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Hello Altruists!
I have completed my study in major of Veterinary Science and working on Livestock Sector since last 5 years.
I would also like to collaborate with some researchers to develop my further research career. I'm wondering how others have found colleagues to collaborate with there?
Animal Anatomy, Histopathology, Neuroscience, Antimicrobial Resistance and Zoonotic diseases are my main areas of interest.
Thank Everyone.
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Md. Ashraf Zaman Faruk . Thank you for your reply and explanation. I would suggest that you inform them that you should be removed from their list of reviewers (and remove from your RG profile). I will do what I am able to assist you.
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I have a few questions regarding that topic:
1. What technologies, both existing and in development, can enhance early detection or improve monitoring of disease spread?
2. What are all the possible environmental impacts that could be relevant to the issue?
3. What social, health, and economic impacts are pertinent to the issue?
Thank a lot,
Itay
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Hi all, I have sort of a paradoxical scenario that applies to several species groups throughout Southeast Asia and is becoming more and more probable in the very near future. I need to start a discussion with conservation-minded people who realize the implications of conservation policy advocacy and adverse effects those policy changes may have:
One of the common buzz-words of the post-Covid era is "One Health". For those unfamiliar with the One Health approach, it is a holistic framework with the objective of identifying and achieving balance between the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. The One Health approach is a lens that recognizes humans, wildlife, and the environment are intrinsically connected, whereby beneficial or adverse effects on one component will directly affect the others.
When we apply One Health to wildlife trade policy, many groups are advocating that hotspot wildlife trade nations (like Vietnam and China), do not implement all-out bans on wildlife, but instead a select group of high-risk species that are prone to zoonotic disease transfer with humans, as a pandemic prevention measure... and here lay the issue....
I have just recently analyzed data for three government rescue centers in the north and south Vietnam for an IUCN project, and during the pandemic, we have seen an increase in "High-risk species X" (insert primates, viverrids, mustelids, etc.) rescues compared to the years prior. I spoke with some of the rescue team and managers and they said that people are voluntarily handing over captive High-risk species X to authorities more often now because they worry about disease, and more strict wildlife regulation enforcement since the pandemic began.   This has definitely put a strain on Rescue Center facilities in the country, especially those run by government employees who don't have regular access to experienced vets, and who often release animals that have no business being released back into the wild (obviously ill, over habituated to humans, non-native to the area, etc.) I'm wondering what solutions we can recommend for this problem, because if conservationists continue to advocate for these "Common Sense One Health Policies" that elevate an all-out ban high-risk species, and start realistically enforcing bans on keeping High-risk Species X these voluntary hand-overs will explode and result in Rescue Centers filling over their capacity, and government officials rapidly releasing tons of High-risk Species X (whether native or not) back into the nearest protected area forests. The fallout from this could be devastating -- biological invasions, massive outbreaks of disease into wild populations, inbred depression from farmed animals decreasing fitness of wild populations, who knows what else...
And there is the paradox -- If we ban high-risk zoonotic disease species from wildlife trade, we protect them from that particular threat, and we prevent future pandemics through that particular human-wildlife interface; but in doing so, we risk damning a more significant population-level of wildlife, which could also lead to a pandemic through a different interface caused by the releases and inter-species spikes.
How do we address this problem before it happens -- and it will happen?
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I took my case to Nepal’s highest court to improve conservation
"After seeing an endangered-animal pelt displayed on television, Kumar Paudel embarked on a five-year legal battle, advocating for equitable enforcement of wildlife laws..."
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CAn anyone tell whether the journal titled "Journal of Zoonotic Diseases" is indexed in SCOPUS database as of 2024.
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Dear Bibin Bose As far as I can see they were accepted in Scopus in March 2023. In the Scopus Source list, they have been included in the Tab “Accepted titles” (till September 2023, see enclosed file).
As far as I can see they were included in the Tab "Scopus Sources" in November 2023 (see enclosed file). This is pretty fast, some titles have to wait long (if not forever) before the title is moved to the ‘official’ index list, but further details and full inclusion of the papers from 2020 to present will take a while.
So, I think that in the coming months the details will be included in the Scopus link you provided.
Best regards.
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  • Are you an international researcher? I am searching for some researchers who can join our projects.
  • Our last project was about COVID-19 and SARS-Cov-2.
  • In future projects, we are going to work on other infectious diseases and zoonotic diseases.
  • If you think you have high potential in research, don't waste time and send your CV by email to me at sina.salajegheh@gmail.com.
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Im trying to find an oligoprimer set for HA gene amplification of H5N1?
I will appreciate if you could point out a primer set for phylohenetic analysis by H5N1 HA gene sequencing.
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Legacy of >340,000 dead as of 23 May 2020 & expected another 300,000 deaths in this yr: Should humans still be fond of bush meats? Keep giving a damn to the so-called restoration of the environment & biodiversity; issues of carbon emission & greenhouse effects; health & disease research? Calm to remain busy with war or peace? Going beyond an instinct or abide by judgment, & rationale? Assailing or defend each other?
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Prof. Md Rabiul Alam: It seems that CoronaVirus Disease (COVID-19) will stay with us for many years if not forever. But, there is another message that we must learn from this disaster that we must return immediately to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala); we have made many mistakes. It is a clear message to us not to forget that Allah is the all-Capable and the most powerful.
So He is capable of everything and He needs no means to do anything! He is the One who possesses the power and the ability to measure out anything and everything.
We must in turn pray to Allah (Subhanahu Wa Ta'ala) to guide humanity to find a cure for Covid-19 and all the other diseases.
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An outbreak of zoonotic disease named monkey pox has been at the beginning. What is natural/intermediate host of said disease.
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Monkeys are not major carriers of the disease. Monkeypox is usually transmitted to humans by the bite of an infected animal, or by touching an infected animal's blood, body fluids, or fur.
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We have isolated several strains of an organism from cultures of canine and human blood and subcutaneous nodules (using sterile techniques of course). These isolates have been subcultured on PDA and/or PD nutrient broth and found to be similar in appearance, both the macroscopic colonies, and the microscopic swabs viewed in wet-mount preparations. The organism stains positive with calcoflur white (contains chitin or cellulose) and seems capable of forming a variety of tertiary structures, depending on environmental conditions (ie, hyphae/pseudohyphae, sporocyst-like structures etc..). One universal property is that the small cells/spores etc... become motile within about 15 minutes after addition of sterile water or sterile saline to the smear. The “swimming” pattern appears eukaryotic rather than prokaryotic. I’ve attached a video showing time-lapse of about 25 minutes, during which a drop of stained liquid containing these possible “zoospores” undergoes several morphological changes. We think this represents the process of “zoospore induction” and eventual zoospore settling (maybe with release of stored mucilage etc... causing the white “fluid” appearance that develops upon the termination of “zoospore” motility?). We are awaiting WGS results on the cultured samples, and hopefully those sequencing studies will clarify the identity of these organisms, but in the meantime, we are trying to better understand the “behavior” we are seeing here, and figure out how it might relate to the apparent ability of this organism to infect and cause illness in, mammalian hosts. As far as we know, pythium and lagendium are the only zoospore-forming pathogens currently recognized as mammalian oomycete pathogens. We do not think this organism to be either of those, but we would appreciate help from anyone familiar with the movement patterns of zoospores from those (or other) pathogens to let us know if the movement seems similar to what would be seen in standardly done zoospore induction protocols and/or if there is an explanation for the “bleaching” effect that occurs after the motility ceases. Thank you!
