Towards harmonised procedures in wildlife epidemiological investigations: A serosurvey of infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related agents in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Switzerland

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a (re-)emerging disease in European countries, including Switzerland. This study assesses the seroprevalence of infection with Mycobacterium bovis and closely related agents in wild boar (Sus scrofa) in Switzerland, because wild boar are potential maintenance hosts of these pathogens. The study employs harmonised laboratory methods to facilitate comparison with the situation in other countries. Eighteen out of 743 blood samples tested seropositive (2.4%, CI: 1.5-3.9%) by ELISA, and the results for 61 animals previously assessed using culture and PCR indicated that this serological test was not 100% specific for M. bovis, cross-reacting with M. microti. Nevertheless, serology appears to be an appropriate test methodology in the harmonisation of wild boar testing throughout Europe. In accordance with previous findings, the low seroprevalence found in wild boar suggests wildlife is an unlikely source of the M. bovis infections recently detected in cattle in Switzerland. This finding contrasts with the epidemiological situation pertaining in southern Spain.

Sequencing a new target genome: The Boophilus microplus (Acari : Ixodidae) genome project

The southern cattle tick, Boophilus microplus (Canestrini), causes annual economic losses in the hundreds of millions of dollars to cattle producers throughout the world, and ranks as the most economically important tick from a global perspective. Control failures attributable to the development of pesticide resistance have become commonplace, and novel control technologies are needed. The availability of the genome sequence will facilitate the development of these new technologies, and we are proposing sequencing to a 4-6X draft coverage. Many existing biological resources are available to facilitate a genome sequencing project, including several inbred laboratory tick strains, a database of approximate to 45,000 expressed sequence tags compiled into a B. microplus Gene Index, a bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) library, an established B. microplus cell line, and genomic DNA suitable for library synthesis. Collaborative projects are underway to map BACs and cDNAs to specific chromosomes and to sequence selected BAC clones. When completed, the genome sequences from the cow, B. microphis, and the B. microphis-borne pathogens Babesia bovis and Anaplasma marginale will enhance studies of host-vector-pathogen systems. Genes involved in the regeneration of amputated tick limbs and transitions through developmental stages are largely unknown. Studies of these and other interesting biological questions will be advanced by tick genome sequence data. Comparative genomics offers the prospect of new insight into many, perhaps all, aspects of the biology of ticks and the pathogens they transmit to farm animals and people. The B. microplus genome sequence will fill a major gap in comparative genomics: a sequence from the Metastriata lineage of ticks. The purpose of the article is to synergize interest in and provide rationales for sequencing the genome of B. microplus and for publicizing currently available genomic resources for this tick.

Emerging borreliae – Expanding beyond Lyme borreliosis

Lyme borreliosis (or Lyme disease) has become a virtual household term to the exclusion of other forgotten, emerging or re-emerging borreliae. We review current knowledge regarding these other borreliae, exploring their ecology, epidemiology and pathological potential, for example, for the newly described B. mayonii. These bacteria range from tick-borne, relapsing fever-inducing strains detected in some soft ticks, such as B. mvumii, to those from bat ticks resembling B. turicatae. Some of these emerging pathogens remain unnamed, such as the borrelial strains found in South African penguins and some African cattle ticks. Others, such as B. microti and unnamed Iranian strains, have not been recognised through a lack of discriminatory diagnostic methods. Technical improvements in phylogenetic methods have allowed the differentiation of B. merionesi from other borrelial species that co-circulate in the same region. Furthermore, we discuss members that challenge the existing dogma that Lyme disease-inducing strains are transmitted by hard ticks, whilst the relapsing fever-inducing spirochaetes are transmitted by soft ticks. Controversially, the genus has now been split with Lyme disease-associated members being transferred to Borreliella, whilst the relapsing fever species retain the Borrelia genus name. It took some 60 years for the correlation with clinical presentations now known as Lyme borreliosis to be attributed to their spirochaetal cause. Many of the borreliae discussed here are currently considered exotic curiosities, whilst others, such as B. miyamotoi, are emerging as significant causes of morbidity. To elucidate their role as potential pathogenic agents, we first need to recognise their presence through suitable diagnostic approaches.

Molecular survey and genetic characterization of tick-borne pathogens in dogs in metropolitan Recife (north-eastern Brazil).

To identify DNA of the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs from Recife (Brazil), polymerase chain reactions were carried out on blood samples of dogs treated at the Veterinary Hospital of the Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco from March 2007 to June 2008. The detection of DNA was performed using specific primers. Amplicons were analyzed through electrophoresis and sequencing. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the UPGMA method, revealing that the sequences were closely related to those of strains from other geographic regions. Among the 205 blood samples analyzed, 48.78% was positive for Anaplasma platys; 38.04% was positive for Ehrlichia canis; 7.31% was positive for Babesia canis vogeli; and 0.49% was positive for Hepatozoon canis and Mycoplasma haemocanis. Coinfection of two or three pathogens was found in 23.9% (49/205) of the dogs. The subspecies B. canis vogeli was identified. Infection by H. canis and M. haemocanis is reported for the first time in dogs in the state of Pernambuco (Brazil). The data indicate that the main tick-borne pathogens in dogs in this region are E. canis and/or A. platys, followed by B. canis vogeli.

Intervenção Educativa em Saúde com Pacientes Portadores de Tuberculose Pulmonar, no Município de Cariré-CE

O presente trabalho discorre acerca da Tuberculose Pulmonar, aborda os conceitos básicos desse tema, a respeito das informações sobre o perfil dos pacientes do Distrito de Cariré, no Estado do Ceará, Brasil. Tenciona-se compartilhar informações que possam demonstrar e orientar na busca de alternativas para o tratamento adequado e identificar as causas associadas a esta doença. A tuberculose é infectocontagiosa causada por uma bactéria que afeta principalmente os pulmões, mas também podem ocorrer em outros órgãos do corpo, como ossos, rins e meninges (membranas que envolvem o cérebro). A tuberculose no geral é causada por uma infecção por Mycobacterium tuberculosisouBacilo de Koch (BK). Outras espécies de mico bactérias também podem causar a tuberculose, tais como mycobacteriumbovis, africanum e microti.. No presente trabalho, realizou-se a análise e interpretação dos dados coletados referentes aos casos de Tuberculose Pulmonar obtidos a traves das Fichas de Notificação , Prontuários dos pacientes e Entrevistas realizadas com o objetivo de promover um levantamento das necessidades de saúde no Município de Cariré, e possibilidades de intervenção educativa em saúde para a integração dos serviços na ampliação do acesso dos sintomáticos respiratórios aos serviços de saúde, por o Programa Saúde da Família, uma vez que este é apontado como um importante meio operacional. Nesse sentido, este trabalho analisa também a importância da correta aplicação dos serviços do profissional de saúde da família no tratamento dessa doença, evidenciando, portanto, a sua importância para o tratamento. Reconhece-se que as ações de educação, informação e comunicação, na perspectiva da promoção da saúde, são primordiais para a prevenção e o reconhecimento da tuberculose, com vistas à detecção precoce e ao tratamento oportuno dos casos, bem como para contribuir com a diminuição da transmissão dessa doença nas comunidades.