves as a basis for teaching VHS calculation. Images on this dataset contain all relevant anatomical structures in the determination of VHS, which makes them optimal images for practice in calculating VHS and teaching this procedure. The number of cardiothoracic radiographic images presented here can be a great support in learning the calculation of VHS, especially when combined with distance competency-based educators' support. Acquired heart diseases in the dog are very common, clinical evidence of degenerative valvular disease is detected in approximately 30% of dogs aged 13 years and older [4]. The prevalence of Dilated Cardiomyopathy (DCM) is remarkably high in certain breeds, approximately 25% of Irish Wolfhounds, 33% of female Doberman Pinschers, and 50% of male Doberman Pinschers are diagnosed with DCM [5]. Thoracic radiography is a key component in cardiovascular evaluation, which is used to calculate the vertebral heart score (VHS). VHS measurement has been described as one of the most objective methods for assessing cardiomegaly in dogs. VHS, in addition to thorough patient history and physical examination, can be very efficient to raise clinical suspicion of underlying heart disease. The measurement is based on cardiac height and width and is normalized to overall body size by comparison to vertebral body length. ln addition to the initial assessment of heart size, the VHS method is also useful for monitoring changes in heart size in response to treatment or to assess the progression of cardiomegaly over time in canine patients [6]Fig. 1. Importantly, considerable breed and individual variation exist with VHS and dogs can have values that fall outside of the normal range even without any cardiac disease. Thus, while the VHS method is a very informative tool, it should not be used as the only means of diagnosing cardiac disease in any given patient [7].

Prevalence and Viability of Toxocara spp. Eggs in Soil of Public Parks in Northwestern Mexico.

BACKGROUND: Toxocara spp. is a zoonotic parasite that can infect human; children are the largest group at risk of infection. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence and viability of Toxocara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks. METHODS: Overall, 1180 soil samples from 236 public parks in four sectors of the city of Culiacan were collected at random, between Jun and Dec, 2013. The presence of Toxocara spp. eggs was determined by light microscopy using a centrifugation-flotation technique and viability by trypan blue staining technique. RESULTS: Of the 236 parks sampled, 18 were positive to Toxocara spp. resulting in a prevalence of 7.6% and viability of 94.4% with a P<0.05. Detection of Toxocara spp.in soil samples was 16.5% and viability 94.7% with a P<0.05. Parks positive to Toxocara spp., had sports fields and playgrounds (94.4%), trees and green areas (88.8%). CONCLUSION: Although a low prevalence of Toxoxara spp. eggs in the soil of public parks was found, they exhibited high viability, suggesting that the soil from these public parks is a source of infection for pets and humans especially children.

Pathogenicity of different strains of Histophilus somni in the experimental induction of ovine epididymitis.

The purpose of this study was to determine any differences in pathogenicity when sheep are experimentally infected with different Histophilus somni isolates: a) 2336 bovine origin strain; b) an isolate from ram orchitis and epididymitis; c) an isolate from the brain of a sheep with neurological signs; d) an isolate from the vagina of a clinically healthy ewe. A total of 20 rams divided in groups of 5 animals each were inoculated in the epididymis with 1 x 10(7) CFU/mL of H. somni; a negative control group of 5 rams was used. All groups inoculated with H. somni showed some epididymitis, but the most pathology was caused by the epididymitis isolate, followed by the vaginal isolate. It was demonstrated that there is a difference in experimental infection capacity among isolates from different origins, as epididymitis occurred and the bacteria was recovered only from groups inoculated with isolates originating from epididymitis and vaginal exudate.

Adherence of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae to swine-lung collagen.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 adhered to immobilized swine-lung collagen. Bacteria bound to collagen type I, III, IV and V. At 5 min incubation, 30 % of bacteria adhered to collagen, reaching saturation in around 90 min. Treatment of bacteria with divalent-metal chelators diminished their attachment to collagen, and Ca(2+) but not Mg(2+) increased it, suggesting Ca(2+) dependence for adherence. Proteolytic enzymes drastically reduced bacterial adherence to collagen, showing that binding involved bacterial surface proteins. Porcine fibrinogen, haemoglobin and gelatin partially reduced collagen adhesion. A 60 kDa outer-membrane protein of A. pleuropneumoniae recognized the swine collagens by overlay. This membrane protein was apparently involved in adhesion to collagen and fibrinogen, but not to fibronectin and laminin. Antibodies against the 60 kDa protein inhibited the adhesion to collagen by 70 %, whereas pig convalescent-phase antibodies inhibited it by only 40 %. Serotypes 1 and 7 were the most adherent to pig collagen (taken as 100 %); serotypes 6 and 11 were the lowest (approximately 50 %), and neither showed the 60 kDa adhesin to biotinylated collagens. By negative staining, cells were observed initially to associate with collagen fibres in a polar manner, and the adhesin was detected on the bacterial surface. The results suggest that swine-lung collagen is an important target for A. pleuropneumoniae colonization and spreading, and that the attachment to this protein could play a relevant role in pathogenesis.