Determination of the Presence and Prevalence of Caseous Lymphadenitis in Sheep and Goat Herds

Kazeozni limfadenitis kronična je, u svijetu proširena zarazna bolest ovaca i koza, koja se očituje stvaranjem piogranuloma u površinskim limfnim čvorovima, a rjeđe u visceralnim limfnim čvorovima i organima. Uzročnik je ove bolesti Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Visceralni oblik kazeoznog limfadenitisa jedan je od najčešćih uzroka sindroma mršavih ovaca. Iako se ne radi o zoonozi, važno je biti svjestan činjenice da C. pseudotuberculosis ima određen zoonotski potencijal. Tijekom ovog istraživanja provedeno je epizootiološko anketiranje vlasnika i klinički pregled 25 stada ovaca i 8 stada koza s područja Veterinarske stanice Ozalj. U svim slučajevima, kad se na temelju epizootiološke i kliničke metode postavila sumnja na kazeozni limfadenitis, pristupilo se objektivnoj (bakteriološkoj) dijagnostici. Tijekom istraživanja apscesi su nađeni u devet životinja, no prisutnost C. pseudotuberculosis potvrđena je u samo jedne koze, što daje prevalenciju bolesti od 3 % (1/33) u ukupnom broju pretraženih stada, odnosno 12,5 % (1/8) u pretraženim stadima koza. S obzirom na to da ova bolest ima zoonotski karakter, a istodobno može uzrokovati ekonomske štete u ovčarstvu i kozarstvu, u stočarskoj grani koja je posljednjih godina u porastu potrebno je uložiti veće napore radi redovitije i bolje edukacije stočara o važnosti prepoznavanja i suzbijanja ove bolesti.Caseous lymphadenitis is a chronic contagious disease of sheep and goats with a worldwide distribution. It is characterized by the formation of pyogranulomas in superficial lymph nodes and less frequently in visceral lymph nodes and organs. The etiological agent that causes the disease is Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. The visceral form of caseous lymphadenitis is one of the most common causes of ˝thin ewe syndrome˝. Although, caseous lymphadenitis is not a zoonosis it is important to be aware of the fact that C. pseudotuberculosis has a certain zoonotic potential. During this research, an epizootiology survey of owners and a clinical examination of 25 flocks of sheep and 8 flocks of goats from the area of the Veterinary Clinic Ozalj were conducted. In cases when caseous lymphadenitis was suspected, samples were taken and sent on bacteriological examination. During the study, abscesses were found in nine animals, but the presence of C. pseudotuberculosis was confirmed in only one goat, which gives a disease prevalence of 3 % (1/33) in the total number of examined herds, and 12.5 % (1/8) in the goat herds. Knowledge about this disease among the respondents is very scarce and raising awareness and educating small ruminant owners about this disease would help in the earlier detection of symptoms as well as its diagnosis and further suppression. On the one hand, it shows willingness of owners to actively participate in its detection and control. As a conclusion, we believe that more efforts should be made to better educate farmers about the importance of recognizing and controlling caseous lymphadenitis

Usporedba epizootiološkog i kliničkog nalaza u koza s kazeoznim limfadenitisom i Morelovom bolesti.

