Serological Evidence of Common Equine Viral Infections in a Semi-Isolated, Unvaccinated Population of Hucul Horses

Huculs (Equus caballus) are an old breed of primitive mountain horses, originating from the Carpathian Mountains. To the best of our knowledge, data concerning the epidemiology of viral infections observed within this breed are sparse. The objective of this study was to estimate the serological status of a semi-isolated, unvaccinated Hucul herd, with respect to both common equine viral infections and horse-infecting arboviruses, the presence of which was previously reported in Poland. Twenty horses of the Hucul breed, living in a remote area in Poland, were studied in 2018 from March to May. Using nasal secretion swabs as a specimen source, isolation attempts were negative regarding ERAV, EHV-1, EAV, and EIV. According to the virus neutralisation method, in the sera obtained from the animals, antibodies against the following viruses were detected: EHV-1 in 12 horses (60%; with titres from 1:8 to 1:64), EIV A/H7N7 in 13 (65%; titres from 1:20 to 1:80), EIV A /H3N8 in 12 (60%; titres from 1:20 to 1:80), USUV in 5 (25%; titres from 1:10 to 1:80), and ERAV in 1 (5%; titre 1:32). Antibodies against EAV, EIAV, and WNV were not present in the tested sera. The detected presence of specific antibodies associated with five out of the eight equine viruses investigated indicates that the Hucul herd, due to its partial separation and lack of specific prophylaxis, could serve as a sentinel animal group for the detection of equine viruses/arboviruses present within the local ecosystem. The detection of common equine viral infections within the herd provides additional epidemiological data concerning the breed.

Periostin as a promising biological marker of early recurrence of polyposis rhinosinusitis after surgical treatment

Introduction. In spite of the numerous studies devoted to the issues of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps, the urgency of this problem remains due to the high incidence of the disease. The relapsing course of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps determines the uncontrolled course of bronchial asthma by patients with combined pathology. The main goal of case management of patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is to achieve control over the polyposis process. It has been shown, that a promising direction is the study of biological markers. Goal. Study of the concentration of serum periostin in combination with serum eosinophilia and the number of eosinophils of the nasal secretion to predict early recurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps after surgical treatment.Materials and methods. The study included 47 patients with a diagnosis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps and chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in combination with bronchial asthma. All patients underwent bilateral endoscopic polysinusotomy followed by case follow-up for a year. The diagnosis of bronchial asthma was made based on the diagnostic criteria defined in the Global Strategy for the Treatment and Prevention of Bronchial Asthma and in the Federal Clinical Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Bronchial Asthma. All patients were consulted by a pulmonologist. Control examinations of patients were carried out every 3 months. All patients underwent a study of the concentration of periostin in the blood serum. Blood probe samples were taken before the start of treatment and after 12 months.Results and discussion. In the course of the study, was proved the relationship between a high concentration of serum periostin in combination with increased eosinophils of blood and nasal secretion with an early relapse of polyposis rhinosinusitis.Conclusions. An increased concentration of serum periostin before surgical treatment is a prognostically unfavorable factor for early recurrence of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.

Predictive factors for identifying macrolide responder in treating chronic rhinosinusitis

BACKGROUND: Low-dose macrolides (LDM) are anti-inflammatory agents with antineutrophilic activity, but patient selection for LDM therapy in treating chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is controversial. This study aimed to assess factors which predict LDM responders. METHODOLOGY: A prospective cohort study was performed. Patients with CRS received roxithromycin (150 mg) once daily for 12 weeks. Nasal secretions and serology were collected. Nine predictors for LDM response were assessed: nasal secretion IgE, nasal secretion IL-5, serum IgE, serum eosinophils, serum neutrophils, nasal polyps, asthma, allergy, and aspirin hypersensitivity, using receiver-operating curve analysis and multivariable logistic regression. Macrolide responders were those with sino-nasal outcome test-22 improvement, symptoms visual analogue scale decreased to ≤5, and no rescue medication. RESULTS: One hundred CRS patients (mean age 47.4±14.1 years, 45% male) were enrolled. Univariable logistic regression showed local total IgE less than 5.21; and serum eosinophils less than 2.2% associated with macrolide response. Multivariate models showed local total IgE maintained an independent association with macrolide response, with an ability to discriminate between responders and non-responders of 63%. Serum total IgE, nasal secretion IL-5, serum neutrophil, nasal polyp, asthma, allergy, and aspirin hypersensitivity showed no association with LDM response. CONCLUSIONS: Low total IgE level in the nasal secretion but not in the serum, predict LDM response.

Pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV in Beagle Dogs

The coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has resulted in unprecedented challenges to healthcare worldwide. In particular, the anthroponotic transmission of human coronaviruses has become a common concern among pet owners. Here, we experimentally inoculated beagle dogs with SARS-CoV-2 or Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS)-CoV to compare the viral susceptibility and pathogenicity. The dogs exhibited weight loss and increased body temperature and shed the viruses in nasal secretion, faeces, and urine. Mild interstitial pneumonia lesions were observed in the lung tissues of infected dogs. Additionally, clinical characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 infection, such as increased lactate dehydrogenase levels was observed in the current study.