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By experiments, It was noticed that the tap water induces zoospores production.
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Hello and regards, our study investigates the relationship between latent toxoplasmosis and psychiatric and psychological mental disorders. It is part of my research (Ashkan Latifi, postgraduate student of psychology at University of Tehran- Iran) in partial fulfilment of the requirements of my master’s degree. By filling in this questionnaire, you have been of great help to me and to those with toxoplasmosis. In addition, by optionally sharing your email with me, you allow me to inform you of any possible toxoplasmosis-associated psychological/psychiatric problems in you under the supervision of two professors of University of Tehran (Dr. Abbas Rahiminezhad, psychologist and Dr. Reza Rostami, psychiatrist) for free. You can participate in this study if you have latent toxoplasmosis (other than congenital toxoplasmosis) and are at least 18 years old. The approximate response time to the questionnaire is ten to fifteen minutes. Thank you in advance for your participation in this research.
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Sorry i don't have
I am sorry
Best regards
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Do we need to understand zoonotic diseases better to avoid more pandemics in future? Should we all turn vegetarians? Is eating animals the only issue or there are some other human-animal interactions which need to be understood? Will vising the zoos be safe? Or even keeping pet animals?
Please have a logical discussion around these and ask related questions.
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Aman Arora Thanks for raising this important issue, I do agree with prof. Manal Hadi Kanaan And prof. Frank T. Edelmann
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I will appreciate references and pdf
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Kindly check the following links, that may be useful:
Potentially Zoonotic Helminthiases of Murid Rodents from the Indo-Chinese Peninsula: Impact of Habitat and the Risk of Human Infection:
ZOONOSES AND COMMUNICABLE DISEASES COMMON TO MAN AND ANIMALS:
Rodent-borne diseases and their public health importance in Iran:
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We are examining tissue from a cluster of human and canine patients with a similar pattern of systemic illness of unknown cause. All members of the cluster have evidence of motile zoospore-like objects in their blood and other tissue aspirates. Control wet-mount preps from healthy relatives of these patients do not show the presence of such motile objects.
Despite the tiny size of these motile objects, the “swimming” motion seems more consistent with the “falling leaf” forward motility pattern associated with a eukaryotic flagella than with bacterial motility patterns. Also, the staining patterns and SEM appearance of these objects appears more consistent with a eukaryote.
Preliminary sequencing studies have suggested sequence homology with stramnopile-type organisms. We are attempting to sequence cultured colonies of the organism but are having extremely low DNA yields despite robust growth of the organism in culture.
We would appreciate the opinion of those familiar with the morphology and zoospore motility of oomycete and related type organisms about the similarities and differences seen in these movies of motility in unstained, aseptically collected adipose tissue nodules from a patient in this cluster, suspected to be infected with a novel or emerging type of eukaryotic pathogen.
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sure, I'd like to see the pictures - philageis@aol.com
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Hello, I am a master student doing my master thesis on bats and zoonotic diseases, whereof we used Nobuto blood filter strips for a blood test.
I have found several articles which have used this method, but none who explain how the blood filter strips actually work. How are these paper strips able to preserve the RNA for up to 2 months in room temperature by drying the blood?
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Well check this out
Article Assessment of the RNASound RNA Sampling Card for the preserv... and https://aem.asm.org/content/aem/28/2/323.full.pdf and this might help to in case https://www.sterlitech.com/blog/post/nobuto-filter-strips-for-studying-wild-animal-populations
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Vets have wide-ranging training in comparative anatomy, pathology and therapeutics. At a time when zoonotic diseases are on everybody's mind and when animal models of human disease remain critical conduits of research discoveries, we want to understand how veterinary knowledge can be leveraged to benefit both humans and animals. Please share your input using the form below. You will be able to see what everybody else has said at the end, unless you're the first respondent!
Thank you!
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It is a good question that delineates the involvement of Veterinarian in research.
By virtue of his vast knowledge in diverse field, such as microbiology, epidemiology, zoonoses, pathology, anatomy, food safety, environmental health etc, veterinarians have done pioneer, significant, and outstanding research work in the field of zoonotic diseases which pose a serious threat to public health.
I have been working in the field of Veterinary Public Health since 1973 and by the kind blessing of God, we have commendable research work that is recognized globally.I have mentioned the contribution of some veterinarian in zoonoses in my book entitled " Zoonoses" published in 2007 from Satyam Publishers, Jaipur, India.
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Zoonotic diseases - which jump from animals to humans - are increasing and will continue to do so without action to protect wildlife and preserve the environment, UN experts have warned.
They blame the rise in diseases such as Covid-19 on high demand for animal protein, unsustainable agricultural practices and climate change.
Neglected zoonotic diseases kill two million people a year, they say.
Covid-19 is set to cost the global economy $9tn (£7.2tn) over two years.
Ebola, West Nile virus and Sars are also all zoonotic diseases: they started in animals, and made the jump to humans.
Report says that the jump is not automatic. It is driven, according to the report by the United Nations Environment Program and the International Livestock Research Institute, by the degradation of our natural environment - for example through land degradation, wildlife exploitation, resource extraction and climate change. This alters the way animals and humans interact.
Source: BBC
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Since we are responsible for the destruction of our environment, the diseases, which primarily affected the animals, are reaching to humans. Such diseases are called zoonoses.Presently, over 300 zoonoses of varied etiologies are reported. A number of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases are causing significant morbidity and mortality both in developing as well as developed nations.We have If we protect our environment, we can certainly reduce the incidence and prevalence of zoonotic diseases, which pose a global threat to health and economy.We have published papers on West Nile fever, Ebola haemorrhagic fever, SARS and COVID-19, and all our publications are available at Research Gate.
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I would like to get some information on camels and zoonosis.
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Dear Dr.Dishon,
I have mentioned viral, bacterial, fungal, actinomycetic, rickettsial, and parasitic zoonotic diseases of camels in my book entitled " Zoonoses".
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
Founder Director
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what is period of infectivity of NIPAH virus encephalitis and is there any specisic treatment?
