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Biomedical subjects

J L Watts

Publications and source records attributed to J L Watts.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

Evaluation of the RapID NH system for identification of Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella multocida, Pasteurella haemolytica, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated from cattle and pigs with respiratory disease.

Haemophilus somnus, Pasteurella haemolytica, Pasteurella multocida, and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae from cattle and pigs with respiratory disease were used to evaluate the RapID NH system (Innovative Diagnostics, Atlanta, Ga.). Minor modifications of the RapID NH system to include animal source and growth requirements would permit the identification of all isolates tested.

Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae↗

Use of modified Rambach agar to differentiate Streptococcus uberis from other mastitis streptococci.

The medium of Rambach was modified to permit differentiation of mastitis streptococci. A total of 377 streptococci isolated from bovine IMI was used in the study. Of the 159 strains identified as Streptococcus uberis, 151 strains (94.9%) were beta-galactosidase-positive and yielded blue colonies on modified Rambach agar. In comparison, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Enterococcus saccharolyticus, or Enterococcus faecalis strains were negative for propylene glycol utilization (red colonies) or beta-galactosidase production; all strains yielded colorless colonies on modified Rambach agar. However, 5 of 35 (14.3%) Streptococcus equinus strains were also positive for beta-galactosidase. Results indicate that modified Rambach agar is a convenient medium for the differentiation of the Strep. uberis from the other mastitis streptococci. Furthermore, modified Rambach agar could be easily incorporated as a screening medium for Strep. uberis in mastitis bacteriology laboratories.

Agar↗

Evaluation of the Staph-Zym system with staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections.

A total of 148 staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections were used to evaluate the Staph-Zym system (ROSCO, Taastrup, Denmark). The overall accuracy of the system was 91.9%. The system correctly identified all strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus simulans, and Staphylococcus xylosus and 95% of Staphylococcus intermedius strains. Of 33 Staphylococcus hyicus strains, 31 (93.9%) were classified correctly by the Staph-Zym system, as well as 8 (80%) of 10 Staphylococcus chromogenes strains. All 11 Staphylococcus epidermidis strains and the 1 Staphylococcus haemolyticus strain included in the study were identified, but the Staph-Zym system had difficulty distinguishing strains of Staphylococcus warneri and Staphylococcus hominis from other species in the S. epidermidis group. The Staph-Zym system correctly identified all six S. xylosus strains and two of three Staphyloccus sciuri strains. The Staph-Zym system was considered an acceptable alternative to conventional methods for identification of bovine mammary gland isolates.

Animals↗

A convenient method for differentiation of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine mammary glands.

The utility of trehalose-mannitol broth and arabinose-cellobiose broth for identification of Staphylococcus epidermidis and novobiocin-resistant staphylococci was determined using 236 coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine mammary glands. None of the 49 S. epidermidis strains was positive in trehalose-mannitol broth; whereas, all strains of Staphylococcus hyicus, Staphylococcus chromogenes, Staphylococcus haemolyticus, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus warneri, and Staphylococcus simulans were positive. Of the novobiocin-resistant staphylococcal species, only Staphylococcus saprophyticus was negative in arabinose-cellobiose broth. Except for one strain of Staphylococcus sciuri and one strain of Staphylococcus kloosii, all remaining strains of novobiocin-resistant staphylococcal species were positive in arabinose-cellobiose broth. Results indicate that trehalose-mannitol broth is an acceptable method for identification of S. epidermidis isolated from bovine mammary glands. Furthermore, arabinose-cellobiose broth is a useful method of screening for novobiocin-resistant staphylococci.

Animals↗

Effects of a 1.94% sulfonic acid teat dip and a 1% iodophor teat dip on teat canal infections in lactating dairy cows.

Sixty-three cows were used in a natural exposure trial for 1 yr to determine the effects of a 1.94% linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid and a 1% iodophor teat dip on teat canal and intramammary infections. Overall, total teat canal infections increased 28.9% and total intramammary infections increased 30% in quarters dipped with the linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid compared with a 14.3% increase in teat canal infections and a 17.4% decrease in intramammary infections for the iodophor group. Higher frequencies were observed for teat canal and intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus epidermidis in the linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid group. Staphylococcus hyicus was the predominant organism isolated from teat canal and intramammary infections in the iodophor group. No difference was observed between the two teat dips in the persistence of Staphylococcus aureus teat canal infections. A greater number of S. hyicus teat canal infections persisted in the iodophor group, whereas teat canal infections produced by S. epidermidis and Staphylococcus xylosus persisted longer in the sulfonic acid group. Results of this study indicated that use of a linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid teat dip for 1 yr was not associated with increased S. aureus teat canal infections and intramammary infections. However, linear dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid appeared to affect the distribution of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from teat canal infections and intramammary infections.