Systemic Infection by Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius in a Bitch

Background: Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is an opportunistic pathogen, belonging to the genus Staphylococcus. The methicillin-resistant Staphylococci have the mecA-gene, which confers them with the ability of becoming resistant to methicillin and multiple classes of antimicrobials, which makes the treatment of the affections caused by these specimens difficult. This work describes a case of systemic infection and death by methicillin-resistant S. pseudintermediusin a bitch.Case: A crossbred bitch (Canis lupus familiaris), was admitted to the University Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Western Bahia (HVU-UFOB). The main complaint reported by the owner was the presence of mammary nodules and constant nasal secretion. During the clinical examination was observed reactivity in the popliteal and left submandibular lymph nodes, pale mucous membranes, stomatitis, bilateral mucopurulent nasal secretion, abdominal pustules, serous secretion in the inguinal mammary gland and focal alopecia on the dorsum. On auscultation, was identified only arrhythmia and the other physiological parameters of the animal were within normality for the species. Samples of the nasal secretion and of the secretion from the abdominal pustules were collected, and sent to the Veterinary Microbiology Laboratory of the same institution. The samples collected were sown in 5% Blood Agar (BA), Sabouraud Agar (SAB) and MacConkey Agar (MCK), after 24 h was observed in BA the growth of macroscopically white colonies, with a humid aspect, creamy consistency, with presence of catalase and α-hemolysis. Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp. Microscopically, was observed the presence of Gram-positive cocci, suggestive of Staphylococcus sp. In the MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, was identified S. pseudintermedius. Enrofloxacin [Enrotrat tab® 25 mg, 5 mg/kg, SID, PO, 5 days] was prescribed and a follow-up consultation was requested. Two weeks after leaving the University Veterinary Hospital, the animal was admitted in emergency and was submitted to the support protocol and died during the procedure. After the owner’s authorization, the anatomopathological examination was carried out, and fragments of the liver, lung and kidney were collected, in addition to sample of the liquid of the abdominal cavity for microbiological examination, and was evidenced the growth of S. pseudintermedius in all the specimens. The bacterium’s susceptibility to 19 antibiotics was tested, and a high degree of resistance was found, with sensitivity only to amoxicillin+ clavulanate (20-10 μg), chloramphenicol (30 μg) and vancomycin (30 μg). Given the detection of MRSP in Chromogenic Agar and in cefoxitin disks, all the specimens were MRSP positive.Discussion: The diagnosis based on the bacteriological culture and anatopathological findings were essential for the confirmation of the clinical presentation of septicemia. The isolation of S. pseudintermedius in all the analyzed samples, associated to the identification by MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry confirmed the clinical suspicion of systemic infection. Based on the result of the antibiogram and phenotypic tests, it was evidenced that all the isolates were MRSP positive, presenting multiple resistance to antibiotics, which may have interfered in the efficiency of the treatment. The results obtained in this report are worrying and signal the need for the implementation of phenotypical researches associated to anti-microbial susceptibility tests in bacteria isolated from animals attended in veterinary clinics and hospitals, in order to monitor and avoid the dissemination of pathogens with a multi-resistant profile.

The nature of metabolic and functional state of the innate antimicrobial protection factors in persons with rhinosinusitis

The purpose is to study the features of metabolic and functional activity of cellular factors of innate immunity in nasal secretion in persons with rhinosinusitis. Material and methods. We studied the qualitative and quantitative composition of leukocytes of the nasal secretion of patients with rhinosinusitis, their viability, phagocytic and lysosomal activity, oxygen-dependent metabolism of neutrophilic granulocytes in the NBT test. Results. It was demonstrated that in patients with rhinosinusitis, an increase in the absolute and relative number of viable neutrophilic granulocytes, an increase in their lysosomal activity, a decrease in the activity and intensity of phagocytosis, and inhibition of biocidal properties according to the spontaneous NBT test are recorded. Conclusion. The revealed increase in the number of viable neutrophilic granulocytes, an increase in their lysosomal activity, a traced decrease in the activity and intensity of phagocytosis with inhibition of biocidal properties confirm the need to search for additional methods of rhinosinusitis therapy.

Correlation between nasal nitric oxide and its metabolites, RANTES, IL-5 in allergic rhinitis

There have been two measurement methods for nasal nitric oxide (nNO): direct measurement of nNO and indirect measurement of NO metabolites or the NO synthase enzyme. The aim of this study is to investigate the difference in nNO between allergic rhinitis (AR) patients and the correlation of the direct measurement of nNO and indirect measurement of nNO metabolites, RANTES, and IL-5. Fifteen patients with AR, 15 patients with septal deviation as a control group were enrolled. We measured the nNO level using a chemiluminescence analyzer and the amount of NO metabolites, RANTES, and IL-5 in nasal lavage fluid using the ELISA method. Nasal NO levels were significantly higher in AR than the control (195.7 ± 39.6 vs 159.4 ± 25.8 ppb, P = 0.027). NO metabolites, IL-5, and RANTES levels were higher in AR, but there was no statistically significant difference. There was no significant correlation between nNO and nNO metabolites, RANTES, IL-5, and clinical parameters except for the olfactory test score in AR. There was a negative correlation between nNO and the olfactory test score in AR ( r = −0.590, P = 0.034). Nasal NO concentration increased in AR. However, nNO metabolites and IL-5, RANTES in nasal secretion did not show any correlation with nNO. Direct measurement of nNO could be a potentially useful biomarker of AR compared to indirect measurement of NO metabolites, cytokines, and chemokines in nasal secretion.

Sinusitis in Children

Sinusitis is a common disease in childhood and puberty with significant morbidity and the potential for serious complications. There are two types of acute sinusitis: viral and bacterial. Viral sinusitis develops during a cold. Some children with certain predisposing diseases may develop forms of chronic sinusitis, which is usually not of infectious origin. Children and adolescents may have nonspecific symptoms: fever, nasal congestion, nasal secretion. Less common difficulties include bad breath, reduction sense of smell, and periorbital edema. Headaches and facial pain are rare in children. The most common symptoms are headache, tenderness in the facial area and a stuffy nose.