415 results match your criteria: "Centre for Infection Medicine[Affiliation]"

Infections with the liver fluke (Fasciola hepatica) cause economic losses in cattle production worldwide. Also, infections with rumen flukes (Calicophoron/Paramphistomum spp.) are gaining importance in grazing cattle in Europe.

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Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) in the veterinary sector by broth microdilution is mainly based on commercially available microtitre plates with specific panels. A critical review of commercially available microtitre panels identified AST panels that fulfil the requirements for obtaining reliable AST results by covering the necessary antimicrobial concentrations for both clinical breakpoints as well as quality control (QC) ranges for approved QC strains. However, there are AST panels in which these prerequisites are only in part fulfilled, and some AST panels that do not fulfil the aforementioned criteria at all.

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Ixodes ricinus ticks survive flooding.

Ticks Tick Borne Dis

November 2024

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559 Hanover, Germany. Electronic address:

Climate-change induced weather extremes like floods are increasing in frequency and intensity, with potential consequences for disease vector ecology. We report on a flooding event during the winter of 2023/2024 in Hanover city, Germany. Our observations demonstrate that I.

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Background: For several decades, the European wildcat (Felis silvestris) has gradually been returning to the forests of Germany, mainly in the central and southwestern regions. To increase the knowledge about this threatened species, the endoparasite status of dead found specimens from Germany was surveyed.

Methods: A total of 118 wildcats were examined for endoparasites in peritoneal organs and skeletal muscles.

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Background: Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato (s.l.) and Ctenocephalides felis are among the most important year-round ectoparasites of dogs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Infections in dairy cows significantly affect animal health and the livestock industry, with anthelmintic resistance highlighting the need for sustainable control strategies that consider farmer characteristics like attitude and personality.
  • The study employed the HEXACO model of personality to analyze how farmers' traits relate to on-farm seropositivity for endoparasites, using data collected through interviews about farm management and structure.
  • Results indicated that factors like pasture access, farmer conscientiousness, and attitudes towards animal health are critical for understanding parasite prevalence, underscoring the role of farmer traits in implementing effective livestock management practices.
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Environmental stressors such as micro- and nanosized plastic particles (MNPs) or crude oil have a detrimental effect on aquatic animals; however, the impact upon the cardiovascular system of fish remains relatively under-researched. This study presents a novel approach for investigating the effect of crude oil and MNPs on the cardiac system of fish. We used salmonid larvae and cardiac cell cultures derived from hearts of salmonid fish and exposed them to environmental stressors.

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Objectives: This study aimed to explore the evolutionary patterns and resistance mechanisms of an Enterococcus faecalis strain harbouring poxtA under linezolid exposure.

Methods: A poxtA-carrying E. faecalis electrotransformant DJH702 with a linezolid minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 mg/L was exposed to increasing concentrations of linezolid (8-64 mg/L).

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Article Synopsis
  • The study explores the impact of helminth infections and co-infections on milk production in dairy cows, noting that previous research primarily focused on single helminth infections.
  • Data were collected from 1583 cows across 27 herds, analyzing fecal samples for various helminths to classify cows as non-infected, mono-infected, or co-infected, using linear mixed models for analysis.
  • Results showed a high prevalence of co-infections, especially between different helminth types, and indicated significant effects of co-infections on milk yield and composition compared to mono-infections.
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Ectoparasites of the European wildcat () in Germany.

Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl

December 2024

Institute for Terrestrial and Aquatic Wildlife Research, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Werftstrasse 6, 25761 Buesum, Germany.

Article Synopsis
  • Understanding the role of parasites in wildlife conservation is essential, yet studying ectoparasites in elusive species like the European wildcat poses challenges, particularly with live animals.
  • In a study involving 131 deceased wildcats in Germany, a significant 84% were found infested with ectoparasites, with ticks being the most common, affecting 72.5% of the specimens.
  • Despite the variety of ectoparasites identified, including fleas and mites, the overall health of the wildcats appeared unimpaired, suggesting that these infestations may not have a major negative impact on their populations.
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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to analyze the macrolide resistance of porcine Pasteurella multocida isolates in Germany from 2008 to 2021.
  • Out of 1114 isolates, only four (0.36%) showed macrolide resistance, with some carrying specific mutations or resistance genes.
  • A new element called Tn7730 was discovered in one isolate from 2021, which contained multiple resistance genes, prompting concerns for future monitoring.
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  • Blood parasites from a specific genus are common in many bird species, especially raptors like common buzzards.
  • The study examined the relationship between the presence of flowing waters, blackfly vectors, and infection rates in buzzard nestlings.
  • Results showed a high prevalence of infection (56.6% in nestlings) but no strong links to nestling age or distance to streams, indicating complex transmission dynamics influenced by various habitat factors.
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Madagascar's lemur populations are declining in dwindling habitats due to anthropogenic expansion and changing climatic conditions. Gastrointestinal parasites can be important indicators to assess the health status of threatened species. However, parasites, hosts and the environment are connected in complex interactions.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Recent conservation efforts in Germany have led to increasing populations of European wildcats, heightening the risk of zoonotic pathogen transmission between wildcats and domestic cats as both populations grow closer together.
  • - A study collected skin and spleen samples from 117 wildcats in southwestern Germany and tested for several vector-borne pathogens (VBPs) using PCR methods, finding that 6.8% were Rickettsia-positive and a significant 71.8% tested positive for Cytauxzoon spp., a pathogen harmful to domestic cats.
  • - The findings indicate that while most examined pathogens were rare in wildcats, the high prevalence of Cytauxzoon spp. suggests that these wildcats could be important carriers of the pathogen, potentially
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Parasitic infections with gastrointestinal nematodes are a serious problem for the health and welfare of domestic animals and negatively affect the economics of animal production. Haemonchus contortus is a haematophagous nematode of small ruminants responsible for significant mortality and morbidity. In addition, the widespread resistance to synthetic anthelmintic drugs emphasizes the urgent need of alternative treatment options against haemonchosis.

