RESUMEN

It is increasingly recognized that an important step towards improving overall health is to accurately measure biomarkers of health from the molecular activities prevalent in the oral cavity. We present a general methodology for computationally quantifying the activity of microbial functional pathways using metatranscriptomic data. We describe their implementation as a collection of eight oral pathway scores using a large salivary sample dataset (n = 9350), and we evaluate score associations with oropharyngeal disease phenotypes within an unseen independent cohort (n = 14,129). Through this validation, we show that the relevant oral pathway scores are significantly worse in individuals with periodontal disease, acid reflux, and nicotine addiction, compared with controls. Given these associations, we make the case to use these oral pathway scores to provide molecular health insights from simple, non-invasive saliva samples, and as molecular endpoints for actionable interventions to address the associated conditions.

RESUMEN

Since 1997, fledgling Scops owls (Chordata: Strigidae) have been brought to the Brinzal Owl Rescue Centre (Madrid, Spain) with severe lesions in their oral cavities. Lesions consist of the presence of proliferative necrotic material in the oral cavity resulting in white plaques, which can lead to death by starvation. This disease has been detected in owls only within the limits of the city of Madrid. The etiologic agent has been identified as Gongylonema sp. (Nematoda: Spirurida), a nematode genus that includes a coprophagous arthropod as intermediate host in its cycle. The aim of this study was to identify the intermediate host of the parasite. Our work was structured in four component phases: i) Diet study of newborn chicks; ii) trapping arthropods that could be intermediate hosts; iii) molecular detection of the parasite in the selected arthropods: and iv) molecular characterization of the detected parasites by amplifying the cox1 gene. Four male owls were radio-tagged in order to locate their nests and a camera trap was placed to identify the prey brought to the owlets. Secondly, the arthropods present in the hunting areas of the owls were sampled, identified and analyzed by real time PCR (rtPCR). Only oriental cockroaches, B. orientalis (Arthropoda: Blattodea), were positive by rtPCR detection of Gongylonema sp. (66.7%). The nematodes obtained from cockroaches had a 99.8% identity of the cox1 gene with the Gongylonema sp. isolated for the first time in a Scops owl. Furthermore, these sequences only showed an <89% identity with all the other Gongylonema sequences available in the GenBank database. We conclude that the oriental cockroach should be considered as an intermediate host of the etiologic agent of NOD.

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RESUMEN

Since 1997, it has been observed that fledging scops owls often develop necrotic plaques in their oral cavities, which in severe cases can even affect bone tissue. This condition has been defined as a necrotic oropharyngeal disease based on gross lesions. In 2011 alone, thirty-five cases were identified at the Brinzal Owl Rescue Centre (Madrid, Spain), of which four were chosen to perform a complete diagnostic study. Histopathology was carried out in three cases and cytology in one case. Using morphological traits cytology identified two larvae as third-stage larvae of a Spiruridae nematode. Histology detected parasite sections in the mucosal epithelium of the mouth of one owl. In addition, four samples of mucosal lesions were subjected to a PCR amplification of the nematode ribosomal RNA gene using a pair of universal primers, three of which were positive. Of available sequences, the sequence obtained showed the closest affinity to that of Gongylonema pulchrum (97.8-98.0%). Clinical treatment was based on supportive therapy, the daily removal of caseous material from the oral cavity and the administration of fenbendazol (50mg/kg PO for 5 days). Approximately 60% of the affected scops owls that arrived at the rescue centre in 2011 were cured and released back into the wild. Clinical, pathological and molecular findings are consistent with Gongylonema sp. infection. Since no evidence of the presence of adult parasites was found, we suggest that these scops owls should be considered as accidental hosts. This is the first description of severe Gongylonema infection in fledgling scops owls, a disease can lead to starvation and death if proper treatment is not provided.

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