The Use of Peptides in Veterinary Serodiagnosis of Infectious Diseases: A Review

Articulo de Revisión BibliográficaPeptides constitute an alternative and interesting option to develop treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tools as they demonstrate their scope in several health aspects; as proof of this, commercial peptides for humans and animals are available on the market and used daily. This review aimed to know the role of peptides in the field of veterinary diagnosis, and include peptide based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (pELISA), lateral flow devices, and peptide latex agglutination tests that have been developed to detect several pathogens including viruses and bacteria of health and production relevance in domestic animals. Studies in cattle, small ruminants, dogs, cats, poultry, horses, and even aquatic organisms were reviewed. Different studies showed good levels of sensitivity and specificity against their target, moreover, comparisons with commercial kits and official tests were performed which allowed appraising their performance. Chemical synthesis, recombinant DNA technology, and enzymatic synthesis were reviewed as well as their advantages and drawbacks. In addition, we discussed the intrinsic limitations such as the small size or affinity to polystyrene membrane and mention several strategies to overcome these problems. The use of peptides will increase in the coming years and their utility for diagnostic purposes in animals must be evaluated

Trypanosoma cruzi co-infections with other vector borne diseases are frequent in dogs from the pacific coast of Ecuador

Este articulo describe la presentación de infecciones múltiples con Trypnosoma cruzi, Anaplasma spp., Dirofilaria immitis y Ehrlichia spp. (transmitidas por vector) en perros de una región de la costa del Pacífico de EcuadorDogs are a reservoir for Chagas disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi (T. cruzi), and other companion vectorborne diseases, including ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia ewingii), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum and Anaplasma platys), dirofilariasis (Dirofilaria immitis) and Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). This study has two key objectives: 1) to determine seroreactivity against T. cruzi in dogs from the town of Col´on, in Portoviejo city, in the central coast of Ecuador; and 2) to establish the coinfection frequency of other companion vector-borne diseases in dogs positive for T. cruzi. Antibodies against T. cruzi were detected using two enzymelinked immunosorbent assays. Diagnostic consensus between ELISA tests was established using the Cohen’s Kappa coefficient. Other haemoparasitic diseases were detected using the IDEXX SNAP® 4Dx® kit in dogs previously diagnosed as T. cruzi-seropositive. From 84 dogs sampled, 57.14% (48/84) tested positive for T. cruzi. Co-infection analysis of 25 dogs positive for T. cruzi revealed antibodies also against Ehrlichia spp. (48%), Anaplasma spp. (28%), and Dirofilaria immitis (12%). These results provide a novel perspective regarding the status of these pathogens which co-infect dogs in Col´on. Since all these pathogens are zoonotic, our findings should warn regional health authorities to implement sanitary programs, to better prevent and control vectors associated to these pathogens. On the other hand, human and veterinarian doctors, should consider that patients with a cardiac infection condition could be suffering co-infections with two or more vector transmitted pathogens.RMJ The research was funded by the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM) Project (4351/2017/CI). NJG National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (R01AI136031) of the National Institutes of Health

Determinación de proteínas de fase aguda y marcadores de estrés oxidativo, en perros seropositivos a "Trypanosoma cruzi"

