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Biomedical subjects

L Nuotio

Publications and source records attributed to L Nuotio.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus control in Finland 1998-2004.

The bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) situation among dairy herds and suckler-cow herds was monitored annually from 1998 to 2004. Bulk-tank milk (BTM) samples from all dairy herds and serum samples from beef animals at slaughter were examined for BVDV antibodies using a commercial indirect ELISA test. New BTM antibody-positive herds and herds with a history of BTM antibodies, but previously untested were sampled individually and tested for evidence of BVDV. The reason for the antibody-positivity or the source of infection was investigated. The percentage of BTM antibody-positive herds ranged from 0.45% in 2000 to 0.15% in 2003. The number of herds with persistently infected (PI) animals ranged from 10 in 2001 to 0 in 2003. The most common cause for a herd to become BTM antibody-positive was the purchase of a seropositive animal or a PI animal or a dam carrying a PI fetus. The new BVD decree of 2004 will be described in brief.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Eradication of enzootic bovine leukosis from Finland.

Enzootic bovine leukosis (EBL) was recognized among Finnish cattle in 1966. Administrative decisions specifying and refining official control measures were given in 1966, 1976, 1980, and 1993. The measures' key principle always has been 'test and slaughter'. The EBL/bovine leukosis virus (BLV) infection situation was monitored at meat inspection, and hematologically between 1970 and 1977 and serologically between 1978 and 1989. Annual surveys including all dairy herds and samples from beef animals were conducted in 1990-2001. Bulk-tank milk samples represented the dairy herds in the surveys; the beef animals were sampled individually at slaughter. The maximum positive herd-level percentage in the surveys was 0.03%. EBL/BLV infection was evenly dispersed in the southern part of the country and nonexistent in the northern part. We conclude that herd-level prevalence of EBL/BLV infection never exceeded 5%. It nevertheless took 30 years to eradicate the disease and the infection. EBL was eradicated from mainland Finland in 1996 and from the island district of Ahvenanmaa in 1999. Annual monitoring of the EBL situation continues.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2001

A microbiological six-plate method for the identification of certain antibiotic groups in incurred kidney and muscle samples.

A microbiological method was developed for group level identification of antibiotics in incurred kidney and muscle samples from cattle and pigs. The method was composed of six test bacterium-plate growth medium combinations and the result was recorded as a profile of growth inhibition zones. The sample profiles were compared to two sets of references: one constructed with standard antibiotic solution profiles, and the other with these combined with profiles of microbiologically and chemically identified residues from incurred samples. The algorithm employed in profile comparison located the minimal sum of absolute pairwise differences over the tests, with the addition of a number of experimentally observed intra-test criteria. Chemical identification and quantitation of incurred residues was based on liquid chromatography. The method identified penicillin G as a penicillinase sensitive penicillin, enrofloxacin and ciprofloxacin belonging to fluoroquinolone group, and oxytetracycline belonging to tetracycline group. Each of these residues was microbiologically identified below the Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) for kidney tissue. Combining sample profiles with the standard reference data set did not enhance the resolution. Microbiological and chemical identification test results were in good agreement. The results of this study show that a microbiological identification method is a useful tool in preliminary characterisation of antibiotic residues in animal tissues.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Canine distemper virus neutralising antibodies in vaccinated dogs.

The associations between the levels of canine distemper virus neutralising antibodies and vaccination history, age and gender were investigated in a cross-sectional study of a sample of 4627 dogs from the Finnish urban dog population. Dogs vaccinated with either Canlan (Langford Laboratories) or Dohyvac (Solvay Animal Health) or with both, had significantly lower titres than those vaccinated with Candur (Behringwerke), Duramune (Fort Dodge Laboratories) or Nobivac (Intervet), or with combinations including at least one of these. The vaccines were classified as having low and high immunogenicity on the basis of the geometric mean titre achieved by the vaccine when compared with the geometric mean titre of the entire dataset. The low geometric mean titre of Canlan, Dohyvac and their combination groups resulted from the large proportion of dogs without detectable titres, especially dogs under one year of age, rather than from uniformly low titres. An age-stratified comparison of vaccine usage and titres showed that the division of the vaccines into low and high immunogenicity vaccines was apparent in the dogs less than two years of age but not in the older dogs. The first vaccination with the high immunogenicity vaccines resulted in a higher proportion of dogs with detectable antibodies than even repeated vaccination with the low immunogenicity vaccines. Neither the time elapsed since the most recent vaccination nor the gender of the dogs was associated with the titre of antibody.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2000

Preventing the spread of maedi-visna in sheep through a voluntary control programme in Finland.

