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- Survey of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis in road-killed wild carnivores in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Loureiro, Filipa; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaA survey to determine the occurrence of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in wild carnivores in Portugal was conducted by testing samples from road-killed animals between 2009 and 2012. Postmortem examinations were performed and tissues were collected from wild carnivores representing four families and six different species, with a total of 74 animals analyzed. Cultures were performed by using Löwenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 solid media and acid-fast isolates were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and mycobactin dependency characteristics. Tissues were also screened for MAP by directly extracting DNA and testing for the MAP-specific sequences. The occurrence of infected animals (an animal had at least one tissue that was positive for culture or direct PCR) was 27.0% (n = 20). MAP was isolated from culture of 25 tissue samples (3.8%) and was detected by direct PCR in 40 (6.0%) samples. Infection was recorded in 5/6 studied species: 7/49 (14.3%) red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), 3/3 (100%) beech martens (Martes foina), 2/4 (50.0%) Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), 7/15 (46.7%) Egyptian mongooses (Herpestes ichneumon), and 1/1 (100%) European badger (Meles meles). These species represent three different taxonomic families: Canidae (14.3% were positive), Mustelidae (75.0% were positive), and Herpestidae (46.7% were positive). The results of this study confirm the presence of MAP infection in wild carnivores in Portugal.
- Five years in the detection of Talaromyces marneffei in Portugal. It’s time to think about!Publication . Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Soares, Ana Sofia; Ferreira, R.; Ferreira, T.; Santos, Marlene; Matos, Manuela
- Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in kidney samples of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Portugal: Evaluation of different methodsPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Matos, Manuela; Álvares, Sofia; Mendes, Andreia; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana Cláudia.Paratuberculosis or Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The present work is part of a wider set of studies designed to assess the prevalence of paratuberculosis in free ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). With that purpose, 877 free-ranging red deer legally hunted in the Centre-eastern Portugal were submitted to necropsy and sampled for molecular methods, microbiology and histopathology. Thirty-seven (4.2%) kidneys revealed acid-fast bacilli when screened with the Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Map was detected by IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in thirty (81.1%) of the Ziehl-Neelsen positive kidneys. Subsequent PCR and/or culture from the different organs of the 37 examined animals allowed us to detect 86.4% (32 animals) infected red deer. Our results suggest that renal involvement in Map infected deer may be underdiagnosed and thus the routine examination of this organ and its inclusion in PCR techniques designed for Map detection could substantially improve the diagnostic of paratuberculosis in red deer.
- Reação de polimerase em cadeia (PCR): deteção de bactérias do complexo Mycobacterium avium associadas a linfadenite granulomatosaPublication . Coelho, Ana Cláudia; Matos, Ana Cristina; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, ManuelaReação de polimerase em cadeia (PCR): deteção de bactérias do complexo Mycobacterium avium associadas a linfadenite granulomatosa.
- Disseminated Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis infection in two wild eurasian otters (Lutra lutra L.) from PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Matos, Manuela; Álvares, Sofia; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana CláudiaDisseminated Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) infections were found in two Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra, L. 1758) killed by vehicular trauma in February and March 2010 in Castelo Branco, Portugal. At postmortem examination, the organs showed no significant gross alterations; however, microscopically, both animals had diffuse lymphadenitis with macrophage infiltration and deposition of hyaline material in the center of the lymphoid follicles. Acid-fast organisms were isolated from gastrointestinal tissue samples via bacteriologic culture. These organisms were identified as M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis by IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Additionally, direct IS900 PCR-positive results were obtained for multiple organs of both animals. This is the first report of MAP infection of otters in Portugal.
- Detection of Francisella spp. in wild animal lymph nodes and lungs by PCR and histopathological techniques.Publication . Coelho, Ana Cláudia; João, S.; Ribeiro, A.; Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Soares, Ana Sofia; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Matos, ManuelaThe Genetics and Biotechnology Conference (JGB) of the University of Tras-os-Montes and Alto Douro (UTAD) is an annual scientific event organized jointly by the Nucleus of Students of Genetics and Biotechnology (ADNGB) of UTAD and the Direction of the Course of Genetics and Biotechnology in collaboration with the teaching staff of the Department of Genetics and Biotechnology (DGB). As a result of the scientificpedagogical partnership established between professors of DGB (UTAD) and of Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences of the University of León (UL), Spain, it was considered important to repeat the shared organization of this event between professors and students of the UTAD and UL designating it as XII Genetics and Biotechnology Conference / II Genetics and Biotechnology Iberian Conference (XII JGB / II JIGB). The main objective of the XII JGB /II JIGB is to update knowledge in the area of Genetics and Biotechnology. To this end, the focus of this event is the conferences given by renowned national and international scientists and the thematic workshops that will constitute more practical sessions. The XII JGB /II JIGB will also focus on interaction, exchange of experiences and scientific debates between Portuguese and Spanish students and professors. The best oral and posters presentations will be awarded. The target audience is Portuguese and Spanish students, researchers and university professors from the scientific areas of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology as well as High School teachers from the Biology area. A wide variety of topics will be discussed, in the different areas of Genetics and Biotechnology, such as Plant, Animal, Human, Microbial, Evolutionary, Cancer, Forensic, Ethics, Entrepreneurship, among others.
