Recent advances and public health implications for environmental exposure to Chlamydia abortus: from enzootic to zoonotic disease

Environmental transmission of Chlamydia abortus as a result of enzootic disease or disease outbreaks and the threats posed by this pathogen has been previously reported, however a state-of-the-science review of these reports and the identification of future research priorities in this area is still lacking. This study provides an overview of the current knowledge of host–pathogen–environment interactions, addressing public health risks and identifying critical questions and research gaps. We performed a systematic PubMed and Web of Science search for publications related to Chlamydia abortus in the past four decades, and we reviewed and combined the evidence critically discussing and commenting the results. A total of 182 studies, 5 chapters of specific books and the “OIE terrestrial manual” were included in this review. There were substantial variations between the studies in topic addressed and experimental design. Overall, the literature largely supports the crucial role played by environmental exposure on the acquisition of zoonotic disease caused by Chlamydia abortus. We also identify the paucity of information related to interspecies transmission and pathogen adaptation in relation to environmental dissemination and zoonotic risk. This analysis further highlights the need for additional research given that environmental transmission represents a serious risk not only to susceptible patients (pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals), but also for other species including wildlife

A comparison study of the inflammatory response in Holstein Friesian versus a local cattle breed (Rendena)

The selective pressure for increased milk production brought about great difficulties in the adaptation of cows to their environment. However, not much is known about the biological mechanisms behind the relationship between genetic selection and higher risk of metabolic and infectious diseases (Oltenacu, P.A., and Broom, D.M., 2010). It is well known that during the calving period, high-yielding dairy cattle are more susceptible to common environmental stressors, affecting disease occurrence and milk production levels (Bach, A., 2011).In this study we compared innate immune response of 6 Holstein Friesian (HF) and 4 Rendena (R) cows reared in the same farm and under the same management conditions. Milk and blood samples were collected at dry-off (T1), 1 day after calving (T2), 7-10 days after calving (T3), and 30 days after calving (T4). Milk samples were subjected to measurement of the inflammation marker cathelicidin and assessment of different innate immune-related mediators; blood samples were used for the analysis of plasma metabolites indicators of systemic inflammation.HF cows showed a more severe systemic inflammatory response at T2 and T3 in comparison with R cows (fig.1). Concerning the milk protein abundance profile, higher levels in R cows were observed in the colostrum (T2). Moreover, at all time points HF showed higher levels of the inflammation marker cathelicidin in milk (fig.2). In addition, the expression of innate immune related genes were different in HF compared with R (fig.3). Our results suggest that HF cows develop a systemic and local mammary inflammatory response that confirms their higher susceptibility to disease compared with R cows.Our findings reveal that fundamental effector activities of innate immunity in the mammary gland could be included in the breeding programs of HF cows and suggest the spread of autochthonous cow farming in order to maintain the biodiversity, reduce the antibiotic consumption and production of high quality dairy products

Identification and characterisation of Gamma-herpesviruses in zoo artiodactyla

Background: Viruses within the γ-herpesviruses subfamily include the causative agents of Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) in several species of the order Artiodactyla. MCF is a usually fatal lymphoproliferative disease affecting non-adapted host species. In adapted host species these viruses become latent and recrudesce and transmit during times of stress or immunosuppression. The undetected presence of MCF-causing viruses (MCFVs) is a risk to non-adapted hosts, especially within non-sympatric zoological collections. This study investigated the presence of MCFVs in six different zoological collections in the UK, to evaluate the presence of subclinical/latent MCFVs in carrier animals. Methods: One-hundred and thirty eight samples belonging to 54 different species of Artiodactyla were tested by Consensus Pan-herpes PCR. The positive samples were sequenced and subjected to phylogenetic analyses to understand their own evolutionary relationships and those with their hosts. Results: Twenty-five samples from 18 different species tested positive. All viruses but one clustered in the γ-herpesvirus family and within the Macavirus as well as the non-Macavirus groups (caprinae and alcelaphinae/hippotraginae clusters, respectively). A strong association between virus and host species was evident in the Macavirus group and clustering within the caprinae group indicated potential pathogenicity. Conclusion: This study shows the presence of pathogenic and non-pathogenic MCFVs, as well as other γ-herpesviruses, in Artiodactyla species of conservation importance and allowed the identification of new herpesviruses in some non-adapted species

Complexities of Molecular Identification of γ-herpesviruses: Lessons from MCFV

The Herpesviridae family is subdivided into three subfamilies, namely α-herpersvirinae, β-herpesvirinae and γ-herpesvirinae. All members of the family are characterized by a common structure consisting of a large linear double-stranded DNA genetic core packaged into a proteic icosahedral capsid and further enclosed in a phospholipidic bilayer envelope of cellular origin. Herpesviruses are characterized, on one side, by a high stability of the genome during virus replication, however, on the other side by a high capability to change rapidly in response to natural evolutionary selecting pressure. Therefore, there is a continuous emergence and establishment of new viruses. In this contest γ-herpesviruses, whose contribution to disease outbreaks in wildlife population has often been underestimated, pose a serious problem due to their ability to cross species barriers, infect new hosts and give rise to newly emerged viruses or virus variants in reservoirs. The problem is exacerbated by the absence of vaccines and effective treatments, such as for Malignant Catarrhal Fever (MCF) in cattle or MCF-like diseases, caused by the Malignant Catarrhal Fever Viruses (MCFVs). MCFV can infect both livestock and wild animals sporadically, however when it does, it can cause clinical disease with important welfare implications, dramatic pathological changes and often has death as outcome. Due to the inability to isolate the majority of the γ-herpesviruses in vitro, their detection and characterization necessarily involve molecular methodologies aimed at diagnosing, identifying and resolving their phylogenetic origins and the evolutionary relationship with the host species. This information is ultimately necessary to improve the control of the disease spread, and to better identify the source of outbreaks, which can be seriously detrimental to zoological collections, especially for endangered species. This review provides an overview of the currently available methodologies applied for identification and characterization of MCFVs, critically describes benefits and disadvantages of these, recognises the gaps to be addressed and identifies future diagnostic opportunities