The sheep disease maedi-visna (MV) was introduced into Finland in 1981 and had spread to eight flocks in the southwestern part of the country when first detected in a survey in 1994. Six more seropositive flocks were subsequently traced, bringing the total to 14. MV has a notifiable disease status in Finland that provides for official restrictive measures to which all infected herds are subject. These measures are withdrawn once the seropositive animals and their progeny are culled and the flock has showed negative signs in the test done twice, or after total culling. A voluntary control programme was initiated in January 1995 to extend official control efforts. The programme furnishes a guideline for culling, restrictions on contacts, and a timetable for testing the flock to attain MV-free status. Seven flocks of the 14 were slaughtered either immediately or after a period under restrictive measures. One flock finished sheep production after four years under restrictive measures. Selective culling and repeated testing was attempted with the other six flocks, three of which attained MV-free status. One flock finished sheep production after two years in the control programme, the other two dropped out of the programme when the restrictive measures were withdrawn. It was concluded that the control programme was salient in eradicating MV from Finland and that serological monitoring of the situation must be continuous.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

Serological survey and epidemiological investigation of maedi-visna in sheep in Finland.

A survey for antibodies to maedi-visna virus (MV) in the Finnish sheep surveillance flocks was conducted in 1994. Examination of a total of 12931 serum samples from animals over 1 year of age from 545 flocks (81% of all flocks) revealed eight seropositive flocks and the subsequent epidemiological investigation yielded one additional seropositive flock, indicating a low prevalence of 1.6%. The infection was very probably imported from Sweden in 1981, but it was not detected until the survey was conducted 13 years later. The entire primary infection flock was slaughtered in 1995. 77% of the sheep were seropositive but the animals were clinically healthy and only one (5%) of the contact flocks of the primary infection flock had contracted the infection. This secondary infection flock, 77% of which was seropositive, was slaughtered in 1994; however, animals in this flock had respiratory problems and the lungs of three sheep showed typical MV lesions. Seven (24%) of its contact flocks had contracted the infection and these each had one or two seropositive animals except for one flock which had seven (18%) seropositive animals. The results show that the initial spread of MV can be insidious and wide before infection is revealed in surveys or any clinical cases are encountered.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1999

Prevalence and geographic distribution of bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) infection in Finland 1993-1997.

Bulk milk samples from every herd supplying milk to dairies in Finland were examined for the presence of antibodies to BVD virus (BVDV) annually during 1993-1997. The highest prevalence, 0.99% in 1994, declined to 0.37% in 1996; however, this favourable trend appeared to discontinue in 1997, where the prevalence remained at 0.41%. In 1993, sera of all individual animals from bulk milk antibody-positive herds were examined for the presence of these antibodies. Since 1994, only sera of animals from herds with a bulk milk absorbance reading greater than 0.250 in the EIA test were examined individually. Three geographic foci of BVDV antibody-positive dairy herds were resolved in 1994, one in the north-western, another in the eastern and a diffuse third in the southern part of Finland. A distinct limiting of the spread was apparent in 1997. Beef cattle were also studied during 1993-1997; in 1993 breeding units, in 1994 mainly beef suckler herds and in 1995-1997 serum samples of beef animals at slaughter were examined for the presence of antibodies to BVDV. The prevalence of seropositive herds in 1993 and 1994 was 30.2% and 3.2%, respectively, while the prevalence among slaughter animals ranged 0.8-1.6%. Seronegative animals in herds with > 50% of seropositive animals were examined for the presence of BVD-virus. A total of 40 dairy herds and two beef herds with viraemic (persistently infected, PI) animals was encountered during 1993-1997. A comprehensive control programme and a more specific, cooperatively funded eradication programme for dairy cattle were launched in 1994. These programmes most probably contributed to the decline in prevalence during 1994-1996.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Outbreak off canine distemper in vaccinated dogs in Finland.

