Administration of Bacillus coagulans in calves: recovery from faecal samples and evaluation of functional aspects of spores

An investigation was carried out into the recovery from calf faeces of Bacillus coagulans spores added to the feed as probiotic. For this purpose, Bacillus coagulans spores (9 log₁₀ CFU g^?1) were given daily to 10 calves during the whole farming periods; another 10 calves acted as controls. Throughout the trial the faecal spore counts were significantly (P?<?0.01) higher in the treated group than in the controls (averaging 2.1?×?10⁵ vs 3.7?×?10⁴?CFU g^?1). Bacterial cells were recovered from faecal samples and ribotyping matched the strain isolated from faecal sample to the clone administered to the animals. In addition, the recovered cells were found to maintain their functionality aspects of acid production, survival in artificial gastric juice and in the presence of bile, and attachment to human intestinal epithelial cells. The results further elucidate the fate of spore formers administered to calves, and this will help in the development of new species-specific nutritional strategies.     

Detection of trichinellosis in a historically Trichinella-free area of Argentina

The aim of the present work was to determine the presence of human and porcine trichinellosis in an area of Argentina historically regarded as Trichinella-free. Human blood donors (n = 216) and swine destined for consumption (n = 57) were evaluated by serological techniques (ELISA, immunofluorescence, and/or Western Blot). Muscle tissues from 26 of the pigs were evaluated for the presence of Trichinella larvae by the artificial digestion method. A questionnaire was used to collect and evaluate data on eating habits of the human population under study and on swine-raising conditions. The survey showed that 98.1% of the individuals (n = 212) were regular consumers of pork in the form of stuffed products such as sausages produced by local butchers. The seroprevalence (positive sera by at least two of the three methods) was 8.3% (n = 18) for human trichinellosis and 24.5% (n = 14) for porcine trichinellosis. Trichinella spiralis larvae were found in 2 of the 26 pigs (7.7%) with parasite loads of 0.33 and 2.4 muscle larvae per gram. Twelve swine found positive by serological and/or parasitological tests were raised under poor sanitary conditions (presence of rubbish in the surroundings, with cannibalism and scavenging behaviors, presence of rodents, etc.). Our study confirms the existence of porcine trichinellosis in an area regarded as Trichinella-free, provides supporting serological evidence of human infection in this area, and indicates that failure to report cases of trichinellosis based on inadequate surveillance can result in incorrect prevalence classification of an area.     

Highlighting the Biotechnological Potential of Deep Oceanic Crust Fungi through the Prism of Their Antimicrobial Activity

Among the different tools to address the antibiotic resistance crisis, bioprospecting in complex uncharted habitats to detect novel microorganisms putatively producing original antimicrobial compounds can definitely increase the current therapeutic arsenal of antibiotics. Fungi from numerous habitats have been widely screened for their ability to express specific biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) involved in the synthesis of antimicrobial compounds. Here, a collection of unique 75 deep oceanic crust fungi was screened to evaluate their biotechnological potential through the prism of their antimicrobial activity using a polyphasic approach. After a first genetic screening to detect specific BGCs, a second step consisted of an antimicrobial screening that tested the most promising isolates against 11 microbial targets. Here, 12 fungal isolates showed at least one antibacterial and/or antifungal activity (static or lytic) against human pathogens. This analysis also revealed that Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 and Enterococcus faecalis CIP A 186 were the most impacted, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853. A specific focus on three fungal isolates allowed us to detect interesting activity of crude extracts against multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Finally, complementary mass spectrometry (MS)-based molecular networking analyses were performed to putatively assign the fungal metabolites and raise hypotheses to link them to the observed antimicrobial activities.     

Transformation of degraded farmlands to agroforestry in Zongi Village,Ethiopia

The interaction of human land use, steep slopes and erosion has been a serious threat to Ethiopia’s ecosystems. Community’s initiated land rehabilitation programmes such as tree regeneration on farm lands, hill-side planting and exclosures have been established to rejuvenate debilitated lands. To characterize, map out and monitor such transformations, this study was carried out in Zongi, Tigray Region of northern Ethiopia. The study used an integration of remote sensing data, field observations and information from key informants and randomly selected respondents to analyse the land-use/land cover (LULC) changes from 1984 to 2013. Conventional method of supervised image classification was used for landsat image of 2013 while hybrid method of unsupervised and supervised classification was employed for landsat images of 1984 and 1999. The results revealed significant modifications and conversion of LULC types over the multi-dates. Analysis of the 29-year change matrix revealed that 78.5% of the land underwent significant changes in LULC. The major changes to agroforestry land use(LU)types between 1984 and 2013 were conversion of intensively cultivated land to moderately cultivated land (32.1%) and sparsely cultivated land (11.8%). The drivers of changes were linked to the introduction of land rehabilitation initiatives, government consensus (via agricultural extension) with the community, which were complemented by growing awareness of landowners. This study corroborates the necessity of community involvement and participation to improve their land use systems for environmental sustainability and sustainable livelihood.     

