Effects of dietary chlortetracycline on the antimicrobial resistance of broiler faecal Streptococcaceae

A breeder flock and a control group of progeny birds were fed antimicrobial-free rations; a second group of progeny received rations supplemented with 50 g chlortetracycline (Ctc)/ton. Effects of dietary Ctc on the distribution of species and biotypes of faecal Gram-positive cocci and their relative resistance to 12 antimicrobial agents were studied. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pattern diversity and modal AMR patterns were determined for bacterial species common to all three groups. Numerical taxonomic analysis placed 1321 (97%) of 1360 isolates into eight species or biotypes. The largest cluster ( n = 659, 48%) was a biotype of Streptococcus faecalis. Three clusters were biotypes of Streptococcus faecium and contained 580 isolates (42%). The isolates were susceptible to ampicillin and almost uniformly resistant to methicillin, neomycin, streptomycin, sulfadiazine and tetracycline. There were 54 and 47 different AMR patterns, including 0 to 11 and 1 to 11 resistance determinants, in isolates from control and Ctc-fed birds, respectively. Modal AMR patterns for Strep. faecalis and one biotype of Strep. faecium were very similar for all three groups of birds. However, modal patterns in a second biotype of Strep. faecium varied considerably for all three groups. Interpretation of AMR pattern diversities were equivocal among biotypes from both progeny groups. The variable distribution of isolates, proportions of resistant strains, modal patterns and diversity indices among the progeny were probably due to their exposure to different environmental sources of bacteria.     

The hydrolysis of monolayers of phosphatidyl-[Me-14C]choline by phospholipase D

1. The hydrolysis of monolayers of phosphatidyl[Me-(14)C]choline at the air/water interface by phospholipase D (phosphatidylcholine phosphatidohydrolase) was investigated by a surface-radioactivity technique by using a flow counter. 2. Phosphatidylcholine of high specific radioactivity was prepared biosynthetically in good yield from [Me-(14)C]choline by using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 3. At initial monolayer pressures between 12 and 25 dynes/cm. the hydrolysis occurred in two stages, an initial slow hydrolysis followed by a rapid hydrolysis. Below 3dynes/cm. and above 28dynes/cm. no enzymic hydrolysis of pure phosphatidylcholine monolayers could be detected. 4. The rapid hydrolysis was proportional to the enzyme concentration in the subphase, its pH optimum was 6.6, and 0.2mm-Ca(2+) was required for maximal activity. 5. Hydrolysis of the film was accompanied by a pronounced fall in the surface pressure even though the phosphatidic acid formed did not leave the film. When the pressure fell to low values the hydrolysis ceased even if the film was only partially hydrolysed. 6. Above monolayer pressures of 28dynes/cm. enzymic hydrolysis could be initiated by inclusion of phosphatidic acid (and less effectively stearyl hydrogen sulphate) in the film, although the rates were not appreciably higher than those observed at 25dynes/cm. with a pure phosphatidylcholine film. 7. The initiation of the hydrolysis by phosphatidic acid was facilitated by the inclusion of high Ca(2+) concentrations and certain carboxylic acid buffer anions in the subphase, although these did not activate by themselves. 8. The initiation of the hydrolysis at high pressures could not be related to any change in the surface potential brought about by the addition of the long-chain anions to the film, nor could it be ascribed to a surface dilution effect. 9. The results are discussed in relation to previous studies on the hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine particles by the enzyme and also similar investigations on phosphatidylcholine monolayers with other phospholipases.