Canine distemper reappeared in dogs in Finland in 1990 after a 16-year absence. In 1994 to 1995 an outbreak occurred in areas with a high density dog population which involved dogs vaccinated against distemper. The estimated total number of cases was at least 5000, and 865 cases were confirmed by indirect fluorescent antibody testing of 3649 epithelial cell samples. The signs recorded by veterinary clinicians ranged from conjunctivitis, pyrexia and anorexia to signs of respiratory and gastrointestinal illness, with an estimated mortality of 30 per cent. Of the confirmed cases 631 (73 per cent) were between three and 24 months of age; 487 of these had been vaccinated at least once and 351 (41 per cent) had a complete vaccination history. Of these 351 fully vaccinated animals the proportion of dogs vaccinated with the most popular vaccine was significantly higher than would have been expected by its market share. In total, 4676 serum samples were collected from healthy vaccinated dogs during the peak and decline of the outbreak and tested for the presence of virus neutralising antibodies. The decrease in the proportion of young dogs with antibody titres < 1/8 coincided with the decline and end of the outbreak during the spring and summer of 1995. It was concluded that a critical decrease in the population's immunity during 1990 to 1994 was a major reason for the outbreak in the summer of 1994 and that the ultimate test for vaccines is an outbreak of disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Note: inhibition of the growth of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 by the microflora of porcine caecum and ileum in an in vitro model.

The growth of Yersinia enterocolitica O:3 was tested in an in vitro model of the porcine intestine at the physiological temperature of 39 degrees C of growing pigs. The model supported a stable population of Y. enterocolitica at a level 10(8)-10(9) cells ml-1. Plasmid profile analysis and the Ca(2+)-dependent proportion of the population suggested that the great majority of the Y. enterocolitica population retained the 70 kb virulence plasmid, pYV, throughout the experimental period of 5 d. The growth of Y. enterocolitica was substantially inhibited by the ileal and the caecal flora compared to the growth of the bacterium alone. Yersinia enterocolitica was not isolated after 3 d of cultivation.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Adhesion of Lactobacillus acidophilus to avian intestinal epithelial cells mediated by the crystalline bacterial cell surface layer (S-layer).

Lactobacillus acidophilus was isolated from washed and homogenized walls of the crop and caecum of an adult fowl. A strain that adhered well in the Fuller adhesion test was subcultured until colonies on Lactobacillus Selective agar changed from rough to smooth. This coincided with a change from aggregate to planktonic growth in liquid medium and a marked loss of ability to adhere. ultrastructure of cells from both types of culture was studied by electron microscopy. An S-layer formed the outermost part of the cell wall in the strongly-adherent strain, whereas this layer was covered with polymerized material or was absent in strains that lacked the ability to adhere, or those with reduced adherence.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

An in vitro model for studies on bacterial interactions in the avian caecum.

An in vitro intermittent-flow model was developed for studying bacterial interactions in the avian caecum. The model provides a closer simulation of caecal conditions than others described previously but does not require elaborate instrumentation. In preliminary trials, growth of caecal bacteria from an adult chicken was shown to be inhibitory to both Salmonella infantis and entero-haemorrhagic Escherichia coli.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Efficacy of different microbial preparations for controlling Salmonella colonisation in chicks and turkey poults by competitive exclusion.

1. Control by competitive exclusion of intestinal colonisation by Salmonella infantis was studied in domestic chicks and turkey poults given a commercial product developed for use with chickens, compared with two similar preparations containing intestinal microorganisms from turkeys. 2. Each type of material protected both avian species when given orally before challenge; the degree of protection depended at least as much on the type of preparation as its host origin.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Use of competitive exclusion to protect newly-hatched chicks against intestinal colonisation and invasion by Salmonella enteritidis PT4.