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Dear Dr.Sandip Das,
Nipah virus disease is an emerging zoonosis of public health concern. The infection was was time recorded in pig workers in Malaysia.The incubation period is variable (4 to 18 days). The disease is also reported from India.I have described this viral diease in my book entitled " Zoonoses" published in 2007.
We have published one paper on Nipah virus.
Pal, M. and Abdo, J.2012. Nipah virus disease: A newly emerging viral zoonosis. International Journal of Livestock Research 2: 65-68.
You can easily download from Research Gate or Academia.
With kind regards,
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
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Covid-19 and a many of zoonotic diseases, spreading between animals and humans, have been, worldwide, the cause of many historic outbreaks including H1N1 and Ebola. If there is little evidence that eating less meat directly reduces the occurrence of deadly disease outbreaks, Rosie Frost in the “Plant-based diets could prevent a future pandemic” 14/05/2020, reported that “a group of British doctors has backed a call for the end of factory farming to prevent future pandemics like COVID-19”and / or ”There is more information about the meat industry causing diseases than ever before and stronger links between the impacts on our health compared to a meat-free diet.” And “More than 70 per cent of emerging diseases affecting people originated in wildlife and domestic animals”. The UN Environment Programme lists an increased amount of close contact between animals and humans as the most significant risk for zoonotic diseases. Does this “means” that there is a high relationship between meat diet and zoonotic diseases source?
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Hitherto, I have not come across any research paper in a leading scientific journal mentioning that consumption of meat can help in spreading of pandemics like COVID-19.
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Consumption of wild animals is bound with the rural economy in developing countries. Sometime, demand for Wild Animal Foods (WAF) is very high in developed countries too.
However, experts think the Coronavirus transmitted from live animals to human through the food. If this is a truth, impacts of consumption of wild animals on Global Economy is significant, and enforcement of lows at international level is essential to control this.
I would like to discuss about the feasibility of enforcement of lows at national and international level to control WAT.
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Most of published recommendation I am reading are related to the ban of wild meat consumption. These proposals neglects the cultural aspects and the well-being outcomes associated to subsistence hunting, and do not take into account the importance of hunting on protein provision in disenfranchised communities for example. This could be understood as a colonialist recommendation with a high probability to be ineffective in tropical developing countries. We need to find some balance between wildlife consumption regulation and the rights of traditional people. We are in a tricky moment, where it is very easy to let the rope break on the weaker side. Conservation amd decision makers should include local leaders and indigenous people in this discussion to increase the legitimacy of any recommendation.
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I am a member of a group of veterinarians who all became ill within about a years time of each other, and who all were employed in the same physical location. Some of the affected veterinarians also had human and/or canine family members who also went on to develop a very similar illness to that seen in the cluster of veterinarians. The practice facility was inspected by OSHA and traditional medical work-up was done on all of those affected. No unifying etiology could be determined for the "syndrome" of illness described by those affected, but environmental chemicals and psychiatric causes were ruled out. As veterinarians and other types of scientists (affected family members), we recognized that the pattern of illness development appeared most consistent with some type of infectious process (possibly with genetic predispositions to resistance/succeptibility to the agent). The illness appeared to develop in unrelated people who worked at a common site initially, then multiple family members of some affected veterinarians developed a similar illness. Our familiarity with collecting/interpreting FNA/cytology samples allowed us to do some diagnostic tests that are not available in human reference laboratories, and with the encouragement of infectious disease physicians at Mayo and UCD medical centers we began some carefully controlled cytology tests on samples provided by those affected with the "syndrome" of illness, as well as samples from healthy control family members/colleagues.
What we have found is an incredibly consistent pattern of fibers/filaments, copiously present in the urine of those affected individuals, and completely absent in the healthy controls. Initially we suspected the filaments to be a possible nematode, but further tests demonstrated that there were also more fragile yeast-like objects and highly organized fruiting-body-like structures associated with the filaments. We also found the filaments and "spores" in subcutaneous nodules, cyst fluid, sputum, and blood cultures from those affected. These details, along with positive staining for chitin by lactophenol cotton blue and calcofluor-white, and positive staining for a thick mucopolysaccharide coat by Alacian Blue- led us to modify the hypothesis and consider that these objects could indicate a fungal or pseudofungal infection.
Many permutations of cytology tests (always coupled with control studies of the same tissues in healthy counterparts) have led us to suspect that we may be seeing some type of oomycete, somewhat similar to Pythium or Lagenisma. We have attempted sequencing, but not gotten consistent results and/or have gotten reports of sequences that are either truncated or reported as different types of fungi, none of which are obviously close relatives of oomycetes. Since this research is unfunded, we have not been able to pursue as much molecular testing as would be ideal. The UCD infectious disease physician did agree that the images were compelling, but not his primary field of study. He/we filed a report with the CDC about the possiblity of this being an emerging/novel human pathogen, but the CDC has not replied to his follow-up requests for assistance in characterizing the findings.
I realize our involvement in this research is both non-traditional and that those of us doing it have motivations beyond that which drives most research. However, we have had enough independent scientists/physicians corroborate our perception that we are seeing something "not normal" in the tissues/fluids of those affected compared to the healthy controls, and encourage us to continue to try to find answers, that I feel compelled to post our findings thus far and ask for opinions and advice. We are hoping that someone, much more expert in mycology/protistology than us might be willing to review these images and offer their perspective. Also, if there is anyone actively pursuing ( or wanting to pursue) this line of research, we are happy to share all of our data gathered thus far, in hopes that it may lead to faster and more thorough characterization of what we have found, and hopefully application to determine which chronic diseases may have this putative infection as a component of their etiology.
Thanks!
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Dear Dr.Melinda,
I am attaching PDF of our Review article to your reference with a hope that it will be useful to you.
Please confirm receipt of the review on Pythiosis.
With best wishes and good luck,
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
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Hello, there is more background in our overview page, but briefly- we are a group of veterinarians who came across unusual microscopic findings in a group of dogs and their owners (who happened to also be veterinarians) with an otherwise unexplained syndrome involving hematuria, chronic fibrosis of deep connective tissues, chronic cough, fatigue, and neuropathy. Both the dogs and their owners had a thorough medical work-up in which the cause of illness cold not be determined. Several other close human contacts of the original humans/dogs affected also developed similar symptoms over the following year. Some of the humans have had plateau of their symptoms while others have continued to worsen. The structures shown in attached images were found in the urine, blood, needle aspirates of subcutaneous nodules, and sometimes sputum of the affected individuals (canine and human) and not in healthy family members (matched controls)- this finding was confirmed by blinded readings of the affected vs. control cytology samples. CDC has been informed of these findings and may begin an investigation, though they are hobbled by the current COVID crisis and also relayed that they do not have a pathologist on staff trained to read this type of cytology!? So, we are asking your help in determining if the objects shown do seem to match the criteria for some type of protist (or other organism?), or if they are some type of unusual artifact. We have attempted sequencing without success, but this may be hampered by a thick glue-like mucus that seems to be produced by the organisms binding everything in the near vicinity tightly together. As veterinarians, our knowledge of invertebrate zoology is limited- but collectively, we thought that the objects seemed to resemble cysts of amoebae or perhaps ciliates, or even myxozoans. They are protected by a very stain-resistant outer "shell" (test?) that seems made of aggregates of regional debris. However, some layers stain well with Alcian Blue/Aniline Blue and negative staining with Nigrosan helped to clarify the appearance of some of the objects. The white surface is very birefringent, so we were only able to get clear micrographs when stacking software was used to improve focal range. Some features seemed similar to entamoeba histolytic, but the outer cyst wall is too thick in many examples. Some resembled Blastocystis- with a large central vacuole, but again, there were inconsistencies with that identification as well. If anyone can point out specific details/features that suggest real organism vs artifact, and/or label any of the details for us to give us some landmarks to follow (we though we were seeing distinct nuclei, but were not certain...) that would be extremely helpful.
