Tularemia and Plague Survey in Rodents in Earthquake Zones in Southeastern Iran

OBJECTIVES: Earthquakes are one the most common natural disasters that lead to increased mortality and morbidity from transmissible diseases, partially because the rodents displaced by an earthquake can lead to an increased rate of disease transmission. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of plague and tularemia in rodents in the earthquake zones in southeastern Iran. METHODS: In April 2013, a research team was dispatched to explore the possible presence of diseases in rodents displaced by a recent earthquake magnitude 7.7 around the cities of Khash and Saravan in Sistan and Baluchestan Province. Rodents were trapped near and in the earthquake zone, in a location where an outbreak of tularemia was reported in 2007. Rodent serums were tested for a serological survey using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: In the 13 areas that were studied, nine rodents were caught over a total of 200 trap-days. Forty-eight fleas and 10 ticks were obtained from the rodents. The ticks were from the Hyalomma genus and the fleas were from the Xenopsylla genus. All the trapped rodents were Tatera indica. Serological results were negative for plague, but the serum agglutination test was positive for tularemia in one of the rodents. Tatera indica has never been previously documented to be involved in the transmission of tularemia. CONCLUSIONS: No evidence of the plague cycle was found in the rodents of the area, but evidence was found of tularemia infection in rodents, as demonstrated by a positive serological test for tularemia in one rodent

Tularemia - possible increase and new risk factors

Purpose: Tularemia is a zoonotic disease caused by the bacterium Francisella tularensis. In Europe each year approximately 1200 human cases are reported. Four subspecies are currently known: tularensis (the most virulent form), holarctica (the most widespread form), mediasiatic, and novicida. In Austria Francisella tularensis supsp. holarctica is endemic in the eastern part of the country (Lower Austria and Burgenland), and is known to have a 5-year cycle. Zoonotic transmission from pet species in Europe has only been described in Norway due to a cat bite, as well as after an accidental exposure to the disease while spaying a cat. In 2014 first reports of clinically ill dogs were reported from Norway. Methods & Materials: As hunting with dogs has a long tradition in Austria, and as there are endemic areas for the disease a first serological screening of 80 hunting dogs used in the hunt for European brown hares (Lepus europaeus) was conducted. Results: Of these 80 dogs 5 tested positive for tularemia (6.25%, CI 2.1% - 14%). One positive dog had shown some clinical symptoms, however this female dog also tested positive for Brucella canis. Conclusion: This result shows that dogs not only have contact to the pathogen, but also seroconvert. The occurrence of the disease is thought to increase in the next years due to our changing climate, and this year there is a new hotspot of the disease in Austria (i.e. Salzburg). These changes, as well as the result of this study highlight the need to raise the awareness level of the disease, its possible increase and new risk factors

Development of molecular biological tools for the rapid determination of antibiotic susceptibility of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae isolates

Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae is the etiologic agent of porcine enzootic pneumonia, a contagious respiratory disease, causing significant economic losses worldwide. Antibiotic treatment is commonly utilised in the pig industry to control M. hyopneumoniae infection. Since the conventional antibiotic susceptibility test is time-consuming, taking up to weeks’ period, antibiotics are usually empirically chosen. Certain single nucleotide polymorphisms in the parC (C239A/T, G250A) and gyrA (G242C, C247 T, A260 G) genes show correlation with decreased fluoroquinolone susceptibility by the change of the target site. Furthermore, the nucleotide alteration A2059 G in the 23S rRNA sequence correlates with significantly decreased macrolide and lincosamide susceptibility of M. hyopneumoniae. Mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMA) and high resolution melt (HRM) analysis, capable to detect the mentioned resistance markers, were developed in the present study, in order to provide susceptibility data in a considerably shorter time than the conventional methods. The results of the MAMA and HRM assays were congruent with the results of the conventional antibiotic susceptibility method of the tested M. hyopneumoniae field isolates. The sensitivity of the MAMAs was 103-104 copy numbers, while that of the HRM assay was 105-106 copy numbers. To the best of our knowledge this was the first time that MAMA and HRM assays were developed for the rapid detection of decreased fluoroquinolone, macrolide or lincosamide susceptibility in M. hyopneumoniae strains

Screening of bat faeces for arthropod-borne apicomplexan protozoa: Babesia canis and Besnoitia besnoiti-like sequences from Chiroptera

