10 research outputs found
The zoonotic potential of Clostridium difficile from small companion animals and their owners
Background: Clostridium difficile infections (CDI) in humans range from
asymptomatic carriage to life-threatening intestinal disease. Findings on C.
difficile in various animal species and an overlap in ribotypes (RTs) suggest
potential zoonotic transmission. However, the impact of animals for human CDI
remains unclear. Methods: In a large-scale survey we collected 1,447 fecal
samples to determine the occurrence of C. difficile in small companion animals
(dogs and cats) and their owners and to assess potential epidemiological links
within the community. The Germany-wide survey was conducted from July
2012-August 2013. PCR ribotyping, Multilocus VNTR Analysis (MLVA) and PCR
detection of toxin genes were used to characterize isolated C. difficile
strains. A database was defined and logistic regression used to identify
putative factors associated with fecal shedding of C. difficile. Results: In
total, 1,418 samples met the inclusion criteria. The isolation rates for small
companion animals and their owners within the community were similarly low
with 3.0% (25/840) and 2.9% (17/578), respectively. PCR ribotyping revealed
eight and twelve different RTs in animals and humans, respectively, whereas
three RTs were isolated in both, humans and animals. RT 014/0, a well-known
human hospital-associated lineage, was predominantly detected in animal
samples. Moreover, the potentially highly pathogenic RTs 027 and 078 were
isolated from dogs. Even though, C. difficile did not occur simultaneously in
animals and humans sharing the same household. The results of the
epidemiological analysis of factors associated with fecal shedding of C.
difficile support the hypothesis of a zoonotic potential. Conclusions:
Molecular characterization and epidemiological analysis revealed that the
zoonotic risk for C. difficile associated with dogs and cats within the
community is low but cannot be excluded
Aspartoacylase-LacZ Knockin Mice: An Engineered Model of Canavan Disease
Canavan Disease (CD) is a recessive leukodystrophy caused by loss of function mutations in the gene encoding aspartoacylase (ASPA), an oligodendrocyte-enriched enzyme that hydrolyses N-acetylaspartate (NAA) to acetate and aspartate. The neurological phenotypes of different rodent models of CD vary considerably. Here we report on a novel targeted aspa mouse mutant expressing the bacterial ÎČ-Galactosidase (lacZ) gene under the control of the aspa regulatory elements. X-Gal staining in known ASPA expression domains confirms the integrity of the modified locus in heterozygous aspa lacZ-knockin (aspalacZ/+) mice. In addition, abundant ASPA expression was detected in Schwann cells. Homozygous (aspalacZ/lacZ) mutants are ASPA-deficient, show CD-like histopathology and moderate neurological impairment with behavioural deficits that are more pronounced in aspalacZ/lacZ males than females. Non-invasive ultrahigh field proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy revealed increased levels of NAA, myo-inositol and taurine in the aspalacZ/lacZ brain. Spongy degeneration was prominent in hippocampus, thalamus, brain stem, and cerebellum, whereas white matter of optic nerve and corpus callosum was spared. Intracellular vacuolisation in astrocytes coincides with axonal swellings in cerebellum and brain stem of aspalacZ/lacZ mutants indicating that astroglia may act as an osmolyte buffer in the aspa-deficient CNS. In summary, the aspalacZ mouse is an accurate model of CD and an important tool to identify novel aspects of its complex pathology
Stability of genotyping target sequences of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis upon cultivation on different media, in vitro- and in vivo passage, and natural infection
PCR-Ribotypes and toxin gene detection in <i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates.
<p>PCR-Ribotypes and toxin gene detection in <i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates.</p
Univariate analysis for fecal shedding of <i>C</i>. <i>difficile</i> in animal owners (Extraction).
<p>Univariate analysis for fecal shedding of <i>C</i>. <i>difficile</i> in animal owners (Extraction).</p
<i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates in a Germany-wide survey, July 2012-August 2013.
<p><i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates in a Germany-wide survey, July 2012-August 2013.</p
<i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates in four cats from two independent households.
<p><i>Clostridium difficile</i> isolates in four cats from two independent households.</p
Univariate analysis for fecal shedding of <i>C</i>. <i>difficile</i> in dogs and cats (Extraction).
<p>Univariate analysis for fecal shedding of <i>C</i>. <i>difficile</i> in dogs and cats (Extraction).</p