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Hi
Photos show artifacts and no structures seen at all related to a protozoan, all protozoa usually have regular structures in various forms. Search the slide again carefully and also with high magnification!
good luck
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New Institute Proposed in India, IDDRI (Indian Disease Dissemination Research Institute). Some details are available at
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good proposition
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Hello, everyone
Now, I plan to design my experiment about hookworm parasite infection. So, I want to know what i should do in blood test for hookworm infection in golden hamster. I saw in many publications that used a measuring hemoglobin level only. Why do the CBC and HCT blood test is not use?
Thank you for your kind response
Sarit
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" Laboratory findings (eg, complete blood count [CBC]) may be consistent with iron-deficiency anemia. A differential count may reveal eosinophilia (1000-4000 cells/µL). Serologic tests (eg, tests for A caninum) are usually available only in research laboratories." - https://emedicine.medscape.com/article/218805-workup
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I see that human doctors do not know interpret a clinical condition of a zoonotic diseases in their patients. Why? Veterinarians study so much about zoonosis. Zoonosis = a transmissible disease that infect humans from animals.
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Zoonoses are the diseases that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animal and man. There are over 300 zoonotic diseases that are reported from developed as well as developing countries of the world. Unfortunately, zoonotic diseases are not included in the curriculum of human medicine in many countries of the world, and therefore, human physicians are not much aware about the symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, and control of zoonoses. I delivered guest lectures on the growing importance of zoonoses in human health in Medical Colleges in India and other countries to sensitize/motivate the human doctors about the life threatening effect of zoonotic diseases on public health. There is a need to have cordial association between veterinarians and physicians at all levels.I have published a book entitled " Zoonoses" that gives information on more than 167 zoonotic diseases transmitted to humans through several modes.
We have also uploaded over 410 papers on Research Gate.One can easily download our papers from Research Gate.
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Hello,
We are a group of veterinarians looking into repeatable findings of unusual structures found in a group of animals with similar unusual complaints of unexplained hematuria, tender subcutaneous nodules, and easy fatiguability. We have repeatably found tiny fibers and tube or shell-shaped calcified structures in tissue samples from these animals. So far, we have been unable to definitively characterize the species that may be producing these objects, but light and electron microscopic studies have led us to consider a novel polychaete or mollusk, or even possibly something really unusual such as an organized myxozoan. One of the most obvious and unusual features of these organisms is that they contain fibers (possibly chaetae?) that can evert plume/fan-like structures from their tips, and sometimes from portions along their lengths. These fibers are quite small- generally only 5-10 microns wide, and potentially 200-400 microns long. Despite their small size, they repeatably contain a very intricate and complex system of pulleys, levers, ratchets, etc.. that we presume are present to evert the fan-like structures- which may be used for respiration/feeding? The fibers are highly refractive, and seem to contain tiny crystalline "gears". Portions of the fibers will stain with crystal violet and/or Safranin O, but in general, the fibers stain poorly with the standard H&E type histology stains. In addition to the fibers, there are often structures seen which resemble trophozoite stages of polychaete or mollusk-like organisms. (photos available in data files related to this project).
Is anyone familiar with organisms that have these features? We would be very grateful for any thoughts about what organism these fibers may be coming from, and/or links to any reference papers or atlas etc... that describes these structures and might help us focus our search for an identify of this possible novel parasitic organism. While we began our search in the veterinary patient population, we have evidence suggesting that this putative organism may be a zoonotic agent to immunosuppressed human patients. So, we are very eager to learn more about the candidate organisms that could produce such fibers, and relay those suggestions to the physicians of human patients who may be hosts of this possible novel pathogen.
Thanks you for your time and expertise!
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Hi Abhijit Mitra,
As an updated answer/ongoing question to this thread- we have had an evolution in our thinking about the identity of the objects in this question. We have learned that the filamentous objects are not independent, but rather a structural feature of a larger, more elusive object/organism. We have found that there are large shell-shaped objects, resembling bivalves slightly, that contain these fibers as structural elements. The hinge/latch-like objects along the length of the fiber appear to bind to other elements in the internal contents of the "shell" and help keep them packaged and organized. I'm quoting "shell" because despite the marked resemblance to some bivalve shells, the shell portion is more dynamic. It can stretch and when the shell opens and the internal contents unfurl, the majority of the tissue forming the "shell" shape actually comes away in plumes of sheets of tissue that unfold in a very organized manner. Intriguingly, these sheets of tissue appear to contain a middle layer with a fibrous semi-liquid filling that may be mesoglea. The sheets of tissue are made up of connected small versions of almost exactly the same shell body plan as the larger organisms, and these small objects appear connected by a series of tubes that resemble stolons- leading us to wonder if the organism could be some type of hydrozoa or even myxozoan? I've attached a few new photos to demonstrate.
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Full history is in the project description, but briefly- a team of other veterinarians/colleagues and myself have stumbled across a case of multiple animals that have similar symptoms and are co-housed. Their presentation suggests an infectious disease, but no known infectious agent could be found despite thorough work-up. However, cytology samples from clean aspirates of subcutaneous nodules and urine filtrate (they have bloody urine) seems to be showing repeated structures that do not appear mammalian in origin. We seek to understand if these structures are some type of very organized artifact, or if they instead suggest that there may be some very unusual/novel type of organism (Annelid or Polychaete esp.) causing/involved-in these animals illnesses. Thank you for your time!