Administration, Topical↗

Bovine lactoferrin receptors in Staphylococcus aureus isolated from bovine mastitis.

A total of 103 Staphylococcus aureus strains isolated from bovine mastitis were tested for bovine lactoferrin binding in a 125I-labeled protein binding assay. More than 85% of the strains demonstrated high to moderate and a few showed little or no binding. Bovine lactoferrin binding to S. aureus cells was high when grown on blood, nutrient, or proteose-peptone agar, but the binding capacity was low with cells grown on salt rich media, in skim milk, or in broth. The kinetics of 125I-labeled bovine lactoferrin binding required approximately 90 min for complete saturation with optimal interaction in the pH range 4.0 to 7.0. The lactoferrin-staphylococci interaction was specific with a high affinity (association constant, Ka 14 x 10(6) L/mol). Scatchard plot analysis estimated the number of binding sites per cell at 7200 on strain SA-340. Unlabeled bovine lactoferrin effectively displaced the binding of the labeled ligand to strain SA-340 in a dose-dependent manner. Bovine lactoferrin binding was inhibited or displaced by human lactoferrin. Various plasma, connective tissue, or mucosal secretory proteins tested did not inhibit lactoferrin-staphylococci interaction. Bovine lactoferrin binding components on SA-340 were resistant to glycolytic enzymes and moderately susceptible to proteolytic digestion. Two proteins with an estimated molecular weight of approximately 92 and 67 kDa were identified as bovine lactoferrin binding components of S. aureus strain SA-340.

Animals↗

Comparison between lactoferrin and subepithelial matrix protein binding in Staphylococcus aureus associated with bovine mastitis.

Staphylococcus aureus strains (n = 100) isolated from bovine mastitis were classified according to the presence of capsular polysaccharide serotype 5 (n = 46), type 8 (n = 26), and non-5/8 (n = 28). Strains from each type were tested for protein interaction in a 125I-labeled ligand binding assay. A majority of type 5 and type 8 strains showed a higher degree of binding to lactoferrin, fibronectin, and IgG than the non-5/8 strains. Fibrinogen binding was low in all serotypes. Most of the type 5 and non-5/8 strains bound less than 10% laminin, whereas type 8 strains bound laminin in the 11 to 20% range. Non-5/8 strains significantly differed from type 5 in lactoferrin, fibronectin, fibrinogen, and IgG and also from type 8 in fibrinogen and IgG binding. The differences in protein binding between type 5 and type 8 were nonsignificant. The degree of lactoferrin binding in all types positively correlated with laminin binding. Lactoferrin and fibrinogen bindings were correlated in type 5 and type 8 strains. Lactoferrin and fibronectin bindings were correlated only in type 5 strains. These data suggest that bovine lactoferrin binding is common and associated with subepithelial matrix protein interactions in certain serotypes of S. aureus.

Animals↗

Failure of supplementation with vitamin E to prevent bronchopulmonary dysplasia in infants less than 1,500 g birth weight.

In a randomized trial to determine whether oral vitamin E reduced stages III and IV bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) by 50%, 268 infants were randomly allocated, after stratification by birth weight and severity of disease, to receive vitamin E 25 units or an indistinguishable placebo. The experimental (E) group and the control (C) group were similar in weight, gestational ages, Apgar scores, severity of illness, and initial oxygen and ventilator exposure. Serum vitamin E levels were significantly different within 48 h of administration and remained well above normal adult levels from the first week of life in the experimental group. There was no difference in the rates of early death, BPD at 28 days, or mortality from BPD. Severity was similar and no difference was seen in the incidence of necrotizing enterocolitis or sepsis. There was no evidence that vitamin E supplementation offered protection against chronic lung disease in infants less than 1,500 g birth weight.

Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia↗

In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate teat dip.

The activity of a 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate postmilking teat germicide in reducing the numbers of Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae on the skin of excised teats from cows was determined. The product yielded logarithmic reductions of 4.09 and 4.10 against S aureus and Str agalactiae, respectively, compared with 3.80 and 3.81 reductions, using a 1% iodophor dip. Germicide tolerance to an organic load containing Serratia marcescens or Pseudomonas spp was also determined. Organisms were not recovered from the product 8 hours after introduction of a simulated organic load containing either species of bacteria. The germicide was further evaluated against S aureus and Str agalactiae, using experimental challenge-exposure procedures in a research dairy herd. Efficacy was 73.4% (P less than 0.001) against S aureus and 68.1% (P less than 0.005) against Str agalactiae.

