M. Hermoso de Mendoza

Isolation of Cryptococcus species including C. neoformans from cloaca of pigeons

Upper digestive tract of the pigeon (Columba livia) is well known as a reservoir for different species of Cryptococcus, but lower portions are not so frequently studied. In the present study, we tested on selective media a total of 331 pigeon cloacal swabs; Cryptococcus spp. were recovered from 26 (7.85%). Cryptococcus uniguttulatus was isolated from 11 samples (3.32%), C. laurentii from six (1.81%), C. neoformans var. neoformans from six (1.81%) and C. albidus from three of them (0.91%). The results show the importance of pigeon in the cryptococcosis epidemiology as reservoir and carrier for C. neoformans var. neoformans, but also for other Cryptococcus species of increasing clinical interest.

Enzymatic activities of Dermatophilus congolensis measured by API ZYM

API ZYM kit was used to test enzymatic activities on eighteen strains of Dermatophilus congolensis. All strains produced lipase and acid phosphatase, which act on lipids, and leucine arylamidase which act on proteins. Another 10 exoenzymes were present in at least one of the strains.

AETIOLOGY OF CAPRINE CONTAGIOUS AGALACTIA SYNDROME IN EXTREMADURA, SPAIN

ing fish were treated by adding sodium benzylpenicillin DAVIS, H. S. (1922) A new gill disease in trout. Transactions of the American (10,000 iu/litre) to the water for 24 hours. Two days later, the Fisheries Society 56, 156-159 antibiotic treatment was repeated. Following these meaDECOSTERE, A. (1997) Development of a gill perfusion model and consesurements, a marked drop in mortality was recorded. The quent study of the adherence of Flavobacterium columnare to the gill tissue. fish appeared to be much more active and skin lesions MSc thesis, Stirling, Scotland diminishapped. hmoeativeandskinlesons DECOSTERE, A., HAESEBROUCK, F. & DEVRIESE, L. A. (1997) Shieh medium supplemented with tobramycin for the selective isolation of F columnare was first described by Davis in 1922. Since Flavobacterium columnare (Flexibactercolumnaris) from diseased fish.Journal then, it has been stated that all freshwater fishes are susceptiof Clinical Microbiology 35, 322-324 ble to columnaris under environmental conditions favourable DECOSTERE, A., HAESEBROUCK, F., TURNBULL, J. F. & CHARLIER, G. to the bacterium and stressful to the fish (Dalsgaard 1993, (1998) Influence of environmental parameters on the adhesion of high and Wakabayashi 1993). In this case, the high level of nitrite most low virulence Flavobacterium columnare strains to isolated gill arches. Journal likely triggered the columnaris outbreak, as was found by ofFish Diseases 21, 1-11 Hanson and Grizzle (1985) in channel catfish (IctaluruspuncHANSON, L. A. & GRIZZLE, J. M. (1985) Nitrite-induced predisposition of adhesion ofF columnare to the ill tissue is indeed channel catfish to bacterial diseases. Progressive Fish Culturist 47, 98-101 tatus). Thne aaneslon or r columnare to tne glll lssueSHIEH, H. S. (1980) Studies on the nutrition of a fish pathogen, Flexibacter enhanced in the presence of nitrite (Decostere 1997, columnaris. Microbios letters 13, 129-133 Decostere and others 1998). TOMEY, W. A. (1985) Ziekten bij aquariumvissen. Best, Nederland, Zuid F columnare does not grow on blood agar. Special media Boekprodukties b.v. p 140 such as Cytophaga (Anacker and Ordal 1959) or Shieh WAKABAYASHI,H. (1993) Bacterial diseases of fish. EdsV. Inglis, R. J. Roberts, (1980) medium are needed for isolation. This explains why N. R. Bromage. Blackwell Scientific Publications, Oxford. p 23-33 columnaris disease frequently is misdiagnosed. Another reason is that columnaris disease resembles a parasitic (costiasis, white spot) and a fungal infection (saprolegniosis). In all cases, the presence of white-grey areas on the skin is evident. However, in columnaris disease, these areas are typically localised on the head and cranial dorsal part of the body and around the dorsal fin. The lesions are mostly circular as if o g of c p spreading from a single focus in all directions at the same Aetiology Of CaPrine rate. Differential diagnosis can easily be made by means of* microscopic examination of skin scrapings of the affected con iou ag-alact areas. In the case described, effective treatment consisted of two syndrome In parts: first, elimination of the predisposing factor, that is, decreasing the nitrite level; and, secondly, antibiotic treatExtremad ura, Spain ment. Sodium benzylpenicillin appeared to be effective, as was reported previously by Bassleer (1983) and Tomey (1985). This therapeutic agent is relatively cheap and does M. C. Gii, M. HERMOSO DE MENDOZA, not colour the water. Water change has to be complete after J. REY, J. M. ALONSO, J. B. POVEDA, 24 hours, since sodium benzylpenicillin might produce substances toxic for fish after this time (Bassleer 1983). Other J HERMOSO DE MENDOZA antimicrobial agents can be used to treat columnaris disease, both in the water and the feed. An excellent review has been CONTAGIOUS agalactia (CA) ofgoats and sheep is one of the provided by Amend (1970). most serious diseases affecting small ruminants. Endemic in In conclusion, the risk of a severe columnaris outbreak most Mediterranean countries (Lambert 1987), the disease is not a problem to be taken lightly, especially when dealing is widely distributed throughout most of Spain (Garrido and with live-bearing fish. Since F columnare can cause heavy others 1987, Real and others 1994). The disease in goats may mortalities over a short period of time, the condition must be be caused by several Mycoplasma species (DaMassa and othdiagnosed quickly and measures taken accordingly. ers 1992); this short communication describes the numbers Veterinary Record (1999) and types of mycoplasma isolated from goats affected by CA 144,24-25 in the Extremadura region of Spain. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This study was carried out between 1991 and 1995 in 43 M. C. Gil, PhD, goat flocks affected by CA outbreaks in Extremadura, southM. Hermoso de Mendoza, The authors appreciate the cooperation of the farmer conwest Spain. Five hundred and ninety-six adult and young PhD, cerned. The Fund for Scientific Research, Flanders, is goats, mainly of the Serrana breed, were sampled and a total J. Rey, PhD, acknowledged for providing a grant to A. D. of 1309 specimens were collected from both live and, after J. M. Alonso, PhD, routine necropsy, dead animals. Mycoplasmas were isolated J. Hermoso de Mendoza,

