The role of the sequential organ failure assessment score in evaluating the outcome in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.

Scientific Background: The aim of this prospective study was to assess whether the Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score could be indicative of outcome (survival to discharge) in dogs with parvoviral enteritis.

Methods: In 35 naturally infected dogs, the SOFA score and clinical score were calculated and the presence of systemic inflammatory response syndrome was verified on admission and during the first four days of hospitalization.

Results: 26 dogs survived, and out of the 9 non-survivors, 6 dogs had positive blood cultures.

Outbreaks of SARS-CoV-2 in naturally infected mink farms: Impact, transmission dynamics, genetic patterns, and environmental contamination.

SARS-CoV-2 infection outbreaks in minks have serious implications associated with animal health and welfare, and public health. In two naturally infected mink farms (A and B) located in Greece, we investigated the outbreaks and assessed parameters associated with virus transmission, immunity, pathology, and environmental contamination. Symptoms ranged from anorexia and mild depression to respiratory signs of varying intensity.

A one-step real-time RT-PCR assay for simultaneous typing of SARS-CoV-2 mutations associated with the E484K and N501Y spike protein amino-acid substitutions.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 mutations resulting in the S protein amino-acid substitutions N501Y and E484K, which have been associated with enhanced transmissibility and immune escape, respectively, necessitates immediate actions, for which their rapid identification is crucial. For the simultaneous typing of both of these mutations of concern (MOCs), a one-step real-time RT-PCR assay employing four locked nucleic acid (LNA) modified TaqMan probes was developed. The assay is highly sensitive with a LOD of 117 copies/reaction, amplification efficiencies >94 % and a linear range of over 5 log copies/reaction.

Limited cross-species transmission and absence of mutations associated with SARS-CoV-2 adaptation in cats: A case study of infection in a small household setting.

In the present study, the course of SARS-CoV-2 natural infection in two asymptomatic cats, which were negative for immunosuppressive retroviral infections, is investigated. The source of the virus for the cats was their COVID-19-affected owner, with whom they were in continuous proximity in a small household setting. The owner's signs included fatigue, sneezing, anosmia and loss of taste, and diagnosis was confirmed 4 days after symptom onset.

Prevalence and mechanisms of resistance to fluoroquinolones in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli isolates recovered from dogs suffering from otitis in Greece.

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and the implicated mechanisms of resistance against selected veterinary fluoroquinolones (enrofloxacin, marbofloxacin and pradofloxacin) among 101 Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=75) and Escherichia coli (n=26) isolates collected from dogs suffering from otitis. Resistance ranged from 32.0% to 48.

Pharmacodynamic interactions of amikacin with selected β-lactams and fluoroquinolones against canine Escherichia coli isolates.

Knowledge of in vitro antimicrobial interactions can serve as a guide for clinical application of combination antimicrobial regimens. The aim of the present study was to determine the pharmacodynamic interactions of amikacin with either amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ceftazidime, enrofloxacin or marbofloxacin against clinical canine Escherichia coli isolates. Bactericidal activity of individual antimicrobials was assessed by use of static kill curves.

Canine tick-borne pathogens in Cyprus and a unique canine case of multiple co-infections.

Canine tick-borne pathogens such as Ehrlichia canis and Hepatozoon canis are widespread in the Mediterranean basin but have never been reported or investigated in Cyprus. We describe herein the presence of canine tick-borne pathogens in three dogs with clinical signs compatible with vector-borne diseases from Paphos area of Cyprus. Molecular and phylogenetic analysis revealed the presence of E.

Cardiac troponin I concentrations, electrocardiographic and echocardiographic variables remained unchanged in dogs experimentally infected with Ehrlichia canis.

Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME, Ehrlichia canis) has occasionally been associated with myocardial injury. The aim of the present study was to serially measure and evaluate cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentrations in dogs with experimentally induced acute and subclinical CME and to evaluate potential associations between cTnI concentration and an array of echocardiographic and electrocardiographic parameters. Serum cTnI concentration and simultaneous echocardiographic and electrocardiographic recordings were evaluated in 12 healthy Beagle dogs prior to experimental infection and on days 20 and 90 post-inoculation with E.

