Boid Inclusion Body Disease Is Also a Disease of Wild Boa Constrictors

Reptarenaviruses cause boid inclusion body disease (BIBD), a potentially fatal disease, occurring in captive constrictor snakes boas and pythons worldwide. Classical BIBD, characterized by the formation of pathognomonic cytoplasmic inclusion bodies (IBs), occurs mainly in boas, whereas in pythons, for example, reptarenavirus infection most often manifests as central nervous system signs with limited IB formation. The natural hosts of reptarenaviruses are unknown, although free-ranging/wild constrictor snakes are among the suspects. Here, we report BIBD with reptarenavirus infection in indigenous captive and wild boid snakes in Costa Rica using histology, immunohistology, transmission electron microscopy, and next-generation sequencing (NGS). The snakes studied represented diagnostic postmortem cases of captive and wild-caught snakes since 1989. The results from NGS on archival paraffin blocks confirm that reptarenaviruses were already present in wild boa constrictors in Costa Rica in the 1980s. Continuous sequences that were de novo assembled from the low-quality RNA obtained from paraffin-embedded tissue allowed the identification of a distinct pair of reptarenavirus S and L segments in all studied animals; in most cases, reference assembly could recover almost complete segments. Sampling of three prospective cases in 2018 allowed an examination of fresh blood or tissues and resulted in the identification of additional reptarenavirus segments and hartmanivirus coinfection. Our results show that BIBD is not only a disease of captive snakes but also occurs in indigenous wild constrictor snakes in Costa Rica, suggesting boa constrictors to play a role in natural reptarenavirus circulation. IMPORTANCE The literature describes cases of boid inclusion body disease (BIBD) in captive snakes since the 1970s, and in the 2010s, others and ourselves identified reptarenaviruses as the causative agent. BIBD affects captive snakes globally, but the origin and the natural host of reptarenaviruses remain unknown. In this report, we show BIBD and reptarenavirus infections in two native Costa Rican constrictor snake species, and by studying archival samples, we show that both the viruses and the disease have been present in free-ranging/wild snakes in Costa Rica at least since the 1980s. The diagnosis of BIBD in wild boa constrictors suggests that this species plays a role in the circulation of reptarenaviruses. Additional sample collection and analysis would help to clarify this role further and the possibility of, e.g., vector transmission from an arthropod host

Depletion of complement enhances the clearance of Brucella abortus in mice

Brucellosis is a bacterial disease of animals and humans. Brucella abortus barely activates the innate immune system at the onset of infection, and this bacterium is resistant to the microbicidal action of complement. Since complement stands as the first line of defense during bacterial invasions, we explored the role of complement in B. abortus infections. Brucella abortus-infected mice depleted of complement with cobra venom factor (CVF) showed the same survival rate as mice in the control group. The complement-depleted mice readily eliminated B. abortus from the spleen and did so more efficiently than the infected controls after 7 days of infection. The levels of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin-6 (IL-6) remained within background levels in complement-depleted B. abortus-infected mice. In contrast, the levels of the immune activator cytokine gamma interferon and the regulatory cytokine IL-10 were significantly increased. No significant histopathological changes in the liver and spleen were observed between the complement-depleted B. abortus-infected mice and the corresponding controls. The action exerted by Brucella on the immune system in the absence of complement may correspond to a broader phenomenon that involves several components of innate immunity.Universidad de Costa Rica/[803-B0-601]/UCR/Costa RicaUniversidad de Costa Rica/[803-B8-762]/UCR/Costa RicaInternational Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology/[CRP/16/005]/ICGBE/ArgentinaUCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Instituto Clodomiro Picado (ICP)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias de la Salud::Centro de Investigación en Enfermedades Tropicales (CIET)UCR::Vicerrectoría de Docencia::Salud::Facultad de Microbiologí

Experimental infection of Artibeus lituratus bats and no detection of Zika virus in neotropical bats from French Guiana, Peru, and Costa Rica suggests a limited role of bats in Zika transmission

