Correlation between environmental monitoring of thermophilic campylobacters in sewage effluent and the incidence of Campylobacter infection in the community

Environmental monitoring of thermophilic campylobacters in liquid sewage effluent (primary settlement only) during 1988 and 1989 showed a prominent seasonablity with distinct peaks in May and June (the average number of bacteria per 100 ml of effluent in months other than May and June was 2244 and the average for the peak months was 50 778). Apart from September 1989, this seasonality coincided precisely with the seasonal variation of Campylobacter enteritis in the community with similar distinct peaks in May and June (the incidence of infection in May and June was twice or three times that in the other months).
Sampling of sewers showed that the campylobacters in the sewage effluent came mainly from abbatoir and animal processing plants with only a minor input from the community. Therefore, the seasonal peaks in the sewage effluent and in the community may not be dependent on human infections but on zoonotic infections which may also peak in May and June.     

Thermophilic campylobacters in surface waters around Lancaster, UK: negative correlation with Campylobacter infections in the community

The incidence of campylobacter enteritis in Lancaster City Health Authority is three times the UK average for similar sizes of population and has marked seasonal peaks in May and June. Environmental monitoring of surface waters around Lancaster showed that thermophilic campylobacters were absent from drinking water from the fells and from the clean upper reaches of the River Conder but were present in the main rivers entering Morecambe Bay, the lower reaches of the River Conder, the Lancaster canal, and seawater from the Lune estuary and Morecambe Bay. All the surface waters tested showed the same seasonality, namely, higher numbers in the winter months and low numbers or none in May, June and July. The absence of thermophilic campylobacters in the summer months may be due to high sunshine levels because experiments on the effects of light showed that campylobacters in sewage effluent and seawater were eliminated within 60 and 30 min of daylight respectively but survived for 24 h in darkness. As the concentrations of campylobacters in surface waters were at their lowest precisely at the time of peak infections in the community it is unlikely that surface waters form Lancaster's reservoir of campylobacter infection for the community.     

Thermophilic campylobacters in surface waters around Lancaster, UK: negative correlation with campylobacter infections in the community

J ones , K., B etaieb , M. & T elford , D.R. 1990. Thermophilic campylobacters in surface waters around Lancaster, UK: negative correlation with campylobacter infections in the community. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 69 , 758–764.
The incidence of campylobacter enteritis in Lancaster City Health Authority is three times the UK average for similar sizes of population and has marked seasonal peaks in May and June.
Environmental monitoring of surface waters around Lancaster showed that ther-mophilic campylobacters were absent from drinking water from the fells and from the clean upper reaches of the River Conder but were present in the main rivers entering Morecambe Bay, the lower reaches of the River Conder, the Lancaster canal, and seawater from the Lune estuary and Morecambe Bay. AH the surface waters tested showed the same seasonality, namely, higher numbers in the winter months and low numbers or none in May, June and July. The absence of thermo-philic campylobacters in the summer months may be due to high sunshine levels because experiments on the effects of light showed that campylobacters in sewage effluent and seawater were eliminated within 60 and 30 min of daylight respectively but survived for 24 h in darkness.
As the concentrations of campylobacters in surface waters were at their lowest precisely at the time of peak infections in the community it is unlikely that surface waters form Lancaster's reservoir of campyiobacter infection for the community.     

Seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in sewage sludge

The seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in Lancaster's sewage sludge was studied over a 21 month period. The numbers in fresh sludge (from primary sedimentation) vary between approximately 200 and 5000/100 ml for most of the year but there was a large increase in May and June (in May 1988 there were 42,100 campylobacters/100 ml which is 17 times more than in the preceding April). In 1989 there was a similar May/June peak but with lower numbers. This seasonal variation, measured by environmental monitoring, reflects the incidence of infections in the community. The same pattern was found in 2-d old sludge but the numbers were substantially lower (40% lower over the experimental period). Thermophilic campylobacters were virtually absent from digested sludge and sludge prior to land distribution. Survival experiments confirm that campylobacters survive for only a few hours in both sterile and unsterile digested and undigested sludge. These results suggest that it is safe to dispose of Lancaster's digested sludge on land but there is still uncertainty about the ability of campylobacters to survive in sludge in the viable but non-culturable form.     

Seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in sewage sludge

The seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in Lancaster's sewage sludge was studied over a 21 month period. The numbers in fresh sludge (from primary sedimentation) vary between approximately 200 and 5000/100 ml for most of the year but there was a large increase in May and June (in May 1988 there were 42100 campylobacters/100 ml which is 17 times more than in the preceding April). In 1989 there was a similar May/June peak but with lower numbers. This seasonal variation, measured by environmental monitoring, reflects the incidence of infections in the community. The same pattern was found in 2-d old sludge but the numbers were substantially lower (40% lower over the experimental period).
Thermophilic campylobacters were virtually absent from digested sludge and sludge prior to land distribution. Survival experiments confirm that campylobacters survive for only a few hours in both sterile and unsterile digested and undigested sludge. These results suggest that it is safe to dispose of Lancaster's digested sludge on land but there is still uncertainty about the ability of campylobacters to survive in sludge in the viable but non-culturable form.     

The seasonal variation of thermophilic campylobacters in beef cattle, dairy cattle and calves

The epidemiology of clinical cases of campylobacter in temperate climates shows a striking seasonality. In the search for a seasonal environmental reservoir changes in the carriage rate and population size of campylobacters in bovine hosts with time have been measured. Most probable number (MPN) methodology was used to enumerate thermophilic campylobacters in samples taken from the small intestines of beef cattle at slaughter and the fresh faeces of four dairy herds and new-born calves. Statistical analyses revealed significant evidence for seasonal periodicity in the data from dairy herds ( P = 0·044). Not only was there a departure from constancy within a 12-month interval but these data revealed a true seasonality, that is, the same periodicity in numbers from one year to the next. Each herd had two peaks per year, in approximately spring and autumn. Peaks coincided in herds on neighbouring farms but those on farms in the north preceded those on farms in the south by 2 and 1 months, respectively ( P = 0·0057). Intestinal carriage by beef cattle at slaughter was 89·4% ( n = 360) with an average MPN campylobacters per gram fresh weight (MPN gfw⁻¹) of 6·1 × 10². Average MPN gfw⁻¹ in faeces from the dairy herds and calves were 69·9 ( S.D. 3) and 3·3 × 10⁴ ( S.D. 1·7 × 10²). There was no evidence of seasonal periodicity in the size of the campylobacter population in beef cattle at slaughter. Calves were campylobacter free at birth but became colonized within a few days.     

杭州郊区菜蚜种群的数量消长规律

对杭州郊区菜蚜的数量消长规律进行了连续多年的系统调查 .结果表明 ,在杭州郊区十字花科蔬菜上发生的菜蚜只有桃蚜 (Myzuspersicae)和萝卜蚜 (Lipaphiserysimi) .2种菜蚜混生种群的数量消长 1年中有 2个明显的高峰 ,分别出现在 5～ 6月和 1 1月前后 ;一般年份高峰期田间虫量可达平均每株 50 0头以上 ,且第 2个高峰虫量较高 ,持续时间较长 .在夏末秋初气温明显偏低的年份 ,8～ 9月作物上虫量上升迅速 ,最高也可达平均每株上千头的水平 .盛夏和隆冬季节数量都很低 .每年的 1 2月至次年的 5月以桃蚜占绝对优势 ,7～ 1 0月以萝卜蚜占绝对优势 ,而 5～ 7月和 1 0～ 1 2月则 2种蚜虫的发生比例交错变换 .温度是决定菜蚜混生种群数量消长规律和导致 2种蚜虫季节消长规律差异的一个主要因子 .文中对食料、天敌等因子的作用也做了讨论 .     

Seasonal beta-diversity of dry grassland vegetation: Divergent peaks of above-ground biomass and species richness

Question

Temperate grasslands are known for their high plant diversity and distinct seasonality. However, their intra-annual community dynamics are still largely overlooked by ecologists. Therefore, we explored the seasonal alpha- and beta-diversity patterns of vascular plants and their relationships to above-ground biomass in a rocky steppe (Festucion valesiacae).

