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PubMed2005

Decline of zoonotic agents in livestock waste and bedding heaps.

AIMS: To measure the rates of decline of zoonotic agents introduced into heaps of spent bedding and faecal wastes generated by commercially farmed livestock and managed in a similar way to that of a working farm. METHODS AND RESULTS: Livestock isolates of Salmonella, pathogenic Listeria, Campylobacter and Escherichia coli O157 were laboratory cultured and used to inoculate 5 m3 heaps of cattle, sheep or pig wastes mixed with bedding materials. Decline of each of the infectious agents was monitored with time as was the temperature inside each heap. Temperatures of >50 degrees C were typically achieved at the core of the heaps. Pathogen decline was rapid, typically <3 days for a 1-log reduction in levels. The longest time that zoonotic agents were isolated from the heaps was 93 days. CONCLUSIONS: Movement of heaps of livestock bedding waste from animal pens to a secondary store, and storing them under conditions conducive for increased temperature is a simple and cost-effective treatment for rapidly lowering levels of zoonotic agents in solid farm wastes. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study demonstrates a simple and cheap treatment that can be used to help prevent the spread of zoonotic agents through agricultural environments.

Animal Husbandry↗

PubMed2005

Tracing the emergence of drug-resistance in coccidia (Eimeria spp.) of commercial broiler flocks medicated with decoquinate for the first time in the United Kingdom.

Decoquinate is a quinolone coccidiostat introduced during 1967 as an in-feed prophylactic for broiler chickens. Despite early drug-resistance problems and its age, the drug is still used commercially worldwide. Decoquinate here serves as a valuable model in a field study that addresses the dynamics and economic impact of the development of coccidial resistance to potent synthetic anticoccidial drugs. The results of this unique, hitherto unpublished, study on the initial emergence of resistance of avian coccidia (Eimeria spp.) to a new drug in the field may be of strategic value in the continued use of decoquinate or the introduction of new drugs. The commercial performance of the first 3-5 crops of broilers to be medicated with decoquinate on each of six farms was monitored during 14 months in 1968-1969, supplemented by assessments of the species, population dynamics and decoquinate-resistance of coccidia isolated from each farm. During the rearing of each flock in a single shed on each farm, oocysts were counted in fresh faecal samples collected on three occasions, and the species were identified by their morphology if possible, supported if necessary by the biological characteristics of infections in chickens. E. acervulina was the most common species, followed by E. mitis, E. maxima, E. tenella and E. praecox. E. brunetti occurred rarely, and E. necatrix was not found. Decoquinate-resistance was evident in several species during the rearing of the first decoquinate-medicated crop on each farm, although clinical coccidiosis did not occur. It was concluded that inherently resistant mutants of E. acervulina, E. brunetti, E. maxima, E. tenella, and probably also E. mitis and E. praecox, were selected from field populations by 6 weeks during their first exposure to decoquinate. During up to four more subsequent crops, cycling of resistant parasites stimulated host immunity, which had no obvious adverse impact on commercial performance. There was no apparent seasonal effect. A hypothesis is proposed to explain the sudden and rapid emergence of quinolone-resistance in the coccidia, and why bird health was not thereby compromised in these circumstances.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Differentiation of Arcobacter species by numerical analysis of AFLP profiles and description of a novel Arcobacter from pig abortions and turkey faeces.

AIMS: To evaluate the efficacy of amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP)-based genetic profiling for taxonomic and epidemiological analyses of diverse Arcobacter species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Seventy-two isolates of A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus, A. skirrowii and A. nitrofigilis, and a previously unclassified porcine abortion strain were studied. AFLP profiling was performed using a BglII-Csp6I-based protocol previously used to characterize Campylobacter species. Duplicate profiles of 20 isolates were 93.25% similar, indicating high reproducibility. Numerical analysis of all 72 strains revealed five phenons at the 29% similarity level, four of which represented each of the known species studied. The remaining phenon was further characterized by phenotypic and 16S rDNA sequence analyses, the results of which indicated it to be a novel Arcobacter species. The genetically distinct subgroups of A. cryaerophilus were differentiated at the 39.5% similarity level. For strain typing, 62 distinct types were defined, with evidence of clonal lineages within A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii. CONCLUSIONS: AFLP profiling is an effective means of determining taxonomic and strain relationships for arcobacters. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: First use of AFLP profiling for diverse Arcobacter species; indication of clonality in A. butzleri, A. cryaerophilus and A. skirrowii; potentially novel Arcobacter taxon identified.