Author summaryIn previous works in 2008-2009, we found the presence of antibodies against flaviviruses, and viral RNA was detected in Neotropical chiropterans in Mexico, which led us to support the hypothesis that these animals could be reservoirs of flaviviruses. As controversial opinions have been exposed and based on a previous (2019) experimental ZIKV infection experiment conducted at Colorado State University using adult Artibeus males from a captive colony, in this work, we also experimentally infected adult Artibeus males complementarily adding females and using wild-caught animals instead of laboratory bats. We also monitored a diverse range of natural bat populations in Latin America for the presence of viral RNA against ZIKV in blood. A plaque reduction seroneutralization test was used for the detection of antibodies against ZIKV. Similar to the previous work, we found histopathological alterations in male testicles but also in the ovaries and oviducts of females, as well as gliosis and multifocal necrosis in pyramidal neurons and Purkinge cells of inoculated animals. Only two urine samples from inoculated animals showed viral RNA. Additionally, leukopenia and lymphoid follicular splenic hyperplasia were evidenced. In contrast to what was reported, no neutralizing antibodies against ZIKV were detected in any sample. Viral RNA within the blood was not present in any of the 2056 bat samples collected in French Guiana, Peru and Costa Rica and proceeding from 34 bat genera. These results together suggest that bats are not efficient amplifiers or reservoirs of ZIKV and might not have an important role in ZIKV transmission dynamics. Bats are important natural reservoir hosts of a diverse range of viruses that can be transmitted to humans and have been suggested to play an important role in the Zika virus (ZIKV) transmission cycle. However, the exact role of these animals as reservoirs for flaviviruses is still controversial. To further expand our understanding of the role of bats in the ZIKV transmission cycle in Latin America, we carried out an experimental infection in wild-caught Artibeus lituratus bats and sampled several free-living neotropical bats across three countries of the region. Experimental ZIKV infection was performed in wild-caught adult bats (4 females and 5 males). The most relevant findings were hemorrhages in the bladder, stomach and patagium. Significant histological findings included inflammatory infiltrate consisting of a predominance of neutrophils and lymphocytes, in addition to degeneration in the reproductive tract of males and females. This suggests that bat reproduction might be at some level affected by ZIKV. Leukopenia was also observed in some inoculated animals. Hemorrhages, genital alterations, and leukopenia are suggested to be caused by ZIKV; however, since these were wild-caught bats, we cannot exclude other agents. Detection of ZIKV by qPCR was observed at low concentrations in only two urine samples in two inoculated animals. All other animals and tissues tested were negative. Finally, no virus-neutralizing antibodies were found in any animal. To determine ZIKV infection in nature, the blood of a total of 2056 bats was sampled for ZIKV detection by qPCR. Most of the sampled individuals belonged to the genus Pteronotus sp. (23%), followed by the species Carollia sp. (17%), Anoura sp. (14%), and Molossus sp. (13.7%). No sample of any tested species was positive for ZIKV by qPCR. These results together suggest that bats are not efficient amplifiers or reservoirs of ZIKV and may not have an important role in ZIKV transmission dynamics

Enfermedades crónicas

Adherencia al tratamiento farmacológico y relación con el control metabólico en pacientes con DM2Aluminio en pacientes con terapia de reemplazo renal crónico con hemodiálisis en Bogotá, ColombiaAmputación de extremidades inferiores: ¿están aumentando las tasas?Consumo de edulcorantes artificiales en jóvenes universitariosCómo crecen niños normales de 2 años que son sobrepeso a los 7 añosDiagnóstico con enfoque territorial de salud cardiovascular en la Región MetropolitanaEfecto a corto plazo de una intervención con ejercicio físico, en niños con sobrepesoEfectos de la cirugía bariátrica en pacientes con síndrome metabólico e IMC < 35 KG/M2Encuesta mundial de tabaquismo en estudiantes de profesiones de saludEnfermedades crónicas no transmisibles: Consecuencias sociales-sanitarias de comunidades rurales en ChileEpidemiología de las muertes hospitalarias por patologías relacionadas a muerte encefálica, Chile 2003-2007Estado nutricional y conductas alimentarias en adolescentes de 4º medio de la Región de CoquimboEstudio de calidad de vida en una muestra del plan piloto para hepatitis CEvaluación del proceso asistencial y de resultados de salud del GES de diabetes mellitus 2Factores de riesgo cardiovascular en población universitaria de la Facsal, universidad de TarapacáImplicancias psicosociales en la génesis, evolución y tratamiento de pacientes con hipertensión arterial esencialInfarto agudo al miocardio (IAM): Realidad en el Hospital de Puerto Natales, 2009-2010Introducción de nuevas TIC y mejoría de la asistencia a un programa de saludNiños obesos atendidos en el Cesfam de Puerto Natales y su entorno familiarPerfil de la mortalidad por cáncer de cuello uterino en Río de JaneiroPerfil del paciente primo-consultante del Programa de Salud Cardiovascular, Consultorio Cordillera Andina, Los AndesPrevalencia de automedicación en mujeres beneficiarias del Hospital Comunitario de Til-TiPrevalencia de caries en población preescolar y su relación con malnutrición por excesoPrevalencia de retinopatía diabética en comunas dependientes del Servicio de Salud Metropolitano Occidente (SSMOC)Problemas de adherencia farmacológica antihipertensiva en población mapuche: Un estudio cualitativoRol biológico de los antioxidantes innatos en pacientes portadores de VIH/SidaSobrepeso en empleados de un restaurante de una universidad pública del estado de São Paul

