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The Veterinary Quarterly Jan 2021Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great animal welfare and economic implications worldwide known since ancient times. The emergence of brucellosis in new areas as... (Review)
Review
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great animal welfare and economic implications worldwide known since ancient times. The emergence of brucellosis in new areas as well as transmission of brucellosis from wild and domestic animals is of great significance in terms of new epidemiological dimensions. Brucellosis poses a major public health threat by the consumption of non-pasteurized milk and milk products produced by unhygienic dairy farms in endemic areas. Regular and meticulous surveillance is essentially required to determine the true picture of brucellosis especially in areas with continuous high prevalence. Additionally, international migration of humans, animals and trade of animal products has created a challenge for disease spread and diagnosis in non-endemic areas. Isolation and identification remain the gold standard test, which requires expertise. The advancement in diagnostic strategies coupled with screening of newly introduced animals is warranted to control the disease. Of note, the diagnostic value of miRNAs for appropriate detection of infection has been shown. The most widely used vaccine strains to protect against infection and related abortions in cattle are strain 19 and RB51. Moreover, it is very important to note that no vaccine, which is highly protective, safe and effective is available either for bovines or human beings. Research results encourage the use of bacteriophage lysates in treatment of bovine brucellosis. One Health approach can aid in control of this disease, both in animals and man.
Topics: Animals; Bacterial Vaccines; Brucella; Brucellosis, Bovine; Cattle; Humans; MicroRNAs; Zoonoses
PubMed: 33353489
DOI: 10.1080/01652176.2020.1868616 -
Pathogens (Basel, Switzerland) Dec 2021spp. are Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, slow-growing, facultative intracellular bacteria causing brucellosis. Brucellosis is an endemic of specific... (Review)
Review
spp. are Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, slow-growing, facultative intracellular bacteria causing brucellosis. Brucellosis is an endemic of specific geographic areas and, although underreported, represents the most common zoonotic infection, with an annual global incidence of 500,000 cases among humans. Humans represent an occasional host where the infection is mainly caused by , which is the most virulent; ; ; and . A microbiological analysis is crucial to identifying human cases because clinical symptoms of human brucellosis are variable and aspecific. The laboratory diagnosis is based on three different microbiological approaches: (i) direct diagnosis by culture, (ii) indirect diagnosis by serological tests, and (iii) direct rapid diagnosis by molecular PCR-based methods. Despite the established experience with serological tests and highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), a culture is still considered the "gold standard" in the laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis due to its clinical and epidemiological relevance. Moreover, the automated BC systems now available have increased the sensitivity of BCs and shortened the time to detection of species. The main limitations of serological tests are the lack of common interpretative criteria, the suboptimal specificity due to interspecies cross-reactivity, and the low sensitivity during the early stage of disease. Despite that, serological tests remain the main diagnostic tool, especially in endemic areas because they are inexpensive, user friendly, and have high negative predictive value. Promising serological tests based on new synthetic antigens have been recently developed together with novel point-of-care tests without the need for dedicated equipment and expertise. NAATs are rapid tests that can help diagnose brucellosis in a few hours with high sensitivity and specificity. Nevertheless, the interpretation of NAAT-positive results requires attention because it may not necessarily indicate an active infection but rather a low bacterial inoculum, DNA from dead bacteria, or a patient that has recovered. Refined NAATs should be developed, and their performances should be compared with those of commercial and home-made molecular tests before being commercialized for the diagnosis of brucellosis. Here, we review and report the most common and updated microbiological diagnostic methods currently available for the laboratory diagnosis of brucellosis.
PubMed: 34959578
DOI: 10.3390/pathogens10121623 -
Emerging Microbes & Infections Dec 2023The zoonotic bacteria, , is becoming the leading cause of canine brucellosis in Europe. In dogs, it causes reproductive problems as well as non-specific lameness or... (Review)
Review
The zoonotic bacteria, , is becoming the leading cause of canine brucellosis in Europe. In dogs, it causes reproductive problems as well as non-specific lameness or discospondilitis. In humans, can be origin of chronic debilitating conditions characteristic to its genus such as undulant fever, splenomegaly, and lymphadenopathy. Although shows some pathogenic characteristics similar to and , it lacks surface O-polysaccharide, like nonzoonotic . This review shows that host- interactions are still poorly understood, with many knowledge and capability gaps, causing relatively poor sensitivity and specificity of existing diagnostic tools. Currently, there is no vaccine for this rough species. Besides, antimicrobial therapy does not guarantee bacterial elimination, and infection relapses are frequently reported, increasing the risks of antibiotic resistance development. has been detected in dogs in almost all European countries which increased human exposure, but currently there is no systematic surveillance. Moreover, caused brucellosis is not included in Animal Health Law, and therefore there is no legal framework to tackle this emerging infectious disease. To map out the diagnostic strategies, identify risks for human infections and propose management scheme for infected pet and kennel dogs, we present current understanding of canine caused brucellosis, outline major knowledge gaps and propose future steps. To address and highlight challenges veterinary and public health services encounter in Europe, we developed two infection scenarios: of a single household pet and of a kennel dog in larger group.