Location

Pavlov Hills, SE Czech Republic.

Methods

For one year, we monitored the plant community of the rocky steppe at monthly intervals in 42 permanent plots of 0.25 m². We examined seasonal changes in above-ground biomass (estimated from the cover and height of living plant parts) and seasonal beta-diversity, which we partitioned into turnover and nestedness components and their quantitative counterparts: balanced changes and abundance gradients.

Results

We identified a pronounced seasonal pattern of above-ground biomass, species richness and composition. Total above-ground biomass was highest in June (summer), with a peak representing only 60% of total annual production (sum of individual species' maxima). However, the observed peak in species richness occurred in March (early spring), with 80% of the total species number recorded throughout the year. Accordingly, nestedness and abundance gradient patterns differed in the spring months, while seasonal turnover and balanced changes in abundance were generally congruent. Annual, short-lived, and perennial species exhibited different seasonal patterns of species richness and biomass production, although a sharp increase in biomass and a peak in species richness in spring were universal across the community.

Conclusions

Seasonal climatic constraints on plant growth are key determinants of primary production dynamics. Plants adapt to these constraints by adjusting their life cycles in different ways. In dry grasslands, the complexity of plant responses to climatic seasonality can result in seasonal beta-diversity patterns with divergent peaks in biomass and species richness.     

Climate variability and campylobacter infection: an international study

Campylobacter is among the most important agents of enteritis in developed countries. We have described the potential environmental determinants of the seasonal pattern of infection with campylobacter in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Specifically, we investigated the role of climate variability on laboratory-confirmed cases of campylobacter infection from 15 populations. Regression analysis was used to quantify the associations between timing of seasonal peaks in infection in space and time. The short-term association between weekly weather and cases was also investigated using Poisson regression adapted for time series data. All countries in our study showed a distinct seasonality in campylobacter transmission, with many, but not all, populations showing a peak in spring. Countries with milder winters have peaks of infection earlier in the year. The timing of the peak of infection is weakly associated with high temperatures 3 months previously. Weekly variation in campylobacter infection in one region of the UK appeared to be little affected by short-term changes in weather patterns. The geographical variation in the timing of the seasonal peak suggests that climate may be a contributing factor to campylobacter transmission. The main driver of seasonality of campylobacter remains elusive and underscores the need to identify the major serotypes and routes of transmission for this disease.     

Haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Sierra Leone

The incidence of haemonchosis in sheep and goats in Sierra Leone showed a seasonal variation with a high peak in the dry season (October to January) and a low one from March to May. Mean relative densities were significantly higher in young hosts and showed two peaks, a high one from August to December and a low one from April to June while the mean relative densities of old hosts were low and exhibited an irregular seasonal pattern with no defined peaks. The peak seasons in young hosts coincided approximately with the dry and rainy seasons. Male hosts showed an overall higher but not a significant mean relative density than females but for most of the months mean relative densities of infection of female hosts were not significantly higher than those of males. The roles of climatic conditions and arrested development (hypobiosis) and self-cure and host age immunity on Haemonchus contortus worm burdens are discussed.     

Note: Thermophilic campylobacters in dairy slurries on Lancashire farms: seasonal effects of storage and land application

Slurry storage tanks on Lancashire farms were sampled in May, June, October and November. There was a seasonal pattern in the number of thermophilic campylobacters. The average log₁₀ MPN per gram fresh weight (log₁₀ MPN gfw⁻¹) in stored samples in May and June was 0·78 ( S.D. 0·71) compared to 2·07 ( S.D. 0·70) in November and December. Campylobacters were readily detected in samples of mature slurry and composted bedding that farmers were about to put to land. The survival of campylobacters in slurry sprayed on land was studied in two seasons. In June, on farm A, stored slurry was mechanically aerated for 48 h and very low numbers of campylobacters (0·9 log₁₀ MPN gfw⁻¹) remained in the slurry before it was sprayed onto land. They became undetectable within 24 h once sprayed on land. In contrast, campylobacters in matured but unaerated slurry that was sprayed onto land on farm B in February were still detectable in samples taken 5 d after application to land, dropping from 2·11 log₁₀ MPN gfw⁻¹–1·37, a decline of only 0·74 log₁₀ MPN gfw⁻¹ in the first 5 d after application.     