Efecto de los antimaláricos sobre los diferentes dominios del índice de daño SLICC en pacientes de la cohorte GLADEL

Objetivos: estimar el efecto de los antimaláricos (AM) sobre los diferentes dominios del índice de daño SLICC (SDI). Métodos: se estudiaron pacientes con diagnóstico clínico reciente (≤2 años) de lupus eritematoso sistémico (LES) de la cohorte GLADEL

Untersuchung der feline major satellite DNA FA-SAT mittels In situ Hybridisierung in felinen Fibrosarkomzelllinien und in Fibrosarkomgewebe

Feline fibrosarcomas are the most common skin tumors of cats. Despite this high frequency and the publication of different hypotheses for their pathogenesis by several authors, the alterations accompanying the development of this tumor are still not completely understood.We studied the feline major satellite DNA (FA-SAT) hybridization pattern by FISH in four fibrosarcoma cell lines and one normal embryonic fibroblastic cell line as well as in 30 fibrosarcomas from 28 cats. Of the latter, tumor tissue biopsies and biopsies of non-affected skin of the same patient were analyzed.The hybridization pattern of the FA-SAT in the normal fibroblastic cell line differed significantly from that observed in all fibrosarcoma cell lines. The same observation was made for tumor tissues and fibroblasts from non-affected skin in paraffin-embedded material. These differences observed in vitro and in vivo suggest that alterations of the FA-SAT may be associated with chromosomal instability in the feline fibrosarcoma.Additionally, our FISH results show the usability of the designed method in differentiating tumor cells from normal skin fibroblasts in feline fibrosarcoma.Feline Fibrosarkome sind die am häufigsten vorkommenden Hautumoren der Katze. Zwar gibt es verschiedene Hypothesen zur Pathogenese dieser Tumoren, letztendlich ist ihre Entwicklung aber noch in vielerlei Hinsicht nicht geklärt.Diese Studie untersuchte die feline major satellite DNA (FA-SAT) mittels FISH in Fibrosarkomzelllinien, in einer normalen embryonalen Fibroblastenzelllinie und 30 Fibrosarkomen von 28 Katzen. Von letzteren wurden Biopsien aus dem Tumorgewebe und aus nicht betroffenen gesunden Hautbereichen gewonnen.Es konnten signifikante Unterschiede im FA-SAT-Hybridisationsmuster zwischen der Fibroblastenzelllinie und den Fibrosarkomzelllinien belegt werden. Ebenso lagen Signalunterschiede zwischen Fibroblasten aus Tumorgewebe und Fibroblasten aus nicht betroffenen Hautarealen im Paraffin-eingebetteten Material vor.Diese in vitro und ex vivo ermittelten Unterschiede weisen auf eine mögliche Rolle der FA-SAT hinsichtlich chromosomaler Instabilität im felinen Fibrosarkom hin. Weiterhin konnte diese Arbeit den Nutzen der FISH von FA-SAT in der Differenzierung zwischen Tumorzellen und normalen Zellen in felinen Fibrosarkomen aufzeigen

Histopathological description of ocular and nervous lesions in domestic rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi: an overview

Este artículo describe las lesiones, a nivel del sistema nervioso central y ojo, en conejos infectados con Encephalitozoon cuniculi. El análisis histopatológico, en conjunto con el uso de tinciones especiales de Ziehl-Neelsen y Gomori metamina-plata, es el método más sensible en el diagnóstico post mórtem. La presentación neurológica afecta a una gran mayoría de estos pacientes y se asocia a una encefalitis granulomatosa multifocal severa. En muchos de estos casos se puede observar esporas microsporidiales con tinciones especiales. La presentación ocular es menos frecuente que la nerviosa, se caracteriza por una uveítis facoclástica bilateral o unilateral.This paper describes ocular and central nervous system lesions of rabbits infected with Encephalitozoon cuniculi. The histopathological analysis, together with the use of special Ziehl-Neelsen and Gomori methenamine silver stains, is the most sensitive post-mortem diagnostic test. The neurologic lesion affects most of these patients and is related to severe multifocal granulomatous encephalitis. In many cases, microsporidial spores can be observed with the help of special stains. Ocular lesions are less frequent than nervous ones; they are characterized by a bilateral or unilateral phacoclastic uveitis

Análisis post mortem de causas de enfermedad en mamíferos, reptiles y aves silvestres de vida libre de Costa Rica remitidos por el Servicio Nacional de Salud Animal (SENASA)