Algunas enfermedades transmitidas por vectores como garrapatas, mosquitos, flebótomos y triatominos que tienen como principal reservorio a los perros, son relevantes en medicina veterinaria y en salud pública, porque muchas de ellas tienen carácter zoonótico. Dentro de estas enfermedades tenemos la enfermedad de Chagas (Trypanosoma cruzi), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis / Ehrlichia ewingii), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Anaplasma platys), dirofilariosis (Dirofilaria immitis) y la enfermedad de Lyme (Borrelia burgdorferi). El diagnóstico de estas enfermedades puede dificultarse porque existen fases que son asintomáticas o con signos clínicos comunes. Actualmente la determinación de proteínas de fase aguda y marcadores de estrés oxidativo se utilizan en algunas enfermedades de humanos y animales, y también podrían ser de ayuda para el diagnóstico, monitorización y pronóstico de las enfermedades zoonóticas del presente trabajo. Los objetivos de esta investigación fueron: 1. Determinar la seroreactividad contra Trypanosoma cruzi en dos comunidades de Portoviejo, Ecuador; 2. Detectar las frecuencias de seroreactividades en enfermedades transmitidas por vectores en perros positivos a Trypanosoma cruzi; y 3. Determinar las concentraciones de proteínas de fase aguda (proteínas C reactiva, haptoglobina, ferritina y paraoxonasa-1) y marcadores de estrés oxidativo (tiol, capacidad antioxidante total y capacidad antioxidante reductora del ion cobre) en perros con infección natural por Trypanosoma cruzi, con y sin seroreactividad a otras enfermedades transmitidas por vectores. Para el diagnóstico de Trypanosoma cruzi se utilizaron dos métodos de ELISA y para la detección de la seroreactividad contra agentes patógenos que causan ehrlichiosis, anaplasmosis, dirofilariosis y enfermedad de Lyme, se usó el test de IDEXX SNAP 4Dx. Para determinar la concentración de la proteína C reactiva y ferritina se utilizó un ensayo inmunoturbidimétrico; la concentracion de haptoglobina se midió usando un método colorimétrico comercial validado en perros; para la determinación de la concentración sérica de paraoxonasa-1 se usó un método espectrofotométrico. Para determinar el estrés oxidativo, se utilizaron métodos espectrofotométricos automatizados, previamente validados en perros. Se formaron los siguientes grupos: Grupo 1. Perros seroreactivos a Trypanosoma cruzi (n: 45), este grupo se subdividió en dos subgrupos: 1a sin seroreactividad (n: 23) y 1b con seroreactividad (n: 22) a otras enfermedades transmitidas por vectores; Grupo 2. Perros seronegativos a Trypanosoma cruzi (n: 40). La seroreactividad a Trypanosoma cruzi fue de 57.14% y 33.33% en perros de las comunidades de Colón y Abdón Calderón respectivamente. Las frecuencias de seroreactividades en animales positivos a Trypanosoma cruzi fueron: 48% Ehrlichia canis / Ehrlichia ewingii; 28% Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Anaplasma platys, 12% Dirofilaria immitis y 0% Borrelia burgdorferi. Se observó que paraoxonasa-1 disminuyó en perros positivos a Trypanosoma cruzi con y sin seroreactividad a otras enfermedades transmitidas por vectores, mientras que ferritina aumentó en perros seroreactivos a Trypanosoma cruzi con seroreactividad a otras enfermedades transmitidas por vectores. Se encontró disminución de tiol y de la capacidad antioxidante reductora del ion cobre, en perros seroreactivos a Trypanosoma cruzi y en perros seroreactivos a Trypanosoma cruzi con seroreactividad a otras enfermedades transmitidas por vectores. Con base en los resultados obtenidos, podemos concluir que existe una alta prevalencia de perros seroreactivos a Trypanosoma cruzi en Portoviejo que presentaron seroreactividad con otros hemoparásitos y variaciones de paraoxonasa-1, ferritina, tiol y de la capacidad antioxidante reductora del ion cobre. Esta información podría ser usada para el diagnóstico, manejo clínico, prevención y control de estas enfermedades en la zona de estudio.Some vector-borne diseases such as ticks, mosquitoes, sandflies and triatomines, whose main reservoir are dogs, are relevant both in Veterinary Medicine and public health because many of them are zoonotic in nature. Among these diseases we have Chagas disease (Trypanosoma cruzi), ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis / Ehrlichia ewingii), anaplasmosis (Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Anaplasma platys), heartworm disease (Dirofilaria immitis) and Lyme disease (Borrelia burgdorferi). The process of diagnosing these diseases can be difficult because there are phases that are asymptomatic or with common clinical signs among other diseases. Currently, the