Contrasting Disease Progression, Microglia Reactivity, Tolerance, and Resistance to Toxoplasma gondii Infection in Two Mouse Strains.

Our study investigated the innate immune response to Toxoplasma gondii infection by assessing microglial phenotypic changes and sickness behavior as inflammatory response markers post-ocular tachyzoite instillation. Disease progression in Swiss albino mice was compared with the previously documented outcomes in BALB/c mice using an identical ocular route and parasite burden (2 × 105 tachyzoites), with saline as the control. Contrary to expectations, the Swiss albino mice displayed rapid, lethal disease progression, marked by pronounced sickness behaviors and mortality within 11-12 days post-infection, while the survivors exhibited no apparent signs of infection. Comparative analysis revealed the T. gondii-infected BALB/c mice exhibited reduced avoidance of feline odors, while the infected Swiss albino mice showed enhanced avoidance responses. There was an important increase in microglial cells in the dentate gyrus molecular layer of the infected Swiss albino mice compared to the BALB/c mice and their respective controls. Hierarchical cluster and discriminant analyses identified three microglial morphological clusters, differentially affected by T. gondii infection across strains. The BALB/c mice exhibited increased microglial branching and complexity, while the Swiss albino mice showed reduced shrunken microglial arbors, diminishing their morphological complexity. These findings highlight strain-specific differences in disease progression and inflammatory regulation, indicating lineage-specific mechanisms in inflammatory responses, tolerance, and resistance. Understanding these elements is critical in devising control measures for toxoplasmosis.

Intra-ocular Predation of Fluoroquinolone-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Serratia marcescens by Predatory Bacteria.

Endogenous endophthalmitis caused by Gram-negative bacteria is an intra-ocular infection that can rapidly progress to irreversible loss of vision. While most endophthalmitis isolates are susceptible to antibiotic therapy, the emergence of resistant bacteria necessitates alternative approaches to combat intraocular bacterial proliferation. In this study the ability of predatory bacteria to limit intraocular growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, and Staphylococcus aureus was evaluated in a New Zealand White rabbit endophthalmitis prevention model. Predatory bacteria Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus and Micavibrio aeruginosavorus were able to reduce proliferation of keratitis isolates of P. aeruginosa and S. marcescens. However, it was not able to significantly reduce S. aureus, which is not a productive prey for these predatory bacteria, suggesting that the inhibitory effect on P. aeruginosa requires active predation rather than an antimicrobial immune response. Similarly, UV-inactivated B. bacteriovorus were unable to prevent proliferation of P. aeruginosa. Together, these data suggest in vivo predation of Gram-negative bacteria within the intra-ocular environment.

Spectrum of ophthalmic manifestations in monkeypox virus infection worldwide: Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Mpox virus infection is a significant public health concern worldwide due to its potential severity and the likelihood of outbreaks occurring across different regions. Ophthalmic manifestations of the disease have been linked with more severe cases, leading to the need for hospitalization and antiviral therapy. A systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted following PRISMA guidelines to summarize the literature available on this topic. The review revealed that ophthalmic manifestations, such as conjunctivitis and periocular umbilicated lesions, are the most common in Mpox virus infections. However, severe manifestations, such as corneal opacity, that can potentially cause blindness may also occur. Antiviral treatment with tecovirimat and topical management for conjunctivitis can be considered for severe cases. However, the evidence quality is poor due to the predominance of case reports and imprecise characterization of the ophthalmic manifestations. Overall, ophthalmologists and healthcare professionals should be aware of these manifestations for early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Ocular Sporotrichosis.

Sporotrichosis is a subacute or chronic mycosis predominant in tropical and subtropical regions. It is an infection of subcutaneous tissue caused by Sporothrix fungus species, but occasionally resulting in an extracutaneous condition, including osteoarticular, pulmonary, nervous central system, and ocular disease. Cases of ocular sporotrichosis are rare, but reports have been increasing in recent decades. Ocular infections usually occur in hyperendemic areas of sporotrichosis. For its classification, anatomic criteria are used. The clinical presentation is the infection in the ocular adnexal and intraocular infection. Ocular adnexa infections include palpebral, conjunctivitis, and infections of the lacrimal sac. Intraocular infection includes exogenous or endogenous endophthalmitis. Most infections in the ocular adnexal have been reported in Brazil, China and Peru, and intraocular infections are limited to the USA and Brazil. Diagnosis is performed from Sporothrix isolation in the mycological examination from ocular or skin samples. Both sporotrichosis in the ocular adnexa and intraocular infection can mimic several infectious and non-infectious medical conditions. Ocular adnexa infections are treated with potassium iodide and itraconazole. The intraocular infection is treated with amphotericin B. This review describes the clinical findings and epidemiological, diagnosis, and treatment of ocular sporotrichosis.

