1,720,981 research outputs found
Acinetobacter baumannii: Its Clinical Significance in Human and Veterinary Medicine
Full text linkAcinetobacter baumannii is a Gram-negative, opportunistic pathogen, causing severe infections difficult to treat. The A. baumannii infection rate has increased year by year in human medicine and it is also considered as a major cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. This bac-terium, also well known for its ability to form biofilms, has a strong environmental adaptability and the characteristics of multi-drug resistance. Indeed, strains showing fully resistant profiles represent a worrisome problem in clinical therapeutic treatment. Furthermore, A. baumannii-associated veterinary nosocomial infections has been reported in recent literature. Particularly, carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii can be considered an emerging opportunistic pathogen in human medicine as well as in veterinary medicine
Methicillin-resistant staphylococci in clinical bovine mastitis: occurrence, molecular analysis, and biofilm production
No full textStaphylococcus aureus is an important pathogen that causes mastitis in cattle, and the emergence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) poses a threat to veterinary and human medicine. The aims of the study were to investigate the prevalence of MRSA and methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MR-CoNS) isolated from clinical mastitis, their ability to form biofilms, and the antimicrobial susceptibility of S. aureus strains. In addition, the Staphylococcal Cassette Chromosome mec (SCCmec) type, spa type and the presence of Panton-Valentine Leucocidin in MRSA were evaluated. A total of 326 staphylococcal strains were screened by multiplex-PCR for S. aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) identification. The S. aureus strains (n = 163) were subjected to phenotypic testing for antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm formation. Molecular analysis was performed on MRSA mecA-positive strains. Of 163 S. aureus isolates, 142 strains (87.1%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and all 19 MRSA strains were resistant to at least four out of five antibiotics tested. All S. aureus strains harboured the icaA gene and were biofilm producers. Nineteen MR-CoNS strains were also isolated. The most prevalent spa types among MRSA were t001 (57.9%) and t037 (31.6%), while one MRSA was type t008 and one was type t041. Most MRSA were SCCmec type I (63.2%) and III (31.6%) and only one strain was type IV. None of the MRSA isolates had the PVL gene. The prevalence of multidrug-resistant S. aureus in bovine mastitis is a serious concern. The finding of MRSA with spa types predominant in humans and infrequent in Italian cows and with SCCmec infrequently found in bovine milk or cheese suggest a human origin of these strains. The ability of MRSA and MR-CoNS involved in bovine mastitis to be transferred to humans and vice versa poses a public health concern
A comparative study of serum and milk ELISAs for the diagnosis of ovine paratuberculosis (Ovine Johne's disease - OJD)
No full textTo evaluate the possibility of replacing serum with milk sample in the identification
of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infected ovine flocks, a
comparative study was carried out in Central Italy on 6 dairy farms with history of
Paratuberculosis. Fresh milk and serum samples were collected from 192 randomly
chosen sheep and tested by indirect ELISA (Pourquier®, France). The sheep were of
the Comisana, Massese, and Sarda breeds, above two years of age, at early or peak
lactation period.
MAP infection was diagnosed in 28 (14.6%) and in 14 sheep (7.3%; 2= 5.43,
P=0.02) by serum and milk ELISA, respectively. Higher mean OD values were
observed in milk (1.96 ± SD 0.82) than in serum positive samples (1.77 ± SD 0.53;
t=-0.90, P=0.37). The concordance between tests was moderate (k=0.5), higher at
early (k=0.6) than in peak (k=0.4) lactation, in agreement with the Immunoglobulin
G (IgG) rising in the milk in the beginning and at the end of lactation. The serum
ELISA was able to identify more MAP positive sheep; nevertheless milk ELISA
could be an available, cheaper and more feasible test to detect MAP infection in
dairy sheep flocks by bulk tank milk analysis.
Key words: Ovine Paratuberculosis, diagnosis, ELISA, milk, serum
Three years evaluation of a therapeutic protocol against Neospora caninum - induced abortion in domestic bovidae in Central Italy
No full textAIM OF THE STUDY
A retrospective study of Toltrazuril and/or Sulphadiazine and Trimethoprim based therapeutic protocol against Neospora caninum – induced abortion in Cattle and Buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) was carried out in Central Italy to assess the benefits of this therapeutic tool as control strategy in terms of reduction of abortion and seropositive prevalence.
BACKGROUND
Neospora caninum is a protozoal parasite considered to be one of the major causes of foetal and economic losses in the dairy bovidae industry worldwide (Dubey JP, 2003).
