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Introduction: Shiga-toxin (Stx) producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 is the most frequent serotype associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) after gastrointestinal infections. Protection against HUS secondary to STEC infections has been experimentally assayed through the generation of different vaccine formulations. With focus on patients, the strategies have been mainly oriented to inhibit production of Stx or its neutralization. However, few approaches have been intended to block gastrointestinal phase of this disease, which is considered the first step in the pathogenic cascade of HUS. The aim of this work was to assay H7 flagellin as a mucosal vaccine candidate to prevent the systemic complications secondary to E. coli O157:H7 infections. Materials and methods: The cellular and humoral immune response after H7 nasal immunization in mice were studied by the analysis of systemic and intestinal specific antibody production, as well as cytokine production and lymphocyte proliferation against H7 flagellin ex vivo. Results: Immunized mice developed a strong and specific anti-H7 IgG and IgA response, at systemic and mucosal level, as well as a cellular Th1/Th2/Th17 response. H7 induced activation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells in vitro and a significant delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) response in immunized mice. Most relevant, immunized mice were completely protected against the challenge with an E. coli O157:H7 virulent strain in vivo, and surviving mice presented high titres of anti-H7 and Stx antibodies. Discussion: These results suggest that immunization avoids HUS outcome and allows to elicit a specific immune response against other virulence factors.

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Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen that can produce moderate and severe infections in immunosuppressed hosts. In recent years, an increase in the isolation of hypermucoviscous carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae with sequence type 25 (ST25) in hospitals in Norwest Argentina was observed. This work aimed to study the virulence and inflammatory potential of two K. pneumoniae ST25 strains (LABACER01 and LABACER27) in the intestinal mucosa. The human intestinal Caco-2 cells were infected with the K. pneumoniae ST25 strains, and their adhesion and invasion rates and changes in the expression of tight junction and inflammatory factors genes were evaluated. ST25 strains were able to adhere and invade Caco-2 cells, reducing their viability. Furthermore, both strains reduced the expression of tight junction proteins (occludin, ZO-1, and claudin-5), altered permeability, and increased the expression of TGF-ß and TLL1 and the inflammatory factors (COX-2, iNOS, MCP-1, IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α) in Caco-2 cells. The inflammatory response induced by LABACER01 and LABACER27 was significantly lower than the one produced by LPS or other intestinal pathogens, including K. pneumoniae NTUH-K2044. No differences in virulence and inflammatory potential were found between LABACER01 and LABACER27. In line with these findings, no major differences between the strains were found when the comparative genomic analysis of virulence factors associated with intestinal infection/colonization was performed. This work is the first to demonstrate that hypermucoviscous carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae ST25 infects human intestinal epithelial cells and induces moderate inflammation.

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Resumen La trichostrongylosis es una zoonosis de rara ocurrencia causada por nematodos intestinales, favorecida por el consumo de vegetales crudos o agua contaminada con larvas infectantes de Trichostrongylus spp. En 2015, se registró un brote familiar transmitido por alimentos en una zona rural de Valdivia, afectando a una mujer de 51 años de edad y su pareja e hija de 56 y 12 años; respectivamente. Solo la mujer adulta, el caso índice, presentó síntomas como diarrea, dolor abdominal, astenia y náuseas. Los pacientes eliminaron huevos de Trichostrongylidae gen. sp. en sus deposiciones, identificándose en dos de ellos, adultos de Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Tuvieron una buena respuesta a albendazol. En Chile, se han registrado prevalencias de infección de 0,1 a 3,5%, incluyendo un total de 93 casos diagnosticados entre las provincias de Concepción y Llanquihue.

Abstract Trichostrongylosis is a rare occurrence zoonosis caused by intestinal nematodes, favored by the consumption of raw vegetables or water contaminated with infective larvae of Trichostrongylus spp. In 2015, a family outbreak of foodborne disease was registered in a rural zone of Valdivia, affecting to 51-year-old woman and her 56-year-old partner and her 12-year-old daughter. Only the adult woman, the index case, presented symptoms such as diarrhea, abdominal pain, asthenia, and nausea. The patients revealed Trichostrongylidae gen. sp. eggs in their stools, identifying Trichostrongylus colubriformis adults in two of them. They had a good response to treatment with albendazol. In Chile, 0.1 to 3.5% prevalence of infection has been reported, including a total of 93 cases recorded between the provinces of Concepción and Llanquihue.

