Resistance patterns and detection of aac(3)-IV gene in apramycin-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from farm animals and farm workers in northeastern of China

The aminoglycoside apramycin has been used widely in animal production in China since 1999. This study was aimed to investigate the resistance pattern of apramycin-resistant Escherichia coli isolated from farm animals and farm workers in northeastern of China during 2004–2007 and to determine whether resistance to apramycin was mediated by plasmid containing the aac(3)-IV gene and the mode for the transfer of genetic information between bacteria of farm animals and farm workers. Thirty six E. coli isolates of swine, chicken, and human origins, chosen randomly from 318 apramycin-resistant E. coli isolates of six farms in northeastern of China during 2004–2007, were multi-resistant and carried the aac(3)-IV gene encoding resistance to apramycin. Conjugation experiments demonstrated that in all 36 cases, the gene encoding resistance to apramycin was borne on a mobilisable plasmid. Homology analysis of the cloned aac(3)-IV gene with the sequence (accession no. X01385) in GenBank showed 99.3% identity at a nucleotide level, but only with a deletion of guanosine in position 813 of the gene in all 36 cases. The results indicted that resistance to apramycin in these isolates was closely related to aac(3)-IV gene. Therefore, the multi-resistance of E. coli could complicate therapeutic practices for enteric infections in both farm animals and human.     

动物疫苗的科学免疫

疫苗是用于预防动物传染病的生物药品,掌握有关购买、运输、保存和使用的正确方法,有助于充分发挥疫苗的功效。本文叙述了动物疫苗的科学免疫方法、使用技术和常见的问题。     

Enantiomeric behaviour of albendazole and fenbendazole sulfoxides in domestic animals: Pharmacological implications

Albendazole and fenbendazole are methylcarbamate benzimidazole anthelmintics extensively used to control gastrointestinal parasites in domestic animals. These parent compounds are metabolised to albendazole sulfoxide and fenbendazole sulfoxide (oxfendazole), respectively. Both sulfoxide derivatives are anthelmintically active and are manufactured for use in animals. They metabolites have an asymmetric centre on their chemical structures and two enantiomeric forms of each sulfoxide have been identified in plasma, tissues of parasite location and within target helminths. Both the flavin-monooxygenase and cytochrome P450 systems are involved in the enantioselective biotransformation of these anthelmintic compounds in ruminant species. A relevant progress on the understanding of the relationship among enantioselective metabolism and systemic availability of each enantiomeric form has been achieved. This article reviews the current knowledge on the pharmacological implications of the enantiomeric behaviour of albendazole sulfoxide and oxfendazole in domestic animals.     

Use and abuse of pyrethrins and synthetic pyrethroids in veterinary medicine

Pyrethrin and pyrethroid insecticides are widely used in veterinary medicine for agricultural and domestic purposes. Although pyrethrins and pyrethroids are generally regarded as safe to animals, there have been reports of systemic poisoning in veterinary species. This review summarises the use of pyrethrins and pyrethroids in companion and food producing animals, including their mechanism of action and toxicity. The toxicokinetics of pyrethrins and pyrethroids are described, including absorption, distribution, metabolism (including interactions with other compounds affecting drug metabolising enzymes) and excretion, leading to the application of toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic concepts. Specific cases of pyrethroid poisoning in laboratory animals (including age-related toxicity), fish, companion and large animals are considered, including the high incidence of feline pyrethroids toxicosis following the extra-label use of topical formulations.     

In vitro validation of a Pitot-based flow meter for the measurement of respiratory volume and flow in large animal anaesthesia

Objective  To remodel and validate commercially available monitors and their Pitot tube-based flow sensors for use in large animals, using in vitro techniques.
Study design  Prospective, in vitro experiment.
Methods  Both the original and the remodelled sensor were studied with a reference flow generator. Measurements were taken of the static flow-pressure relationship and linearity of the flow signal. Sensor airway resistance was calculated. Following recalibration of the host monitor, volumes ranging from 1 to 7 L were generated by a calibration syringe, and bias and precision of spirometric volume was determined. Where manual recalibration was not available, a conversion factor for volume measurement was determined. The influence of gas composition mixture and peak flow on the conversion factor was studied.
Results  Both the original and the remodelled sensor showed similar static flow–pressure relationships and linearity of the flow signal. Mean bias (%) of displayed values compared with the reference volume of 3, 5 and 7 L varied between −0.4% and +2.4%, and this was significantly smaller than that for 1 L (4.8% to +5.0%). Conversion factors for 3, 5 and 7 L were very similar (mean 6.00 ± 0.2, range 5.91–6.06) and were not significantly influenced by the gas mixture used. Increasing peak flow caused a small decrease in the conversion factor. Volume measurement error and conversion factors for inspiration and expiration were close to identity.
Conclusion  The combination of the host monitor with the remodelled flow sensor allowed accurate in vitro measurement of flows and volumes in a range expected during large animal anaesthesia.
Clinical relevance  This combination has potential as a reliable spirometric monitor for use during large animal anaesthesia.     

