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Transboundary and Emerging Diseases May 2018Porcine pleuropneumonia, caused by the bacterial porcine respiratory tract pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, leads to high economic losses in affected swine... (Review)
Review
Porcine pleuropneumonia, caused by the bacterial porcine respiratory tract pathogen Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, leads to high economic losses in affected swine herds in most countries of the world. Pigs affected by peracute and acute disease suffer from severe respiratory distress with high lethality. The agent was first described in 1957 and, since then, knowledge about the pathogen itself, and its interactions with the host, has increased continuously. This is, in part, due to the fact that experimental infections can be studied in the natural host. However, the fact that most commercial pigs are colonized by this pathogen has hampered the applicability of knowledge gained under experimental conditions. In addition, several factors are involved in development of disease, and these have often been studied individually. In a DISCONTOOLS initiative, members from science, industry and clinics exchanged their expertise and empirical observations and identified the major gaps in knowledge. This review sums up published results and expert opinions, within the fields of pathogenesis, epidemiology, transmission, immune response to infection, as well as the main means of prevention, detection and control. The gaps that still remain to be filled are highlighted, and present as well as future challenges in the control of this disease are addressed.
Topics: Actinobacillus Infections; Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae; Animals; Communicable Disease Control; Pleuropneumonia; Swine; Swine Diseases; Zoonoses
PubMed: 29083117
DOI: 10.1111/tbed.12739 -
Applied and Environmental Microbiology May 2024Piscine lactococcosis is a significant threat to cultured and wild fish populations worldwide. The disease typically presents as a per-acute to acute hemorrhagic...
UNLABELLED
Piscine lactococcosis is a significant threat to cultured and wild fish populations worldwide. The disease typically presents as a per-acute to acute hemorrhagic septicemia causing high morbidity and mortality, recalcitrant to antimicrobial treatment or management interventions. Historically, the disease was attributed to the gram-positive pathogen . However, recent work has revealed three distinct lactococcosis-causing bacteria (LCB)- and which are phenotypically and genetically similar, leading to widespread misidentification. An update on our understanding of lactococcosis and improved methods for identification are urgently needed. To this end, we used representative isolates from each of the three LCB species to compare currently available and recently developed molecular and phenotypic typing assays, including whole-genome sequencing (WGS), end-point and quantitative PCR (qPCR) assays, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), API 20 Strep and Biolog systems, fatty acid methyl ester analysis (FAME), and Sensititre antimicrobial profiling. Apart from WGS, sequencing of the gene was the only method capable of consistent and accurate identification to the species and strain level. A qPCR assay based on a putative glycosyltransferase gene was also able to distinguish from . Biochemical tests and MALDI-TOF MS showed some species-specific patterns in sugar and fatty acid metabolism or protein profiles but should be complemented by additional analyses. The LCB demonstrated overlap in host and geographic range, but there were relevant differences in host specificity, regional prevalence, and antimicrobial susceptibility impacting disease treatment and prevention.
IMPORTANCE
Lactococcosis affects a broad range of host species, including fish from cold, temperate, and warm freshwater or marine environments, as well as several terrestrial animals, including humans. As such, lactococcosis is a disease of concern for animal and ecosystem health. The disease is endemic in European and Asian aquaculture but is rapidly encroaching on ecologically and economically important fish populations across the Americas. Piscine lactococcosis is difficult to manage, with issues of vaccine escape, ineffective antimicrobial treatment, and the development of carrier fish or biofilms leading to recurrent outbreaks. Our understanding of the disease is also widely outdated. The accepted etiologic agent of lactococcosis is . However, historical misidentification has masked contributions from two additional species, and , which are indistinguishable from by common diagnostic methods. This work is the first comprehensive characterization of all three agents and provides direct recommendations for species-specific diagnosis and management.
