Search Results (28)

Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis), a common pathogenic bacterium in the porcine respiratory tract, can cause porcine polyserositis, arthritis, and meningitis. Alveolar macrophages are the first line of defense in the pulmonary innate immunity, and their abnormal apoptosis plays a critical role in the pathogenic process of G. parasuis. Long non-coding RNA maternally expressed gene 3 (MEG3) is associated with G. parasuis infection, but its mechanism remains incompletely unclear. This study aimed to investigate the role of MEG3 in G. parasuis-induced apoptosis of the porcine alveolar macrophage cell line 3D4/21 and its detailed molecular mechanism. Here, we found that MEG3 overexpression promoted G. parasuis-induced apoptosis and upregulated key extrinsic pathway proteins caspase-8 (CASP8) and caspase-3 (CASP3). Mechanistically, MEG3 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA by sponging ssc-miR-135, which directly targets and inhibits CASP8. Consequently, MEG3 overexpression alleviated ssc-miR-135-mediated repression of CASP8. Functional rescue experiments confirmed that either ssc-miR-135 mimic or CASP8 siRNA reversed the pro-apoptotic effect of MEG3. In conclusion, this study reveals that MEG3 relieves the inhibitory effect of ssc-miR-135 on CASP8 through competitively binding, thereby regulating G. parasuis-induced apoptosis of 3D4/21 cells. This study provides new insights into the pathogenic molecular mechanism of G. parasuis. Full article

Background: IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a chronic immune-mediated fibroinflammatory disorder characterized by lymphoplasmacytic infiltrates enriched in IgG4-positive plasma cells, storiform fibrosis, and frequently elevated serum IgG4 levels. Classic forms, such as pancreaticobiliary or retroperitoneal involvement, are often recognized early, whereas atypical manifestations mimic malignancy or inflammatory conditions, leading to delayed or inappropriate treatment. Case Series: A 30-year-old man presented with hyperemesis, proptosis, and gait instability. He was found to have colonic stenosis, stomach thickening, pachymeningitis, and polyserositis. Gastroenteric histology and serology confirmed IgG4-RD. Steroids were ineffective, but rituximab produced sustained clinical and radiologic improvement. A 35-year-old woman developed jaundice and cholestasis with a perihilar mass highly suggestive of cholangiocarcinoma. Histopathology revealed IgG4-RD, and rituximab therapy led to marked clinical and serological improvement. A 64-year-old woman with a submandibular mass underwent sialoadenectomy, with histology confirming IgG4-RD; she remained asymptomatic without systemic treatment. Literature Review: A literature review highlighted the diagnostic challenges of atypical IgG4-RD. Gastrointestinal involvement is rare and often misclassified as inflammatory bowel disease. Isolated biliary disease frequently mimics cholangiocarcinoma, while salivary gland involvement may be misdiagnosed as neoplasia. Serum IgG4 levels >135 mg/dL and IgG4/IgG ratio >0.21 may support clinical suspicion, but histopathology remains indispensable for definitive diagnosis and for excluding malignancy. Steroid responsiveness is a hallmark, though relapses after tapering are common, often necessitating B-cell-directed therapy. Conclusions: IgG4-RD should be considered in patients with unexplained, relapsing, or steroid-responsive conditions. Early recognition, multidisciplinary collaboration, and integration of histopathology with clinical features are essential to avoid misdiagnosis and optimize management. Full article

Dengue mortality has traditionally been associated with severe thrombocytopenia and hemorrhagic complications. However, during 2024, dengue virus serotype 3 (DENV-3) increased significantly in western Mexico, leading to the emergence of a distinct clinical pattern. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of hospitalized dengue patients at the General Hospital of Colima (January–August 2024). Clinical features, laboratory parameters, and outcomes were compared between survivors and non-survivors. Among 201 hospitalized patients, 6 (3.0%) died. All deceased patients presented with generalized seizures, polyserositis (pleural effusion and/or ascites), and required mechanical ventilation. Contrary to classical patterns, they did not have severe thrombocytopenia. Instead, they showed significantly higher white blood cell counts and notably increased levels of serum urea and BUN, suggesting early renal impairment. ROC analysis indicated that BUN (AUC 0.904) and urea (AUC 0.906) were good to excellent discriminators of mortality. During 2024, with an increase in DENV-3 circulation, mortality was associated with neurological and systemic complications, including seizures and polyserositis, as well as biochemical evidence of renal dysfunction—but not with severe thrombocytopenia. These findings challenge current paradigms and highlight the need for early recognition of atypical clinical patterns. Full article

