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Abstract Background Liver abscesses (LAs) are one of the most common and important problems faced by the beef industry. The most efficacious method for the prevention of LAs in North America is through dietary inclusion of low doses of antimicrobial drugs such as tylosin, but the mechanisms by which this treatment prevents LAs are not fully understood. LAs are believed to result from mucosal barrier dysfunction in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) allowing bacterial translocation to the liver via the portal vein, yet differences in the GIT microbiome of cattle with and without LAs have not been explored. Here, we characterized microbial communities from LAs, rumen, ileum, and colon from the same cattle for the first time. Results Results demonstrate that tylosin supplementation was associated with differences in microbial community structure in the rumen and small intestine, largely because of differences in the predominance of Clostridia. Importantly, we show for the first time that microbial communities from multiple LAs in one animal’s liver are highly similar, suggesting that abscesses found at different locations in the liver may originate from a localized source in the GIT (rather than disparate locations). A large portion of abscesses were dominated by microbial taxa that were most abundant in the hindgut. Further, we identified taxa throughout the GIT that were differentially abundant between animals with and without liver abscesses. Bifidobacterium spp.—a bacteria commonly associated with a healthy GIT in several species—were more abundant in the rumen and ileum of animals without LAs compared to those with LAs. Conclusions Together these results provide the first direct comparison of GIT and LA microbial communities within the same animal, add considerable evidence to the hypothesis that some LA microbial communities arise from the hindgut, and suggest that barrier dysfunction throughout the GIT may be the underlying cause of LA formation in cattle.

Entamoeba histolytica infections, which can be asymptomatic, are endemic to developing countries; traveling to such countries is a risk factor for contracting these infections. A 65-year-old Japanese man was hospitalized for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-associated respiratory distress, and was treated with remdesivir, dexamethasone, and oxygen supplementation. Although his respiratory condition improved and the oxygen support was discontinued, he developed a fever, severe abdominal pain, and diarrhea on day 13 of hospitalization. Fifteen years ago, he was hospitalized for diarrhea of an unknown origin in Suzhou, China, and had a history of passing loose stools for 1 year. Contrast-enhanced abdominal and pelvic computed tomography revealed liver abscesses in both lobes and intestinal edema from the ascending colon to the descending colon. The abscesses were suspected to be amebic based on the characteristics of the drained abscess fluid. The patient was treated with cefotaxime and metronidazole, and his temperature declined and abdominal pain improved. A culture analysis of abscess fluid yielded negative findings; however, polymerase chain reaction analyses of abscess and stool samples were positive for Entamoeba histolytica. We speculated that the patient was infected with Entamoeba histolytica while in China, and that the corticosteroid usage for COVID-19 had exacerbated the infection. Clinicians should be aware that corticosteroid treatments can lead to recurrent invasive amebiasis in asymptomatic amebic carriers.

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a fibroinflammatory condition that becomes more recognized as multi-systemic disorders, characterized by three histological hallmarks of IgG4-positive lymphoplasmacytic tissue infiltrate, storiform fibrosis, and obliterative phlebitis. This disease has been reported in virtually every organ system, but the hepatic manifestations remain poorly defined. Moreover, IgG4-RD can mimic many malignancies, inflammatory disorders and infectious diseases. This report revealed IgG4-related liver disease with atypical presentation presenting with multiple liver abscesses and linear tracts mimicking parasitic infection.

The paper presents the results of diagnosis and treatment of patients with liver abscesses. In the surgery of Dnipropetrovsk Regional Hospital named after І.І. Mechnikov 183 patients diagnosed with liver abscess aged 18 to 81 years were treated. In 118 (64.5%) patients the period from the first complaints to the diagnosis was up to 1 month, in 48 (26,2%)from 1 to 3 months,in 15 (8,2%)from 3 to 6 months, in 2 (1.1%) from 6 to 12.To diagnose abscesses of the liver ultrasound of abdominal cavity, computer tomography, laparoscopy were used. Treatment of liver abscesses included both conservative therapy and surgical intervention. Only 14 (7.6%) patients received conservative treatment. Surgical treatment included minimally invasive interventions under U.S. control, laparoscopic, open drainage and resection techniques. The method of choice of surgical treatment for patients with uncomplicated liver abscesses with a diameter of 3 cm or more was echocontrolled peritoneal pelvic drainage, performed in 146 (79.8%) patients. Complications of surgical treatment were found in 15 (8.2%) cases: drainage dislocation –in 12 (6.6%) patients, purulent fistula – in 1 (0.5%), intestinal obstruction – in 1 (0.5%), peritonitis –in 1 (0.5%).

