Introduction: Clostridium perfringens is commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of animals and humans and continues to cause one of the most prevalent foodborne diseases in man. Material and Methods: A total of 355 samples were examined for the occurrence of C. perfringens: rectal swabs from cattle, sheep, and goats, fresh stool samples from diarrhoea sufferers having been in contact with these animals, irrigation water and soil samples from the husbandry sites, and preharvesting fresh produce from farms irrigated with the sampled water. All samples were collected from Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. PCR analysis was carried out with positive isolates using the α-toxin gene. Sequence analysis of the gene of C. perfringens isolates was performed using the neighbour-joining approach. Bootstrap analysis was executed with 1,000 resamplings. Results: 174 C. perfringens strains were isolated with a 49.01% prevalence. The highest prevalence of C. perfringens in apparently healthy animals was found in sheep (65.45%) followed by goats (58%), buffaloes (55%), and cattle (47.1%). Its prevalence in humans being in contact with these animals was 47.5%. The bacterium’s isolation from the soil and irrigation water was achieved in 40% and 31.7% of samples, respectively, posing a risk, particularly when the water and soil contact food in the field, shown by the fresh produce isolation of 40%. A significant relationship between the prevalence of C. perfringens in animal and environmental samples was identified (P < 0.05). A significant relationship was identified neither between animal species and C. perfringens prevalence, nor between the environmental source and C. perfringens prevalence (P > 0.05). All isolates were positive for the α-toxin gene by PCR. The sequence analysis and the phylogenetic relationship of the α-toxin genes from different samples revealed that C. perfringens from faeces of apparently healthy cattle, buffaloes, sheep, and goats is a significant threat in places where it can contaminate the soil and water. In addition, the sequence of C. perfringens from humans suffering from diarrhoea was found in the same cluster with the sequence from cows, goats, and sheep. Conclusion: The role of apparently healthy animals in transmitting C. perfringens to humans, either through being in direct or indirect contact via water or soil in the cultivation of vegetables and fruits, was demonstrated.

Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati are roundworms of dogs and cats. The purpose of this study was to investigate the infection caused by these ascarids in cats and dogs, using microscopic and molecular analysis methods. Adult ascarids were gathered from the faeces of dogs and cats in Van province, in 2015–2016. Existing keys and PCR sequencing of the ITS-2 fragment were used to identify the morphological features of the parasite species. It was observed that out of 20 adult ascarids, 17 and 3 were found to be Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, respectively. The ITS-2 gene region was amplified by PCR to perform molecular analysis. Genotyping indicated that the dogs and cats were infected with T. canis and T. cati, respectively, and none had Toxascaris leonina. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the molecular characteristics of adult ascaridoid nematodes from cats and dogs in Turkey. The molecular approaches established in this study enable molecular identification and genetic structure studies of the ascaridoids.

Lyme borreliosis/Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi and is one of the most common vector-borne diseases transmitted by ticks. A total of 136 Ixodes ricinus ticks, collected in the Ternopil (Ukraine) region, including 126 adults (70 females and 56 males), and 10 nymphs were examined. The identification of the species and their developmental form was based on morphological characteristics. PCR with B5S-Bor and 23S-Bor primers resulted in Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato DNA amplification among six ticks (4.4%). The detailed analysis based on the DNA sequencing showed the presence of DNA of Borrelia afzelii in four samples; the remaining two represented Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato complex, although their genospecies were not determined. The research confirmed the dominance of Borrelia afzelii genospecies in the ticks from Ukraine. It seems reasonable to undertake similar research in ticks from other regions of Ukraine. Knowledge in this field can be useful for public health and planning the prevention of tick-borne diseases.