Early treatment of bilateral fungal keratitis with corneal cross-linking as adjuvant therapy.

Fungal keratitis is an ocular infection that has no standardized treatment. The etiological agents most frequently reported in the literature are Fusarium spp., Aspergillus spp., Alternaria spp. and Curvularia spp., related to injuries and Candida albicans related to contact lens wear. Here we present a case of bilateral fungal keratitis of a few days of evolution with insufficient response to antifungal pharmacological treatment and with early application of cross-linking in both eyes as an adjuvant therapy. A review of the current status of cross-linking for the treatment of corneal infections is presented.

Trachoma in 3 Amerindian Communities, Venezuelan Amazon, 2018.

Trachoma is among the most common infectious causes of blindness. During January-May 2018, a total of 4 trachoma cases were diagnosed among Amerindians of the Yanomami ethnic group in 3 communities of southern Venezuela. This country has social and environmental conditions conducive to the endemicity of this neglected tropical disease.

Correlation between clinical signs of feline conjunctivitis and molecular detection of felid herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus, chlamydophila felis and mycoplasma felis in cats from shelters in Rio de Janeiro / Correlação entre sinais clínicos da conjuntivite felina e a detecção molecular de felid herpesvirus-1, feline calicivirus, chlamydophila felis e mycoplasma felis em gatos de abrigos no Rio de Janeiro

Objectives: To perform molecular diagnosis of microbial agents (FHV-1, FCV, Mycoplasma felis, and Chlamydophila felis) in kittens with conjunctivitis and correlate the clinical signs with clinical severity. Material and Methods: A total of 108 conjunctival swab were collected from kittens without (G1; n = 40) and with (G2; n = 68) clinical signs of conjunctivitis. Animals from G2 group were scored from 1 (mild) to 4 (severe) according to the severity of conjunctivitis. All samples were submitted to PCR and RT-PCR. Results: FHV-1 was detected in 62/108 (57.4%) of samples, FCV in 40/108 (37.0%), M. felis in 11/108 (10.2%) and C. felis in 26/108 (24.1%). Mixed infections were detected in 39/108 (36.1%). In G1, 28/40 (70.0%) were positive for one or more agents, in G2, 58/68 (85.3%) were positive (P = 0.03). In 1, single infections by FHV-1were found in 21/40 (52.5%) samples, FCV in 2/40 (5.0%), C. felis in 1/40 (2.5%), and no pathogens were detected in 12/40 (30%) of samples, while mixed infections accounted for 29/40 (72.5%) of the cases. In G2, single FHV-1 infections were found in 31/68 (45.6%) samples, FCV in 10/68 (14.7 %), M. felis in 2/68 (3.0%) and C. felis also in 2/68 (3.0%), and no pathogens were detected in 10/68 (14.7%) samples, while mixed infections accounted for 36/68 (52.0%) of the cases. They were categorized as grade 1, 20/68 (29.4%), grade 2, 14/68 (20.6%), grade 3, 21/68 (30.9%) and grade 4, 13/68 (19.1%). The presence of FHV-1 and FCV is equally distributed among the four categories. More severe clinical signs, scores 3 and 4, are related to coinfections by C. felis and M. felis. Conclusions: FHV-1, FCV, C. felis and M. felis were identified in feline conjunctivitis. Co-infections are related to more severe cases of conjunctivitis.Molecular diagnosis is helpful to detect asymptomatic carriers and is a rapid and accurate method to determine the pathogen of feline conjunctivitis.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar diagnóstico molecular de agentes microbiológicos (FHV-1, FCV, Mycoplasma felis e Chlamydophila felis) em gatos filhotes e associar a presença dos patógenos à gravidade dos sinais clínicos de conjuntivite. Foram coletadas um total de 108 amostras de suabe conjuntival de filhotes felinos assintomáticos (G1; n = 40) e sintomáticos (G2; n = 68). Animais do G2 foram categorizados de 1 (leve) até 4 (grave), de acordo com o quadro clínico de conjuntivite. As 108 amostras foram submetidas à PCR e RT-PCR. O FHV-1 foi detectado em 57,4% das amostras, o FCV em 37%, o M. felis em 10,2% e o C. felis em 24,1%. Coinfecções, por sua vez, foram detectadas em 36,1%. No G1, 70% das amostras foram positivas para um ou mais patógenos. No G2, 85,3% apresentavam infecções (P = 0,03). No G1, monoinfecções por FHV-1 foram diagnosticadas em 52,5% das amostras, por FCV em 5%, por C. felis em 2,5%, e em 30% das amostras analisadas nenhum dos patógenos estudados foi encontrado. Coinfecções, por sua vez, estavam presentes em 72,5% das amostras. No G2, monoinfecções por FHV-1 foram encontradas em 45,6% das amostras, por FCV em 14,7 %, por M. felis em 3% e por C. felis também em 3%. Nenhum dos patógenos estudados foi encontrado em 14,7% das amostras analisadas. Coinfecções, responsáveis por 52% dos casos, foram categorizados como Grau 1 (29,4%), Grau 2 (20,6%), Grau 3 (30,9%) e Grau 4 (19,1%). A presença de FHV-1 e FCV está igualmente distribuída entre as quatro categorias. Os sinais clínicos mais graves (graus 3 e 4) estão relacionados a coinfecções por C. felis e M. felis. Os agentes microbiológicos FHV-1, FCV, C. felis e M. felis foram encontrados em animais com conjuntivite. Coinfecções estão relacionadas aos casos mais graves. Por fim, concluiu-se que o diagnóstico molecular, além de detectar portadores assintomáticos, é um método rápido e acurado para o diagnóstico do patógeno causador da conjuntivite felina.(AU)

