Air sacculitis in poultry--human relevance of E. coli-isolates from the body cavity of turkeys unfit for human consumption

Air sacculitis is a common lesion found in herds during poultry meat inspection. To support the decision during inspection, 101 carcasses from turkey herds with frequently occurring air sacculitis (unfit for human consumption because of air sacculitis) were examined and 96 E. coil-isolates were collected. The isolates were tested for EHEC/STEC, i.e. gene sequences encoding Shigatoxin 1 and 2, EHEC-hemolysin (hlyEHEC) and intimin (eae). Moreover, the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the isolates to 13 antimicrobial substances was tested. Factors determining EHEC or STEC were not identified. MIC to several substances were higher, related to the reference strain. Regarding the farm units, some of the respective strains had more frequently higher MIC. Based on these results, in case of air sacculitis, the decision should depend on macroscopic lesions exclusively.     

Aldosterone plasma concentration in horses with heart valve insufficiencies

In humans and small animals, heart disease can lead to an increase in aldosterone, and the aldosterone level correlates with the severity of the heart disease. In horses similar interactions may be possible and may lead to an increase in aldosterone in horses with heart valve insufficiencies. In a prospective clinical trial eight healthy horses (control group) and 40 horses with heart valve disease were examined. In all horses, a clinical (auscultation), electro- and echocardiographic examination was performed and aldosterone plasma concentration was determined. The median aldosterone plasma concentration in the control group was 23.95 pg/ml. Twenty-one out of 40 horses with heart valve insufficiencies and without dimensional changes by echocardiography (group 1) showed a median aldosterone plasma concentration of 45.5 pg/ml. Five out of the 40 horses had a left atrial (LA) dilation and an average LA size with 147.6+/-11 mm (group 2) and a median aldosterone plasma concentration of 95.9 pg/ml. Five other horses had a left ventricular (LV) dilation with an average LV size of 141.6+/-6.8 mm (group 3) and a median aldosterone plasma concentration of about 115.3 pg/ml. In this group a positive correlation between aldosterone plasma concentration and LV existed (r=0.9, P=0.03). Nine horses with both LA (152.8+/-11.4 mm) and LV dilatation (145+/-9 mm, group 4) had a median aldosterone plasma concentration of 161.2 pg/ml. Significant differences of the aldosterone concentrations were observed between the control group and the horses with LA and LV dilation (group 4, P=0.0005), as well as between group 1 (horses with heart valve insufficiency but without dilation) and group 4 (P=0.0006). The study confirms that, as reported for other species, aldosterone rises as the severity of valvular disease increases. However, in this study, as there is only significant difference from normal in the most affected group, it will require further study before the plasma aldosterone level can be relied on as an indicator of the severity of heart disease in an individual horse.     

Influence of valvular insufficiency and recurrent airway obstruction on haemodynamics and therapy in warmblood horses with atrial fibrillation

The aim of this study was to investigate the potential haemodynamic effects of valvular insufficiency and recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) in horses with atrial fibrillation (AF). Therefore in ten healthy horses (group 1) and 40 horses with AF a clinical examination, a lung examination, echocardiography and right heart catheterization for measurement of intracardic and pulmonary pressures were performed. According to the clinical findings the horses with AF were subdivided into 4 groups (group 2: AF; group 3: AF/valvular insufficiency; group 4: AF/RAO; group 5: AF/valvular insufficiency/RAO). Most of the horses of group 3 and 5 suffered from two valvular insufficiencies (mitral and tricuspid valve insufficiency: n=11, mitral and aortic valve insufficiency: n=2). The remaining horses showed a single mitral (n=6), tricuspid (n=2) or aortic valve insufficiency (n=1) or more than two valvular insufficiencies (n=4). In group 2 right ventricular mean pressure (RVPm) was higher than in group 1 and 4 (P<0.025); diastolic right ventricular pressure was higher than in group 1; PWP was higher than in group 1 and group 4; PDP was lower compared to group1. Compared to group1 in group 3 left atrial diameter (LA) was greater; the PAPs was higher and the PDP lower (P<0.05). In group 4 RVPm and PWP was lower compared to group 2. In group 5 LA, fractional shortening and diastolic left ventricular diameter were greater, PWP and PAPs were higher and PDP lower compared to group1. Twenty six of the 40 horses with AF (65%) were treated. Successful cardioversion to sinus rhythm occurred in 15 horses (58%). Therapy was successful in 50% of the treated horses of group 2 and 3, in 67% of the treated horses of group 4 and in 63% of the treated horses in group 5. In conclusion the presence of valvular insufficiency or RAO influences the haemodynamics of horses with AF.     

