Morphological characterization of the blood cells in the endangered Sicilian endemic pond turtle,Emys trinacris(Testudines: Emydidae)

In this study, measurements of morphological parameters, sizes and frequencies of peripheral blood cells (erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes) on blood smear preparation devices stained with May-Grünwald stain were evaluated for both sexes in 20 Emys trinacris (Testudines: Emydidae) specimens. Erythrocytes were higher in male than in female specimens. The leukocyte of E. trinacris contains eosinophil, basophil, monocyte, heterophil and lymphocyte. The eosinophil was higher in males than in females whereas lymphocytes were higher in females than in males. The erythrocyte morphological parameters (EL [erythrocyte length], EW [erythrocyte width], L/W [length/width], ES [erythrocyte size]) were compared with the same data from Emys orbicularis s.l, and from species belonging to other chelonian genera. The erythrocyte size did not vary within the studied Palearctic Emys taxa, whereas it proved to differ from that observed in other chelonians

Evolution of Salmonella enterica Virulence via Point Mutations in the Fimbrial Adhesin

Whereas the majority of pathogenic Salmonella serovars are capable of infecting many different animal species, typically producing a self-limited gastroenteritis, serovars with narrow host-specificity exhibit increased virulence and their infections frequently result in fatal systemic diseases. In our study, a genetic and functional analysis of the mannose-specific type 1 fimbrial adhesin FimH from a variety of serovars of Salmonella enterica revealed that specific mutant variants of FimH are common in host-adapted (systemically invasive) serovars. We have found that while the low-binding shear-dependent phenotype of the adhesin is preserved in broad host-range (usually systemically non-invasive) Salmonella, the majority of host-adapted serovars express FimH variants with one of two alternative phenotypes: a significantly increased binding to mannose (as in S. Typhi, S. Paratyphi C, S. Dublin and some isolates of S. Choleraesuis), or complete loss of the mannose-binding activity (as in S. Paratyphi B, S. Choleraesuis and S. Gallinarum). The functional diversification of FimH in host-adapted Salmonella results from recently acquired structural mutations. Many of the mutations are of a convergent nature indicative of strong positive selection. The high-binding phenotype of FimH that leads to increased bacterial adhesiveness to and invasiveness of epithelial cells and macrophages usually precedes acquisition of the non-binding phenotype. Collectively these observations suggest that activation or inactivation of mannose-specific adhesive properties in different systemically invasive serovars of Salmonella reflects their dynamic trajectories of adaptation to a life style in specific hosts. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that point mutations are the target of positive selection and, in addition to horizontal gene transfer and genome degradation events, can contribute to the differential pathoadaptive evolution of Salmonella

