21 research outputs found
Vibrio parahaemolyticus- and V. alginolyticus-associated meningo-encephalitis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) from the Adriatic coast of Italy
No full textA case of Vibrio parahaemolyticus- and V. alginolyticus-associated meningo-encephalitis in a bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) found stranded along the Adriatic coast of Italy in 2016 is herein reported, along with a minireview on V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus infections in aquatic mammals. Macroscopically, two abscesses were found in the dolphin's forebrain, along with an extensive, bilateral, parasitic broncho-pneumonia. Histologically, a suppurative meningo-encephalitis involved the brain but not the cerebellum. Microbiological investigations yielded isolation of V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus from the aforementioned abscesses and from the brain parenchyma, respectively, with simultaneous recovery of Shewanella algae from the heart and of Photobacterium damselae from a nasal swab.
Although V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus, which are widely distributed across marine ecosystems worldwide, likely played a role in the development of the suppurative meningo-encephalitis in this dolphin, we are not aware of previous isolations of any of these two bacteria neither from pathologic cetacean brains nor from abscess lesions in aquatic mammals
Identification of the Novel <i>Streptococcus equi</i> subsp. <i>zooepidemicus</i> Sequence Type 525 in Donkeys of Abruzzo Region, Italy
No full textStreptococcus equi sub. zooepidemicus (SEZ) is described as a commensal bacterium of several animal species, including humans. Growing evidence supports the potential role of SEZ in the onset and progression of severe clinical manifestations of diseases in horses and other animals. In the present communication, we describe the diagnostic procedure applied to characterize the streptococcal infections caused by a novel SEZ sequence type (ST525) in donkeys raised on a farm in Abruzzo, Italy. The diagnostic process began with anamnesis and anatomopathological analysis, which revealed a severe bacterial suppurative bronchopneumonia associated with systemic vascular damage and haemorrhages. Then, SEZ infection was confirmed by applying an integrative diagnostic strategy that included standard bacterial isolation techniques, analytical tools for bacteria identification (MALDI-TOF MS), and molecular analysis (qPCR). Furthermore, the application of the whole-genome sequencing approach helped us to identify the bacterial strains and the virulence factors involved in animal diseases. The novel SEZ-ST525 was identified in two cases of the disease. This new sequence type was isolated from the lung, liver, and spleen in Case 1, and from retropharyngeal lymph nodes in Case 2. Moreover, the presence of the virulence gene mf2, a virulence factor carried by prophages in Streptococcus pyogenes, was also found for the first time in an SEZ strain. The results of the present study highlight the need to apply an integrated diagnostic approach for the identification and tracking of pathogenic strains of SEZ, shedding new light on the re-evaluation of these bacteria as a causative agent of disease in animals and humans
Toxic effects of expanded ataxin-1 involve mechanical instability of the nuclear membrane
No full textAtaxin 1 (ATXN1) is the protein involved in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, one of
nine dominantly inherited neurodegenerative diseases triggered by polyglutamine
expansion. One of the isolated polyglutamine tracts properties is to interact
with lipid bilayers. Here we used a multidisciplinary approach to test whether
one of the mechanisms responsible for neuronal degeneration involves the
destabilization of the nuclear membrane. We thus analyzed the interaction between
ATXN1 and lipid membranes, both on cellular models and on artificial lipid
bilayers, comparing pathological expanded polyglutamine and histidine interrupted
non-harmful polyglutamine tracts of the same length. The toxicity of the
different constructs was tested in transiently transfected COS1 cells. Cells
expressing pathological ATXN1 presented a significantly higher frequency of
anomalous nuclei with respect to those expressing non-harmful ATXN1.
Immunofluorescence and electron microscopy showed severe damage in the nuclear
membrane of cells expressing the pathological protein. Atomic force microscopy on
artificial membranes containing interrupted and non-interrupted partial ATXN1
peptides revealed a different arrangement of the peptides within the lipid
bilayer. Force-distance measurements indicated that membrane fragility increases
with the lengthening of the uninterrupted glutamine. Transmembrane electrical
measurements were performed on artificial bilayers and on the inner nuclear
membrane of ATXN1 full length transfected cells. Both artificial lipid bilayers
and cellular models demonstrated the dynamic appearance of ionic pathways.