Topics: Lactococcus; Animals; Fish Diseases; Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections; Fishes; Whole Genome Sequencing; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 38597602
DOI: 10.1128/aem.02349-23 -
Journal of Advanced Veterinary and... Jun 2022Anthrax is a rapidly fatal infectious disease affecting herbivores and people. In the farm animals, cattle and sheep are more susceptible, followed by goats and horses,... (Review)
Review
Anthrax is a rapidly fatal infectious disease affecting herbivores and people. In the farm animals, cattle and sheep are more susceptible, followed by goats and horses, while dwarf pigs and Algerian sheep are relatively resistant. , the causative agent of anthrax, produces spores and persists for decades in the soil, initiating an outbreak through a favorable climate shift. Anthrax is enzootic in many Asian and African countries, and is reported in Australia, some parts of Europe, and America. The clinical courses of this disease in animals are peracute, acute, subacute, and chronic forms. In severely infected cases, the animals are dead without premonitory clinical signs. The blood may fail to clot and can be found in the mouth, nostrils, and anus in the animals that die from anthrax. This bacterium is susceptible to many antibiotics, yet only penicillin and oxytetracycline have the most effective under field conditions. When an outbreak occurs in a defined area, it is necessary to take early steps to break the infection cycle by maintaining strict biosecurity and vaccinating uninfected animals. This disease is still a challenge to farm animal production in many countries. This review intends to give a fair knowledge of the etiology, epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical presentation, diagnosis, treatment, and control of this disease.
PubMed: 35891653
DOI: 10.5455/javar.2022.i599 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2023Idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) is one of the most common neurological disorders in veterinary medicine. However, its diagnosis and treatment varies between...
Idiopathic vestibular syndrome (IVS) is one of the most common neurological disorders in veterinary medicine. However, its diagnosis and treatment varies between publications. The aim of the current study was to gather experts' opinion about IVS definition, diagnosis, and treatment. An online-survey was used to assess neurology specialists' opinion about the definition, diagnosis and treatment of IVS. The study demonstrated that the definition, diagnosis, and treatment of IVS are largely consistent worldwide, with the EU prioritising less frequently advanced imaging and more often otoscopy to rule out other diseases. IVS was defined by most specialists as an acute to peracute, improving, non-painful peripheral vestibular disorder that often affects cats of any age and geriatric dogs. Regarding diagnosis, a detailed neurological examination and comprehensive blood tests, including thyroid values, blood pressure, and otoscopic examination, was seen as crucial. A thorough workup may also involve MRI and CSF analysis to rule out other causes of vestibular dysfunction. Treatment of IVS typically involved intravenous fluid therapy and the use of an antiemetic, with maropitant once daily being the preferred choice among specialists. Antinausea treatment was considered, however, only by a handful specialists. This survey-based study provides valuable insights from neurology experts and highlights areas that require further research to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
PubMed: 37808104
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1263976 -
Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic... Mar 2020Clostridia can cause hepatic damage in domestic livestock, and wild and laboratory animals. type B causes infectious necrotic hepatitis (INH) in sheep and less... (Review)
Review
Clostridia can cause hepatic damage in domestic livestock, and wild and laboratory animals. type B causes infectious necrotic hepatitis (INH) in sheep and less frequently in other species. Spores of type B can be present in soil; after ingestion, they reach the liver via portal circulation where they persist in phagocytic cells. Following liver damage, frequently caused by migrating parasites, local anaerobic conditions allow germination of the clostridial spores and production of toxins. type B alpha toxin causes necrotizing hepatitis and extensive edema, congestion, and hemorrhage in multiple organs. causes bacillary hemoglobinuria (BH) in cattle, sheep, and rarely, horses. Beta toxin is the main virulence factor of , causing hepatic necrosis and hemolysis. , the causal agent of Tyzzer disease (TD), is the only gram-negative and obligate intracellular pathogenic clostridia. TD occurs in multiple species, but it is more frequent in foals, lagomorphs, and laboratory animals. The mode of transmission is fecal-oral, with ingestion of spores from a fecal-contaminated environment. In affected animals, proliferates in the intestinal mucosa, resulting in necrosis, and then disseminates to the liver and other organs. Virulence factors for this microorganism have not been identified, to date. Given the peracute or acute nature of clostridial hepatitis in animals, treatment is rarely effective. However, INH and BH can be prevented, and should be controlled by vaccination and control of liver flukes. To date, no vaccine is available to prevent TD.
