Antimicrobial resistance among enterococci from pigs in three European countries

Enterococci from pigs in Denmark, Spain, and Sweden were examined for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and copper and the presence of selected resistance genes. The greatest levels of resistance were found among isolates from Spain and Denmark compared to those from Sweden, which corresponds to the amounts of antimicrobial agents used in food animal production in those countries. Similar genes were found to encode resistance in the different countries, but the tet(L) and tet(S) genes were more frequently found among isolates from Spain. A recently identified transferable copper resistance gene was found in all copper-resistant isolates from the different countries.     

Antimicrobial Resistance among Enterococci from Pigs in Three European Countries

Enterococci from pigs in Denmark, Spain, and Sweden were examined for susceptibility to antimicrobial agents and copper and the presence of selected resistance genes. The greatest levels of resistance were found among isolates from Spain and Denmark compared to those from Sweden, which corresponds to the amounts of antimicrobial agents used in food animal production in those countries. Similar genes were found to encode resistance in the different countries, but the tet(L) and tet(S) genes were more frequently found among isolates from Spain. A recently identified transferable copper resistance gene was found in all copper-resistant isolates from the different countries.     

Metabolism of daidzein by intestinal bacteria from rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta)

PURPOSE: To identify the metabolites produced from an isoflavonoid, daidzein, by colonic bacteria of rhesus monkeys. METHODS: The metabolism of daidzein by the fecal bacteria of nine monkeys was investigated. Daidzein was incubated anaerobically with fecal bacteria, and the metabolites were analyzed by use of liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. RESULTS: The fecal bacteria of all of the monkeys metabolized daidzein to various extents. Dihydrodaidzein was found in cultures of fecal bacteria from two monkeys; dihydrodaidzein and equol were found in cultures from four monkeys; dihydrodaidzein, equol, and an unknown metabolite (MW = 244) were found in cultures from one monkey; and dihydrodaidzein and the unknown metabolite were found in cultures from two monkeys. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to that in humans, variation was evident in the metabolism of isoflavonoids by fecal bacteria from rhesus monkeys. Some metabolites produced by fecal bacteria from monkeys were the same as those produced by fecal bacteria from humans.     

Aerobic Oral Bacteria in Healthy Captive Snakes

Cotton swab samples were taken from the ventral surface of the mouth and from the proximal esophagus from 23 captive nonpoisonous snakes. The samples were cultured and investigated for aerobic bacteria. Both the mouth and the esophagus) samples of 6 snakes were negative. When the bacterial isolates of the mouth and the esophagus of the whole snake population were compared, it was found that the flora isolated from both locations were similar. However, when the samples of individual snakes were compared it was found that the same isolates were seldom found in both the mouth and the esophagus. The most common bacteria found were Pseudomonas sp., Alcaligenes-like organisms, Gram-positive rods and Gram-positive cocci belonging to the family Micrococcaceae. Important pathogens were seldom isolated. Salmonella virchow could be found from 2 snakes. The presence of bacteriologically negative samples, great variations in the composition of the flora between individual snakes, and the occurrence of typical environmental bacteria in the oral cavity all suggest that snakes lack a specific autochtonous flora: and the bacteria isolated from the oral cavity may be occasional environmental bacteria. The source of pathogens may be the environment, too.     

HeLa ribosomal protein S6. Insulin and dibutyryl cyclic AMP affect different phosphopeptides

Tryptic phosphopeptides from HeLa ribosomal protein S6 have been separated by chromatography, followed by electrophoresis. Three phosphopeptides were found in S6 from cells treated in vivo with dibutyryl cAMP and at least four different phosphopeptides were found from cells treated with insulin plus the essential amino acids. Only phosphoserine was found in S6 isolated from insulin-treated cells.     

Antimicrobial resistant Salmonella spp. isolated from double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) and common loons (Gavia immer) in Florida.

