Case–control risk factor study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) infection in dogs and cats in Germany

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) has emerged as a highly drug-resistant small animal veterinary pathogen. Although often isolated from outpatients in veterinary clinics, there is concern that MRSP follows a veterinary-hospital-associated epidemiology. This study's objective was to identify risk factors for MRSP infections in dogs and cats in Germany. Clinical isolates of MRSP cases (n = 150) and methicillin-susceptible S. pseudintermedius (MSSP) controls (n = 133) and their corresponding host signalment and medical data covering the six months prior to staphylococcal isolation were analysed by multivariable logistic regression. The identity of all MRSP isolates was confirmed through demonstration of S. intermedius-group specific nuc and mecA. In the final model, cats (compared to dogs, OR 18.5, 95% CI 1.8–188.0, P = 0.01), animals that had been hospitalised (OR 104.4, 95% CI 21.3–511.6, P < 0.001), or visited veterinary clinics more frequently (>10 visits OR 7.3, 95% CI 1.0–52.6, P = 0.049) and those that had received topical ear medication (OR 5.1, 95% CI 1.8–14.9, P = 0.003) or glucocorticoids (OR 22.5, 95% CI 7.0–72.6, P < 0.001) were at higher risk of MRSP infection, whereas S. pseudintermedius isolates from ears were more likely to belong to the MSSP-group (OR 0.09, 95% CI 0.03–0.34, P < 0.001). These results indicate an association of MRSP infection with veterinary clinic/hospital settings and possibly with chronic skin disease. There was an unexpected lack of association between MRSP and antimicrobial therapy; this requires further investigation but may indicate that MRSP is well adapted to canine skin with little need for selective pressure.     

Prevalence and Characteristics of Salmonella in the Beef Chain in the Republic of Ireland

The study investigated the prevalence, concentration and characteristics of Salmonella spp. in the Irish beef chain. A total of 900 samples including bovine hides, carcasses and ground beef were examined for the pathogen over a 2‐year study (July 2007–June 2009). Salmonella prevalence was low in all sample types; bovine hide (0.75%, 3 of 400); carcasses (0.25%, 1 of 400); and ground beef (3%, 3 of 100). All positive samples contained the pathogen in low concentrations (<10 CFU per cm² or per g). Serovars recovered were S. Dublin from hide and carcasses and S. Braenderup in ground beef. All isolates were susceptible to 13 anti‐microbials. The study highlights that Salmonella can be found at low levels at all stages of beef chain production, processing and retail and that there is a need for multiple hurdle interventions and practices along the beef chain, which will reduce consumer exposure to this pathogen.     

不同盐分胁迫对高冰草种子发芽的影响

对高冰草种子在4种盐分NaCl、Na2SO4、Na2CO3、NaHCO3的8个不同浓度(0.2%、0.4%、0.6%、0.8%、1.0%、1.2%、1.4%、1.6%)的胁迫下进行发芽试验,分别观测其发芽情况,胚根和幼苗的生长。结果表明:高冰草种子的发芽率随盐分浓度的增加而降低。其耐盐顺序为Na2SO4>NaCl>NaHCO3>Na2CO3。     

三叶草不同品种叶结构特征与抗旱性的关系

为评价三叶草3个品种抗旱能力的强弱,了解其叶解剖结构与抗旱性的关系,以黑龙江乡土白三叶(Trifolium repens L.)以及2个引进品种瑞文德(T.repens L.)和普通红三叶(T.pretense L.)为材料,田间播种后正常管理,于当年选取成株叶,采用石蜡切片法,分析3个品种叶解剖结构与抗旱性的关系。结果表明:测定的10项指标中有6项指标,包括栅栏组织厚度、栅海比值、上表皮厚度、角质层厚度、主脉导管直径,以及木质部面积与维管束面积比值在品种间差异显著,可作为评价三叶草抗旱性的理想指标,应用隶属函数值法综合评价其抗旱能力由强到弱依次为黑龙江乡土白三叶>瑞文德>普通红三叶。     

Bacteriophages as antimicrobial agents against major pathogens in swine: a review

In recent years, the development of antibiotic resistant bacteria has become a global concern which has prompted research into the development of alternative disease control strategies for the swine industry. Bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) offer the prospect of a sustainable alternative approach against bacterial pathogens with the flexibility of being applied therapeutically or for biological control purposes. This paper reviews the use of phages as an antimicrobial strategy for controlling critical pathogens including Salmonella and Escherichia coli with an emphasis on the application of phages for improving performance and nutrient digestibility in swine operations as well as in controlling zoonotic human diseases by reducing the bacterial load spread from pork products to humans through the meat.     

