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PubMed2004

Fate of Escherichia coli originating from livestock faeces deposited directly onto pasture.

AIMS: To determine the fate of Escherichia coli deposited onto grassland via faeces, from naturally colonized cattle, sheep or pigs. METHODS AND RESULTS: Groups of cattle, sheep and pigs were penned outdoors on grass during November, and removed after 14 days. Escherichia coli populations in the ground declined over 134 days from initial average levels of 5.34, 4.31 and 4.96 log(10) CFU g(-1) in cattle, sheep and pig pens, respectively. The maximum Escherichia coli survival time was up to 162 days (190 days taking sampling interval and deposition time into account), but numbers varied significantly amongst the 20 replicates taken each day. Escherichia coli originating from cattle and sheep had average decimal reduction times (D-values) of 38 and 36 days, respectively; E. coli originating from pigs declined significantly faster (average D-value of 26 days). SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Escherichia coli from livestock faeces can survive on grass for at least 5-6 months, affording opportunity for pathogenic biotypes to contaminate animals, plants or water.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Isolation and characterization of anti-Salmonella lactic acid bacteria from the porcine gastrointestinal tract.

AIMS: To identify lactic acid bacteria (LAB) of porcine intestinal origin with anti-Salmonella activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Samples were obtained from pig faeces and caeca and screened for the presence of anti-Salmonella LAB. The 11 most promising isolates were identified as belonging to the genera Lactobacillus and Pediococcus. The LAB exhibited large variation in their ability to survive in simulated gastric juice at pH 1.85. While Lactobacillus johnsonii species survived at levels of 80% for up to 30 min, Lactobacillus pentosus species declined to <0.001% in that time. All isolates tolerated porcine bile at a concentration of 0.3% (w/v), with some isolates capable of growth in the presence of up to 5% (w/v) bile. The ability of the LAB isolates to prevent Salmonella invasion of intestinal epithelial HT-29 cells varied, with reductions of between 30% (Lact. pentosus) and 80% (Lactobacillus murinus spp.) observed. CONCLUSIONS: LAB of porcine origin were observed to survive simulated passage through the GIT and inhibit growth of Salmonella and its invasion of the intestinal epithelium. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The data demonstrate that some porcine intestinal LAB isolates may offer potential as probiotics for the reduction of Salmonella carriage in pigs.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[The effectiveness of the Program of Communication and Education in Health on the control of S. mansoni infection in some areas of the state of Bahia].

The Program for S. mansoni Control (PCE) has been developed in some areas of the State of Bahia by the Fundação Nacional de Saúde (FNS). In 1989, activities on Information, Education, Communication and Community Mobilization (IEC/MC) were initiated. This study evaluates the epidemiological impact of the IEC/MC, using a quasi-experimental study design strategy, comparing the prevalences of infection for S. mansoni in areas of IEC/MC and estimates of other areas. The data used were routinely collected by the local staff of the FNS. A decrease on the prevalence of S. mansoni infection was found in all study areas, specially in those of IEC/MC activities. Findings indicate that PCE activities are more effective among school-age individuals and male adults, although IEC/MC allows for higher epidemiological impact among women, reflecting the differences among the strategies. These findings point out the need for qualitative evaluation research, as well as cost benefit and cost effectiveness analyses, that are more appropriate for decision making processes.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1993

Is Schistosoma mansoni replacing Schistosoma haematobium in the Fayoum?

Schistosoma mansoni is progressively replacing S. haematobium along the Nile River in Egypt. This change has occurred in the past 15-20 years following construction of the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s. The cause is a shift in relative abundance of the snail vectors Biomphalaria alexandrina and Bulinus truncatus. Biomphalaria is increasing while the latter has disappeared from a village in the Fayoum where formerly only schistosomiasis haematobia was endemic. A cross-sectional household survey in this village in 1991 showed the following prevalence values: S. mansoni, 22.3%; S. haematobium, 3.4%; and mixed infections, 2.8%. Only two children less than 10 years of age had S. haematobium infections. A review of the local Ministry of Health records showed that 1) both species were parasitologically diagnosed during the past 7.5 years, 2) Biomphalaria had been abundantly present in the local waterways for the past 10 years and has been found infected with S. mansoni since 1985, 3) Bulinus has not been detected in the local canals and drains since 1986 and the few found between 1981 and 1985 were not infected, and 4) Biomphalaria in this village and in two others in the Fayoum were believed infected by laborers from the Delta who helped build schools in 1984. This change in the distribution of schistosomiasis will impact upon public health and medical practice in Middle and Upper Egypt as it already has in Lower Egypt.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Diarrheal illnesses: a public health perspective.