Morel’s disease and caseous lymphadenitis of sheep and goats are caused by Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius and Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, respectively. Both diseases have similar epizootiology and are characterized by abscess formations in or near major superficial lymph nodes. These similarities in the clinical picture, along with the fact that caseous lymphadenitis is a better known and more common disease result in frequent misdiagnosis of the disease. In this study, the clinical and epizootiological findings of Morel’s disease and caseous lymphadenitis were evaluated and compared in two naturally infected goat herds. All animals in both herds were clinically examined by inspection and palpation for the presence of abscesses. Epizootiological data and clinical features, including the localization, number and size of the abscesses, were recorded and compared. The study showed that in the early epizootic stage both diseases equally affect both young and adult goats. The main differences in the clinical picture were related to the smaller average number and size of abscesses per animal in caseous lymphadenitis. However, these differences are insufficient to distinguish individual cases and so isolation and identification of the causative agent is still needed to confirm the diagnosis.Morelova bolest i kazeozni limfadenitis su zarazne bolesti koza i ovaca uzrokovane bakterijama Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius odnosno Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Usprkos različitoj etiologiji, obje bolesti imaju vrlo sličnu epizootiologiju i obje se očituju tvorbom apscesa unutar ili u blizini površinskih limfnih čvorova. Podatci o pojavi Morelove bolesti u Hrvatskoj vrlo su oskudni. Kazeozni limfadenitis javlja se češće i o toj bolesti postoji više pisanih podataka. Stoga su, osobito u slučajevima kada se ne provodi mikrobiološka pretraga, pogrešne dijagnoze vjerojatno vrlo česte na štetu Morelove bolesti. U ovom radu usporedili smo epizootiološke i kliničke nalaze obiju bolesti u dva prirodno zaražena stada koza. Sve životinje klinički su pretražene inspekcijom i palpacijom, te su zabilježeni podatci o lokalizaciji, broju i veličini apscesa. Usporedbom dobivenih podataka utvrdili smo da je učestalost obiju bolesti u ranom stadiju epizootije jednaka u mladih i odraslih koza. Osnovna razlika između kazeoznog limfadenitisa i Morelove bolesti utvrđena je u kliničkoj slici odnosno broju apscesa po životinji i njihovoj prosječnoj veličini. U stadu u kojem je utvrđen kazeozni limfadenitis utvrđen je manji broj apscesa po životinji kao i manja veličina apscesa. Usprkos utvrđenim razlikama između opisanih bolesti smatramo da na temelju epizootioloških podataka i kliničke pretrage nije moguće objektivno dijagnosticirati bolest već je za njihovo razlikovanje potrebno izdvojiti i identificirati uzročnika

Serološko istraživanje leptospiroze u pasa u Hrvatskoj - mijenjanje epizootiologije bolesti.

Canine leptospirosis is a well known zoonotic infection with worldwide distribution. The serovars Canicola and Icterohaemorrhagiae have traditionally been responsible for most cases of canine leptospiroses. The use of widely available bivalent vaccines containing those two serovars has greatly reduced canine leptospirosis. However, re emergence of the disease has been detected in Europe and North America, partly due to changes in the infecting serovars. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of the presumed infective serovars in dogs in Croatia. During a period of four years (2006 2010), 151 canine sera were submitted to the Laboratory for Leptospires, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Zagreb. Using a microscopic agglutination test (MAT), 57 (37.7%) seropositive sera were detected. The most prevalent presumed infective serovars, in decreasing order, were: Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Icterohaemorrhagiae, Australis, Saxkoebing and Hardjo. Results showed that most infections were caused by serovars not covered by the vaccine, which raises questions concerning its efficacy in preventing leptospirosis in dogs.Leptospiroza u pasa je zoonoza proširena diljem svijeta. Najčešći uzročnici bolesti u prošlosti bili su serovarovi Canicola i Icterohemorrhagiae. Uporabom vakcine koja sadržava ta dva serovara znatno je smanjena pojavnost bolesti. Međutim, u posljednje vrijeme zabilježen je porast slučajeva bolesti u pasa u Europi i Sjevernoj Americi, dijelom i zbog promjene prevalencije vjerojatno infektivnih serovarova. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je ustanoviti učestalost infektivnih serovarova u pasa u Hrvatskoj. Tijekom četiri godine (2006. - 2010.) Laboratorij za leptospirozu Veterinarskog fakulteta Sveučilišta u Zagrebu zaprimio je 151 uzorak pasjeg seruma. Mikroskopskim aglutinacijskim testom (MAT) ustanovljeno je 57 (37,7%) pozitivnih uzoraka. Najučestaliji zarazni serovarovi bili su Pomona, Grippotyphosa, Icterohemorrhagiae, Australis, Saxkoebing i Hardjo. Rezultati su pokazali da je većina infekcija u pasa bila uzrokovana serovarovima koji nisu sadržani u cjepivu što dovodi u pitanje njezinu učinkovitost u prevenciji bolesti