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Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections can result in a wide range of clinical presentations despite that EHEC strains belong to the O157:H7 serotype, one of the most pathogenic forms. Although pathogen virulence influences disease outcome, we emphasize the concept of host-pathogen interactions, which involve resistance or tolerance mechanisms in the host that determine total host fitness and bacterial virulence. Taking advantage of the genetic differences between mouse strains, we analyzed the clinical progression in C57BL/6 and BALB/c weaned mice infected with an E. coli O157:H7 strain. We carefully analyzed colonization with several bacterial doses, clinical parameters, intestinal histology, and the integrity of the intestinal barrier, as well as local and systemic levels of antibodies to pathogenic factors. We demonstrated that although both strains had comparable susceptibility to Shiga toxin (Stx) and the intestinal bacterial burden was similar, C57BL/6 showed increased intestinal damage, alteration of the integrity of the intestinal barrier, and impaired renal function that resulted in increased mortality. The increased survival rate in the BALB/c strain was associated with an early specific antibody response as part of a tolerance mechanism.

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Although extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are designated by their isolation site and grouped based on the type of host and the disease they cause, most diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) are subdivided into several pathotypes based on the presence of specific virulence traits directly related to disease development. This scenario of a well-categorized E. coli collapsed after the German outbreak of 2011, caused by one strain bearing the virulence factors of two different DEC pathotypes (enteroaggregative E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli). Since the outbreak, many studies have shown that this phenomenon is more frequent than previously realized. Therefore, the terms hybrid- and hetero-pathogenic E. coli have been coined to describe new combinations of virulence factors among the classic E. coli pathotypes. In this review, we provide an overview of these classifications and highlight the E. coli genomic plasticity that results in some mixed E. coli pathotypes displaying novel pathogenic strategies, which lead to a new symptomatology related to E. coli diseases. In addition, as the capacity for genome interrogation has grown in the last few years, it is clear that genes encoding some virulence factors, such as Shiga toxin, are found among different E. coli pathotypes to which they have not traditionally been associated, perhaps foreshowing their emergence in new and severe outbreaks caused by such hybrid strains. Therefore, further studies regarding hetero-pathogenic and hybrid-pathogenic E. coli isolates are necessary to better understand and control the spread of these pathogens.

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Escherichia coli is a bacterium normally found in the gastrointestinal tract of domestic animals that can usually control the infection. Nevertheless, some factors (high exposure, stress conditions, animal category, among others) can favor the exacerbation of E. coli infection and cause of disease. Because it is a zoonotic bacterium, it is important to control the infection, avoiding contamination of home interiors in the case of pets. There are various forms of treatment for E. coli; nevertheless, there are few options for prevention. In the present study, we evaluated homeopathy. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine whether administration of a prophylactic homeopathic in water would minimize the negative effects of E. coli infection, as well as reducing bacterial counts in the feces of a experimental model. Forty mice were divided into four experimental groups (n = 10/group). Groups NC (negative control) and PC (positive control) were not treated; in group T1, the animals received 0.002 mL/day/animal of the homeopathic in water, and animals in group T2 0.004 mL/day/animal. The experiment lasted 54 days, and on the 31st day, mice of T1, T2 and PC groups were infected orally a 0.2 mL inoculum of 1.5 × 108 CFU of E. coli. Euthanasia and sample collection were performed on the 40th and 54th days of the experiment (n = 5/group/time point). Blood, liver, spleen, intestine, and feces samples were collected from the final portion of the intestine. There was no significant difference in animal weight between groups at the end of the experiment. Neutrophil count was lower in PC group animals on day 40, while on day 54, the counts were lower in T2 and PC. Lymphocyte counts were lower only in the PC group than in the NC group on day 54. Globulins were lower in the NC and PC groups than in T1 and T2 on day 40, remaining lower the PC group and higher in T1 on day 54; levels of immunoglobulin IgG and IgM were higher in groups T1 and T2, which differed from PC and NC. TNF-α levels were higher in the T1 and T2 groups at 40 and 54 days. INF-γ levels were higher in T1, T2, and PC compared to NC on day 40, remaining higher than NC in groups T1 and T2 on day 54. Total bacterial count, total coliforms and E. coli counts were lower in group T1 and higher in NC and PC on days 40 and 54, when they were lower for T1 and T2. Histologically, no lesions were observed in extra-intestinal tissues; however the height of intestinal crypts in the PC group was smaller than the others on day 40. On day 54, villi and crypts of all infected groups were larger in T1 and T2 than in NC; sizes in the PC group were higher than those of all other groups. These data suggest that the homeopathic agent in the drinking water improved health of the mice.