49 year-old man presented to our clinic for pain in the right hypochondrium, diarrhea, and fever. The clinical examination highlights a tumoral formation in the right side of the abdomen, with firm consistency, poorly defined margins, and present mobility in the deep structures. On biological exams, leukocytosis with neutrophilia, inflammatory syndrome, and hypoalbuminaemia were identified. The first computed tomography exam described parietal thickening of the ascending colon, with infiltrative aspect, and multiple local adenopathies, lomboaortic and interaortocave. Moreover, four nodular liver tumors, with hypodense image in native examination, were identified. The lab tests for infectious diseases were all inconclusives: three hemocultures, three stool samples, and three coproparasitological exams were all negatives. Interdisciplinary examinations, internal medicine and infectious diseases, sustained the diagnosis of colonic neoplasm with peritumoral abscess and liver pseudo-tumoral masses. The colonoscopy did not revealed any bowel lesions relevant for neoplasia. This result as well as the bio-clinical context imposed abstention from surgical intervention. Wide spectrum antibiotics and symptomatic treatment were initiated. But, ten days after hospitalization, the second computed tomography exam showed reduction of the ascending colon wall thickness associated with significant increases of the liver tumors is so revealed. The investigations for other possible etiologies were so continued.

The study was carried out at Nyala abattoirs, South Darfur State, Sudan during a period from 2009 to 2011. Slaughtered camels (822) were examined for pathological changes of liver abscesses and identification of the involved aerobic bacteria. Grossly, a total of 111 (13.5%) liver abscesses were recorded in different camel ages; 90 (81.1%) were less than seven years old and 21 (18.9%) were more than seven years old. Histopathology of sectioned tissues revealed necrotic abscesses with infiltration of inflammatory cells, hydropic degeneration with swelling of hepatocytes comprising the sinusoid and different size of vacuoles in the hepatic cells. Proliferation of bile ducts with fibrous tissue and infiltration of inflammatory cells was also recorded. Investigation of bacteria revealed 90 aerobic isolates; they were identified to 52 (57.8%) gram positive cocci, 20 (22.2%) gram positive rods and 18 (20.0%) gram negative rods. Staphylococcus spp. (41.1%), Corynebacterium spp. (17.9%) and Streptococcus spp. (13.3%) were the most frequently identified bacteria involved in liver abscesses of camels in the region. Further studies are required to assess the pathogenicity of bacterial isolates from camel livers. This is particularly important from a public health perspective, since some people of Sudan are known to consume raw camel liver.

The objective was to study the effect of rumen-escape starch and coarseness of ingredients in pelleted concentrates on performance, carcass quality and rumen wall characteristics in rosé veal calf production. Two alternative concentrates (Coarse and Slow) were compared with a traditional (Control) concentrate. Control was based on finely ground ingredients, whereas in Coarse, the same ingredients were coarsely ground resulting in a mean particle size before pelleting of 1.5 in Coarse and 0.6 mm in Control. Slow compared with Control and Coarse contained finely ground sorghum and corn instead of barley and wheat which increased the amount of rumen-escape starch to 59 compared with 22 g/kg in Control and Coarse. All concentrates had the same total starch (362 g/kg), NDF (168 g/kg), CP (154 g/kg) and DE (15.5 MJ/kg DM) content and a pellet diameter of 3.5 to 4 mm. Use of an ‘indicator of starch digestibility’ method gave a value of 98.6% for Control and Coarse and 91.1% for Slow (P < 0.001). A total of 57 Holstein bull calves (n = 19 per treatment) were offered one of the three concentrates ad libitum from weaning 2 1/2 months of age) to slaughter ( 0.05). Papillae length and shape evaluated in atrium ruminis and the cranial part of the ventral rumen sac at slaughter were not affected by type of concentrate (P > 0.05). Rumen wall characteristics showed degrees of plaque formation (i.e., papillary aggregation), hyperaemia and necrotic areas in all treatment groups, but with no general difference between type of concentrate (P > 0.05). Incidence of liver abscesses (LAs, 16%) was not affected by type of concentrate (P > 0.05). There were no differences in performance or rumen wall characteristics between liver-abscessed and non-abscessed calves. The results show a high level of production performance with the three types of pelleted concentrates and indicates that neither the more coarse ingredients nor the additional rumen-escape starch tested, when fed ad libitum, could improve rumen wall characteristics or reduce LAs of rosé veal calves.