Epizootiološke značajke retrovirusnih infekcija mačaka na području grada Zagreba

Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and feline leukaemia virus (FeLV) are among the most common infectious diseases of cats and have a global impact on the health of domestic cats. Both viruses belong to the Retroviridae family and like other members of this family they are associated with lifelong infection after integration of the proviral DNA into the host cell genome. Prevalence data are necessary to define the risk factors, and prophylactic, management, diagnostic and therapeutic measures for stray and owned sick cats. In this study 324 domestic cats were tested with commercially available assays. The tested cats were divided into two groups, stray and owned sick cats. The overall percentage of seropositives for FIV infection was 18.51% and the prevalence for FeLV infection was 14.50%. FIV prevalence ranged from 13.13% in stray cats up to 20.88% within the sick owned cat group. The prevalence for FeLV infection was 6.06% in stray cats and 18.22% among sick owned cats. Regarding FIV infection, our study confirmed a significantly higher percentage of seropositives for male cats, as well as for sexually intact ones within the sick owned group. Males were significantly more likely to have positive results for both retroviral infections. The study confirmed the high rate of retroviral infections in cats from the Zagreb urban area. Males, sexually intact ones, and territorial aggression are predisposing factors for FIV infection, but not for FeLV. Preventive measures should include identification and segregation of infected cats, castration of outdoor male cats, and vaccination.nfekcije virusom mačje imunodeficijencije i virusom mačje leukemije pripadaju među najčešće zarazne bolesti mačaka i znatno utječu na njihovo zdravlje. Oba virusa pripadaju porodici Retroviridae. Kao i ostali virusi iz iste porodice, uzrokuju perzistentnu infekciju ugradnjom provirusne DNK u genom domaćina. Podaci o proširenosti obiju infekcija nužni su za utvrđivanje čimbenika rizika zaraze, mjera prevencije te dijagnostičkih metoda i postupaka sa zaraženom životinjom. Za potrebe ovog istraživanja pretražena su ukupno 324 uzorka pune krvi mačaka komercijalno dostupnim dijagnostičkim testovima. Pretraživane mačke podijeljene su u dvije skupine, slobodnoživuće mačke i bolesne mačke koje imaju vlasnika. Od ukupnog broja pretraženih mačaka infekciju mačjim virusom imunodeficijencije dokazali smo u 18.51 % mačaka, dok je infekcija virusom mačje leukemije dokazana u 14,50 % pretraženih životinja. Proširenost infekcije mačjim virusom imunodeficijencije potvrđena je u 13,13 % mačaka unutar skupine slobodnoživućih mačaka, dok je 20,88 % bolesnih mačaka koje imaju vlasnika bilo pozitivno na istu zaraznu bolest. S druge strane, 6,06 % slobodnoživućih mačaka te 18,22 % bolesnih mačaka koje imaju vlasnike bilo je zaraženo virusom mačje leukemije. Istraživanje potvrđuje statistički značajnu proširenost virusa mačje imunodeficijencije u muških jedinki posebno onih nekastriranih. Muške jedinke također imaju statistički veću mogućnost zaraze obama retrovirusima. Provedeno istraživanje dokazuje visoku proširenost retrovirusnih infeckcija među mačkama na području grada Zagreba. Utvrđeni čimbenici rizika zaraze virusom imunodeficijencije uključuju muški spol, nekastrirane muške jedinke te slododno držanje mačaka. Ti čimbenici rizika nisu dokazani za infekciju mačjim virusom leukemije. Mjere sprečavanja širenja obiju retrovirusnih bolesti uključuju testiranje mačaka, izdvajanje i izolaciju zaraženih, kastraciju muških mačaka te imunoprofilaksu izloženih jedinki

Identification and Typing of Leptospira spp. by Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (RFLP) of 16S Gene rDNA and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE)