Antimicrobial resistant Salmonella spp. were found in double-crested cormorants and common loons in Florida. Single or multiple resistance occurred in all Salmonella agona isolates from cormorants, primarily to ampicillin, sulfonamids, streptomycin, neomycin, and kanamycin. Similar patterns of resistance were found in S. agona isolates from common loons. In addition, isolates of S. Saint paul from loons were found resistant to tetracycline and streptomycin, while 2 of 7 isolates of S. infantis were resistant to tetracycline only.     

内蒙东部地区绵羊中华双腔吸虫生物学和流行病学的研究

中华双腔吸虫(Dicrocoelium chinensis Tang et Tang,1978)的生活史虽经研究,但本吸虫在第二中间宿主及终末宿主体内发育的情况尚未经阐明(唐崇惕等,1980).内蒙科右前旗附近数个旗县是本吸虫的流行区,1980—1981年我们在那里进行本项工作,从     

Cryptosporidium genotypes in wildlife from a new york watershed

To identify the animal sources for Cryptosporidium contamination, we genotyped Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife from the watershed of the New York City drinking water supply, using a small-subunit rRNA gene-based PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing. A total of 541 specimens from 38 species of wildlife were analyzed. One hundred and eleven (20.5%) of the wildlife specimens were PCR positive. Altogether, 21 Cryptosporidium genotypes were found in wildlife samples, 11 of which were previously found in storm runoff in the watershed, and six of these 11 were from storm water genotypes of unknown animal origin. Four new genotypes were found, and the animal hosts for four storm water genotypes were expanded. With the exception of the cervine genotype, most genotypes were found in a limited number of animal species and have no major public health significance.     

Studies on the prevalence of haematozoa of British bats

Bloodfilms were collected from 491 bats representing 12 of the 15 species of British bats, from a number of sites in England and Scotland, and examined for haematozoa. Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum ) sp. were found in Pipistrelluspipistrellus, Nyctalus noctula, N. leisleri, Eptesicus serotinus and Myotis brandtii , and Trypanosoma (Megatrypanum) incertum was found in P. pipistrellus. Both subgenera of trypanosomes appear to be transmitted by the bat bug Cimex pipistrelli. Gametocytes of the haemoproteid Poly-chromophilus murinus were found in one-third of Myotis daubentonii examined, and stages of the parasite were found in the vector, the wingless blood-sucking fly, Nycteribia kolenatii , collected from these bats. The piroplasm Babesia vesperuginis was found in the blood of P. pipistrellus and Myotis mystacinus , and was the only parasite to show evidence of pathogenicity to bats.     

A study of the hepatic microsomal epoxide hydrolase in sea birds

1. Epoxide hydrolase activities were measured in six species of sea birds using the chlorinated epoxide HEOM as substrate. 2. The activities found fell within the general range for birds, and there were no clear sex or species differences. 3. Relatively low activities were found in liver microsomes of female puffins early in the breeding season, but high activities were found in 11,000 g precipitates from these individuals. Apart from this no correlations were found between activity and time of year, PCB residues or geographical location. 4. These results are discussed in relation to mono-oxygenase activities in the same samples.     

Cytological studies on meiotic configurations of intraspecific aneuploids ofCarex blepharicarpa (Cyperaceae) in Japan

Chromosome configurations at meiotic metaphase I ofCarex blepharicarpa were determined for 245 individuals collected from 11 localities in the Chugoku District of Japan. Nine intraspecific aneuploids, 2n=26–33 and 41, were found. The most common diploid number was 29, and found in 73 individuals. No clear geographical pattern was suggested by a distribution of these aneuploids. A consecutive series of chromosome numbers from 2n=26 to 32 was found in two populations from Okayama Prefecture. At meiotic metaphase I, univalents and multivalents were found, and one to three trivalents were observed in each aneuploid. Heteromorphic chain trivalents comprising large, medium and small chromosomes were prevalent. Homomorphic trivalents, which are thought to be originated from chromosome duplications caused by unreduced gametes, were found in only one individual with 2n=41. The high frequency of heteromorphic trivalents in this species indicates that most aneuploidy probably results from fission and/or fusion of chromosomes.     

