Search

Tetracycline-inducible gene expression models were used to understand the protective role of short-term doxycycline exposure on the cells from stress-induced death in cultures infected with Mycoplasma arginini. The study observations provides a new perspective on the possible scientific errors caused by the contamination of cell lines with mycoplasma and the significance of regular mycoplasma screening in tissue culture.

Contents: Bacteria contaminate semen during collection and handling. The objective of this study was to identify the bacteria in pony stallion semen, the effects of antibiotics included in commercial semen extenders (lincomycin and spectinomycin) and the effect of modified single layer centrifugation (MSLC), on bacterial load. Ejaculates from six pony stallions, 3 ejaculates per animal, were extended in EquiPlus extender either with or without antibiotics. Aliquots were processed by MSLC to form four treatment groups: control and MSLC with antibiotics (CA and SA, respectively) and control and MSLC without antibiotics (CW and SW, respectively). Bacteriological examinations were carried out within 2 hr. Thirty‐one species of bacteria were isolated from one or more ejaculates, with Corynebacterium spp. being the most frequently detected. Corynebacterium spp. were present in all ejaculates. The MSLC resulted in a significantly lower total bacterial count than controls (CA vs. SA, p < 0.001; CW vs. SW, p < 0.0001). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 10-y-old female green tree python (Morelia viridis) died of fungal pneumonia caused by Purpureocillium lilacinum, which was confirmed histologically and by PCR and subsequent DNA sequencing. The same fungal species was cultivated from a swab taken from the terrarium in which the snake was housed. Clinical and environmental P. lilacinum isolates were indistinguishable by the typing method applied, strongly suggesting clonal relatedness of both isolates. Because no other underlying predisposing respiratory infection could be detected by virus-specific PCR or histopathology, P. lilacinum was considered a primary pulmonary pathogen in this tree python. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contamination of semen with bacteria arises during semen collection and handling. This bacterial contamination is typically controlled by adding antibiotics to semen extenders but intensive usage of antibiotics can lead to the development of bacterial resistance and may be detrimental to sperm quality. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of antibiotics in a semen extender on sperm quality and to investigate the effects of removal of bacteria by modified Single Layer Centrifugation (MSLC) through a colloid. Semen was collected from six adult pony stallions (three ejaculates per male). Aliquots of extended semen were used for MSLC with Equicoll, resulting in four treatment groups: control and MSLC in extender with antibiotics (CA and SA, respectively); control and MSLC in extender without antibiotics (CW and SW, respectively). Sperm motility, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and chromatin integrity were evaluated daily by computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA) and flow cytometry. There were no differences in sperm quality between CA and CW, or between SA and SW, although progressive motility was negatively correlated to total bacterial counts at 0 h. However, MSLC groups showed higher mean total motility (P < 0.001), progressive motility (P < 0.05), membrane integrity (P < 0.0001) and mitochondrial membrane potential (P < 0.05), as well as better chromatin integrity (P < 0.05), than controls. Sperm quality remained higher in the MSLC groups than controls throughout storage. These results indicate that sperm quality was not adversely affected by the presence of antibiotics but was improved considerably by MSLC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Actinobacillus (A.) pleuropneumoniae is the causative agent of porcine pleuropneumonia and causes significant losses in the pig industry worldwide. Early host immune response is crucial for further progression of the disease. A. pleuropneumoniae is either rapidly eliminated by the immune system or switches to a long-term persistent form. To gain insight into the host-pathogen interaction during the early stages of infection, pigs were inoculated intratracheally with A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 2 and humanely euthanized eight hours after infection. Gene expression studies of inflammatory cytokines and the acute phase proteins haptoglobin, serum amyloid A and C-reactive protein were carried out by RT-qPCR from the lung, liver, tonsils and salivary gland. In addition, the concentration of cytokines and acute phase proteins were measured by quantitative immunoassays in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, serum and saliva. In parallel to the analyses of host response, the impact of the host on the bacterial pathogen was assessed on a metabolic level. For the latter, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR-) spectroscopy was employed. Results: Significant cytokine and acute phase protein gene expression was detected in the lung and the salivary gland however this was not observed in the tonsils. In parallel to the analyses of host response, the impact of the host on the bacterial pathogen was assessed on a metabolic level. For the latter investigations, Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR-) spectroscopy was employed. The bacteria isolated from the upper and lower respiratory tract showed distinct IR spectral patterns reflecting the organ-specific acute phase response of the host. Conclusions: In summary, this study implies a metabolic adaptation of A. pleuropneumoniae to the porcine upper respiratory tract already during early infection, which might indicate a first step towards the persistence of A. pleuropneumoniae. Not only in lung, but also in the salivary gland an increased inflammatory gene expression was detectable during the acute stage of infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Veterinary Dermatology is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Semen extenders usually contain antibiotics with the aim to minimize bacterial growth, but the indiscriminate use of antibiotics increases the emergence of multidrug-resistant bacteria. A limiting factor of semen processing in dogs is the low total sperm count that limits the number of insemination doses that can be obtained from one ejaculate. Therefore, two ejaculates collected at a short interval can be combined to increase the number of AI doses. In this study, semen was collected from dogs either once or the same dogs (n = 28) were submitted to dual semen collection 1 h apart. All ejaculates were submitted to bacteriological analysis. We hypothesized that bacterial contamination of semen is low but that a dual semen collection might increase contamination. A sample for bacteriological examination was taken from raw semen immediately after semen collection. Bacteria including mycoplasmas were isolated using conventional cultivation procedures and isolates were identified to the species level by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization – time of flight (MALDI-ToF) mass spectrometry. In total, 22 bacterial species were identified in the 84 ejaculates with Mycoplasma cynos , Streptococcus canis and Canicola haemoglobinophilus being most frequent. Bacterial growth was sporadic in 16 and absent in 10 ejaculates. The overall bacterial growth was lower in the second than in the first ejaculate of dual semen collections (p < 0.05). The percentage of motile and membrane-intact spermatozoa in frozen-thawed ejaculates was not associated with the degree of bacterial contamination of raw semen. In conclusion, there was only limited microbial contamination in dog semen and the microorganisms isolated are considered part of the normal genital bacterial flora. Repeated semen collection reduced bacterial contamination in the second in comparison to the first ejaculate. The use of antibiotics in canine semen should be questioned. • Microorganisms isolated in dog semen are part of the normal genital bacterial flora. • Repeated semen collection reduced bacterial contamination of dog semen. • The routine use of antibiotics in dog semen should be questioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cats and cat fleas (Ctenocephalides felis) are vectors of the zoonotic bacterial pathogens Bartonella henselae and Rickettsia felis, which are the causative agents of “cat scratch disease” and “cat flea typhus,” respectively. In the surroundings of Vienna (Austria), we identified 11 (10.5%; n = 105) B. henselae-positive fleas originating from 8 cats (20.5%; n = 39). One flea was positive for R. felis. There should be high levels of awareness among veterinarians and animal keepers as to the handling of cats, especially if free roaming, stray, or feral. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]