Hepatic tuberculosis is a rare manifestation of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Hepatic tuberculous lesions are especially mimicking tumour-like mass or cystic lesions in the liver and so can be misdiagnosed with several diseases. Histopathological examination of the specimen is essential in the diagnosis for hepatic tuberculosis. In this report, two cases with hepatic tuberculosis having cystic solid mass and abscess liver lesions are described.

The objective was to reduce the incidence of liver abscesses (LAs) in young bulls by reducing the starch content of the concentrate and increasing the straw intake by adding molasses without reducing performance. Eighty-five Danish Friesian bulls (146 ± 2.6 kg live weight (LW)) were allocated to four treatment groups in a 2 × 2 factorial design and were ad libitum fed either a high (H) (43%) or a low (L) (25%) starch concentrate, and either chopped barley straw (S) or a mixture (Sm) of chopped barley straw and sugar-beet molasses (75:25). The bulls were slaughtered at 440 (±4.2) kg LW (11.3 months of age) on average. The concentrate dry-matter intake (DMI) was 7.5% higher (P < 0.001), the roughage DMI was 12% higher (P < 0.01), whereas the total net energy intake was 7% lower (P < 0.001) for the L compared with the H concentrate. By adding molasses to the straw, roughage DMI increased from 0.50 to 0.96 kg/day (P < 0.001). Average daily gain (ADG) was not affected by treatment. Feed conversion efficiency (FCE) for dry matter (FCEDM) was decreased (P < 0.001), whereas FCE for net energy (FCENE) was increased with the L concentrate (P < 0.01), suggesting a lower utilisation of the cell wall fraction with the H starch concentrate. There were no major effects of treatment on carcass characteristics. The higher roughage intake with Sm prevented rumen wall damage, but did not reduce the number of animals with LAs. The L concentrate did not affect the rumen wall but reduced the level of LA (2 v. 9 animals, P < 0.02). There was a higher level of respiratory diseases in animals fed the H concentrate (P < 0.05). The experiment showed that it was possible to maintain performance and reduce LA by using a lower starch content of the concentrate.

In hospital-based series viral hepatitis B has been frequently described in association with schistosomiasis whilst in field-based studies the association has not been confirmed. The association between schistosomiasis and Salmonella bacteraemia has been well documented. More recently, acute schistosomiasis has been shown to be a facilitating factor in the genesis of pyogenic liver abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus. New evidences indicate an interaction between the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and schistosomiasis. In this paper, data on the association of schistosomiasis with other infections are updated.

The cases of five patients with unusual manifestations of acute schistosomiasis mansoni are described in this paper. One patient developed skin lesions, three displayed diverse lung involvement, and one presented pyogenic liver abscesses caused by Staphylococcus aureus

We report a 28-day-old neonate presenting with signs of fever, abdominal distension, and refusal to feed. The baby was diagnosed to have multiple liver abscesses which ruptured and a tract lead to the pericardium resulting in a pyo-pericardium. Laparoscopic drainage of the abscess cavities and the pyo-pericardium was performed. An extensive search of the literature revealed that this case is the youngest one to have undergone such simultaneous laparoscopic drainage.