Uninterrupted polyglutamines showed not only a larger ionic flow, but also an
increase in the single event conductance. Collectively, our results suggest that
expanded ATXN1 may induce unregulated ionic pathways in the nuclear membrane,
causing severe damage to the cell
First Report of Septicaemic Listeriosis in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle (Caretta caretta) Stranded along the Adriatic Coast: Strain Detection and Sequencing
No full textAlthough there are increasing reports on the prevalence of Listeria monocytogenes in wild species, this is the first case of listeriosis in sea turtle. An adult female Caretta caretta was rescued after being stranded alive along the coast of the Abruzzo region (Italy) in summer 2021. The turtle died in 6 days due to respiratory failure. The necropsy showed widespread organ lesions, such as yellow foci of necrosis in many organs, gastrointestinal erosions, pericarditis, and granulomatous pneumonia. Microbiological and histological analyses were performed on several organs. Listeria monocytogenes was isolated from multiple organs, indicating a case of septicaemic listeriosis, and the genome was sequenced and characterized. All the colonies analysed belonged to the same strain serogroup IVb, ST388, and CC388
Severe Streptococcus equi Subspecies zooepidemicus Outbreak from Unpasteurized Dairy Product Consumption, Italy
No full textDuring November 2021–May 2022, we identified 37 clinical cases of Streptococcus equi subspecies zooepidemicus infections in central Italy. Epidemiologic investigations and whole-genome sequencing showed unpasteurized fresh dairy products were the outbreak source. Early diagnosis by using sequencing technology prevented the spread of life-threatening S. equi subsp. zooepidemicus infections
Diversity of Rickettsia in Ticks Collected in Abruzzi and Molise Regions (Central Italy)
No full textRickettsiae have worldwide occurrence and rickettsiosis are widely recognized as emerging infections in several parts of the world. For decades, it was thought that a single pathogenic tick-borne spotted fever group (SFG), Rickettsia, occurred in each continent. Nowadays, thanks to molecular biology, new species of Rickettsia responsible for disease in humans are continuously identified worldwide. In a framework of diagnostic activities of the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell’Abruzzo e del Molise “G. Gaporale” and considering some reports of suspected human clinical cases of rickettsiosis, a survey on ticks collected form animals and humans was carried out with the aim to identify the Rickettsia species circulating in Abruzzi and Molise regions. A total of 603 ticks, previously identified at species level by morphology, pooled into 178 tick samples, were tested by pan-Rickettsia RealTime PCR. DNA from specimens positive for Rickettsia spp. was then sequenced in order to identify the Rickettsia species involved. The highest infection rate was detected in Dermacentor marginatus followed by Ixodes ricinus. The selected targets for this purpose were OmpA and gltA. Rickettsia slovaca, Rickettsia monacensis, Rickettsia massiliae, Rickettsia conorii, Rickettsia aeschlimannii, Rickettsia helvetica, Rickettsia raoultii, and Rickettsia felis – like organisms were identified in this study. These are the first data available in the literature for the circulation of SFG Rickettsia species in the selected geographical area. Results made evidence of high rate of infection in ticks. All Rickettsia species detected have been previously involved in human infection. The diversity of Rickettsia detected, and tick species collected reflects the biodiversity in term of wildlife and environment of the area. An association between Rickettsia species, ticks, and the relationships with vertebrate host species are discussed. Due to the peculiar eco-biology of each Rickettsia species, the use of diagnostic tools able to identify Rickettsia at the species level is thus recommended in order to assess the risk for humans and to elucidate more precise etiological diagnosis in clinical cases
Detection of Brucella abortus Vaccine Strain RB51 in Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Milk
No full textThe isolation of B. abortus RB51 vaccine strain from a milk sample in a water buffalo farm in southern Italy emphasizes the risk to public health of consuming contaminated milk or milk products following illegal vaccination
P8-13 Changes of laboratory findings in two dogs infected with Brucella canis following antibiotic treatment and orchiectomy: a case report
No full textCanine brucellosis caused by Brucella canis (B. canis) is an emerging infection affecting dogs worldwide and potentially transmissible to humans. The disease is frequently observed in stray dogs or in breeding kennels where is responsible for important economic losses. Disease control measures consider treatment or euthanasia of infected animals, as no vaccines are available. Use of antibiotics is not encouraged due to the uncertain success of the cure and the high risk of disease relapse. Still this represents the only alternative to euthanasia, usually combined to orchiectomy and ovary-hysterectomy to reduce the risk of disease transmission. Data on the combined effect of castration and antibiotic treatments of B. canis infected dogs are limited and very often follow up information are missing. The aim of the study was to describe from a diagnostic laboratory perspective the effect of antibiotic therapy and castration on male infected dogs. Twomale dogs of 8 months and 6 years old were identified as B. canis infected during trace back activities related to the B. canis outbreak occurred in Italy in 2020. One animal derived from the infected breeding kennel (patient 1) and was showing cryptorchidism while the second animal (patient 2) was exposed to direct contact with the infected dog, sharing the same environment. Laboratory investigations for B. canis were carried out before and after antibiotic treatment and orchiectomy, on sera, EDTA blood, urine and testicles. Animals were treated with two different therapeutic protocols. Before treatment, both animals showed high level of antibodies to microplate agglutination test and B. canis was also isolated from blood and urine. One month after antibiotic treatment, we observed a decrease of antibody titers and just for patient 1, B. canis was detected only by PCR from blood and urine. Orchiectomy was executed after one moths of antibiotic therapy and and no bacteria were detected in the testicles. Animal tested negative to both serology and bacteriology at follow up analyses carried out 1 year later. Despite the encouraging results, periodic follow up remain mandatory to exclude possible relapses of infection. Data also demonstrated that antimicrobial treatment influences laboratory test outcome
