Phage therapy in veterinary medicine

To overcome the obstacle of antimicrobial resistance, researchers are investigating the use of phage therapy as an alternative and/or supplementation to antibiotics to treat and prevent infections both in humans and in animals. In the first part of this review, we describe the unique biological characteristics of bacteriophages and the crucial aspects influencing the success of phage therapy. However, despite their efficacy and safety, there is still no specific legislation that regulates their use. In the second part of this review, we describe the comprehensive research done in the past and recent years to address the use of phage therapy for the treatment and prevention of bacterial disease affecting domestic animals as an alternative to antibiotic treatments. While in farm animals, phage therapy efficacy perspectives have been widely studied in vitro and in vivo, especially for zoonoses and diseases linked to economic losses (such as mastitis), in pets, studies are still few and rather recent

Comparison of fluorescence polarization assay with Rose Bengal (RB) test and complement fixation tests for the diagnosis of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) brucellosis in a high-prevalence area

The fluorescence polarisation assay (FPA) was evaluated for the serological diagnosis of bovine brucellosis in buffalo (Bubalus Bubalis) in southern Italy. This assay uses O-polysaccharide prepared from Brucella Abortus lipopolysaccharide conjugated with fluorescein isothiocyanate as a tracer. It has many methodological advantages over older, more established tests and can be performed in short time. To measure the fluorescence polarization, a Tecan GENios Pro (Prionics) fluorescence-polarization analyzer was used with the procedure described by Nielsen et al. 1996. A cut-off value of 117 millipolarization (mP) units was used for testing 912 buffalo sera from Campania Region (526 positive sera and 386 negative sera according to the complement fixation test; CFT). All samples were tested with the Rose Bengal plate (RB). Sensitivity and specificity (Sn) for RB were 84.0% and 87.8% and for FPA were 92.6% and 88.9 percent. The FPA gave a kappa coefficient of agreement with respect to CFT of 0.755, while RB (relative to the CFT) gave coefficients of 0,715. Finally, ROC analysis suggested a cut-off value which did not agree with the one recommended in the test procedure for cow

Occurrence and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Profiles of Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus Strains Isolated from Mares with Fertility Problems

Streptococcus equi subsp. zooepidemicus (S. zooepidemicus), is a β-hemolytic Streptococcus belonging to the Lancefield group C; it is a rare human pathogen, but in horses, it is frequently associated with endometritis. This study aimed to isolate S. zooepidemicus strains, associated with bacterial endometritis in mares, and to define their antimicrobial resistance profile. Twenty-three isolates were recovered from one hundred ninety-six equine uterine swabs (11.7%). Bacterial identification was carried out by Api 20 Strep and confirmed by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS), while antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by disk diffusion method on Muller Hinton agar plates. The antibiotic resistance profiles of the isolates revealed a high percentage of resistance to amikacin (95.6%), ampicillin (73.9%) and tetracycline (69.6%), while ceftiofur and ceftriaxone were highly effective with 82.6% and 78.3% of the isolates inhibited, respectively. An intriguing value of resistance to penicillin (34.8%), which represents the first-choice antibiotic in equine S. zooepidemicus infections, was observed. Furthermore, a high prevalence of multidrug-resistant strains (82.6%) was recorded. Continuous surveillance of this potential zoonotic pathogen and an appropriate antimicrobial stewardship program with the promotion of correct use of antimicrobials, after a proper diagnosis, are needed to allow an effective therapy

Safety of B. abortus rough mutant strain RB51 administration in Buffalo cows

The objective of this study was to determine if B. abortus rough mutant strain RB51 is eliminated in Buffalo milk. Five milk buffaloes were inoculated with the triple of the recommended calfhood dose (3.0 – 10.2 x 1010 cfu/ml) of B. abortus RB51 strain by subcutaneous route in the right axillary region. Milk samples were taken aseptically on a daily basis for the first 30 days and weekly for the second and third months. The samples were inoculated on Brucella Medium Base (BMB) (Oxoid) and Rifampin Brucellae Medium (RBM) and incubated under 10% CO2 at 37°C for 10 days. The suspicious colonies were recultured in BMB and RBM. PCR analysis was also performed on milk samples. There were no isolations of bacteria with characteristics of Brucella from any of the milk samples collected during 90 days of the study. However Brucella RB51 DNA was detected on day 2 and 3 post vaccination in one buffalo cow and on day 21 post vaccination in another buffalo cow. It was concluded that the strain used at this dose wasn't eliminated by milk in Buffaloes inoculated during lactation, however PCR positive results underline the necessity of milk pasteurization in order to minimize food-chain exposure

Simultaneous detection of enteropathogenic viruses in buffalos faeces using multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR)