Acute phase protein and antioxidant responses in dogs with experimental acute monocytic ehrlichiosis treated with rifampicin.

There is currently lack of information on the changes of acute phase proteins (APP) and antioxidant markers and their clinical relevance as treatment response indicators in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME). The objective of this study was to investigate the patterns of C-reactive protein (CRP), haptoglobin (Hp), ferritin and paraoxonase-1 (PON-1) during treatment of dogs with acute CME with rifampicin. Blood serum samples from ten Beagle dogs with experimental acute CME were retrospectively examined.

Diversification and Distribution of Ruminant Chlamydia abortus Clones Assessed by MLST and MLVA.

Chlamydia abortus, an obligate intracellular bacterium, is the most common infectious cause of abortion in small ruminants worldwide and has zoonotic potential. We applied multilocus sequence typing (MLST) together with multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) to genotype 94 ruminant C. abortus strains, field isolates and samples collected from 1950 to 2011 in diverse geographic locations, with the aim of delineating C.

Synovial fluid cytology in experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis).

Evidence-based information of a cause-and-effect relationship between Ehrlichia canis infection and polyarthritis in naturally- or experimentally-infected dogs is currently lacking. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether synovial fluid cytological evidence of arthritis could be documented in dogs with acute monocytic ehrlichiosis. Direct synovial fluid cytology smears from eight Beagle dogs experimentally infected with E.

Serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity in experimentally induced and naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis).

Ehrlichia canis infection causes multisystemic disease in dogs (canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, CME) which is associated with variable morbidity and mortality. Atypical clinical manifestations, including gastrointestinal signs, may occasionally occur in CME and approximately 10-15% of dogs are presented with historical or clinical evidence of vomiting, diarrhea, and/or abdominal discomfort. The objective of this study was to investigate if there are any alterations in serum canine pancreatic lipase immunoreactivity (cPLI) in dogs with experimentally induced or naturally occurring monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Efficacy of rifampicin in the treatment of experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Objectives: To assess the efficacy of rifampicin in achieving clinical and haematological recovery and clearing infection in dogs with experimentally induced acute monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Methods: Five Ehrlichia canis-infected Beagle dogs were treated with rifampicin (10 mg/kg/24 h orally for 3 weeks), nine E. canis-infected dogs received no treatment (infected untreated dogs) and two dogs served as uninfected controls.

Molecular characterization of atypical Chlamydia and evidence of their dissemination in different European and Asian chicken flocks by specific real-time PCR.

Chlamydia psittaci is a zoonotic pathogen associated primarily with avian chlamydiosis. New chlamydial agents with suspected zoonotic potential were recently detected from domestic poultry in Germany and France indicating that the spectrum of Chlamydiaceae encountered in birds is not confined to a single chlamydial species. For further characterization, a specific real-time PCR targeting the conserved 16S rRNA gene was developed and validated for a specific detection of these atypical Chlamydiaceae.

Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in naturally occurring myelosuppressive and non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration measured on admission was associated with the clinical severity of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and was predictive of clinical outcome (death or survival) in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis. Serum cTnI concentration was compared among 22 dogs with non-myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (NME), 22 dogs with myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (ME) and 10 healthy dogs. Unlike healthy dogs, 45.

The chlamydiales pangenome revisited: structural stability and functional coherence.

The entire publicly available set of 37 genome sequences from the bacterial order Chlamydiales has been subjected to comparative analysis in order to reveal the salient features of this pangenome and its evolutionary history. Over 2,000 protein families are detected across multiple species, with a distribution consistent to other studied pangenomes. Of these, there are 180 protein families with multiple members, 312 families with exactly 37 members corresponding to core genes, 428 families with peripheral genes with varying taxonomic distribution and finally 1,125 smaller families.