Topics: Animals; Dogs; Humans; Sheep; Brucella canis; Public Health; Dog Diseases; Brucellosis; Europe
PubMed: 37649455
DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2023.2249126 -
Microorganisms Dec 2021, a Gram-negative bacterium with a high infective capacity and a wide spectrum of hosts in the animal world, is found in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as... (Review)
Review
, a Gram-negative bacterium with a high infective capacity and a wide spectrum of hosts in the animal world, is found in terrestrial and marine mammals, as well as amphibians. This broad spectrum of hosts is closely related to the non-classical virulence factors that allow this pathogen to establish its replicative niche, colonizing epithelial and immune system cells, evading the host's defenses and defensive response. While motility is the primary role of the flagellum in most bacteria, in the flagellum is involved in virulence, infectivity, cell growth, and biofilm formation, all of which are very important facts in a bacterium that to date has been described as a non-motile organism. Evidence of the expression of these flagellar proteins that are present in makes it possible to hypothesize certain evolutionary aspects as to where a free-living bacterium eventually acquired genetic material from environmental microorganisms, including flagellar genes, conferring on it the ability to reach other hosts (mammals), and, under selective pressure from the environment, can express these genes, helping it to evade the immune response. This review summarizes relevant aspects of the presence of flagellar proteins and puts into context their relevance in certain functions associated with the infective process. The study of these flagellar genes gives the genus a very high infectious versatility, placing it among the main organisms in urgent need of study, as it is linked to human health by direct contact with farm animals and by eventual transmission to the general population, where flagellar genes and proteins are of great relevance.
PubMed: 35056531
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10010083 -
Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2022Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by spp. which can lead to heavy economic losses and severe human diseases. Thus, controlling brucellosis is very important.... (Review)
Review
Brucellosis is a bacterial zoonosis caused by spp. which can lead to heavy economic losses and severe human diseases. Thus, controlling brucellosis is very important. Due to humans easily gaining brucellosis from animals, animal brucellosis control programs can help the eradication of human brucellosis. There are two popular vaccines against animal brucellosis. Live attenuated strain 19 (S19 vaccine) is the first effective and most extensively used vaccine for the prevention of brucellosis in cattle. Live attenuated strain Rev.1 (Rev.1 vaccine) is the most effective vaccine against caprine and ovine brucellosis. Although these two vaccines provide good immunity for animals against brucellosis, the expense of persistent serological responses is one of the main problems of both vaccines. The advantages and limitations of vaccines, especially new vaccine candidates, have been less studied. In addition, there is an urgent need for new strategies to control and eradicate this disease. Therefore, this narrative review aims to present an updated overview of the available different types of brucellosis vaccines.
PubMed: 35923818
DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.925773 -
Microorganisms Aug 2022Brucellosis is one of the most important and widespread bacterial zoonoses worldwide. Cases are reported annually across the range of known infectious species of the... (Review)
Review
Brucellosis is one of the most important and widespread bacterial zoonoses worldwide. Cases are reported annually across the range of known infectious species of the genus Globally, , primarily hosted by domestic sheep and goats, affects large proportions of livestock herds, and frequently spills over into humans. While some species, such as , are well controlled in livestock in areas of North America, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem supports the species in native wild ungulates with occasional spillover to livestock. Elsewhere in North America, other species still infect domestic dogs and feral swine, with some associated human cases. spp. patterns vary across space globally with and the most important for livestock control. A myriad of other species within the genus infect a wide range of marine mammals, wildlife, rodents, and even frogs. Infection in humans from these others varies with geography and bacterial species. Control in humans is primarily achieved through livestock vaccination and culling and requires accurate and rapid species confirmation; vaccination is spp.-specific and typically targets single livestock species for distribution. Traditional bacteriology methods are slow (some media can take up to 21 days for bacterial growth) and often lack the specificity of molecular techniques. Here, we summarize the molecular techniques for confirming and identifying specific species and provide recommendations for selecting the appropriate methods based on need, sensitivity, and laboratory capabilities/technology. As vaccination/culling approaches are costly and logistically challenging, proper diagnostics and species identification are critical tools for targeting surveillance and control.
PubMed: 36014002
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10081584 -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2022Human brucellosis caused by the facultative intracellular pathogen Brucella spp. is an endemic bacterial zoonosis manifesting as acute or chronic infections with high...