Molecular epidemiology of adenovirus conjunctivitis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between 2004 and 2007 / Epidemiologia molecular de adenovírus associados à conjuntivite no Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, no periodo de 2004 a 2007

Viral conjunctivitis is a common, highly contagious disease often caused by adenovirus. We investigate the frequency of adenoviral conjunctivitis in the population of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, between March 2004 and May 2007 and identified the predominant serotype circulating among this population. Seventy-five ocular swabs were collected from 66 patients with clinical presentation of conjunctivitis. The specimens were analyzed for detection of adenovirus (AdV) by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were further analyzed for virus typing by sequence analysis and/or heteroduplex mobility assay (HMA). Forty-five samples (60%) were positive for AdV of which 21 samples were typed as AdV19 (46.7%), 7 AdV8 (15.5%), 3 AdV31 (6.7%), and one each AdV1, AdV2, AdV3, AdV4 and AdV6. For nine samples the serotype was not determined. AdV19 was the predominant serotype circulating in Rio de Janeiro during the studied period.

A conjuntivite viral é doença ocular comum, altamente contagiosa, frequentemente causada por adenovírus. Neste estudo, investigamos a frequência de conjuntivite por adenovírus na população do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, entre março de 2004 e maio de 2007, e identificamos o sorotipo predominante circulando nesta população. Setenta e cinco swabs de secreção ocular foram coletados de 66 pacientes com conjuntivite. As amostras foram analisadas para detecção de adenovírus (AdV) por reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR). Os produtos da PCR foram caracterizados por sequenciamento e/ou ensaio de mobilidade do heteroduplex (Heteroduplex Mobility Assay - HMA) para identificação do sorotipo viral. Quarenta e cinco (60%) amostras foram positivas para AdV das quais 21 foram identificadas como pertencentes ao sorotipo AdV19 (46,7%), sete AdV8 (15,5%), três AdV31 (6,7%), e uma de cada: AdV1, AdV2, AdV3, AdV4 e AdV6. Para nove amostras o sorotipo não pode ser identificado. O AdV 19 foi o sorotipo predominante circulando no Rio de Janeiro durante o período estudado.

Perfil microbiologico de pacientes con patologia infecciosa del segmento anterior / Patient microbiological profile with infectious pathology of the previous segment

En esta investigación fueron evaluados 286 pacientes con patología infecciosa del segmento anterior y mediante estudio microbiológico se identificaron las bacterias asociadas con la infección. En 286 cultivos bacteriológicos realizados se obtuvieron 177 aislamientos, encontrándose un 73.45 por ciento de flora gran positiva siendo las especies más frecuentes S. Epidermidis 48.46 por ciento, S. Aureus (35.38 por ciento), S.Pneumoniae (4.61 por ciento) y Corynebacterium SP. (2.31 por ciento). El 26.55 por ciento correspondía a bacilos gran negativos de los cuales el 74.47 por ciento son enterobacterias y el 25.53 por ciento microorganismos no fermentados. El mayor porcentaje de aislamientos fue realizado en pacientes con conjuntivitis bacteriana, blefaritis bacteriana, conjuntivitis inespecífica y blefaritis inespecífica.

286 patients with infectious pathology in previous segment were studied and through a microbiological study the bacteria associated with the infection were identified. From the 286 bacteriological samples, 177 were isolated, and from these 73.45 percent of Gram positive flora being the most frequent species S. epidermidis (48.46 percent), S. aureus (35.38 percent), S. pneumonia (4.61 percent)and Corynebacterium sp. (2.31 percent). The 26.55 percent corresponded to Gram negative bacilli of which the 74.47 percent are enterobacterias and the 25.53 percent were non fermented microorganisms. The highest percentages of isolations were conducted in patient with bacterial conjunctivitis, bacterial blepharitis, unspecific conjunctivitis and unspecific blepharitis.Key words: ocular infection, Gram positives and Gram negatives bacterial, bacteriological isolations, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, S. pneumonia, Corynebacterium sp.