Isolation of Mycoplasma bovis from bovine clinical mastitis cases in Northern Greece

Mycoplasnia bovis was detected in 18/219 (8.2%) quarter milk samples collected from cases of bovine clinical mastitis in Northern Greece between November 1997 and March 1999. The cases occurred in 2/37 (5.4%) of the herds examined. The micro-organism was isolated from bulk milk samples (BTS) from the two positive herds but was not isolated from 111 composite milk samples collected from clinically healthy cows from all 37 herds. Isolates were identified as M. bovis by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Other micro-organisms were also isolated from the M. bovis positive samples. The M. bovis-positive cows had all been imported into Greece from other European countries. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic relatedness of Salmonella enterica subsp enterica serovar Mbandaka strains, isolated from a swine finishing farm in Greece

The current study investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Mbandaka ( Salmonella Mbandaka) isolated from finishing swines in Greece. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to examine the genetic relatedness of the isolates. The study was carried out for 1 year as part of a project focusing on antimicrobial resistance of salmonellae recovered from asymptomatic pigs. A total of 400 finishing pigs stabled in 20 swine farms in central Greece were included in the study. Fecal samples taken directly from the rectum, one sample from each pig, were cultured for Salmonella spp. Five of the 400 tested finishing pigs, originating from the same herd, were asymptomatic carriers of Salmonella Mbandaka. All five isolates were resistant to tetracycline, four were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, and three to ampicillin and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid. In contrast, all five isolates were susceptible to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone, as well as to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and levofloxacin. All five isolates had indistinguishable PFGE patterns. The present study confirms the existence of a nontyphoid Salmonella serotype, Salmonella Mbandaka in asymptomatic carrier pigs in Greece. Further, the Salmonella Mbandaka isolates were found to be resistant to several antimicrobials

Isolation and Antimicrobial Testing of Aeromonas spp., Citrobacter spp., Cronobacter spp., Enterobacter spp., Escherichia spp., Klebsiella spp., and Trabulsiella spp. from the Gallbladder of Pigs

The presence of Gram-negative bacteria species, other than Salmonella spp., in the gallbladder of pigs was examined. Isolated Gram-negative bacteria were assigned to species using the Microgen (TM) GnA+B-ID Systems. Of the 64 isolated strains 43 were identified as Escherichia coli, seven as Enterobacter spp., three each as Klebsiella spp., Citrobacter freundii, Aeromonas hydrophila and Cronobacter sakazakii and one each as Escherichia fergusonii and Trabulsiella guamensis. Their antibiograms showed very high resistance to ampicillin, amoxicillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim. It was concluded that the pigs' gallbladder is a reservoir of potentially pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria for pork consumers

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia isolated from the airways of animals with chronic respiratory disease

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (S. maltophilia) is a nonfermentative bacterium, which is naturally resistant against a panel of commonly-used antibiotics. It is frequently isolated from humans with chronic respiratory disease, e.g. cystic fibrosis or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In veterinary medicine S. maltophilia is perceived to be a mere coloniser. We herewith report 7 strains of S. maltophilia isolated i from animals, of which 5 strains were harvested from 3 horses, a dog and a cat with chronic respiratory disease. The dog isolate showed resistance to trimethoprim / sulphamethoxazole, which was confirmed by detection of the sul 1 gene. Analysis with pulsed field gel electrophoresis revealed that 2 horses, which were boarded in the same clinic but two years apart, harboured the same strain of S. maltophilia. This is indicative of a hospital acquired colonisation / infection, i which contradicts involvement in the pre-existing chronic disease

Clinical, microbiological and histological findings in lambs affected by 'salivary abomasum disease'

'Salivary abomasum disease' is a common syndrome in Greece affecting lambs and kids from three to 17 days of age. In this case series, we present clinical and laboratory findings from 37 affected lambs presented alive and subsequently euthanased for welfare reasons and necropsied, and also from 24 other lambs submitted dead that were also necropsied. The clinical signs in the 37 lambs presented alive included lethargy (100 per cent), absence of sucking (83.8 per cent), weakness (37.8 per cent), abdominal distension (40.5 per cent) and increased frequency of urination (24.3 per cent). Diarrhoea was not observed in any affected lambs. At necropsy of these 37 lambs, the abomasum was distended with gas (70.3 per cent), saliva (43.2 per cent) along with mixed milk clots and gastric secretions; while multiple small mucosal and serosal haemorrhages with blood clots ('coffee grains') were recorded (91.9 per cent). Eight of 37 lambs that were examined alive, had elevated blood urea nitrogen concentrations (21.6 per cent). The pH of the abomasal contents ranged from 1.0 to 2.8; Escherichia coli was cultured from six of 37 (16.2 per cent) abomasal fluid samples. A mild to moderate inflammatory cell infiltrate was present in the mucosal lamina propria of 13 of 15 abomasal samples (86.6 per cent). Kidneys were paler than normal in 13 of the total 61 lambs necropsied (21.3 per cent); while acute tubular necrosis was evident on histopathological examination of 11 of 12 examined pale kidneys (91.6 per cent). The low abomasal pH and reported successful treatment with oral sodium bicarbonate suggest that metabolic acidosis may develop during the disease; however, further studies, including blood gas analysis, and determination of D- and L-lactic acid concentrations, are necessary to confirm this hypothesis