Agradecimientos Les agradecemos a los Laboratorios de: Patología, Virología, Parasitología, Bacteriología, Micología y Zoonosis de la Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria de la UNA, al SENASA y al SINAC por la colaboración que brindan a este proyecto.El aumento en la interacción entre animales silvestres, domésticos y el ser humano tiene impacto directo en la viabilidad de las poblaciones silvestres, principalmente en ecosistemas alterados por restricción de hábitat, en donde se observa un incremento en las posibilidades de transmisión de enfermedades interespecie. Este estudio determina las principales causas de enfermedad en mamíferos terrestres, aves y reptiles silvestres de vida libre de Costa Rica. Determina el potencial zoonótico de las enfermedades encontradas y su impacto en la población silvestre del país. Además, establece registros estructurados y mapeo de las patologías encontradas. El SIVE del SENASA y el WAHIS-WILD de la OIE permiten el registro oficial de acceso público de la presencia de agentes etiológicos circulantes en los animales en el territorio costarricense. Este trabajo comienza como una iniciativa de colaboración entre el SENASA y la Escuela de Medicina Veterinaria de la Universidad Nacional, en el cual, los animales silvestres encontrados muertos son remitidos por el Programa de Fauna Silvestre del SENASA y el Sistema Nacional de Áreas de Conservación, para analizar mediante el estudio post-mortem y pruebas laboratoriales complementarias, las posibles etiologías presentes. En seis meses se han procesado 20 especímenes, obteniéndose los siguientes hallazgos: 60% traumáticas, 55% parasitarias, 40% bacterianas, 25% virales y 1% tóxicas. El 80% de los casos presentan múltiples causas de enfermedad, 20% enfermedades zoonóticas y 75% de las causas traumáticas muestran agentes infecciosos que comprometía el estado de salud del animal. Estos resultados permitirán elaborar un registro detallado y mapeo según enfermedad y su potencial zoonótico, especie animal y zona del país, facilitando el análisis del estatus sanitario de la fauna silvestre en Costa Rica y ayude en la toma de medidas de prevención y mitigación de sucesos que puedan involucrar tanto a la salud humana o animal.Increased interaction between wild and domestic animals and humans increases the likelihood of disease transmission. increase the possibilities of interspecies disease transmission and affect the viability of populations. the viability of the populations. The recording of pathologies pathologies present in wild animals makes it possible to analyze these interactions and the impact interactions and the impact on their populations.Universidad Nacional, Costa RicaEscuela de Medicina Veterinari

Retroperitoneal extraskeletal osteosarcoma in a dog: a case report

Se presentó un perro, de raza mixta, no castrado, 15 años de edad, con hiporexia, constipación, letargia y dolor abdominal. En el examen físico, se identificó una masa intraabdominal. Las pruebas hematológicas evidenciaron anemia leve, normocítica y normocrómica y  leucocitosis a causa de neutrofilia. Los resultados de bioquímica sérica mostraron alteraciones del nitrógeno ureico sanguíneo, fosfatasa alcalina sérica y creatinina. En el ultrasonido, se detectó un nódulo en bazo. Las radiografías evidenciaron un área radiopaca en abdomen, cerca de las vértebras lumbares. Se realizó laparotomía exploratoria y se encontró dos masas retroperitoneales. Se realizó la eutanasia del paciente, debido al difícil abordaje quirúrgico. El análisis histopatológico e inmunohistoquímico de las masas fue concluyente de un osteosarcoma extraesquelético. Los osteosarcomas extraesqueléticos son tumores malignos, de origen mesenquimal infrecuentes, sin involucramiento primario de tejido óseo o periostio. La localización retroperitoneal de estos tumores pocas veces ha sido reportada.A 15-year-old not neutered mixed-breed dog was presented with hyporexia, constipation, lethargy and abdominal pain. An intra abdominal mass was identified during the physical examination. Mild normocytic and normochromic anemia and leukocytosis due to neutrophilia were detected in the complete blood count. Serum biochemistry results showed alterations in blood urea nitrogen, serum alkaline phosphatase, and creatinine. A splenic nodule was detected during the ultrasonographic examination, and radiographic findings showed a radiopaque area in the abdomen near the lumbar vertebrae. An exploratory laparotomy was done, and two retroperitoneal masses were found. Due to the difficult surgical approach euthanasia was elected. Histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluation of tissues was performed and the diagnosis of extraskeletal osteosarcoma was made. Extraskeletal osteosarcoma is an infrequent malign mesenchymal tumor without primary involvement of bone tissue or periosteum. Seldom has the retroperitoneal localization of this tumor been reported