Ukupno 13 izolata bakterije roda Leptospira izdvojenih iz domaćih i divljih životinja iz kontinentalnog dijela Republike Hrvatske identificirano je najprije serološki metodom mikroskopske aglutinacije (MAT), a zatim genetski uporabom molekularnih metoda; raznolikosti dužine restrikcijskih fragmenata rDNK za gen 16S (RFLP) te gel elektroforeze u pulsirajućem polju (PFGE). Mikroskopskom aglutinacijom s 23 hiperimuna seruma seroloških skupina ustanovljeno je da pet izolata pripada serološkoj skupini Pomona, po dva izolata serološkoj skupini Bataviae, Canicola i Icterohaemorrhagiae i po jedan serološkoj skupini Australis i Grippotyphosa. Umnažanjem početnih 330 bp rDNK za gen 16S analiziranih izolata leptospira i mikrorestrikcije umnoženih fragmenata DNK s restrikcijskim enzimima MnlI i DdeI ustanovljeno je da svi izolati pripadaju genomskoj vrsti L. interrogans sensu stricto. Makrorestrikcijom čitave genomske DNK pretraživanih izolata leptospira s restrikcijskim enzimima NotI i SgrAI i gel elektroforezom u pulsirajućem polju ustanovljeno je osam različitih serovara: Copenhageni (1), Icterohaemorrhagiae (1), Bataviae (2), Pomona (4), Pomona Kennewicki (1), Canicola (2), Lora (1) i Grippotyphosa (1). Budući smo od 13 izolata leptospira na osnovi analize razlika u restrikcijskim profilima ustanovili osam različitih serovara, smatramo kako u Republici Hrvatskoj, osobito u nizinama Save i Drave postoji velika genetska raznolikost leptospira unutar jedne genomske vrste, Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto.Atotal of 13 Leptospira spp. strains isolated from domestic and wild mammals in different regions of inland Croatia were identified and characterized serologically by microscopic agglutination (MAT) and by modern molecular biology methods; polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). After the first typing according to serogroup affinities the isolates appeared to belong to serogroups Pomona (five isolates), Bataviae (two isolates), Canicola (two isolates), Icterohaemorrhagiae (two isolates), Australis (one isolate) and Grippotyphosa (one isolate). RFLP were examined in PCR products from first 330 bp long portion of rrs (16S rDNA gene) digested with endonucleases MnlI and DdeI revealed that all strains belonged to Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto genomic species. Intact genomic DNA from 13 leptospiral isolates was digested with NotI and SgrAI restriction enzymes and analyzed by PFGE. The results showed eight different serovars: Copenhageni (1), Icterohaemorrhagiae (1), Bataviae (2), Pomona (4), Pomona Kennewicki (1), Canicola (2), Lora (1) and Grippotyphosa (1). By revealing the degress of relatedness among 13 leptospiral restriction fingerprints in Croatia we demonstrated the existence of great genetic diversity within one genomic species, Leptospira interrogans sensu stricto especially in the Sava and Drava river valleys

Prognostički čimbenici i njihova povezanost s preživljavanjem u pasa s leptospirozom