Topics: Animals; Clostridiales; Clostridium; Clostridium Infections; Hemoglobinuria; Hepatitis, Animal; Necrosis
PubMed: 31735127
DOI: 10.1177/1040638719886567 -
Nederlands Tijdschrift Voor Geneeskunde Jul 2022Three patients with acute severe neck pain, presented with and without neurological deficits. One patient had severe neck pain followed by autonomic dysfunction, aphagia...
Three patients with acute severe neck pain, presented with and without neurological deficits. One patient had severe neck pain followed by autonomic dysfunction, aphagia and dysarthria. She had an vertebrobasilar infarction due to the etiology of a dissection of both vertebral arteries. In one patient with a subarachnoidal bleeding, were the complaints mainly started with severe neck pain. There was no aneurysma found. One patient presented with severe pain in the right side of the neck, shoulders and her right arm. She had a hemiparesis. Because of the suspicion of a cerebral infarction, additional anticoagulation was started. She developed a paraparalysis. Her diagnosis was an acute spontaneous cervical epidural hematoma In a few cases, the presence of solely per-acute neck pain is found as symptom of a subarachnoid hemorrhage. In cases of acute neck pain with alarm symptoms, the patient should be referred to the emergency department.
Topics: Diagnosis, Differential; Female; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Neck Pain; Paresis
PubMed: 35899719
DOI: No ID Found -
BMC Veterinary Research Oct 2020Our aim was to investigate the incidence and prevalence of clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders, and peripartum disorders, and to examine factors...
Epidemiological study to investigate the incidence and prevalence of clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders, on a dairy farm in a temperate zone in Japan.
BACKGROUND
Our aim was to investigate the incidence and prevalence of clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders, and peripartum disorders, and to examine factors affecting the prevalence of each disease in cows raised on a large dairy farm in a temperate climate in Japan. The present study was performed on a large commercial dairy farm with approximately 2500 Holstein cows. Data were collected from 2014 to 2018, and involved 9663 calving records for 4256 cows.
RESULTS
The incidence rate on the farm was 21.9% for clinical mastitis, 10.4% for peracute mastitis, 2.9% for metabolic disorders, and 3.2% for peripartum disorders. The prevalence rates for clinical mastitis, peracute mastitis, metabolic disorders, and peripartum disorders were 28.0, 13.3, 3.7, and 4.0%, respectively. In all four diseases, the probability of time to occurrence for each disease was associated with parity and calving season (P < 0.05). Regarding metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders, the probability of occurrence decreased during the first 10 days after calving.
CONCLUSIONS
Our results showed that clinical mastitis occurred most often in this temperate zone, and that metabolic disorders and peripartum disorders occurred from calving to day 10 post-calving.