Breeding seasonality among long-tailed macaques,Macaca fascicularis,in Peninsular Malaysia

The females among more than 7000 long-tailed macaques, Macaca fascicularis,that had recently been trapped for biomedical research were examined for pregnancy. The animals were taken from the wild in the north of Peninsular Malaysia during the period 1978 to 1979 and in the south from 1978 to 1982. Both samples showed some pregnancies in all months of the year and a peak during the months of May to July. Additional peaks in other months in some years showed that, while the midyear pregnancy peak was significant, it was not as marked a phenomenon as is the breeding peak in many other species. This might be due to the complexity and unpredictability of both the climate and the macaques’ food supply in Peninsular Malaysia. The additional peaks also illustrated the pitfalls of generalizing about breeding seasonality on the basis of small samples.     

A survey of ciliates at the long-term sampling station “Helgoland Roads”, North Sea

This study presents a new checklist of ciliates at the long-term sampling station Helgoland Roads. The work is based on a microzooplankton monitoring programme from January 2007 to June 2009 and a ciliate monitoring programme from June 2010 to May 2012. The checklist includes 89 ciliate taxa from 46 different genera. The total abundance of the ciliate community at Helgoland Roads ranged between 0.14 and 67.7 × 10³ cells L^?1 with a distinct peak in June. The total carbon biomass ranged between 0.2 and 234.6 μg C L^?1. The ciliate community showed a clear temporal succession pattern during the monitoring periods. The present study is not only the first detailed and updated list of ciliates at Helgoland Roads, but also provides information on seasonality, i.e. the temporal variation of species composition, abundance and carbon biomass as well as information on the biogeographic distribution of dominant ciliates in comparison with other relevant studies.     

莱州湾大型砂壳纤毛虫群落季节变化

为揭示莱州湾砂壳纤毛虫群落季节变化规律, 在莱州湾设置8个站位, 于2011年5-11月及2012年3-4月进行了9个航次的调查, 用浅海III型浮游生物网由底至表垂直拖网采集砂壳纤毛虫。结果表明, 莱州湾3-11月砂壳纤毛虫物种丰富度的变化范围为5-19, 周年变化呈现一峰两谷的趋势。丰度的范围为0-318 ind./L, 丰度较大(> 50 ind./L)的种类有运动类铃虫(Codonellopsis mobilis)和清兰拟铃虫(Tintinnopsis chinglanensis)。各月平均丰度随时间的变化趋势为双峰型, 最大值出现在7月(63 ind./L), 次峰值出现在5月(48 ind./L), 最小值出现在3月(2 ind./L)。黏着壳种类在3-11月均有出现, 透明壳种类仅在温度较高(> 15°C)的6-9月出现。各月的优势种数目为1种(5月)到8种(8月), 其中运动类铃虫在所有月中都是优势种, 对砂壳纤毛虫丰度周年的变化规律产生较大影响。使用各月所有种类的平均丰度对各月砂壳纤毛虫群落进行聚类分析, 得到两个群落(相似度30%): 群落I(7-9月)和群落II(3-6月、10-11月), 说明砂壳纤毛虫群落发生了明显的季节变化。砂壳纤毛虫的物种丰富度、丰度与环境因子(温度、盐度)均没有明显的相关性。     

Seasonality and Fecundity of Daphnia Lumholtzi Sars in Lake Phewa,Nepal

Monthly sampling of zooplankton in Lake Phewa, Nepal revealed 18 species of zooplankton excluding protozoans. The seasonality and fecundity of the largest common cladoceran Daphnia lumholtzi Sars was studied. Two distinct peaks of abundance were noted. No active stages were found during May and June. Egg ratio varied from zero to 0.88 in mature females. From the presence of only helmeted individuals of this species it is concluded that the predation pressure by fish was high.     

