Brucellosis is an endemic disease in Zimbabwe caused by the genus Brucella. Brucella seroprevalence was recently reported to be high in the wildlife-livestock interface in the Chiredzi district and the neighbouring Gonarezhou National Park (GNP) in Zimbabwe, and higher amongst communal cattle with an abortion history and access to grazing in GNP than amongst communal cattle with no abortion history or access to grazing in GNP. The aim of this study was to investigate Brucella species in brucellosis seropositive cattle in the Chiredzi district with access to GNP using isolation and identification. Isolation of Brucella species from whole blood (n = 18) and milk samples (n = 10) from seropositive animals with an abortion history was based on the rose Bengal test (RBT) and enzyme-linked immunoassays (enzyme- linked immunosorbent assay [ELISA]; indirect ELISA and complement ELISA), using microbiology and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods. Brucella abortus was cultured and identified from blood and milk collected from seropositive cows in both communal areas. The Brucella-specific 16-23S intergenic spacer (ITS) PCR and multiplex AMOS-PCR assays verified the identification of the cultures. Our results confirmed that B. abortus is present in cattle on communal farms in the Chiredzi district in Zimbabwe and might cause cattle abortions. The need for implementing control measures and raising public awareness on zoonotic transmission of brucellosis are recommended. (Résumé d'auteur)

Filoviral haemorrhagic fevers (FVHF) are caused by agents belonging to Filoviridae family, Ebola and Marburg viruses. They are amongst the most lethal pathogens known to infect humans. Incidence of FVHF outbreaks are increasing, with affected number of patients on the rise. Whilst there has been no report yet of FVHF in Zambia, its proximity to Angola and Democratic Republic of Congo, which have recorded major outbreaks, as well as the open borders, increased trade and annual migration of bats between these countries, puts Zambia at present and increased risk. Previous studies have indicated bats as potential reservoir hosts for filoviruses. An increasing population with an increasing demand for resources has forced incursion into previously uninhabited land, potentially bringing them into contact with unknown pathogens, reservoir hosts and/or amplifying hosts. The recent discovery of a novel arenavirus, Lujo, highlights the potential that every region, including Zambia, has for being the epicentre or primary focus for emerging and re-emerging infections. It is therefore imperative that surveillance for potential emerging infections, such as viral haemorrhagic fevers be instituted. In order to accomplish this surveillance, rapid detection, identification and monitoring of agents in patients and potential reservoirs is needed. International co-operation is the strategy of choice for the surveillance and fight against emerging infections. Due to the extensive area in which filoviral infections can occur, a regional approach to surveillance activities is required, with regional referral centres. There is a need to adopt shared policies for the prevention and control of infectious diseases. There is also need for optimisation of currently available tests and development of new diagnostic tests, in order to have robust, highly sensitive and specific diagnostic tests that can be used even where there are inadequate laboratories and diagnostic services.

peer reviewed | Objective—To culture equine myoblasts from muscle microbiopsy specimens, examine myoblast production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in conditions of anoxia followed by reoxygenation, and assess the effects of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) on ROS production. Animals—5 healthy horses (5 to 15 years old). Procedures—Equine skeletal myoblast cultures were derived from 1 or 2 microbiopsy specimens obtained from a triceps brachii muscle of each horse. Cultured myoblasts were exposed to conditions of anoxia followed by reoxygenation or to conditions of normoxia (control cells). Cell production of ROS in the presence or absence of HRP or MPO was assessed by use of a gas chromatography method, after which cells were treated with a 3,3′-diaminobenzidine chromogen solution to detect peroxidase binding. Results—Equine skeletal myoblasts were successfully cultured from microbiopsy specimens. In response to anoxia and reoxygenation, ROS production of myoblasts increased by 71%, compared with that of control cells. When experiments were performed in the presence of HRP or MPO, ROS production in myoblasts exposed to anoxia and reoxygenation was increased by 228% and 183%, respectively, compared with findings for control cells. Chromogen reaction revealed a close adherence of peroxidases to cells, even after several washes. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results indicated that equine skeletal myoblast cultures can be generated from muscle microbiopsy specimens. Anoxia-reoxygenation– treated myoblasts produced ROS, and production was enhanced in the presence of peroxidases. This experimental model could be used to study the damaging effect of exercise on muscles in athletic horses.

International audience | Susceptibility of two French strains of stable flies Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) to six insecticides was assayed, using an exposure technique (1-hour contact) with treated filter papers. Three replicates per insecticide, per concentration (10 concentrations per insecticide), per fly strain (ENVT, Cabanac) and fly category (blood-engorged - non-blood-engorged) were performed using a total of 14,400 adult flies in this trial. The LD50 and LD90 are higher for the blood-engorged flies than the non-blood-engorged flies for both strains of S. calcitrans. The LD90 (mg/m(2)) of the engorged flies for both strains were respectively: cypermethrin (637.9, 54.9), deltamethrin (264.3, 28.1), fenvalerate (2392.5, 125.1), lambda-cyhalothrin (118.2, 41.3), permethrin (353.7, 88.1), and phoxim (194, 226.8). Phoxim, which has not been used in the ENVT for several years, showed the same susceptibility for both strains. The LD90 values obtained for the Cabanac strain (organic farm) were 1 to 4 times lower than the recommended doses of all five pyrethroids. For the ENVT strain (blood-engorged flies), the LD90 was 7.1 and 22.6 times over the recommended doses of both deltamethrin and fenvalerate respectively, which are commonly used insecticides on this site.

