Black bears (
Ursus americanus
) are commonly exposed to
Toxoplasma gondii
. However, there are no reports of exposure or infection with
T. gondii
in black bears from Oklahoma. The purpose of our ...project was to determine the seroprevalence of
T. gondii
antibodies in black bears collected in Oklahoma. Additionally, since only serum was available from these bears, we sought to determine if DNA extraction and PCR amplification for
T. gondii
was possible on serum samples from bears with positive titers. Seroprevalence was determined using modified agglutination test (MAT). Serum was collected from 44 live-trapped bears in southeastern Oklahoma; 32 (73% ± 58–84%) had antibodies against
T. gondii
. Seroprevalence in adult bears (85% ± 67–95%) was significantly higher (
p
= 0.028) than yearlings (33.0% ± 56–80%). Adult bears were 3.4 times more likely to have antibodies to
T. gondii
than yearlings. From the bears with positive titers,
T. gondii
DNA was detected in 12 of the 32 seropositive samples by PCR of the B1 gene, with two of the samples showing variation in two nucleotide positions when compared with available sequences. Multilocus PCR-RFLP genotyping of these 12 samples revealed three ToxoDB genotypes, including #2 (type III, haplogroup 3), #4 (type XII, haplogroup 12), and #74 (haplogroup 12). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of
T. gondii
seroprevalence in black bears from Oklahoma. Our results indicate that exposure and infection with
T. gondii
in black bears from Oklahoma is common.
Toxoplasma gondii is an important zoonotic protozoan parasite that can infect all warm-blooded animals including mammals and birds. Raptors can be intermediate hosts for T. gondii and the infection ...may be dependent on their feeding habits. In this study, we investigated the seroprevalence of T. gondii in ten raptor species from Florida, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee followed by a parasite bioassay on select seropositive samples. From a total of 155 raptors, we detected T. gondii antibodies using a modified agglutination test (cutoff 1:25) in 32 (20.6%) birds. The T. gondii seroprevalence was 44.8% in Falconiformes (13/29), 75% in Strigiformes (15/20), and 3.8% in Ciconiiformes (4/106). All Ciconiiformes samples (hearts and sera) were collected from Pennsylvania during nuisance wildlife removal projects and all birds were apparently healthy. Falconiform and Strigiform samples were collected from an exotics clinic in Tennessee and a rehabilitation center in Florida. All sampled birds were dead or euthanatized due to failure of rehabilitation or treatment. There was no statistically significant difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between Tennessee and Florida in the tested raptors. There was also no statistically significant difference in T. gondii exposure between males and females or adults and subadults. Mice bioassay attempts using fresh brain and/or heart tissue were performed on four seropositive birds. We isolated viable T. gondii tachyzoites from one red-shouldered hawk (Buteo lineatus) and genotyped the isolate using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) of ten genetic markers. The isolated strain was designated as TgHawkFL1, which is ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #28. Further research is needed to investigate the prevalence of T. gondii in raptors in the United States to obtain a better understanding of the life cycle, wildlife population impacts, and transmission dynamics of the parasite.
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•The overall seroprevalence was 20.6% (N = 155).•We isolated ToxoDB PCR-RFLP genotype #28 from one Red-shouldered hawk.•Raptors can be good indicators of environmental contamination with T. gondii.
Nine of 23 (39%) research ewes with severe diarrhea and weight loss had histologic lesions consistent with Eimeria gilruthi infection in their abomasa. Gross anatomic lesions included hundreds of ...opaque 1-mm nodules in abomasal mucosa that corresponded microscopically to 200–300 µm diameter organisms surrounded by areas of necrosis. Analysis of fecal samples from 4 ewes demonstrated oocysts from typical ovine Eimeria species, none of which were E. gilruthi. Two separate PCR reactions were performed on abomasal tissue from 4 sheep to amplify the 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the rDNA, respectively. The resultant 18S rDNA nucleotide sequences shared 99% homology with multiple Eimeria species in GenBank. The ITS region shared 77% homology with E. ellipsoidalis in GenBank. Further studies are needed to understand the life cycle and pathogenicity of E. gilruthi. Our results underscore the inclusion of E. gilruthi in the differential diagnosis of diarrhea and weight loss in sheep.
We molecularly examined brains from 186 hunter-killed Mourning Doves (
) and 11 Rock Pigeons (
) from eastern Tennessee, USA for
. Two doves (1%) were PCR- and sequence-positive, whereas all pigeons ...were PCR-negative.
Sera from 391 waterbirds from eight USA states were tested for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies using the modified agglutination test. Fifteen different waterbird species (26.6%; n=104) were ...seropositive. Of the adults, 25.4% (n=52) showed a significantly higher T. gondii seroprevalence compared with juveniles (13.4%; n=17); however, sex was not a significant factor.
