Dogs as a source of Salmonella spp. in apparently healthy dogs in the Valencia Region. Could it be related with intestinal lactic acid bacteria?

Altres ajuts: Banco Santander (ES), FUSPBS-PPC 15/2016Although salmonellosis is considered one of the most important food-borne zoonotic diseases in Europe, close contact between dogs and their owners can also be a potential source of Salmonella spp. for humans. This study assessed the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella spp. in apparently healthy dogs in the Valencian Region, eastern Spain. Moreover, a macroscopic comparison of lactic acid bacteria in both Salmonella -positive and Salmonella -negative dogs was carried out. Of a total of 325 dogs sampled, 6 (1.85%) were positive for Salmonella spp. with 3 different serotypes, Havana (3), Mikawasima (2) and monophasic Typhimurium (1). All isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested except monophasic S. Typhimurium, which was resistant to ampicillin. Finally, macroscopic results revealed that lactic acid bacteria had higher heterogeneity in the Salmonella -negative dogs than in the Salmonella -positive dogs. Although the results in our study showed a low prevalence of Salmonella spp., raw food has been suggested as a risk factor for bacteria in dog faeces. Public awareness campaigns on good hygiene practices, especially after handling canine faeces or raw food, are necessary. Furthermore, to reduce the potential transmission of bacteria, dogs should be fed food that has been properly cooked, as raw or undercooked food can be a source of zoonotic pathogens. Moreover, further studies must be performed to determine the relationship between lactic acid bacteria and Salmonella spp. in dog faeces

Comparison of different sampling types across the rearing period in broiler flocks for isolation of Campylobacter spp

This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in Poultry Science following peer review. The version of recordS. Ingresa-Capaccioni, S. González-Bodí, E. Jiménez-Trigos, F. Marco-Jiménez, P. Catalá, S. Vega, and C. Marin Comparison of different sampling types across the rearing period in broiler flocks for isolation of Campylobacter spp. Poultry Science (April 2015) 94 (4): 766-771 first published online March 5, 2015 doi:10.3382/ps/pev023 is available online at: http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/content/94/4/766[EN] Campylobacter is the most common bacterial cause of human gastrointestinal disease in most developed countries. It is generally accepted that poultry products are a significant source of foodborne Campylobacter infections in humans. Assessing the effectiveness of any potential intervention at farm level requires monitoring of the Campylobacter status of broiler flocks, using appropriate sampling methods. The aim of this study was to assess the influence of the sample type across the rearing period for the detection of Campylobacter spp. at farm level. During this study, 21 commercial broiler farms were intensively sampled. Each farm was visited and sampled at different times during the rearing period (d 1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42). On the first day of rearing, the status of the house and the day-old flock was evaluated, and environmental and cecal samples were collected. During rearing, 4 different sample types were collected: feces with sock swabs (sock swabs), feces directly from the litter (feces), cloacal swabs, and cecal content. All samples were analyzed according to ISO 10272-1:2006 (Annex E) and also by direct culture. The results of this study showed that Campylobacter spp. were detected in all of the sample types on d 14 of rearing. From this point on, the detection increased significantly, with a maximum detection rate by the end of rearing, regardless of the sample type. All samples that were negative upon direct culture were also negative after pre-enrichment. At the end of rearing, the percentage of samples positive for Campylobacter spp. was 71.4% for cecal samples, 61.9% for cloacal swabs, 45.2% for sock swabs, and 69.1% for fecal samples. C. jejuni was detected in all the sample types, with positive rates ranging from 67.1 to 76.0% for cecal samples and cloacal content, respectively. Cecal samples, cloacal swabs, and fecal samples cultured by direct plating onto modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) without pre-enrichment have the same sensitivity for detection of Campylobacter spp. in broiler flocks independent of the day of rearing. Guardar / Salir Siguiente >We would like to thank the staff of the Valencian Poultry Association (ASAV) for funding this project, the Centre for Poultry Quality and Animal Feed of Valencia (CECAV) for offering us their facilities, and all his staff for their cooperation and dedication to this work. I would also like to thank the staff of the Department of Animal Science at the Polytechnic University of Valencia for their support of this study.Ingresa-Capaccioni, S.; González-Bodí, S.; Jiménez Trigos, ME.; Marco Jiménez, F.; Catalá, P.; Vega, S.; Marín, C. (2015). Comparison of different sampling types across the rearing period in broiler flocks for isolation of Campylobacter spp. Poultry Science Journal. 94(4):766-771. doi:10.3382/ps/pev023S76677194

Maternal exposure to high temperatures disrupts OCT4 mRNA expression of rabbit pre‐implantation embryos and endometrial tissue