A piometra é uma afecção reprodutiva comum que acomete fêmeas caninas, podendo se agravar e progredir para o quadro de sepse grave e choque séptico. A precocidade da instituição da antibioticoterapia é determinante para um melhor prognóstico. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os principais microrganismos envolvidos nos casos de sepse grave em cadelas acometidas por piometra e submetidas à ovário-histerectomia terapêutica, por meio de realização de hemocultura e cultura da secreção uterina e antibiograma. Foram avaliadas 33 fêmeas caninas e o principal agente envolvido com a sepse grave secundária à piometra foi a Escherichia coli, identificada em 57,57% dos casos. Também foram identificados Staphylococcus sp., com incidência de 9,09%, Citrobacter koseri, Enterobacter cloacae, Enterobacter faecalis, Eduardsiella sp., Klebsiella pneumoniae e Streptococcus sp., com 3,03% de frequência cada. Após a realização do antibiograma pelo método de difusão, os antimicrobianos que apresentaram maior eficácia contra as cepas de Escherichia coli foram a gentamicina, a enrofloxacina, a cefalexina e a associação de amoxicilina com ácido clavulânico, nesta ordem. A cultura da secreção uterina foi mais sensível que a hemocultura para identificação do agente microbiano (p<0,0001). A identificação bacteriana é útil para direcionar a antibioticoterapia empírica mais específica, de acordo com o perfil de sensibilidade, minimizando assim o desenvolvimento de resistência, o custo do tratamento e o risco de reações adversas aos antimicrobianos utilizados.

Activation of Ito cells and their metamorphosis into myofibroblasts is the primary process in fibrotic remodelling in chronic liver disease. The dystrophin-associated glycoprotein complex (DAGPC) is part of the cytoskeleton of muscle cells and is also expressed in other tissues. Because of its differential expression in muscle degeneration, we investigated this complex in normal healthy liver tissue and tissue with chronic liver degeneration in dogs and cats to gain information about cell alterations in chronic liver disease. In normal liver tissue from both species, we found mild expression of dystrophin 1 and β-dystroglycan, especially in Ito cells. Dystrophin 2 and y-sarcoglycan showed no expression. In chronic degenerative liver diseases, we found increased expression of dystrophin 1 and β-dystroglycan in Ito cells in dogs and cats. We suggest that this increased protein expression is an early sign of the metamorphosis of Ito cells in the beginning of chronic degenerative liver disease.

Feline intestinal lymphosarcomas are mostly caused by Feline Leukemia Virus (FeLV). Unfortunately, there is no available vaccine for FeLV in Egypt. The diagnosis of feline intestinal lymphosarcomas depends upon abdominal palpation, x-rays examination, ultrasonography, direct ELISA and histopathology of masses excised during laparotomy. The recorded clinical signs in intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats were variable including vomiting, fever, anorexia, ascites, anemia, dyspnea, constipation and emaciation. The affected lymph nodes were mesenteric, mediastinal and retropharyngeal. The prevalence of intestinal lymphosarcomas in the examined cats was 4.03 % (11 out of 273 cats). The prevalence was higher in queens than toms (2.93 % and 0.73 % respectively). The Siamese cats had higher prevalence than the Sherazy ones (2.56 % and 1.47 % respectively). X-ray films and ultrasonographic images performed on the eleven cats suffered from intestinal lymphosarcomas revealed ascities and abdominal masses. The comparison of ELISA and histopathology (of excised masses) results showed that 9 out of 11 intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats were infected with FeLV that proved not all cases of intestinal lymphosarcoma were caused by FeLV. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ELISA to diagnose intestinal lymphosarcoma in cats were 81.81 %, 100 % and 92 % respectively. Gross autopsy of the collected lymph nodes, livers, kidneys revealed that gross lymphadenopathy involving one or more nodes, hepatomegaly and kidney enlargement. Microscopically, the examined tissues specimens showed that the normal architecture of the examined lymph nodes, livers, and kidneys has been replaced by a diffuse infiltrate of both lymphocytes and lymphoblasts. The vast majority of the cells are small lymphocyte-type cells with round basophilic nuclei and a sparse rim of cytoplasm. The eleven intestinal lymphosarcoma affected cats exposed to abdominal exploratory surgery (laparotomy) died at one to three months post-surgery. It is concluded that the vaccination of kittens and cats against FeLV in Egypt is very important to prevent the highly fatal intestinal lymphosarcomas.

Myiasis-causing larvae were extracted from dogs attending veterinary clinics in Plateau State, Nigeria and subjected to molecular analysis involving polymerase chain reaction amplification of the 28S rRNA gene of blowflies, cloning and sequencing techniques. All larvae were confirmed as Cordylobia anthropophaga Blanchard (Diptera: Calliphoridae) after the initial morphological identification. This is the first molecular identification of any myiasis-causing fly species in Nigeria and may serve as a reliable alternative to morphological identification where samples are not well preserved or difficult to identify to species level.

The slide enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (SELISA) was standardized for detection of antibodies specific to Trypanosoma evansi and subsequently used for the screening of naturally infected bovine sera. A novel SELISA, a modification of the standard ELISA technique was used for the detection of antibodies against Trypanosoma evansi in bovines using positive and negative control sera. The test is based on immunostaining of the fixed whole Trypanosoma evansi organisms on microscopic glass slide, incubation with sera, antibovine IgG-HRPO conjugate and substrate Diaminobenzidine tetrahydrochloride (DAB). Finally the reaction was read under oil immersion of microscope. A total of 702 sera samples from bovines in Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh were examined by SELISA and 192 were found positive for Trypanosoma evansi antibodies.