Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H11/H-: a human pathogen in emergence

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26:H11 have emerged as the most important non-O157:H7 EHEC, with respect to their ability to cause diarrhoea and the haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). HUS is a leading cause of acute renal failure in children, and is mainly caused by EHEC expressing Shiga toxins (Stx) 1 and/or 2. Since 1996, EHEC O26, which produce Stx2 only and appear to have enhanced virulence, have been increasingly isolated from HUS patients in Germany. In contrast, EHEC O26 found in cattle predominantly produce Stx1 as the sole Stx. Additional potential virulence factors of EHEC O26 include cytolysins (EHEC hemolysin), serine proteases (EspP), lymphotoxins (Efal) and adhesins (intimin). The genes encoding the virulence factors are located within pathogenicity islands (eae, efa1), bacteriophages (stx) or plasmids (EHEC-hlyA, espP). In addition, EHEC O26 possess, in contrast to other EHEC, the "high pathogenicity island" (HPI), which is also present in pathogenic Yersiniae.This island contains genes involved in the biosynthesis, regulation and transport of the siderophore yersiniabactin. Comparative genomic analyses between EHEC O26 and non-pathogenic E. coli, as well as investigations of mechanisms involved in the transfer of virulence genes, provide a deeper insight into the evolution of EHEC O26.These studies demonstrate how horizontal transfer of virulence genes, even from distantly related organisms, can lead in brief intervals to the rise of a highly virulent clone within a particular E. coli serotype.The classical bacteriological methods are no longer sufficient to determine the risk posed by EHEC O26. However, knowledge of the complete virulence profiles of these pathogens and understanding their stepwise evolution form a foundation for developing new strategies to prevent human infections and new methods for their laboratory diagnosis.     

Ammonia and greenhouse gas emissions from a straw flow system for fattening pigs: Housing and manure storage

Animal welfare and environmental protection are increasingly important. Housing systems must be found that offer animal welfare while minimizing the overall emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases. The straw flow system is an animal friendly housing system for fattening pigs, which can be operated economically on commercial farms. Emissions from conventional slurry based pig houses have been intensively studied, but more research is needed into straw based systems. In this study, we quantified emissions of ammonia and greenhouse gases from a straw flow system with or without daily removal of slurry to an outside store. The effect of applying a solid cover during outside storage was also examined.

Emissions of NH₃, N₂O, CH₄, and volatile organic C (VOC) from a commercial straw flow system for fattening pigs in Upper Austria were measured between June 2003 and March 2004. Emissions of CH₄ during housing were 1.24 and 0.54 kg CH₄ per pig place per year without and with daily manure removal, respectively. The corresponding N₂O emissions amounted to 39.9 and 24.5 g N₂O per pig place per year, and NH₃ emissions to 2.10 and 1.90 kg NH₃ per pig place per year without and with daily manure removal. Emissions of CH₄, N₂O and NH₃, and of total greenhouse gases, from the straw flow system were lower than literature reference values for forced ventilated fully slatted floor systems. Daily removal of the manure to an outside store reduced emissions from the pig house.

Emissions during storage of pig slurry derived from a straw flow system were quantified between June 2004 and June 2005. Slurry was stored in pilot scale stores with or without a solid cover and emissions quantified by a large open dynamic chamber. The solid cover reduced NH₃ and greenhouse gas emissions by 30 and 50%, respectively. During cold climatic conditions stored pig manure emitted less NH₃ and greenhouse gases than when stored under warm climatic conditions. We recommend the use of separate emission factors for slurry storage in the colder and warmer periods in the national emission inventory, and the use of covers on pig slurry stores.

Overall, it is concluded that the straw flow system may combine recommendations of animal welfare and environmental protection.     

The effect of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E on the regeneration of skeletal muscles in pigs

The aim of the study was to observe the effect of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E supplementation on the course of the regeneration process of the longissimus lumborum muscle after bupivacaine-induced myonecrosis as well as to determine the correlation between the level of those substances in plasma and their levels in damaged and non-damaged muscular tissue in pigs. The obtained results indicate that the course of regeneration of a damaged muscle is affected to a higher extent by coenzyme Q10 than by vitamin E. The administration of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin E has a significant impact on the increase in the level of those substances in damaged muscles and plasma of animals.     