BACKGROUND
Human brucellosis caused by the facultative intracellular pathogen Brucella spp. is an endemic bacterial zoonosis manifesting as acute or chronic infections with high morbidity. Treatment typically involves a combination therapy of two antibiotics for several weeks to months, but despite this harsh treatment relapses occur at a rate of 5-15%. Although poor compliance and reinfection may account for a fraction of the observed relapse cases, it is apparent that the properties of the infectious agent itself may play a decisive role in this phenomenon.
METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
We used B. abortus carrying a dual reporter in a macrophage infection model to gain a better understanding of the efficacy of recommended therapies in cellulo. For this we used automated fluorescent microscopy as a prime read-out and developed specific CellProfiler pipelines to score infected macrophages at the population and the single cell level. Combining microscopy of constitutive and induced reporters with classical CFU determination, we quantified the protective nature of the Brucella intracellular lifestyle to various antibiotics and the ability of B. abortus to persist in cellulo despite harsh antibiotic treatments.
CONCLUSION/SIGNIFICANCE
We demonstrate that treatment of infected macrophages with antibiotics at recommended concentrations fails to fully prevent growth and persistence of B. abortus in cellulo, which may be explained by a protective nature of the intracellular niche(s). Moreover, we show the presence of bona fide intracellular persisters upon antibiotic treatment, which are metabolically active and retain the full infectious potential, therefore constituting a plausible reservoir for reinfection and relapse. In conclusion, our results highlight the need to extend the spectrum of models to test new antimicrobial therapies for brucellosis to better reflect the in vivo infection environment, and to develop therapeutic approaches targeting the persister subpopulation.
Topics: Anti-Bacterial Agents; Brucella abortus; Brucellosis; Humans; Macrophages; Reinfection
PubMed: 35881641
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010635 -
The Brazilian Journal of Infectious... 2022Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great public health importance. In wild animals, Brucella abortus is one of the most diagnosed species, mainly in enzootic...
PURPOSE
Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease of great public health importance. In wild animals, Brucella abortus is one of the most diagnosed species, mainly in enzootic environments where domestic animals share the same environment. B. abortus is common in environments shared by cattle, wild, and domestic animals. This study aimed to detect the presence of B. abortus DNA in free-ranging and captivity felids at Mato Grosso State, Brazil.
METHOD
Polymerase chain reaction, based on the genetic element IS711, was performed in blood samples collected from 23 free-ranging and captive felids. The species represented include Leopardus colocolo, Leopardus pardalis, Leopardus wiedii, Panthera onca, Puma concolor, and Puma yagouaroundi.
RESULTS
DNA amplification of B. abortus was observed in only one captive P. concolor (4.34%).
CONCLUSION
The detection of this pathogen in captive animals using molecular tools demonstrates the importance of monitoring, as it raises concerns about the possibility of transmission between humans and wild and domestic animals, especially in regions of vast biodiversity, such as in the State of Mato Grosso, Brazil.
Topics: Animals; Animals, Wild; Brazil; Brucella abortus; Cattle; DNA; Felidae; Humans; Panthera
PubMed: 35447100
DOI: 10.1016/j.bjid.2022.102351 -
Molecular Medicine Reports Feb 2020The present study aimed to explore the differences in protein and gene expression of Brucella abortus cultured under biofilm and planktonic conditions. The proteins... (Comparative Study)
Comparative Study
The present study aimed to explore the differences in protein and gene expression of Brucella abortus cultured under biofilm and planktonic conditions. The proteins unique to biofilms and planktonic B. abortus were separated by two‑dimensional (2‑D) electrophoresis and then identified by matrix‑assisted laser desorption/ionization‑tandem time of flight‑mass spectrometry (MALDI‑TOF/TOF‑MS). High‑throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses were performed to identify differentially expressed genes between B. abortus cultured under biofilm and planktonic conditions. The proteins and genes identified by proteomic and genomic analyses were further evaluated via western blot and reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) analyses. 2‑D electrophoresis identified 20 differentially expressed protein spots between biofilms and planktonic cells, which corresponded to 18 individual proteins (12 downregulated and 6 upregulated) after MALDI‑TOF/TOF‑MS analysis, including elongation factor Tu and enolase. RT‑qPCR analysis revealed that all of the 18 genes were downregulated in biofilms compared with planktonic cells. Western blot analysis identified 9 downregulated and 3 upregulated proteins. High‑throughput sequencing and bioinformatic analyses identified 14 function and pathway‑associated genes (e.g., BAbS19_I14970). RT‑qPCR analysis of the 14 genes showed that they were upregulated in biofilm compared with in planktonic state. In conclusion, these differentially expressed genes may play important roles in bacterial defense, colonization, invasion, and virulence.
Topics: Bacterial Proteins; Biofilms; Brucella abortus; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial; Plankton; Proteomics; RNA, Messenger; Reproducibility of Results; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 31974592
DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2019.10888