High prevalence of BRCA1 stop mutation c.4183C>T in the Tyrolean population: implications for genetic testing

Screening for founder mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 has been discussed as a cost-effective testing strategy in certain populations. In this study, comprehensive BRCA1 and BRCA2 testing was performed in a routine diagnostic setting. The prevalence of the BRCA1 stop mutation c.4183C>T, p.(Gln1395Ter), was determined in unselected breast and ovarian cancer patients from different regions in the Tyrol. Cancer registry data were used to evaluate the impact of this mutation on regional cancer incidence. The mutation c.4183C>T was detected in 30.4% of hereditary BRCA1-associated breast and ovarian cancer patients in our cohort. It was also identified in 4.1% of unselected (26% of unselected triple negative) Tyrolean breast cancer patients and 6.8% of unselected ovarian cancer patients from the Lower Inn Valley (LIV) region. Cancer incidences showed a region-specific increase in age-stratified breast and ovarian cancer risk with standardized incidence ratios of 1.23 and 2.13, respectively. We, thus, report a Tyrolean BRCA1 founder mutation that correlates to a local increase in the breast and ovarian cancer risks. On the basis of its high prevalence, we suggest that targeted genetic analysis should be offered to all women with breast or ovarian cancer and ancestry from the LIV region

Isolation of tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia suis from a pig herd affected by reproductive disorders and conjunctivitis

Due to various challenges in diagnosing chlamydiosis in pigs, antibiotic treatment is usually performed before any molecular or antibiotic susceptibility testing. This could increase the occurrence of tetracycline-resistant Chlamydia (C.) suis isolates in the affected pig population and potentiate the reoccurrence of clinical signs. Here, we present a case of an Austrian pig farm, where tetracycline resistant and sensitive C. suis isolates were isolated from four finishers with conjunctivitis. On herd-level, 10% of the finishers suffered from severe conjunctivitis and sows showed a high percentage of irregular return to estrus. Subsequent treatment of whole-herd using oxytetracycline led to a significant reduction of clinical signs. Retrospective antibiotic susceptibility testing revealed tetracycline resistance and decreased susceptibility to doxycycline in half of the ocular C. suis isolates, and all isolates were able to partially recover following a single-dose tetracycline treatment in vitro. These findings were later confirmed in vivo, when all former clinical signs recurred three months later. This case report raises awareness of tetracycline resistance in C. suis and emphasizes the importance of preventative selection of tetracycline resistant C. suis isolates

Influence of Selective Agents (EMJH-STAFF), Sample Filtration and pH on Leptospira interrogans Serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae Cultivation and Isolation from Swine Urine

Leptospira spp. cause the zoonotic disease leptospirosis, which occurs in numerous mammalians worldwide. Isolation is still important for serotyping and genotyping of Leptospira, which in turn is essential for epidemiological surveillance of leptospirosis and the development of diagnostic tests and vaccines. However, isolation of Leptospira from clinical specimens is inherently insensitive. This study was conducted to examine the influence of selective agents, sample filtration, sample pH and the use of phosphate buffered saline (PBS) buffer for sample storage to improve the success of cultivation and isolation of Leptospira interrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae from swine urine. EMJH (Ellinghausen McCullough, Johnson and Harris) medium including the selective agents sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, amphotericin, fosfomycin and 5-fluorouracil (STAFF) increased the success of Leptospira isolation from spiked swine urine samples. Sample filtration yielded only negative results. Isolation in EMJH-STAFF was successful from swine urine with a density as low as 104 Leptospira/mL, and urine with pH ≤ 7 impaired the cultivation rate. Cultivation and isolation were not improved by the addition of PBS to spiked urine samples prior to storage for 24 h at 4 °C. The results of the study demonstrate that cultivation and isolation of leptospires from swine urine can be improved by enhanced methods

Umfrage unter österreichischen Schweinetierärzten zur diagnostischen, therapeutischen und prophylaktischen Vorgehensweise im Fall von Konjunktivitiden beim Schwein

