Occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains in faeces from young pigs and calves in Denmark]

A comparative study of investigations from 1970 (before the prohibition against therapeutically used antibiotics as food additives for growth promotion) and from 1978 respectively proves that the prevalence of young pigs and calves with resistant E. coli has increased significantly from 61% to 92% and from 69% to 86% (tables I and II). Figures 1 and 2 show the prevalence of young pigs and calves with antibiotic resistant E. coli with resistance determinants towards sulfonamides, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, chloramphenicol, neomycin and furazolidone. This shows that the prevalence of young pigs with resistance determinants towards sulfonamides, tetracycline, streptomycin, ampicillin, and chloramphenicol has increased significantly from 1970 to 1978. The same facts apply to the calves. However, the increase in tetracycline resistance is not significant. Neomycin resistant E. coli for both young pigs and calves were only found in 1978. Figure 3 shows the distribution of the number of resistance determinants per young pig and calf with resistant E. coli. The figure shows the significant tendency that the pigs and calves investigated contain resistant E. coli with more resistance determinants in 1978 than in 1970. The distribution of R-factors among resistant E. coli seems to be reduced at first sight but a closer examination establishes that this only goes for R-factor mediated sulfonamide resistance (the experimental conditions may account for this). R-factor mediated streptomycin resistance has increased while R-factor mediated tetracycline resistance was at the same level. On the basis of literature the causes and risks of an increased distribution of antibiotic resistant E. coli are discussed.     

Bacteria profiles in four coastal areas of East Zealand--coliform bacteria, E. coli and vibriolike organisms (VLO) (author's transl)]

The prevalence of E. coli, coliforms and Vibrio-like-organisms has been studied at four different sites along the east coast of Zealand. High values were registered in sediment taken from the water-line and at a depth of one meter. Generally there exist significant differences between the bacterial counts of water and sediment, and it is obvious that the greatest concentration is in the waterline sediment. The epidemiological and hygienic consequences of these facts are discussed.     

Investigation on the transfer of fleas among small mammals using radioactive phosphorus.

The transfer of fleas Megabothris turbidus, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Nosopsyllus fasciatus etc. was investigated by labelling the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb.) with radioactive phosphorus. On the one hand, the process of flea transfer was traced among different individuals of the same host species, and on the other, among different host species (C. glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis Melch.). The investigations revealed that the flea transfer in a rodent nest visited by another host depended partly on the number of fleas present in the nest, partly on the period spent by the new-comer in it. Conversely, the number of fleas transferred in the nest by the newly arrived host depended on the temperature of nest bedding and on the initial nest occupation by other host.     

Tissue reaction to Cysticercus bovis in the lung of artificially infected cattle

The tissue reaction to Cysticercus bovis in the lung of cattle with an experimental infection was an inflammatory rim originating in the immediate vicinity of the cysts. The cysts recovered at days 83 and 102 p.i. contained living cysticerci. The rim was composed either of a layer of high histiocytes organized in palisades (at day 83 p.i.), or a lyer of flat histiocytes (at day 102 p.i.). The outer layer of the rim consisted of fibroblasts, reticular cells and a different number of eosinophil- and neutrophil luekocytes. On the periphery, the rim was formed by granulation tissue infiltrated with lymphoplasmocytes. At the border between the layers of the inflammatory rim there were conspicuous foci of a necrotic appearance typical of a tissue reaction to C. bovis.     

Foot-and-mouth disease virus typing by complement fixation and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using monovalent and polyvalent antisera.

An indirect "sandwich" enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using polyvalent and monovalent antisera was compared with the 50% complement fixation (CF50) test for the detection of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) O, A, and C virus types. ELISA was more sensitive than CF50 tests when polyvalent antisera were used for detecting the 3 types of virus in epithelial samples, whereas ELISA using monovalent antisera was the least sensitive technique. The ELISA performed with polyvalent antisera was 9 times more sensitive for detecting FMD virus than that with monovalent antisera. However, viral isolation in cell culture was the most sensitive detection system. The combined use of ELISA with polyvalent antisera and cell culture inoculations was the most effective procedure for identifying FMD virus in epithelial samples from the field.     

Necrotizing enteritis in suckling pigs (Clostridium perfringens type C enterotoxemia). II. Toxin formation, heat and drug resistance of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from suckling pigs and broilers with necrotizing enteritis]

Nineteen Clostridium perfringens Type C strains and ten foreign control strains of subtypes C1, C3, and C4 were tested for their toxin formation and spore resistance to heat. The 19 Type C strains had been isolated from unweaned piglets in the context of necrotising enteritis outbreaks in the GDR. The Clostridium perfringens Type C strains formed beta-toxin, but they failed to form epsilon-toxin or gamma-toxin, alpha-toxin was successfully recorded from 15 of the 19 strains tested from unweaned piglets. The minor-lethal toxin fractions were also tested, with delta-toxin being recorded from all strains, non-alpha-delta-theta-toxin from six, theta-toxin from five, and K-toxin from one. Tests for delta-toxin, lambda-toxin, and mu-toxin were negative. The Clostridium perfringens Type C strains isolated in the GDR from unweaned piglets with necrotising enteritis were, basically, identical with those described in Denmark by von Hogh (1967) with regard to toxin formation. Clostridium perfringens strains cultured in broilers with necrotising enteritis were characterised by regular toxin production in the context of alpha, theta, delta as well as non-alpha-delta-theta. They failed to form beta, epsilon, gamma and lambda, while mu-toxin was formed by them quite irregularly. They, consequently, are Type A strains. Resistance to chloramphenicol and/or oxytetracycline was exhibited by 78.5 per cent of 237 tested Clostridium perfringens strains which had been isolated from unweaned piglets and broilers with necrotosing enteritis. Multiple resistance was recorded from 33.9 per cent. All strains were susceptible to penicillin, nitrofurantoin, and erythromycin.     

Pathology of mastitis in cows, goats and swine. A review]

The literature concerning pathogenesis, pathological physiology and pathological anatomy in bovine, caprine and ovine mastitis is reviewed. The evoluation of infectious mastitis is divided in the three following phases: transmission-, invasion- and establishphase. The pathological anatomy about Mastitis acuta haemorrhagica et necroticans, Mastitis catarrhalis acuta, Mastitis catarrhalis chronica, Mastitis suppurativa and Mastitis granulomatosa is discussed.