Abortion, Veterinary↗

PubMed2001

The effect of albendazole on Oesophagostomum bifurcum infection and pathology in children from rural northern Ghana.

Ultrasonography has already revealed that up to 50% of individuals in some villages in northern Ghana have colonic pathology induced by Oesophagostomum bifurcum. Approximately 2% of those affected progress to clinical oesophagostomiasis if left untreated. In the present study, ultrasound-positive children living in a heavily infected community were each given 5 days of treatment with albendazole (10 mg/kg.day), early in the dry season. Treatment reduced the prevalence, number, size and half-life of the ultrasound-visible nodules, stopped the excretion of O. bifurcum eggs, and reduced the development of clinical oesophagostomiasis during the subsequent 8 months. However, the treatment had no impact on the new infections that occurred during the following rainy season, and no impact on nodule prevalence by the end of that rainy season. Surgical management may not be essential in non-acute cases of clinical oesophagostomiasis, as albendazole may kill the nodule-dwelling worms.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1985

Salmonellae and pollution indicator bacteria in municipal and food processing effluents and the Cornwallis River.

A study was conducted to determine the incidence of fecal coliforms, fecal streptococci, Aeromonas hydrophilia, and Salmonella spp. in the waste discharges of seven sewage treatment plants, four fruit and vegetable canneries, a meat packing plant, a poultry processing plant, and a potato processing plant located along the Cornwallis River in Nova Scotia, Canada. Surface water samples were also collected from 13 locations in the river to assess the impact of these waste discharges on the receiving water quality. The results showed that the final effluents from most of the sewage treatment and processing plants were of very poor bacteriological quality, with the number of indicator bacteria comparable with those found in raw sewage. Salmonellae were isolated from the effluents of the meat and poultry plants and five of the seven sewage treatment plants surveyed. No salmonellae were detected in the effluents of the fruit and vegetable canneries. The impact of the discharge of untreated municipal and food processing wastes on the Cornwallis River water quality was evidenced by the recovery from river water of five Salmonella serotypes, and the high fecal coliform counts which exceeded recommended limit for bathing and shellfish harvesting.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Utilization of phosphorus in lactating cows fed varying amounts of phosphorus and forage.

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of dietary forage proportion and P content on fecal P excretion. Four dietary treatments were formed in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The P content was 0.33 or 0.42%, and the forage proportion was 48 or 58% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The neutral detergent fiber content was 27 and 30% for the low and high forage diets, respectively. The P amount was varied by using monosodium phosphate, and the forage amount by changing the proportions of alfalfa silage and corn. The diets were fed to 44 midlactation Holsteins for 14 wk. Fecal P excretion was estimated using Cr marker and grab sampling. Dietary P content did not affect DM intake, milk yield, or milk composition. The P intake averaged 74 and 96 g/d and fecal P averaged 0.69 and 0.92% (DM basis) or 49 and 65 g/d for the low and high P diets, respectively. Thus, reducing dietary P from 0.42 to 0.33% resulted in approximately 25% less estimated fecal P excretion. Increasing dietary forage reduced milk yield (34.0 vs. 36.5 kg/d), but increased milk fat content (3.66 vs. 3.25%). Estimated apparent digestibility of P tended to decrease (31.1 vs. 36.6%) when the forage proportion increased, but most of the change occurred when the diets contained the low amount of P. Overall, the effect of forage proportion on estimated fecal P excretion was small when diets contained 48 or 58% forage, varied by alfalfa silage. Phosphorus intake has a much larger impact on fecal P excretion than forage proportion, and it does not seem necessary to adjust the dietary P content according to the forage proportion to provide the same amount of absorbed P.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Health impact evaluation of improved water supplies and hygiene practices in Sri Lanka: background and methodology.

Between January 1987 and March 1988 a Health Impact Evaluation (HIE) of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP) was conducted in Kurunegala District. Four related activities were undertaken: 6598 children were recruited into a case-control study of diarrhoea morbidity conducted in five hospitals; an additional 1649 children from the catchment areas of three of the five hospitals were recruited as a community comparison group; environmental microbiology was performed on water samples collected during 3092 visits to the homes of children recruited into the study; diagnostic stool microbiology was performed for 371 children with diarrhoea and 121 controls. In this paper the seasonality of reported diarrhoea and the socio-demographic characteristics and health-related behaviours of each study group are examined. Cases, clinic controls and the community comparison group were all drawn from the essentially rural settlements typical of the southern part of the dry zone of Sri Lanka. The majority of households in these settlements are Sinhalese buddhist, and the main economic activity is subsitence farming. There was some evidence of differences between the three groups, community recruits tending to come from larger and wealthier households than the children recruited at the hospitals. Issues arising in the design and analysis of this Health Impact Evaluation are discussed. In particular, potential sources of bias are examined and the question of validity investigated.