Background/Objectives: Pleural effusion represents an accumulation of fluid in the pleural cavity, frequently associated with pneumonia. There has been a gradual increase in cases among children in recent years, with a notable rise during the post-pandemic period, potentially due to immune debt, decreased vaccination coverage, and changes in pathogen dynamics. Methods: We enrolled 66 children with pleural effusion treated at the Children’s Emergency Clinical Hospital, Brasov, between January 2019 and September 2024. We analyzed the data on demographics, symptoms, vaccination status, hospitalization, and treatments to assess the trends in the incidence and clinical features. Results: The median age was 5 years (ranging from 3 months to 17 years). Most patients were male (57.5%) from rural areas (34.8%). Only 40.9% fulfilled the vaccination schedule of Romania. We observed a rise in hospitalizations in the last two years, with 16 cases in 2023 and 15 in 2024, and most were being admitted in April (15.5%). Patients mainly had severe (36%) and medium (26%) acute respiratory failure. S. pneumoniae was the most common isolate with two cases each of serotype 1, 14, and 23A, and one case each of serotype 3, 31, and 34, followed by H. influenzae and P. aeruginosa. Treatment was mostly with ceftriaxone (69.6%), Vancomycin (63.6%), Meropenem (53.0%), and Teicoplanin (25.7%). Some children required thoracic drainage (34.8%). Complications like pneumothorax (16.6%), polyserositis (4.5%), and pneumomediastinum (3.0%) were found. Conclusions: The rise in pleural effusion cases may be influenced by various factors, such as changes in pathogen behavior or host immune responses following the pandemic. Further research is needed to understand these potential mechanisms. The emergence of non-PCV20 strains and the common occurrence of serotype 3 infections point out the need to study serotype trends and evaluate whether expanding vaccine programs could be beneficial. Full article

Background and Objectives: Familial Mediterranean fever (FMF) is a lifelong autoinflammatory disease characterized by episodes of fever and aseptic polyserositis. Commonly associated with vasculitis, FMF’s impact on microcirculation was investigated by examining nailfold capillaries using capillaroscopy. Materials and Methods: This study included 32 female and 28 male FMF patients diagnosed according to the Tel Hashomer and Yalçınkaya criteria and a control group of 20 female and 10 male age-matched cases. Demographic characteristics, medical history (abdominal pain, fever, chest pain, and joint pain), and physical examination findings of the cases were assessed. FMF gene mutations, acute-phase reactants, urine analysis, and spot urine protein/creatinine ratios were evaluated. Nailfold capillaries were examined via capillaroscopy by the same dermatology specialist. Results: There was no significant age or gender difference between groups. The most common symptoms in the case group were abdominal pain (81.7%) and joint pain (65%). Pathological findings in capillaroscopy, such as microhemorrhages and avascular areas, were significantly more frequent in the FMF case group (p < 0.001; p < 0.001). Physiological findings, including hairpin-shaped capillaries and shortened loops, were significantly more common in the control group (p = 0.001; p = 0.034). No significant relationships were found between kidney involvement, subclinical inflammation, presence of microhemorrhages and avascular areas in capillaroscopy, and disease duration. Additionally, no significant differences were observed in capillaroscopic findings between those with exon-10 mutations in the MEFV gene and those with non-exon-10 mutations. Conclusions: In conclusion, our study demonstrated secondary microvascular findings due to inflammation in FMF patients using capillaroscopy, a cost-effective and safe tool. Full article

