Molecular detection of Bartonella henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae in clinical samples of pet cats from Southern Italy.

Bartonella henselae is considered an emerging pathogen of veterinary and medical interest that can be occasionally transmitted to humans. Cats are considered to be the only reservoir host for B. henselae. In this study, we used a nested-PCR assay to investigate the prevalence of B.henselae and Bartonella clarridgeiae DNA in peripheral blood samples, fine needle lymph node aspirate specimens and oral swabs from 85 cats in order to develop an easy diagnostic strategy for the selection of infection-free cats that are being considered as pets, especially for immunocompromised patients. Overall, molecular analysis showed that 71 cats (83.5%) tested PCR positive for the presence of B. henselae DNA. PCR amplification of DNA B. henselae produced positive products from lymph node aspirate specimens (62/85; 72.9%) similar to those obtained from blood samples (60/85; 70.6%) and higher than those from oral swabs (51/85; 60%) of cats. No PCR product was obtained for B. clarridgeiae. The simultaneous analysis of three different clinical samples in our study increased the diagnostic possibilities for B. henselae infection in the examined cats from 60-72.9% to 83.5%. Lymph node aspirates were found to be the most effective clinical samples for the detection of B. henselae and blood samples were the next best. Oral swab samples were used in this study with good results when considered in combination with blood and/or lymph node aspiration. The use of nested-PCR assay on these three clinical samples may enhance the diagnostic sensitivity for bartonellosis in cats irrespective of the clinical status of animals.

The gamma-2-herpesvirus bovine herpesvirus 4 causes apoptotic infection in permissive cell lines.

Increasing evidence suggests that regulation of apoptosis in infected cells is associated with several viral infections. The gammaherpesvirus bovine herpesvirus 4 (BHV-4) has been shown to harbor genes with antiapoptotic potentialities. However, here we have demonstrated that productive infection of adherent, permissive cell lines by BHV-4 resulted in a cytopathic effect characterized by induction of apoptosis. This phenomenon was confirmed using different techniques to detect apoptosis and using different virus strains and cell targets. Apoptosis induced by BHV-4 was inhibited by (1) treatment with doses of heparin, which completely inhibited virus attachment and infectivity; (2) UV treatment, which completely abrogated infectivity; and (3) treatment with a dose of phosphonoacetic acid, which blocked virus replication. Virus-induced apoptosis was associated with a down-regulation of Bcl-2 expression and was reduced by Z-VAD-FMK, but not by Z-DEVD-FMK (caspase-3-specific) caspase inhibitors. Inhibition of apoptosis by Z-VAD-FMK treatment during infection did not modify virus yield. Therefore, despite the presence of antiapoptotic genes in its genoma, BHV-4 could complete its cycle of productive infection while inducing apoptosis of infected cells. This finding might have implications for the pathobiology of BHV-4 and other gammaherpesviruses in vivo.

[Environmental pollution and infectious diseases. I. Isolation of a new serovar of the Salmonella genus, S.V 13.22:r: from a Periplaneta americana cockroach]. / Inquinamento ambientale e malattie infettive. Nota I. Isolamento di un nuovo serovar del genus Salmonella, S.V 13.22:r: da uno scarafaggio Periplaneta americana.

The AA have isolated a new serovar of Genus Salmonella S.V 13.22:r:-, from a cockroach Periplaneta Americana, captured near the municipal slaughterhouse of Messina and near the Faculty of Veterinary Science. This fifth original report fift in the vast subject of the environmental pollution, where the cockroaches, as widely documented, unwind a primary importance part as spreader of Salmonella, too.

[Characteristics of a new Salmonella serovar: S. V 13, 22:r-, from S. bongori species]. / Caratteristiche di un nuovo serovar di Salmonella: S. V 13, 22:r:-, della specie S. bongori.

The A reports the characteristics of a new serovar of Salmonella: S.V 13, 22:r:-, isolated from a cockroach Periplaneta americana, all set against the background of ample technic notes.

[Isolation of S. mbdakada from a child seen at the University of Messina pediatric clinic]. / Isolamento di S. mbandaka da un minore ricoverato nella clinica pediatrica dell'università di Messina.

The authors made some diagnostic investigation into a serious case of diarrhoea observed in an infant in the pediatric ward of the University hospital of Messina (Sicily). They brought into evidence some of the causes of the world wide spread of salmonella infection, in particular the spread of new serum-types, such as S. mbandaka, which was involved in this case.

[A new serovar of Salmonella: S. IIIb 35: 1, z13: e, n, x, z15]. / Un nuovo serovar di Salmonella: S. IIIb 35: 1, z13: e, n, x, z15.

The authors describe briefly the protocol for isolating a new serovar of Salmonella from the stools and the sand of a cage-shield of a python (Python regius (Shaw, 1802), kept as pet animal by a family in Messina. Such a finding is considered within the complex and wide investigation programme which we have been carrying out for years in our Institute of Veterinary Infectious Diseases, and within the problems rising from the Health and Hygiene field for the ever increasing diffusion of Enterobacteriaceae, by now limited to the ones collected and belonging to the Genus Salmonella.