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@ Matthew B Paddock; Thanks for your reply. We did attempt 16s sequencing of a tissue sample taken from one of the subcutaneous nodules (before we realized that there could be a eukaryote involved). The 16S sequencing (from RNA extracted from tissue blocks from what should have been a surgically sterile site) did show a mixture of many bacterial species. However, the profile wasn't anything that would suggest a relative of a known pathogen, nor did it suggest surface contamination (ie- no staph species etc..) The profile didn't have any one main dominant species either, but was 20% this, 18% that, 15% this etc.... I don't have the profile in front of me right now, but, from memory, the bacterial species in the tissue sample were unusual, with an overrepresentation of extremophiles. At first I interpreted this as potentially some species that might be surviving our autoclaving of instruments (ie- could tolerate the autoclave temperatures but not typically mammalian pathogens so were not the cause of disease in the animals). But, once the observation of the filaments/worm-like organisms was made, it did occur to me to that perhaps if the infection were eukaryotic, perhaps the profile of bacteria seen could reflect the composition of the microbiome of the putative novel parasite. I cross-referenced the profile of bacteria with the known microbiome profile of c-elegans and, though not an exact match, the proportions and types of bacterial species represented did suggest that perhaps the species identified could represent the bacterial population of some eukaryotic species. Our first thought was that the putative novel species was some type of nematode/filarial infection. We did attempt to have the tissue sample probed with nematode-specific 18S rRNA primers to see if we could amplify/sequence any nematode DNA. Interestingly, the primers did bind and amplify a target sequence, but when that was attempted to be sequenced, the PCR products were not clean enough to yield an identifiable species. Later, other microscopic findings led us to consider other phyla (beyond nematodes/trematodes). Since this is mostly a project done out of curiosity rather than our primary line of work, we have not had the budget to proceed with any additional PCR studies. If you would like to see the actual genus/species break-down for the 16S analysis, I'd be happy to dig it up and post it for you (just don't have access to that computer today).
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The Govt. of India proposes to declare India free of Tuberculosis probably by 2025. TB being a zoonotic disease and Mycobacterium bovis being known to be resistant to first line anti-tb drugs, poor milk and meat hygiene all make a case for parallel animal TB eradication program if we really intend to eradicate the disease.
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Tuberculosis is an important bacterial zoonotic disease, which is endemic in many nations of the world including India. In my opinion, total elimination of disease in India and other countries is not possible without its eradication in animal population. I strongly recommend the permanent involvement of Public Health Veterinarian in the control of zoonoses including tuberculosis.
Prof.Dr.Mahendra Pal
MVPH, Ph.D., D.Sc.
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What are the possible negative effects of the low-dosage drug on the people who drink the water? Have there any been studies that look at its effectiveness?
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Thanks for all the tips! This was extremely helpful
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If the virus is detected in serological and molecular tests is it interpreted as potentially zoonotic?
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Brucellosis are the main zoonotic disease in Iraq i want to know the new article for this subject
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I've read several protocols that specify that human blood for cultural isolation of Brucella spp is refrigerated at -4 celsius for not more than a week. My study areas are remote and the research lab is far away and it would take me weeks to pool my samples together and get them to this lab.
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When store blood in -20 c lead to hemolysis of blood. You can culture the blood sample directly with blood culture bottle that contain
TSB and keep it in 4 c .until reach to lab.
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I need the Literature related to Studies on Environmental Drivers of Zoonoses. It is actually survey study, so need methodologies to adopted to achieve below goals;
The objectives of the study are
. To identify and evaluate pathogenic and zoonotic diseases
. To establish the prevalence of diseases in wild, live stock and domestic animals
. To access the gravity of animal-human diseases transmission.
So anyone having papers related to the study could please send the same.
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I want to find out about the relation of zoonotic infectious diseases (like Toxoplasmosis, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, Anaplasmosis, Yersinia and Borrelia of cattle, ruminants and marmals) which spread between animals and humans and lead to infections of farmers and other workers in rural areas.
In the veterinary literature the infections of animals with zoonotic diseases are very well documented. The vectors of the transfer from animal to animal and to humans are known, too. Also the occurrence of pathogens in ticks, sandflies and other bloodsucking insects is examined very well.
What I wish to know is
a) whether there is any insight into the numbers of infected persons who have worked with or nearby infected animals or their excrements like slurry, manure or the like and
b) how many of the infected persons are co-infected or multi-infected by multiple zoonotic pathogens at the same time?
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I have been working on Rickettsiales diseases  (primarly Rickettsiosis, Ehrlichiosis and Anaplasmosis) for the last three years in Venezuela . Rickettsiales diseases has emerged as an important infectious zoonotic disease in Venezuela.  However  has been it is under reported and  under diagnosed due to lack of awareness of health personnel and are often confused with other tropical diseases such as dengue, hepatitis, yellow fever, malaria and leptospirosis.Our experience at Instituto Nacional de Higiene Rafael Rangel is that patients could be showed concomitants bewteen the three rickettsial diseases which is well documented and this is because some of these zoonosis share the same vector.
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I do intend to carry out a pilot test on the efficiency of barn owl Tyto alba to reduce rodent infestation in urban affected tropical zones. I would like to know the most challenging factors faced by anyone who ever had done such project.  Give advice and share the results, please. Many thanks. 
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Hi Pierre. Barn owls frequently prey on several different species of rodents including some species not frequently sampled by traditional trapping methods. In this sense, if you want to publicize your results with the local people living in the area  keep in mind that the perception of the population size of rodents by the general public (based on sightings or captures for instance) could be different from the "real" composition and population size of rodents in the area. 
Please see 
Also, since barn owls hunt in open areas (as Motti Charter nicely tells above) they could be susceptible to be killed by cars in roads. This is unfortunately frequent in my region here in Brazil. Have this is mind when you will think about the placement location of the nest boxes. 
All the best!
Alexander
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I want any suggestions for online websites which contain updated information concerning emerging infectious diseases.
Thanks in advance 
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I find ProMED (the Program for Monitoring Emerging Disease) the best up to date source of information. You can sign up for emails or follow them on twitter etc. ProMED-mail. It is managed by the International Society for Infectious Diseases.
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I am looking for types of iatrogenic infections caused by insuitable human handling into veretinary area. The iatrogenic infections could occur due an inadequated use of contaminated syringes or needles use, through of drugs applied on animals or some another type of syringes utilization.
Thanks in advances.
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Most infectious diseases/pathogens in animals can be spread by indirect contact and/or blood contact, thus most can be iatrogenically spread with poor hygienic routines regarding personal hygiene, equipment, drugs and patient flow . If you restrict your question to only things possibly carried by contamined syringes, it is still going to be a long list of bloodborne viruses, bacteria and parasites....
Which animal species are you interested in? Examples in horses, (in)famous outbreaks spread or suspected to be spread iatrogenically by injections include equine infectious anemia virus and equine piroplasmosis, and poor hygiene within animal health care has caused outbreaks of postoperative infections with MRSA and genital infections with CEM.
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Intestinal fluke infection (Fasciolpsis busk) is considered endemic in Bangladesh. But I did not find any report for liver fluke infection in Bangladesh.
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Dear Anisur,
I found in my library one article with a note about (not open for access), may be guide you for others.