Antibodies to selected pathogens in free-ranging terrestrial carnivores and marine mammals in Canada

Antibody titres to selected pathogens (canine adenovirus [CAV-2], feline herpesvirus [FHV], phocine herpesvirus [PHV-1], canine distemper virus, dolphin morbillivirus [DMV], phocine distemper virus [PDV], parainfluenza virus type 3 [PI3], rabies virus, dolphin rhabdovirus [DRV], canine coronavirus, feline coronavirus, feline leukaemia virus, Borrelia burgdorferi and Toxoplasma gondii) were determined in whole blood or serum samples from selected free-ranging terrestrial carnivores and marine mammals, including cougars (Fellis concolor), lynxes (Fellis lynx), American badgers (Taxidea taxus), fishers (Martes pennanti), wolverines (Gulo gulo), wolves (Canis lupus), black bears (Ursus americanus), grizzly bears (Ursus arctos), polar bears (Ursus maritimus), walruses (Odobenus rosmarus) and belugas (Delphinapterus leucas), which had been collected at several locations in Canada between 1984 and 2001. Antibodies to a number of viruses were detected in species in which these infections have not been reported before, for example, antibodies to CAV-2 in walruses, to PDV in black bears, grizzly bears, polar bears, lynxes and wolves, to DMV in grizzly bears, polar bears, walruses and wolves, to PI3 in black bears and fishers, and to DRV in belugas and walruses.     

Testing of the palatability of Thymus vulgaris L. and Origanum vulgare L. as flavouring feed additive for weaner pigs on the basis of a choice experiment

The objective of the study at hand was to investigate within the framework of a pilot project the preference of weaner pigs for either an ad libitum standard feed with thyme or oregano herb as flavouring additive or an ad libitum standard feed without any herbal additive. Thyme or oregano herbs or a combination of both were offered in two different concentrations each (1% and 0.1%) as additive (experimental diets) in standard diet in comparison to the latter without herbal additive (control diet) free of choice. The dosage of the two herbs in terms of total essential oil(s) in the feeds used in the study was 0.02% or 0.002% (v/w), which was equivalent to 1% or 0.1% herbs in the mixture, respectively. A Latin square according to Williams (1949) was used with 6 groups in order to record possible differences in feed intake. All experimental diets aside from that mixed with 0.1% thyme herb were, in comparison to the control diet, significantly less ingested. Where the weanling was given the choice, it did not choose feed with any flavouring additive. Further studies aimed at assessing the use of herbs as aroma additive in the form of a choice experiment are recommended.     

Evaluation of long-term home monitoring of blood glucose concentrations in cats with diabetes mellitus: 26 cases (1999-2002)

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate owner compliance with longterm home monitoring of blood glucose concentrations in diabetic cats and assess the influence of home monitoring on the frequency of reevaluation of those cats at a veterinary hospital. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 26 cats with diabetes mellitus. PROCEDURE: Medical records of diabetic cats for which home monitoring was undertaken were reviewed, and owners were contacted by telephone. Signalment, laboratory test results, insulin treatment regimen, details of home monitoring, clinical signs during treatment, frequency of follow-up examinations, and survival times were evaluated. RESULTS: Monitoring of cats commenced within 12 weeks (median, 3 weeks) after initial evaluation; 8 owners were unable to perform home monitoring, and 1 cat was euthanatized after 1 week. In 17 cats, duration of home monitoring was 4.8 to 46.0 months (median, 22.0 months); 6 cats died after 7.0 to 18.0 months (median, 13.0 months). In 11 cats, home monitoring was ongoing at completion of the study (12.0 to 46.0 months' duration). Fourteen owners completed blood glucose curves every 2 to 4 weeks. Cats managed with home monitoring received higher dosages of insulin, compared with cats that were not monitored. Four of 17 cats managed by home monitoring had transient resolution of diabetes mellitus for as long as 1 year. Home monitoring did not affect the frequency of reevaluation at the veterinary hospital. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Owner compliance with long-term home monitoring appeared to be satisfactory, and home monitoring did not affect the frequency of reevaluation of patients by veterinarians.