The objectives of this study were to describe the epizootiological and clinical features of canine patients with leptospirosis, and to determine the association between the health parameters observed and patient survival. The study population consisted of sixty patients admitted to the Department of Microbiology and Infectious diseases with Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Zagreb, Croatia from 2009 to 2017. The majority of the infections were caused by serogroup Pomona (50%), while serogroups Icterohaemorhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Australis and Sejroe were identified in 30%, 8.3%, 5% and 1.7% of the patients, respectively. At initial presentation, the most frequently detected organ dysfunction was renal failure (85%), followed by pulmonary (60%) and hepatic injury (58.3%). When the frequency of animals with involvement of organ systems was calculated, 31.7% had three systems involved, 46.7% had two systems involved, 13.3% had one, and 5% did not have any system involved. The mortality risk in the group that had 0, 1, 2 and 3 systems involved was 0%, 62.5%, 46.4%, and 89.5%, respectively. In the univariable analysis, several factors were univariably associated with the risk of a lethal outcome including: day of admission (P<0.01), sex (P = 0.09), Leptospira vaccination status (P = 0.11), the presence of moderate to severe acute kidney injury (P<0.01), pulmonary involvement (P = 0.11), and several other parameters. In the multivariable Cox’s model, the presence of moderate and severe kidney injury was identified as a statistically significant factor associated with lower survival. The frequency of severe clinical cases of canine leptospirosis caused by the serogroup Pomona found in this study supports the need to consider inclusion of strains of this serogroup in vaccines available on the European market.Ciljevi ovoga istraživanja bili su opisati epizootiološke i kliničke značajke pasa oboljelih od leptospiroze te utvrditi povezanost promatranih parametara i stupnja preživljavanja. Istraživanje je provedeno na 60 pasa zaprimljenih na Zavod za mikrobiologiju i zarazne bolesti s klinikom Veterinarskoga fakulteta u Zagrebu, u razdoblju od 2009. do 2017. godine. Većina utvrđenih infekcija u pasa bila je uzrokovana serološkom skupinom Pomona (50 %), dok su serološke skupine Icterohaemorhagiae, Grippotyphosa, Australis i Sejroe uzrokovale bolest u 30 %, 8,3 %, 5 % i 1,7 % pacijenata. Najčešća su klinička očitovanja bila akutna bubrežna (85 %) i jetrena lezija (58,3 %) te disfunkcija respiratornog sustava (60 %). Od ukupnog broja zaprimljenih pacijenata, u njih 31,7 % utvrđeno je oštećenje svih triju organskih sustava, u 46,7 % oštećenje dvaju organskih sustava, u 13,3 % pacijenata oštećenje jednoga organskog sustava, dok u 5 % pasa nije utvrđeno oštećenje organa. Smrtnost u skupinama u kojima je utvrđeno oštećenje 0, 1, 2 i 3 organska sustava bila je 0 %, 62,5 %, 46,4 % i 89,5 %. Univarijabilnom analizom utvrđeno je nekoliko čimbenika povezanih s povećanim rizikom od smrti: trajanje bolesti pri prijemu na kliniku (P < 0,01), spol (P = 0,09), cijepni status (P = 0,11), umjereno do teško akutno oštećenje bubrega (P < 0,01), respiratorna disfunkcija (P = 0,11). Multivarijabilnim Coxovim modelom prisutnost umjerenog do teškog oštećenja bubrega identificirana je kao statistički znakovit čimbenik povezan s nižim preživljavanjem. Povećana incidencija teških kliničkih oblika uzrokovanih serološkom skupinom Pomona, koja je utvrđena u ovom istraživanju, naglašava potrebu uključivanja ovih sojeva u cjepiva koja su dostupna na europskom tržištu

