Occurrence of MRSA in air and housing environment of pig barns

A high prevalence of MRSA among farm animals, especially pigs, has been observed for some time. However, knowledge on transmission routes of MRSA in livestock production is still scarce. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the occurrence of MRSA in pig house air as well as in samples from pigs and their housing environment in 27 MRSA positive pig barns of different sizes and production types. In 85.2% of all barns MRSA was detected in the animal house air. Impingement turned out to be a more sensitive sampling technique than filtration. Other environmental samples such as boot swabs or faeces showed prevalences of MRSA from 55.6% to 85.2% at sample level. The level of MRSA was 88.3% for pooled and 82.1% for single nasal swabs, in skin swabs the one was 87.7%, the others was 78.7%. Spa typing of isolates from air and nasal swabs showed predominantly spa types t011 and t034. MRSA prevalences in pigs as well as in various environmental samples were significantly higher in fattening farms than in breeding farms. This study provides good reference that there could be an airborne transmission of MRSA within pig herds indicating a potential contamination of the environment of barns.     

Diminazene aceturate residues in the tissues of healthy, Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei infected dogs

The tissue distribution and residue profile of diminazene aceturate was investigated in healthy dogs and in dogs infected with Trypanosoma congolense and Trypanosoma brucei brucei. The drug was administered at 3.5 mg/kg i.m. and tissue samples were taken post mortem from the animals at 48, 72, 120, 168 and 240 h after injection. The drug was distributed to various organs and tissues of the body with the highest concentrations occurring in liver and kidney. Higher drug levels were obtained in the tissues of healthy dogs compared with trypanosome infected animals except in the brain. The levels of residues in the healthy animals were significantly different (P less than 0.05) from those of the infected dogs. The drug residues were still detectable in the tissues of the animals 10 days after drug administration.     

A survey of gastrointestinal parasites in cattle of southeastern Nigeria

This paper presents the results of a survey of 1021 cattle in the southeastern area of Nigeria during August–October 1990 (wet season) and January–March 1991 (dry season) to study the effects of season, ecological zone, management system, breed and age on the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites (GIP).

Strongyles (mainly Haemonchus spp.) were the commonest GIP (prevalence 47.8%; 95% CI; 44.8–51%; mean eggs per gram (epg) 387 ± SE 21.3) followed by coccidia (3.6%; 95% CI, 2.6–5%; mean oocysts per gram (opg) 2077 ± 778.4). The prevalence of other parasites encountered was comparatively very low. More infections were present in the wet than in the dry season (P<0.01). Whereas a higher prevalence (P<0.01) of strongyle infection was recorded in nomadic herds, that of coccidia was higher in sedentary herds. The prevalence of strongyle infection was lower in young animals (P<0.05), but they had higher epg (P<0.01) and also higher coccidia prevalences (P<0.01) than adults. Friesian and N'dama breeds under improved management in modern farms had lower strongyle and higher coccidia infections compared with zebu and muturu kept under the traditional management system The distribution of infection by ecological zone did not show any consistent trend, and this was attributed to the uneven distribution of the cattle breeds amongst the different zones.     

Effect of tick-borne fever on the disposition of sulphadimidine and its metabolites in plasma of goats

The effect of tick-borne fever (TBF) on the plasma disposition of sulphadimidine (SDM) and its metabolites in goats was studied. In uninfected goats, SDM was extensively metabolised mainly by hydroxylation, glucuronidation and to a minor extent by acetylation. In TBF infected goats the hydroxylation of SDM into 6-methylhydroxysulphadimidine (SCH2OH) as well as into 5-hydroxysulphadimidine (SOH) was markedly reduced (-57.6 and -63.6 per cent, respectively). An unidentified metabolite (metabolite X) was detected, which was largely glucuronidated in the uninfected goats. In the TBF infected goats the glucuronide derivatives of the X metabolite and of SOH were barely detectable. In TBF infected goats the plasma concentration of the N4-acetylated metabolite (N4-SDM) was decreased to a lesser extent (-22.1 per cent) than the hydroxy metabolites. Due to the diminished metabolism the elimination half-life of SDM was increased 1.8 times and the total sulphonamide body clearance was diminished compared with findings in the control experiments.     

The production performance of imported Friesian cattle under heavy Trypanosoma challenge in a rain forest zone of Nigeria

The productivity of 76 newly imported pregnant Friesian cattle and two bulls under heavy trypanosome challenge in the rain forest belt of Nigeria is reported. At the first visit in August 1989 and within 7 months of arrival of the heifers, the herd population had reduced by 26 (33.3%) as a result of deaths (six animals) and culls/salvages (20). The surviving 52 animals were generally in poor health with classical symptoms of trypanosomiasis. Thirty-one (40.8%) of the pregnancies were unsuccessful because of abortions (13 animals), premature births (seven), embryonic deaths (five) and death of heifers (six). Of the 45 successful calvings, 16 perinatal deaths occurred. All serum samples were negative for brucellosis. Only 41 (63.1%) of the 65 productive heifers lactated of which 24 (58.5%) yielded milk only for 6 months and less. The remaining 17 (41.5%) heifers were still at different stages of lactation ranging from 3 to 7 months within the period of analysis. Treatment with isometamidium (Samorin) at 0.5 mg/kg body weight cured the infection and prevented reinfections and/or relapses within 3 months of administration. A rise in the haematocrit and milk production after Samorin treatment was recorded. Careful analysis of the outbreak indicated that the reproductive wastages and poor lactational performance may have been induced by the severe trypanosomiasis diagnosed in the herd.     

