Fate of Escherichia coli and Escherichia coli O157 in soils and drainage water following cattle slurry application at 3 sites in southern Scotland

Abstract. Slurry from farm animals may contaminate water supplies, rivers and bathing waters with faecal coliforms, such as Escherichia coli . Where animals harbour the O157 strain the hazard to human health is particularly high, but both the hazard level, and the low incidence and sporadic nature of the excretion of E. coli O157 make it difficult to study this strain under field conditions. The survival of total E. coli and of E. coli O157 were compared in the laboratory for two soils under controlled temperature and moisture. E. coli O157 die-off rate was the same as or quicker than for total E. coli . This result meant that field experiments studying the fate of total E. coli should give a satisfactory evaluation of the risk of water contamination by the O157 strain. In four field experiments at three sites, slurry containing total E. coli numbers of 2.2 × 10⁴ to 5.7 × 10⁵ colony forming units per mL (c.f.u. mL^–1) was applied to drained field plots. Field die-off was faster than expected from laboratory experiments, especially in one experiment where two weeks dry weather followed application. In all but this experiment, the first drain flow events after slurry application led to very high E. coli concentrations in the drains (10³ to 10⁴ c.f.u. mL^–1). E. coli O157 was present in the slurry used for two of the experiments (33 c.f.u. per 100 mL in each case). However the proportion of E.coli O157 was very low (about 1 in 10⁵) and it was not detected in the drainage water. After the first week E. coli drainage water numbers decreased rapidly but they were 1–10 c.f.u. mL^–1 for much of the sampling period after slurry application (1–3 months).     

Age and exercise effects on mitochondrial density and capillary fibre ratio in bird leg muscle

1. Muscle fibre composition, capillary-fibre ratio and mitochondrial density of the Iliotibialis lateralis muscle were monitored during growth from the age of 8 weeks to sexual maturity (24 weeks) in sedentary birds and in birds subjected to regular treadmill exercise. 2. The Iliotibialis lateralis muscle consists almost exclusively of type IIA and IIB fibres with a small percentage of "unclassified" fibres. Over the 16-week period of growth there was no change in fibre composition but a marked fibre hypertrophy linked with a fall in the capillary-fibre ratio. Mitochondrial volume density increased with age but this was not significant. 3. Exercise significantly increased the IIA:IIB fibres ratio from 0.77 to 1.1 but had no significant effect on any other measured characteristics. 4. It is concluded that exercise at the intensity and duration employed (10-15 min daily, ca. 70-80% maximum oxygen consumption) has little effect on the growth and development of avian skeletal muscle although there was evidence of an increased oxidative capacity of the muscle.     

Effects of timing and size of daylength change on brown egg laying domestic hens: Plasma luteinising hormone concentration and sexual maturity

1. Brown egg laying pullets were transferred from an 8‐h photoperiod to an 8‐, 10‐, 13‐ or 16‐h photoperiod at 6, 9, 12, 15, 18 or 20–3 weeks of age. Plasma luteinising hormone (LH) concentrations were measured at transfer and 7 and 14 d afterwards.

2. Significant increases in plasma LH occurred following light stimulations at 6, 9 and 12 weeks of age.

3. Changes in LH concentration 7 d after a light increase from 8 h to 8, 10, 13, 16 h were highly correlated with photoperiod length at 9 and 12 weeks of age.

4. Changes in LH were generally poorly correlated with age at sexual maturity, although the reduced influence on age at first egg of a light increase given close to sexual maturity was reflected in minimal LH responses at 18 and 20.3 weeks.     

An economic evaluation of the differences between intensive and extensive beef production systems

A model to evaluate economic criteria involved when cattle are raised on high-forage diets prior to finishing or finished directly after weaning was developed using data from two experiments. In Exp. 1, each year for 3 yr, 136 Charolais-cross calves were weaned and allotted to either an intensive system, in which they were immediately finished on a high-grain diet, or an extensive system, in which they were wintered on crop residues, grazed on summer pasture and finished on a high-grain diet. In Exp. 2, 160 British breed steers were wintered, in one of eight different wintering systems utilizing crop residues, using supplemental protein and(or) alfalfa hay. After wintering, the steers grazed summer pasture and then were finished on a high-grain diet. Overall cost of gain and final "break-even" price were lower for cattle finished through the extensive system except when the price of corn was very low in relationship to other inputs. Interest costs were higher for cattle in the extensive system. Increasing the feeder calf purchase price had almost no effect on differences between the systems. Corn price and purchase price affected both systems similarly, whereas interest rate, wintering yardage and finishing yardage affected each system differently. Because of the additional weight produced through the extensive system, it yielded lower final "break-even" prices in most situations.     