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic protozoan parasite that infects most warm-blooded animals, including birds. Scavenging birds are epidemiologically important hosts because they can serve as indicators ...of environmental T. gondii levels. A rapid point-of-care (POC) test that detects antibodies to T. gondii in humans is commercially available. In this research, we assessed the ability of the human POC test to detect anti-T. gondii antibodies in 106 black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and 23 ring-billed gulls (Larus delawarensis) from Pennsylvania, USA. Serum samples were tested with the POC test and compared to the modified agglutination test (MAT) in a blinded study. Overall, anti-T. gondii antibodies were detected in 2.8% (3/106) of black vultures and 60.9% (14/23) of ring-billed gulls by the POC test. One false-positive POC test occurred in a black vulture that was negative by MAT. False-negative results were obtained in 2 black vultures and 4 ring-billed gulls that had MAT titers of 1:25 or 1:50. The sensitivity and specificity of the POC for both black vultures and ring-billed gulls combined were 95.7% and 95.5%, respectively. This is the first study using human POC tests to detect antibodies to T. gondii in birds. Further study of the rapid test as a screening tool for serological surveillance of T. gondii in birds is warranted.
The modified agglutination test was used to study
exposure in 70 eastern Tennessee, US, black bears (
) from 2015 to 2017. Overall, 74% (52/70) of bears were seropositive, and
was more prevalent in ...adults than subadults.
Wildlife diseases are a major threat for species conservation, and there is a growing need to implement more comprehensive disease response programs to better identify these diseases of concern. ...During March 2017, we observed moribund and dead eastern newts, Notophthalmus viridescens, in a single pond in middle Tennessee. All moribund individuals were emaciated. We euthanized and processed all individuals immediately on-site and later performed histopathology and quantitative PCR for ranavirus, the protist Perkinsea, and chytrid fungi Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis and Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans. One newt was positive for ranavirus. Histopathology showed no evidence of ranavirosis but did reveal overwhelming coccidiosis. Overlapping partial sequences of coccidian 18S subunit DNA showed a 96.4% match with Eimeria steinhausi, suggesting that lesions were due to a previously undescribed Eimeria sp. In 2019, two more moribund newts were encountered at the same pond. Histopathology revealed the same suspicious parasitic organisms, and one individual was positive for B. dendrobatidis. Further research on how seasonal and other environmental parameters may influence coccidia-associated morbidity and mortality is warranted. These events highlight the importance of histopathologic evaluation of mortality events and provide guidance for investigation of future outbreaks.
Objective
To assess the prevalence of needlestick and sharps injuries (NSSIs) and associated factors among healthcare workers (HCWs) at King Hussein Cancer Centre (KHCC), Amman, Jordan.
Methods
This ...retrospective cross-sectional study undertook a chart review of all HCWs that reported an NSSI between January 2015 and December 2021. Data collected included sociodemographic factors including age, sex, qualifications, and predictors of NSSIs such as working hours, work shift, and specific job roles within the oncology setting, work experience in KHCC, overall work experience and occupational category.
Results
A total of 355 NSSIs were included in this study with a peak prevalence in 2019 (81 of 355; 22.8%). Nurses (220 of 355; 62.0%), housekeeping staff (59of 355; 16.6%) and physicians (45 of 355; 12.7%) were the most affected occupations. NSSIs were most common in the surgical floor (65 of 355; 18.3%) and operating rooms (56 of 355; 15.8%). Blood collection (94 of 355; 26.5%) and waste collection (65 of 355; 18.3%) were the two primary procedures resulting in NSSIs. The risk of injury was significantly associated with the locations of NSSIs, procedure that caused NSSIs, shift and overall experience.
Conclusion
NSSIs remain common among HCWs, which highlights the need for targeted education.
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•Two model enzymes, α-amylase and lipase, were tested as hematite depressants.•Selective flotation separation of apatite from hematite was successfully achieved.•α-Amylase showed ...better selectivity for hematite than lipase.•α-Amylase interacted strongly with Fe sites on hematite via chemisorption.
Two models of hydrolytic enzymes, namely α-amylase and lipase, were investigated as eco-friendly depressants of hematite to separate apatite from hematite by reverse flotation, utilizing oleate as a collector. The effect of both enzymes on the flotation behaviors of apatite and hematite minerals was studied through a series of micro-flotation tests. The interactions between oleate and the enzymes with the surfaces of both minerals were studied through zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses. Micro-flotation tests of single minerals revealed that the recovery of hematite decreased remarkably upon adding α-amylase or lipase, especially at alkaline pH (8.0–11.2), while that of apatite was not affected. For mixed minerals, selective flotation of apatite from hematite was successfully achieved, and α-amylase showed better selectivity than lipase. Zeta potential and FTIR studies revealed that oleate adsorbed more intensively onto apatite than hematite at pH 10.0, which might have influenced the subsequent adsorption of the enzymes and their depressing effect. XPS analyses further indicated that α-amylase could adsorb more strongly and selectively onto hematite than apatite by means of chemical interactions with the active Fe sites on the hematite surface, which depressed the flotation of hematite.
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