Prevalence of antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes in faecal Escherichia coli isolates recovered from healthy pets

Faecal samples of healthy dogs (n=39) and cats (n=36) obtained in Northern Portugal were seeded on Levine agar plates, and two Escherichia coli isolates per sample were recovered (78 of dogs and 66 of cats). The susceptibility to 16 antimicrobial agents was tested in this series of 144 E. coli isolates. Almost 20% of them showed tetracycline resistance and 12 and 15% presented ampicillin or streptomycin resistance, respectively. The percentage of resistance to the other antimicrobial agents was in all cases below 4%, and no resistant isolates were detected for ceftazidime, imipenem, cefoxitin or amikacin. Two isolates (from one dog) showed cefotaxime-resistance and harboured both the CTX-M-1 and OXA-30 beta-lactamases. A bla(TEM) gene was detected in 12 of 17 ampicillin-resistant isolates, the aac(3)-II gene in the three gentamicin-resistant isolates, aadA in 7 of 22 streptomycin-resistant isolates, and tet(A) and/or tet(B) gene in all 28 tetracycline-resistant isolates. The gene encoding class 1 integrase was detected in six E. coli isolates, including the four trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole-resistant isolates and those two harbouring CTX-M-1 and OXA-30 beta-lactamases; different gene cassette arrangements were identified: dfrA1+aadA1 (two isolates), dfrA12+orfF+aadA2 (two isolates) and bla(OXA30)+aadA1 (two isolates). One amino acid change in GyrA protein (Ser83Leu or Asp87Tyr) was detected in four nalidixic acid-resistant and ciprofloxacin-susceptible isolates and two amino acid changes in GyrA (Ser83Leu+Asp87Asn) and one in ParC (Ser80Ile) were identified in one nalidixic acid- and ciprofloxacin-resistant isolate. Faecal E. coli isolates of healthy pets could be a reservoir of antimicrobial resistance genes.     

Designing Nutritious and Sustainable Biscuits Using Upcycled Fibre-Rich Ingredients Obtained by Hot Air - Microwave Drying of Orange by-Products

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - Circular use of resources implies developing mild processes to transform food by-products into value-added products, without using organic solvents or extensive...     

Variation in host usage among geographic populations of Leptinotarsa decemlineata,the Colorado potato beetle

Insect herbivores can become extensive invaders if they are able to undergo host expansions onto widely-grown agricultural host plants. An important yet unresolved question is whether all herbivore populations are equally able to utilize new host plants or if populations may be geographically structured, that is only a subset has the potential to undergo a host range expansion and become widely invasive. We examined if derived and ancestral geographic populations of L. decemlineata or Colorado potato beetle, varied in host preference and performance on both wild (Solanum rostratum) and cultivated (Solanum tuberosum) host plants. Sampling from six different North American regions (3 ancestral and 2 derived), we performed two full-factorial experiments to test for differences in host preference, acceptance, and performance on S. rostraum and S. tuberosum. Our results reveal the development of new (cultivated) host associations within pest populations of L. decemlineata following its geographic expansion. Pest beetles (i.e., Vermont populations) discriminated less between host plants and grew faster than all other beetle population on both host species. The Vermont beetles also developed faster on leaves than all other populations. The greater general preference, acceptance, and performance of Vermont beetles on all host types underscores the virulence of the pest form of the beetle and may help to explain the absence of pest incidence within the ancestral regions of L. decemlineata.     

Calicophoron daubneyi (Paramphistomidae) in slaughtered cattle in Castilla y León (Spain)

The prevalence and aetiology of natural paramphistomosis was investigated in cattle slaughtered in the Castilla y León region (Spain) over a 3 year-period. The overall prevalence of positive animals was 6.20%. The parasite burden per animal ranged from 8 to 8005 (median = 144) and the ruminal atrium had the highest parasite burden whereas the ruminal dorsal sac the lowest. The prevalence and parasite burden increased with age while these parameters were lower in cattle under intensive management. Calicophoron daubneyi was the only Paramphistomidae species identified using morphoanatomical, histological and molecular methods in the studied animals.     

Productivity under Shade and Different Nutrient Solution of Hydroponic Watercress (Nasturtium officinale R. BR.)