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Blastocystis spp. has become one of the protozoans arousing the greatest scientific interest because of the controversy surrounding its biology; it is currently considered one of the most prevalent organisms in humans and animals worldwide. Such prevalence increases, especially in tropical countries where infection rates are high, highlighting the need to conduct studies focused on understanding this protozoan's biology. Interestingly, molecular tools are emerging as the best option for diagnosing this infection. This study was thus aimed at conventional PCR molecular detection and characterisation of Blastocystis spp. in human faecal samples from Ibagué, Colombia, using primers targeting the small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene. One hundred human faecal samples with confirmed Blastocystis spp. were studied, revealing the following subtype genetic diversity: ST1 50%, ST2 33% and ST3 17%. The results contributed to the limited information available regarding Blastocystis spp. in Colombia and created a reference point for further studies in the region.

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Quantification of intestinal colonization by pathogenic or commensal bacteria constitute a critical part of the analysis to understand host-microbe interactions during different time points of their interplay. Here we detail a method to isolate non-pathogenic and pathogenic bacteria from C. elegans intestines, and classify gut phenotypes induced by bacterial pathogens using fluorescently-tagged bacteria. Furthermore, these methods can be used to isolate and identify new culturable bacterial species from natural microbiomes of wild nematodes.

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Background: Rock pigeon (Columba livia) is an exotic and invasive species of the Columbidae family found in several cities around the world, including Brazilian cities, and close to humans. This species is found in large populations often in public locations, where people may have contact. Several studies have demonstrated the isolation of human pathogens from these birds. However, there are scarce studies describing infections by Gram-negative bacteria to which pigeons are susceptible. Therefore, this report aimed to describe a case of natural coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon. Case: A sick feral pigeon was delivered at the Laboratory of Ornithological Studies, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. Due to poor prognosis, the individual was euthanized with ketamine via intravenous injection and submitted to necropsy, in which samples were collected for microbiological and histopathological procedure. The procedure was performed aseptically and samples were collected from intestine, liver, spleen, heart and lung. Bacterial isolation was performed with culture media selective for Gram negative bacteria and strains were identified biochemically. Histopathological examination was performed with conventional method and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. DNA from E. coli isolates was extracted with simples boiling method and submitted to uniplex conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose diarrheagenic pathotypes with specific primers for the following genes: aaiC, aatA, eaeA, stx1, stx2, eltB, estA and ipaH. Escherichia coli was isolated from the intestine, liver, spleen and lung, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present in liver, spleen and lung. E. coli strains from liver and spleen were positive for the aaiC gene, which is a diagnostic gene for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotype. […](AU)

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Background: Rock pigeon (Columba livia) is an exotic and invasive species of the Columbidae family found in several cities around the world, including Brazilian cities, and close to humans. This species is found in large populations often in public locations, where people may have contact. Several studies have demonstrated the isolation of human pathogens from these birds. However, there are scarce studies describing infections by Gram-negative bacteria to which pigeons are susceptible. Therefore, this report aimed to describe a case of natural coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon. Case: A sick feral pigeon was delivered at the Laboratory of Ornithological Studies, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. Due to poor prognosis, the individual was euthanized with ketamine via intravenous injection and submitted to necropsy, in which samples were collected for microbiological and histopathological procedure. The procedure was performed aseptically and samples were collected from intestine, liver, spleen, heart and lung. Bacterial isolation was performed with culture media selective for Gram negative bacteria and strains were identified biochemically. Histopathological examination was performed with conventional method and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. DNA from E. coli isolates was extracted with simples boiling method and submitted to uniplex conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose diarrheagenic pathotypes with specific primers for the following genes: aaiC, aatA, eaeA, stx1, stx2, eltB, estA and ipaH. Escherichia coli was isolated from the intestine, liver, spleen and lung, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present in liver, spleen and lung. E. coli strains from liver and spleen were positive for the aaiC gene, which is a diagnostic gene for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotype. […]