A pantropic canine coronavirus genetically related to the prototype isolate CB/05

We report the genetic and biological characterisation of a novel pantropic canine coronavirus (CCoV), strain 450/07, which caused the death of a 60-day-old miniature pinscher. At the genetic level, this virus was strictly related to the prototype strain CB/05, but displayed some unique features. After experimental infection with the new pantropic isolate, most inoculated dogs showed diarrhoea and acute lymphopenia. Gross lesions and histological changes were mainly evident in the gut and lymphoid tissues, although some animals showed remarkable changed also in parenchymatous organs. The viral RNA was detected in the faeces and/or internal organs of most pups. These findings seem to indicate that strain 450/07 is able to spread to internal organs (mainly lymphoid tissues), causing lymphopenia but inducing a mild disease.     

Root plasticity under fluctuating soil moisture stress exhibited by backcross inbred line of a rice variety,Nipponbare carrying introgressed segments from KDML105 and detection of the associated QTLs

In rainfed lowland rice ecosystem, rice plants are often exposed to alternating recurrences of waterlogging and drought due to erratic rainfall. Such soil moisture fluctuation (SMF) which is completely different from simple or progressive drought could be stressful for plant growth, thereby causing reduction in yield. Root plasticity is one of the key traits that play important roles for plant adaptation under such conditions. This study aimed to evaluate root plasticity expression and its functional roles in dry matter production and yield under SMF using Nipponbare, KDML 105 and three backcross inbred lines (BILs) and to identify QTL(s) associated with root traits in response to SMF at two growth stages using Nipponbare/KDML105 F₂ plants. A BIL, G3-3 showed higher shoot dry matter production and yield than Nipponbare due to its greater ability to maintain stomatal conductance concomitant with greater root system development caused by promoted production of nodal and lateral roots under SMF. QTLs were identified for total nodal root length, total lateral root length, total root length, number of nodal roots, and branching index under SMF at vegetative and reproductive stages. The QTLs detected at vegetative and reproductive stages were different. We discuss here that relationship between root system of G3-3 and the detected QTLs. Therefore, G3-3 and the identified QTLs could be useful genetic materials in breeding program for improving the adaptation of rice plants in target rainfed lowland areas.     

Detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA by nested PCR from formalin-fixed tissues of post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) pigs in Thailand

A retrospective study for the detection of porcine circovirus 2 (PCV-2) DNA was conducted by nested PCR method in 16 cases of swine post-weaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in Thailand. Histopathology showed characteristic lesions of PMWS and intracytoplasmic viral inclusion bodies in macrophages infiltrating in lymphoid tissues. PCV-2 DNA was detected from formalin-fixed and/or formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues from all pigs with PMWS. The amplified products were digested with Hae III.     

Effects of methionine on muscle protein synthesis and degradation pathways in broilers

This study investigated the hypothesis that supplementation of methionine (Met) to broiler diets increases muscle growth due to regulation of molecular pathways related to protein synthesis and degradation depending on the Met source. Day‐old male Cobb‐500 broilers (n = 240) were phase‐fed three different wheat–soya bean meal‐based basal diets during days 1–10, 11–21 and 22–35. Basal diets (Met‐ group, Met + Cys concentration 15% below NRC recommendations) were supplemented with 0.10% or 0.40% Met either as DL‐Met (DLM) or DL‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL‐HMTBA) (equimolar comparison). Breast muscle weights were lower in the Met‐ group compared to all Met‐supplemented groups and were lower in broilers supplemented with 0.10% of DL‐HMTBA compared to the other groups fed Met‐supplemented diets. However, the expression of genes or relative phosphorylation and thus activation state of proteins involved in the somatotropic axis, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway of protein synthesis, the ubiquitin–proteasome pathway (UPP) and autophagy–lysosomal pathway of protein degradation, the GCN2/eIF2a pathway involved in the inhibition of protein synthesis and in the myostatin–Smad2/3 pathway involved in myogenesis were not affected by Met source. Feeding diets with suboptimum Met + Cys concentrations, however, decreased expression of GHR and IGF1 in liver and muscle and increased that of MURF1 involved in the UPP in the broiler's muscle at day 10 and 21, while that of FOXO and atrogin‐1 and FOXO phosphorylation remained unaffected. Additionally, suboptimum dietary Met concentrations increased expression of the autophagy‐related genes ATG5 and BECN1 at day 35. Met supplementation neither affected gene expression nor phosphorylation of proteins involved in the GNC2/eIF2a and mTOR pathways. These data indicate that protein synthesis was not affected on the molecular level, while protein degradation was marginally affected by dietary Met dosage.     

Diagnosis of canine brucellosis by ELISA using an antigen obtained from wild Brucella canis

An indirect ELISA test was developed for the diagnosis of Brucella canis infection in dogs. A bacterial whole cell extract was used as a solid phase antigen, using B. canis isolated from an infected animal. Sera from culture-positive and healthy negative animals were used as internal reference controls. The cut-off point was determined by a mathematical formula for a statistically valid value, which defined the upper prediction limit, based on the upper tail of the t-distribution of 21 negative control sera readings, for the confidence level of 99.5%. The sensitivity and specificity of the ELISA test were 95% and 91%, respectively. The ELISA test showed a significant concordance index (K=0.84) with the agar gel immunodiffusion test. The reliability of the ELISA for the detection of infected animals was established by a double blind study testing 280 sera provided by serum banks from different diagnostic and research institutions and analyzed by ROC Curve.