Rapid and easy method to extract and preserve DNA from Cryptococcus neoformans and other pathogenic yeasts

Summary. The mucopolysaccharide capsule of Cryptococcus neoformans and other pathogenic yeasts prevent the extraction of DNA from these important zoonotic agents. We report that the use of a lysis buffer containing a high concentration of urea is an easy, efficient and time‐saving technique to obtain high yields of good‐quality DNA for molecular diagnosis. The use of urea also prevents the degradation of DNA during storage of samples at room temperature for up to 6 months.

In vitro studies of Dermatophilus congolensis antimicrobial susceptibility by determining minimal inhibitory and bacteriocidal concentrations.

The Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) and Minimal Bacteriocidal Concentration (MBC) of 19 antimicrobials on 16 isolates of D. congolensis were determined. The potential field efficacy of the agents was evaluated by comparing the results with serum levels of drug unbound to proteins and the in vitro and in vivo findings of other authors. A modified standard microtechnique was used for serial dilution-antimicrobial sensitivity and found to be easy and reproducible. Erythromycin, spiramycin, penicillin G, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, the streptomycin, amoxicillin, the tetracyclines and novobiocin had high serum concentrations in comparison with their MBCs and were shown to have potential use for the treatment of dermatophilosis.

Ascosphaeriosis of the Parasitic Bee, Coelioxys Rufocaudata, by Ascosphaera Aggregata

SummaryAscosphaeriosis is described in the parasitic bee Coelioxys rufocaudata, in the nest of Megachile rolundata. The fungal elements seen on the mummies are morphologically identical to those of Ascosphaera aggregata.

Pathological observations of porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) in the wild boar (Sus scrofa)

Porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) is a multifactorial respiratory syndrome related to the infection with different pathogens. Although most of these pathogens have been detected in the wild boar, the PRDC pneumonic lesions in this species have not been characterized. The aims of this study were to assess the presence of the main swine respiratory pathogens in wild boar populations from mid-western Spain and to describe the pathological features present in the lung from animals infected with PRDC pathogens. A pathological assessment based on five histological parameters was carried out in lung sections from 210 hunted wild boar. The presence of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae, Haemophilus parasuis, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae, Pasteurella multocida, Aujeszky’s disease virus, and porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) in lungs was assessed by the use of specific PCR assays. Additionally, immunohistochemical techniques were carried out to detect swine influenza virus (SIV) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) infection in the lungs. Furthermore, the distribution of infected cells with PCV2 and the presence of M. hyopneumoniae throughout the pulmonary parenchyma were evaluated using immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays in a subset of animals. Wild boar infected with M. hyopneumoniae, H. parasuis, or P. multocida showed the most severe lesions. M. hyopneumoniae, SIV, PCV2, and PRRSV were detected in single or mixed infections. Animals suffering from mixed infections with M. hyopneumoniae together with different viruses showed severe bronchopneumonia associated with interstitial pneumonia, suggesting that interactions between pathogens might increase the severity of pathological outcomes.