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Probiotics are usually isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. The search of probiotics in human milk is a recent field of research, as the existence of the human milk microbiome was discovered only about a decade ago. To our knowledge, no reports regarding the potential probiotic effect of bacteria from swine milk have been published. In this work, we isolated several lactic acid bacteria from swine milk and evaluated them for them potential as probiotics. Among the isolated strains, Lactobacillus curvatus TUCO-5E showed antagonistic effects against swine-associated gastrointestinal pathogens. TUCO-5E was able to reduce the growth of enterotoxigenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains as well as pathogenic salmonella. In vitro exclusion and displacement assays in intestinal epithelial cells showed a remarkable antagonistic effect for L. curvatus TUCO-5E against Salmonella sp. strain TUCO-I7 and Salmonella enterica ATCC 13096. Moreover, by using a mouse model of Salmonella infection, we were able to demonstrate that preventative administration of L. curvatus TUCO-5E for 5 consecutive days was capable of decreasing the number of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium in the liver and spleen of treated mice, compared with the controls, and prevented dissemination of the pathogen to the blood stream. Therefore, we have demonstrated here that swine milk is an interesting source of beneficial bacteria. In addition, the results of this work suggest that L. curvatus TUCO-5E is a good candidate to study in vivo the protective effect of probiotics against intestinal infection and damage induced by Salmonella infection in the porcine host.

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Giardia lamblia, Cryptosporidium sp., and Entamoeba histolytica are important pathogenic intestinal parasites and are amongst the leading causes worldwide of diarrheal illness in humans. Diseases caused by these organisms, giardiasis, cryptosporidiosis, and amoebiasis, respectively, are characterized by self-limited diarrhea but can evolve to long-term complications. The cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of diarrhea associated with these three pathogens are being unraveled, with knowledge of both the strategies explored by the parasites to establish infection and the methods evolved by hosts to avoid it. Special attention is being given to molecules participating in parasite-host interaction and in the mechanisms implicated in the diseases' pathophysiologic processes. This review focuses on cell mechanisms that are modulated during infection, including gene transcription, cytoskeleton rearrangements, signal transduction pathways, and cell death.

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The ability of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain isolated from a healthy breast-fed human newborn to reduce the pathological consequences for the host due to an experimental oral infection with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serov. Typhimurium in vivo was determined using gnotobiotic and conventional mice. Conventional mice received 0.1mL probiotic milk (8.0 log colony-forming unit) daily for 10 days before the oral pathogenic challenge (5.0 log colony-forming unit). Then probiotic treatment was continued until the end of the experiment. Probiotic treatment in germ-free mice consisted of a single dose of the probiotic milk at the beginning of the experiment and a challenge with S. Typhimurium 10 days later (3.0 log colony-forming unit). A protective effect was observed in both gnotobiotic and conventional animals in terms of histopathologic and morphometric data, but in different anatomical sites. This protection was observed in liver and intestines, respectively, for gnotobiotic and conventional mice. However, S. Typhimurium populations were similar in the feces of both treated and control gnotobiotic mice. We conclude that a protective effect of L. rhamnosus against experimental S. Typhimurium was observed. This protection was not due to the reduction of the population of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine.(AU)

A habilidade de uma cepa de Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolada de um recém-nascido saudável de reduzir as consequências patológicas para o hospedeiro após infecção experimental por Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sorov. Typhimurium foi avaliada em camundongos gnotobióticos e convencionais. Os camundongos convencionais receberam 0,1mL de leite probiótico por dia (0,8 log unidade formadora de colônia), 10 dias antes do desafio oral com S. Typhimurium (5,0 log unidade formadora de colônia), e continuaram recebendo probiótico até o término do experimento. O tratamento com probiótico nos camundongos gnotobióticos consistiu em uma única dose de leite probiótico no início do experimento e desafio oral após 10 dias (3,0 log unidade formadora de colônia). Em termos histopatológicos e morfométricos, a proteção foi observada no fígado e nos intestinos nos animais gnotobióticos e convencionais, respectivamente. No entanto, a população de S. Typhimurium foi similar em ambos os grupos tratado e controle de animais gnotobióticos. Desta forma, conclui-se que a proteção conferida pela cepa de L. rhamnosus contra o desafio experimental S. Typhimurium foi observada em diferentes sítios anatômicos nos animais convencionais e gnotobióticos e que essa proteção não foi devido à redução da população de S. Typhimurium nos intestinos.(AU)