Soil base saturation affects root growth of European beech seedlings§

To assess the potential effects of Al toxicity on the roots of young European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), seeds were sown in soil monoliths taken from the Ah and B horizons of forest soils with very low base saturation (BS) and placed in the greenhouse. The Ah horizons offered a larger supply of exchangeable cation nutrients than the B horizons. After 8 weeks of growth under optimal moisture conditions, the seedlings were further grown for 14 d under drought conditions. Root‐growth dynamics were observed in rhizoboxes containing soils from the Ah and B horizons. The concentrations of Al³⁺, base cations, and nitrate in the soil solution and element concentrations in the root tissue were compared with above‐ and belowground growth parameters and root physiological parameters. There was no strong evidence that seedling roots suffered from high soil‐solution Al³⁺ concentrations. Within the tested range of BS (1.2%–6.5%) our results indicated that root physiological parameters such as O₂ consumption decreased and callose concentration increased in soils with a BS < 3%. In contrast to the B horizons, seedlings in the Ah horizons had higher relative shoot‐growth rates, specific root lengths, and lengths and branching increments, but a lower root‐to‐shoot ratio and root‐branching frequency. In conclusion, these differences in growth patterns were most likely due to differences in nutrient availability and to the drought application and not attributable to differences in Al³⁺ concentrations in the soil solution.     

Diazepam and chlorpromazine stimulate feeding in dwarf goats

5 adult dwarf goats were injected intravenously with diazepam, chlorpromazine or isotonic saline. Both diazepam at 0.04 mg/kg and chlorpromazine at 0.5 mg/kg significantly stimulated food intake above the control 0.9% NaCl levels. The stimulatory effect appears to be most pronounced within the first 15 min post injection, and was no longer evident between 30 and 45 min after the bolus injection of the tranquillizers.     

Nutritional properties and ultra-structure of commercial gluten free flours from different botanical sources compared to wheat flours

Coeliac patients suffer from an immune mediated disease, triggered by the ingestion of a protein composite (gluten) found in wheat, rye and barley. Consequently, there is a need for products such as bread or pasta, made from alternative cereal grains or pseudocereals. A fair proportion of the gluten free products currently on the market are nutritionally inadequate. Hence, it was the aim of this study to investigate the nutrient composition of seven commonly used commercial gluten free flours (oat, rice, sorghum, maize, teff, buckwheat and quinoa) and compare them to wheat and wholemeal wheat flour. In addition to the levels of all major compounds, also mineral composition, fatty acid profile, phytate, polyphenols and folate content were determined. Furthermore, properties of carbohydrates were studied in greater detail, looking at total and damaged starch levels; total, soluble and insoluble dietary fibre content as well as amylose/amylopectin ratio. Proteins were further investigated by means of capillary electrophoreses. Additionally, the ultra-structure of these materials was explored using scanning electron microscopy. The results show that maize and rice flour are poor regarding their nutritional value (low protein, fibre, folate contents). In contrast, teff as well as the pseudocereals quinoa and buckwheat show a favourable fatty acid composition and are high in protein and folate. In particular, quinoa and teff are characterised by high fibre content and are high in calcium, magnesium and iron. Therefore these flours represent nutrient-dense raw materials for the production of gluten free foods.     

Regeneration of different Cyclamen species via somatic embryogenesis from callus,suspension cultures and protoplasts

The present study is the first report of the establishment of embryogenic callus cultures from seedling tissue, the regeneration of plants via somatic embryogenesis and the development of a regeneration system from protoplast to plant, using three wild species of Cyclamen, Cyclamen graecum Link, Cyclamen mirabile Hildebrand, Cyclamen trochopteranthum Schwarz (syn. Cyclamen alpinum hort. Dammann ex Sprenger). The ability to form embryogenic callus and to regenerate via somatic embryogenesis was strongly genotype-dependent for each species. From 0.5 g callus, up to 1461 somatic embryos were formed in the case of C. mirabile. Culture media with different concentrations of plant growth regulators, CaCl₂ and activated charcoal significantly influenced embryo formation in this species. Up to 1.4 × 10⁶ protoplasts were isolated from 1 g of C. graecum cell suspension. Diverse growth responses of the protoplasts in two embedding agents, agarose and alginate, were observed for the different Cyclamen species. These specific growth characteristics could be used as a selection marker for future fusion experiments. From both protoplast culture systems, somatic embryos were regenerated, grown to plantlets and acclimatised to greenhouse conditions.