Synovial fluid and plasma concentrations of ceftiofur after regional intravenous perfusion in the horse

OBJECTIVE: To determine radiocarpal (RC) joint synovial fluid and plasma ceftiofur concentrations after regional intravenous perfusion (RIP) and systemic intravenous (IV) administration. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental cross-over study. ANIMALS: Five normal adult horses. METHODS: One RC joint was randomly selected for RIP and the contralateral RC joint was sampled to determine intrasynovial ceftiofur concentrations after IV administration. Wash-out between IV and RIP was > or = 14 days. After surgical introduction of an intraarticular catheter, ceftiofur (2 g) was administered under general anesthesia either IV or by RIP after tourniquet application. Plasma and synovial fluid were collected over 24 hours. Samples were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection and the results were statistically analyzed using a linear mixed effect model. RESULTS: Mean synovial fluid ceftiofur concentrations were consistently higher after RIP than after IV administration and were > 1 mug/mL (minimal inhibitory concentration [MIC] for common pathogens) for >24 hours. Mean synovial fluid peak concentration of ceftiofur after RIP and IV administration was 392.7+/-103.29 microg/mL at 0.5 hours postinjection (HPI) and 2.72+/-0.31 mug/mL at 1 HPI, respectively. Large variations in synovial fluid and plasma ceftiofur concentrations were observed between horses regardless of administration technique. RIP did not cause adverse effects. CONCLUSIONS: Under the present experimental conditions RIP with ceftiofur (2 g) induced significantly higher intraarticular antibiotic concentrations in the RC joint in comparison with IV administration. Moreover, after RIP, synovial fluid ceftiofur concentrations remain above the MIC for common pathogens (1 microg/mL) for > 24 hours. No adverse effects from the technique or the antibiotic were observed. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: RIP with high doses of ceftiofur may be a beneficial adjunctive therapy when treating equine synovial infections which are caused by cephalosporin susceptible microorganisms.     

Property Rights Effects on Farmers’ Management Investment in Forestry Projects: The Case of Camellia in Jiangxi,China

China’s central government has carried out a series of collectivization and de-collectivization attempts of forest tenure over time, which have led to multiple forest tenure arrangements within provinces. This paper investigates the motivation of farmers to maintain forestry under various forest tenure regimes. First, the paper provides a qualitative analysis of the different forest tenure regimes using the New Property Rights Theory. Second, an econometric analysis based on data from camellia projects in Jiangxi province is carried out. Camellia projects are long-term projects for the production of non-timber forest products which are important for rural income generation. Qualitative results of the research show that a multitude of different tenure regimes exist across forestry projects. Community-based or collective forest management regimes are the most important tenure regimes in forest management in Jiangxi province. Village communities and farmers are the main actors in forest resource management and investment in camellia projects in Jiangxi province. The results of the econometric analysis show that higher degrees of tenure security and residual claimancy for farm households lead to a higher use of household labor and capital within camellia forestry projects. Uncertainty about the future forestland distribution is an obstacle for household investments in forestry.     

Evaluation of the microbiological safety and quality of Vietnamese <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pangasius hypophthalmus</Emphasis> during processing by a microbial assessment scheme in combination with a self-assessment questionnaire

Pangasius hypophthalmus (referred to as Pangasius or tra fish in Vietnam) has become highly appreciated by consumers in the European Union, USA, Japan, etc. and is of worldwide economic importance. Therefore, the microbial quality and safety of Pangasius fish processed for export was assessed by means of a microbial assessment scheme throughout the entire production process. A total of 144 samples were collected from various processing steps and analyzed. It was determined that the microbial safety and quality of the products was not guaranteed as the contamination levels remained high throughout processing. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Vibrio cholerae were present on the hands of food operators, particularly those in the packaging area. Moreover, the presence of Listeria monocytogenes (1 positive out of 9 samples) and V. cholerae (4/9) on the final products was likely a result of inadequate hygiene practices in the processing environment. Also discussed in this paper are the results of a self-assessment questionnaire, which provide insight into the performance of the food safety management system currently implemented at the company. These data are of major importance in order to contribute valuable information to the local and international trade point of view in general and to the intended customers in particular.     

The BIOEXPLOIT Project

The EU Framework 6 Integrated Project BIOEXPLOIT concerns the exploitation of natural plant biodiversity for the pesticide-free production of food. It focuses on the pathogens Phytophthora infestans, Septoria tritici, Blumeria graminis, Puccinia spp. and Fusarium spp. and on the crops wheat, barley, tomato and potato. The project commenced in October 2005, comprises 45 laboratories in 12 countries, and is carried out by partners from research institutes, universities, private companies and small-medium enterprises. The project has four strategic objectives covered in eight sub-projects. These objectives relate to (i) understanding the molecular components involved in durable disease resistance, (ii) exploring and exploiting the natural biodiversity in disease resistance, (iii) accelerating the introduction of marker-assisted breeding and genetic engineering in the EU plant breeding industry, and (iv) coordinating and integrating resistance breeding research, providing training in new technologies, disseminating the results, and transferring knowledge and technologies to the industry.     