Diarrheal illnesses remain among the leading causes of morbidity in the United States. Approximately five million diarrheal cases occur annually (Chin, 2000; Ostroff & Leduc, 2000), with an estimated incidence of one diarrheal episode per person per year (Aranda-Michel & Giannella, 1999). Though the causes of diarrheal illnesses vary, infectious agents account for a majority of cases (Aranda-Michel & Giannella, 1999; Chin, 2000; Ostroff & Leduc, 2000). Most diarrhea-causing infectious agents are transmitted through food, water, or person-to-person via the fecal-oral route and are the cause of numerous diarrheal outbreaks. The risk for exposure to such pathogens within the general population is universal; however, persons in pediatric, geriatric, and other immunocompromised populations are at increased risk for subsequent illness and complications (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2001; Ostroff & Leduc, 2000). Moreover, many persons with diarrheal illness do not seek medical care and self-treat with over-the-counter antidiarrheal agents, which have potentially serious side effects among high-risk individuals. The public health impact of diarrheal illness is apparent and emphasizes the need for early diagnosis and appropriate treatment, timely notification of illness with public health implications, and coordination between healthcare professionals and public health officials to prevent and control the spread of infection.

Anti-Infective Agents↗

PubMed1998

[Intestinal flora in the neonate: impact on morbidity and therapeutic perspectives].

Studies in recent years have focused on the role that intestinal flora plays in health and disease. At birth, infant gut colonization begins with bacteria which are derived from the mother during delivery. Environmental factors (hospital, hygiene, antibiotics administered to the mother or to the neonate) may contribute to modification of the type of primary colonizing germs. Afterwards, diet represents the most important variable by the end of the first postnatal week. Exclusive breast-feeding promotes growth of Bifidobacteria which have been associated with the healthy nature of stool flora in infants because of their potential role in resisting pathogen colonization. Clinical trials have been made to promote bifidobacteria growth in the feces of bottle-fed infants. In addition, administration of non-pathogenic micro-organisms (probiotics) has been claimed to exert a positive influence on host health or physiology, and is a new approach to the prevention or elimination of infection originating from gut.

Breast Feeding↗

PubMed2001

Intestinal transit of an orally administered streptomycin-rifampicin-resistant variant of Bifidobacterium longum SBT2928: its long-term survival and effect on the intestinal microflora and metabolism.

AIMS: The objectives of this study are to investigate the fate of a streptomycin-rifampicin-resistant variant of Bifidobacterium longum SBT2928 (BL2928SR) and the influence of its oral administration on the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora. METHODS AND RESULTS: Intestinal passage of BL2928SR was monitored by a combination of selection with antibiotics and identification by a randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR method. Intestinal microflora was analysed by the method developed by Mitsuoka et al. (1965, 1974). Long-term survival of orally administered BL2928SR in the human intestine was confirmed. BL2928SR ingestion specifically lowered faecal populations of Enterobacteriaceae and clostridia, including lecithinase-positive Clostridium spp. CONCLUSION: BL2928SR and its parent strain, BL2928, are considered to be appropriate candidates for probiotics. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: It is clarified that BL2928SR has the ability for long-term survival in the human gastrointestinal tract, and alters the composition and metabolism of the intestinal microflora.

Actinomycetales Infections↗

PubMed2005

The occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum, Campylobacter and Salmonella in newborn dairy calves in the Manawatu region of New Zealand.

AIM: To determine the occurrence of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, Campylobacter spp and Salmonella spp in faecal samples taken from newborn dairy calves on 24 dairy farms in the Manawatu region of New Zealand. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted during the 2002 calving season. Faecal samples were collected from 185 newborn calves from a convenience sample of 24 dairy farms. The samples were tested microscopically for the presence of C. parvum oocysts, and bacteriologically for the presence of Campylobacter spp and Salmonella spp. RESULTS: Infections with C. parvum were identified in 33/156 (21.2%) calves from 10 farms. More than 10(6) oocysts/g (OPG) faeces were detected in calves from four farms. Campylobacter spp were isolated from 58/161 (36%) calves from 18 farms; in particular, C. jejuni subsp jejuni was isolated from 11/161 (6.8%) calves from seven farms. Salmonellae were not detected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the short and concentrated calving pattern and the long interval between calving seasons characterising most dairy farms in New Zealand, C. parvum is widespread among calves. Campylobacter spp, especially C. jejuni, rapidly colonise the intestinal tract of newborn calves. RELEVANCE: This study provided an estimate of the ecological impact of newborn dairy calves with regard to the potentially zoonotic enteric pathogens most frequently isolated from human gastrointestinal infections in New Zealand.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

The prevalence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157 in faeces of cattle from different production systems at slaughter.