Animals↗

Bovine lactoferrin binding to six species of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections.

Bovine lactoferrin (BLf), an acute-phase iron-binding secretory protein present in secretions of the bovine udder, was demonstrated to bind to the following staphylococcal species associated with bovine intramammary infections: S. epidermidis, S. warneri, S. hominis, S. xylosus, S. hyicus, and S. chromogenes. The degree of 125I-labeled BLf uptake significantly varied among the blood agar-grown cells of all six species of coagulase-negative staphylococci tested. Isolates identified as S. xylosus demonstrated the highest (mean, 35.1 x 10(6) +/- 13.3 x 10(6) nmol) and S. hyicus the lowest (mean, 10.7 x 10(6) +/- 5.9 x 10(6) nmol) binding to 125I-BLf. BLf binding was optimum at an acidic pH, with time-dependent binding saturation ranging from 70 min for S. warneri to 240 min for S. hominis. The BLf-binding mechanism was specific, with affinity constants (Ka values) ranging between 0.96 x 10(6) and 11.90 x 10(6) liters/mol. The numbers of BLf-binding sites per cell, as determined by using Scatchard analysis, were as follows: S. epidermidis, 3,600; S. warneri, 1,900; S. hominis, 4,100; S. xylosus, 4,400; S. hyicus, 6,100; and S. chromogenes, 4,700. 125I-BLf binding to all species was inhibited by unlabled BLf and unlabeled human lactoferrin, whereas none of the various plasma, connective tissue, or mucosal secretory proteins or carbohydrates tested caused significant interference. BLf-binding receptors of the six coagulase-negative staphylococcal species demonstrated marked differences in patterns of susceptibility to proteolytic or glycolytic enzyme digestion and to heat or periodate treatment. These data suggest that the BLf-binding components in S. epidermidis and S. warneri are proteins containing glycosidyl residues. In the remaining four species, the proteinaceous nature of the BLf-binding component was evident, but the involvement of glycosidyl residues was not clear. Results of this study establish the presence of specific binding components for BLf on coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections.

Animals↗

Collagen binding, elastase production, and slime production associated with coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections.

Collagen binding, elastase production, slime production, and associated somatic cell counts were determined with 160 strains of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections. Mean binding values for type I and II collagen with Staphylococcus epidermidis, S. chromogenes, and S. hyicus strains were 5.8, 6.6, and 7.4 and 4.3, 4.2, and 4.9%, respectively. Eleven of 28 (39.3%) S. epidermidis, 1 of 38 (2.6%) S. chromogenes, and 1 of 94 (1.1%) S. hyicus strains were elastase positive. Slime production was noted with 12 (42.9%) S. epidermidis, 1 (2.6%) S. chromogenes, and 11 (11.7%) S. hyicus strains. No differences in somatic cell counts were observed with type I or type II collagen binding, elastase production, or slime production with S. epidermidis or S. chromogenes. However, somatic cell counts associated with S. hyicus strains with collagen type I binding affinities of greater than 5 and type II binding affinities of greater than 3 were 320.7 x 10(3) compared with 163.9 x 10(3) for strains with lower binding affinities.

Animals↗

Effect of postmilking teat antisepsis on teat canal infections in lactating dairy cows.

Effects of a .18% iodophor teat dip and a fatty acid plus lactic acid teat dip on teat canal infections were studied in two separate trials under experimental challenge procedures using Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus agalactiae. The iodophor teat dip was 90% effective in preventing new S. aureus teat canal infections and 95.6% effective in reducing progression of S. aureus teat canal infections to intramammary infections. The dip also reduced persistence of S. aureus teat canal colonizations from week to week by 94.4%. The fatty acid plus lactic acid dip had no effect on preventing S. aureus teat canal infections but reduced progression of S. aureus teat canal infections to intramammary infections by 43.8%. The fatty acid plus lactic acid dip also reduced the persistence of S. aureus teat canal infections by 39%. An insufficient number of Strep. agalactiae teat canal infections was detected in both trials for valid analyses. Neither dip had any effect on prevalence of naturally occurring, coagulase-negative staphylococcal teat canal infections or on teat canal infections by other organisms.