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The ability of a Lactobacillus rhamnosus strain isolated from a healthy breast-fed human newborn to reduce the pathological consequences for the host due to an experimental oral infection with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serov. Typhimurium in vivo was determined using gnotobiotic and conventional mice. Conventional mice received 0.1mL probiotic milk (8.0 log colony-forming unit) daily for 10 days before the oral pathogenic challenge (5.0 log colony-forming unit). Then probiotic treatment was continued until the end of the experiment. Probiotic treatment in germ-free mice consisted of a single dose of the probiotic milk at the beginning of the experiment and a challenge with S. Typhimurium 10 days later (3.0 log colony-forming unit). A protective effect was observed in both gnotobiotic and conventional animals in terms of histopathologic and morphometric data, but in different anatomical sites. This protection was observed in liver and intestines, respectively, for gnotobiotic and conventional mice. However, S. Typhimurium populations were similar in the feces of both treated and control gnotobiotic mice. We conclude that a protective effect of L. rhamnosus against experimental S. Typhimurium was observed. This protection was not due to the reduction of the population of pathogenic bacteria in the intestine...

A habilidade de uma cepa de Lactobacillus rhamnosus isolada de um recém-nascido saudável de reduzir as consequências patológicas para o hospedeiro após infecção experimental por Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica sorov. Typhimurium foi avaliada em camundongos gnotobióticos e convencionais. Os camundongos convencionais receberam 0,1mL de leite probiótico por dia (0,8 log unidade formadora de colônia), 10 dias antes do desafio oral com S. Typhimurium (5,0 log unidade formadora de colônia), e continuaram recebendo probiótico até o término do experimento. O tratamento com probiótico nos camundongos gnotobióticos consistiu em uma única dose de leite probiótico no início do experimento e desafio oral após 10 dias (3,0 log unidade formadora de colônia). Em termos histopatológicos e morfométricos, a proteção foi observada no fígado e nos intestinos nos animais gnotobióticos e convencionais, respectivamente. No entanto, a população de S. Typhimurium foi similar em ambos os grupos tratado e controle de animais gnotobióticos. Desta forma, conclui-se que a proteção conferida pela cepa de L. rhamnosus contra o desafio experimental S. Typhimurium foi observada em diferentes sítios anatômicos nos animais convencionais e gnotobióticos e que essa proteção não foi devido à redução da população de S. Typhimurium nos intestinos...

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The members of the genus Aeromonas are currently considered important gastrointestinal pathogens in different geographical areas. From February 1985 to January 2005 several case-control studies were coordinated by the National Reference Laboratory for Diarrheal Diseases from the Pedro Kouri Institute. The study purpose was to analyze a possible pathogenic role for Aeromonas spp in Cuban children with acute diarrhea. In that period 2,322 children less than 5 years old with acute diarrhea were studied for diarhoeal pathogens and another group of 2,072 non hospitalized children without diarrhea during the similar time from the same geographical areas and matched by ages were recruited. In the group of children with diarrheas (cases), Aeromonas spp. was isolated in 166 (7.15%) and in the control group the microorganism was found in only 35 (1.76%). When Aeromonas isolation rates were compared between both groups, we found that probability to isolate this specie was significantly higher in cases than in controls (OR = 4.48, 95% IC: 3.05-6.60; P < 0.001). The Aeromonas species more frequently isolated were A. caviae, A. hydrophila, and A. veronii bv sobria. Other enteric pathogens detected in children with diarrhea were: Shigella spp in 418 (18%) (P < 0.0001), Salmonella spp in 53 (2.3%) (P < 0.01), and enteropathogenic E. coli in 58 (2.49%) (P < 0.05).