可遗传与非可遗传构件应用与转基因动物食品安全评价介绍

近年来基因工程技术不断发展,转基因生物及其产品如雨后春笋般不断涌现,随之而来的转基因食品安全问题也逐渐引起关注和重视。可遗传与非可遗传构件的应用作为生产转基因动物的方法,其存在的潜在风险与巨大的发展前景共存。作者就可遗传与非可遗传构件应用及与转基因动物食品安全评价的关系进行了介绍和讨论,并对其未来的发展做出展望。     

重金属污染对土壤动物的影响

随着工业污染的加剧和农用化学物质的增加,土壤中的重金属污染日益严重,其中一部分重金属残留物被土壤动物吸收和富集后,通过食物链对动物和人类健康造成了很大的威胁.该文在讨论重金属富集特性的基础上,从个体、种群及群落水平上综合分析了重金属污染对土壤动物的毒害作用.并论述了土壤动物对重金属污染的解毒策略,最后从重金属污染的毒性测定方法、复合污染机制、分子机理研究和土壤动物的生态恢复作用等几个方面,阐述了当前研究主要动态和今后的发展趋势,旨在为今后的研究提供参考依据.     

Isolation of Campylobacter from feral swine (Sus scrofa) on the ranch associated with the 2006 Escherichia coli O157:H7 spinach outbreak investigation in California

We report the isolation of Campylobacter species from the same population of feral swine that was investigated in San Benito County, California, during the 2006 spinach-related Escherichia coli O157:H7 outbreak. This is the first survey of Campylobacter in a free-ranging feral swine population in the United States. Campylobacter species were cultured from buccal and rectal-anal swabs, colonic faeces and tonsils using a combination of selective enrichment and antibiotic-free membrane filtration methods. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF-MS, Bruker Daltonics, Inc., Billerica, MA, USA) was used to identify species followed by confirmatory multiplex PCR or 16S rRNA sequencing. Genetic relatedness of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains was determined by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and porA allele sequencing. Altogether, 12 (40%) of 30 feral swine gastrointestinal and oral cavity specimens were positive, and six species were isolated: Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus, Campylobacter hyointestinalsis, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter lanienae and Campylobacter sputorum. Campylobacter jejuni subtypes were closely related to MLST sequence type 21 (ST-21) and had identical porA sequences. Campylobacter coli subtypes were unrelated to isolates in the pubMLST/porA database. This feral swine population lived in close association with a 'grassfed' beef cattle herd adjacent to spinach and other leafy green row crop fields. The findings underscore the importance of protecting raw vegetable crops from faecal contamination by wild or feral animals. The study also illustrates a potential risk of Campylobacter exposure for hunters during handling and processing of wild swine meat.     

不同动物源性链球菌的耐药性分析

通过形态观察、革兰氏染色及生化试验分离鉴定共获得28株猪源及牛源链球菌。采用琼脂二倍稀释法测定7种抗菌药物对28株链球菌的最小抑菌浓度（MIC）,其中绝大多数受试菌株呈多重耐药性。研究结果表明,不同动物源性链球菌对抗菌药物的抗菌谱不同,揭示的耐药规律对指导临床用药具有重要意义。     

海洋生物型肠内营养制剂氮源重金属含量研究

通过分析我国南方多个海区15个海洋生物样品的重金属含量,评价其作为海洋生物型肠内营养制剂氮源的安全性。试验结果表明,15个样品中有5个样品Pb含量超标,6个样品As含量超标,所有样品Hg含量均未超标。初步研究表明,我国南方海区黄鳍鲷、花鲈等样品在本次分析中均未出现重金属超标,满足作为海洋生物型肠内营养制剂氮源基料的重金属安全要求,而贝类作为氮源基料,必须根据国家标准的要求进行重金属的控制与脱除。