Effect of Dietary Nonstructural Carbohydrate Content on Activation of 5′‐Adenosine Monophosphate‐Activated Protein Kinase in Liver,Skeletal Muscle,and Digital Laminae of Lean and Obese Ponies

Background

In EMS‐associated laminitis, laminar failure may occur in response to energy failure related to insulin resistance (IR) or to the effect of hyperinsulinemia on laminar tissue. 5′‐Adenosine‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a marker of tissue energy deprivation, which may occur in IR.

Hypothesis/Objectives

To characterize tissue AMPK regulation in ponies subjected to a dietary carbohydrate (CHO) challenge.

Animals

Twenty‐two mixed‐breed ponies.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting for total AMPK and phospho(P)‐AMPK and RT‐qPCR for AMPK‐responsive genes were performed on laminar, liver, and skeletal muscle samples collected after a 7‐day feeding protocol in which ponies stratified on body condition score (BCS; obese or lean) were fed either a low‐CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 7% DM; n = 5 obese, 5 lean) or a high‐CHO diet (ESC + starch, approximately 42% DM; n = 6 obese, 6 lean).

Results

5′‐Adenosine‐monophosphate‐activated protein kinase was immunolocalized to laminar keratinocytes, dermal constituents, and hepatocytes. A high‐CHO diet resulted in significantly decreased laminar [P‐AMPK] in lean ponies (P = .03), but no changes in skeletal muscle (lean, P = .33; obese, P = .43) or liver (lean, P = .84; obese, P = .13) [P‐AMPK]. An inverse correlation existed between [blood glucose] and laminar [P‐AMPK] in obese ponies on a high‐CHO diet.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Laminar tissue exhibited a normal response to a high‐CHO diet (decreased [P‐AMPK]), whereas this response was not observed in liver and skeletal muscle in both lean (skeletal muscle, P = .33; liver, P = .84) and obese (skeletal muscle, P = .43; liver, P = .13) ponies.     

PREVALENCE AND CHARACTERIZATION OF QUINOLONE RESISTANCE GENES IN PROTEUS SPECIES ISOLATED FROM PET TURTLES

Proteus spp. are widely recognized as opportunistic pathogens causing urinary tract and septic infections in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes and mutations in the quinolone resistance determining region in association with the detection of quinolone susceptibility of 24 strains of pet turtle-borne Proteus spp. Susceptibility of 4 antimicrobials including nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, and levofloxacin was examined by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration test. Six isolates were resistant to nalidixic acid showing either intermediate resistance or resistance to other quinolones. All nalidixic acid, resistant isolates harbored mutations in gyrB (N440T/A401G/Q411S). Two of the isolates had both gyrA (S83I) and parC (S80I) mutations. Twenty-one isolates were positive for the presence of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance genes; the qnrD gene had the highest prevalence with 19 (79.2%), while qnrS, qnrA, qnrB, and aac(6′), Ib-cr genes were present in 9 (37.5%), 2 (8.3%), 1 (4.2%), and 11 (45.8%) isolates, respectively. These results suggest that pet turtle-associated Proteus spp. should be considered a potential source of antimicrobial resistance determinants.     

磷素营养对星星草幼苗抗碱性的影响

通过以不同水平磷素营养培养星星草幼苗，研究磷素营养对星星草幼苗抗碱性的影响，试验结果表明：在２．０％Ｎａ２ＣＯ２胁迫下星星草苗磷素营养的最适浓度为２．８ｍｍｏｌ·Ｌ＾－１ＫＨ２ＰＯ４，此条件下仅对株高，干重和鲜重的增长有促进作用，而且受害程度最小，对Ｎａ２ＣＯ３胁迫的缓解作用最强，在一定程度上可提高星星草幼苗对Ｎａ２ＣＯ３胁迫的抗性。     

再论生长的冗余

生长冗余概念是由盛承发在１９９０年首先提出来的。本文从作物个体与群体对立统一关角度出发提出了作物生长冗余的一个解释。盛承发提出的随机波动环境假说可以导致生长冗余的产生；但是，他从物种利益角度出发解释生物进化还有待商榷。本文还综述了黄土高原阗干旱雨养农业地区小麦根系生长冗余问题，并根据前入工作提出适度增加播种深度和苗期叶片刈割等高产栽培措施。