Los miembros del género Aeromonas son considerados patógenos importantes del tracto gastrointestinal en diferentes áreas geográficas. De febrero de 1985 a enero de 2005 se realizaron estudios de casos y controles en el Laboratorio Nacional de Referencia de Enfermedades Diarreicas Agudas del Instituto Pedro Kourí con el objetivo de conocer el comportamiento de los microorganismos pertenecientes al género Aeromonas en niños con diarreas en Cuba. La muestra estuvo constituida por 2.322 niños bajo 5 años de edad, ingresados por enfermedad diarreica aguda y como grupo control se estudió un total de 2.072 niños con edades y áreas geográficas similares que acudieron a los hospitales correspondientes en ese mismo período de tiempo. En el grupo de niños que presentaron diarreas, Aeromonas spp fue aislada en 166 (7,15%), y en los controles fue encontrada en 35 (1,76%). Al comparar la positividad para Aeromonas entre ambos grupos, la probabilidad de diagnosticar este microorganismo fue 4,28 veces mayor en los casos que en los controles (OR = 4,28; IC al 95%: 2,96-6,20; P < 0,001). Las especies más frecuentemente aisladas fueron A. caviae, A. hydrophila, y A. veronii bv sobria. Otros enteropatógenos aislados en niños que presentaban diarrea fueron: Shigella spp. en 418 (18%) (P < 0,0001, Salmonella spp en 53 (2,3%) (P < 0,01),) y E. coli enteropatógena en 58 (2,49%) (P < 0,05).

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Four 3-4 month-old chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) from a commercial flock of 395 chinchillas, were found dead with evidence of previous diarrhea and prolapsed rectum. A fifth 8 month-old chinchilla died 8 hours after being found recumbent, apathetic, diarrheic and with a prolapsed rectum. Two chinchillas were necropsied and observed gross lesions consisted of extensive hemorrhagic enteritis, mild pulmonary edema and enlarged and yellow liver; this latter finding was particularly prominent in the chinchilla presenting longer clinical course. Histologically there was necrotizing enteritis associated with abundant bacterial rods aggregates in the intestinal surface epithelium and within the lamina propria. In the lungs there were small amounts of pink proteinaceous material (edema) in the interstitium and marked vacuolar hepatocellullar degeneration (lipidosis) in the liver. Anaerobic cultures from the intestinal contents of one of the affected chinchillas yielded Clostridium perfringens. Genotyping of this C. perfringens isolate was achieved by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) as C. perfringenstype B due to detection of alpha, beta and epsilon-toxin genes. These findings suggest C. perfringens type B as an important cause of sudden or acute death in chinchillas.

Quatro chinchilas (Chinchilla lanigera) com 3-4 meses de idade, pertencentes a um criadouro comercial com 395 chinchilas, foram encontradas mortas com evidências de diarreia prévia e prolapso de reto. Uma quinta chinchila, de oito meses de idade, foi encontrada em decúbito, apática, com diarreia e prolopaso de reto, e morreu após oito horas. Duas chinchilas foram submetidas à necropsia. As lesões macroscópicas consistiam de extensa enterite hemorrágica, moderado edema pulmonar e fígado pálido e aumentado de volume; este achado foi particularmente proeminente na chinchila que apresentou curso clínico mais longo. Histologicamente foi observado enterite necrosante associada a numerosos agregados bacterianos na superfície epitelial com invasão da lâmina própria. Nos pulmões foi observada pequena quantidade de material proteináceo róseo amorfo (edema) no interstício e marcada degeneração hepatocelular vacuolar (lipidose). Cultura anaeróbica do conteúdo intestinal de uma chinchila afetada revelou crescimento de Clostridium perfringens. A genotipificação de C. perfringensisolado, realizada por reação em cadeia de polymerase multiplex(mPCR), revelou C. perfringenstipo B pela detecção das tóxinas alfa, beta e épisilon. Estes achados sugerem que infecção por C. perfringenstipo B é uma importante causa de morte súbita ou aguda em chinchilas.