Commercialization of watercress in the Sierra Norte mountain range in Oaxaca, Mexico principally relies on harvesting plants growing on riverbanks; however, semi-intensive cultivation throughout the year could be established as an alternative for the region. With this as an objective, the present study was carried out using the laminar flow of nutrients technique to evaluate four solutions of different macronutrients and four shade percentages. Treatment distribution was formulated according to a bifactorial arrangement. Four harvest periods were employed, in April, June, September, and November of 2010. Yields and vegetative growth of watercress decreased linearly with increasing shade levels. The best results were obtained with a nutrient solution using an electrical conductivity (EC) of 0.90 dS m^?1. Shade cloth percentages higher than 10% caused a significant decrease in total cycle production; the use of shade cloth is not recommended during seasons with low incident radiation.     

Effect of the high-oleic trait on roasted peanut flavor in backcross-derived breeding lines

The high-oleic trait of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) has been suggested to have a positive impact on the roasted peanut sensory attribute. A series of lines derived by backcrossing the high-oleic trait into several existing cultivars were compared with their parent cultivars at locations in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas. Breeders grew their high-oleic lines and parents in three-replicate tests at one or two locations. The Florida high-oleic line F435-2-3-B-2-1-b4-B-B-3-b3-b3-1-B was grown at each location. The test included normal- and high-oleic variants of F435, GK 7, NC 7, NC 9, Sunrunner, Tamrun 96, and Tamspan 90. Sound-mature kernel samples were roasted, ground into paste, and evaluated by a sensory panel using a 14-point flavor intensity unit (fiu) scale. Background genotype had an effect (P < 0.01) on the heritable sensory attributes roasted peanut, sweet, and bitter. Oleate level had a positive effect on roasted peanut intensity, increasing it by 0.3 fiu averaged across all seven background genotypes. However, the magnitude of improvement varied across background genotypes. The high-oleic trait had no effect or increased the intensity of the roasted peanut attribute in each background genotype. The increase was greatest in Tamrun 96 (+0.6 fiu, P < 0.05) and Spanish genotypes Tamspan 90 (+0.4 fiu, P < 0.05) and F435 (+0.4 fiu, P < 0.10). A change of 0.5 fiu or more should be perceptible to consumers. Interaction between oleate level and background genotype was detected for sweet (P < 0.10) and bitter (P < 0.01) attributes. The trait had an increasing effect on the bitter attribute only in the background genotype of Tamspan 90 (+0.7 fiu, P < 0.01). There was a nonsignificant increase in bitterness in the other Spanish background genotype, F435. Changes in bitterness in runner- and Virginia-type backgrounds were close to zero. Incorporation of the high-oleic trait into peanut cultivars is likely to improve the intensity of the roasted peanut attribute, but it may also increase the bitter attribute in Spanish genotypes.     

A comparative ultrastructural study of the pecten oculi in adult,juvenile, and nestling yellow‐legged gulls,Larus michahellis (Naumann, 1840)

This study aimed at examining the histological structure of the pecten oculi in the adult yellow‐legged gull, Larus michahellis, and at two moments of postnatal development: during the posthatch (nestling) and juvenile periods. Particular attention was paid to differences in the diameter of vessels, the thickness of the basement membrane, and ultrastructural features of endothelial and pigmented stromal cells. Capillary endothelial cells displayed numerous microvillous‐like folds projecting from their internal and external surfaces. Intercellular spaces between capillaries were occupied by pigmented stromal cells. The ultrastructure of pecten oculi underwent noticeable changes during postnatal development. The examination of the capillaries in nestlings, juveniles, and adults revealed that the formation process of vessels and pigmented stromal cells did not complete itself in the posthaching phase. The prominent feature of endothelial cells of capillaries in nestlings was that the microvilli were longer than in juvenile and adult cells, and the capillary lumen was therefore reduced. In this sense, their pigmented stromal cells showed fewer melanosomes, lacked intercellular spaces, and cellular junctions could still be observed. These results provide evidence that the pecten oculi during the posthatching phase maintains immature morphological features consistent with a role of pigmented stromal cells in the blood‐retina barrier.     

Butterfly biodiversity in the city is driven by the interaction of the urban landscape and species traits: a call for contextualised management

Landscape Ecology - Urbanisation is an environmental filter for many species that leads to community homogenisation, with a few species inhabiting isolated patches (e.g. public and private gardens...