Lactic acid bacteria vs. pathogens in the gastrointestinal tract of fish: a review

Intensive fish production worldwide has increased the risk of infectious diseases. However, before any infection can be established, pathogens must penetrate the primary barrier. In fish, the three major routes of infection are the skin, gills and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. The GI tract is essentially a muscular tube lined by a mucous membrane of columnar epithelial cells that exhibit a regional variation in structure and function. In the last two decades, our understanding of the endocytosis and translocation of bacteria across this mucosa, and the sorts of cell damage caused by pathogenic bacteria, has increased. Electron microscopy has made a valuable contribution to this knowledge. In the fish‐farming industry, severe economic losses are caused by furunculosis (agent, Aeromonas salmonicida spp. salmonicida) and vibriosis [agent, Vibrio (Listonella) anguillarum]. This article provides an overview of the GI tract of fish from an electron microscopical perspective focusing on cellular damage (specific attack on tight junctions and desmosomes) caused by pathogenic bacteria, and interactions between the ‘good’ intestinal bacteria [e.g. lactic acid bacteria (LAB)] and pathogens. Using different in vitro methods, several studies have demonstrated that co‐incubation of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) foregut (proximal intestine) with LAB and pathogens can have beneficial effects, the cell damage caused by the pathogens being prevented, to some extent, by the LAB. However, there is uncertainty over whether or not similar effects are observed in other species such as Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua L.). When discussing cellular damage in the GI tract of fish caused by pathogenic bacteria, several important questions arise including: (1) Do different pathogenic bacteria use different mechanisms to infect the gut? (2) Does the gradual development of the GI tract from larva to adult affect infection? (3) Are there different infection patterns between different fish species? The present article addresses these and other questions.     

Molybdenum as an essential element for improving total yield in seawater-grown Salicornia europaea L.

The growth of crop plants on full-strength seawater constitutes a major challenge because of the high salt content and the limited availability of essential microelements such as molybdenum. For cultivation of the halophyte Salicornia as seawater-grown crop, the effect of molybdate application on total yield production and the activities of the two molybdenum containing enzymes, nitrate reductase (NR) and xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) was investigated. Increasing molybdate levels in the growth medium supplemented with nitrate or ammonium enhanced yield during multiple shoot removal. Similarly, NR and XDH activities were enhanced with increasing molybdate, indicating that the activity of both enzymes may play an important role in facilitating yield accumulation. Notably, XDH activity in the roots was high and the levels of ureides were low, whereas in the shoot tips ureides were higher and XDH activity was lower. Considering that XDH is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of the low C/N ratio ureides, these suggest a source–sink relationship between the roots and shoot tips for efficient transport of root-generated ureides to the young growing shoot tips. Our results imply that the supply of molybdenum to Salicornia grown in seawater enhances plant biomass accumulation by increasing the activities of NR and XDH, thereby stimulating a more efficient remobilization of ureides to the newly grown shoot tips after periodic shoot removal.     

Canine and feline hematology reference values for the ADVIA 120 hematology system

Background: The ADVIA 120 is a laser-based hematology analyzer with software applications for animal species. Accurate reference values would be useful for the assessment of new hematologic parameters and for interlaboratory comparisons.

Objective:

Objective: The goal of this study was to establish reference intervals for CBC results and new parameters for RBC morphology, reticulocytes, and platelets in healthy dogs and cats using the ADVIA 120 hematology system.

Methods:

Methods: The ADVIA 120, with multispecies software (version 1.107-MS), was used to analyze whole blood samples from clinically healthy dogs (n=46) and cats (n=61). Data distribution was determined and reference intervals were calculated as 2.5 to 97.5 percentiles and 25 to 75 percentiles.

Results:

Results: Most data showed Gaussian or log-normal distribution. The numbers of RBCs falling outside the normocyticnormochromic range were slightly higher in cats than in dogs. Both dogs and cats had reticulocytes with low, medium, and high absorbance. Mean numbers of large platelets and platelet clumps were higher in cats compared with dogs.

Conclusions:

Conclusions: Reference intervals obtained on the ADVIA 120 provide valuable baseline information for assessing new hematologic parameters and for interlaboratory comparisons. Differences compared with previously published reference values can be attributed largely to differences in methodology.     

Base line prevalence and spatial distribution of Echinococcus multilocularis in a newly recognized endemic area in the Netherlands

The base line prevalence of Echinococcus multilocularis in foxes was determined in the eastern part of the province of Groningen in the Netherlands adjacent to the German border. This region has been identified in a previous study in 1998 as one of the westernmost border areas of E. multilocularis. Base line prevalence data are important for a better insight in the possible spread of the parasite and its changes in time. As fox feces containing E. multilocularis eggs are an important source for human exposure this base line prevalence is also an indicator for the potential risk for public health. The base line prevalence was estimated at 9.4% (95% CI: 5.2-16.5%). These results confirm previous findings of E. multilocularis in the same region. The spatial distribution of the infected foxes has been analyzed as a spatial gradient using a logistic model. The prevalence appeared to change strongest in east-western direction and was highest near the German border, adjacent to a German endemic area. These results suggest that the border areas in the Netherlands are the most margin of E. multilocularis territory.     

