Antimicrobial susceptibility of bacteria isolated from neonatal foal samples submitted to a New Zealand veterinary pathology laboratory (2004 to 2013)

AIMS: To describe antimicrobial susceptibility, and identify antimicrobial resistance (AMR), in bacteria isolated from New Zealand foals.

METHODS: A database search was performed of submissions to a veterinary pathology laboratory between April 2004 and December 2013 for bacterial culture of samples from foals <3 weeks of age. Culture and susceptibility results were compiled with demographic information. Susceptibility results were as defined for the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion susceptibility test based on Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute guidelines. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was defined as non-susceptibility to ≥3 of a panel of antimicrobials (ceftiofur, enrofloxaxin, gentamicin, penicillin, tetracycline, trimethoprim-sulfonamide); penicillin susceptibility was not included for Gram-negative isolates.

RESULTS: Submissions from 102 foals were examined, and 127 bacterial isolates were cultured from 64 (63%) foals. Of the 127 isolates, 32 (25%) were Streptococcus spp., 30 (24%) were Staphylococcus spp., 12 (10%) were Enterococcus spp. and 26 (21%) were Escherichia coli. Of 83 Gram-positive isolates, 57 (69%) were susceptible to penicillin. Over all isolates, 92/126 (73%) were susceptible to gentamicin and 117/126 (93%) to enrofloxacin; 62/82 (76%) of Gram-positive, and 22/42 (52%) of Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to ceftiofur; 53/81 (65%) of Gram-positive, and 23/44 (52%) of Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to tetracycline; 59/82 (72%) of Gram-positive, and 23/44 (43%) of Gram-negative bacteria were susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfonamide. Of 126 isolates, 33 (26%) had MDR; >1 isolate with MDR was cultured from 24/64 (38%) foals, and ≥2 isolates with MDR were recovered from 8/64 (13%) foals.

CONCLUSIONS: Multi-drug resistance, including resistance to commonly used antimicrobials, was found in bacterial isolates from foals in New Zealand.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The results of this study are of concern from a treatment perspective as they indicate a potential for antimicrobial treatment failure. For future surveillance of AMR and the creation of national guidelines, it is important to record more data on samples submitted for bacterial culture.     

Der Einfluß des Wassergehaltes auf den Atrazin-Abbau im Boden

The influence of water-content on atrazine degradation in soil In samples of the standard soil 2.2 (loamy sand, 3 % C, pH 7,0) and of a Luvisol (Ap-horizon, loam 1,4 % C, pH 5,2), the degradation of [ethyl-1-¹⁴C]atrazine was investigated in dependence of the soil water content. The experimental conditions were choosen in accordance with the methods proposed by the Biologische Bundesanstalt to study the degradation of pesticides in the soil. The soil water content was varied to simulate the moisture conditions observed in a soil during plant growth. Therefore, besides a steady water content of 20, 40, 60, and 80 % of the maximum water holding capacity of the soils, the soil water contents were fluctuated by 20 to 60 % of the maximum water holding capacity by passing dry air through the soil. At a concentration of 10mg atrazin/kg of soil between 4 and 6 % of the ethyl-1-carbonatom of the atrazine molecule was mineralized to CO₂ within 71 days at a constant soil temperature of 22°C. In the standard soil 2.2 the mineralization in total was reduced to 2/3 compared to the degradation in the Luvisol. With decreasing water content increasing hydroxilated metabolites were formed. About 30–40 % of the applied radioactivity was determined as non-extractable residue in the soil. In general the degradation processes were more enhanced and more intense in the Luvisol as compared to the Standard soil 2.2 which again unterlines that for this type of experiments a fresh soil should be used. In conclusion, the variation of the soil water content did not have a pronounced influence on the mineralization rates of atrazine, but did influence the metabolism and the formation of certain metabolite fractions.     

Breed influences on in vitro development of abattoir-derived bovine oocytes

Background

There is a discrepancy in the reproductive performance between different cattle breeds. Using abattoir-derived ovaries and data base information we studied the effects of breed on in vitro fertilization and early embryo development.

Methods

The in vitro developmental competence of oocytes from cattle (n = 202) of Swedish Red (SR), Swedish Holstein (SH) and mixed beef breeds was compared, retrospectively tracing donors of abattoir-derived ovaries using a combination of the national animal databases and abattoir information. Age was significantly lower and carcass conformation score was higher in the beef breeds than in the dairy breeds.Cumulus oocyte complexes (n = 1351) were aspirated from abattoir-derived ovaries from animals of known breed (visual inspection confirmed through databases), age (databases), and abattoir information. Oocytes were matured, fertilized (frozen semen from two dairy bulls) and cultured according to conventional protocols. On day 8, blastocysts were graded and the number of nuclei determined.

Results

Cleavage rate was not different between the breeds but was significantly different between bulls. The percentage of blastocysts on day 8 was significantly higher when the oocyte donor’s breed was beef or SR than SH. There was no significant difference in blastocyst grades or stages between the breeds, but the number of nuclei in day 8 blastocysts was significantly lower in SH compared to the beef.

Conclusions

The use of abattoir-derived ovaries from animals whose background is traceable can be a valuable tool for research. Using this approach in the present study, oocyte donor breed was seen to affect early embryo development during in vitro embryo production, which may be a contributing factor to the declining fertility in some dairy breeds seen today.     

Objective estimation of the motility of deep frozen cattle sperm by videomicrography and computer image analysis

It was examined whether computerized image analysis (system "Brunner") is suitable for the objective evaluation of the quality of deep-frozen bull sperm obtained from the routine of breeding stations. Egg yolk particles similar in size to sperm heads were classified as immotile sperm. Thus, motility was significantly underestimated with the degree of underestimation depending on the thawing solution employed. The use of two different thawing solutions, CUE and Citrat-Glucose, resulted in significantly different sperm motion characteristics immediately after thawing as well as at the end of a 2 hour incubation period at 37 degrees C. Deep-frozen semen samples from seven bulls were compared with respect to their swimming activities. The rank order of the bulls based on the values for motility and mean velocity measured two hours post-thaw corresponded with the rank order of Non-Return-Rates with respect to bulls from the same breeding station. It appears that the combination of videomicrography and computerized image analysis is well suited for the objective evaluation of frozen-thawed bull sperm if the extender is pretreated to exclude an underestimation of motility caused by egg yolk particles.     

Detection of reserpine in horses by high-performance liquid chromatography

SUMMARY A high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) assay was developed for the detection of reserpine. The assay was used to monitor the plasma concentrations of the drug given intramuscularly on one or two occasions to five horses. The blood concentrations of reserpine varied quite considerably between horses given the same dose of the drug. However, on average, reserpine could be detected consistently, and quantified, for 48 h after a single dose of 2.5 mg, and for a similar period after the second of two 2.5 mg doses given 13 d apart. Because of the apparently large variability in the pharmacokinetics of reserpine in horses, exact times cannot be given beyond which the drug will no longer be detectable in the plasma. However, following two doses of 2.5 mg reserpine given 13 d apart, at least 7 d must elapse after the second dose before there is no drug detectable in the plasma of most horses.