Influence of TNF-α blockers on the oral prevalence of opportunistic microorganisms in ankylosing spondylitis patients

Objectives: To compare the oral prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Candida spp., staphylococci, enterobacteriaceae, and pseudomonas spp.from ankylosing spondylitis (AS) patients receiving conventional and anti-TNF-α therapy. Methods: The study included 70 AS patients, diagnosed according to the modified New York criteria (1984). The volunteers were divided into 2 groups: a biological group (AS BioG) (n=35) (on anti-TNF-α therapy) and a conventional group (AS ConvG) (n=35). The control group (ContG) (n=70) was made up of healthy individuals matched for age, gender, and oral conditions. After clinical examination, oral rinse samples were collected and plated in specific culture media. The number of colony-forming units per milliliter (cfu/ml) was obtained, and isolates were identified using the API system. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed according to the NCCLS guidelines. Prevalence and counts of microorganisms were statistically compared between the 3 groups, using the Mann-Whitney and Chi-square tests. Significance level was set at 5%. Results: In both the AS BioG and the AS ConvG, staphylococci counts were higher than that in the ContG (p<0.0001). Candida albicans and staphylococcus epidermidis were the most commonly found species in all the groups. Serratia marcescens and klebsiella oxytoca were more prevalent in the AS BioG and the AS ConvG, respectively. Two Candida isolates (2.8%) from the AS BioG and 5 (10.8%) from the AS ConvG were resistant to amphotericin B and 5-fluorocytosine. A low percentage of staphylococci isolates was resistant to amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and doxycycline. Conclusion: Higher counts of staphylococci were observed in both AS groups, regardless of the current therapy, age, sex, and oral conditions. Anti-TNF-α therapy could not be correlated with increased counts of microorganisms. © Copyright CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOLOGY 2012.

Relação entre a taxa de vacinação contra brucelose bovina, frente à classificação de risco para febre aftosa np Estado do Pará: Andréa Ferreira Nobre. -

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Prevalência da língua azul em ovinos da região de Araçatuba – São Paulo, Brasil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Técnica dos isótopos estáveis para determinar o turnover de carbono nas fezes, no sangue e plasma de bovinos jovens confinados

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Pesquisa de anticorpos anti-virus da febre aftosa em espécies de animais domésticos e silvestres susceptíveis e não vacinadas, no Pantanal de Mato Grosso do Sul

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

The Application of Regionalization in the Meat Trade: Why the Reluctance?

Currently, the world meat trade is undergoing substantial changes as a consequence of the spread of transboundary animal diseases. These diseases have resulted in the implementation of trade embargoes applied nation-wide against infected countries, contrary to the principle of regionalization. This principle allows a country to declare part of its territory free from a given disease even though there have been outbreaks in other regions thus averting the need to suspend all exports. Its application consists in the formal recognition that a zone is disease- or pest-free. This article presents some of the disputes caused by reluctance to apply the regionalization principle in the case of the three main transboundary diseases that have affected meat trade in recent years: "mad cow disease", foot and mouth disease, and avian flu. This article analyses the positions taken by some consumer markets and the challenges that the principal exporting nations have faced when confronted with trade embargoes.

Práticas sanitárias e percepção de risco de produtores de bovinos de corte no Pantanal de Mato Grosso do Sul

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Programa de erradicação da febre aftosa no estado de São Paulo: avaliação dos dados oficiais obtidos no período de 1997 a 2012

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Perfil epidemiológico da febre aftosa no Brasil: a evolução do programa nacional de erradicação e prevenção da febre aftosa

Com o crescimento significativo da pecuária brasileira houve a evolução de medidas sanitárias de controle, prevenção e erradicação de enfermidades animais que assolam o país. De uma maneira peculiar, ao se falar sobre as doenças animais que são de grande relevância para a economia e sociedade brasileira, é indispensável citar a febre aftosa. Essa enfermidade, também conhecida como foot and mouth disease, economicamente, é a mais importante presente na pecuária: infecciosa, com caráter agudo e febril, altamente contagiosa, que afeta animais de cascos fendidos e causa lesões vesiculares, úlceras e erosões. Características como ampla gama de hospedeiros no qual pode se instalar, elevada quantidade de partículas virais em excreções respiratórias, rápida taxa de replicação e variados modos de transmissão, fazem da febre aftosa uma doença de escolha para a erradicação. Desde a regulamentação do serviço de defesa sanitária animal no país, em 1934, já se percebia a importância de controlar a mesma. Em 1951, o Programa Nacional de Controle de Febre Aftosa (PNCFA) foi o primeiro programa nacional de saúde animal a ser implantado no Brasil. Com os avanços no setor de defesa sanitária, houve, em 1992, a implantação do Programa Nacional de Erradicação e Prevenção da Febre Aftosa (PNEFA). Em um processo de transformação gradual, nota-se que todo esse controle e pesquisa epidemiológica dessa infecção em nosso país proporcionaram avanços iminentes para seu combate e, consequentemente, para a sanidade dos animais e qualidade dos produtos e derivados de origem animal: como se pode verificar através da evolução das regiões reconhecidas livres dessa doença e da ausência de casos nos últimos oito anos

Detection of serum antibodies to parainfluenza type 3 virus, respiratory syncytial virus, bovine viral diarrhea virus, and herpes virus type 1 in sheep in the region of Botucatu, São Paulo - Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Forme atipiche di malattia mani-piedi-bocca: La nostra esperienza