Free-Living Turtles Are a Reservoir for Salmonella but Not for Campylobacter

Different studies have reported the prevalence of Salmonella in turtles and its role in reptile-associated salmonellosis in humans, but there is a lack of scientific literature related with the epidemiology of Campylobacter in turtles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in free-living native (Emys orbicularis, n=83) and exotic (Trachemys scripta elegans, n=117) turtles from 11 natural ponds in Eastern Spain. In addition, different types of samples (cloacal swabs, intestinal content and water from Turtle containers) were compared. Regardless of the turtle species, natural ponds where individuals were captured and the type of sample taken, Campylobacter was not detected. Salmonella was isolated in similar proportions in native (8.0±3.1%) and exotic (15.0±3.3%) turtles (p=0.189). The prevalence of Salmonella positive turtles was associated with the natural ponds where animals were captured. Captured turtles from 8 of the 11 natural ponds were positive, ranged between 3.0±3.1% and 60.0±11.0%. Serotyping revealed 8 different serovars among four Salmonella enterica subspecies: S. enterica subsp. enterica (n = 21), S. enterica subsp. salamae (n = 2), S. enterica subsp. diarizonae (n = 3), and S. enterica subsp. houtenae (n = 1). Two serovars were predominant: S. Thompson (n=16) and S. typhimurium (n=3). In addition, there was an effect of sample type on Salmonella detection. The highest isolation of Salmonella was obtained from intestinal content samples (12.0±3.0%), while lower percentages were found for water from the containers and cloacal swabs (8.0±2.5% and 3.0±1.5%, respectively). Our results imply that free-living turtles are a risk factor for Salmonella transmission, but do not seem to be a reservoir for Campylobacter. We therefore rule out turtles as a risk factor for human campylobacteriosis. Nevertheless, further studies should be undertaken in other countries to confirm these results.This work was supported by the Conselleria de Infraestructura, Territorio y Medio Ambiente for their assistance and financial support (Life09-Trachemys, Resolution 28/02/12 CITMA). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.Marín, C.; Ingresa-Capaccioni, S.; González Bodí, S.; Marco Jiménez, F.; Vega Garcia, S. (2013). Free-Living Turtles Are a Reservoir for Salmonella but Not for Campylobacter. PLoS ONE. 8(8):1-6. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0072350S1688(2012). The European Union Summary Report on Trends and Sources of Zoonoses, Zoonotic Agents and Food‐borne Outbreaks in 2010. EFSA Journal, 10(3). doi:10.2903/j.efsa.2012.2597Kapperud, G. (2003). Factors Associated with Increased and Decreased Risk of Campylobacter Infection: A Prospective Case-Control Study in Norway. 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(2002). Salmonella Infection Associated With a Pet Lizard in Siblings With Sickle Cell Anemia: An Avoidable Risk. Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, 24(1), 75-76. doi:10.1097/00043426-200201000-00020Tu, Z.-C., Zeitlin, G., Gagner, J.-P., Keo, T., Hanna, B. A., & Blaser, M. J. (2004). Campylobacter fetus of Reptile Origin as a Human Pathogen. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 42(9), 4405-4407. doi:10.1128/jcm.42.9.4405-4407.2004Hidalgo-Vila, J., Díaz-Paniagua, C., Pérez-Santigosa, N., de Frutos-Escobar, C., & Herrero-Herrero, A. (2008). Salmonella in free-living exotic and native turtles and in pet exotic turtles from SW Spain. Research in Veterinary Science, 85(3), 449-452. doi:10.1016/j.rvsc.2008.01.011Harris, J. R., Neil, K. P., Behravesh, C. B., Sotir, M. J., & Angulo, F. J. (2010). Recent Multistate Outbreaks of HumanSalmonellaInfections Acquired from Turtles: A Continuing Public Health Challenge. 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Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine, 35(4), 562-563. doi:10.1638/03-070Hidalgo-Vila, J., Díaz-Paniagua, C., de Frutos-Escobar, C., Jiménez-Martínez, C., & Pérez-Santigosa, N. (2007). Salmonella in free living terrestrial and aquatic turtles. Veterinary Microbiology, 119(2-4), 311-315. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2006.08.012Acheson, D., & Allos, B. M. (2001). Campylobacter jejuni Infections: Update on Emerging Issues and Trends. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 32(8), 1201-1206. doi:10.1086/319760Briones, V., Tellez, S., Goyache, J., Ballesteros, C., del Pilar Lanzarot, M., Dominguez, L., & Fernandez-Garayzabal, J. F. (2004). Salmonella diversity associated with wild reptiles and amphibians in Spain. Environmental Microbiology, 6(8), 868-871. doi:10.1111/j.1462-2920.2004.00631.xMan, S. M. (2011). The clinical importance of emerging Campylobacter species. Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 8(12), 669-685. doi:10.1038/nrgastro.2011.191Ugarte-Ruiz, M., Gómez-Barrero, S., Porrero, M. 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Cryptosporidium cf. avium in an inland-bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) - A case report and review of the literature

Here, we report the first case of Cryptosporidium cf. avium from an inland bearded dragon (Pogona vitticeps) from a wildlife sanctuary in Victoria, Australia. Molecular characterisation was conducted by PCR-coupled sequencing of regions in the small subunit of nuclear RNA (SSU), actin and large subunit of nuclear RNA (LSU) genes. The sequences obtained grouped with those of C. ornithophilus and other C. avium genotypes/variants originating from reptiles or birds. We discuss this case in relation to the current state of knowledge of C. avium of birds and reptiles, considering provenance and environment (agricultural, pet industry, wildlife, zoo or wildlife park) as well as clinical context, and pathological changes associated with cryptosporidiosis in these host animals