Survival of Clostridium perfringens During Simulated Transport and Stability of Some Plasmid-borne Toxin Genes under Aerobic Conditions

Clostridium perfringens is a pathogen of great concern in veterinary medicine, because it causes enteric diseases and different types of toxaemias in domesticated animals. It is important that bacteria in tissue samples, which have been collected in the field, survive and for the classification of C. perfringens into the correct toxin group, it is crucial that plasmid-borne genes are not lost during transportation or in the diagnostic laboratory. The objectives of this study were to investigate the survival of C. perfringens in a simulated transport of field samples and to determine the stability of the plasmid-borne toxin genes cpb1 and etx after storage at room temperature and at 4°C. Stability of the plasmid-borne genes cpb1 and etx of C. perfringens CCUG 2035, and cpb2 from C. perfringens CIP 106526, JF 2255 and 6 field isolates in aerobic atmosphere was also studied. Survival of C. perfringens was similar in all experiments. The cpb1 and etx genes were detected in all isolates from samples stored either at room temperature or at 4°C for 24–44 h. Repeated aerobic treatment of C. perfringens CCUG 2035 and CIP 106526 did not result in the loss of the plasmid-borne genes cpb1, cpb2 or etx. Plasmid-borne genes in C. perfringens were found to be more stable than generally reported. Therefore, C. perfringens toxinotyping by PCR can be performed reliably, as the risk of plasmid loss seems to be a minor problem

Emotional stress as a trigger of falls leading to hip or pelvic fracture. Results from the ToFa study – a case-crossover study among elderly people in Stockholm, Sweden

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Sudden emotions may interfere with mechanisms for keeping balance among the elderly. The aim of this study is to analyse if emotional stress and specifically feelings of anger, sadness, worries, anxiety or stress, can trigger falls leading to hip or pelvic fracture among autonomous older people.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study applied the case-crossover design and was based on data gathered by face to face interviews carried out in Stockholm between November 2004 and January 2006 at the emergency wards of two hospitals. Cases (n = 137) were defined as persons aged 65 and older admitted for at least one night due to a fall-related hip or pelvic fracture (ICD10: S72 or S32) and meeting a series of selection criteria. Results are presented as relative risks with 95% confidence intervals.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>There was an increased risk for fall and subsequent hip or pelvic fracture for up to one hour after emotional stress. For anger there was an increased relative risk of 12.2 (95% CI 2.7–54.7), for sadness of 5.7 (95% CI 1.1–28.7), and for stress 20.6 (95% CI 4.5–93.5) compared to periods with no such feelings.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Emotional stress seems to have the potential to trigger falls and subsequent hip or pelvic fracture among autonomous older people. Further studies are needed to clarify how robust the findings are – as the number of exposed cases is small – and the mechanisms behind them – presumably balance and vision impairment in stress situation.</p

Antimicrobial resistance in Clostridium perfringens isolates from broilers in Belgium

The antimicrobial susceptibility of Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from Belgian broilers between May and September 2007 was investigated. All 39 tested isolates were sensitive to enrofloxacin, erythromycin, tylosin, florfenicol and bacitracin. Twenty-six (66%) and 24 (61%) out of the 39 tested isolates showed acquired resistance to tetracycline and lincomycin, respectively. The C. perfringens isolates were also screened by PCR for the presence of the resistance genes tet(K), tet(L), tet(M), tetB(P), tet(O), tet(W), lnu(A) and lnu(B). In 22/26 tetracycline resistant strains and 7/24 lincomycin resistant strains, resistance could be attributed to one or more of these genes. An extended frequency distribution range of MICs was seen for ampicillin. These data are consistent with data derived from studies carried out in 1980 and in 2004, indicating that no changes in antimicrobial resistance patterns have taken place during time in C. perfringens isolates from broilers in Belgium