1. The recommended dose of a commercial competitive exclusion (CE) product (BROILACT) was given orally to newly-hatched broiler chicks to protect them against oral challenge by Salmonella enteritidis PT4. 2. In 5 replicate trials, half of the birds thus treated and half from untreated control groups were examined for salmonellas at 5 d and the other half at 12 d after challenge. 3. Caecal contents were examined quantitatively while heart, liver and spleen samples were examined qualitatively by enrichment. 4. The treatment effectively prevented both colonisation of the caeca and invasion of the other organs by S. enteritidis PT4; the average number of salmonellas was less than 10 colony forming units (cfu)/g of caecal contents in the treated birds and more than 10 million cfu/g in the untreated birds. 5. Infection of organs other than the caeca was completely prevented by protective treatment, whereas 38% of the untreated birds were still infected at the end of the trial.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1991

Pilot-scale testing of the competitive exclusion method in chickens.

1. The efficacy of a commercial competitive exclusion (CE) product, BROILACT, was tested in pilot-scale trials involving groups of 100 broiler chicks. 2. Each group was challenged with Salmonella infantis through contact with infected seeder birds and numbers of salmonellae in the caecal contents were determined weekly. 3. The performance of the birds was also monitored over a 5-week period. 4. The results showed a gradual decline of the infection, even in the untreated groups, and a dose-dependent response to treatment. 5. The treatment had no significant effect on the performance of the birds.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The competitive exclusion concept: development and future.

The origin of the competitive exclusion (CE) concept in controlling a Salmonella infantis outbreak in poultry in 1971 and the subsequent development of a commercial treatment product are described. The possible role of CE in salmonella control, current status of the concept and theories relating to the bacteria involved and mechanisms of protection are reviewed. Some observations are made on the need for methodological development and possibilities for extending the scope of CE to other pathogens and types of domestic animal.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Competitive exclusion in the young bird: challenge models, administration and reciprocal protection.

The competitive exclusion (CE) concept has been tested against both non-invasive and invasive salmonella serotypes. Studies with different challenge models indicate that CE treatment is likely to protect the young bird against all serotypes that are capable of intestinal colonization. Spray or 'droplet' application of the CE-treatment material was compared with administration in the first drinking water. Both methods gave a similar degree of protection against Salmonella infantis. A study was made to compare protection of newly hatched chicks and turkey poults by the one commercial CE product Broilact, and two similar preparations involving intestinal microorganisms from an adult turkey. Each preparation protected both avian species when administered orally prior to challenge, but the degree of protection obtained varied with the type of preparation and its host origin.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Competitive exclusion of campylobacters from poultry with K-bacteria and Broilact.

The competitive exclusion (CE) product (Broilact) which is effective against Salmonellas, was found to be inactive against campylobacters. Microecological concepts were applied in the search of a new competitive flora and two novel strains ('K-bacteria') were isolated. These strains resembled campylobacters but differed from them in morphology, enzyme profiles (API), cellular fatty acid profiles and when tested with a ribosomal RNA hybridization probe (Gene-Trak). Two-week laboratory trials on broiler chickens showed that CE treatment may protect the birds against campylobacters but revealed the need for facultatively anaerobic bacteria in establishing a protective flora. A 5-week pilot scale trial was carried out. The trial involved 1800 newly hatched chicks in 30 groups. K-bacteria and Broilact, which provided the necessary facultatively anaerobic bacteria, were administered to some of the birds in the first drinking water. A seeder bird technique was used to challenge experimental and control birds with Campylobacter jejuni biotype 2 (broiler origin). Three seeder birds were placed in each group of 60 birds. Groups were sampled weekly for campylobacters and finally at the slaughterhouse. From each group, the caecal contents of two birds were examined quantitatively for campylobacters. The performance of the birds was also monitored during the trial. The results showed a 1.5 week delay in the onset of campylobacter infection in treated chicks and a consistently lower level of colonization in comparison with control birds. At slaughter, levels of carriage in caecal contents of treated birds were 1.5-2.0 log10 units lower than those of controls, despite apparent stress from harvesting and transportation. The treatment had no economically important effects on the performance of the birds during rearing.

Animals↗