Case-Control Studies↗

PubMedDate not supplied

A study of the effects of restraint stress on colitis induced by dextran sulphate sodium in singly housed rats.

UNLABELLED: The inflammatory bowel diseases (Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) are multifactorial diseases. Clinical reports indicate that emotional stress may contribute to the onset, progression and remission of these diseases. Using an experimental animal model of ulcerative colitis, the effect of stress on the development of and recovery from symptoms was studied prospectively. Singly housed rats received 4 percent dextran sulphate sodium orally until fecal blood was detected, indicating the presence of colonic erosions. Tap water was then administered until there were no signs of fecal blood. Two hours of restraint stress were administered daily over four successive days, either prior to or after the induction of colitis. Latencies in days to symptom development and recovery were compared to an unstressed group. Daily measures of fluid-intake, body-weight, and hemoglobulin in feces were made. RESULTS: Rats exposed to restraint stress procedures prior to induction of colitis had shorter latencies to development of symptoms. There was no significant difference in latency to recovery. The amount of fluid-intake did not significantly differ between groups, nor did the groups differ in body-weight. CONCLUSION: There is an effect of stress on the latency to develop colitis induced by dextran sulphate sodium. This preliminary study suggests that the impact of stress may be one factor underlying the emergence of ulcerative colitis.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2000

Geohelminthic infections associated with raw wastewater reuse for agricultural purposes in Beni-Mellal, Morocco.

This study was undertaken to determine the possible risk associated with raw wastewater use for agricultural purposes, particularly, the transmission of geohelminthic infections among children of five regions in Beni-Mellal, Morocco. In a randomly selected sample of 1343 children, 740 of them were from five communities using raw wastewater for agriculture, and 603 were from four control communities that do not practice wastewater irrigation. A questionnaire-interview with children and parents was used to collect data on possible demographic, hygiene and behavioral-contact risk factors such as sex, age, family size, parental education, parental occupation, source of water, toilet in house, hand-washing, contact with wastewater and contact with wastewater irrigated land. Ascariasis prevalence was found to be approximately five times higher among children in wastewater-impacted regions compared to control regions. Contact with wastewater and wastewater irrigated land and public water supply were found to be associated with higher infection rates. Trichuris rates did not show a statistically significant difference between the wastewater-impacted and the control regions. In conclusion, raw wastewater use in Beni-Mellal can lead to a high risk of geohelminthic infections. Adequate treatment of wastewater and public health education are highly recommended.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2001

Pre-slaughter handling of cattle and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC).

AIMS: The aim of the study was to monitor the shedding and transmission of generic and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in a consignment of cattle during lot feeding. METHODS AND RESULTS: Faecal and environmental samples were tested for total E. coli and screened with PCR specific for Shiga toxin and O157 rfb. STEC were isolated using colony hybridization and characterized by serology and genotyping. STEC prevalence initially decreased after the diet shift from pasture to grain, although there were intermittent peaks in numbers of cattle shedding STEC and E. coli O157. Water troughs and soil were intermittently contaminated. Common genotypes and serotypes were isolated from animals, water and soil in the feedlot, with additional types introduced at slaughter. CONCLUSION: STEC and E. coli O157 are endemic in cattle and intermittent peaks in shedding occur. Prevention of these peaks and/or reduction in transmission is required to reduce the risk of carcass contamination during slaughter. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: These findings contribute to the understanding of the ecology of STEC and suggest control points for reducing STEC contamination in feedlot cattle production.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed2003

Reuterin production by lactobacilli isolated from pig faeces and evaluation of probiotic traits.