Topics: Animals; Cattle; Female; Incidence; Japan; Mastitis, Bovine; Metabolic Diseases; Peripartum Period; Prevalence
PubMed: 33054781
DOI: 10.1186/s12917-020-02613-y -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2015This review discusses terminology, pathological, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, treatment, outcome, and prognostic factors of... (Review)
Review
This review discusses terminology, pathological, clinical, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, treatment, outcome, and prognostic factors of fibrocartilaginous embolic myelopathy (FCEM), acute non-compressive nucleus pulposus extrusion (ANNPE), and intradural/intramedullary intervertebral disk extrusion (IIVDE). FCEM, ANNPE, and IIVDE have a similar clinical presentation characterized by peracute onset of neurological dysfunction that is generally non-progressive after the initial 24-48 h. Differentiating between these conditions can be challenging, however, certain clinical and imaging findings can help. FCEM can occur in both adult and immature animals, whereas ANNPE or IIVDE have been reported only in animals older than 1 year. In dogs, ANNPE and IIVDE most commonly occur in the intervertebral disk spaces between T12 and L2, whereas FCEM has not such site predilection. In cats, FCEM occurs more frequently in the cervical spinal cord than in other locations. Data on cats with ANNPE and IIVDE are limited. Optimal MRI definition and experience in neuroimaging can help identify the findings that allow differentiation between FCEM, ANNPE, and IIVDE. In animals with ANNPE and IIVDE, the affected intervertebral disk space is often narrowed and the focal area of intramedullary hyperintensity on T2-weighted images is located above the affected intervertebral disk space. In dogs with ANNPE signal changes associated with the extruded nucleus pulposus and epidural fat disruption can be identified in the epidural space dorsal to the affected intervertebral disk. Identification of a linear tract (predominantly hyperintense on T2-weighted images, iso to hypointense on T1-weighted images and hypointense on T2*-weighted gradient recall echo images) extending from the intervertebral disk into the spinal cord parenchyma is highly suggestive of IIVDE. Treatment of FCEM and ANNPE is conservative. Dogs reported with IIVDE have been managed either conservatively or surgically. Prognostic factors include degree of neurological dysfunction (particularly loss of nociception) and disease-specific MRI variables.
PubMed: 26664953
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2015.00024 -
Die Anaesthesiologie Apr 2023Acute aortic diseases represent a group of complex severe and often fatal medical conditions. Although they are significantly rarer than cardiac or thromboembolic... (Review)
Review
Acute aortic diseases represent a group of complex severe and often fatal medical conditions. Although they are significantly rarer than cardiac or thromboembolic events, they are an important differential diagnosis to be ruled out, e.g., in the clinical work-up of acute chest pain.Treatment, especially surgical interventions, depends on the progression, extent and size of the pathology and whenever possible should be performed in specialized centers with the appropriate experience.Intensive care monitoring is advisable as a range of peracute complications can occur even in initially stable patients. Depending on the clinical presentation and affected structures, a number of severe complications need to be anticipated by critical care physicians. Additionally, a notable symptom is severe and refractory hypertension, especially in the acute phase. This article provides a summary of the most frequent clinical pictures and corresponding treatment options. Furthermore, the principles of initial patient stabilization and treatment as well as the perioperative management of complex surgical procedures on the aorta are discussed.
Topics: Humans; Acute Disease; Aortic Dissection; Aorta; Aortic Diseases; Critical Care
PubMed: 36735023
DOI: 10.1007/s00101-023-01253-9 -
Porcine Health Management 2019In 2007 African swine fever (ASF) arrived at a Black Sea harbour in Georgia and in 2014 the infection reached the European Union (EU), where it still expands its... (Review)
Review
In 2007 African swine fever (ASF) arrived at a Black Sea harbour in Georgia and in 2014 the infection reached the European Union (EU), where it still expands its territory. ASF is a fatal viral disease affecting domestic pigs and wild boar of all ages with clinical presentations ranging from per-acute to chronic disease, including apparently asymptomatic courses. Until the detection of the first case inside the EU, infections in the current epidemic were mainly seen among pig farms with generally low biosecurity, and with incidental spill over to the wild boar population. In the EU, however, the infection survived locally in the wild boar population independently from outbreaks in domestic pigs, with a steady and low prevalence. Apart from the wild boar population and the habitat, the current epidemic recognizes humans as the main responsible for both long distance transmission and virus introduction in the domestic pig farms. This underlines the importance to include social science when planning ASF-prevention, -control, or -eradication measures. Based on experiences, knowledge and data gained from the current epidemic this review highlights some recent developments in the epidemiological understanding of ASF, especially concerning the role of wild boar and their habitats in ASF epidemiology. In this regard, the qualities of three epidemiological traits: contagiousity, tenacity, and case fatality rate, and their impact on ASF persistence and transmission are especially discussed.
PubMed: 30637117
DOI: 10.1186/s40813-018-0109-2