determination of acute phase proteins and oxidative stress markers are used in the diagnosis, monitoring, and prognosis of human and animal diseases and could be of help both for the diagnosis and for the monitoring of the indicated zoonoses. Due to this knowledge gap, this research focused on the following objectives: 1. To determine the seroreactivity against Trypanosoma cruzi in two communities of Portoviejo, Ecuador; 2. Detect the frequencies of seroreactivity of vector-borne diseases in dogs positive to Trypanosoma cruzi; and 3. To determine the concentrations of acute phase proteins (C-reactive proteins, haptoglobin, ferritin and paraoxonase-1) and oxidative stress markers (thiol, total antioxidant capacity and copper ion reducing antioxidant capacity) in dogs with natural infection with Trypanosoma cruzi, with and without seroreactivity with other vector-borne diseases. The research was carried out in two communities in the coastal zone of Ecuador. Two ELISA methods were used for the diagnosis of Trypanosoma cruzi and the IDEXX SNAP 4Dx test was used for the detection of seroreactivity to Ehrlichia canis / Ehrlichia ewingii, Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Anaplasma platys, Dirofilaria immitis and Borrelia burgdorferi. To determine the concentration of C-reactive protein and ferritin, an immunoturbidimetric assay was used; Haptoglobin concentration was measured using a commercial colorimetric method validated in dogs; a spectrophotometric method was used to determine the serum concentration of paraoxonase-1. Automated spectrophotometric methods, previously validated in dogs, was used to determine oxidative stress. The following groups were formed: Group 1. Dogs seroreactive to Trypanosoma cruzi (n: 45). This group was subdivided into two subgroups 1a (n: 23) without seroreactivity and 1b (n: 22) with seroreactivity with other vector-borne diseases. Group 2. Dogs seronegative to Trypanosoma cruzi (n: 40). The seroreactivity to Trypanosoma cruzi was 57.14% and 33.33% in dogs from the communities of Portoviejo called Colón and Abdón Calderón, respectively. The frequencies of seroreactivity in animals positive to Trypanosoma cruzi were: 48% Ehrlichia canis / Ehrlichia ewingii; 28% Anaplasma phagocytophilum / Anaplasma platys, 12% Dirofilaria immitis and 0% Borrelia burgdorferi. It was determined that paraoxonase-1 decreased in Trypanosoma cruzi seroreactive dogs with and without seroreactivity with other vector-borne diseases, while ferritin increased in Trypanosoma cruzi seroreactive dogs with seroreactivity with other vector-borne diseases. Decreased thiol and copper ion reducing antioxidant capacity were found in dogs positive to Trypanosoma cruzi and in dogs positive to Trypanosoma cruzi with seroreactivity with other vector-borne diseases. Based on the results obtained, this research concludes that there is a high prevalence of dogs positive to Trypanosoma cruzi in Portoviejo that presented seroreactivity with other haemoparasites and variations of paraoxonase-1, ferritin, thiol, and the reducing antioxidant capacity of the copper ion. This information could be used for the diagnosis, clinical management, prevention, and control of these diseases in the study area

The Use of Peptides in Veterinary Serodiagnosis of Infectious Diseases: A Review

Peptides constitute an alternative and interesting option to develop treatments, vaccines, and diagnostic tools as they demonstrate their scope in several health aspects; as proof of this, commercial peptides for humans and animals are available on the market and used daily. This review aimed to know the role of peptides in the field of veterinary diagnosis, and include peptide-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (pELISA), lateral flow devices, and peptide latex agglutination tests that have been developed to detect several pathogens including viruses and bacteria of health and production relevance in domestic animals. Studies in cattle, small ruminants, dogs, cats, poultry, horses, and even aquatic organisms were reviewed. Different studies showed good levels of sensitivity and specificity against their target, moreover, comparisons with commercial kits and official tests were performed which allowed appraising their performance. Chemical synthesis, recombinant DNA technology, and enzymatic synthesis were reviewed as well as their advantages and drawbacks. In addition, we discussed the intrinsic limitations such as the small size or affinity to polystyrene membrane and mention several strategies to overcome these problems. The use of peptides will increase in the coming years and their utility for diagnostic purposes in animals must be evaluated