Prevalence of enterotoxigenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> virulence genes from scouring piglets in Zimbabwe

World-wide, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC)-induced diarrhea are economically important for porcine producers. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of toxin and fimbrial genes among E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets from randomly selected piggeries in Zimbabwe.We used multiplex PCR for screening STa, STb, LT, and Stx-2e toxins. Subsequently F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbriae genes were screened in toxin positive isolates. Toxin positive strains lacking tested fimbriae genes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, agglutination and agglutination inhibition tests. Approximately 32% of the 1,984 isolates tested positive for STa, STb, LT or Stx-2e genes. Of these, approximately 81% had F4, F5, F6, F18 or F41 fimbriae genes. The remaining toxin positive strains lacked tested fimbriae genes and appeared to either express F1-like fimbriae, or lacked fimbriae. The data constitute an important framework for implementation of prevention measures, such as using relevant fimbriae-based vaccines against ETEC induced diarrhea or VTEC-induced edema.     

Culture-independent exploration of the teat apex microbiota of dairy cows reveals a wide bacterial species diversity

Due to their close proximity to the mammary gland tissue, the bacterial communities lining the teat apex of the udders from lactating cows influence udder health. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the amplified V3 variable region of the 16S rRNA gene was used as a culture-independent method to reveal the bacterial composition of 48 samples originating from the teat apices of twelve Friesian-Holstein dairy cows suffering from clinical mastitis in one quarter. The microbiota belonged to four bacterial phyla: the Actinobacteria (32% of all genera), the Bacteroidetes (1%), the Firmicutes (42%), and the Proteobacteria (25%), encompassing 17 bacterial genera. Some differences in occurrence of these genera were seen when comparing quarters that were non-infected (n=22), subclinically infected (n=14), or clinically infected (n=12). Besides commensal skin-associated bacteria, opportunistic pathogenic bacteria, and mastitis-causing pathogens were found as well. The species diversity varied considerably among the most prevalent bacterial genera. While Corynebacterium and Staphylococcus displayed a large diversity among the recovered sequences, indicating the possible presence of a variety of different species, only a single bacterial species (represented by one sequence) was obtained for the genera Aerococcus, Acinetobacter, and Psychrobacter. In conclusion, introducing culture-independent analysis of teat apical skin swabs in mastitis research revealed an unexpected wide bacterial diversity, with variations between quarters with a different clinical status. In addition to potential mastitis-causing pathogens, it exposed the yet poorly mapped presence of skin-associated and other bacteria residing in close proximity to the mammary gland tissue. PCR-DGGE may thus be considered as a useful tool for the entanglement of animal skin microbiota, in casu the teat apices of dairy cows.     

Influence of estimation procedure on soil organic carbon stock assessment in Flanders, Belgium

Abstract. The purpose of the study was to determine the soil organic carbon (SOC) stock for Flanders, Belgium and to evaluate various methods for assessing SOC stock. The assessment methods first determined the SOC density (C mass per unit area) for pedons in a database of soil properties, and then spatially distributed the SOC density to soil and soil/land use categories on a map. The results showed that the pedon SOC density is influenced by drainage class, texture and land use/land cover. The SOC density estimation method significantly influences results and leads to differences of up to 6% in total estimated SOC stock for Flanders. Use of various spatial distributing methods creates differences of up to 2% in total estimated SOC stock. The largest difference in SOC stock estimate between any combination of assessment methods was 7% (125.6 Tg vs 134.9 Tg). These findings emphasize the importance of complete spatial soil databases of high quality that reduce uncertainty of estimates for use in research examining the role of soils in the C cycle. The results indicate that the need for these databases is greater than the need to standardize methods to determine the spatial distribution of SOC. A map of the distribution of SOC density shows that in Flanders a large proportion of SOC is stored in sandy soils in the north of the territory.     

Nutrient Based Estimation of Acid-Base Balance in Vegetarians and Non-vegetarians

A first objective of the present study was to estimate the acid-base balance of the food intake in vegetarians and non-vegetarians. A second objective was to evaluate if additional input of specific food items on the existing potential renal acid load (PRAL) list was necessary for the comparison of the two dietary patterns. Thirty vegetarians between the age of 18 and 30 years were matched for sex, age and BMI with 30 non-vegetarians. Based on the 3-days food diaries the acid-base status of the food intake was estimated using the PRAL method. Mean PRAL values as estimated with the standard table yielded an alkaline load of -5,4 ± 14,4 mEq/d in the vegetarians compared to an acid load of 10,3 ± 14,4 mEq/d in the non-vegetarians (p < 0,001). Mean PRAL values as estimated with the extended table yielded an alkaline load of -10,9 ± 19,7 mEq/d in the vegetarians compared to an acid load of 13,8 ± 17,1 mEq/d for the non-vegetarians (p < 0,001). The findings of this study indicate that vegetarian food intake produces more alkaline outcomes compared to non-vegetarian diets. The use of the standard PRAL table was sufficient for discrimination between the two diets.     

