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Cryptosporidium parvum is the most frequent parasitic agent that causes diarrhoea in AIDS patients in Thailand. Cryptosporidiosis outbreaks in humans may be attributed to contamination of their drinking water from infected dairy pastures. A 23-kDa glycoprotein of C. parvum (CpP23) is a sporozoite surface protein that is geographically conserved among C. parvum isolates. This glycoprotein is a potentially useful candidate antigen for the diagnosis of cryptosporidiosis by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Therefore, we investigated the seroprevalence of C. parvum infection in dairy cows in northern Thailand using an ELISA based on recombinant CpP23 antigen. Sera were randomly collected from 642 dairy cows of 42 small-holder farmers, which had the top three highest number of the dairy cows' population in Northern Thailand, that included Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Lumpang provinces. The overall seroprevalence of the infection was 4.4 %, and the seropositive rates for the three provinces were 3.3 % in Chiang Mai, 5.1 % in Chiang Rai and 3 % in Lumpang. These results suggest that cattle could play a role in zoonotic cryptosporidiosis in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Strengthening global health security relies on adequate protection against infectious diseases through vaccination and treatment. Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists exhibit properties that can enhance immune responses, making them potential therapeutic agents or vaccine adjuvants., Methods: We conducted an extensive systematic review to assess the efficacy of TLR agonists as therapeutic agents or vaccine adjuvants for infectious diseases and their safety profile in animals, excluding rodents and cold-blooded animals. We collected qualitative and available quantitative data on the efficacy and safety outcomes of TLR agonists and employed descriptive analysis to summarize the outcomes., Results: Among 653 screened studies, 51 met the inclusion criteria. In this review, 82% (42/51) of the studies used TLR agonists as adjuvants, while 18% (9/51) applied TLR agonist as therapeutic agents. The predominant TLR agonists utilized in animals against infectious diseases was CpG ODN, acting as a TLR9 agonist in mammals, and TLR21 agonists in chickens. In 90% (46/51) of the studies, TLR agonists were found effective in stimulating specific and robust humoral and cellular immune responses, thereby enhancing the efficacy of vaccines or therapeutics against infectious diseases in animals. Safety outcomes were assessed in 8% (4/51) of the studies, with one reporting adverse effects., Discussion: Although TLR agonists are efficacious in enhancing immune responses and the protective efficacy of vaccines or therapeutic agents against infectious diseases in animals, a thorough evaluation of their safety is imperative to in-form future clinical applications in animal studies., Systematic Review Registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?RecordID=323122., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Oboge, Riitho, Nyamai, Omondi, Lacasta, Githaka, Nene, Aboge and Thumbi.)

Background: Foot-and-Mouth Disease Virus (FMDV) is a positive-sense RNA virus of the family of the picornaviridæ that is responsible for one of the livestock diseases with the highest economic impact, the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD). FMD is endemic in Rwanda but there are gaps in knowing its seroprevalence and molecular epidemiology. This study reports the FMD seroprevalence and molecular characterization of FMDV in Eastern Rwanda., Results: The overall seroprevalence of FMD in the study area is at 9.36% in cattle and 2.65% in goats. We detected FMDV using molecular diagnostic tools such as RT-PCR and RT-LAMP and the phylogenetic analysis of the obtained sequences revealed the presence of FMDV serotype SAT 2, lineage II. Sequencing of the oropharyngeal fluid samples collected from African buffaloes revealed the presence of Prevotela ruminicola, Spathidium amphoriforme, Moraxella bovoculi Onchocerca flexuosa, Eudiplodinium moggii, Metadinium medium and Verrucomicrobia bacterium among other pathogens but no FMDV was detected in African buffaloes., Conclusions: We recommend further studies to focus on sampling more African buffaloes since the number sampled was statistically insignificant to conclusively exclude the presence or absence of FMDV in Eastern Rwanda buffaloes. The use of RT-PCR alongside RT-LAMP demonstrates that the latter can be adopted in endemic areas such as Rwanda to fill in the gaps in terms of molecular diagnostics. The identification of lineage II of SAT 2 in Rwanda for the first time shows that the categorised FMDV pools as previously established are not static over time., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Food networks present varying food safety concerns because of the complexity of interactions, production, and handling practices. We investigated total bacteria counts (TBCs) and total coliform counts (TCCs) in various nodes of a Nairobi dairy value chain and identified practices that influence food safety. A value chain analysis framework facilitated qualitative data collection through 23 key informant interviews and 20 focus group discussions. Content thematic analysis identified food safety challenges. Cow milk products ( N = 290) were collected from farms ( N = 63), collection centers ( N = 5), shops/kiosks ( N = 37), milk bars ( N = 17), roadside vendors ( N = 14), restaurants ( N = 3), milk vending machines ( N = 2), mobile traders ( N = 2) and a supermarket ( N = 1). Mean values of colony-forming units for TBC and TCC were referenced to East African Standards (EAS). Logistic regression analysis assessed differences in milk acceptability based on EAS. The raw milk from farms and collection centers was relatively within acceptable EAS limits in terms of TBC (3.5 × 10 5 and 1.4 × 10 6 respectively) but TCC in the milk from farms was 3 times higher than EAS limits (1.5 × 10 5 ). Compared to farms, the odds ratio of milk acceptability based on TBC was lower on milk bars (0.02), restaurants (0.02), roadside vendors (0.03), shops/kiosks (0.07), and supermarkets (0.17). For TCC, the odds that milk samples from collection centers, milk bars, restaurants, roadside vendors, and shops/kiosks were acceptable was less than the odds of samples collected from farms (0.18, 0.03, 0.06, 0.02, and 0.12, respectively). Comparison of raw milk across the nodes showed that the odds of milk samples from restaurants, roadside vendors, and shops/kiosks being acceptable were less than the odds of samples collected the farm for TBC (0.03, 0.04, and 0.04, respectively). For TCC, the odds of raw milk from collection centers, restaurants, roadside vendors, milk bars, and shops/kiosks being acceptable were lower than the odds of acceptability for the farm samples (0.18, 0.12, 0.02, 0.04, and 0.05, respectively). Practices with possible influence on milk bacterial quality included muddy cowsheds, unconventional animal feed sources, re-use of spoilt raw milk, milk adulteration, acceptance of low-quality milk for processing, and lack of cold chain. Therefore, milk contamination occurs at various points, and the designing of interventions should focus on every node., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Kiambi, Fèvre, Alarcon, Gitahi, Masinde, Kang'ethe, Aboge, Rushton and Onono.)

A cDNA encoding the Babesia microti 32-kDa protein was identified by serological immunoscreening of a cDNA expression library and designated as BmP32. The full length of BmP32 contains an open reading frame of 918 base pairs consisting of 306 amino acids having a significant homology with B. microti secreted antigen 1. Antiserum raised against recombinant protein (rBmP32) specifically reacted with a 32-kDa native protein of the parasite lysate using western blot analysis. The indirect immunofluorescent antibody test showed a preferable localization of BmP32 in the cytoplasm of the intra- and extracellular parasites. Moreover, BmP32 was secreted in the cytosol of infected erythrocytes, especially during the peak parasitemia and the recovery phase of the infection. Next, the antigenicity of rBmP32 was examined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and sera from mice experimentally infected with either B. microti or closely related parasites. ELISA was highly specific and sensitive when used for the detection of B. microti antibody in a mouse model. Furthermore, mice immunized with rBmP32 emulsified with Freund's adjuvant were not significantly protected against challenge infection with B. microt i. However, high antibody titer was detected just before the challenge infection. Our data suggest that rBmP32 may be a specific diagnostic antigen but not a subunit vaccine.