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Four 3-4 month-old chinchillas (Chinchilla lanigera) from a commercial flock of 395 chinchillas, were found dead with evidence of previous diarrhea and prolapsed rectum. A fifth 8 month-old chinchilla died 8 hours after being found recumbent, apathetic, diarrheic and with a prolapsed rectum. Two chinchillas were necropsied and observed gross lesions consisted of extensive hemorrhagic enteritis, mild pulmonary edema and enlarged and yellow liver; this latter finding was particularly prominent in the chinchilla presenting longer clinical course. Histologically there was necrotizing enteritis associated with abundant bacterial rods aggregates in the intestinal surface epithelium and within the lamina propria. In the lungs there were small amounts of pink proteinaceous material (edema) in the interstitium and marked vacuolar hepatocellullar degeneration (lipidosis) in the liver. Anaerobic cultures from the intestinal contents of one of the affected chinchillas yielded Clostridium perfringens. Genotyping of this C. perfringens isolate was achieved by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) as C. perfringenstype B due to detection of alpha, beta and epsilon-toxin genes. These findings suggest C. perfringens type B as an important cause of sudden or acute death in chinchillas.(AU)

Quatro chinchilas (Chinchilla lanigera) com 3-4 meses de idade, pertencentes a um criadouro comercial com 395 chinchilas, foram encontradas mortas com evidências de diarreia prévia e prolapso de reto. Uma quinta chinchila, de oito meses de idade, foi encontrada em decúbito, apática, com diarreia e prolopaso de reto, e morreu após oito horas. Duas chinchilas foram submetidas à necropsia. As lesões macroscópicas consistiam de extensa enterite hemorrágica, moderado edema pulmonar e fígado pálido e aumentado de volume; este achado foi particularmente proeminente na chinchila que apresentou curso clínico mais longo. Histologicamente foi observado enterite necrosante associada a numerosos agregados bacterianos na superfície epitelial com invasão da lâmina própria. Nos pulmões foi observada pequena quantidade de material proteináceo róseo amorfo (edema) no interstício e marcada degeneração hepatocelular vacuolar (lipidose). Cultura anaeróbica do conteúdo intestinal de uma chinchila afetada revelou crescimento de Clostridium perfringens. A genotipificação de C. perfringensisolado, realizada por reação em cadeia de polymerase multiplex(mPCR), revelou C. perfringenstipo B pela detecção das tóxinas alfa, beta e épisilon. Estes achados sugerem que infecção por C. perfringenstipo B é uma importante causa de morte súbita ou aguda em chinchilas.(AU)

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Mexican Ninoa and Queretaro (Qro) TcI strains of Trypanosoma cruzi have shown different degrees of virulence, and the two strains produce heterogeneous immune responses in the hearts of infected mice. This work shows that the same strains can invade the intestine by an intraperitoneal route and establish an infection, mainly in the colon. The three segments of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) were infected to a lesser degree than the colon. Despite the fact that parasites were predominantly found in the colon, an obvious inflammatory reaction was observed in the submucosal layer along the entire intestinal tract, with the virulent Qro strain causing significantly more areas of higher immune infiltration. A clear recruitment of CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T lymphocytes to the mesenteric ganglia was observed during infection with the virulent strain. Macrophages were also differentially distributed in the gastrointestinal tract. These later cells infiltrated fewer amastigote nests in the mice infected with the Qro strain than in the mice infected with the Ninoa strain. When IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-4 levels were measured, an increase in these cytokines was observed compared with the uninfected mice. The role of these inflammatory reactions in the pathogenesis of Chagas enteropathy is also discussed in this paper.

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Se reporta un caso humano portador de Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus. Se trata de un varón de 45 años de edad, natural de la provincia de Chota, departamento de Cajamarca, Perú; con molestias digestivas. El diagnóstico se hizo por el hallazgo de huevos de Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus en las heces. Además se encontró Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale, Trichostrongylus sp, Blastocystis hominis y Entamoeba coli. Esta es la primera comunicación de un caso humano de M. hirudinaceus para el Perú.

A Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus human case is reported. He is a male of 45 years old native of Chota province, department of Cajamarca (Perú), with digestive symptoms. The diagnosis was made by eggs in the faecal examination. Beside Macracanthorhynchus hirudinaceus, he carried Trichuris trichiura, Ancylostoma duodenale y Trichostrongylus sp, Blastocystis hominis y Entamoeba coli. This is the first human case by M. hirudinaceus reported in Perú.