Introduzione: La malattia mani-piedi-bocca è una patologia infettiva tipica della prima infanzia causata dagli enterovirus, in particolare i sierotipi Coxsackievirus A16 ed Enterovirus 71. A partire dal 2008, ne è stata descritta un’epidemia da Coxsackievirus A6, in genere accompagnata da febbre elevata e che si distingue per lo sviluppo di piccole vescicole che progrediscono a lesioni vescicolo-bollose e a bolle vere e proprie. Inoltre, nei pazienti affetti da dermatite atopica, le lesioni tendono a localizzarsi sulle aree eczematose. Abbiamo quindi svolto uno studio osservazionale prospettico per descrivere le caratteristiche cliniche delle forme atipiche di malattia mani-piedi-bocca. Metodi: Sono stati arruolati i pazienti affetti da una forma atipica di malattia mani-piedi-bocca giunti consecutivamente presso l’Ambulatorio di Dermatologia Pediatrica del Policlinico S.Orsola-Malpighi di Bologna tra gennaio 2012 e febbraio 2014. Abbiamo valutato distribuzione, tipologia ed estensione delle lesioni. In un gruppo di pazienti è stata inoltre eseguita l’identificazione virale sul fluido vescicolare. Risultati: Abbiamo arruolato 47 pazienti (68% maschi) con un’età mediana di 22 mesi. Sono stati individuati 3 aspetti clinici principali: 1) forma acrale (distribuzione delle lesioni prevalentemente acrale), nel 62% dei soggetti; 2) eczema coxsackium (lesioni localizzate su aree eczematose), nel 23% dei soggetti; 3) forma diffusa (estensione delle lesioni al tronco), nel 15% dei soggetti. Inoltre, nell’80% circa dei pazienti si riscontravano macule purpuriche acrali, circa la metà dei pazienti aveva lesioni con aspetto purpurico e il 72% un interessamento dei glutei. In 9 su 11 soggetti genotipizzati è stato isolato il Coxsackievirus A6. Conclusioni: Questo studio ha permesso di descrivere tre fenotipi di malattia mani-piedi-bocca atipica, che deve essere correttamente identificata al fine di non porre diagnosi errate quali varicella, eczema herpeticum, vasculiti, impetigine, e di potere così procedere ad una gestione appropriata della patologia.

Feed-related selenium poisoning in swine

The following case report describes a selenium toxicosis in a pig-fattening farm of two finisher groups. The diseased animals partly showed ataxia and paresis or intense lameness in connection with band-like ablation of the epidermis at the coronary band. Some of them suffered from alopecia. Foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease were excluded by serological tests. Dissection revealed a multifocal bilateral symmetric poliomyelomalacia. Histological changes in the claws ranged from severe cell-decay in the germinative layer to distinctive decay of the stratum corneum. Due to damage of the claw epidermis the corium was partly exposed. Feed analysis revealed 100-fold increased selenium content in the finishing premix from the feed mill and as a result 20- to 60-fold increased selenium values in feed samples from the farm-made finisher mixture. Selenium concentration in the blood of diseased animals was 4- to 10-fold higher than normal values, which confirmed the tentative diagnosis of a selenium toxicosis.

Atypical findings in delayed presentation of unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy

Unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy is a rare disease affecting young healthy patients resulting in moderate to severe unilateral visual loss preceded by prodromal flu-like illness. We present a case of delayed presentation of unilateral acute idiopathic maculopathy associated with hand, foot and mouth disease.

Expert Opinion on the Perceived Effectiveness and Importance of On-Farm Biosecurity Measures for Cattle and Swine Farms in Switzerland.

Biosecurity is crucial for safeguarding livestock from infectious diseases. Despite the plethora of biosecurity recommendations, published scientific evidence on the effectiveness of individual biosecurity measures is limited. The objective of this study was to assess the perception of Swiss experts about the effectiveness and importance of individual on-farm biosecurity measures for cattle and swine farms (31 and 30 measures, respectively). Using a modified Delphi method, 16 Swiss livestock disease specialists (8 for each species) were interviewed. The experts were asked to rank biosecurity measures that were written on cards, by allocating a score from 0 (lowest) to 5 (highest). Experts ranked biosecurity measures based on their importance related to Swiss legislation, feasibility, as well as the effort required for implementation and the benefit of each biosecurity measure. The experts also ranked biosecurity measures based on their effectiveness in preventing an infectious agent from entering and spreading on a farm, solely based on transmission characteristics of specific pathogens. The pathogens considered by cattle experts were those causing Bluetongue (BT), Bovine Viral Diarrhea (BVD), Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) and Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR). Swine experts expressed their opinion on the pathogens causing African Swine Fever (ASF), Enzootic Pneumonia (EP), Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS), as well as FMD. For cattle farms, biosecurity measures that improve disease awareness of farmers were ranked as both most important and most effective. For swine farms, the most important and effective measures identified were those related to animal movements. Among all single measures evaluated, education of farmers was perceived by the experts to be the most important and effective for protecting both Swiss cattle and swine farms from disease. The findings of this study provide an important basis for recommendation to farmers and policy makers.

Viral capsid mobility: A dynamic conduit for inactivation

Mass spectrometry and fluorescent probes have provided direct evidence that alkylating agents permeate the protein capsid of naked viruses and chemically inactivate the nucleic acid. N-acetyl-aziridine and a fluorescent alkylating agent, dansyl sulfonate aziridine, inactivated three different viruses, flock house virus, human rhinovirus-14, and foot and mouth disease virus. Mass spectral studies as well as fluorescent probes showed that alkylation of the genome was the mechanism of inactivation. Because particle integrity was not affected by selective alkylation (as shown by electron microscopy and sucrose gradient experiments), it was reasoned that the dynamic nature of the viral capsid acts as a conduit to the interior of the particle. Potential applications include fluorescent labeling for imaging viral genomes in living cells, the sterilization of blood products, vaccine development, and viral inactivation in vivo.