First molecular identification of Entamoeba polecki in a piglet in Japan and implications for aggravation of ileitis by coinfection with Lawsonia intracellularis.

Parasitic Entamoeba spp. are found in many vertebrate species including humans, as well as many livestock including pigs. In pigs, three Entamoeba spp., E. suis, and E. polecki and E. histolytica as zoonotic species, have been identified, but their pathogenicity has not been fully characterized. Here, we report the bacteriological, virological, and histopathological examination of three piglets with chronic diarrhea. Two animals appeared to be additionally infected with Lawsonia intracellularis, which caused a characteristic proliferative ileitis. In the piglet infected with Entamoeba spp., the trophozoites (approximately 10-15 µm with one nucleus in their cytoplasm) invaded into the lamina propria and the disease was worsened by the formation of ulcers and pseudomembranes. Genetic analysis identified the parasite as E. polecki (99.5% identity). Although E. polecki in humans or animals might be less pathogenic in the case of a single infection, coinfections with other pathogens including L. intracellularis may increase the severity of the disease.

Investigation of the association of growth rate in grower-finishing pigs with the quantification of Lawsonia intracellularis and porcine circovirus type 2.

As a part of a prospective cohort study in four herds, a nested case control study was carried out. Five slow growing pigs (cases) and five fast growing pigs (controls) out of 60 pigs were selected for euthanasia and laboratory examination at the end of the study in each herd. A total of 238 pigs, all approximately 12 weeks old, were included in the study during the first week in the grower-finisher barn. In each herd, approximately 60 pigs from four pens were individually ear tagged. The pigs were weighed at the beginning of the study and at the end of the 6-8 weeks observation period. Clinical data, blood and faecal samples were serially collected from the 60 selected piglets every second week in the observation period. In the killed pigs serum was examined for antibodies against Lawsonia intracellularis (LI) and procine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and in addition PCV2 viral DNA content was quantified. In faeces the quantity of LI cells/g faeces and number of PCV2 copies/g faeces was measured by qPCR. The objective of the study was to examine if growth rate in grower-finishing pig is associated with the detection of LI and PCV2 infection or clinical data. This study has shown that diarrhoea is a significant risk factor for low growth rate and that one log(10) unit increase in LI load increases the odds ratio for a pig to have a low growth rate by 2.0 times. Gross lesions in the small intestine and LI load>log(10)6/g were significant risk factors for low growth. No association between PCV2 virus and low growth was found.

Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteremia in an immunocompromised host with a liver graft and ulcerative colitis.

Desulfovibrio spp. are anaerobic, sulfate-reducing, nonfermenting, Gram-negative bacteria found in the digestive tract of humans. Identification of these species with conventional methods is difficult. The reported case of a Desulfovibrio desulfuricans bacteremia occurring in an immunocompromised host with ulcerative colitis confirms that this organism may be a possible opportunistic human pathogen.

Distribution and chemical coding of intramural neurons in the porcine ileum during proliferative enteropathy.

Enteric neurons are highly adaptive in their response to various pathological processes including inflammation, so the aim of this study was to describe the chemical coding of neurons in the ileal intramural ganglia in porcine proliferative enteropathy (PPE). Accordingly, juvenile Large White Polish pigs with clinically diagnosed Lawsonia intracellularis infection (PPE; n=3) and a group of uninfected controls (C; n=3) were studied. Ileal tissue from each animal was processed for dual-labelling immunofluorescence using antiserum specific for protein gene product 9.5 (PGP 9.5) in combination with antiserum to one of: vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP), substance P (SP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), somatostatin (SOM), neuropeptide Y (NPY) or galanin (GAL). In infected pigs, enteric neurons were found in ganglia located within three intramural plexuses: inner submucosal (ISP), outer submucosal (OSP) and myenteric (MP). Immunofluorescence labelling revealed increases in the number of neurons containing GAL, SOM, VIP and CGRP in pigs with PPE. Neuropeptides may therefore have an important role in the function of porcine enteric local nerve circuits under pathological conditions, when the nervous system is stressed, challenged or afflicted by disease such as PPE. However, further studies are required to determine the exact physiological relevance of the observed adaptive changes.

