Search Results (5)

Background/Objectives: The spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a growing global health concern. Wild animals can play an important role in the amplification and dissemination of AMR and in conservation efforts aiming at controlling diseases in vulnerable wild animal populations. These animals can serve as reservoirs for antibiotic resistance genes and are key in the spread of AMR across ecosystems and hosts. Therefore, monitoring AMR in wild animals is crucial in tackling the spread of resistance in the environment and human population. This study investigated the phenotypic and genotypic resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) isolated from semi-wild oryx (Oryx leucoryx) in Qatar. Methods: One hundred fecal samples were collected from oryx in diverse natural reserves across Qatar. A selective agar medium was used to isolate E. coli, and the identity of the isolates was further confirmed using the VITEK^® 2 Compact system. The Kirby–Bauer disk diffusion method was used to test antibiotic susceptibility. Genetic resistance determinants were identified through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analyses and sequencing using the Oxford Nanopore Technology (ONT). Results: The results revealed that 18% (n = 18) of the samples harbored E. coli with resistance to a single antibiotic, 28% (n = 28) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 2% (n = 2) were multidrug-resistant (MDR). No resistance was observed against colistin. tetA and tetB encode tetracycline resistance were the most frequently detected genes (57.7%). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to expand on AMR gene-PCR analyses and analyze the resistome of 12E. coli isolates. WGS identified several important antibiotic resistance determinates, including bla_CTX-M-encoding Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamase (ESBL) resistance, soxR associated with tetracycline target alteration, and mdtE, emrB, AcrE, mdtF, and marA related to ciprofloxacin efflux pump resistance. Conclusions: This study provides essential information regarding AMR in Qatari semi-wild animals, which will guide conservation strategies and wildlife health management in a world experiencing increasing antibiotic-resistant infections. Furthermore, these findings can inform policies to mitigate AMR spread, improve ecosystems, and enhance public and environmental health while paving the way for future research on AMR dynamics in wildlife. Full article

The Arabian Peninsula’s endemic ungulate, Oryx leucoryx, was on the verge of extinction at the end of the 1970s. Despite the different reintroduction programs, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is still classifying it as Vulnerable. Among other factors, their vulnerability lies in their susceptibility to specific etiological agents that affect livestock, necessitating health monitoring and strict preventive/biosecurity measures. Within this frame, the current work investigated the determination of the etiological agent potentially involved with cutaneous lesions observed in eight males of Arabian oryx within one of the several national governance conservation programs. Microscopic examination from one animal specimen suggested theileriosis association, which was confirmed by molecular tools using 18S gene sequencing and the report of a novel Theileria sp. not clustering with previously reported antelope sequences. This finding prompts further explorations into the disease dynamics within the Arabian oryx population, especially with the scarcity of data in Qatar about tick-borne pathogens and their transmission. Full article

Canine herpesvirus-1 (CHV-1) can cause abortion and foetal and neonatal deaths in the bitch. The reactivation of latent infections with asymptomatic virus shedding represents a mechanism, whereby the virus can persist in a dog population. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence of CHV-1 in a population of breeding dogs in Piedmont, Northern Italy, and to investigate the distribution of herpesvirus vaccination. The study was carried out in 370 animals that were housed in 33 breeding kennels. Antibodies against CHV-1 in serum samples were measured by means of serum neutralization. Vaccination had been performed in 21.2% of the kennels and 8.4% of the dogs. The overall seroprevalence of CHV-1 was 50.3%. In ten kennels (30.3%), no seropositive dogs were identified. The percentage of seropositive dogs ranged from 7.1% to 100% in positive kennels. More than 40% of the seropositive dogs showed high titres. Sex had no significant effect on either seroprevalence or the category of the serum titre. The number of positive animals was significantly lower in the groups of prepuberal bitches and animals younger than 1.5 years. The majority of younger animals showed very high titres, suggesting recent contact with the virus. Our data show that CHV-1 is a common infection in breeding dogs in Piedmont. Vaccination is rarely performed but might be an option, because, although many animals of breeding age already show high antibody titres, seronegative pregnant bitches will be at high risk of contracting the infection due to viral circulation in kennels where the virus is enzootic. Full article

Urban parks are green areas of cities where families and children spend hours outside. Turtles often inhabit urban parks. However, even if the animals seem harmless, they may serve as both reservoirs or accidental hosts for different serotypes of Leptospira spp. Leptospira spp. is a waterborne zoonotic bacterium relevant for public health. Reptiles and amphibians may play a role in the epidemiology, transmission, and persistence of Leptospira spp. In the present study, we observed the presence of anti-leptospiral agglutinins in a group of freshwater turtles (Trachemys scripta) captured in three urban ponds of the metropolitan city of Turin, Italy. Full article

Microsporum canis is a dermatophyte fungus of which cats and dogs are recognized as the natural hosts. M. canis is also easily transmitted to humans, causing lesions to the glabrous skin (tinea corporis) and to the head (tinea capitis). The present study describes some cases of infection with M. canis in children from a veterinary perspective, highlighting some important features of this clinical entity (e.g., the necessity to identify the animal source of infection with appropriate diagnostic tests; the fact that infected cats may present with no or atypical dermatological signs; and the importance of the environment as a fungal reserve). Full article