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) is a zoonotic pathogen capable of causing severe diseases in humans and pigs, including meningitis, sepsis, polyserositis, arthritis, and endocarditis. This study aimed to investigate the biological characteristics of 19 strains of S. suis isolated from diseased pigs in Hubei Province between 2021 and 2023. Through bioinformatics analysis, we investigated the serotype, MLST, pan-genome characteristics, SNP, AMR, and ICE of the 19 S. suis isolates. Among the 19 S. suis strains, ten serotypes were identified, and serotype 9 was the most prevalent (21.05%). Ten new alleles and nine new sequence types (STs) were discovered, with ST28 and ST243 emerging as the predominant STs. The results of the pan-genomic analysis of S. suis indicate that there are 943 core genes, 2259 shell genes, and 5663 cloud genes. Through SNP evolutionary analysis, we identified a strong genetic similarity between SS31 and the reference genome P1/7. The analysis of antibiotic resistance genes revealed widespread presence of erm(B) and tet(O) genes among 19 strains of S. suis. This association may be linked to the high resistance of S. suis to lincosamides, macrolides, and tetracyclines. Integrative and conjugative elements (ICEs) and integrative and mobilizable elements (IMEs) were identified in 16 strains, with a carriage rate of 84.21%, and resistance genes were identified within the ICE/IME elements of 8 strains. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing revealed that all strains showed sensitivity to vancomycin and lincomycin but resistance to tilmicosin, tiamulin, amoxicillin, and doxycycline. This study contributes to our understanding of the genomic diversity of S. suis in Hubei Province of China, providing essential data for the comprehensive prevention and control of S. suis infections in China. Full article

Necropsies can reveal herd problems or comorbidities that can lead to management corrections, improvements in animal performance, and better decision making. Furthermore, the pattern and causes of mortality might differ when different systems are evaluated. The present study was conducted to establish the main causes of death in nursery pigs from different systems in Brazil, as well as the clinical, microbiological, and pathological aspects of these mortalities. Eighteen nurseries were analyzed (a total of 120,243 housed piglets), and 557 necropsies were performed. Streptococcus suis infection was the most prevalent cause of death (21.2%), followed by bacterial polyserositis (16.7%), chronic atrophic enteritis (13.5%), salmonellosis (8.8%), pneumonia (8.6%), and colibacillosis (6.1%). The increase in mortality rate in individual nurseries and, consequently, in the diagnoses was commonly associated with disease outbreaks. Infectious diseases constituted the largest portion of the diagnoses, making a great opportunity for improving production rates in herds. Moreover, the extensive range of observed diagnoses highlights the importance of conducting preliminary diagnostic investigations based on necropsy to determine the causes of death. This approach allows for the direction of complementary tests, which can diagnose agents with greater specificity. As a result, this allows for the implementation of more effective prevention and control strategies. Full article

Background: An infection with SARS-CoV-2 can trigger a systemic disorder by pathological autoimmune processes. A certain type of this dysregulation is known as Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). However, similar symptoms may occur and have been described as Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination (MIS-V) following vaccination against SARS-CoV-2. We report the case of a 12-year-old boy who was identified with MIS-C symptoms without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection after receiving two doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine approximately one month prior to the onset of symptoms. He showed polyserositis, severe gastrointestinal symptoms and, consequently, a manifestation of a multiorgan failure. IgG antibodies against spike proteins of SARS-CoV-2 were detected, indicating a successful vaccination, while SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid protein antibodies and SARS-CoV-2 PCR were not detected. Several functional, active autoantibodies against G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCR-fAAb), previously associated with Long COVID disease, were detected in a cardiomyocyte bioassay. Immunosuppression with steroids was initiated. Due to side effects, treatment with steroids and later interleukin 1 receptor antagonists had to be terminated. Instead, immunoadsorption was performed and continued with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid therapy, leading to improvement and discharge after 79 days. GPCR-fAAb decreased during therapy and remained negative after clinical curing and under continued immunosuppressive therapy with tacrolimus and mycophenolic acid. Follow-up of the patient showed him in good condition after one year. Conclusions: Infection with SARS-CoV-2 shows a broad and severe variety of symptoms, partly due to autoimmune dysregulation, which, in some instances, can lead to multiorgan failure. Despite its rarity, post-vaccine MIS-C-like disease may develop into a serious condition triggered by autoimmune dysregulation. The evidence of circulating GPCR-fAAb and their disappearance after therapy suggests a link of GPCR-fAAb to the clinical manifestations. Thus, we hypothesize a potential role of GPCR-fAAb in pathophysiology and their potential importance for the therapy of MIS-C or MIS-V. However, this observation needs further investigation to prove a causative correlation. Full article