Extraintestinal sporozoites of chicken Eimeria in chickens and turkeys

Oocysts were found in the feces of chickens (recipients) dosed orally with whole blood, liver, lung, or heart homogenates from chickens and turkeys (donors) inoculated 3 and 4 days previously with a mixture of 3.5 X 10(6) oocysts of chicken Eimeria. No oocysts were found in the feces of recipients given spleen homogenates from these same chickens and turkeys and none were found in the feces of recipients given similar material from uninoculated donors. Intracellular sporazoites were found in the peripheral blood of a turkey inoculated with chicken Eimeria. The results indicate that a small number of sporozoites are capable of invading and surviving for at least 4 days in the peripheral blood of chickens and turkeys.     

Elaeophorosis in red deer from Spain

Elaeophorosis, caused by Elaeophora elaphi, was observed in red deer (Cervus elaphus) from Toledo Province (Spain) for the first time. Adult specimens of Elaeophora elaphi were found in the hepatic vessels of nine of 151 red deer between October 1994 and September 1995; intensity of infection was two to 18 nematodes per host. Adult nematodes were only found during the period from fall through early spring. No differences were present between sex or age groups. Parasites were not found in a limited sample from fallow deer (Dama dama). Blood samples were negative for the presence of microfilariae.     

Novel dolichyl derivatives in rat spleen

Novel dolichyl derivatives were found in rat spleen. The compounds were eluted from reverse phase HPLC after eluting dolichyl fatty acid ester. The elution profiles of the unsaponified forms of the unknown compounds were coincident with that of dolichol from spleen on reverse phase HPLC. The compounds were not dolichyl dolichoate, which are present in bovine thyroid. The compounds were not found in young rats (4 months of age) but were found in old rats (above 12 months of age), and they were not detected in other tissues under our conditions.     

Antibiotic resistance in bacterial isolates from laboratory animal colonies naive to antibiotic treatment

Antiobiogrammes were made of a number of isolates of Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Pasteurella pneumotropica derived from rodent, rabbit or minipig colonies never treated with antibiotics. For S. aureus no differences between rats and mice were found in the percentage of resistant isolates. Gentamicin and erythromycin were found to be the most efficient, while the highest percentages of resistance were found to be against penicillins and sulphonamides. In general, the results from antibiogrammes on E. coli were rather uniform, with only slight differences between isolates from different species, except that more vancomycin and tetracycline-resistant minipig isolates were found. In almost all isolates of E. coli, resistance was shown against penicillin, fucidin, macrolides, lincosamides and tiamulin. For a number of antibiotics, mouse isolates of P. pneumotropica were more frequently found to be sensitive than rat isolates. The resistance patterns of E. coli from the minipigs were quite similar to resistance patterns found in farm pigs, but apart from this, the resistance patterns of the bacterial species tested did not resemble human or farm animal patterns in any of the animal species, and, therefore, these studies do not support the theory that S. aureus and E. coli in laboratory animal colonies derive from the normal flora of the human caretakers. The fact that rodent species of E. coli, in contrast to human and farm animal species, are sensitive to ampicillin, tetracyclines, and the combination of sulphonamides and trimethoprim, might be due to the fact that these antibiotics are not used in rodent populations.     

Studies on the embryogenesis of Aulocara elliotti (Thomas) (Orthoptera, Acrididae). II. Developmental variability and the effects of maternal age and environment

The stages of diapause embryos of A. elliotti reared in the laboratory were described, and the lengths of embryos of stage 19 were compared with a second group of diapause embryos of advanced ages. Collections of diapause embryos of the same species were made from wild populations during the autumn and winter of two consecutive years. The stages of embryos present in these samples were found to vary widely. The mean lengths of embryos in stage 19 from different populations were compared and found to differ with statistical significance. The numbers of retarded embryos in different populations were found to vary significantly between populations of diapause embryos. In two populations, mean lengths of embryos of stage 19 were found to differ from one year to the next. Post-diapause embryos were collected from wild populations in the spring of two consecutive years and their stages described. No significant difference was found in the incidence of retardation in post-diapause samples. Results of these studies and those of other authors indicate that there may be wide developmental variation between populations of acridid embryos as well as in one population in two different years. Rearing adult A. elliotti in varying numbers under two different environmental conditions was found to produce significant effects upon the rate of development and variability of their embryonic progeny. Embryos laid by young females were found to be more variable, in general, and to develop more slowly than those laid by older females.     