Day-to day variability of cardiac pressure values in horses measured with right heart catheterization on 3 consecutive days

In the present study, a right heart catheterisation was carried out on three consecutive days in 17 healthy horses to evaluate the day-to-day variability of cardiac pressure values. Cardiac pressure values were measured in the right atrium, the right ventricle, the pulmonary artery, and the pulmonary capillaries (pulmonary artery wedge pressure). Additionally it was examined wether the cardiac pressure variability was influenced by the heart rate and if there are differences between trained and untrained horses. Beside the coefficient of variances, statistical analysis with assessment of variance components were carried out. Therefore the variation between repeated measurements at one day and within one horse, and the variation between repeated measurements over three days and within the horses (day to day intraindividual variation) as well as the variation between the horses (interindividual variation) were taken into account. The absolute interindividual variance of the pressure values and the heart rate was between 0.4 and 19.6 at all day and for all horses. Between trained and untrained horses the variation of the pressure values and the heart rate was lower than in the trained horses. A significant difference between trained and untrained horses was seen in right atrial mean pressure (p < 0.001) and right atrial diastolic pressure (p < 0.005). The coefficient of variances of the mean heart rate was 11.8%. The coefficient of variances of the different pressure values ranged between 13.1 (mean pulmonary artery pressure) and 46.4% (right ventricular pressure). By splitting the variances, 54.4-78.9% of the variation was caused by the effect of days, 6.2-30.7% of the variation was caused by the effect of horses and 12.5-23% of the variation was caused by the repeated measurements at the different days. In sumary the results shows that nearly all of the pressure values had a low effect of days on the variation, thus cardiac pressure measurements at one day seem to be sufficient.     

Detection of adulteration of poppy seed oil with sunflower oil based on volatiles and triacylglycerol composition

Although poppy seed oil is an expensive article of trade, no literature about identification methods for adulteration with cheaper vegetable oils, like sunflower oil, has been published. This kind of adulteration is a challenge for routine analytical methods, such as the determination of fatty acid composition, because of almost similar fatty acid ratios. The detection of adulteration of poppy seed oils with sunflower oils at different levels (5-40%, w/w) by using SPME-GC-MS and MALDI-ToF-MS is the subject of our investigation. With the mentioned SPME-GC-MS method, it was possible to detect an admixture of sunflower oils in all relevant (5-40%) amounts by using alpha-pinene as a marker compound. Admixture of sunflower oil with high levels of triolein (high-oleic acid type) could be undoubtedly detected by MALDI-MS down to the 5-10% level. In contrast, adulteration of pure poppy seed oil by "standard" sunflower oils remained indistinguishable using this MALDI-MS.     

Characterization of Groundwater Microbial Communities, Dechlorinating Bacteria, and In Situ Biodegradation of Chloroethenes Along a Vertical Gradient

