Isolation,identification and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter strains isolated from domestic and free-living pigeons

1. The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of Campylobacter spp. in domestic and free-living pigeons and to evaluate the antibiotic resistance profiles.

2. The material consisted of cloacal swabs obtained from 108 homing pigeons and fresh faeces from 72 wild birds from Lublin and its vicinity. The identification of strains isolated on differential/selective media for Campylobacter spp. was carried out by MALDI-TOF and PCR. The susceptibility to antibiotics was evaluated by minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in Mueller-Hinton broth.

3. A total of 35 strains of Campylobacter spp. were isolated; 27 were identified as Campylobacter jejuni and 8 as Campylobacter coli. Over half of the isolates were resistant to erythromycin and streptomycin, 40% of strains were resistant to tetracycline and ampicillin and 37% isolates were resistant to amoxicillin. Resistance to two or more antibiotics was observed in all strains tested.

4. The results indicate that both domestic and free-living pigeons are reservoirs for bacteria of the genus Campylobacter, which are characterised by varied and growing resistance to commonly used antibiotics.     

Influence of three anesthetic protocols on glomerular filtration rate in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To investigate renal function in clinically normal dogs when awake and during anesthesia with medetomidine; xylazine, ketamine, and halothane (XKH) combination; or propofol. ANIMALS: 10 adult female Beagles. PROCEDURES: At intervals of 15 days, dogs were administered medetomidine (0.05 mg/kg, IV); XKH combination (xylazine [1 mg/kg, IV], ketamine [5 mg/kg, IV], and halothane [1% end-tidal concentration]); or propofol (6 mg/kg, IV) to induce anesthesia or no treatment. Glomerular filtration rate was assessed on the basis of renal uptake (RU; determined via renal scintigraphy) and plasma clearance (CL) of technetium 99m-labeled diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid ((99m)Tc-DTPA). RESULTS: In awake dogs, mean +/- SEM RU was 9.7 +/- 0.4% and CL was 3.86 +/- 0.23 mL/min/ kg. Renal uptake and CL of (99m)Tc-DTPA were not significantly modified by administration of XKH (RU, 11.4 +/- 0.9%; CL, 4.6 +/- 0.32 mL/min/kg) or propofol (RU, 9.7 +/- 0.3%; CL, 3.78 +/- 0.37 mL/min/kg). Half-life elimination time of plasma (99m)Tc-DTPA decreased significantly in XKH-anesthetized dogs, compared with the value in awake dogs (14.4 minutes and 28.9 minutes, respectively). However, glomerular filtration rate was significantly decreased by administration of medetomidine (RU, 3.9 +/- 0.1%), and the time to maximum kidney activity was significantly increased (867 +/- 56 seconds vs 181 +/- 11 seconds without anesthesia). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results indicated that anesthesia with propofol or an XKH combination did not alter renal function in healthy Beagles, but anesthesia with medetomidine decreased early RU of (99m)Tc-DTPA.     

Effects of a veterinary student leadership program on measures of stress and academic performance

Assuming leadership roles in veterinary student governance or club activities could be considered an added stressor for students because of the impact on time available for personal and academic activities. The study reported here evaluated the effects of participation in a leadership program and leadership activity across two classes of veterinary students on measures of stress, using the Derogatis Stress Profile (DSP), and on veterinary school academic performance, measured as annual grade-point average (GPA) over a three-year period. Program participants and their classmates completed the DSP three times across the first three years of veterinary school. On average, participating students reported self-declared stress levels that were higher and measured DSP stress levels that were lower than those of the general population. Students were more likely to assume elected or appointed leadership roles while in their first three years of the veterinary degree program if they participated in the optional leadership program and demonstrated lower stress in several dimensions. Some increased stress, as measured in some of the DSP stress dimensions, had a small but statistically significant influence on professional school GPA. The study determined that the most important predictors of students' cumulative GPA across the three-year period were the GPA from the last 45 credits of pre-veterinary coursework and their quantitative GRE scores. The results of the study indicate that neither participation in the leadership program nor taking on leadership roles within veterinary school appeared to influence veterinary school academic performance or to increase stress.     

Planning wetland protection and restoration for the safeguard of ecosystem service flows to beneficiaries

Landscape Ecology - Human activities have led to the degradation of wetlands, impinging on their capacity to deliver essential ecosystem services to society. Wetland restoration now appears an...     