Evaluation of enteric virus levels and serotypes recovered from wastewater and sea-water

The present study attempted to assess the levels of enteric viruses, as well as their serotypes, present in the wastewaters of the central Athens sewer of Keratsini (Greece), and in the receiving coastal sea-waters in the vicinity. From the parallel examination of 24 samples from each sampling source, during 1985, viruses were detected in 100% of wastewaters and in 87.5% of the receiving sea-waters. The virus loads in the receiving waters, 100 meters away from the polluting source, were found to be as low as 13% of the total virus content detected at the polluting source. From the identification of the recovered field-isolates it was found that in the polluting source (wastewater) 13 different serotypes of enteroviruses were present (not including untyped isolates), where as in the receiving coastal waters were found nine different serotypes, which correlate with those found in sewage effluents. The maximum levels detected from both sources were found in late Summer early Fall.     

High Levels of Endemicity of 3-Chlorobenzoate-Degrading Soil Bacteria

Soils samples were obtained from pristine ecosystems in six regions on five continents. Two of the regions were boreal forests, and the other four were Mediterranean ecosystems. Twenty-four soil samples from each of four or five sites in each of the regions were enriched by using 3-chlorobenzoate (3CBA), and 3CBA mineralizers were isolated from most samples. These isolates were analyzed for the ability to mineralize 3CBA, and genotypes were determined with repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR genomic fingerprints and restriction digests of the 16S rRNA genes (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis [ARDRA]). We found that our collection of 150 stable 3CBA-mineralizing isolates included 48 genotypes and 44 ARDRA types, which formed seven distinct clusters. The majority (91%) of the genotypes were unique to the sites from which they were isolated, and each genotype was found only in the region from which it was isolated. A total of 43 of the 44 ARDRA types were found in only one region. A few genotypes were repeatedly found in one region but not in any other continental region, suggesting that they are regionally endemic. A correlation between bacterial genotype and vegetative community was found for the South African samples. These results suggest that the ability to mineralize 3CBA is distributed among very diverse genotypes and that the genotypes are not globally dispersed.     

Cryptosporidium Genotypes in Wildlife from a New York Watershed

To identify the animal sources for Cryptosporidium contamination, we genotyped Cryptosporidium spp. in wildlife from the watershed of the New York City drinking water supply, using a small-subunit rRNA gene-based PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and DNA sequencing. A total of 541 specimens from 38 species of wildlife were analyzed. One hundred and eleven (20.5%) of the wildlife specimens were PCR positive. Altogether, 21 Cryptosporidium genotypes were found in wildlife samples, 11 of which were previously found in storm runoff in the watershed, and six of these 11 were from storm water genotypes of unknown animal origin. Four new genotypes were found, and the animal hosts for four storm water genotypes were expanded. With the exception of the cervine genotype, most genotypes were found in a limited number of animal species and have no major public health significance.     

Distribution of group-specific component/vitamin-D-binding protein subtypes in Saudi Arabia

The distribution of group-specific component (Gc) phenotypes and the Gc allele frequencies were investigated in 1,082 individuals from five different provinces of Saudi Arabia by the combined use of isoelectric focusing and immunofixation. Between provinces variations in the Gc allele frequencies were found. Gc1S decreased and Gc1F increased from the northwest to the southeast in Saudi Arabia. The overall frequencies in Saudi Arabia were 0.236 for Gc1F, 0.610 for Gc1S, 0.150 for Gc2 and 0.004 for rare alleles. The observed frequencies did not differ significantly from those found in other population samples from the Middle East. In nine samples rare Gc variants were found.