Outbreak of ataxia in pigs associated with consumption of piquillín (Condalia microphylla).

The plant piquillín (Condalia microphylla) grows in arid regions of Argentina and is the cause of mal del piquillín in cattle. The salient histologic features of this leukomyelopathy are vacuolation of white matter and axonal degeneration in the spinal cord. The histologic lesions can be experimentally reproduced in cattle and pigs by feeding milled bark of the plant, but naturally occurring piquillín toxicosis has not been reported previously in pigs. The authors report an outbreak of progressive ataxia on an Argentine hog farm, where partially consumed piquillín plants were found in the pens of affected pigs. Histologic lesions included vacuolation of white matter, edema, and mild axonal degeneration in lumbosacral segments of the cord. The diagnosis of mal del piquillín was based on the history, clinical signs, histologic changes, and elimination of other potential causes of leukomyelopathy. No new outbreaks developed after elimination of piquillín from the hog lots. Results of this investigation indicate that C microphylla toxicosis can affect pigs under natural conditions and should be included in the differential diagnosis for porcine ataxia and leukomyelopathy in regions where the plant grows.

Expression of NRAMP1 and iNOS in Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis naturally infected cattle.

Paratuberculosis (PTB) is a chronic disease caused by M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects several animal species, and some studies have suggested that there may be a relationship between Crohn's disease and PTB. Significant aspects of PTB pathogenesis are not yet completely understood, such as the role of macrophages. Natural resistance-associated macrophage protein 1 (NRAMP1) and the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) molecules have shown nonspecific effects against several intracellular pathogens residing within macrophages. However, these molecules have been scarcely studied during natural infection with MAP. In this work, changes in NRAMP1 and iNOS expression were surveyed by immunohistochemistry in tissue samples from MAP-infected cattle and healthy controls. Our findings show strong specific immunolabeling against both NRAMP1 and iNOS molecules, throughout granulomatous PTB-compatible lesions in ileum and ileocaecal lymph nodes from paratuberculous cattle compared with uninfected controls, suggesting a relationship between the expression of these molecules and the pathogenesis of PTB disease.

Detection of bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) nucleic acid and antigen in different organs of water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis).

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is a pestivirus that infects mainly bovine cattle. Nevertheless, there are several reports about infections in other members of the Artiodactyla order including serological studies, that indicate infection of BVDV in buffaloes. The aim of this article is to study the presence of BVDV in three young water buffaloes, displaying nonspecific clinical signs, compatible with the BVDV infection. Both immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR confirmed the presence of BVDV in the animals. The sequence analysis on RT-PCR amplicons revealed high identity with reference strains of genotypes 1a and 1b. Although BVDV was unequivocally identified in the sick animals, it has not been proved it is responsible for the clinical signs. Further studies are needed to clarify the pathogenic role of BVDV infection in this animal species, and the role of buffaloes in the epidemiology of BVDV infection.

Colonizacion por estreptococo beta hemolitico del grupo B durante el embarazo y prevencion de enfermedad neonatal / Group B streptococcus colonization during pregnancy and prevention of early onset of disease

El estreptococo beta-hemolítico del grupo B (SGB) es uno de los principales agentes causantes de sepsis neonatal precoz. La mortalidad de los afectados oscila entre el 6 y el 20%, y la tasa de secuela neurológica llega al 30%. En 1996 el Centro de Prevención y Control de Enfermedades de Atlanta, el Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos y la Academia Americana de Pediatría sugirieron en consenso que el personal de atención de salud materna-neonatal debía adoptar una estrategia para la prevención de la sepsis por este germen. Los objetivos del presente trabajo prospectivo fueron determinar el porcentaje de colonización por SGB en las pacientes gestantes asistidas del 1° de julio de 2001 al 31 de diciembre de 2002 e implementar un programa de prevención de sepsis neonatal precoz por SGB a través de profilaxis antibiótica intraparto basado en cultivos. Sobre 1756 pacientes, se realizaron cultivos con hisopado vaginal y anal a 1228 (69.9%). El porcentaje de colonización materna por SGB fue del 1.4% (17 pacientes). Se presentó un caso de sepsis neonatal compatible con SGB (0.6‰) en una madre con cultivo negativo. Sólo una paciente portadora de SGB presentó factores de riesgo. Los resultados nos sugieren continuar con la estrategia de prevención basada en cultivos debido a que la mayoría de las pacientes colonizadas no presentaron factores de riesgo. Son necesarios estudios de relación costo-beneficio en nuestro medio para definir si esta estrategia de prevención es aplicable a la realidad sanitaria argentina.

Colonizacion por estreptococo beta hemolitico del grupo B durante el embarazo y prevencion de enfermedad neonatal / Group B streptococcus colonization during pregnancy and prevention of early onset of disease

El estreptococo beta-hemolítico del grupo B (SGB) es uno de los principales agentes causantes de sepsis neonatal precoz. La mortalidad de los afectados oscila entre el 6 y el 20%, y la tasa de secuela neurológica llega al 30%. En 1996 el Centro de Prevención y Control de Enfermedades de Atlanta, el Colegio Americano de Obstetras y Ginecólogos y la Academia Americana de Pediatría sugirieron en consenso que el personal de atención de salud materna-neonatal debía adoptar una estrategia para la prevención de la sepsis por este germen. Los objetivos del presente trabajo prospectivo fueron determinar el porcentaje de colonización por SGB en las pacientes gestantes asistidas del 1º de julio de 2001 al 31 de diciembre de 2002 e implementar un programa de prevención de sepsis neonatal precoz por SGB a través de profilaxis antibiótica intraparto basado en cultivos. Sobre 1756 pacientes, se realizaron cultivos con hisopado vaginal y an