AIMS: To determine the prevalence and concentration of Escherichia coli O157 shed in faeces at slaughter, by beef cattle from different production systems. METHODS AND RESULTS: Faecal samples were collected from grass-fed (pasture) and lot-fed (feedlot) cattle at slaughter and tested for the presence of E. coli O157 using automated immunomagnetic separation (AIMS). Escherichia coli O157 was enumerated in positive samples using the most probable number (MPN) technique and AIMS and total E. coli were enumerated using Petrifilm. A total of 310 faecal samples were tested (155 from each group). The geometric mean count of total E. coli was 5 x 10(5) and 2.5 x 10(5) CFU g(-1) for lot- and grass-fed cattle, respectively. Escherichia coli O157 was isolated from 13% of faeces with no significant difference between grass-fed (10%) and lot-fed cattle (15%). The numbers of E. coli O157 in cattle faeces varied from undetectable (<3 MPN g(-1)) to 1.1 x 10(5) MPN g(-1). Twenty-six (67%) of 39 O157 positive faeces had <10 MPN g(-1) and three (8%) had counts between 10(3)-10(5) MPN g(-1). There was no significant difference between concentrations of E. coli O157 in the faeces of grass-fed or lot-fed cattle. CONCLUSION: The prevalence and numbers of E. coli O157 in the faeces of cattle at slaughter were not affected by the production systems evaluated in this study. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Information on the prevalence and numbers of E. coli O157 can be used for formulating intervention strategies and in quantitative risk assessments.

Abattoirs↗

PubMed2006

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in healthy goats in India: occurrence and virulence properties.

AIMS: To describe the occurrence and virulence gene pattern of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) in healthy goats of Jammu and Kashmir, India. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 220 E. coli strains belonging to 60 different 'O' serogroups was isolated from 206 local (nonmigratory) and 69 migratory goats. All the 220 strains were screened for the presence of stx(1), stx(2), eaeA and hlyA genes. Twenty-eight E. coli (75.6%) strains from local and nine (24.3%) strains from migratory goats belonging to 18 different serogroups showed at least presence of one virulence gene studied. Twenty-eight strains (16.47%) (belonging to 13 different serogroups) from local goats carried stx(1) gene alone or in combination with stx(2) gene, while as only one strain (2%) from migratory goats possessed stx(2) gene alone. Interestingly in the present study none of the STEC strains carried eaeA gene. Similarly, none of the strains from local goats possessed eaeA and none of the migratory goats possessed stx(1) gene. Eight strains (16%) (belonging to four different serogroups) from migratory goats carried eaeA gene. Twenty-five (14.7%) and seven (14%) strains from local and migratory goats harboured hlyA gene respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Healthy goats of Jammu and Kashmir state serve as a reservoir of STEC and EPEC. Further studies in this direction are needed to work out whether or not they are transmitted to humans in this part of world. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: This study is the first report of isolation of STEC and EPEC strains from healthy goats in Jammu and Kashmir State of India, which could be a source of infection to humans.

Animals↗

PubMed1977

Appraisal of the 14C-glycocholate acid test with special reference to the measurement of faecal 14C excretion.

The (14)C-glycocholate test, including the measurement of marker corrected faecal (14)C, has been assessed in the following groups of subjects: normal controls (18), patients with diarrhoea not attributable to altered bile acid metabolism (21), patients with diverticula of the small intestine (12), patients with previous resection of ileum and often proximal colon (34), and established ileostomists (10). Patients with diverticular disease had increased breath (14)CO(2) excretion, but normal faecal excretion of (14)C, and this test was more frequently abnormal than the Schilling test. Ileostomists excreted increased amounts of faecal (14)C, even when the ileum was intact and apparently normal. The pattern after resection was complex. Breath (14)C output was normal if the ileal resection was less than 25 cm in length, although some of these patients had increased faecal (14)C excretion if, in addition, at least 15 cm of proximal colon had been resected or by-passed. Longer ileal resections were associated with increased breath and/or faecal (14)C excretion, depending in part on the length of colon resected or by-passed and the 24 hour faecal volume. Fewer than half these patients had both increased breath and faecal excretion of isotope and faecal (14)C alone was occasionally normal with an ileal resection of 50 cm of more. The (14)C-glycocholate test was more frequently abnormal than the Schilling test in this group. The use of faecal marker correction had only a minor impact on the results. These data suggest that, in patients with ileal resection, faecal (14)C, like faecal weight, is determined by the extent of colonic resection as well as by the amount of ileum resected.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Impact of Bifidobacterium longum on human fecal microflora.