Introduction Although conjunctivitis occurs regularly in pig herds, there is a lack of scientific data on differen-tial diagnosis and on prophylactic, diagnostic and therapeutic inter-ventions. We conducted a survey among Austrian swine vets on their approach to and experiences with this clinical sign.Material and methods With a response rate of 45 %, 26 experienced Austrian swine herd health veterinarians participated in the anonymous online survey (www.limesurvey.com), which con- tained 24 questions on their clini-cal assessment, practical experi-ences and approaches in cases of conjunctivitis in pigs.Results The responders stated that at least 10-30 % of pig farms are affected by conjunctivitis, with fattening pigs particularly affected. The porcine re-productive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) (96.2 %), chlamydia (80.0 %), noxious gases (73.1 %), barn climate (61.6 %) and dust (46.5 %) were given as the main trig-gering factors. If possible, the climate was optimized in a first step. The vet-erinarians almost always undertook diagnostic investigations in cases of severe conjunctivitis (88.5 %), if at least a third to half the pigs were af-fected (76.9 %) or in the event of oth-er clinical signs such as dyspnoea, coughing or sneezing (65.4 %). Twenty (about 77 %) of the vets considered conjunctivitis to be moderately to severe-ly painful. In practice, conjunctivitis is rarely treated in affected pigs (< 10 %). This might be due to the lack of approval for appropriate pharmaceuticals and to the withdrawal periods. Doxycycline (70.6 %) and tetra-cycline (29.4 %) were primarily chosen for antimicro-bial treatment and were most frequently applied orally (84.6 %) for a maximum of ten days (46.2 %).Conclusion There is uncertainty in dealing with conjunctivitis due to a lack of studies on aetiology, pathogenesis, diag-nostics, therapy and efficacy as well as on housing conditions. The choice of antibiotics indicated a lack of knowledge of the high tetracycline resistance rates in Chlamydia suis isolates. Although PRRSV has not been scientifically proven to cause conjunctivi-tis, it is considered a classical causative agent, while Mycoplasma hyorhinis, a pathogen frequently isolated from conjunctivae of pigs in the field, was hardly con-sidered. The balance between economic interests, fea-sibility and animal welfare has a pivotal role. There is an urgent need for scientific studies to provide guid-ance on how to proceed in swine practice.Obwohl Bindehautentzündungen in Schweinebeständen regelmäßig auftreten, fehlen wissenschaftliche Daten über Ursachen und diagnostische, therapeutische sowie prophylaktische Maßnahmen. In einer 2020 durchgeführten anonymen Online-Umfrage wurden Erfahrungswerte sowie Vorgehensweise von österreichischen Schweinepraktikern (n=26) erhoben. Als poten¬zielle Auslöser wurden das Porzine Reproduktive und Respiratorische Syndrom Virus (PRRSV) (96,2 %), Chlamydien (80,0 %), Schadgase (73,1 %), Stallklima (61,6 %) und Staub (46,5 %) genannt. Mindestens 10–30 % der Schweinebetriebe und besonders Mastschweine waren von Konjunktivitiden be¬troffen. Eine diagnostische Abklärung erfolgte überwiegend nur bei hochgradigen Konjunktivitiden (88,5 %), wenn mindestens ein Drittel der Schweine betroffen war (76,9 %) sowie bei gleichzeitigem Auftreten zusätzlicher klinischer Symptome wie Dyspnoe, Husten oder Niesen (65,4 %). Obwohl rund 77 % der Befragten Konjunktivitiden als mittelmäßig bis sehr schmerzhaft ansahen, wurden betroffene Tiere aufgrund fehlender Zulassungen sowie einzuhaltender Wartezeiten kaum medikamentös behandelt (< 10 %). Antibiotisch behandelt wurde vorrangig mit Doxyzyklin (70,6 %) und Tetrazyklin (29,4 %), oral (84,6 %) und über einen Zeitraum von maximal zehn Tagen (46,2 %). Die Antibiotikawahl ließ auf fehlende Kenntnisse über hohe Tetrazyklinresistenzraten bei Chlamydia suis Isolaten schließen. Obwohl die Kausalität von PRRSV für Konjunktivitis wissenschaftlich nicht erwiesen ist, wurde von den Praktikern angenommen, dass PRRSV ein ursächlich beteiligter Erreger ist, während Mycoplasma hyorhinis, ein im Feld häufig aus Konjunktiven von Schweinen isolierter Erreger, kaum als ursächlich angesehen wurde. Es bestanden Unsicherheiten im Umgang mit Konjunktivitiden, die in einem Mangel an Studien zu Ursachen, Pathogenese, Diagnostik, Therapie sowie Haltungsbedingungen begründet sind. Das Abwägen zwischen wirtschaftlichen Interessen, Umsetzbarkeit und Tierwohl spielte eine wichtige Rolle

Effect of Early-Life Treatment of Piglets with Long-Acting Ceftiofur on Colonization of Streptococcus suis Serotype 7 and Elicitation of Specific Humoral Immunity in a Farm Dealing with Streptococcal Diseases