Animals↗

Minimum inhibitory concentrations and disk diffusion zone diameter for selected antibiotics against streptococci isolated from bovine intramammary infections.

The antimicrobial susceptibility to 11 antibiotics was determined of 358 streptococcal isolates representing six species was determined. All isolates were from milk samples obtained from clinical or subclinical cases of bovine mastitis. Agar disk diffusion zone diameters and minimum inhibitory concentrations were obtained for all isolates. Of the antibiotics tested that are available for mastitis therapy, cephalothin, penicillin, ampicillin, novobiocin, and erythromycin demonstrated acceptable activity against nonenterococcal streptococci, but only penicillin and ampicillin demonstrated moderate activity against Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis demonstrated substantial resistance to cephalothin, erythromycin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline, while the nonenterococcal streptococci demonstrated substantial resistance to gentamicin, streptomycin, and tetracycline. Streptococcus uberis demonstrated greater antibiotic resistance than did Streptococcus dysgalactiae, while Aerococcus viridans demonstrated the greatest overall resistance of the nonenterococcal species.

Animals↗

Effects of novel intramammary device models on incidence of mastitis after experimental challenge.

First-calf heifers were fitted with five different intramammary device models prior to, or within 2 mo after parturition. Each model represented an increase in the weight of the device to be supported by the epithelial cells of the gland cistern. Each model was tested in four animals by placing devices in two quarters while remaining quarters served as controls. Foremilk and stripping quarter secretion samples were collected prior to device placement and weekly thereafter and analyzed for total and differential cell counts, bacteriologic status, and NAGase activity. During the prebacterial challenge treatment period, foremilk and stripping SCC as well as percentage of neutrophils and NAGase activity in most device-fitted quarters remained significantly elevated over controls. Frequency of naturally occurring intramammary infection during the prechallenge period was lowest in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5. Frequency of infection with coagulase-negative staphylococci also tended to be lower in quarters fitted with Models 2, 4, and 5. Approximately 4 mo after device placement, all quarters were challenged by intracisternal inoculation with about 565 cfu Streptococcus uberis. Results across all models combined showed that although mean foremilk and striping SCC and percentage of neutrophils were significantly elevated in device-fitted quarters immediately prior to bacterial challenge, only Model 4 showed a protective effect. Several models were superior to others in elevating SCC and percentage of neutrophils, but no differences in susceptibility to Strep. uberis infection were observed among models based on these cytological characteristics.

Acetylglucosaminidase↗

Effect of milk on fibronectin and collagen type I binding to Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from bovine mastitis.

Tryptic soy broth (TSB)-grown cells of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from acute and chronic bovine mastitis bound mainly 125I-fibronectin (Fn) [corrected], whereas strains of nine species of coagulase-negative staphylococci showed a predominant interaction with 125I-collagen (Cn) [corrected] type I. A particle agglutination assay (PAA) was used to examine the interaction of coagulase-negative staphylococci with 125I-Fn and 125I-Cn immobilized on latex. All 368 coagulase-negative staphylococci demonstrated high 125I-Cn and moderate to low 125I-Fn interactions in the PAA. Cn-PAA reactivity was high among strains of Staphylococcus xylosus (84.2%), Staphylococcus simulans (77.8%), Staphylococcus epidermidis (76.7%), and Staphylococcus hyicus (74.3%), whereas all six Staphylococcus capitis strains clumped Cn-PAA reagent. Incubating TSB-grown cells in 10% skim milk for 1 h decreased the 125I-Fn- and 125I-Cn-binding affinity in most of the S. aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci, while growth in 10% skim milk for 18 h resulted in more than 90% decrease or complete loss of interaction with these proteins. Decreased 125I-Fn binding in the presence of milk was correlated with protease production but not with 125I-Cn binding.

Acute Disease↗

Evaluation of the Minitek Gram-Positive Set for identification of streptococci isolated from bovine mammary glands.

A total of 127 isolates were used to evaluate the Minitek Gram-Positive Set for identification of streptococci cultured from bovine mammary glands. The overall accuracy of the Minitek Gram-Positive Set was 34.6%. Of 12 Streptococcus agalactiae strains, 4 (33.3%) were correctly identified. Of 43 Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains, 32 (74.4%) were identified correctly. Of 44 Streptococcus uberis strains, 42 (95.5%) were identified as Enterococcus spp. Poor performance was attributed to the limited number of veterinary strains in the data base. Incorporation of large numbers of veterinary isolates into the data base is needed for further development of this system.

Animals↗