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Concurrent infection modulates host immunity resulting in impaired control of infection in pigs.

mSphere

September 2024

Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute of Immunology, Centre for Infection Medicine, Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany.

Article Synopsis
  • The study examines the effects of a helminth (parasitic worm) infection in pigs, revealing that it significantly affects the immune response when combined with a bacterial infection, leading to higher bacterial loads.
  • Experimental results show that coinfected pigs had depressed immune responses, including reduced interferon gamma and altered macrophage function, which negatively impacted their ability to control the bacterial infection.
  • This demonstrates an important interaction between the helminth and bacterial infections, highlighting the consequences for both pig health and potential zoonotic implications for humans, particularly in regions with high rates of these infections.
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in Wild Boars () in Germany: Serological Screening from Thuringia.

Animals (Basel)

July 2024

Institute of Virology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Leipzig University, An den Tierkliniken 29, 04103 Leipzig, Germany.

Game meat is an important source of meat borne parasitic infections. Due to its omnivorous diet, the wild boar is an important host of zoonotic parasites such as . can cause severe to fatal disease in immunosuppressed patients, as well as congenital disorders in foetus and neonates.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Cytomegaloviruses (CMVs) can create sustained immune responses, making them promising candidates as vaccine vectors against COVID-19.
  • * In a study using a recombinant murine CMV (MCMV) vaccine, not only was robust and long-lasting protection against COVID-19 observed in mice, but it also effectively neutralized variants like Omicron BA.1 after just one dose.
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Genomic study of European ribotype 002/sequence type 8.

Microb Genom

July 2024

Institute of Bacterial Infections and Zoonoses, Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, Naumburger Straße 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.

Article Synopsis
  • The study focuses on ribotype (RT) 002, linked to severe healthcare-associated infections like colitis, by analyzing the genetic characteristics of 537 genomes associated with MLST sequence type (ST) 8.
  • Researchers sequenced 298 strains from a new European collection, comparing them with a global dataset of 1,437 ST8 genomes, revealing genetic similarity, diverse antimicrobial resistance genes, and an open genomic structure.
  • Results indicate that while ST8 shows low overall variation and stability across different environments, it can still acquire antimicrobial resistance genes, highlighting the need for ongoing surveillance of non-human sources to better understand its epidemiology.
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Germany-wide citizen science study reveals spread of -infected ticks by dogs travelling within the country.

Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis

June 2024

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.

Article Synopsis
  • - The ornate dog tick has expanded its range across Europe, leading to more cases of canine babesiosis in previously unaffected areas of Germany.
  • - A study involving 5,913 dog specimens and 343 ticks was conducted from 2019 to 2023, using qPCR methods to detect and confirm the presence of the pathogen in a small percentage of samples.
  • - The findings indicate an increasing risk of infection for dogs in Germany, especially with more dogs traveling, prompting recommendations for year-round tick prevention measures.
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Endemisation and management of on a beef production farm.

Curr Res Parasitol Vector Borne Dis

June 2024

Institute for Parasitology, Centre for Infection Medicine, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Buenteweg 17, 30559, Hanover, Germany.

The hard tick transmits a variety of zoonotic pathogens, including , the most common cause of bovine babesiosis in northern Europe. In endemic areas, cattle are rarely clinically affected, as animals up to the age of nine months are resistant against relevant clinical disease and develop protective premunity. However, outbreaks in immunologically naïve herds may lead to considerable losses.

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Background: Surveillance of Strongylus vulgaris and other Strongylus spp. in equids is important for targeted intervention in parasite control, requiring reliable routine diagnostic methods.

Objectives: Comparing morphological examination and PCR analyses of larval cultures to identify Strongylus spp.

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Article Synopsis
  • Helminth infections cause parasites to be unevenly distributed in hosts, prompting a study to see if early immune responses to Ascaris larvae lead to this pattern in susceptible vs. resistant mouse strains.
  • Susceptible C57BL/6 mice showed a stronger immune response to the larvae compared to resistant CBA mice, which was linked to greater pathology, including higher levels of eosinophils in various tissues.
  • Despite the increased immune response in susceptible mice, eosinophils were found to not be essential for controlling Ascaris larvae, indicating that a strong type 2 immune response can lead to more harm than good during early infection stages.
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Dermanyssus gallinae, the poultry red mite (PRM), is a hematophagous temporary ectoparasite that causes serious economic losses and animal health impairment on laying hen farms worldwide. Control is limited by the parasite's hidden lifestyle, restrictions on the use of chemical acaricides and the development of resistance against certain drug classes. As a result, research was conducted to explore alternative control methods.

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Article Synopsis
  • Natural killer (NK) cells are crucial for fighting off Salmonella infections, especially in the initial stages.
  • Research found that pigs infected with both Ascaris suum and Salmonella enterica showed significantly decreased NK cell activity compared to those with only Salmonella, as indicated by lower levels of important immune markers like IFN-γ and perforin.
  • The study suggests that Ascaris infection weakens the NK cell response, making it harder for the host to combat additional bacterial infections like Salmonella.
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