Urinary tract infections-microbial virulence determinants and reactive oxygen species

The human urinary tract is able to combat with the microbial invasion under normal circumstances. To cause urinary tract infection the organism has to evade the host defense mechanisms by possessing distinct properties which contribute to the virulence of the organism hence called virulence determinants Ninety percent of uncomplicated urinary tract infections are caused by Escherichia coli, hence the knowledge of the virulence determinants of this organism can be extrapolated to other uropathogenic organism as well. Virulence determinants of uropathogenic E. coli include adhesins, siderophore production, polysaccharide coating, hemolysin production, outer membrane proteins etc. The intestinal E. coli, which are the reservoir of E. coli for causing UTI, lack these virulence determinants. On the other hand these virulence determinants enable the organism to colonize and invade the urinary tract. In addition these are important in acquiring the nutrients in other wise nutrient deficient environment. Further, they also help the organisms in triggering an inflammatory response and hence bringing about pathological changes which leads to symptomatic UTI. Severity of symptomatic infections and tissue damage during the infective process depends upon the magnitude of the inflammatory response triggered by the uropathogen which in turn is dependent upon the amount of extrcellular release of reactive oxygen species by the phagocytic cells; hence role of antioxidants as an adjunct to antibiotics in the treatment of infective process needs to be evaluated further.     

Factors Affecting Fertility According to the Postpartum Period in Crossbred Dual-Purpose Suckling Cows in the Tropics

To determine the relationship between first service conception rate (FSC) and the postpartum period (PP), 6160 calvings from 2250 crossbred dual-purpose cows were analysed. The effects of breed predominance (BT: Bos taurus and BI: Bos indicus), season of service (dry, intermediate and humid), parity (1 or 2 and more), agroecological region (Sub-humid and Dry Tropical Forest) and milk production were studied. The postpartum period was grouped according to the calving–first service interval as G1 ≤ 60 days (n = 1889); G2 > 60 ≤ 90 days (n = 1436); G3 > 90 ≤ 120 days (n = 1030); and G4 > 120 days (n = 1805). Data were analysed by chi-squared test. The overall mean for FSC was 58.2% and was lower in G1 (p < 0.01). All PP showed a breed effect on FSC, with mean values of 61.6% and 53.3% for BI and BT, respectively. Season of service also affected FSC, which was significantly lower during the humid period: 51.2% versus 57.4% and 61.5% for the intermediate and dry periods (p < 0.01), respectively. Parity and environmental effects were not observed on FSC. Levels of milk yield did influence the FSC, which decreased from 66.7% and 61.0% for milk yields of < 1500 kg and between 1501 and 2000 kg to 46.0% in milk yields > 2000 kg (p < 0.01).     

Preliminary clinical pharmacological investigations of tylosin and tiamulin in chickens

Summary

The minimal inhibitory concentrations (M1C) of tiamulin and tylosin for mycoplasma. Gram‐positive, and Gram‐negative micro‐organisms isolated from chickens were determinated by the agar dilution method. Median M1C values for tiamulin against Mycoplasma gallisepticum (0.05 μg/ml) and Mycoplasma synoviae (0.10 μg/ml) were 2 to 4 times lower than the corresponding values for tylosin. Tiamulin was also slightly more effective in vitro in inhibiting Escherichia coli, Pasteurella multocida, and beta‐haemolytic streptococci than was tylosin. Groups of chicken were offered tiamulin medicated drinking water at rates of 125 and 250 mg/litre for 48 hours. Average serum tiamulin concentrations were 0.38 and 0.78 μg/ml, respectively. When tylosin tartrate was added to the drinking water at 500 and 700 mg/litre, average serum drug levels were 0.12 and 0.17 μg/ml, respectively.

Tiamulin was 45% bound in chicken serum, as against 30% serum protein binding or tylosin. Correlations were made between free (non protein bound) serum drug levels and the MIC values of the two drugs. Such comparisons suggest that when tiamulin is given in the drinking water at rates of 125 to 250 mg/litre, better antimycoplasmal activity is to be expected in vivo than by giving tylosin tartrate in the drinking water at 500 to 700 mg/litre. Based on these data, no clinical efficacy of these dose rates can be expected in flocks infected by gram‐negative microorganisms such as E. coli or P. multocida. The tylosin tartrate rate of 500 to 700 mg/litre, may be clinical ineffective the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus infections.     