Andrey
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As we all know fishes also transmitting some of the zoonotic disease, in India even though many road side meat stalls exists, somehow our government maintaining slaughter houses and doing meat inspection before selling the meat and road side meat stalls will be frequently visited by meat inspectors or authority vets. But i don't know whether is there any same kind of inspection practices has been done for fishes also?  
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Fish meat to be sold should be previously frozen before selling in order to destroy probable plerocercoids of Diphyllobothrium latum. It should be frozen at minus 10 degrees C for 8 to 72 hours depending on the thickness of the filet. Smoking the fish does not destroy plerocercoids. A Royal Decree in Spain (Real Decreto) No 1420/2006 states fish meat should be frozen before selling at -20 degrees C or even less for at least 24 hours. I hope this information helps you!. Good luck!
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Newcastle disease virus is one of the important viruses in poultry it causes outbreaks with high mortality and morbidity moreover,it has zoonotic importance it can affect human result in conjunctivitis with flu-like signs my question is how does it affect human cell ? .Is there are specific receptors for which ? and if so how does it replicate inside human cells . 
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Hi Asmaa, this figure may be also valuable. It is almost identical for all paramyxoviruses.
(the full article is here: http://www.mdpi.com/1999-4915/6/8/3019/htm )
Some strains of NDV can cause conjunctivitis in human.
Some NDV strain have oncolytic effect in human cells, it induces large amounts of alpha interferon (IFN-α) and also can kill tumor cells, therefore it may be useful in cancer immunotherapy.
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Vajrai
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Hi- If you are going to monitor sanitation of animal house, you can do that according to below methods:
monitoring by using Luminometers (it highly recommended)
Swab Method
RODAC Plate Method
Agar Sausage Method
The Petrifilm Plate Method
all the best
mehran
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I know that regarding the concentration of primers I've have to used 4 to 5x more and I've done that. However only one species amplifies. Any suggestions? Thanks in advance! :)
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 Hi Xavier!
Thank you for your reply, but I'm no writing my PhD thesis and had to abandoned this idea due to the short time... however I do want do start again after delivering the thesis. So I get in touch if I need any help, I'm sure that I will :).
Best regards
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Now a days most of the people having pet dogs in their home, Brucella canis is considered as a one of the potential zoonotic pathogen and it has greater public health significance.
As per my knowledge most of the serological assay kits utilizes the smooth phase Brucella species as their antigen substrates, but it won't detect rough phase B. canis antibodies. Even though culturing is considered as a gold standard test for Brucella canis detection, it is very laborious process we need wait upto 4 weeks for the results. There are some primers available to detect the B. canis but it is very expensive, for screening purpose we can't afford that much amount.
Is there any simple and economically feasible method to detect Brucella canis from clinical samples for screening purpose in dogs?
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Dear colleague, this is the fastest cheapest test for Brucella canis infection in dogs.
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Natural competitors redcude vector populations by displacing the vectors and replacing infective with non-infective bites.
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Dear Aline Edith Mekeu Noutcha,
Possible interactions among related vector species is an important area for discussion. The critical thing to consider in this case is that both Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus are known to be competent vectors of Zika virus, and both have been implicated as the primary vectors of Zika virus in major outbreaks in various locations globally. While Ae. aegypti is more highly involved in Brazil and the Americas during the current outbreak, it is important to note that Ae. albopictus was the primary vector in the Gabon African outbreak during the last decade. So, in the case of Zika virus, it would be a serious mistake to promote populations of Ae. albopictus. Another point is that we must not become so focused on one pathogen that we forget that the vector mosquito may also transmit other diseases. For example, Ae. albopictus is also a competent and proven vector for other pathogens, ranging from dirofilariasis to West Nile Fever virus and many more. In my opinion, promoting Ae. albopictus as a competitor would be unwise in any situation, including Florida but also other areas with more temperate climates where Ae. aegypti might be less well established. I've added links below to some recent blogs I have written on related subjects. I hope you and other readers find them informative, and I welcome any feedback.
Best wishes,
Bruce
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self explanatory 
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I think that
"The importance of Mycobacterium bovis as a zoonosis. Authors: Charles Thoen, Philip LoBue, Isabel de Kantor. doi:10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.11.047" and 
"Limited Transmission of Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis Despite a High Proportion of Infectious Cases in Los Angeles County, California". Authors: Annette T. Nitta et al. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm.165.6.2103109 
may be of help. Regards Maria Julia
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this is the sort of chemical some researchers were suggesting as a possible way to interfere with the mosquito's life cycle. What sort of effects would that have! http://www.gmwatch.org/news/latest-news/16706-argentine-and-brazilian-doctors-name-larvicide-as-potential-cause-of-microcephaly
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The scientific results show that the cause is Zika virus
Mlakar et al. (2016) Zika Virus Associated with Microcephaly.- NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE · FEBRUARY 2016
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Zika virus is considered to be more or less restricted to tropical countries. However, transmission might be possible when a competent vector (Aedes species) is present. But, the presence of a vector is not sufficient. Warm summer periods might bring favourable conditions for transmission via ektothermal insects also outside of the tropics. With climate warming, these regions are likely to increase in extent. As far as I know, there is no knowledge on the EIP (extrinsic incubation period), which would be needed to assess whether  regions and periods with the risk for transmission will evolve. Are there any hard facts, data, exeriments that can be used or applied to this virus.
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There is  limited knowledge on the EIP (extrinsic incubation period) in the field, which would be needed to assess whether  regions and periods with the risk for transmission will evolve. Are there any hard facts, data, experiments that can be used or applied to this virus. The two papers that might gives a first answer under fixed lab conditions are  (see graphics)
Li MI, Wong PS, Ng LC, Tan CH. Oral susceptibility of Singapore Aedes (Stegomyia) aegypti (Linnaeus) to Zika virus. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2012;6(8):e1792.
Wong PS, Li MZ, Chong CS, Ng LC, Tan CH. Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus (Skuse): a potential vector of Zika virus in Singapore. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2013 Aug;7(8):e2348.
Friendly greetings from Stockholm. B.
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I would like to conduct DNA barcoding of parasites from a stool sample of a monkey. I don't know if there are protocols for extract parasitic DNA from stool sample.
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for isolation of microbial RNA from stool you can use PureLink microbiome purification kit
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Hi all
looking for information on on several zoonotic dz for an assignment. Ornithosis is one of them if anyone knows of an article relating to this infection in New Zealand I would be grateful.
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Dear Collegue!
As pulmonologist I see two type: an acut infection " atypical Pneumonia" and a chronic type: with X-ray exam shows signs of fibrosis. What is the concret problem? Sincerelly yours Paula
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transport of rabies virus in neurons
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please review the following:
Rabies Virus Hijacks and Accelerates the p75NTR Retrograde Axonal Transport Machinery. PLoS Pathog 10(8): e1004348
Shani Gluska, et al.
