Skin Bacteriome and its Resistance to Antibiotics in Free Range Pigs

The cutaneous microbiome and also its resistance to antibiotics is exposed to change, depending on different habitat factors. This research investigates the composition of cutaneous microflora and its antibiotic resistance in pigs raised on free range farms (mix breed swine, from low input small farms). Swabs were collected from the skin surface and subjected to classical microbiological methods (simple broth and nutrient agar cultivation, colony isolation and biochemical API identification). The antibacterial resistance to gentamicin, streptomycin, oxitetracycline, tylosin, amoxacillin-clavulanic acid, marbofloxacin, tulatromycin, cefotaxime and doxycycline was estimated by Kirby Bauer method and multiple antibiotic resistance (MAR) index was calculated. Strains from Staphylococcus (sciuri and warnerii), Shigella spp., Kytococcus sedentarius, Salmonella spp. and Citrobacter freundii genera and species were identified in the collected samples. The most resistant was a S. warnerii strain, but the MAR index was high (0.33) in 50% of the strains. The most efficient antibiotic was cefotaxime and the least efficient was oxitetracycline. The results indicated the presence of antibiotic resistant ubiquitous and pathogenic strains in the investigated pigs which need caution, since they could express pathogenicity under appropriate conditions which low input farming system could provide

Bactericidal Capacity of Serum and Enhancement of Specific Cell-Mediated Immunity Subsequent to Hipopphae Rhamnoides Treatment in Pigs

Low-input farming subject’s swine to increased immune stress and subsequent infectious risk, which could be prevented by phytotherapy. Hypopphae rhamnoides is a widespread shrub in both Europe and Asia. The research aimed at investigating the influence of a whole fruit extract on antibacterial effect of the serum in extensively raised, two batches, sea buckthorn in vivo treated/untreated pigs. Scavenging effect over DPPH was used to estimate the antioxidant potential of the sea buckthorn commercial syrup (Steaua Divina©). Minimal inhibiting (MIC) and minimal bactericidal (MBC) capacity of the serum were tested and spectrophotometrically measured against Shigella spp., Kitococcus sedentarius, Staphylococcus werneri and Staphylococcus sciuri. The antioxidant activity of the syrup was intermediate (54.65 %). Sera from treated pigs had bactericidal and bacteriostatic effect on Shigella spp. and S. sciuri, respectively. Shigella spp. growth was inhibited at serum dilutions of ½-1/32 while much lower ½-1/4 dilutions were active against S. sciuri. In untreated pigs, the sera were inefficient in either stopping or totally inhibiting bacterial growth. The MBC and MIC values obtained for the sera of pigs treated with Hippophae rhamnoides syrup supported the positive effect of the in vivo treatment inducive of potential protection against bacterial diseases

A Peek into the Bacterial Microbiome of the Eurasian Red Squirrel (<i>Sciurus vulgaris</i>)

Sciurus vulgaris (the Eurasian red squirrel) is native to Europe and Asia, but due to habitat destruction or fragmentation, interspecific competition, and infectious diseases, especially in European island areas the species finds itself at the brink of extinction. The repopulation of such bare habitats requires healthy squirrel specimens, either translocated from other wild habitats or reintroduced to the wilderness following captive breeding. Captivity, nonetheless, has shown an immense capacity to reshape the structure of wild species’ microbiota, adapting it to the less diverse diet and fewer environmental challenges. Therefore, assessing the differences between “wild” and “captive” microbiota in this species could elucidate if special living conditions are needed in order to augment the survival rate of specimens reintroduced into the wild. Furthermore, the microflora profile of the normal flora of healthy red squirrels raised in captivity could support clinicians in addressing infectious diseases episodes and also raise awareness on the zoonotic risk. Hence, this study aimed at documenting the bacterial species carried by S. vulgaris, disclosing overall similarities and variability patterns of the microbiota identified in individuals from two different living environments. We anticipated that the bacterial community would be less diverse in individuals raised in captivity, owing to their restrictive diet and to unchanging conditions in the enclosure. We also hypothesized that there would be a higher prevalence of zoonotic microorganisms in the captive animals, due to the proximity of humans and of other domestic species. To test this, samples (n = 100) were taken from five body regions of 20 red squirrels, both free-ranging and bred in captivity, processed by classical microbiology techniques, and further identified by biochemical assay (VITEK®2 Compact System). A relatively poor bacterial community, comprising 62 bacterial strains belonging to 18 species and 8 different genera, was identified. Most of these microorganisms were reported for the first time in S. vulgaris. With no discrimination between living environments, the highest prevalence (p Staphylococcus sciuri (60%; 12/20), followed by Escherichia coli (45%; 9/20) and Bacillus cereus (35%; 7/20). The results suggest unremarkable differences in diversity and richness of the resident aerobic microbiota of S. vulgaris, in relation to the living environment