We examined the effect of prolonged high heat stress on reproductive performance and its relationship with gene expression in pre‐implantation embryos and endometrial tissue. In experiment 1, primiparous rabbit does were divided into two environments: control does (maintained between 14 and 22°C) and heat‐treated does housed in a climatic chamber (maintained between 25 and 35°C). Females were reproducing, and the litter size and live born kits were assessed at 2nd and 3rd partum. In heat‐treated does, lower litter size (9.7 ± 0.48 and 11.4 ± 0.50) and fewer live born kits (7.2 ± 0.55 and 10.2 ± 0.57) were observed, although similar ovulation rates and numbers of pre‐implantation embryos were noted. In experiment 2, after 3rd partum multiparous non‐lactating does from each experimental group were used to obtain pre‐implantation embryos and endometrial tissue. mRNA transcripts from OCT‐4, VEGF, erbB3, Ifn‐ɣ, HSP70 and HSP90 were analysed by real‐time qPCR. Higher values of OCT‐4 expression were observed in embryos and endometrial tissue in females reproduced under heat conditions. Moreover, elevated temperatures have been shown to up‐regulate VEGF in embryos and down‐regulate Ifn‐ɣ in endometrial tissue. The findings suggest a deleterious temperature effect on litter size and live born kits as a consequence of variation in gene expression pattern of the pre‐implantational embryo and the endometrium associated with proliferation and differentiation and probably with implantation and uterine and foetal development during gestation.This work was supported by the Spanish Research Projects AGL2008–03274 (CICYT). Carmen Naturil was supported by Generalitat Valenciana research programme (Prometeo 2009/125). Estrella Jiménez was supported by a research grant from the Education Ministry of the Valencian Regional Government (programme VALi+d. ACIF/2010/262).Peer reviewe

Effect of exposure to heatwave during blastocyst formation on reproductive performance of female rabbits

We examined the effect of female exposure to heatwave during blastocyst formation on their reproductive performance and its effect on transcriptome in blastocyst and endometrial tissue. In this study, a total of 72 rabbit does were artificially inseminated and divided into two environmental groups 2 days later: does under conventional conditions (maintained between 14-22°C, n = 29) and does heat stressed in a climatic chamber (maintained between 32-37°C, n = 43). The heat-stressed group were kept under these conditions for 3 days and returned to conventional conditions thereafter. Five days post-insemination, 48 does were slaughtered to collect blastocyst and endometrium samples. mRNA transcripts from OCT-4, VEGF, erbB3, Ifn-γ{phonetic}, HSP70 and HSP90 were analysed by qRT-PCR. At day 12 of gestation, 24 females were examined by laparoscopy to evaluate implanted embryos and at birth the total kits born and individual weights were recorded. Results revealed no gene expression changes in blastocyst and endometrial tissue under heatwave exposure. Moreover, our results demonstrated that rabbit embryos developed from 8-16 cells to blastocyst during a heatwave did not affect implantation rates, total number of kits born and foetal losses. In summary, these results demonstrate that heatwave period is not a critical point in the reproductive performance of rabbits during blastocyst formation.This work was supported by the Spanish Research Projects AGL2008–03274 and AGL2011‐30170‐C02‐01. Estrella Jiménez‐Trigos and Carmen Naturil‐Alfonso were supported by a research grant from the Education Ministry of the Valencian Regional Government (programme VALi+d. ACIF/2010/262 and ACIF/2013/296, respectively)

Foetal and postnatal exposure to high temperatures alter growth pattern but do not modify reproductive function in male rabbits

Purpose: The foetal origin hypothesis postulates that a number of organ structures and associated functions undergo programming during embryonic and foetal life and the neonatal period, which determines the set point of physiological and metabolic responses that carry into adulthood. We evaluate the relationship between high environmental temperatures and the reproductive function of male offspring to determine whether pregnant mammals and their infants are potentially vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Methods: Rabbit pups were exposed to high temperatures during gestation and lactation. Results: Foetal and postnatal exposure to high temperatures did not alter semen characteristics and was associated with a similar fertility rate and number of pups born. Moreover, males showed reduced rate of maturing and carcass traits at adulthood. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that male exposure during the foetal period to high temperatures did not affect sperm quality but permitted an adaptive phenotypic plasticity of growth in adulthood.This work was supported by the Spanish Research Projects AGL2008-03274 and AGL2011-30170-C02-01 (CICYT) and funding from the Generalitat Valenciana Research Programme (Prometeo 2009/125). Estrella Jimenez-Trigos and Carmen Naturil-Alfonso were supported by a research grant from the Education Ministry of the Valencian Regional Government (programme VALi+d. ACIF/2010/262 and ACIF/2013/296, respectively). The English text version was revised by N. Macowan English Language Service. The authors declare they have no actual or potential competing financial interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.Marco Jiménez, F.; Naturil Alfonso, C.; Jiménez Trigos, ME.; García Diego, FJ.; Lavara García, R.; Vicente Antón, JS. (2014). Foetal and postnatal exposure to high temperatures alter growth pattern but do not modify reproductive function in male rabbits. International Journal of Hyperthermia. 2(30):86-95. https://doi.org/10.3109/02656736.2013.878042S869523