The H9N2 strains of avian influenza viruses (AIVs) circulate worldwide in poultry and cause sporadic infection in humans. To better understand the evolution of these viruses while circulating in poultry, an H9N2 chicken isolate was passaged 19 times in chickens via aerosol inoculation. Whole-genome sequencing showed that the viruses from the initial stock and those after the 8th and 19th passages (P0, P8, and P19) all had the same monobasic cleavage site in the hemagglutinin (HA), typical for viruses of low pathogenicity. However, at position 226 of the HA protein the ratio of glutamine (which favors avian-type receptor binding) to leucine (which favors mammalian-type receptor binding) decreased from 54:46 in P0, to 87:13 in P8, and then 0:100 in P19. In chickens exposed to aerosols of P0, P8, or P19, replication of the viruses was similar and mainly limited to the respiratory tract. None of the infected chickens showed any clinical signs. Over the 19 passages the viruses maintained relatively stable infectivity but gradually lost lethality to chicken embryos. According to the hemagglutination inactivation assay, P8 was slightly and P19 significantly (P < 0.05) less thermostable than P0. Collectively, after 19 passages in chickens the H9N2 AIVs retained low pathogenicity with a positive selection of L226 in the HA. These findings suggest that H9N2 viruses might acquire mammalian specificity after asymptomatic circulation in avian species.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the coding regions of ADAMTS17 for potential mutations in Chinese Shar-Pei with a diagnosis of primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), primary lens luxation (PLL), or both. ANIMALS 63 Shar-Pei and 96 dogs of other breeds. PROCEDURES ADAMTS17 exon resequencing was performed on buccal mucosal DNA from 10 Shar-Pei with a diagnosis of POAG, PLL, or both (affected dogs). A candidate causal variant sequence was identified, and additional dogs (53 Shar-Pei [11 affected and 42 unaffected] and 95 dogs of other breeds) were genotyped for the variant sequence by amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis. Total RNA was extracted from ocular tissues of 1 affected Shar-Pei and 1 ophthalmologically normal Golden Retriever; ADAMTS17 cDNA was reverse transcribed and sequenced, and ADAMTS17 expression was evaluated by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR assay. RESULTS All affected Shar-Pei were homozygous for a 6-bp deletion in exon 22 of ADAMTS17 predicted to affect the resultant protein. All unaffected Shar-Pei were heterozygous or homozygous for the wild-type allele. The variant sequence was significantly associated with affected status (diagnosis of POAG, PLL, or both). All dogs of other breeds were homozygous for the wild-type allele. The cDNA sequencing confirmed presence of the expected variant mRNA sequence in ocular tissue from the affected dog only. Gene expression analysis revealed a 4.24-fold decrease in the expression of ADAMTS17 in ocular tissue from the affected dog. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results supported that the phenotype (diagnosis of POAG, PLL, or both) is an autosomal recessive trait in Shar-Pei significantly associated with the identified mutation in ADAMTS17.

OBJECTIVE To identify the genetic cause for congenital photosensitivity and hyperbilirubinemia (CPH) in Southdown sheep. ANIMALS 73 Southdown sheep from a CPH research flock and 48 sheep of various breeds from commercial flocks without CPH. PROCEDURES Whole-genome sequencing was performed for a phenotypically normal Southdown sheep heterozygous for CPH. Heterozygous variants within Slco1b3 coding exons were identified, and exons that contained candidate mutations were amplified by PCR assay methods for Sanger sequencing. Blood samples from the other 72 Southdown sheep of the CPH research flock were used to determine plasma direct and indirect bilirubin concentrations. Southdown sheep with a plasma total bilirubin concentration < 0.3 mg/dL were classified as controls, and those with a total bilirubin concentration ≥ 0.3 mg/dL and signs of photosensitivity were classified as mutants. Sanger sequencing was used to determine the Slco1b3 genotype for all sheep. Genotypes were compared between mutants and controls of the CPH research flock and among all sheep. Protein homology was measured across 8 species to detect evolutionary conservation of Slco1b. RESULTS A nonsynonymous mutation at ovine Chr3:193,691,195, which generated a glycine-to-arginine amino acid change within the predicted Slco1b3 protein, was significantly associated with hyperbilirubinemia and predicted to be deleterious. That amino acid was conserved across 7 other mammalian species. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested a nonsynonymous mutation in Slco1b3 causes CPH in Southdown sheep. This disease appears to be similar to Rotor syndrome in humans. Sheep with CPH might be useful animals for Rotor syndrome research.