The effects of Bifidobacterium longum feedings for five weeks on the fecal microflora, water contents, pH values, ammonia concentration, and beta-glucuronidase activity were investigated in five healthy human volunteers. Although numbers of major bacterial groups of the fecal microflora were not changed by the bifidobacteria feedings, a remarkably decreasing number of lecithinase-negative clostridia was observed. The percentage of lecithinase-negative clostridia and bacteroides to the total bacterial numbers isolated were decreased during the feedings and numbers of C. paraputrificum and C. innocuum were reduced. A significant reduction of fecal pH values for the last week of the feeding was observed. Ammonia concentration and beta-glucuronidase activity in the feces during the feedings were significantly lower than those before or after the feedings. The oral supplement of B. longum may be introduced to improve the fecal properties such as fecal ammonia concentration and beta-glucuronidase activity, but not the composition of fecal flora.

Administration, Oral↗

PubMed2002

Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis, a common Campylobacter species in reindeer.

AIMS: To study the prevalence of Campylobacter spp. in the faecal material of reindeer, and to identify the isolates by means of a polyphasic approach. In addition, to study the genetic diversity of Camp. hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis reindeer isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). METHODS AND RESULTS: The material, collected during the slaughter period in autumn 1998, comprised 399 faecal contents from the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), a semi-domesticated, meat-producing ruminant of northern Finland. These samples came from 16 herds in the areas of eight reindeer slaughterhouses. Samples were cultured by methods suitable for isolation of fastidious Campylobacter species. Of all samples, 6% (24/399) were Campylobacter-positive. Phenotypic characteristics, SDS-PAGE protein patterns, dot blot DNA-DNA hybridization, 23S rDNA restriction fragment polymorphism analysis and PFGE identified the isolates as Camp. hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis. CONCLUSIONS: Campylobacter hyointestinalis subsp. hyointestinalis was the only Campylobacter species isolated from reindeer in this study. The isolates showed high genomic diversity in PFGE with the restriction enzymes SmaI and KpnI. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: PFGE analysis is a useful subtyping method for epidemiological studies. Contaminated reindeer meat can be a source for human infections.

Animals↗

PubMed2002

Strategies for evaluating the sanitary quality of composting.

AIMS: To evaluate different strategies for description of the sanitary quality of industrial-scale composting. METHODS AND RESULTS: The investigation included microbiological analyses of waste at different stages during the process (spot test analysis), as well as physical and chemical parameters. The elimination of indicator organisms was also investigated by means of direct process evaluation, based on inoculation of the waste. At the four investigated facilities, the sanitary process was very efficient when evaluated by the direct process evaluation, indicated by an efficient elimination of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis inoculated into the waste. The sanitization was poor when evaluated by spot test analysis at the two windrow facilities, while good agreement was found at the two in-vessel facilities. CONCLUSIONS: The direct process evaluation is a valuable tool for identifying parameters for process optimization in different zones and for measuring elimination patterns of pathogens not normally present in the waste, but it is unreliable for evaluating the overall sanitary process. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The spot test analysis is an accurate method for the analysis of the sanitary process. In addition, it is simple and inexpensive to perform, which makes it very cost-effective for supervision of the sanitary quality of industrial-scale composting.

Enterococcus faecalis↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Use of anthelmintics in herbivores and evaluation of risks for the non target fauna of pastures.

The overall purpose ofthis paperwas to review the major and most recent literature relating the effects of anthelmintics on dung breeding invertebrates and dung degradation. Faecal residues or metabolites of drugs belonging to the benzimidazole and levamisole/morantel groups are relatively harmless to dung fauna, on the contrary to other anthelmintics such as coumaphos, dichlorvos, phenothiazine, piperazine, synthetic pyrethroids, and most macrocyclic lactones which have been shown to be highly toxic for dung beetles (abamectin, ivermectin, eprinomectin, doramectin), among which moxidectin was the less toxic for dung beetles. To date, the detrimental impact upon non-target organisms has been considered acceptable in eradicating the parasites because of their economic importance to commercial livestock production. The consequences of routine treatments are discussed with consideration of the long-term consequences for cow pat fauna and sustainable pastureland ecology.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Field studies investigating anthelmintic resistance in young cattle on five farms in New Zealand.