Unilateral thyroidectomy in 6 horses

OBJECTIVE: To describe the surgical technique, complications, and outcome of thyroidectomy in 6 horses. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Six horses, 10 to 22 years of age, with unilateral, rapidly enlarging thyroid masses. METHODS: Medical records between 1985 and 2000 were reviewed for horses that had unilateral thyroidectomy. Retrieved data included signalment, physical, clinical, and ultrasonographic examination findings, surgical technique, complications, and outcome. A minimum of 6 months follow-up was obtained. RESULTS: Six horses were identified. Three horses had tracheal compression and 2 of these also had exercise intolerance. On ultrasonography (5 horses), the enlarged thyroid ranged from 125 to 990 cm(3), and had either a heterogeneous (1 horse), cystic (2), or homogeneous (2) appearance. En bloc, unilateral thyroidectomy under general anesthesia was performed in all horses. After surgery, 3 horses had ipsilateral laryngeal hemiplegia, but tracheal compression was resolved. Thyroid masses were adenoma (3), C-cell compact carcinoma (1), and adenocarcinoma (1). No tumor recurrence or metastatic disease was reported 6 to 14 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Unilateral thyroidectomy can be successfully performed in horses with large thyroid tumors, but laryngeal hemiplegia can be an important surgical complication. Ultrasonographic examination is useful to define thyroid enlargement and location but is seemingly not useful to characterize tumor type. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Thyroidectomy is an uncommon surgical procedure and has an attendant risk for recurrent laryngeal nerve damage. Laryngoscopic examination before and after surgery and careful isolation of the recurrent laryngeal nerve during surgery is recommended.     

The determination of imazalil on potatoes and its use in controlling potato storage diseases

Methods are described for the extraction and analysis by gas-liquid and high-pressure liquid chromatography of the fungicide imazalil, 1-(β-allyloxy-2, 4-dishlorophenethyl) imidazole, on potatoes. Before storage, over 80% was recovered from potatoes treated with 0.01–3.0 mg imazalil kg^?1, with a detection limit of 2 μg kg^?1. Imazalil applied to potatoes at 10 g t^?1 before storage decreased the incidence of gangrene (Phoma exigua), silver scurf (Helminthosporium solani), skin spot (Polyscytalum pustulans) and black scurf (Rhizoctonia solani), and was at least as effective as thiabendazole applied at 40 g t^?1. At 1 g t^?1 it also decreased skin spot and silver scurf. Incidence of black dot (Colletotrichum coccodes) was unaffected by these fungicide treatments.     

Extinction vulnerability in marine populations

Human impacts on the world's oceans have been substantial, leading to concerns about the extinction of marine taxa. We have compiled 133 local, regional and global extinctions of marine populations. There is typically a 53‐year lag between the last sighting of an organism and the reported date of the extinction at whatever scale this has occurred. Most disappearances (80%) were detected using indirect historical comparative methods, which suggests that marine extinctions may have been underestimated because of low‐detection power. Exploitation caused most marine losses at various scales (55%), followed closely by habitat loss (37%), while the remainder were linked to invasive species, climate change, pollution and disease. Several perceptions concerning the vulnerability of marine organisms appear to be too general and insufficiently conservative. Marine species cannot be considered less vulnerable on the basis of biological attributes such as high fecundity or large‐scale dispersal characteristics. For commercially exploited species, it is often argued that economic extinction of exploited populations will occur before biological extinction, but this is not the case for non‐target species caught in multispecies fisheries or species with high commercial value, especially if this value increases as species become rare. The perceived high potential for recovery, high variability and low extinction vulnerability of fish populations have been invoked to avoid listing commercial species of fishes under international threat criteria. However, we need to learn more about recovery, which may be hampered by negative population growth at small population sizes (Allee effect or depensation) or ecosystem shifts, as well as about spatial dynamics and connectivity of subpopulations before we can truly understand the nature of responses to severe depletions. The evidence suggests that fish populations do not fluctuate more than those of mammals, birds and butterflies, and that fishes may exhibit vulnerability similar to mammals, birds and butterflies. There is an urgent need for improved methods of detecting marine extinctions at various spatial scales, and for predicting the vulnerability of species.     

Comparison of an alcohol-based hand rub and water-based chlorhexidine gluconate scrub technique for hand antisepsis prior to elective surgery in horses

This prospective clinical study evaluates the effectiveness of an alcohol-based hand rub (Avagard™) for pre-surgical hand antisepsis in an equine hospital and compares it with traditional scrubbing technique using 4% chlorhexidine gluconate sponges and water. Prior to elective surgery, 3 board-certified surgeons were randomly assigned to hand antisepsis with either technique. Culture samples of each hand were taken at 4 times: before and after neutral soap hand wash, after scrub or rubbing technique, and after surgery. There was no significant difference in mean bacterial colony forming units between scrub and rub techniques over the 3 time periods (P = 0.6), controlling for initial counts. One horse from the scrub group had a skin incision infection following stifle arthroscopy; this was resolved with medical treatment. The alcohol-based hand rub is equivalent in efficacy for pre-surgical hand antisepsis to traditional water-based scrubs in an equine hospital setting.