AIMS: To determine the production of reuterin by lactobacilli isolates from pig faeces and to evaluate their potential as probiotic bacteria. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-eight of 165 lactobacilli isolates produced reuterin in the presence of glycerol. Six isolates yielding high levels of reuterin with respect to type strain Lactobacillus reuteri CECT 925T were identified as Lact. reuteri. They were able to survive at pH 3 and subsequent exposure to cholic acid or oxgall, and presented bile salt hydrolase and bacteriocin-like activities. CONCLUSIONS: Reuterin production is a frequently found trait among lactobacilli isolated from pig faeces. Selected Lact. reuteri isolates were able to survive at conditions likely to be encountered throughout the gastrointestinal tract. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: High yields of reuterin may be obtained from selected isolates of Lact. reuteri. Probiotic characteristics of isolates studied in the present work suggest their application in food and feed.

Aldehydes↗

PubMed1987

Extrinsic causes of vesical filling defects on scintigraphy.

Three children are reported with vesical filling defects on scintigraphy secondary to extrinsic causes. In two chronically constipated individuals undergoing bone scintigraphy, the extrinsic pressure on the bladder by rectosigmoid feces resulted in simulation of intrinsic space-occupying lesions. Focal attenuation of bladder activity on nuclear cystography by the metal distal hook of a Harrington rod also produced the pseudo-appearance of a vesical filling defect in a third patient.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Lactic acid bacteria isolated from canine faeces.

AIMS: Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated and sequenced from the faeces of healthy dogs. Five of these strains were selected and further characterized to clarify the potential of these strains as probiotics for canine. METHODS AND RESULTS: LAB were found in 67% (14/21) of the canine faeces samples when plated on Lactobacilli Selective Media without acetic acid. Out of 13 species identified with partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing, Lactobacillus fermentum LAB8, L. mucosae LAB12, L. rhamnosus LAB11, L. salivarius LAB9 and Weissella confusa LAB10 were selected as candidate probiotic strains based on their frequency, quantity in faeces, growth density, acid tolerance and antimicrobial activity. The minimal inhibitory concentration values of these isolates were determined for 14 antibiotics. L. salivarius LAB9, W. confusa LAB10 and L. mucosae LAB12 were viable in pH 2 for 4 h (mLBS), indicating tolerance to acidity and thus the potential to survive in gastrointestinal tract of the canine. The LAB8-LAB12 strains showed antimicrobial activity against Micrococcus luteus A1 NCIMB86166. CONCLUSIONS: Thirteen different LAB species were found from the faecal microbiota of the healthy canines. Five acid tolerant and antimicrobially active LAB strains with the capacity to grow to high densities both aerobically and anaerobically were chosen to serve as candidate probiotics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The selected LAB strains are among the first host-specific LAB with antimicrobial activity isolated from canines that could serve as potential probiotics for canine use.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Evaluation of Chromocult enterococci agar for the isolation and selective enumeration of Enterococcus spp. in broilers.

AIMS: To investigate the productivity and specificity of a new chromogenic enterococci selective medium (Chromocult enterococci agar) recently developed by Merck. METHODS AND RESULTS: The study was carried out comparing Chromocult enterococci agar with MRS agar (Merck), a basal lactic acid bacteria medium in current use. A total of 216 faecal samples from poultry were collected and enterococci populations were counted. Likewise, 100 randomly selected strains were identified for each medium. The differences found between the two media were analysed and discussed. CONCLUSIONS: A good sensitivity of 98% was obtained for Chromocult agar and all false-positive isolates obtained were identified as Leuconostoc spp. However significant differences (P<0.01) were obtained between the enterococci species isolation rates identified from these two media, suggesting the poor growth of some species in Chromocult enterococci agar. Viable counts of Enterococcus spp. obtained with MRS agar were significantly higher than those obtained with Chromocult enterococci agar. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The use of chromogenic media for microbiological analysis is increasing. Independent studies are important to evaluate newly developed chromogenic media.

Agar↗

PubMed1998

Influence of fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms on mortality in hospitalized horses.

OBJECTIVES: To predict mortality of horses by use of clinical data from the first day of hospitalization, to determine whether fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms is related to severity of clinical disease, and to determine the impact of fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms on mortality. DESIGN: Prospective study. ANIMALS: 1,446 hospitalized horses. PROCEDURE: Medical information was obtained from horses hospitalized in an intensive care unit or isolation facility during a 4.5-year period. A model was created to predict mortality, using covariates determined on the day of admission. Predicted mortality provided a measure of clinical condition. Predicted mortality was compared between horses that were and were not shedding Salmonella organisms in their feces to determine whether shedding was associated with severity of disease. Predicted and observed mortality between horses were also compared to evaluate the association between fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms and mortality. RESULTS: 92 horses were identified as shedding Salmonella organisms. In a multivariable model, 4 variables (heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and clinical management) were associated with mortality. A higher predicted probability of death was observed in horses that shed Salmonella krefeld or more than 1 serotype. Relative risk (RR) of mortality was high for horses shedding S typhimurium (RR, 1.94; 95% confidence interval, 1.04 to 3.59) and multiple serotypes (RR, 4.75; 95% confidence interval, 2.29 to 9.84). When the clinical condition (i.e., prior predicted probability of death) was taken into consideration, fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms was not significantly associated with mortality. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: In this horse population, fecal shedding of S krefeld was associated with more severe clinical conditions at the time of admission; however, fecal shedding of Salmonella organisms during hospitalization did not alter predicted mortality.