Genome sequence of the Chlamydophila abortus variant strain LLG.

Chlamydophila abortus is a common cause of ruminant abortion. Here we report the genome sequence of strain LLG, which differs genotypically and phenotypically from the wild-type strain S26/3. Genome sequencing revealed differences between LLG and S26/3 to occur in pseudogene content, in transmembrane head/inc family proteins, and in biotin biosynthesis genes.

Evolutionary relationships among Chlamydophila abortus variant strains inferred by rRNA secondary structure-based phylogeny.

The evolutionary relationships among known Chlamydophila abortus variant strains including the LLG and POS, previously identified as being highly distinct, were investigated based on rRNA secondary structure information. PCR-amplified overlapping fragments of the 16S, 16S-23S intergenic spacer (IS), and 23S domain I rRNAs were subjected to cloning and sequencing. Secondary structure analysis revealed the presence of transitional single nucleotide variations (SNVs), two of which occurred in loops, while seven in stem regions that did not result in compensatory substitutions.

Genetic variability of Chlamydophila abortus strains assessed by PCR-RFLP analysis of polymorphic membrane protein-encoding genes.

This study used PCR-RFLP to investigate the genetic variability of pmp-encoding genes from fifty-two Chlamydophila abortus (C. abortus) strains originating from abortion cases from various geographical regions and host species. Six primer pairs were used to PCR-amplify DNA fragments encoding eighteen pmps.

Cytologic patterns of lymphadenopathy in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

Background: Recognition of different cytologic patterns in lymph nodes (LNs) from dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and noninfectious causes of lymphoid reactivity may have diagnostic utility.

Objectives: The aims of the present study were to compare cytologic patterns in LNs of dogs with different phases of CME, to investigate the association of cytologic pattern and presence of Ehrlichia spp. morulae, and to compare patterns of lymphoid reactivity between dogs with CME and those with noninfectious causes of lymphoid hyperplasia.

Differential identification of Chlamydophila abortus live vaccine strain 1B and C. abortus field isolates by PCR-RFLP.

Comparative genomic analysis of a wild-type strain of the ovine pathogen Chlamydophila abortus and its nitrosoguanidine-induced, temperature-sensitive and virulence-attenuated live vaccine derivative identified point mutations unique to the mutant (Burall et al. [1]). Here, we evaluate the capacity of some of these mutations to either create or eliminate restriction sites using the wild-type strain C.

Evaluation of a serum-based PCR assay for the diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The aim of this study was to estimate the relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), and to investigate the association between PCR positivity and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) titres for Ehrlichia canis. Serum samples obtained from 38 dogs with non-myelosuppressive CME and 12 healthy dogs were analyzed retrospectively. Each serum sample was analyzed in triplicate using an E.

Molecular epidemiology of outbreak-related pseudomonas aeruginosa strains carrying the novel variant blaVIM-17 metallo-beta-lactamase gene.

A study was designed to investigate the molecular epidemiological characteristics of multidrug-resistant outbreak-related Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolates collected in a university hospital in northern Greece. Of 29 nonreplicate P. aeruginosa isolates resistant to carbapenems and ceftazidime, 14 were positive for metallo-beta-lactamase production.

Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of Ehrlichia canis strains in dogs with clinical monocytic ehrlichiosis.

The purpose of this study was to characterize, at the molecular level, the Ehrlichia canis strains involved in naturally occurring canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) in Greece, and to investigate if any sequence diversity exists between the 16S rRNA genes of those involved in the mild non-myelosuppressive or the severe myelosuppressive form of CME. To this end, amplification of the ehrlichial 16S rRNA gene was attempted by nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays in bone marrow (BM) aspirates from 20 dogs tentatively diagnosed as having non-myelosuppressive (n=10, group A) or myelosuppressive (n=10, group B) CME. PCR assay using E.