Dermatitis de contacto alérgica a tatuajes temporales de henna / Allergic contact dermatitis to temporary henna tattoos

Introducción. Las comunicaciones de reacciones cutáneas adversas a tatuajes temporales por henna negra son cada vez más frecuentes en los últimos años. La henna negra no existe de forma natural; se obtiene a partir de la henna original añadiéndole otros compuestos que la oscurecen y facilitan el proceso de tatuaje, entre ellos la parafenilendiamina (PPD). La PPD es un compuesto aromático que presenta reacciones cruzadas con otros componentes con anillo bencénico en su estructura molecular. Muchos de estos productos pueden estar presentes en la vida cotidiana de cualquier persona. Material y métodos. Realizamos una revisión de pacientes que presentaran un cuadro de eritema, inflamación y/o vesiculación en la zona tatuada previamente. Los pacientes se habían realizado un tatuaje temporal en puestos callejeros durante el periodo estival (2004-2005). Se incluyeron un total de 5 pacientes, 4 varones/1 mujer, con una edad media de 13 años (3-34 años) y un periodo de latencia medio de 9,4 días (5-14 días). Para el tatuado usaron tinta de color negro y plantillas de material plástico. Ninguno de los pacientes había tenido contacto previo con tintes capilares ni tatuajes y tampoco refirieron antecedentes personales de dermatitis atópica. Se realizaron pruebas epicutáneas con la batería estándar del GEIDC (TRUE TEST® Pharmacia. Hillerod. Denmark), con lectura a las 48 y 96 horas. Resultados. Se confirma una sensibilización a la PPD en 3 pacientes, en uno de ellos también a formaldehído. En 3 pacientes persisten las cicatrices hipopigmentadas. Conclusiones. Los pseudotatuajes con henna negra son una fuente de sensibilización a PPD con consecuencias graves potenciales a medio-largo plazo. En la actualidad no existe ninguna ley que regule la práctica de este tipo de tatuajes en nuestro país (AU)

Introduction. In the last years there have been increasing reports of adverse cutaneous reactions to temporary black henna tattoos. Black henna does not exist naturally, it is obtained from original henna after the addition of other compounds, among them paraphenilendiamine (PPD), that darken it and facilitate the process of tattoing. Paraphenilendiamine is an aromatic compound that presents cross reactions with other components that have a benzene ring in their molecular structure. Many of these products may be present in the daily life of any person. Material and methods. We reviewed patients that have shown erythema, inflammation and/or vesiculation in a previously tattooed area. The patients have undergone a temporary tattoo in street stalls during the summer period (2004-2005). A total of five patients were included, there were four men and one woman with a mean age of 13 years (3-34) and a mean latency period of 9.4 days (5-14). Black ink and plastic stencils were used to perform the tattoo. None of the patients has had previous contact with hair dyes or tattoos and none of them referred a personal history of atopic dermatitis. Patch testing was carried out using the standard set of the Spanish Group for Research in Contact Dermatitis [GEIDC] (TRUE TEST ®, Pharmacia. Hillerod. Denmark), with readings at 48 and 96 hours. Results. Sensitization to PPD is confirmed in three patients, one of them was also sensitized to formaldehyde. Hypopigmented scars persist in three patients. Conclusions. Black henna pseudotattoos are a source of sensitization to PPD with potential severe consequences in a medium to long term. Currently there is no specific legislation with respect to the practice of this type of tattoos in our country (AU)

Human inflammatory bowel disease does not associate with Lawsonia intracellularis infection.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing evidence that bacterial infection of the intestinal mucosa may contribute to the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). In pigs, an obligate intracellular bacterium, Lawsonia intracellularis (LI), was shown to cause proliferative enteropathy (PE) of which some forms display histological and clinical similarities to human IBD. Since LI-similar Desulfovibrio spp. may infect human cells, we hypothesized that LI might be associated with the development of human IBD. RESULTS: In human intestinal tissue samples, PCR using LLG, 50SL27, LSA and strictly LI-specific 16SII primers, yielded either no amplicons or products with weak homology to human genomic sequences. Sequencing of these amplicons revealed no specificity for LI. However, amplification of DNA with less specific 16SI primers resulted in products bearing homology to certain Streptococcus species. These 16SI-amplified products were present in healthy and diseased specimens, without obvious prevalence. CONCLUSION: LI is not associated with the pathogenesis of UC or CD. Whether an immunologic response to commensal bacteria such as streptococci may contribute to the chronic inflammatory condition in IBD, remained to be determined.