Abstract
Rabies virus (RABV) is a neurotropic virus that depends on long distance axonal transport in order to reach the central nervous system (CNS). The strategy RABV uses to hijack the cellular transport machinery is still not clear. It is thought that RABV interacts with membrane receptors in order to internalize and exploit the endosomal trafficking pathway, yet this has never been demonstrated directly. The p75 Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) receptor (p75NTR) binds RABV Glycoprotein (RABV-G) with high affinity. However, as p75NTR is not essential for RABV infection, the specific role of this interaction remains in question. Here we used live cell imaging to track RABV entry at nerve terminals and studied its retrograde transport along the axon with and without the p75NTR receptor. First, we found that NGF, an endogenous p75NTR ligand, and RABV, are localized in corresponding domains along nerve tips. RABV and NGF were internalized at similar time frames, suggesting comparable entry machineries. Next, we demonstrated that RABV could internalize together with p75NTR. Characterizing RABV retrograde movement along the axon, we showed the virus is transported in acidic compartments, mostly with p75NTR. Interestingly, RABV is transported faster than NGF, suggesting that RABV not only hijacks the transport machinery but can also manipulate it. Co-transport of RABV and NGF identified two modes of transport, slow and fast, that may represent a differential control of the trafficking machinery by RABV. Finally, we determined that p75NTR-dependent transport of RABV is faster and more directed than p75NTR-independent RABV transport. This fast route to the neuronal cell body is characterized by both an increase in instantaneous velocities and fewer, shorter stops en route. Hence, RABV may employ p75NTR-dependent transport as a fast mechanism to facilitate movement to the CNS.
Rabies virus as a transneuronal tracer of neuronal connections. Adv Virus Res. 2011;79:165-202.
Ugolini G1.
.
Abstract
Powerful transneuronal tracing technologies exploit the ability of some neurotropic viruses to travel across neuronal pathways and to function as self-amplifying markers. Rabies virus is the only viral tracer that is entirely specific, as it propagates exclusively between connected neurons by strictly unidirectional (retrograde) transneuronal transfer, allowing for the stepwise identification of neuronal connections of progressively higher order. Transneuronal tracing studies in primates and rodent models prior to the development of clinical disease have provided valuable information on rabies pathogenesis. We have shown that rabies virus propagation occurs at chemical synapses but not via gap junctions or cell-to-cell spread. Infected neurons remain viable, as they can express their neurotransmitters and cotransport other tracers. Axonal transport occurs at high speed, and all populations of the same synaptic order are infected simultaneously regardless of their neurotransmitters, synaptic strength, and distance, showing that rabies virus receptors are ubiquitously distributed within the CNS. Conversely, in the peripheral nervous system, rabies virus receptors are present only on motor endplates and motor axons, since uptake and transneuronal transmission to the CNS occur exclusively via the motor route, while sensory and autonomic endings are not infected. Infection of sensory and autonomic ganglia requires longer incubation times, as it reflects centrifugal propagation from the CNS to the periphery, via polysynaptic connections from sensory and autonomic neurons to the initially infected motoneurons. Virus is recovered from end organs only after the development of rabies because anterograde spread to end organs is likely mediated by passive diffusion, rather than active transport mechanisms.
Rabies Virus Envelope Glycoprotein Targets Lentiviral Vectors to the Axonal Retrograde Pathway in Motor Neurons. 2014 The Journal of Biological Chemistry, 289, 16148-16163.                                    
James N. Hislop, et al.
Abstract
Rabies pseudotyped lentiviral vectors have great potential in gene therapy, not least because of their ability to transduce neurons following their distal axonal application. However, very little is known about the molecular processes that underlie their retrograde transport and cell transduction. Using multiple labeling techniques and confocal microscopy, we demonstrated that pseudotyping with rabies virus envelope glycoprotein (RV-G) enabled the axonal retrograde transport of two distinct subtypes of lentiviral vector in motor neuron cultures. Analysis of this process revealed that these vectors trafficked through Rab5-positive endosomes and accumulated within a non-acidic Rab7 compartment. RV-G pseudotyped vectors were co-transported with both the tetanus neurotoxin-binding fragment and the membrane proteins thought to mediate rabies virus endocytosis (neural cell adhesion molecule, nicotinic acetylcholine receptor, and p75 neurotrophin receptor), thus demonstrating that pseudotyping with RV-G targets lentiviral vectors for transport along the same pathway exploited by several toxins and viruses. Using motor neurons cultured in compartmentalized chambers, we demonstrated that axonal retrograde transport of these vectors was rapid and efficient; however, it was not able to transduce the targeted neurons efficiently, suggesting that impairment in processes occurring after arrival of the viral vector in the soma is responsible for the low transduction efficiency seen in vivo, which suggests a novel area for improvement of gene therapy vectors.
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I am interested in what programs and policies have proved effective in controlling Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in South American countries, and also in the analysis of resulting benefits, as for example export expansion.
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Thanks for responses, Carmen and Carlos.  These will both prove very useful.
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I am writing a paper and cannot find any information on whether or not there is a difference in size or shape of PCV1 and PCV2?
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Dr.Samples,
     See if these articles can be of any help. I will update you if I find any.
Ellis, J (March 2014). "Porcine circovirus: a historical perspective". Veterinary Pathology 51 (2): 315–327.
Mankertz A. Molecular interactions of porcine circoviruses type 1
and type 2 with its host. Virus Research. 2012;164:54–60.
Meehan BM, McNeilly F, Todd D, et al. Characterization of
novel circovirus DNAs associated with wasting syndromes in
pigs. Journal of general virology . 1998;79:2171–2179.
Liu, J., Chen, I., Du, Q., Chua, H.,Kwang, J., 2006. The ORF3 protein of porcine circovirus type 2 is involved in viral pathogenesis in vivo. Journal of Virology 80 (10), 5065–5073.
Best,
Dill
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All researchers are welcome to send camel sera from suspected areas together with retropharngeal and/ or supramammary lymph nodes. Sera will be screened with the buffered acidified plate antigen test and confirmed with the complement fixation test. Lymph nodes will be bacteriological examined for Brucella and isolates identified to the biovar level. The sender will be responsible for sending the samples by a suitable means according to the international regulations. Lab testing will be performed at no charge to the sender. Any additional lab work can be arranged for by the cooperating parties. Results will be included in a collaborative publication. I’m looking forward to hearing from you soon.
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Dear colleague,
Thank you for your concern.  The samples will be sent to me at the following address:
Dr. Ashraf Sayour
Department of Brucellosis Research
Animal Health Research Institute
Nadi El-Seid Street, Dokki
Giza 12618
Egypt
My mobile number is +201005056559
My Skype account is Ashraf Sayour
Kindly inform me before sending the samples one week ahead to arrange with the veterinary quarantine at Cairo's International Airport.  Yes, tissue samples from suspected/ positive camels are extremely important for isolation and identification of Brucella to the biovar level.  I have already published a paper on camel brucellosis with sera only and I'd love to do some bacteriology.