Dokaz i kvantificiranje ovčjeg herpesvirusa 2 u Hrvatskoj

Ovine herpesvirus-2 (OvHV-2), a gammaherpesvirus (genus Rhadinovirus) causes a severe disease known as sheep-associated malignant catarrhal fever (SA-MCF) in certain ruminants, such as cow, deer, bison and water buffalo. Suspected cases of SA-MCF in cows without identififi cation of the agent have been reported in Croatia in the past. In June 2005, on a farm in northwest Croatia, where 17 Simmental diary cows and 2 heifers shared stables and meadows with sheep, a 13 month-old heifer showed symptoms reminiscent of SA-MCF, including anorexia, high fever, nasal discharge, and neurological symptoms, such as ataxia, tremor, convulsions and hyperesthesia. The animal died within 14 days. Gross necropsy fifi ndings were sharply demarcated erosions on mucosal surfaces, including the tongue, oral mucosa, esophagus, abomasum, jejunum, colon, caecum and urinary bladder. Histopathology revealed extremely severe perivascular and intramural arterial infifi ltrations with mononuclear cells, mostly lymphocytes. These lesions were seen in almost every organ, especially the brain and lungs. Formaldehyde fixed samples from the brain, cerebellum, spleen and lymph nodes were obtained and subjected to DNA extraction procedures. Fluorogenic real-time PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) amplififi cation specific to OvHV-2 DNA was performed and OvHV-2 DNA was detected in the brain, cerebellum and spleen, as well as in the lymph nodes. These data indicate that the animal had been infected with OvHV-2, the agent of SA-MCF. For the first time, OvHV-2 was identified and quantified in a Croatian heifer as the causative agent of SA-MCF.Ovčji herpesvirus 2 (OvHV-2) iz roda Rhadinovirus, potporodice Gammaherpesvirinae uzročnik je zarazne korice goveda u nekih vrsta domaćih i divljih preživača. Dosad su u Republici Hrvatskoj zabilježeni mnogi slučajevi sumnje na pojavu zarazne korice u goveda temeljeni na kliničkoj metodi dijagnosticiranja, ali bez dokaza uzročnika bolesti. U lipnju 2005. godine na jednoj farmi u sjeverozapadnoj Hrvatskoj zabilježena je pojava zarazne korice goveda u jedne junice, simentalske pasmine, u dobi od 13 mjeseci, koja je bila smještena u istoj staji s još 17 mliječnih krava i jednom junicom simentalske pasmine te manjim stadom ovaca. Životinja je naglo oboljela uz znakove gubitka apetita, visoke vrućice, seroznog iscjetka iz nosa te pojavom znakova središnjega živčanoga sustava, ataksije, tremora, grčeva i hiperestezije. Životinja je uginula 14. dan od početka prvih znakova bolesti. Razudbom je utvrđena prisutnost oštro ograničenih erozija na sluznici jezika, usne šupljine, jednjaka, sirišta, tankoga, debeloga i slijepoga crijeva te mokraćnoga mjehura. Histopatološki je gotovo u svakom organu, a posebno u mozgu i plućima, utvrđena jaka perivaskularna i intramuralna infiltracija arterija mononuklearnim stanicama, većinom limfocitima. Iz formalinom fiksiranih uzoraka mozga, maloga mozga, slezene i limfnih čvorova izdvojena je DNK i podvrgnuta fluorogenoj real-time PCR amplifikaciji specifičnoj za OvHV-2. OvHV-2 dokazan je i kvantificiran u svim pretraživanim organima. Dobiveni rezultat upućuje na to da je uginula životinja bila zaražena s OvHV-2 što je ujedno i prvi dokaz uzročnika zarazne korice goveda u Hrvatskoj

Dermatophytosis in dogs and cats

Dermatofitoze su zarazne bolesti kože i kožnih tvorevina. Uzrokuju ih različite vrste dermatofita, plijesni koje uzrokuju infekcije keratiniziranih tkiva mnogih vrsta životinja i ljudi. Zoonoze su i najčešće se klinički očituju alopecijama. Dijagnostika se provodi dokazom prisutnosti dermatofita u keratiniziranim tkivima. Liječe se topikalnom i sistemskom primjenom antimikotika. Osim liječenja, u sprečavanju širenja na druge životinje i ljude pomaže dekontaminacija okoliša. Dermatofitoze pasa i mačaka proširene su u većem dijelu svijeta, a osnovna znanja o njima potrebna su zbog sve intenzivnijeg kontakta ljudi i kućnih ljubimaca.Dermatophytoses are infectious diseases of the skin and skin structures. They are caused by various species of dermatophytes, molds that cause infections of the keratinized tissues of many animal species and humans. The disease mostly clinically manifests as alopecia. Diagnosis is made by detecting dermatophytes in keratinized tissues. Treatment includes topical and systemic application of antifungal agents. In addition to treatment, prevention of transmission to other animals and humans is enhanced by environment decontamination. Dermatophytoses in dogs and cats are widespread in most parts of the world, and due to the increasingly intense contact between humans and pets, a basic knowledge of these diseases is necessary