Assessment of diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of Brachyspira species using a ring test

There is no ring test for quality assessment available in Europe for diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the fastidious, anaerobic bacteria of the genus Brachyspira. Therefore, an international ring test for Brachyspira spp. was performed once a year during 2002-2004. Two sets of coded samples were prepared and distributed on each occasion. One set comprised six swabs dipped in pig faeces spiked with Brachyspira spp. intended for diagnostics. The other set comprised two pure strains intended only for susceptibility testing. All methods used were in-house methods. The species used were Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira pilosicoli, Brachyspira innocens, Brachyspira murdochii and Brachyspira intermedia. In most cases, the correct Brachyspira spp. were detected. However, the results showed that Brachyspira spp. could be difficult to identify, especially if two Brachyspira spp. were mixed or if the concentration of Brachyspira in faeces was low. Additionally, some laboratories reported Brachyspira growth in control samples that were not seeded with any spirochaetes. The lowest detection level was 10(2) bacteria/ml faeces for both B. hyodysenteriae and B. pilosicoli. The susceptibility tests performed showed that disc diffusion was not recommendable for Brachyspira spp. Extended antimicrobial dilution series gave most congruent results. The diversity of the results highlights the importance of ring tests for a high quality of diagnostics and antimicrobial susceptibility tests for Brachyspira spp. This is the first ring test described for Brachyspira spp.     

Urban domestic gardens (V): relationships between landcover composition,housing and landscape

The contribution to urban green space by private or domestic gardens in residential zones was investigated in the city of Sheffield, UK, as part of a wider study of the garden resource and its associated biodiversity. The attributes of 61 gardens, including patterns of landcover and vegetation cover, were explored in relation to housing characteristics and the nature of the surrounding landscape. The number of surrounding houses, and the areas of buildings and of roads were negatively correlated with garden area. The proportion of a housing parcel comprising garden increased with parcel size, although the proportion that was rear garden remained relatively constant. Garden size played an overwhelming role in determining garden composition: larger gardens supported more landcovers, contained greater extents of three-quarters of the recorded landcovers, and were more likely to contain trees taller than 2 m, vegetable patches, and composting sites. Unvegetated landcovers made greater proportional contributions as garden size declined. All categories of vegetation canopy increased with garden size, and large gardens supported disproportionately greater cover above 3 m. House age was a less significant factor determining garden landcover. Gardens of newer houses were more likely to occur towards the edge of the urban area, and older properties, that contained fewer hedges, possessed less canopy between 2–3 m. The extent and occurrence of different landcovers in gardens, and their consequences for wildlife, are considered for residential patches in urban areas. The implications for urban planners are discussed.     

Efficacy and fate of glyphosate on Swedish railway embankments

The herbicide glyphosate, N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine, as Spectra (240 g AI litre(-1) SL; Monsanto Europe AB), RoundUp (360 g AI litre(-1) SL; Monsanto) and RoundUp Bio (360 g AI litre(-1) SL; Monsanto), have been used for weed control on Swedish railway embankments since 1986. This article summarizes results from studies of the weed effect and behaviour of glyphosate for the period 1984-2003. Studies on a railway embankment with a range of application rates showed excellent weed control at 5 litre ha(-1) of RoundUp Bio. The appearance of glyphosate and its metabolite AMPA [(aminomethyl)phosphonic acid] in the embankment, eg mobility and persistence, was also studied. Mobility was low in most cases, the main proportion of both glyphosate and AMPA being found in the upper 30-cm layer although minor amounts penetrated to lower depths. The 50% disappearance time of glyphosate was generally <5 months in railway embankments but cases with longer persistence were found. Transport to the groundwater was observed for glyphosate and AMPA in groundwater pipes along tracks. Downward transport appears to be dependent on the application rate, which should not exceed 3 litre ha(-1) of RoundUp Bio to avoid groundwater contamination. A lower rate of glyphosate mixed with a low rate of another herbicide may achieve acceptable weed control and be environmentally safer.     