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Non-host mechanical vectors are frequently overlooked as transmitters and/or disseminators of pathogens in agricultural, sylvatic, and urban systems. This may be particularly important for zoonotic pathogens in agricultural ecosystems, but depending on the geographical location and the particular pathogens involved, there may be a range of possibilities.  For example, trachoma is transmitted among humans by synanthropic flies even in some urban settings.  We have been studying this at various locations, focusing on zoonotic enteric protists such as Cryptosporidium and Giardia, as well as microsporidia.  To gain a more comprehensive understanding of non-host vectors of pathogens around the world, I seek input on diverse specific experiences.
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The members of the families Fanniidae, Muscidae and Blattaria are common mechanical vectors implicated in Veterinary, Medical and agricultural entomology. Check the Books: Entomology for Medical Students by Mike Service, 4th Ed 2008 or 5th Ed 2012 and, Medical and Veterinary Entomology By Mullen and Durden, 2nd Ed 2009 to get the details
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I wish to know if anyone has experience with the use of FTA cards for the collection, safe transport, and preservation of rabies samples.
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FTA cards can be used for preservation of RNA viruses.  Numerous recent publications out of Australia demonstrate their utility in the detection of arboviruses (West Nile, Ross River, etc.)  See as an example:
Exploiting mosquito sugar feeding to detect mosquito-borne pathogens by Hall-Mendelin et al. PNAS vol. 107 no. 25
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Gastropods and other molluscs are often obligate hosts for trematode parasites, many of which are important pathogens.  I am interested in developing a list of such molluscs that show the potential for invasion of new habitats around the world, and argue that there is a need for more biomonitoring for such situations as potential emerging disease threats of humans and/or animals.
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Dear Dr Conn,
The thiarid snail Melanoides tuberculata is a good example of invasive species involved in transmission of parasites worldwide. Please see the attached checklist .
Best regards
Hudson
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Frontier research has been recently impulsed and defined for multiple sciences, included some health sciences, however what about specificly for veterinary medicine?
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Dear Alfonso
May attached article  work to solve your query.
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Giardia intestinalis is divided into different groups based on rRNA sequences, although grouping and taxonomy is changing rapidly from year to year.
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There are many great answers here from Anna C. Majewska and others.  There are still many uncertainties about the degree of zoonotic potential that occurs across Giardia associated with both companion animals (cats and dogs) as well as domestic livestock.  As long as uncertainty and variability exist, it is still very important to develop and maintain broad-scale monitoring programs for Giardia and other potentially zoonotic pathogens across shared environments.  The following articles address some such monitoring efforts.
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Ticks and fleas can transmit some bacteria affecting humans, in ours work, we detect bartonella, ehrlichia, rickettsia, Yersinia Pesti, Borrelia and francisella tularensis in hare’s ectoparasites. If you can help me to obtain some items or documentation in this topic?
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I was wondering if anyone was aware of any examples of evidence for zoonotic transmission of pathogens from lemurs to humans or vice versa?
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Hi Jan,
We should have another paper out shortly that will give you a little more information on this question. From that same epidemiology study we have some preliminary evidence showing that lemurs in disturbed regions have a higher prevalence of enterobacteria. It should be out in AJP soon!
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Rodents are reservoirs of many zoonotic diseases to human and their infested fleas,mites,ticks and lice act as vehicles transmitters of infections to man.What is best apply ant-ratting or insecticide first?
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Rodents indeed serve as reservoirs for many zoonotic diseases.  Many of these diseases are transmitted via parasitic arthropods, but others are transmitted simply by contamination of the environment by rodent feces or urine.  Also, many arthropod parasites of rodents do not survive long away from the host, and many do not prefer humans as hosts.  Thus, rodent-associated zoonotic diseases that involve synanthropic arthropod transmission actually circulate most effectively in the presence of healthy rodent populations close to human habitation or activity.  Thus, I would start with control of the rodents, then move to comprehensive sanitation of human activity areas that would eliminate both arthropods and other infectious contaminants.
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Two patients infected with Ebola virus have now entered the U.S. for treatment, but they are in a highly controlled environment.  However, while the press and the public have been very aware of this, we still have black market transfer of "bush meat", fresh animal flesh from Africa to other parts of the world, outside any regulation for potential disease transmission.  Could it be that while the media and public focus on a contained and controlled situation that is unlikely to result in an Ebola outbreak outside Africa, we are largely ignoring a more significant Ebola threat via other means of introduction?
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David's question is valid. It is true that certain types of bat appear to act as a vector, and indeed, the possibility of bats being a reservoir (as with SARS) cannot be ruled out.  Meanwhile, 'person-to-person' transmission must include 'primate-to-primate' and that is where bushmeat presents a viable pathway. Bushmeats include the partially dried/ cooked/ smoked carcasses of many species, but monkey, ape, and bat are common. Importation is of course illegal, but large quantities still seem to arrive in London, New York, and probably any large city with West African ex-pats, a suitcase at a time. Still-bloody specimens, noted not infrequently, would strongly suggest that the viability of the virus may have survived the preparation/cooking process.      
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I have lots of sequences to align and I used to use MEGA6 but it takes forever to finish one multiple alignment session. I need a faster and a more accurate way of obtaining my multiple alignments.
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If you are looking for a purely online program I prefer ClustalW over MAFFT. I find that my alignments are a little better as it gives me the option to input a few more parameters. That being said, there are much better programs out there if you have the CPU to handle as Jainder Chhillar suggested.
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As we know in most parts of the world at present rabies is prevalent as a deadly zoonotic disease. It is challenging for both the medics as well as for the vets to get rid of the virus from a locality or a region. What basic disease eradication and control strategies must be followed under such circumstances?
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The following should be considered for prevention and control of rabies:
1- Control and eradication programs for urban rabies.
2-Control measures for wildlife rabies.
3-Regulation regarding international transport of animals.
4-Procedure for both pre-and post-exposure vaccination of individuals against rabies.
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I am getting ready to start a small project where I will be looking at the internal parasite of various rodents. I would like to look at both helminths and protozoa. I plan to collect cecal contents and intestinal mucosal scrapings, fix them and use them later to stain for protozoa. Does anyone have suggestions as to a good fixative to use, 10% formalin, SAF, etc.?
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A slight addendum to my earlier answer. If you wish to do any molecular analysis later on with your samples then make sure you archive a small unfixed aliquot of your sample at either -80 or +4 deg C. Molecular methods don't like strong fixatives.
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As above.
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Serology, idealy Western blott, would be a reasonable test, along with a skin biopsy for PCR . If both of them are negative, borreliosis is a very unlikely diagnosis.