Inhibition of DNA polymerase β activity in isolated bovine liver nuclei by captan and related compounds

The effects on DNA synthesis of the fungicide captan and several structurally related compounds were investigated in isolated bovine liver nuclei. Captan, folpet, captafol, and trichloromethanesulfenyl chloride inhibited DNA synthesis to the same degree with ID₅₀ values of approximately 50 μM in a 40-min assay. The inhibition is concentration dependent and the degree of inhibition increases with time. Studies with structural analogs of captan indicated that inhibition of DNA synthesis by captan is mediated through the trichloromethylthio moiety of the captan molecule. In addition, the data indicate thiophosgene is probably not the toxic species involved in the inhibition of DNA synthesis. The isolated nuclei used in this study were shown to exhibit only a single DNA polymerase activity which was determined to be of the β or low-molecular-weight type. In addition to its inhibition in intact nuclei, captan inhibited the activity of the β polymerase in nuclear extracts as well as in partially purified enzyme preparations. These results indicate that captan inhibits DNA synthesis in our preparation of isolated nuclei by acting directly on the DNA polymerase-catalyzed reaction rather than by causing a nonspecific or indirect effect in the nuclear system such as alterations in the nuclear membrane or aggregation of the nuclei. The site of captan's inhibitory action is the DNA polymerase molecule. The interaction of captan with the polymerase results in irreversible inhibition of the enzyme. Interaction of captan with the template, if it occurs, does not appear to be involved in mediating the inhibition.     

Field use of isoflurane and air anesthetic equipment in wildlife.

Conventional inhalation anesthesia of wildlife species within natural habitats presents significant practical problems. Heavy cylinders of medical grade oxygen are often unavailable in field situations. Equipment has been modified to permit the delivery of isoflurane in ambient air as the carrier and to be fitted with circuitry adaptable for different species and anesthetic situations. Preliminary empirical studies at low altitude in a range of small mammalian and avian species demonstrate the suitability of this combination and these techniques for inducing and maintaining anesthesia in clinically normal patients undergoing relatively minor procedures. The equipment has also been used to deepen and prolong anesthesia in several larger species, including great apes and large cats, after induction with injectable agents. These techniques, in combination with pulse oximetry to detect hypoxemia, provide a cheap, robust, and portable inhalation anesthetic system for field situations that is not dependent on compressed gasses.     

Fucoidan and Cancer: A Multifunctional Molecule with Anti-Tumor Potential

There is a wide variety of cancer types yet, all share some common cellular and molecular behaviors. Most of the chemotherapeutic agents used in cancer treatment are designed to target common deregulated mechanisms within cancer cells. Many healthy tissues are also affected by the cytotoxic effects of these chemical agents. Fucoidan, a natural component of brown seaweed, has anti-cancer activity against various cancer types by targeting key apoptotic molecules. It also has beneficial effects as it can protect against toxicity associated with chemotherapeutic agents and radiation. Thus the synergistic effect of fucoidan with current anti-cancer agents is of considerable interest. This review discusses the mechanisms by which fucoidan retards tumor development, eradicates tumor cells and synergizes with anti-cancer chemotherapeutic agents. Challenges to the development of fucoidan as an anti-cancer agent will also be discussed.     

Characterization of primary pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma‐associated pleural effusion

A 10‐year‐old, female spayed Shih Tzu was presented due to weight loss, increased respiratory effort and lethargy, determined to be secondary to a congenital para‐esophageal diaphragmatic defect with partial herniation of the stomach and spleen. Four days following reduction surgery of the displaced abdominal organs thoracic effusion developed. Thoracic fluid evaluation revealed a cell‐rich, protein‐poor modified transudate with neutrophils, reactive mesothelial cells, and atypical epitheloid cells which occasionally appeared to be keratinizing, consistent with neoplastic exfoliation. Thoracic effusion recurred 2 days later, with similar characteristics as the initial sample. Computed tomography (CT) indicated consolidation and displacement of the right middle and accessory lung lobes. Exploratory thoracic surgery demonstrated a thickened, hyperemic right middle lung lobe, and thickened pericardial diaphragmatic ligament. Histologic evaluation of these tissues identified a primary pulmonary adenosquamous carcinoma with intravascular and pleural invasion. Based on these cytologic, histologic, and clinical findings, we conclude that primary pulmonary carcinomas may involve superficial thoracic structures and exfoliate into a thoracic effusion.