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Aims: To estimate the prevalence of carbapenemase‐producing Enterobacterales (CPE) carriage among pets using faecal specimens submitted to veterinary diagnostic laboratories throughout the US. A secondary aim was to employ whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) to characterize isolates of CPE from companion animals and compare them to publicly available CPE genomes. Methods and Results: To estimate the prevalence of CPE in companion animals in the USA, a multicenter surveillance study including 8 different veterinary diagnostic laboratories from across the USA was conducted. Briefly, remnant faecal specimens from dogs and cats were screened using two selective agar plates (CHROMID Carba and MacConkey with 1 mg/L cefotaxime and 0.125 mg/L meropenem) and presumptive CPE isolates screened by the modified carbapenemase inactivation method for carbapenemase production. A total of 2393 specimens were screened and yielded 196 isolates for carbapenemase screening. A total of 5 isolates from 4 dogs and 1 cat at 3 different veterinary diagnostic laboratories were confirmed to produce a carbapenemase (0.21%). Whole‐genome sequencing (WGS) revealed two E. coli (ST167) isolates that both produced an NDM‐5 carbapenemase, two Enterobacter hormaechei (ST171) isolates that produced an NDM‐5 carbapenemase and a KPC‐4 carbapenemase respectively and one Klebsiella oxytoca (ST199) that produced an Oxa‐48‐type carbapenemase. Both E. coli isolates were found to be within at least 22 SNPs of previously characterized canine and human CPE isolates. Conclusions: This study demonstrates that the prevalence of CPE among companion animals is relatively low (0.21%) but that given the genetic relatedness of animal isolates to human isolates, additional surveillance is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Normal ophthalmic parameters of the blue-tongued skink (Tiliqua scincoides), one of the largest members of the skink family of lizards, have yet to be evaluated. The objective of this study was to establish baseline ophthalmic parameters for a captive population of 12 healthy, 1-yr-old blue-tongued skinks. Ophthalmic examination, corneal touch threshold, tear production including phenol red thread test (PRTT) and modified Schirmer tear test-2 (mSTT-2), horizontal palpebral fissure length (HPFL), rebound tonometry (TONOVET and TONOVET Plus), and bacterial and fungal cultures were performed. The blue-tongued skinks were all amenable to ocular diagnostic testing. Corneal touch threshold (mean ± SD) was 5.48 ± 0.81 cm. PRTT (mean ± SD) was 9.17 ± 6.62 mm/15 sec. mSTT-2 (mean ± SD) was 2.54 ± 2.72 mm/60 sec. HPFL (mean ± SD) was 6.96 ± 0.62 mm and was positively correlated with body weight. Intraocular pressure (IOP) assessed using TONOVET (mean ± SD) was 8.43± 1.51 mmHg, whereas IOP assessed using TONOVET Plus (mean ± SD) was 12.39± 1.54 mmHg. Differences in TONOVET and TONOVET Plus tonometry values were statistically significant (P < 0.0001), and TONOVET values were positively correlated with body weight. The most common bacterial species identified were Staphylococcus xylosus (10/12) and Staphylococcus sciuri (8/12). Fungal cultures were all negative. One animal had superficial corneal ulceration that resolved with treatment. Ophthalmic examination and testing is readily performed in blue-tongued skinks. These parameters may be useful for ocular assessment of this species in a clinical setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Caryospora- like organisms (CLOs) form a clade of at least 11 genotypes of related coccidia that can cause epizootic mortality in marine turtles. The biology, transmission, host species range, and host cell tropism of these organisms are still largely unknown. The goal of this study was to characterize the host cell tropism, pathologic and ultrastructural features, and phylogeny associated with the first report of a mortality event due to CLO in the freshwater red-eared slider turtle (Trachemys scripta elegans). Sudden mortalities within a clutch of captive-raised red-eared slider hatchlings (n = 8) were recorded, and deceased animals had severe segmental to diffuse, transmural, fibrinonecrotic enterocolitis and multifocal to coalescing hepatic necrosis, among other lesions associated with numerous intracytoplasmic developing stages of intralesional coccidia. Among the different developmental stages, merozoites were ultrastructurally characterized by an apical complex. A pan-apicomplexan polymerase chain reaction (PCR) yielded a 347 bp-amplicon matching the Schellackia / Caryospora -like clade with 99.1% identity to the US3 strain from green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) and 99.1% identity to Schellackia sp. Isolate OC116. Surviving hatchlings were treated with toltrazuril sulfone (ponazuril) but were subsequently euthanized due to the risk of spreading the parasite to other chelonids in the collection. The ponazuril-treated hatchlings (n = 4) had mild proliferative anterior enteritis, with few intraepithelial coccidia in one hatchling confirmed as CLO by PCR. This is the first report of Caryospora -like coccidiosis in non-cheloniid turtles, highlighting the relevance of this disease as an emerging highly pathogenic intestinal and extra-intestinal form of coccidiosis of turtles with potential cross-species infectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hummel, Karl-Joseph and Christoph Kosters, eds. Kirche, Krieg und Katholiken: Geschichte und Gedachtnis im 20. Jahrhundert. Freiburg/Breisgau: Herder, 2014. 175 pp. 16.99 [euro] (hardcover). Part of the growing literature on [...]

Objective: To determine whether tropicamide, fluorescein, and proparacaine applied topically before sample collection affect the quantity or species of bacteria isolated via aerobic culture. Animals studied: 12 female adult research beagle cross‐breed dogs. Procedures: A conjunctival swab was taken before and after the sequential application of proparacaine, tropicamide, and fluorescein to the same eye (P/T/F) with a five‐minute gap between medications. Paired swabs were submitted for aerobic culture. Bacterial enumeration was performed using the spread plate method. Following a one‐week washout period, the procedure was repeated using balanced salt solution (BSS). Following a second one‐week washout period, the experiment was repeated using ofloxacin 0.3% solution. Colony counts were compared using one‐way ANOVA and Tukey post hoc comparison. Bacterial species reduction was compared using a Friedman rank test and Dunn's method. Results: The bacterial colony count for P/T/F and BSS was significantly higher than the ofloxacin group (p = 0.0052, p = 0.0022). There was no significant difference for colony counts between P/T/F and BSS (p = 0.9295). The most frequently isolated bacteria included: Psychrobacter spp., Staphylococcus spp., Corynebacterium spp., and Streptococcus spp. The bacterial species reduction for P/T/F and BSS was significantly lower than for ofloxacin (p < 0.0001, p = 0.0160). There was no significant difference for species reduction between P/T/F and BSS (p = 0.3749). Conclusions: The application of proparacaine, tropicamide, and fluorescein did not significantly decrease the amount or species of bacteria isolated from the conjunctiva in this canine population. The application of these solutions prior to ocular swab collection in healthy dogs is unlikely to affect subsequent culture results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]