Explorative investigations had shown that Toltrazuril can be effective against experimental Neosporosis in the murine (Eperon et al. 1999; Gottstein et al. 2001; Darius et al. 2004), bovine (Kritzner et al., 2002; Cuteri et al., 2005) and buffalo (Cuteri et al., 2006) model. Besides reducing abortion and infertility rates in pregnant bovidae, Toltrazuril-treatment also affected directly the infection course in the fetuses, which is best demonstrated by the lack of postnatal death in offspring of Toltrazuril-treated mothers vs postnatal death of some of the newborns of non-treated mothers (Gottstein et al., 2005).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
54 cattle and 12 domestic buffalo dairy herds with a known considerable abortion rates per year were investigated in a three years study. Serological survey was carried out to ascertain the degree of Neospora caninum prevalence in the herds. Toltrazuril 50mg/ml was administered to all newborn bovidae present in the farms at 20mg/kg bw. Sulphadiazine 200mg/ml and Trimethoprim 40mg/ml was given to the bovidae at 20mg/kg bw, as per age-dependent protocols, and phenolic disinfectant was employed for periodic treatment of the environment.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Serological investigation in all farms revealed a Neospora caninum mean seroprevalence of 58.65%.
Application of the therapeutic protocol to all animals present in the farm plus periodic treatment of the environment results in a steady declined of mean abortion rate from 9.5% to 0.5%, and mean seroprevalence of N. caninum from 58.65% to 0.57% in all evaluated herds during the three years study period (2006 – 2008).
This study confirmed the efficacy of Toltrazuril and/ or Sulphadiazine and Trimethoprim based therapeutic protocol in the control of Neospora caninum – induced abortion in dairy bovidae herds.
In summary, it can be concluded that serology is an appropriate tool to assess efficiency of the treatment of Neosporosis in bovidae, and that the Toltrazuril and/or Sulphadiazine and Trimethoprim therapeutic protocol has a great potential to reduce Neospora caninum-induced abortion in cattle and buffalo
Infezione da Neospora caninum in Alpaca (Lama pacos) del centro Italia: risultati preliminari di un'indagine sierologica
No full textA first serological survey to evaluate the presence of antibodies against
Neospora caninum in alpaca (Lama pacos) was carried out. 104 sera, collected in June and in
November 2004 from alpacas reared in Central Italy, were tested using a c-Elisa kit (VMRD,
USA) in order to investigate the prevalence of infection and the possible involvement of N.
caninum in abortions. A significant increase of antibodies titres was found from first to second
drawing (t=4.3138, P<10-4), and the prevalence showed a statistically significant difference by
sex: higher in female rather than in male, either in June (n=49) and November (n=55). No
correlation between N. caninum infection and abortion can be proposed because of the
absence of N. caninum isolation
Evidences of antibodies against Neospora caninum in human sera using a c-ELISA
No full textA preliminary serological survey was done in human patients hospitalized in 3 different hospitals located in Central Italy in order to investigate the presence of antibodies against N. caninum
Preliminry report on frequency and abundance of internal parasites in alpacas (Lama pacos) reared in the Umbria Region (Central Italy)
No full textFor centuries, alpacas (Lama pacos) have been a fundamental component of the Incan civilization and lately they have become a popular investment in North America, Australia and more recently in Europe. Their fibre is appreciated for its elevated thermal capacity, its strength, its lustre and the variety of colours. In Italy, over 350 head exist and the 30 breeders are organized in the ITALPACA association. In the near future, this husbandry, may find a niche in areas abandoned by unprofitable traditional agriculture. Nutritional, reproductive and health management schemes are available from North American and Australian husbandry, however their applicability in Italian environments needs to be verified. This study focuses on infection and control of endo-parasites in alpacas raised together with merino sheep and angora goats on a farm (Maridiana, Umbertide) in Umbria.
Alpacas are kept on pasture during the day and returned to shelters at night. Grazing is supplemented with hay and concentrate according to season and nutritional status of the animals. During the study year (2003), the herd consisted of about 25 head purchased in 1997 (original unit = OU) and 54 head bought in April 2003 from a German breeder (new unit = NU). Alpacas were raised in separate groups according to sex and the new herd was kept in quarantine until the end of June. Antihelmintic treatments were administered twice and an anti-coccidian treatment was given once. Pasture rotation was performed and care was taken to regularly renew straw bedsteads in shelters. A survey of internal parasites was performed from Jan. to Dec. 2003, by collecting faecal samples from the rectum on a monthly basis. The identification and quantification of oocysts, eggs and larvae was performed according to the standard procedures of copromicroscopy.