Ultrastructure of the excretory system of Brachylaimus aequans (Trematoda: Brachylaimoidea)

The ultrastructure of the flame cell, excretory capillaries, ducts, collecting ducts, excretory bladder, and excretory pore of Brachylaimus aequans was studied 6-8 days p.i. The excretory ducts, collecting ducts and excretory bladder are provided with numerous lamellae on the luminal side. The cilia of lateral flames in the excretory ducts have a triated rootlet. The excretory pore is covered by a tegument identical with the body tegument. The syncytium of the excretory bladder is connected with the tegument of the excretory pore by means of a septate desmosome. No lipid or excretory corpuscles have been demonstrated in the excretory system.     

Entamoeba histolytica--the virulence of imported strains

We tested the virulence of 15 strains of Entamoeba histolytica, imported to Czechoslovakia, by intracaecal inoculation of laboratory rats. According to the scoring system of Neal, none of the 15 strains possessed the virulence index greater than 2. This indicates that all the organisms tested should be classified as avirulent. However, it should be noted that all the strains produced infection of the caecum and thus should be considered infective for rat. For 7 strains, isoenzyme patterns were determined for PGM, HK and ME. One imported strain, obtained from student from Congo, demonstrated isoenzyme pattern for PGM and HK indicated that the strain was virulent. This organisms had the index of virulence 1.8 (avirulent) in animal experiment; it was isolated from cysts of clinically asymptomatic patient. Examination of the rectal mucosa of the donor of the strain indicated typical chronic catarrhal proctitis of mild degree. Examination of the patient's serum demonstrated the presence of anti E. histolytica antibodies by CIEP, while the ELISA test was negative. Twenty-one cyst carriers were examined by rectoscopy. Pathologic changes were observed in 20 of these, as follows: altered vascular structure (13X), roughened mucosa (12X), mucosal reddening (10X), decreased glistening (7X), mucus in mucosa (5X), inflammatory pseudopolypes (2X), ulcers (2X), enanthema (1X). Histological biopsies were obtained in 15 cases. One was considered normal. Remaining 14 biopsies exhibited following morphological changes: increased mucus secretion (8X), edema (7X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration (6X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration in addition to the presence of eosinophilic granulocytes (6X), presence of mucophages (5X), haemorrhages (4X), increased vascularity (3X), lymphocytic and plasmocytic infiltration with presence of extremely abundant eosinophilic granulocytes (1X), erosive-ulcerative changes of mucosa (1X). The changes observed indicated chronic catarrhal proctitis with expression to greater or less degree of signs of chronic catarrhal inflammation.     

Colonization of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs by the fungus Verticillium chlamydosporium Goddard.

The process of colonization of Ascaris lumbricoides eggs by the fungus Verticillium chlamydosporium was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The preparations were made by fractionation of egg suspension exposed to the fungus for four days and frozen in liquid nitrogen according to St?rba and Milácek (1986). Ovicidal fungus forms an abundant ramifying mycelial network in the area between the eggs. However, egg-shells are penetrated only by some hyphae without any penetration organs produced (simple hyphal penetration). In a liquid medium, after penetration, hyphae inside the eggs rapidly grow among inner structures of egg-shells and on the surface of developing larvae. In the next phase, hyphae colonize the developing larva. The eggs attacked by this fungus remain morphologically unchanged for a long time except the sites of penetration. Verticillium chlamydosporium is a fungus with unique ovicidal properties. It colonizes the eggs of Ascaris lumbricoides at all stages of embryo development and also attacks larvae inside the eggs.     

Ultrastructure of a new type of sensory ending in Echinostoma revolutum cercaria (Trematoda: Echinostomatidae)

Two pairs of hitherto unknown multiciliate sensory endings have been demonstrated in free-swimming cercariae of Echinostoma revolutum using transmission and scanning electron microscopy. This type of receptor consists of a bundle of 36--40 short, conically projecting cilia ensheathed by a collar formed by a circular evagination of tegument in shape of a cup. The cilia projecting from the centre of a widened nerve fibre, filled with electron-lucid vesicles, possess a well developed basal body and do not contain a ciliary rootlet. The function of this receptor is discussed.