Etiology and antimicrobial susceptibility of udder pathogens from cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows in Sweden

Background

A nationwide survey on the microbial etiology of cases of subclinical mastitis in dairy cows was carried out on dairy farms in Sweden. The aim was to investigate the microbial panorama and the occurrence of antimicrobial resistance. Moreover, differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were investigated.

Methods

In total, 583 quarter milk samples were collected from 583 dairy cows at 226 dairy farms from February 2008 to February 2009. The quarter milk samples were bacteriological investigated and scored using the California Mastitis Test. Staphylococci were tested for betalactamase production and presence of resistance was evaluated in all specific udder pathogens. Differences between newly infected cows and chronically infected cows were statistically investigated using logistic regression analysis.

Results

The most common isolates of 590 bacteriological diagnoses were Staphylococcus (S) aureus (19%) and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS; 16%) followed by Streptococcus (Str) dysgalactiae (9%), Str. uberis (8%), Escherichia (E.) coli (2.9%), and Streptococcus spp. (1.9%). Samples with no growth or contamination constituted 22% and 18% of the diagnoses, respectively. The distribution of the most commonly isolated bacteria considering only bacteriological positive samples were: S. aureus - 31%, CNS - 27%, Str. dysgalactiae - 15%, Str. uberis - 14%, E. coli - 4.8%, and Streptococcus spp. - 3.1%. There was an increased risk of finding S. aureus, Str. uberis or Str. dysgalactiae in milk samples from chronically infected cows compared to findings in milk samples from newly infected cows. Four percent of the S. aureus isolates and 35% of the CNS isolates were resistant to penicillin G. Overall, resistance to other antimicrobials than penicillin G was uncommon.

Conclusions

Staphylococcus aureus and CNS were the most frequently isolated pathogens and resistance to antimicrobials was rare.     

Compositional changes of forest-floor vegetation in young stands of Norway spruce as an effect of repeated fertilisation

Forestry practices that aim to increase biomass production may mitigate climate change through increased carbon sequestration and the potential of substituting fossil fuels with renewable biofuels. Fertilising young stands of Norway spruce in Sweden have shown to increase tree growth by more than 200%. Fertilisation, however, also has other effects on forest ecosystems. Here, we studied the response of the species composition of forest-floor vegetation to three different frequencies of fertilisation in young stands of Norway spruce. Fertiliser was applied every year, every second year or every third year. The total amount of N ranged from 425 kg ha⁻¹ to 625 kg ha⁻¹, in combination with P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Mn, Zi, B and Cu. The largest effects of the fertilisation were found among bryophytes and lichens, which lost substantial cover. Unexpectedly, Deschampsia flexuosa, commonly known to be favoured by fertilisation, was negatively affected. Species that increased in frequency were Oxalis acetosella, Brachythecium sp. and Plagiothecium sp. Decreased availability of light, as an indirect effect of fertilisation through increased tree canopy cover, was found to be the most important factor behind the change in species composition of vascular plants. The total cover of bryophytes, however, did not show any significant response to the changes in canopy cover, indicating that the effects seen in this group may be a result of more direct effects of the fertiliser. Few significant differences were found between the two most intensive fertilisation frequencies, although fertilisation every third year was often distinguished from both the control and the other fertilised treatments. Even though the effects at the stand level were substantial, the effects on biodiversity and function of ecosystems on a landscape or regional level need further investigation.     

Assessment of urban forestry research and research needs in Nordic and Baltic countries

A review of research and research needs in urban forestry was carried out in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Latvia, Norway and Sweden during 2005. A questionnaire addressing post-2000 and ongoing research was sent to 146 researchers and generated 76 completed questionnaires. Universities were found to lead urban forestry research, while municipalities headed funding organisations in terms of number of projects funded. Planning, ecological and management aspects were the most common research themes, but socially oriented research also played an important role. The research needs questionnaire was sent to 192 key research actors (assignors, users and researchers), resulting in 63 completed needs assessments. The research themes of ‘urban forest management’, ‘social and cultural values’ and ‘urban forest and green planning’ were prioritised for future research. Comparison of ongoing research and research needs showed discrepancies, as ongoing research does not always cover the same themes identified as primary research needs. Priorities for future research as identified by the research community respective those assigning and using research also differed. Economic assessment of benefits, for example, scored much higher as a need among researchers than other respondents. In terms of present weaknesses in the research ‘infrastructure’, research actors emphasised lack of funding, fragmentation of research and insufficient critical mass. The region's urban forestry research can be enhanced and made more meaningful by strengthening national and international networking within the research community, across disciplines, as well as between researchers and those commissioning and using research.     

Retention patches as potential refugia for bryophytes and lichens in managed forest landscapes

Leaving small patches of forest intact at harvesting is now a standard procedure to mitigate negative effects on biodiversity. One purpose of the patches is to “life-boat” species over the forest regeneration phase, although the capacity of small forest fragments to do so is very uncertain. We investigated the survival of red-listed and indicator species of bryophytes and lichens in 74 retention patches in boreal Sweden. The patches were between 0.01 and 0.5 ha in size and of six different types with respect to tree species composition and location on the harvested area. Species presence and abundance were recorded shortly after harvest in transects covering the whole patches, and an identical inventory was carried out 6 years after the first. During this time, bryophytes generally decreased, most pronounced for liverworts. The largest decreases were found in buffer zones to streams and lakes and the smallest in tree groups dominated by deciduous trees. By contrast, among the lichens some species decreased while others increased, and there was no difference between retention patch types. Among the species abundant enough to be analyzed individually, the lichens Calicium parvum and Micarea globulosella decreased less in larger patches and the bryophyte Hylocomiastrum umbratum decreased more in patches of irregular shape. The results imply that retention patches of this size might be too small to function as refugia for sensitive bryophytes and lichens until the surrounding forest regenerates, but that some lichens appear to persist or even increase. Retention harvesting is still a young management practice and further studies on its long-term conservation benefits will be valuable.     