Experimental Aspergillus fumigatus infection in quails and results of treatment with itraconazole

This study was performed to investigate (i). the clinical, histopathological and biochemical changes in quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) with experimentally induced aspergillosis; and (ii). the efficiency of itraconazole treatment on these infected birds. A total of 18021-day-old male quails was randomly divided into three groups (control, infected untreated and infected treated), each containing 60. The experimental infection was set by intratracheal inoculation of 0.2 ml inoculum of Aspergillus fumigatus (CBS 113.26 strain) consisting of approximately 2.7 x 106 spores/ml. Two days after the inoculation, general clinical signs of aspergillosis in the respiratory tract were observed. In the histopathological examination, caseous foci were found in lungs, trachea and on airsacs. All quails died in the infected untreated group. Aspergillus fumigatus was isolated from the various organs of all dead quails. There was no significant change in serum aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) activities in infected untreated birds compared with controls. However, alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity, albumin and calcium levels, and albumin/globulin (A/G) ratio were lower while phosphorus and globulin levels were higher in the infected untreated group than in controls. Each quail in the infected treated group was given 10 mg/kg/day itraconazole via drinking water for 7 days immediately after the first clinical findings. Although all quails died in the infected untreated group, 41 quails survived in the itraconazole treatment group. Biochemical values also returned approximately to the control levels after the treatment. The conclusion was drawn that aspergillosis in the quails might cause economical losses because of high mortality. Oral itraconazole treatment of aspergillosis might lower the mortality rate in quails.     

Comparison of the metabolic and antioxidant effects of diltiazem and vitamin E on streptozotocin-diabetic rats

In this study, solitary and combined effects of vitamin E and the calcium-channel blocker diltiazem were investigated in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Thirty male Wistar albino rats, weighing approximately 200 g were used. Diabetes mellitus was induced by a single intravenous injection of STZ at a dose of 65 mg/kg body weight. Five experimental groups were established as STZ-diabetic, STZ-diabetic + vitamin E, STZ-diabetic + diltiazem and STZ-diabetic + vitamin E + diltiazem. Vitamin E was injected intraperitoneally three times a week at a dose of 500 mg/kg body weight. Diltiazem was given orally every day at a dose of 25 mg/kg body weight. At the end of the study (10 weeks) blood glucose levels of diabetic rats, which had received vitamin E and diltiazem, had significantly decreased when compared with untreated diabetic rats (P < 0.02). Similarly, HbA1c levels had significantly decreased in diabetic rats which had received vitamin E (P < 0.05), diltiazem (P < 0.01) and vitamin E + diltiazem (P < 0.02) when compared with untreated diabetic rats. Liver glutathione levels of diabetic rats, which had received vitamin E (P < 0.01) and vitamin E + diltiazem (P < 0.05) had significantly increased when compared with untreated diabetic rats. Liver lipid peroxide levels had significantly decreased in diabetic rats, which had received vitamin E (P < 0.001) and diltiazem (P < 0.01). With respect to their metabolic and antioxidant effects, vitamin E proved superior to diltiazem.     

Note: Evaluation of antibacterial activity of essential oil of<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rosa damascena</Emphasis> on<Emphasis Type="Italic">Erwinia amylovora</Emphasis>

Significant antibacterial activity was observed in the essential oil (E.O.) ofRosa damascena Mill. and the Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) of the E.O. was determined as 1386.5 μg ml⁻¹ forErwinia amylovora, the causal agent of fire blight disease. Ooze formation on immature pears and lesion formation in artificially inoculated shoots were completely (100%) prevented by the essential oil ofR. damascena (1500 μg ml⁻¹), essential oil ofThymbra spicata var.spicata (500 μg ml⁻¹) and streptomycin (100 μg ml⁻¹). Copper oxychloride plus maneb significantly reduced ooze formation and lesion formation, but the control was less than that obtained with the essential oils or streptomycin. The essential oil ofR. damascena may be a useful natural bactericide for the control of the fire blight pathogen,E. amylovora. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

Note: New records of flea beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) from Turkey

Five species of flea beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) were recorded for the first time in Turkey:Dibolia numidica Doguet,Longitarsus corynthius corynthius (Reiche et Saulcy),L. onosomae (Peyerimhoff),L. pulmonariae Weise andPhyllotreta ganglbaueri Heikertinger. The zoogeographical distribution of the species was reviewed. Among the species,L. onosmae andD. numidica have a limited distribution area in North Africa, and therefore their presence in Turkey is interesting. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting July 14, 2004.     

The neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) is expressed in the bovine lung

In neonatal calves, maternal immunoglobulin (Ig) is transferred into respiratory secretion which contributes to protection against pathogens. The early predominance of IgG1 in respiratory tract secretions is progressively reduced in favor of IgA by age but in the lower, bronchoalveolar system secreted IgG remains the dominant secreted Ig even in adulthood. The trans-epithelial transport of secretory IgA into mucosal secretions is carried out by the polymeric Ig receptor. However, the mechanism by which IgG crosses epithelial cells to provide defense on mucosal surfaces is still unknown. In order to investigate the possibility that the neonatal Fc receptor, FcRn is involved in this transport we have first analyzed the localization of this receptor in the upper and lower respiratory tracts. Consistent with the in situ hybridization data, immunohistochemistry showed undetectable expression in the tracheal epithelial cells, relatively weak expression in epithelial cells of the bronchi, apparent staining those lining the bronchioli and randomly scattered signal over the alveolar tissue. The bovine FcRn may thus play a role in IgG transport across mucosal epithelial barriers as a trafficking receptor and ensure IgG predominance in the lower respiratory tract.     

Low intensity heart murmurs in boxer dogs: inter-observer variation and effects of stress testing

Inter-observer variation in the detection and grading of low intensity heart murmurs in boxer dogs was investigated. Six veterinarians with different levels of experience examined 27 boxers by cardiac auscultation. The dogs were auscultated before and after exercise, and the results were compared with phonocardiographic and echocardiographic examinations performed at rest and during two different stress tests. A subvalvular aortic ridge was identified in six dogs on two-dimensional echocardiography. Using dogs with low intensity murmurs or dogs free of heart murmurs, inter-observer agreement was positively correlated to the level of experience at rest (weighted kappa [kappa] 0.14 to 0.75), while the agreement was poor after exercise (weighted kappa 0.01 to 0.36). The presence of a subvalvular aortic ridge was associated with higher aortic flow velocities (P<0.002) and higher auscultatory murmur grading (P<0.001). There was an increase in murmur duration during one kind of stress test (P<0.001) and in aortic flow velocity during the other (P=0.001).     

The prevalences of Brachyspira spp. and Lawsonia intracellularis in Swedish piglet producing herds and wild boar population

The aim of the present study was to survey the prevalences of the enteric pathogens Brachyspira hyodysenteriae, Brachyspira pilosicoli and Lawsonia intracellularis in Swedish growing pigs and in the Swedish wild boar population and to relate these findings to clinical signs. The study included 105 randomly selected herds, constituting approximately one third of Swedish herds with a herd size of >100 sows. The herds were located all over the country. In these herds, growth promoters were not used and pigs sampled were not subjected to any medication. From each herd, samples were taken from 10 growing pigs aged 8-12 weeks, corresponding to approximately 2.5% of all growing pigs present in the herd at the sampling occasion. If possible, the samples were taken from pigs with diarrhoea. Forty-eight faecal samples and 71 rectal swabs were also taken from free-living wild boars (31 piglets, 19 growers and 21 adult animals) at shooting. The samples were analysed by culture and biochemical tests for the presence of Brachyspira spp. and by nested PCR for the presence of L. intracellularis. Brachyspira hyodysenteriae was not demonstrated in any sample. Brachyspira intermedia was detected in 22 samples originating from 15 herds, Brachyspira innocens/Brachyspira murdochii was detected in 370 samples from 82 herds and B. pilosicoli was detected in 134 samples originating from 34 herds. In 21 herds and in 534 samples, no Brachyspira spp. were detected. Lawsonia intracellularis was demonstrated in 285 samples from 50 herds. Further, 418 samples from conventional herds were negative with respect to L. intracellularis and in 345 samples the PCR had been inhibited. All samples from the wild boars were negative for Brachyspira spp., 12 of 48 samples were negative for L. intracellularis, and in 36 wild boar samples, the PCR was inhibited.