Taenia multiceps is a cestode parasite, the larval stage of which encysts in the brain of sheep, goats and cattle causing an often fatal condition. The parasite also causes zoonotic infections in humans. Homologues of the recombinant oncosphere vaccine antigens from Taenia ovis and other Taenia species were identified in T. multiceps. Sequencing of the associated T. multiceps genes and cloning of the encoding mRNA has revealed conserved features in the genes and proteins. The T. multiceps oncosphere proteins, designated Tm16 and Tm18, contain a predicted secretory signal and fibronectin type III domain. The recombinant Tm16 and Tm18 proteins were successfully expressed in Escherichia coli as fusion proteins with GST. The antigens, formulated with Quil A adjuvant, were tested in a vaccine trial in sheep. The antigens stimulated immunity in sheep against challenge infection with T. multiceps eggs. Five of nine control sheep died due to a challenge infection with T. multiceps whereas none of 20 vaccinated animals died as a result of the parasite challenge (P = 0.001). In addition, vaccination with the Tm16 protein, or Tm16 plus Tm18, induced significant protection against the number of parasites encysting in the brain as a result of the challenge infection (P = 0.023, P = 0.015, respectively). No clear relationship was apparent between the level of specific serum antibody in vaccinated animals and either the presence or absence of parasites or the number of parasites that occurred in some of the vaccinated animals. We believe this study is the first description of recombinant vaccine-related investigations for T. multiceps. The recombinant oncosphere antigens identified may allow development of effective vaccination strategies against T. multiceps infection in sheep. They raise the potential for the development of a combined vaccine with the Echinococcus granulosus EG95 antigen for prevention of T. multiceps as well as preventing the transmission of cystic hydatid disease.

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We conducted this study to describe the serum electrophoretic pattern in dogs associated with the infection of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii). The serum protein pattern of 25 dogs with confirmed T. gondii infection and 15 clinically healthy dogs were evaluated using native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Albumin, alpha-1 globulin, alpha-2 globulin, beta globulin, and gamma globulin bands were seen from the serum electrophoresis of infected and healthy dogs. Compared to the control group, significant decreases in the mean percentages of albumin (from 46.1+/-7.2 to 40.8+/-4.5%, P<0.05), alpha-1 globulin (from 3.9+/-0.4 to 0.8+/-0.2%, P<0.001), alpha-2 globulin (from 9.0+/-0.4 to 8.3+/-0.8%, P<0.01), and beta globulin (from 18.4+/-1.2 to 12.1+/-0.6%, P<0.001) in the infected group were determined. In contrast, gamma globulin fraction was significantly higher in infected dogs (38.1+/-4.6%) than in control dogs (22.7+/-7.2%; P<0.001). Moreover, significant correlations were determined between the percentages of the albumin and gamma globulin fractions and liver enzyme tests including aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase in infected dogs; however, no correlation was observed for the other protein fractions. In conclusion, marked alterations in serum protein pattern associated with strong modifications of serum protein concentrations are in accordance with the hepatic injury as affirmed by liver enzyme tests that were demonstrated in the canine toxoplasmosis. These findings showed that serum protein electrophoresis can be used in the diagnosis and prognosis of canine toxoplasmosis as a supplementary analysis in combination with serological, clinical, and laboratory findings of this disease.

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SummaryMycoplasma bovis is one of the most pathogenic agents in the Mycoplasma species that cause disease in cattle. In particular, young calves at less than 4 months of age are a considerable risk from pneumonia caused by M. bovis. In this study, we investigated M. bovis from tracheal swabs and blood sera of cattle which showed respiratory symptoms. A total of 127 tracheal swab samples were collected from seven different farms in Turkey. In addition, a total 254 acute and convelance sera were collected from the same cattle at intervals 15 days. The materials were collected from cattle between 3-12 months of age that reported respiratory problems such as broncho-pneumonia with coughing, depression, lethargy and fever. Mycoplasma bovis was investigated in tracheal swab samples and sera collected from the cattle by using PCR and ELISA respectively. The PCR results showed that M. bovis infections were positive in 4 different farms. The rates ranged from 5.3% (1/19) to 37.5% (6/16). Out of the 127 cattle examined, 45 (35.4%) were positive for M. bovis antibodies, while 82 (64.6%) were found to be negative. All PCR positive cattle were also found to be positive by ELISA. However by using ELISA, M. bovis infections were positive in all farms and the ELISA positive rates ranged from 20% (2/10) to 68.8% (11/16). Considering these results, in especially chronic infections, ELISA is a more useful method than PCR to detect M. bovis infection. Keywords: Cattle, ELISA, Mycoplasma bovis, PCR Sığırlarda Mycoplasma bovis Infeksiyonunun ELISA ve PCR ile Teşhisi ÖzetMycoplasma bovis, Mycoplasma etkenleri içerisinde sığırlarda infeksiyona neden olan en patojen etkenlerden biridir. Özellikle, 4 aylık yaşın altındaki genç buzağılarda, M. bovis'in neden olduğu pnömonilerde artan bir risk bulunmaktadır. Bu çalışmada solunum sistemi infeksiyonu semptomları gösteren sığırların trachea svapları ve kan serumlarından M. bovis infeksiyonunun teşhisi ve M. bovis teşhisi için serolojik ve moleküler metodların karşılaştırılması amaçlanmıştır. Türkiye'de bulunan 7 farklı çiflikten gönderilen 127 tracheal svap örneği ile 15 gün arayla aynı sığırlardan alınan 254 adet akut ve konvelesans serum örneği PCR ve ELISA yöntemleriyle incelendi. Bu örnekler 3-12 aylık yaşlar da olan ve bronkopnömoni, öksürük, depresyon, halsizlik ve ateş gibi solunum sistemi infeksiyonu semptomu gösteren sığırlardan toplandı. Tracheal svap örneklerinin PCR sonuçlarına göre 4 farklı çiftik M. bovis infeksiyonu yönünden pozitif bulundu. Oranlar %5.3 (1/19) ile %37.5 (6/16) arasında bulundu. Mycoplasma bovis antikorları yönünden incelen 127 sığıra ait serumlarda, 45 (%35.4) adeti pozitif olarak saptandı; 82 (%64.6) serum ise negatif olarak saptandı. PCR'da pozitif olarak saptanan tüm sığırlar ELISA yöntemiyle de pozitif olarak saptandı. M. bovis infeksiyonu tüm çiftliklerde pozitif olarak saptandı ve ELISA oranları %20 (2/10) ile %68 (11/16) arasında değişkenlik gösterdi. Bu sonuçlar göz önüne alındığında, özellikle kronik infeksiyonlarda M. bovis infeksiyonunun teşhisinde ...