- First morphological and molecular isolation of Talaromyces marneffei in beech marten (Martes foina) in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Baptista, Catarina Jota; Oliveira, Paula A.; Soares, Ana Sofia; Figueira, Luís; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaTalaromyces marneffei is a zoonotic fungus that mostly infects immunocompromised individuals. For the first time, this fungus was isolated in an adult beech marten (Martes foina) hit by a car, found dead in Penamacor, Portugal. During the necropsy, different samples (skin, fur, lymph nodes, lung, spleen, kidneys, and brain) were collected and processed for microbiology (including mycology) and molecular biology. T. marneffei was identified through its mycological characteristics and confirmed by PCR in hair samples. No other lesions or alterations were reported, except a concomitant presence of M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in lung, kidney and brain samples. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first description of this fungus beech marten, as well as the first case of co-infection with M. avium subsp. paratuberculosis in wildlife fauna. These results suggest a sylvatic lifecycle of T. marneffei, involving beech martens, in Portugal.
- Isolation of Talaromyces marneffei from the Skin of an Egyptian Mongoose (Herpestes ichneumon) in PortugalPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Alves, D.; Saraiva, Sofia; Soares, Ana Sofia; Soriano, Tatiana; Figueira, Luís; Fraga, Fátima; Matos, Manuela; Coelho, Ana CláudiaWe report a case of Talaromyces marneffei skin infection in an Egyptian mongoose ( Herpestes ichneumon) in Portugal. The isolated fungus was identified through its mycologic characteristics, morphology, and PCR amplification.
- Mycobacteriosis in wildlife: a general approachPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Matos, Manuela; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana CláudiaMycobacterial species are raising serious concerns in livestock and wild animals worldwide. In wildlife, mycobacterial infection has been reported in hundreds of species and likely has the potential to occur in every vertebrate. Since this infection is of a chronic nature the best strategy to control the infection is through early identification of infected animals, and better diagnostic measures are required for effective control programs. With the development of new molecular methods for detecting and characterizing microorganisms, the ecology of mycobacteria has rapidly advanced in all areas. In human medicine, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays are accepted diagnostic standards, replacing or complementing culture isolation and acid-fast staining. The mycobacterial species that produce tuberculosis in humans and animals are included in the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). Mycobacteria from the Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) cause a variety of diseases including tuberculosis-like disease in humans and birds, disseminated infections in immunocompromised patients, lymphadenitis in humans and mammals and paratuberculosis in ruminants. This manuscript is a review of the scientific literature on the classification and biology, epidemiology, clinical signs, pathology, diagnostic techniques, and public health concerns of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complexes in wild mammals.
- Detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in kidney samples of red deer (Cervus elaphus) in Portugal: Evaluation of different methodsPublication . Matos, Ana Cristina; Figueira, Luís; Martins, Maria Helena; Matos, Manuela; Álvares, Sofia; Mendes, Andreia; Pinto, Maria de Lurdes; Coelho, Ana CláudiaParatuberculosis or Johne's disease, caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map), is a chronic granulomatous enteritis affecting both domestic and wild ruminants. The present work is part of a wider set of studies designed to assess the prevalence of paratuberculosis in free ranging red deer (Cervus elaphus). With that purpose, 877 free-ranging red deer legally hunted in the Centre-eastern Portugal were submitted to necropsy and sampled for molecular methods, microbiology and histopathology. Thirty-seven (4.2%) kidneys revealed acid-fast bacilli when screened with the Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Map was detected by IS900 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in thirty (81.1%) of the Ziehl-Neelsen positive kidneys. Subsequent PCR and/or culture from the different organs of the 37 examined animals allowed us to detect 86.4% (32 animals) infected red deer. Our results suggest that renal involvement in Map infected deer may be underdiagnosed and thus the routine examination of this organ and its inclusion in PCR techniques designed for Map detection could substantially improve the diagnostic of paratuberculosis in red deer.