Background : 45 Microbats (Chiroptera: Microchiropte ra) are among the most eco - epidemiologically important 46 mammals, owing to their presence in human settlements and ani mal keeping facilities . 47 Roosting of bats in buildings may bring pathogens of veterinary - medical importance into the 48 environment of domestic animals and humans. In this context bats have long been studied as 49 carriers of various pathogen groups. However, despite their close association with arthropods 50 (both in their f oo d and as their ectoparasites), only a few molecular surveys have been 51 publish ed on their role as carriers of vector - borne protozoa. The aim of the present study was 52 to compensate for this scarcity of information. 53 Findings : 54 Altogether 221 (mostly individual) bat faecal samples were collected in Hungary and the 55 Netherlands. The DNA w as extracted , and analysed with PCR and sequencing for the 56 presence of arthropod - borne apicomplexan protozoa. Babesia canis canis (with 99 - 100% 57 homology) was identified in five samples, all from Hungary. Because it was excluded with an 58 Ixodidae - specific PC R that the relevant bats consumed ticks, these sequences derive either 59 from insect carriers of Ba. canis , or from the infection of bats. In one bat faecal sample from 60 the Netherlands a sequence having the highest (99%) homology to Besnoitia besnoiti was 61 am plified. 62 Conclusions : 63 The se findings suggest that some aspects of the epidemiology of canine babesiosis are 64 underestimated or unknown, i.e. the potential role of insect - borne mechanical transmission 65 and/or the susceptibility of bats to Ba. canis . In addit ion, b ats need to be added to future 66 studies in the quest for the final host of Be. besnoiti

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Bacillus anthracis strains from Hungary

The susceptibility of 29 Bacillus anthracis strains, collected in Hungary between 1933 and 2014, was tested to 10 antibiotics with commercially available minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test strips. All strains were susceptible to amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, clindamycin, doxycycline, gentamicin, penicillin, rifampicin, and vancomycin. Intermediate susceptibility to erythromycin and cefotaxime was detected in 17.2% (5/29) and 58.6% (17/29) of the strains, respectively. Correlations were not observed between the isolation date, location, host species, genotype, and antibiotic susceptibility profile of strains

Rapid, simple and cost-effective molecular method to differentiate the temperature sensitive (ts+) MS-H vaccine strain and wild-type Mycoplasma synoviae isolates

Mycoplasma synoviae infection in chickens and turkeys can cause respiratory disease, infectious synovitis and eggshell apex abnormality; thus it is an economically important pathogen. Control of M . synoviae infection comprises eradication, medication or vaccina- tion. The differentiation of the temperature sensitive (ts + ) MS-H vaccine strain from field iso- lates is crucial during vaccination programs. Melt-curve and agarose gel based mismatch amplification mutation assays (MAMA) are provided in the present study to distinguish between the ts + MS-H vaccine strain, its non-temperature sensitive re-isolates and wild- type M . synoviae isolates based on the single nucleotide polymorphisms at nt367 and nt629 of the obg gene. The two melt-MAMAs and the two agarose-MAMAs clearly distinguish the ts + MS-H vaccine strain genotype from its non-temperature sensitive re-isolate genotype and wild-type M . synoviae isolate genotype, and no cross-reactions with other Mycoplasma species infecting birds occur. The sensitivity of the melt-MAMAs and agarose-MAMAs was 10 3 and 10 4 copy numbers, respectively. The assays can be performed directly on clinical samples and they can be run simultaneously at the same annealing temperature. The assays can be performed in laboratories with limited facilities, using basic real-time PCR machine or conventional thermocycler coupled with agarose gel electrophoresis. The advantages of the described assays compared with previously used methods are simplicity, sufficient sensitivity, time and cost effectiveness and specificity

Isolation of Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis from swan goose (Anser cygnoides) in China

Abstract Background: Mycoplasma anserisalpingitidis causes significant economic losses in the domestic goose (Anser anser) industry in Europe. As 95% of the global goose production is in China where the primary species is the swan goose (Anser cygnoides), it is crucial to know whether the agent is present in this region of the world. Results: Purulent cloaca and purulent or necrotic phallus inflammation were observed in affected animals which represented 1–2% of a swan goose breeding flock (75,000 animals) near Guanghzou, China, in September 2019. From twelve sampled animals the cloaca swabs of five birds (three male, two female) were demonstrated to be M. anserisalpingitidis positive by PCR and the agent was successfully isolated from the samples of three female geese. Based on whole genome sequence analysis, the examined isolate showed high genetic similarity (84.67%) with the European isolates. The antibiotic susceptibility profiles of two swan goose isolates, determined by microbroth dilution method against 12 antibiotics and an antibiotic combination were also similar to the European domestic goose ones with tylvalosin and tiamulin being the most effective drugs. Conclusions: To the best of our knowledge this is the first description of M. anserisalpingitidis infection in swan goose, thus the study highlights the importance of mycoplasmosis in the goose industry on a global scale. Keywords: Antibiotic, China, Mycoplasma, Swan goose, Phallus inflammation, Venereal disease, Whole genom