Origin of Clostridium perfringens isolates determines the ability to induce necrotic enteritis in broilers

Since the ban on growth-promoting antibiotics in animal feed in the European Union, necrotic enteritis has become a major cause of mortality in broiler chickens. Despite the importance of the disease, the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. In the current study, Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from healthy flocks and isolates from outbreaks of necrotic enteritis were evaluated for the ability to cause gut necrosis in an intestinal loop model in laying hens and in an experimental infection model in broilers. High, intermediate and low alpha toxin producing strains were chosen from each isolation source. Only the isolates from field outbreaks induced necrotic gut lesions, independent of the amount of alpha toxin produced in vitro. It was also shown that alpha toxin producing isolates from calf hemorrhagic enteritis cases were not able to induce necrotic enteritis in poultry. These results suggest the presence of host specific virulence factors in C. perfringens strains, isolated from chickens with intestinal necrotic enteritis lesions.     

Expression of myeloperoxidase in swine influenza virus (SIV)-infected neutrophils in lungs from pigs experimentally infected with SIV subtype H1N2

The expression of myeloperoxidase (MPO) was examined in the swine influenza virus (SIV)-infected neutrophils in the lungs of pigs experimentally infected with swine influenza virus (SIV) subtype H1N2 by immunohistochemistry. Five pigs each from the infected and non-infected group were euthanized 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10?days post-inoculation (dpi). Immunohistochemical reactivity was mainly seen in neutrophils. The score for pulmonary histopathological lesions correlated with the score for MPO immunohistochemical reactivity (r ( s )?=?0.962, P?相似文献   

Tenderization potential of Hanwoo beef muscles from carcasses with differed genders and loin intramuscular fat content levels during post mortem ageing

Carcasses from Hanwoo steers (n = 15) and cows (n = 15) were classified into three groups: group 1 (G1), the carcasses had 10% to < 11.5% intramuscular fat (IMF) in loin muscles; group 2 (G2), the carcasses had 13% to < 14.5% IMF in loin muscles; and group 3(G3), the carcasses had 17% to < 18.5% IMF in loin muscles. These were used to evaluate the effects of gender and carcass group on quality traits and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) of Psoas major (PM), Longissimus thoracis (LT), Longissimus lumborum (LL), Longus colli (LC), Supraspinatus (SS), Latissimus dorsi (LAD), Semimembranosus (SM), Quadriceps femoris (QF), Biceps femoris (BF) and Semitendinosus (ST) muscles. Our results showed that pH values of LT, LL, LC, BF and QF muscles were lower in steers than in cows (P < 0.05). Water holding capacity (WHC) was found higher in LC, SS, LAD and QF muscles of steers (P < 0.05). At day 2 of ageing, gender affected the WBSF values of only PM, LD and QF muscles in G1, and QF muscle in G3; however, with additional ageing, the gender effect was observed for most of the muscles. Most muscles showed ageing responses; however, the rates of ageing response significantly varied depending on gender and carcass groups. The muscles of G1 and G2 had generally higher tenderization potentials than those of G3. Furthermore, most muscles in G3 had generally lower WBSF values than in G1 and G2. These results clearly indicate that ageing has a significant effect on quality and WBSF of beef muscles, and the classification by loin IMF level may be useful for prediction of the tenderness of other muscles.     

The Cometary and Interstellar Dust Analyzer at comet 81P/Wild 2

The CIDA (Cometary and Interstellar Dust Analyzer) instrument on the Stardust spacecraft is a time-of-flight mass spectrometer used to analyze ions formed when fast dust particles strike the instrument's target. In the spectra of 45 presumably interstellar particles, quinone derivates were identified as constituents in the organic component. The 29 spectra obtained during the flyby of Comet 81P/Wild 2 confirm the predominance of organic matter. In moving from interstellar to cometary dust, the organic material seems to lose most of its hydrogen and oxygen as water and carbon monoxide. These are now present in the comet as gas phases, whereas the dust is rich in nitrogen-containing species. No traces of amino acids were found. We detected sulfur ions in one spectrum, which suggests that sulfur species are important in cometary organics.     

Preparation and properties of waterborne polyurethanes based on triblock glycol (CL)4.5-PTMG-(CL)4.5 for water vapor permeable coatings: Effect of soft segment content

A series of waterborne polyurethanes (WBPU) were prepared from 4,4-dicyclohexylmethane diisocyanate (H₁₂MDI), 2,2-bis(hydroxylmethyl) propionic acid (DMPA), ethylenediamine (EDA), triethylamine (TEA), and triblock glycol [TBG, (ε-caprolactone)_4.5-poly(tetramethylene ether) glycol (MW=2000)-(ε-caprolactone)_4.5: (CL)_4.5-PTMG-(CL)_4.5, MW=3000] as a soft segment. Two melting peaks of TBG at about 14°C and 38°C were observed indicating the presence of two different crystalline domains composed of CL and PTMG dominant component. The effect of soft segment content (60–75 wt%) on the colloidal properties of dispersion, and thermal and mechanical properties of WBPU films, the water vapor permeability (WVP) and water resistance (WR) of WBPU-coated Nylon fabrics, and the adhesive strength of WBPU-coated layer and Nylon fabrics was investigated. As soft segment contents increased, the water vapor permeability of WBPU-coated Nylon fabrics increased from 3615 to 4502 g/m²day, however, the water resistances decreased from 1300 to 500 mmH₂O.     