The variability of hydrogeochemical conditions can affect groundwater microbial communities and the natural attenuation of organic chemicals in contaminated aquifers. It is suspected that in situ biodegradation in anoxic plumes of chloroethenes depends on the spatial location of the contaminants and the electron donors and acceptors, as well as the patchiness of bacterial populations capable of reductive dechlorination. However, knowledge about the spatial variability of bacterial communities and in situ biodegradation of chloroethenes in aquifers is limited. Here, we show that changes of the bacterial communities, the distribution of putative dechlorinating bacteria and in situ biodegradation at the border of a chloroethenes plume (Bitterfeld, Germany) are related to local hydrogeochemical conditions. Biotic reductive dechlorination occurred along a 50 m vertical gradient, although significant changes of the hydrogeochemistry and contaminant concentrations, bacterial communities and distribution of putative dechlorinating bacteria (Dehalobacter spp., Desulfitobacterium spp., Dehalococcoides spp., and Geobacter spp.) were observed. The occurrence and variability of in situ biodegradation of chloroethenes were revealed by shifts in the isotope compositions of the chloroethenes along the vertical gradient (??¹³C ranging from ?14.4?? to ?4.4??). Our results indicate that habitat characteristics were compartmentalized along the vertical gradient and in situ biodegradation occurred with specific reaction conditions at discrete depth. The polyphasic approach that combined geochemical and biomolecular methods with compound-specific analysis enabled to characterize the spatial variability of hydrochemistry, bacterial communities and in situ biodegradation of chloroethenes in a heterogeneous aquifer.     

Entwicklung der organischen bodensubstanz (obs) auf löss in abhängigkeit von unterschiedlicher düngung am beispiel des bodenbildungsversuches in Halle/Saale: Development of soil organic matter (som) on loess in dependence of different fertilization e.g. of the soil formation trial at Halle/Saale

In 1948, a model trial to study soil formation was arranged at Halle/Saale by K. Schmalfuß. Loess with very low content of soil organic matter was used as substrate. The aim was to investigate the soil formation processes influenced by the P and N mineral fertilization. After 30 years, crop yields reached a characteristic, approximately constant level corresponding to the different fertilization treatments and cultivated plants. Recent comparisons of the highest N with the no-N fertilizer treatment show that the mean shoot dry weight per year has a 2.5-fold higher but the C_org content in the topsoil only a 1.2-fold higher value. An accumulation of alkaline-soluble organic soil substances and a decrease of hot water soluble carbon compounds were observed in the highest fertilizer treatment as well as in the treatments without N or P fertilization. Carbon compounds were apparently enriched in the inert carbon pool of the topsoil. During soil formation, the cation exchange capacity and the content of easily soluble P compounds increased, lime content decreased and the C/N ratio became narrower. The results suggest that these parameters are continuing to change and the steady state of the level of organic soil substances and of the transformation processes between C pools in the topsoil has not yet been reached.     

Tissue Doppler Imaging and Two-Dimensional Speckle Tracking of Left Ventricular Function in Healthy Horses After Clenbuterol Application

The cardiac effects of high dosages of the ß²-adrenergic agent clenbuterol have been the focus of several histological, biochemical and echocardiographic studies in the past. Possible effects of a therapeutic dosage on myocardial contractility and velocities have not been evaluated using tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) and two-dimensional speckle tracking (2DST) in equine medicine. Twenty-five healthy horses were treated over 14 days with clenbuterol in a normal dosage (0.8 μg/kg every 12 hours). Before and after the treatment, an echocardiographic examination was performed using B-mode, M-mode, color flow Doppler, and tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). In all horses, the radial and circumferential myocardial functions were recorded in the right parasternal short-axis view (SAX). Pulsed-wave (PW) and color TDI were used for evaluation of peak and mean myocardial velocities; myocardial deformation was documented in 2DST. An improvement of diastolic function after clenbuterol treatment was demonstrated by a significant increase of the early diastolic radial wall motion velocity (E_m) in all myocardial sections except the right ventricular free wall (RVFW) in TDI, as well as an increase of the E/A quotient in the left ventricular free wall (LVFW) and the interventricular septum (IVS). Shortened time intervals, in particular in the LVFW and a tendency of increase of all deformation parameters showed improved relaxation characteristics of the cardiac muscle after treatment. The results can be interpreted as beginning physiologic cardiac hypertrophy due to clenbuterol treatment. No signs of increased rigidity or reduced compliance of the heart muscle could be found at the applied dosage. This study demonstrates the sensitivity of TDI and 2DST in equine cardiology to detect myocardial remodeling before the appearance of obvious findings in conventional echocardiographic techniques. This technique can be used to detect pharmacologic effects on myocardial function.