Local endemism within the Western Ghats-sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot

The apparent biotic affinities between the mainland and the island in the Western Ghats-Sri Lanka biodiversity hotspot have been interpreted as the result of frequent migrations during recent periods of low sea level. We show, using molecular phylogenies of two invertebrate and four vertebrate groups, that biotic interchange between these areas has been much more limited than hitherto assumed. Despite several extended periods of land connection during the past 500,000 years, Sri Lanka has maintained a fauna that is largely distinct from that of the Indian mainland. Future conservation programs for the subcontinent should take into account such patterns of local endemism at the finest scale at which they may occur.     

Simulation of calcium leaching and desorption in an acid forest soil

The aim of the study was to evaluate effects of mobile and immobile water and diffusion‐limited transport on the binding and release of ions in soils. The desorption and leaching of calcium in a humic layer of a densely rooted acid forest soil under a beech stand was studied in laboratory experiments by leaching soil columns with a desorption solution and recycling the leachate through the columns. Radioactive tracers were added and monitored in the leachate to evaluate desorption and leaching characteristics of the soil. Parallel experiments were conducted with chloride and calcium to determine transport and desorption parameters independently. The experimental data were then analysed with a transport model, taking into account effects of mobile and immobile soil water fractions, and in the case of calcium assuming an equilibrium Langmuir adsorption isotherm. The transport was highly dependent on the mobility of the soil water, and in particular the fraction of the soil water to which the chemical was confined as a result of ionic properties. For chloride an excluded soil water phase had to be taken into account to explain the experimental findings. Immobile or mobile water and solute transfer and transport properties were not sufficient to explain non‐equilibrium effects in the adsorption reactions. Desorption curves agreed with results from batch experiments, provided the leaching experiments were done in such a way that equilibration between the soil solution and the solid matrix adsorption sites was reached, otherwise desorption was delayed and the calculated isotherms do not represent actual equilibrium adsorption–desorption conditions.     

Is IWRM achievable in practice? Attempts to break disciplinary and sectoral walls through a science-policy interfacing framework in the context of the EU Water Framework Directive

The word ‘integrated’ is prone to different interpretations in relation to various disciplines and sectors. When approaching operational water management, one would dream that integration would encompass effective links between scientific disciplines and technical features, with a good knowledge of interactions among different environmental compartments (land/water, terrestrial/coastal, surface/groundwater etc.), of pollution pathways, of various pressures and impacts (including from climate change) etc. The world of management effectively involves many different actors, representing different economic sectors (e.g. agriculture, industry), the civil society, stakeholder organisations, including the representation of citizens, and it is often (wrongly) thought that any kind of decision-making is carried out in an agreed and harmonious way. The theory is at least paved through IWRM principles as they are conceived within the framework of the EU Water Framework Directive (WFD), so we might say that we have actually no choice but to make it work!! But what is the reality in practice? The difficulty is to consider mandatory policy obligations on the one side, technical feasibility and scientific knowledge on the other side, and reflect whether and how these can be properly interfaced. This has been the subject of dynamic discussions within the past 6 years in the framework of EU-funded research projects aiming to support policy WFD developments and implementation. One of the key conclusions of these discussions among scientists, policy-makers and stakeholders underlined the need to develop a conceptual framework for a science-policy interface related to water, which would enable to gather various initiatives and knowledge. This paper discusses on-going developments in this field with an European perspective.     

梯度扩散薄膜技术(DGT)的理论及其在环境中的应用Ⅱ:土壤与沉积物原位高分辨分析中的方法与应用

从吸附膜的设计、采样装置的设计和分析方法三个方面系统介绍了梯度扩散薄膜技术(DGT)在土壤和沉积物介质中原位高分辨研究的方法学,并回顾了DGT自诞生以来在根际土壤和沉积物中原位高分辨应用所取得的重要研究成果,最后探讨了DGT在原位高分辨研究中的发展前景。DGT技术在沉积物和土壤中对污染物微界面机制的原位高分辨率研究,能够揭示控制重金属污染的关键过程,为针对性地做出管理控制方案提供了重要理论支持,从而推动我国对土壤、沉积物污染的防治和粮食安全的控制。