Glaesserella parasuis (G. parasuis) can cause peritonitis in piglets. However, the pathogenesis of peritonitis remains unclear. Baicalin has been shown to possess anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant functions. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of the PANX-1/P2X7 axis and the P2Y6 signaling pathway in peritonitis induced by G. parasuis and the effect of baicain on the PANX-1/P2X7 axis and P2Y6 pathway activation triggered by G. parasuis. A G. parasuis serovar 5 isolate SH0165 strain was obtained from the lungs of commercially produced pigs which had the typical symptoms of Glässer’s disease, namely arthritis, fibrinous polyserositis, hemorrhagic pneumonia, and meningitis. Then, 35 piglets were randomly divided into five groups, each group containing seven piglets. The groups consisted of a negative control group, an infection group, a 25 mg/kg baicalin group, a 50 mg/kg baicalin group, and a 100 mg/kg baicalin group. The results showed that G. parasuis could promote PANX-1/P2X7 axis and P2Y6 activation; induce NLRP3/caspase-1, IL-1β and IL-18 expression; trigger PLC/PKC and MLCK/MLC signaling activation; attenuate the expression of tight junction proteins ZO-1, E-cadherin, Occludins, and claudin 1; and stimulate CD14, CD24, CD36, CD47, and CD91 expression in the peritoneum as measured via Western blot (p < 0.01; PLC, p < 0.05). Baicalin could significantly inhibit PANX-1/P2X7 axis, P2Y6, and NLRP3/caspase-1 activation; reduce IL-1β and IL-18 expression; attenuate PLC/PKC and MLCK/MLC activation; promote ZO-1, E-cadherin, occludins, and claudin 1 expression; and reduce CD14, CD24, CD36, CD47, and CD91 expression in the peritoneum induced by G. parasuis as measured via Western blot. Our results deepen the understanding of the mechanism of peritonitis triggered by G. parasuis and provide some novel potential methods of controlling G. parasuis infection. Full article

(1) Background: Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is the prototypal autoinflammatory disease, characterized by recurrent bursts of neutrophilic inflammation. (2) Methods: In this study we look at the most recent literature on this condition and integrate it with novel information on treatment resistance and compliance. (3) Results: The canonical clinical presentation of FMF is in children with self-limited episodes of fever and polyserositis, associated with severe long-term complications, such as renal amyloidosis. It has been described anecdotally since ancient times, however only recently it has been characterized more accurately. We propose an updated overview on the main aspects of pathophysiology, genetics, diagnosis and treatment of this intriguing disease. (4) Conclusions: Overall, this review presents the all the main aspects, including real life outcome of the latest recommendation on treatment resistance of FMF, a disease, that not only helped understanding the pathophysiology of the auto inflammatory process but also the functioning of the innate immune system itself. Full article

At present, polyserositis (PS) remains a challenging entity, which resides both in the fact that there is confusion regarding the terminology, and that it is still understudied. We aimed to identify the etiologies of PS, reported in adult patients. Methods: We performed a systematic review of the literature on PubMed(MEDLINE) database, using the following (MESH) terms: pleurisy/etiology, pleural effusion/etiology, pericarditis/etiology, pericardial effusion/etiology, pericardial effusion chronic, ascites/etiology, ascitic fluid/etiology, polyserositis, serositis, and serositides. Results: A total of 1979 articles were identified, dating from 1973 onwards. After screening the articles, we included 114 patients from 23 articles (one case series including 92 patients and 22 case reports) in the final report. The most common diagnosis was neoplasia (30; 26.3%), followed by autoimmune diseases (19, 16.7%) and infections (16, 12.3%). Still, in 35 cases, the etiology of PS remained unkown. Conclusion: PS is a challenging and understudied entity, which is associated with a wide range of diagnoses. However, prospective studies should be developed in order to have a clear understanding regarding its etiologies and their prevalences. Full article