A multiplex reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (mRT-PCR) assay that detects Bovine Viral Diarrhoea Virus, Bovine Coronavirus, and Group A Rotaviruses in infected cell-culture fluids and clinical faecal samples is described. One hundred twenty faecal samples from buffalo calves with acute gastroenteritis were tested. The mRT-PCR was validated against simplex RT-PCR with published primers for Pestivirus, Coronavirus and Rotavirus. The multiplex RT-PCR was equally sensitive and specific in detecting viral infections compared with simplex RT-PCR. The mRT-PCR readily identified viruses by discriminating the size of their amplified gene products. This mRT-PCR may be a sensitive and rapid assay for surveillance of buffalo enteric viruses in field specimens. This novel multiplex RT-PCR is an attractive technique for the rapid, specific, and cost-effective laboratory diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis

Multiparametric Mri in the Management of Prostate Cancer: an Update-A Narrative Review

The growing interest in multiparametric MRI is leading to important changes in the diagnostic process of prostate cancer. MRI-targeted biopsy is likely to become a standard for the diagnosis of prostate cancer in the next years. Despite it is well known that MRI has no role as a staging technique, it is clear that multiparametric MRI may be of help in active surveillance protocols. Noteworthy, MRI in active surveillance is not recommended, but a proper understanding of its potential may be of help in achieving the goals of a delayed treatment strategy. Moreover, the development of minimally invasive techniques, like laparoscopic and robotic surgery, has led to greater expectations as regard to the functional outcomes of radical prostatectomy. Multiparametric MRI may play a role in planning surgical strategies, with the aim to provide the highest oncologic outcome with a minimal impact on the quality of life. We maintain that a proper anatomic knowledge of prostate lesions may allow the surgeon to achieve a better result in planning as well as in performing surgery and help the surgeon and the patient engage in a shared decision in planning a more effective strategy for prostate cancer control and treatment. This review highlights the advantages and the limitations of multiparametric MRI in prostate cancer diagnosis, in active surveillance and in planning surgery

Degenerate PCR method for identification of an antiapoptotic gene in BHV-1

To investigate on the hypothetical presence of an antiapoptotic gene, we utilized the CODEHOP (COnsensus-DEgenerate Hybrid Oligonucleotide Primers) strategy amplifying unknown sequences from a background of genomic (bovine herpesvirus type-1) BHV-1 DNA. An alignment of carboxyl-terminal domains belonging to three proteins encoded by gamma 34.5, MyD116 and GADD34 genes, was carried out to design degenerate PCR primers in highly conserved regions. This allowed the amplification of a 110 bp fragment. This fragment was subjected to automatic sequencing and DNA sequence analysis revealed that its position resided between the nt 14363 and the nt 14438 in bovine herpesvirus type-1 (BHV-1) Cooper strain sharing an identity of 86% (UL14). Transient transfections showed that ULI 4 protein is efficient in protecting MDBK and K562 cells from sorbitol induced apoptosis. The protein's anti-apoptotic function may derive from its heat shock protein-like properties

CT-guided percutaneous drainage of abdominopelvic collections: a pictorial essay

CT-guided percutaneous drainage is a safe and effective procedure that allows minimally invasive treatment of abdominopelvic abscesses and fluid collections. This technique has become an alternative for surgery with lower morbility and mortality rates. In this pictorial essay, we aim at providing an overview of the technical approaches, the main clinical indications and complications of CT-guided percutaneous drainage, in order to provide a practical guide for interventional radiologists, with a review of the recent literature. The focus will be the CT-guidance, preferred when the interposition of viscera, vascular and skeletal structures, counteracts the ultrasound guidance

Aujeszky’s disease in south‐Italian wild boars (Sus Scrofa): A serological survey

Aujeszky’s disease (AD, pseudorabies) is a viral disease of suids caused by Suid Herpesvirus 1 (SHV‐1) also referred as Aujeszky’s disease virus (ADV) or Pseudorabies virus (ADV). Domestic pig and Wild boar (Sus scrofa) are the natural host, but many species can be infected with ADV. The aim of our study was to evaluate seroprevalence of AD in wild boar hunted in the Campania Region, during the 2016–2017 hunting season. A total of 503 serum samples from wild boars hunted in the provinces of Campania Region (Southern Italy) were collected and were tested for antibody against ADV using an AD, blocking ELISA assay. A Seroprevalence of 23.85% (120/503, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 20.15–27.55) was found. Gender was not significantly associated with of ADV seropositivity (p > 0.05), while the presence of ADV antibodies was statistically associated with age (>36‐month, p < 0.0001) and location (Avellino, p = 0.0161). Our prevalence values are like those obtained in 2010 in our laboratory (30.7%), demonstrating a constant circulation of ADV in the area