Zoonotic infection with Chlamydia psittaci at an avian refuge centre

This paper reports the zoonotic transmission of Chlamydia psittaci at a wild bird refuge centre resulting in the infection of members of the staff. Pharyngeal swabs were culture positive in 26% (11/42) of the sampled birds, and molecular characterisation of isolates revealed genotypes A, B, D, and E/B. The finding reflects multiple distinct infections and highlights the endemic nature of this pathogen in avian wildlife. Two clinically normal birds being prepared for release were found to be excreting C. psittaci genotype B or E/B and viable genotype B was detected in pharyngeal swabs from 30% (3/10) of the human workers tested. The findings suggest there should be enhanced surveillance and control measures in place in bird rehabilitation centres in order to minimise the risk of both zoonoses and of re-introduction of infection back into wildlife populations.     

Use of ovotransferrin as an antimicrobial in turkeys naturally infected with Chlamydia psittaci, avian metapneumovirus and Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale

Respiratory pathogens are difficult to control in large-scale turkey production. This report describes a clinical trial of antimicrobial ovoTF aerosol on a large Belgian turkey farm. ovoTF was administered to reduce Chlamydia psittaci (C. psittaci) infections and to study the impact of this action on the occurrence of Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale (O. rhinotracheale) and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV) infections. Two subsequent broods were included; (i) a control brood receiving no ovoTF and (ii) an ovoTF brood receiving ovoTF aerosol (5mg/animal) at the age of 2 weeks, continuing daily for 12 days. Twenty-four one-day-old toms of the control and ovoTF brood were tagged and monitored for 15 weeks. The control brood experienced two periods of respiratory disease, the first (2-3 weeks of age) due to C. psittaci and the second (8-17 weeks of age) in the presence of C. psittaci, O. rhinotracheale and maybe aMPV. Extensive antibiotic treatment was needed in 2, 8 and 9 week-old toms. In the ovoTF brood, toms stayed healthy until the age of 9 weeks, whereafter respiratory disease occurred in the presence of C. psittaci, O rhinotracheale and aMPV. OvoTF administration: (i) reduced the amount of C. psittaci in the air as demonstrated by bioaerosol monitoring, (ii) prevented respiratory disease during the first half of the brood period, (iii) was associated with 46% reduction of mortality, and (iv) reduced the antibiotic cost. Our results justify additional clinical trials to explore the use of this innovative antimicrobial strategy for poultry.     

Potential contribution of organosilicon compounds to reduced leaching of biocides in wood protection

? Leaching of biocide treated wood leads to reduced effectiveness and potential threat to the environment.

? Therefore the effectiveness of organosilicons as protective systems of biocides was evaluated. Scots pine sapwood specimens were impregnated with solely organosilicons and biocides as well as with combinations of both.

? The biocides 3-iodo-2-propynylbutylcarbamate, propiconazole and 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyloctadecyl ammonium chloride confirmed their effectiveness regardless the addition of an organosilicon. Low leachate toxicities to the crustacean Daphnia magna were found for the organosilicons, whereas significant leachate toxicities were measured for the biocides. Combining both did not considerably diminish the leachate toxicities.

? It must therefore be concluded that under the circumstances as described in this article, organosilicons do not interfere with the efficacy of the biocides, but they do not contribute to a reduced leaching of the biocides either.

     

Sediment imbalances and flooding risk in European deltas and estuaries

Purpose

We analysed the status of current water and sediment management practices in six deltas and estuaries, which were part of the European DELTANET, INTERREG-funded network.

Materials and methods

These systems—the Danube, Ebro and Vistula deltas and the Elbe, Minho and Severn estuaries—represent different geographic regions of Europe. This enables comparison between the sites’ approaches to common coastal issues, notably those associated with sediment budgets, contamination and flood risk. Based on documentary analysis, workshop events and expert discussion, we employ a simple classification scheme to distinguish between levels of risk from these aspects.

Results

We suggest that flood risk is the most significant risk, followed by upstream sediment retention and sediment aggradation. Chemical contamination, though less severe, is not unimportant. Key management issues include a lack of environmental quality standards for sediment and suspended particulate matter, as well as the limited deployment of monitoring programmes, regular sediment sampling and associated chemical analyses.

Conclusions

These include both general and specific recommendations. Within these, the limited scope of integrated plans that aim for sustainability of the respective systems is highlighted. It is suggested that these do not challenge traditional, classical engineering approaches sufficiently. Nor do they address the origin of many environmental problems, especially those which are closely linked to short-term political and economic priorities.     

The cytolethal distending toxin among Helicobacter pullorum strains from human and poultry origin

Helicobacter pullorum has been associated with diarrhoea, gastroenteritis and liver disease in humans and with hepatitis and enteritis in poultry. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether cytolethal distending toxin was present among 10 poultry and three human H. pullorum isolates and whether a different level of cytolethal distending toxin activity was noted. A PCR assay was performed to detect the cdtB gene. In addition, epithelial Hep-2 cells inoculated with sonicate from all strains were observed microscopically and DNA analysis of these cells was done by flow cytometry. All H. pullorum isolates harboured the cdtB gene, but functional cytolethal distending toxin activity was only demonstrated in the human H. pullorum strain CCUG 33839. A significant number of cells treated with sonicate from this strain were enlarged. The nuclei were distended proportionally. Giant cells and multinucleated cells were observed as well. In addition, stress fibers accumulated. DNA analysis by flow cytometry revealed 31.0% of these cells at the S/G2 stage of the cell cycle. The tested poultry and human H. pullorum isolates all possess the cdtB gene, but under the circumstances adopted in this study only the human strain CCUG 33839 seems to show biological activity typically for CDT in vitro.