Antimicrobial resistance in Clostridium perfringens isolates from broilers in Belgium

The antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from Belgian broilers between May and September 2007 was investigated. All 39 tested isolates were sensitive to enrofloxacin, erythromycin, tylosin, florfenicol and bacitracin. Twenty-six (66%) and 24 (61%) out of the 39 tested isolates showed acquired resistance to tetracycline and lincomycin, respectively. The C. perfringens isolates were also screened by PCR for the presence of the resistance genes tet(K), tet(L), tet(M), tetB(P), tet(O), tet(W), lnu(A) and lnu(B). In 22/26 tetracycline resistant strains and 7/24 lincomycin resistant strains, resistance could be attributed to one or more of these genes. An extended frequency distribution range of MICs was seen for ampicillin. These data are consistent with data derived from studies carried out in 1980 and in 2004, indicating that no changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns have taken place during time in C. perfringens isolates from broilers in Belgium.     

Development of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for bisphenol a using chicken immunoglobulins

Bisphenol A was coupled, after derivatization into a suitable hapten, to bovine serum albumin and ovalbumin in order to produce immunizing and coating antigens. The immunizing antigens were injected into chickens, which allowed the isolation of specific bisphenol A immunoglobulins from the egg yolk. These antibodies were used in an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the determination of bisphenol A in aqueous solutions. Various parameters, influencing the assay sensitivity, were evaluated. The applicability of the assay for the determination of bisphenol A in milk was also studied. The assay was not as sensitive as other analytical techniques used in bisphenol A analysis, since typical I(50) levels of 2.5 microM were reached in aqueous solutions. This study nevertheless illustrates the usefulness and the potency of chicken antibodies in the analysis of migration residues from packaging materials using immunochemical techniques. In addition, the assay showed to be quite specific for bisphenol A as well. Only for bisphenol A analogues, cross reactivities of about 40% were reached, enabling the use of the antibodies for the screening of bisphenol A and alike compounds.     

3,4-Dihydroxyflavone acts as an antioxidant and antiapoptotic agent to support bovine embryo development in vitro

The effects of two antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and the flavonoid 3,4-dihydroxyflavone (DHF), on bovine embryo development in vitro were examined. Blastocyst development, total cell and inner cell mass (ICM) numbers, intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), apoptotic indices and gene expression levels were examined before and after treatment of day 2 bovine embryos (≥2-4 cells) with various concentrations of 3,4-DHF or SOD for 6 days. Statistical analysis was performed using analysis of variance, with significance defined at the P<0.05 level. SOD had no significant effect on bovine embryo development at any tested concentration (control, 32.8%; 300 U/ml, 33.9%; 600 U/ml, 24.2%). In contrast, 10 μM 3,4-DHF promoted higher blastocyst development (39.3%) than any other concentration (control, 26.7%; 1 μM, 30.3%; 50 μM, 29.5%; 100 μM, 20.5%). Compared with 300 U/ml SOD, 10 μM 3,4-DHF resulted in significantly higher blastocyst development (44.2%) (control, 31.5%; SOD 300 U/ml, 33.6%). Treatment with 3,4-DHF increased the ICM cell number and reduced intracellular ROS production and apoptotic cell numbers. When O(2) tension was decreased from 20% (high tension) to 5% (low tension), embryo development rates were doubled regardless of 3,4-DHF treatment. Under high O(2) tension, 10 μM 3,4-DHF treatment may render bovine embryo development similar to a low O(2) tension environment. The best blastocyst development was obtained under low O(2) tension plus 10 μM 3,4-DHF treatment. The relative expression levels of antioxidant (MnSOD), antiapoptotic (Survivin, Bax inhibitor) and growth-related genes (IFN-τ, Glut-5) were significantly increased after 3,4-DHF treatment, while the expression levels of oxidant (Sox) and apoptotic genes (Caspase-3 and Bax) were reduced. These results suggest that 3,4-DHF may promote the in vitro development of bovine embryos through its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effects.     

Sediment in Alluvial and Lacustrine Debris Fans as an Indicator for Land Degradation Around Lake Ashenge (Ethiopia)

Sediments deposited by (paleo) flash floods can hold valuable information on processes of environmental change, land degradation or desertification. In order to assess the suitability of flash flood deposits as proxies for land degradation, we monitored a representative gully segment in North Ethiopia (Ashenge catchment), investigated a sequence of alluvial debris fans downstream of this segment and dated a neighbouring subaquatic debris fan using short‐lived ²¹⁰Pb isotope counting. During one rainy season (July–September 2014), we measured daily rainfall, peak discharge, bedload transport, suspended sediment load and sediment deposition rates. The data show that sediment deposition in the debris fans is significantly dependent on micro‐topography (net incision in micro‐channels) (p < 0·1) and position within the sequence (net incision farther away from the lake) (p < 0·05). As sediment transfer to the lake significantly depends on the balance between available water and sediment (ratio rainfall depth/bedload transport) (p < 0·05), we could reconstruct the hydro‐sedimentary evolution of the gully over the past half century and validate it with aerial photographs and semi‐structured interviews. The findings are consistent with the short‐lived isotope count results, indicating increased sediment supply from the 1970s onwards, when little amounts of clay were deposited in the lake (<5%), and a subrecent clear water effect that resulted in increased deposition rates of clay in the lacustrine debris fan. Overall, our analysis indicates that debris fan sediments can be used to estimate past environmental degradation rates, if the contemporary water and sediment behaviour is well understood. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.