In the OU, helminth eggs were present in 59.6% (CI95 54.1-65.1%) of the faecal samples. Positive samples were more frequently observed in 1-2 years old animals (82.6%, CI95 74.7-90.5) than in older animals (50.0%, CI95 43.3-56.7; OR 4.75, p<10-4). Coccidian oocysts were revealed in 41.4% (CI95 35.9-46.8) of the faecal samples. Parasitic infections did not vary according to sex and season. In the NU an increase of helmintic infections from 28.5% (CI95 20.6-36.3) during quarantine to 41.2% (CI95 34.8-47.6; OR 1.37, p=0.016) in the 2nd half-year, after joining OU animals, was noted. Their relatively low initial infection might be explained by the monthly anti-helmintic treatments that NU animals received before their arrival at Maridiana farm. Coccidian oocysts were present in 34.2% (CI95 29.3-39.1) of the faecal samples and similar values were seen in animals of different sex and age. Helmintic infections were most frequently caused by Trichuris spp. and gastrointestinal strongyles. On the basis of egg morphology, nematodes of the genus Nematodirus, Lamanema and possibly Marshallagia, a genus present in ovi-caprines, were identified. Occasionally, eggs or larvae from Moniezia expansa, Strongyloides papillosus and Dictiocaulus filaria were observed. Eimeria macusaniensis - among other not identified Eimeria species - was found to be implicated in coccidian infections. Oocyst and egg abundance in positive samples was constantly low. Median values of 235 (n=106) and 139 (n=84) oocysts per gram (opg) were determined for the OU and NU respectively. For comparison, counts of about 1000 opg are frequently observed in asymptomatic sheep. Similarly, the median counts of helminth eggs, 118 (n=121) and 75 epg (n=64), for the OU and NU respectively, remain clearly below 400 epg, considered the threshold value above which clinical signs may be expected in sheep. Indeed, pathologic manifestations of parasitic infection were not observed in the study animals. Alpacas use to defecate on piles restricted to a few pasture sites. This “hygienic” behaviour may make them less likely to acquire pasture-borne parasites, even if reared in herds at relatively high densities, as in this study farm. In conclusion, under the conditions provided by the Umbrian environment, alpacas appear to be rather resistant to internal parasitosis. Ongoing studies try to elucidate which parasite species’ present in the alpaca herd are probably specific for camelids and which may have been acquired from “Italian ovi-caprines”
Clinical field trial to assess the efficacy of two different enrofloxacin (Baytril® 2.5%) oral concentrations against scours in lambs due to E. coli
No full textAIM OF THE STUDY
Multicentric, controlled and randomised study was carried out to verify and compare the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of two different oral therapeutic protocols (Baytril® 2.5%, Bayer, Italy) against E. coli induced clinical diarrhoea in lambs.
BACKGROUND
Infectious diarrhoea of neonatal animals is one of the most common and economically devastating conditions encountered in the animal agriculture industry. Recent studies suggest that 30% of lambs may be affected, with a mortality rate in Europe of 10%. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is considered as the most important bacterial pathogen and diarrhoea-causing E. coli possess colonization antigens or adhesins that enable the bacteria to colonize the small intestines. The K99 (F5) fimbrial antigen has been reported to be associated with a majority of enterotoxigenic E. coli isolated from cases of diarrhoea most commonly in lambs between 2-15 days old.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
The field trial were carried out on 80 lambs aged between 2-15 days resulted bacteriologically positive to E. coli sensitive to Enrofloxacin. The lambs were submitted to the enrolment visit and enclosed if they showed acute or hyperacute diarrhoea, body temperature higher than 39.6°C, decreased appetite and/or lethargy and/or other general signs of disease. Lambs receiving systemic treatments, either anti-infective or anti-inflammatory, within the previous ten days were excluded. After a randomly allotment to one of two treatment groups (group A: 2.5mg/kg b.w. of Enrofloxacin (Baytril® 2.5%-Bayer) orally once for 3 consecutive days, and group B: 5mg/kg b.w. of Enrofloxacin (Baytril® 2.5%-Bayer) orally once for 3 consecutive days), all lambs received a daily physical examination on days 1 (enrolment day), 2, 3, 5, 7 and 14. The following evaluation parameters were gathered: rectal temperature, general conditions, faecal consistency, dehydration, and on days 1 (before treatment), 5, and 14, faecal swabs to evaluate the bacteriological cure of animals were collected.
RESULTS AND CONCLUSION
Enrofloxacin (Baytril® 2.5%-Bayer) orally administered improved the general conditions, the faecal consistency and the dehydration state of all animals. Compared to the group A, the lambs receiving double dose of Enrofloxacin showed a significative shorter bacteriological and clinical cure at 5th (P=0.0056) and 3rd day post treatment (PT) (P=0.0015), respectively. Moreover, already after 3 days (PT) a normal faecal consistency was observed in 50% of lambs belonging to the group B in comparison to 10% of animals of group A (P=0.0001). The double oral concentration significantly improved hydration status (P<0.0017): at 5th day (PT) a 72.5% vs 97.5% of lambs had a completely recovery (hydration), respectively in group A and B.
The oral administration of Enrofloxacin (Baytril® 2.5%-Bayer) is a quick, practical and efficacious way to treat diarrhoea in lambs due to E. coli. The facility in use (employment) and the attractiveness characterize this product that at the concentration of 5mg/kg b.w can be recommended as a good support for a fast bacteriological and clinical recovery of diarrhoea in lambs
Influenza di N-Acetilcisteina sulla produzione di biofilm e correlazione con antibiotico-resistenza in stafilococchi coagulasi negativi
No full text- …