AIM: To investigate the efficacy of pour-on anthelmintics against field strains of parasitic nematodes in young cattle on five farms in New Zealand. METHODS: Faecal nematode egg count (FEC) reduction (FECR) tests were carried out on five calf-rearing farms using pour-on formulations of levamisole, ivermectin, eprinomectin, and the simultaneous administration of levamisole and ivermectin. Faecal samples were collected per rectum before treatment and about 7, 14, 21 and 28 days after treatment, for FEC and faecal nematode larval culture. RESULTS: Resistance (i.e. <95% reduction in FEC) of Cooperia oncophora to ivermectin and eprinomectin was identified on all five farms. There was limited evidence of possible emerging resistance in Ostertagia spp to ivermectin but not eprinomectin, in short-tailed larvae of Cooperia spp to ivermectin and eprinomectin, and in Trichostrongylus spp to ivermectin, eprinomectin and levamisole used separately. Levamisole was effective against C. oncophora, but had variable efficacy against Ostertagia spp in the calves in this study. Simultaneous treatment with levamisole and ivermectin pour-on formulations were effective against all genera on all farms. CONCLUSIONS: To effectively manage roundworm parasites in their calves farmers need to be aware of the resistance status of the parasites on their farms. Levamisole is likely to be an effective anthelmintic on most farms at times of the year when the impact of Ostertagia spp is not high. Simultaneous administration of levamisole and ivermectin pour-on anthelmintics to cattle is likely to control both ML-resistant C. oncophora and stages of Ostertagia spp that are not controlled by levamisole alone.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Probiotic intervention in the first months of life: short-term effects on gastrointestinal symptoms and long-term effects on gut microbiota.

OBJECTIVES: To determine whether probiotics administered for 6 months postnatally affect gastrointestinal symptoms, crying and the compositional development of the gut microbiota through infancy. METHODS: The study comprised of 132 newborns whose mothers were randomized to receive placebo or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (ATCC 53103) before delivery. The treatments of mothers/infants continued for 6 months postnatally. A specific symptom chart was used to monitor gastrointestinal symptoms and infant's crying during the 7th and the 12th weeks of life. Fluorescent in situ hybridization was used to establish the Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus/Enterococcus, Bacteroides and Clostridium counts in fecal samples at 6, 12, 18 and 24 months of age. RESULTS: Numbers of different types of stools, vomits and crying time were comparable between the groups during the 7th and the 12th weeks of life. Dominant microbiota consisted of bifidobacteria throughout the study. At 6 months, there were less clostridia in faeces in the placebo compared with the probiotic group (P = 0.026), whereas after long-term follow-up at 2 years, there were less lactobacilli/enterococci and clostridia in faeces in the probiotic group than in the placebo group (P = 0.011 and P = 0.032, respectively), reflecting the impact of clostridia as a marker of microbiota succession in healthy infants. CONCLUSIONS: Probiotic administration in the first months of life was well tolerated and did not significantly interfere with long-term composition or quantity of gut microbiota.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Reduction of bacterial indicators and bacteriophages infecting faecal bacteria in primary and secondary wastewater treatments.

AIMS: To compare the suitability of various bacterial and viral indicators to assess the removal of faecal micro-organisms by primary and secondary wastewater treatment processes. METHODS AND RESULTS: The numbers of several bacterial indicators [faecal coliforms (FC), enterococci (ENT) and sulphite-reducing clostridia (SRC)] and bacteriophages (somatic coliphages, F-specific RNA phages and bacteriophages infecting Bacteroides fragilis strain RYC2056) were determined in incoming raw sewage and effluents from various primary and secondary wastewater treatment processes in several geographical areas. Reductions in the numbers of indicators were calculated as log10 reductions. Processes based on removal and mild disinfection, showed no significant differences in the elimination of any of the indicators tested or between geographical areas. In contrast, treatment processes that include strong microbial inactivation, such as lime-aided flocculation and lagooning, showed significant differences between the log10 reductions of the various micro-organisms studied, FC showing the highest reduction and spores of SRC and phages infecting B. fragilis the lowest. CONCLUSIONS: The microbial elimination performance of treatment processes based principally on removal and mild disinfection can be evaluated with a single indicator. In contrast, processes with additional disinfecting capabilities require more than one indicator for accurate evaluation of the treatment; bacteriophages are good candidates for use as second indicators. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bacteriophages provide additional information for the evaluation of microbial elimination in some treatment plants. The easy, fast and cheap methods available for phage determination are feasible both in industrialized and developing countries.

Bacteria↗