Metabolite profiling reveals clear metabolic changes during somatic embryo development of Norway spruce (Picea abies)

Progress on industrial-scale propagation of conifers by somatic embryogenesis has been hampered by the differences in developmental capabilities between cell lines, which are limiting the capture of genetic gains from breeding programs. In this study, we investigated the metabolic events occurring during somatic embryo development in Norway spruce to establish a better understanding of the fundamental metabolic events required for somatic embryo development. Three embryogenic cell lines of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) with different developmental capabilities were studied during somatic embryo development from proliferation of proembryogenic masses to mature somatic embryos. The three different cell lines displayed normal, aberrant and blocked somatic embryo development. Metabolite profiles from four development stages in each of the cell lines were obtained using combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Multivariate discriminant analyses of the metabolic data revealed significant metabolites (P ≤ 0.05) for each development stage and transition. The results suggest that endogenous auxin and sugar signaling affects initial stages of somatic embryo development. Furthermore, the results highlight the importance of a timed stress response and the presence of stimulatory metabolites during late stages of embryo development.     

Direct estimates of C:N ratios of ectomycorrhizal mycelia collected from Norway spruce forest soils

Direct estimates of C:N ratios of ectomycorrhizal (EM) mycelia growing in situ in forest soils have been obtained for the first time. The mycelial samples were collected from sand-filled mesh bags that were buried in the soil and incubated for 12-18 months in two Norway spruce forests in southern Sweden. At harvest the mesh bags were heavily colonized and the mycelia were extracted from the sand with water. The collected mycelia had earlier been identified as belonging to EM fungi based on their C isotopic composition. The mean value of the C:N ratio for mycelia was 20.2±0.8 (n=25). EM mycelia collected at different soil depths (5, 15 and 30 cm) had similar C:N ratios. C:N ratios of microbial biomass obtained by fumigation-extraction of similar soils have usually been lower (6-13) so possible differences in the extraction efficiency of C and N from bacteria and fungi are discussed.     

Plasminogen is a critical host pathogenicity factor for group A streptococcal infection

Group A streptococci, a common human pathogen, secrete streptokinase, which activates the host's blood clot-dissolving protein, plasminogen. Streptokinase is highly specific for human plasminogen, exhibiting little or no activity against other mammalian species, including mouse. Here, a transgene expressing human plasminogen markedly increased mortality in mice infected with streptococci, and this susceptibility was dependent on bacterial streptokinase expression. Thus, streptokinase is a key pathogenicity factor and the primary determinant of host species specificity for group A streptococcal infection. In addition, local fibrin clot formation may be implicated in host defense against microbial pathogens.     

Forest edge quantification by line intersect sampling in aerial photographs

There is a need for accurate and efficient methods for quantification and characterisation of forest edges at the landscape level in order to understand and mitigate the effects of forest fragmentation on biodiversity. We present and evaluate a method for collecting detailed data on forest edges in aerial photographs by using line intersect sampling (LIS). A digital photogrammetric system was used to collect data from scanned colour infrared photographs in a managed boreal forest landscape. We focused on high-contrast edges between forest (height ≥ 10 m) and adjoining open habitat or young, regenerating forest (height ≤ 5 m). We evaluated the air photo interpretation with respect to accuracy in estimated edge length, edge detection, edge type classification and structural variables recorded in 20 m radius plots, using detailed field data as reference. The estimated length of forest edge in the air photo interpretation (52 ± 8.8 m ha⁻¹; mean ± standard error) was close to that in the field survey (58 ± 9.3 m ha⁻¹). The accuracy in edge type classification (type of open habitat) was high (88% correctly classified). Both tree height and canopy cover showed strong relationships with the field data in the forest, but tree height was underestimated by 2.3 m. Data collection was eight times faster and five times more cost-effective in aerial photographs than in field sampling. The study shows that line intersect sampling in aerial photographs has large potential application as a general tool for collecting detailed information on the quantity and characteristics of high-contrast edges in managed forest ecosystems.     

Muscarinic M3-like receptors, cyclic AMP and L-type calcium channels are involved in the contractile response to cholinergic agents in gut smooth muscle of the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Cholinergic signalling in mammalian gut smooth muscle usually involves M3 muscarinic receptors for direct contraction via phospholipase C activation and M2 muscarinic receptors to reduce cyclic AMP levels. However, the proportion of receptor subtypes and second messengers involved varies among tissues and animals and studies in non-mammalian species will provide information on the conservation of pathways and consequently on their importance for signal transduction. In the present study we investigated receptor subtypes, involvement of calcium, phospholipase C and cyclic AMP in the cholinergic contraction of the rainbow trout gut. Intestinal and gastric smooth muscle strip preparations, with the mucosa removed, were used in functional studies, and homogenised strips were used for measurements of cyclic AMP. Calcium-free medium, the L-type calcium-channel inhibitor verapamil, the cyclic AMP-phosphodiesterase inhibitor IBMX + isoprenaline, and the M3-antagonist 4-DAMP methiodide all caused a partial or marked reduction of the response to cholinergic agonists. Neomycin, an inhibitor of phospholipase C, and SKF96365, an inhibitor of receptor-operated calcium channels, had no effect. Carbachol (0.1 mM) reduced the levels of cyclic AMP transiently. It is concluded that the cholinergic signal transduction in rainbow trout gut smooth muscle involves (1) binding to M3-like receptors, (2) a transient reduction in cyclic AMP levels, (3) influx of extracellular calcium, in part through L-type calcium-channels and (4) no involvement of phospholipase C.