Compartmentalization of small ruminant lentivirus between blood and colostrum in infected goats

The compartmentalization of small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) subtype A (Maedi-Visna virus) and B (caprine arthritis-encephalitis virus) variants was analyzed in colostrum and peripheral blood mononuclear cells of four naturally infected goats. Sequence analysis of DNA and RNA encompassing the V4-V5 env regions showed a differential distribution of SRLV variants between the two compartments. Tissue-specific compartmentalization was demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis in three of the four cases. In these animals colostrum proviral sequences were clustered relative to the blood viral sequences. In one goat, the blood and colostrum-derived provirus sequences were intermingled, suggesting trafficking of virus between the two tissues or mirroring a recent infection. Surprisingly, the pattern of free virus variants in the colostrum of all animals corresponded only partially to that of the proviral form, suggesting that free viruses might not derive from infected colostral cells. The compartmentalization of SRLV between peripheral blood and colostrum indicates that lactogenic transmission may involve specific viruses not present in the proviral populations circulating in the blood

Phylogeny and Differential Gene Expression Profile of IL-1R8 in Normal Dog Tissue

Interleukin-1 Receptor 8 (IL-1R8) is a transmembrane protein of the IL-1 receptor family and represents an important regulator of the balance of innate and inflammatory responses. Depending on the immunological insult, IL1-R8 protects from the immunopathology or impairs the protective immune response against the insult. The expression pattern of IL-1R8 in dog tissues is unknown. Given the relevance of inflammatory diseases in dog, the aims of this study were to identify the sequence, analyze the phylogenesis and investigate the differential expression and distribution of IL-1R8 in a wide panel of non-pathologic tissues and organs by means of quantitative Real-Time PCR and uncover species-specific peculiarities. In Canis lupus familiaris, the IL1-R8 gene maps on chromosome 18, and includes ten exons. We first compared the coding sequence of dog IL-1R8 with sequences of other carnivors. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that IL-1R8 shares significantly high sequence homology with IL-1R8 of other canids particularly fox, sharing a common progenitor. Our study demonstrated that IL-1R8 is highly expressed in pancreas, considerably expressed in kidney, heart, liver, skeletal muscle, thymus, salivary gland, lymph node and lung. Interestingly, the expression pattern disclosed a unique profile for canine tissues when compared to tissues from other animal’s species. Imbalance of pro-inflammatory response leads to a vicious loop whither pro-inflammatory signaling and injury sustain each other and booster the disease. Therefore, it is crucial to investigate key regulator molecules such as IL-1R8, which functions both in homeostasis and disease and has potential to be a valid diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker

IL-1R8 as Pathoimmunological Marker for Severity of Canine Chronic Enteropathy

Chronic enteropathy (CE) is a severe multifactorial gastrointestinal disease that affects dogs and is driven by poorly characterized inflammatory pathways. Imbalance of pro-inflammatory response regulators, including IL-1R8, may be due to different factors, among which the infection with Helicobacteraceae is known to lead to a vicious circle in which excessive pro-inflammatory signaling and gastrointestinal injury reinforce each other and boost the disease. We investigated the expression of IL-1R8 in large intestine biopsies of dogs with or without clinical signs of CE and with previously assessed enterohepatic Helicobacter spp. colonization status by mean of quantitative real-time PCR. Our study revealed that IL-1R8 is downregulated in both acutely (p = 0.0074) and chronically (p = 0.0159) CE affected dogs compared to healthy controls. The data also showed that IL-1R8 expression tends to decrease with colonization by Helicobacter spp. Interestingly, a negative correlation was detected between the level of expression of IL-1R8 and the severity of macroscopic lesions identified by endoscopy and the crypt hyperplasia score. We further compared the expression levels between males and females and found no statistically significant difference between the two groups. No significant difference was observed in IL-1R8 expression profiles with the age of the animals either. Interestingly, an association was uncovered between IL-1R8 expression level and dog breed. Together, our data advance knowledge on gastrointestinal pathoimmunology in dogs and highlight the potential utilization of IL-1R8 as a diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic biomarker for canine chronic enteropathy

Tranquillizing Effect of Passiflora incarnata Extract: Outcome on Behavioral and Physiological Indicators in Weaning Pigs with Intact Tails

Tail docking has been used in the pig industry to decrease the occurrence of tail biting behavior. This abnormal behavior has a multifactorial origin since it is a response to simultaneous environmental, nutritional and management changes. Given the calming properties of Passiflora incarnata, we hypothesized that dietary supplementation with the extract in weaned pigs could result in a modification of behavior and physiologic indicators linked to stress. Weaned piglets (n = 120, mean body weight 9.07 ± 2.30 kg) were randomly allocated to one of two dietary treatments: control diet (CON) and CON supplemented with 1 kg/t of P. incarnata (PAS). The trial was 28 days long. The presence of skin lesions was assessed at d-1, d-10, d-19, and d-28, and saliva samples were collected for IgA and cortisol determinations at the same sampling times. Results showed the PAS group was characterized by equal growth performance as the CON group, fewer ear lesions (p < 0.05), less aggressive behavior (p < 0.001), higher enrichment exploration (p < 0.001) and lower cortisol levels (p < 0.01). Time effect was observed for tail lesions (p < 0.001) and behavioral observations (p < 0.001). Additional research is required to determine the effect of P. incarnata extract using a larger number of animals and longer period of supplementation when risks associated with tail biting are uncontrolled