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) has a significant economic impact on pig farming worldwide by causing reproductive problems and affecting the respiratory systems of swine. In Eastern Europe, PRRSV-1 strains are characterized by high genetic variability, and pathogenicity differs among all known subtypes. This case study describes the detection of a wide pathogen spectrum, including the second subtype PRRSV-1, with a high mortality rate among nursery piglets (23.8%). This study was conducted at a farrow-to-finish farm in the Western Siberia region of Russia. Clinical symptoms included apathy, sneezing, and an elevation in body temperature, and during the autopsy, degenerative lesions in different tissues were observed. Moreover, 1.5 percent of the affected animals displayed clinical signs of the central nervous system and were characterized by polyserositis. Nasal swabs from diseased piglets and various tissue swabs from deceased animals were studied. For diagnostics, the nanopore sequencing method was applied. All the samples tested positive for PRRSV, and a more detailed analysis defined it as a second subtype of PRRSV-1. The results, along with the clinical picture, showed a complex disease etiology with the dominant role of PRRSV-1 and were informative about the high pathogenicity of the subtype in question under field conditions. Full article

Glaesserella (Haemophilus) parasuis, the etiological agent of Glässer’s disease, is an economically significant pathogen commonly associated with serofibrinous polyserositis, arthritis, fibrinous bronchopneumonia and/or meningitis. This study is the first attempt to molecularly characterize and provide a detailed overview of the genetic variants of G. parasuis present in Malaysia, in reference to its serotype, virulence-associated trimeric autotransporters (vtaA) gene and outer membrane protein P2 (OmpP2) gene. The G. parasuis isolates (n = 11) from clinically sick field samples collected from two major pig producing states (Selangor and Perak) were selected for analysis. Upon multiplex PCR, the majority of the isolates (eight out of 11) were identified to be serotype 5 or 12, and interestingly, serotypes 3, 8 and 15 were also detected, which had never been reported in Malaysia prior to this. Generally, virulent vtaA was detected for all isolates, except for one, which displayed a nonvirulent vtaA. A phylogenetic analysis of the OmpP2 gene revealed that the majority of Malaysian isolates were clustered into genotype 1, which could be further divided into Ia and Ib, while only one isolate was clustered into genotype 2. Full article

Polyserositis mostly affects 4–8 weeks old piglets and is usually caused by Glaesserella parasuis, and/or Streptococcus suis, and/or Mycoplasma hyorhinis. The present study aimed to investigate the prevalence and etiology of polyserositis in a tricky pig herd. The concurrent effect of vaccination for Glässer’s disease was also assessed. A total of 46 sows and 387 piglets were herein investigated, subdivided into three groups based on their immune status (i.e., vaccination of sows and piglets). All the piglets found spontaneously dead between the 2nd and 16th week of age were recorded and necropsied. Whenever polyserositis was diagnosed, biomolecular investigations were carried out to detect the above-mentioned pathogens. Mycoplasma hyorhinis was detected most frequently (n = 23), often as the only causative agent (n = 15), whereas S. suis was observed in 8 cases (6 as the only pathogen). Moreover, Glaesserella parasuis was demonstrated in 6 piglets, always in combination with Mycoplasma hyorhinis and/or Streptococcus suis. Vaccination did not significantly affect mortality rates. Overall, our data indicate that polyserositis is likely caused by an intricate puzzle of pathogens, even when dealing with a small herd and during a short time span. That makes it challenging to achieve the correct diagnosis and to properly manage this health issue. Full article

A 15-day-old, female, captive Panthera tigris cub was hospitalized after developing severe hyperthermia, depression, and lack of appetite. The clinical condition rapidly worsened, and the tiger cub died in 72 h after the onset of neurological symptoms, septic shock, and multiple organ dysfunction syndrome. The postmortem main gross findings consisted of a severe and diffuse bilateral fibrino-suppurative meningoencephalitis and ventriculitis, mild fibrinous and sero-hemorrhagic polyserositis and cystitis, severe pulmonary edema, and hemorrhages. Microscopically, the meninges, ependyma, and choroid plexuses were diffusely expanded by abundant infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages, with multifocal fibrinous exudation. Histiocytic interstitial pneumonia, fibrinous and neutrophilic polyserositis, and pyelocystitis were also observed. Vascular thrombosis with multifocal vasculitis and vascular necrosis were frequently observed. Aerobic and anaerobic cultures performed on the brain, lungs, intestine, kidneys, and in pericardial effusion reported the presence of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis. Environmental and nutritional contamination were identified as putative sources of infections. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of Salmonella Enteritidis septicemia with meningoencephalitis in a tiger cub, which highlights the need to further investigate the cause of acute perinatal death to reduce the risk of infectious disease outbreaks. Full article