Comparative evaluation of florfenicol and polymeric nanopar-ticles loaded with florfenicol against bacterial strains isolated from chickens: insights into antimicrobial resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) poses a significant threat to both human and animal health, necessitating the search for alternative antimicrobial agents and strategies. In this study, we aimed to identify and isolate clinical bacterial strains from chickens and evaluate their sensitivity to florfenicol, a common antimicrobial agent that is used exclusively in veterinary medicine, along with polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol at various concentrations. Three clinical bacterial strains were successfully isolated and identified from chicken presenting clinical signs. In order to assess their susceptibility, the isolated strains were subjected to a standard disc diffusion assay using florfenicol. Subsequently, polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol were tested at six different concentrations and compared their efficacy against the bacterial strains. Our results demonstrated that all three clinical bacterial strains exhibited varying degrees of resistance to florfenicol. Interestingly, the use of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol did not display enhanced antimicrobial activity compared to the free drug. Notably, the efficacy of the loaded nanoparticles did not significantly vary with different concentrations of active substance. This study highlights the importance of exploring novel therapeutic approaches to combat antimicrobial resistance. The use of polymeric nanoparticles loaded with florfenicol presents a promising avenue for overcoming resistance mechanisms and improving the efficacy of antimicrobial treatments both in human and veterinary medicine. Further investigations are needed to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and optimize the formulation of polymer nanoparticles for enhanced therapeutic outcomes in combating AMR

Oxidative Stress and DNA Lesion Reduction of a Polyphenolic Enriched Extract of <i>Thymus marschallianus</i> Willd. in Endothelial Vascular Cells Exposed to Hyperglycemia

The present study aimed to compare two polyphenolic-enriched extracts obtained from the Thymus marschallianus Willd. (Lamiaceae) species, harvested from culture (TMCE in doses of 0.66 μg GAE/mL and 0.066 μg GAE/mL) and from spontaneous flora (TMSE in doses of 0.94 μg GAE/mL and 0.094 μg GAE/mL) by assessing their biological effects on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to normoglycemic (137 mmol/L glucose) and hyperglycemic conditions (200 mmol/L glucose). Extracts were obtained by solid phase extraction (SPE) and analyzed by chromatographical (HPLC-DAD) and spectrophotometrical methods. Their effects on hyperglycemia were evaluated by the quantification of oxidative stress and NF-ĸB, pNF-ĸB, HIF-1α, and γ-H2AX expressions. The HPLC-DAD analysis highlighted significant amounts of rosmarinic acid (ranging between 0.18 and 1.81 mg/g dry extract), luteolin (ranging between 2.04 and 17.71 mg/g dry extract), kaempferol (ranging between 1.85 and 7.39 mg/g dry extract), and apigenin (ranging between 4.97 and 65.67 mg/g dry extract). Exposure to hyperglycemia induced oxidative stress and the activation of NF-ĸ increased the expression of HIF-1α and produced DNA lesions. The polyphenolic-enriched extracts proved a significant reduction of oxidative stress and γ-H2AX formation and improved the expression of HIF-1α, suggesting their protective role on endothelial cells in hyperglycemia. The tested extracts reduced the total NF-ĸB expression and diminished its activation in hyperglycemic conditions. The obtained results bring evidence for the use of the polyphenolic-enriched extracts of T. marschallianus as adjuvants in hyperglycemia