In newborn piglets treatment with long-acting ceftiofur is a common approach to reduce losses due to streptococcal diseases on farms, even if problems start after weaning. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of a single early-life treatment on Streptococcus (S.) suis colonization, transmission, immunoreaction, and drug resistance over an observation period of 14 weeks. In a farm with a history of streptococcal disease and isolation of a S. suis cps 7 mrp+, arcA+ isolate from diseased piglets, half of each litter was treated with a long-acting ceftiofur on day 1. S. suis-isolates were profiled and serum samples were tested for opsonizing antibodies. Treated and untreated pigs did not differ according to average daily weight gains, S. suis-isolation rates and level of opsonizing antibodies. Although the invasive cps 7 strain was not detected in a single piglet over 14 weeks, all animals developed bactericidal activity. No resistance to ceftiofur, but resistance to tetracyclins (100%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (53%) was shown. Our results indicate that early treatment with ceftiofur does not prevent colonization and transmission of S. suis or the induction of bactericidal humoral immunity in nursery and fattening pigs. The necessity of continuous usage should be reconsidered

Detection of Various Streptococcus spp. and Their Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns in Clinical Specimens from Austrian Swine Stocks

Knowledge of pathogenic potential, frequency and antimicrobial resistance patterns of porcine Streptococcus (S.) spp. other than S. suis is scarce. Between 2016 and 2020, altogether 553 S. spp. isolates were recovered from clinical specimens taken from Austrian swine stocks and submitted for routine microbiological examination. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing towards eight antimicrobial substances was performed using disk diffusion test. All isolates from skin lesions belonged to the species S. dysgalactiae subspecies equisimilis (SDSE). S. hyovaginalis was mainly isolated from the upper respiratory tract (15/19) and S. thoraltensis from the genitourinary tract (11/15). The majority of S. suis isolates were resistant to tetracycline (66%), clindamycin (62%) and erythromycin (58%). S. suis isolates from the joints had the highest resistance rates. S. suis and SDSE isolates resistant to tetracycline were more likely to be resistant to erythromycin and clindamycin (p &lt; 0.01). Results show that different species of Streptococcus tend to occur in specific body sites. Nevertheless, a statement whether these species are colonizers or potential pathogens cannot be given so far. High resistance rates of S. suis towards tetracyclines and erythromycin and high recovery rates of S. suis from lung tissue should be considered when treating pigs with respiratory diseases

Litters of Various-Sized Mummies (LVSM) and Stillborns after Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Type 1 Infection—A Case Report

Diverse origins and causes are described for papyraceous mummifications of porcine foetuses, but the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is not one of them. In contrast, PRRSV is unlikely to cause mid-term placental transmission but may cause late-term abortions and weakness of piglets. This case report describes a sudden occurrence of mummified foetuses of various sizes and stillborns and delayed birth (>115 days) in more than 50% of sows from one farrowing batch, while newborn piglets were mostly vital. Neither increased embryonic death nor infertility was reported. Three litters with mummies, autolysed piglets and stillborn piglets were investigated, and infections with porcine parvoviruses, porcine teschoviruses, porcine circoviruses, encephalomyocarditis virus, Leptospira spp. and Chlamydia spp. were excluded. Instead, high viral loads of PRRSV were detected in the thymus pools of piglets at all developmental stages, even in piglets with a crown–rump length between 80 and 150 mm, suggesting a potential mid-term in utero transmission of the virus. Genomic regions encoding structural proteins (ORF2–7) of the virus were sequenced and identified the virulent PRRSV-1 strain AUT15-33 as the closest relative. This case report confirms the diversity of PRRSV and its potential involvement in foetal death in mid-gestation

Prevalence of Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Resistances in E. coli Associated with Neonatal Diarrhea, Postweaning Diarrhea, and Edema Disease in Pigs from Austria

Increasing numbers of multi-resistant Escherichia (E.) coli from clinical specimens emphasize the importance of monitoring of their resistance profiles for proper treatment. Furthermore, knowledge on the presence of virulence associated genes in E. coli isolates from European swine stocks is scarce. Consequently, a total of 694 E. coli isolated between 2016 and 2018 from diarrheic piglets of Austrian swine herds were investigated. The isolates were tested for their susceptibility to twelve antibiotics using agar disk diffusion test and for the presence of 22 virulence associated genes via PCR. Overall, 71.9, 67.7, and 49.5% of all isolates were resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline, and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, while resistance levels to gentamicin and fosfomycin were 7.7 and 2.0%, respectively. Resistance frequency to ciprofloxacin was higher than in previous studies. Isolates were more likely to be resistant to ampicillin if they were also resistant to ciprofloxacin. No isolate was resistant to meropenem or amikacin. Virulence genes were detected more frequently in isolates expressing hemolytic activity on blood agar plates. The detection rate of faeG was increased in fimH negative isolates. We assume, that hemolytic activity and absence of fimH could be considered as potential indicators for the virulence of E. coli in piglets