Anti-microbial activity of smoke from different woods

Monitoring of thermophilic campylobacters in two Libyan seawage treatment plants has shown that the communities of Tripoli and Sabratha almost certainly harbour campylobacters capable of producing enteritis. The plant in Tripoli eradicated the campylobacters from effuent by secondary treatment with trikling filtration followed by chlorination. The plant ant Sabratha, which was not working well at the time of sampling, reduced campylobacter numbers by only 53% and 74% during secondary teatment in a stabilization pond, and a reservoir in Sabratha, which received effluent from the stabilization pond and which supplies water for irrigation, also contained thermophilic campylobacters. In both treatment plants campylobacters were eradicated from sewage sludge by digestion and drying.     

Migratory restlessness in the Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops(Meliphagidae), an Australian diurnal migrant

The Yellow-faced Honeyeater Lichenostomus chrysops is a diurnal migrant which covers short to moderate distances in eastern Australia. Recordings of locomotor activity of nine wild-caught Yellow-faced Honeyeaters kept under a simulated natural photoperiod in the laboratory over a period of 13 months showed that these birds exhibit a distinct seasonal pattern in hopping activity. Two major seasonal peaks of enhanced activity were observed. The first occurred during the time of autumn migration in March to July, while a second peak from September to December coincided roughly with spring migration. Daily activity patterns of Yellow-faced Honeyeaters showed two major peaks. The first peak ranged from the early morning hours to approximately early afternoon, while a second smaller peak was observed in the late afternoon. During their migratory periods in spring and autumn, the morning as well as the afternoon peaks were considerably higher than in months when Yellow-faced Honeyeaters do not migrate.     

Seasonality of mortality in Sri Lanka: Biometeorological considerations

The seasonal variation of mortality in Sri Lanka was studied in relation to meteorological variables. Time series data of the total monthly number of deaths in men and women from 1976 to 1980 were analyzed by power spectrum analysis of the fast Fourier transformation method in the areas of Colombo (lowland area, altitude 7 m) and Nuwara-Eliya (highland area, altitude 1890 m), respectively. In the Colombo area, where the mean temperature was always high (mean, 27.5 °C), a seasonal variation in mortality of 6 months was validated by power spectrum analysis with peak times in June and November. These mortality peaks corresponded to those of the amounts of rainfall which also showed an identical predominant period of 6 months. In the Nuwara Eliya area, where the mean temperature was always low at about 15–16 °C, a seasonal variation of approximately 3 months was found in addition to the 6 months' periodicity. The comparison of the power spectrum pattern of mortality with those of meteorological variables suggested that the amount of rainfall was associated with the seasonal variation of mortality in the Nuwara-Eliya area. In conclusion, the seasonality of mortality in Sri Lanka, a typical tropical zone country, was related to seasonal variation in the amount of rainfall, or a humidity factor, but not to mean temperature.     

A study of thermophilic campylobacters in a river system

Fifteen kilometres of a river system traversing rural and urban areas and subject to sewage works effluent discharge was studied during a 12 1/2 month period. A total of 312 samples was collected from 12 sites at 14 d intervals and tested by a glass microfibre filtration method and a most probable number (MPN) method. Campylobacters were found in 43% of samples by the filtration method and 21% by the MPN method. The lowest frequency of isolation and lowest counts (less than 10 campylobacters/100 ml) were associated with samples collected from rural sites and fast-flowing stretches of river. The greatest frequency of isolation and highest counts (greater than 10-230 campylobacters/100 ml) were associated with sites adjacent to or downstream of sewage works. There was an obvious seasonal trend; most isolations and highest counts were obtained in late autumn and winter, and fewest isolations and lowest counts in spring and summer. Surface water run-off from adjacent farmland following heavy rainfall also increased the counts of campylobacters in the river system. Biotyping of isolates demonstrated that the most prevalent Campylobacter sp. was Campylobacter jejuni but C. coli, C. laridis and a previously unrecognized group of campylobacters were also isolated. Serotyping differentiated 14 serotypes of C. jejuni, 11 of C. coli and two of C. laridis. Furthermore, serotypes of C. jejuni commonly isolated from enteritis in man were frequently found in river water tested during this study.