Baby pig diarrhea caused by coccidiosis

Summary

An outbreak of coccidiosis on two Belgian farms is described. Diarrhea started in piglets at 9 or 10 days of life. Zero to three pigs died per litter. The morbidity rate varied from 70 to 90 per cent. Histological examination of the intestines revealed shortening of villi and different stages of the life cycle of coccidia were seen in the enterocytes. Virological examination was negative for corona‐, corona‐like, and rota‐virus. A haemolytic E. coli strain was isolated in one case. As for treatment, good results were obtained by the adding of 1 kg amproleum pre‐mix per ton sow feed. Scouring pigs were treated orally with 2 cc of an amprol solution once a day. The diarrhea stopped one day after treatment.     

Inhibitory action of intravenously administered ammonium acetate on the motility of the rumen in sheep

Summary

The effect of 60 minutes’ intravenous infusions, before morning feeding, of ammonium acetate (18.6 micromole/min/kg of body weight) and ammonium acetate with propranolol (11 μg/min/kg of body weight) on the ruminal motility of sheep was examined. Ammonia has an adrenaline‐like action therefore propranolol, a beta‐receptor blocking agent, was administered in order to eliminate the possible effect of adrenaline on ruminal motility. The contractions of the dorsal sack of the rumen were registered by means of the balloon method, with the gauge inserted through the rumen fistula. The infusion of ammonium acetate caused an increase of the ammonia concentration in the blood to 0.6 mmolel/at the end of 60 minutes’ infusion. Already during the first 5 minutes of the intravenous infusion of ammonium acetate there was a decreased frequency of ruminal contractions, which was observed throughout the infusion. After the infusion there was a radical decrease of the concentration of ammonia in the blood, and at the same time an increase in the frequency of rumen contraction was observed.

Blocking of the beta‐adrenergic receptors by propranolol did not eliminate the inhibiting action of ammonium ion on rumen motility. The infusion of the ammonium acetate caused an increase of adrenaline and glucose concentration. This response was eliminated by propranolol in the case of adrenaline but not glucose. It is assumed that the action of ammonium ion on the rumen motility is derived primarily by the central nervous system.     

Swine dysentery in a sow herd

Summary

An acute outbreak of swine dysentery (Doyle) on a farrowing farm is described. Besides clinical signs of enteritis a general loss of condition was seen throughout the herd. This resulted in a decreased fertility and breeding performance among sows and an increase in piglet mortality. Several dehydrated sows aborted.

The outbreak was stopped by oral treatment with lincomycin/spectinomycin 1:1. In the course of the treatment all animals and buildings were washed and disinfected. The use of pharmacotherapeutics in treating swine dysentery is discussed with emphasis on the involuntary induction of carriers.     

Dynamics in the membrane organization of the mammalian sperm cell and functionality in fertilization

Summary

The capacitation process of sperm cells involves complex changes in the composition and orientation of molecules at the surface of the sperm cell. Here we focus on the lipid architecture in the sperm plasma membrane and demonstrate that the sperm plasma membrane is not static but is an extremely dynamic structure. Advanced fluoroscopic techniques enabled continuous monitoring of lipid organization in living cells and extremely rapid lipid movements were observed. The orientation of lipids in the sperm plasma membrane changed under capacitative treatments, was found to be sensitive for temperature and also changed upon binding of sperm cells to the zona pellucida. The changes in membrane properties coincided with an activation of protein kinases resulting in tyrosine phosphorylation of specific plasma membrane proteins. The detected membrane changes relate to intrinsic membrane properties such as fluidity, permeability, adhesiveness and fusibility. We think that these results may provide a physiological basis for new assays, able to discriminate between functional and non‐physiological sperm cells.     

Yield and morphological responses of a forage sorghum to mefluidide

Abstract

Due to rapid growth, stem build‐up in forage sorghum crops often leads to considerable wastage by animals and consequent loss of production. In this study the potential of the chemical plant growth regulator, mefluidide, for modifying the morphology of forage sorghum was examined. Mefluidide was applied to two consecutive plantings of forage sorghum at 0; 0,14 and 0,28 kg/ha. Treatment with mefluidide suppressed stem elongation of sorghum plants and stimulated tillering 4–6 weeks after application. After 6 weeks the stem:leaf ratio of treated plants was significantly lower (P ≤0,05) than that of control plants. On average, total dry matter (DM) yield was marginally higher for the control, but DM yield of leaf material was significantly higher. (P ≤0,05) for treated plots from 6 weeks after mefluidide application. No significant differences were observed between levels of mefluidide but responses of different variables over time differed between plantings. This was associated with different stages of plant growth when mefluidide was applied and different environmental conditions for two plantings.