Animals↗

PubMed2001

Establishment of orally-administered Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055SR in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and its influence on intestinal microflora and metabolism.

AIMS: To investigate the fate of a streptomycin-rifampicin-resistant variant of Lactobacillus gasseri SBT2055 (LG2055SR) and the influence of its oral administration on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intestinal passage of LG2055SR was monitored by a combination of selection with antibiotics and identification by a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR METHOD: Composition of intestinal microflora was analysed by the method developed by Mitsuoka et al. (1965, 1974). Establishment of orally-administered LG2055SR in the human intestine was confirmed in this study. LG2055SR ingestion specifically lowered faecal populations of Staphylococcus and faecal contents of p-cresol. CONCLUSION: LG2055SR and its parent strain, LG2055, are considered to be appropriate candidates for probiotics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It is clarified that LG2055SR has the ability to establish in the human gastrointestinal tract and alters the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora and physical characteristics of faeces.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Detection and quantification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in environmental samples by real-time PCR.

AIMS: To apply the real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to detect and quantify Escherichia coli O157:H7 in soil, manure, faeces and dairy waste washwater. METHODS AND RESULTS: Soil samples were spiked with E. coli O157:H7 and subjected to a single enrichment step prior to multiplex PCR. Other environmental samples suspected of harbouring E.coli O157:H7 were also analysed. The sensitivity of the primers was confirmed with DNA from E.coli O157:H7 strain 3081 spiked into soil by multiplex PCR assay. A linear relationship was measured between the fluorescence threshold cycle (C T ) value and colony counts (CFU ml(-1)) in spiked soil and other environmental samples. The detection limit for E.coli O157:H7 in the real-time PCR assay was 3.5 x 10(3) CFU ml(-1) in pure culture and 2.6 x 10(4) CFU g(-1) in the environmental samples. Use of a 16-h enrichment step for spiked samples enabled detection of <10 CFU g(-1) soil. E. coli colony counts as determined by the real-time PCR assay, were in the range of 2.0 x 10(2) to 6.0 x 10(5) CFU PCR (-1) in manure, faeces and waste washwater. CONCLUSIONS: The real-time PCR-based assay enabled sensitive and rapid quantification of E. coli O157:H7 in soil and other environmental samples. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The ability to quantitatively determine cell counts of E.coli O157:H7 in large numbers of environmental samples, represents considerable advancement in the area of pathogen quantification for risk assessment and transport studies.

Colony Count, Microbial↗

PubMed2003

The role of visible faecal material as a vehicle for generic Escherichia coli, coliform, and other enterobacteria contaminating poultry carcasses during slaughtering.

AIMS: A comparison of Enterobacteriaceae, coliform and Escherichia coli counts in chicken carcasses with and without visible faecal contamination was conducted to evaluate the role of contamination as a vehicle for generic E. coli, coliform and other enterobacteria contaminating broiler chicken carcasses when processed under routine commercial operations. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples were removed from the processing line immediately after evisceration, inside-outside shower and chilling for microbiological analysis. After evisceration, mean counts were significantly different only for E. coli (P < or = 0.05) in chicken carcasses with and without visible faecal contamination. While the spray wash practice was not efficient enough for complete removal of the visible contamination from carcasses, leading to microbiological reduction percentages lower than expected, 25 ppm chlorinated water chilling did reduce the contamination level considerably in all samples. CONCLUSIONS: Carcasses with and without visible faecal contamination harboured E. coli and other potentially hazardous enterobacteria. E. coli was the predominant strain isolated in all samples, Enterobacter cloacae being next most frequent. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The zero tolerance of visible faecal contamination requirement alone is not sufficient to assure safety and to improve the microbial quality of carcasses.

Abattoirs↗