316 research outputs found
Virulence-associated genes in Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli of turkey
50 Escherichia coli (APEC-Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli) strains and 15 E. coli (AFEC-Avian Faecal Escherichia coli) from turkeys affected by colibacillosis and from healthy turkeys were tested for the presence of eight different virulence-associated genes. Besides, APEC were serotyped. O78 has been the most detected serotyped. The presence of the tested virulence genes was prevalently related to the APEC isolates. With reference to serogroup, all the tested O78 resulted iss and irp2 positive. Besides, tsh e cva/cvi were respectively present in 88.9 and 83.3% of O78. Nevertheless, the finding of a not typeable strains equipped with all the eight tested virulence genes among the APEC isolates suggest the importance of a careful and complete characterisation of the isolate to evaluate the real potential pathogenic attitude of the bacterium
Use of telemedicine in the postoperative assessment of proctological patients: a case-control study
Background: Telemedicine is emerging as an easy way to communicate between patients and surgeons. Use of telemedicine increased during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. WhatsApp is one of the most common smartphone applications for user-friendly telemedicine. The aim of this study was to evaluate patient perception of health quality and positive outcomes using a diary sent by the patient to the surgeon via WhatsApp during the first post-discharge week after proctologic surgery. Methods: Ninety-eight patients discharged after proctologic surgery at the Israelite Hospital of Rome and the AOU Policlinico Umberto I of Rome in 1 January-31 December 2019 were divided into two groups: the WhatsApp group (group A), (n = 36) and the no WhatsApp group (group B) (n = 62). Group A patients received a protocol to follow for the day-by-day diary during the first post-discharge week and sending it by WhatsApp to the surgeon. Group B patients only received recommendations at discharge. The tool's usefulness was assessed by a questionnaire one month after the intervention. Results: The two groups were homogeneous for age, sex, schooling, employment, and proctologic pathology. Group A patients had less difficulty keeping a diary (p < 0.0001). Group A patients had the perception of better follow-up post-discharge (p = 0.002). The use of the diary sent by WhatsApp significantly improved the perception of positive post-intervention outcomes (p = 0.007). WhatsApp was the only independent predictor of perception of post-surgical positive outcomes (odds ratio = 4.06; 95% CI 1.35-12.24; p = 0.01). Conclusions: The use of WhatsApp in the post-discharge period improves the lifestyle quality of the patients and their perception of the safety and quality of care received
First report of Colletotrichum scovillei causing anthracnose of pepper in Kosovo
Colletotrichum scovillei is one of several species in the C. acutatum complex causing anthracnose on pepper, currently present in eastern Asia, Brazil and South Carolina (USA). A severe anthracnose infection on pepper fruits was identified in two commercial fields in Kosovo. Infection assays, morphological analyses and sequencing identified the causal agent as C. scovillei. It could be considered an emerging disease as the severe crop losses, together with the spread of the pathogen/disease to areas and regions where it was never reported in previous times. This is the first report of C. scovillei infecting pepper in Kosovo and Europe
characterization and antimicrobial resistance analysis of avian pathogenic escherichia coli isolated from italian turkey flocks
ABSTRACT This study investigated the occurrence of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) in a finishing turkey commercial farm, carrying out longitudinal surveys involving 3 consecutive flocks. The diversity and the distribution of the E. coli strains detected during colisepticemia outbreaks were examined. The strains were isolated, serogrouped, assessed for the presence of virulence-associated genes, typed by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and antimicrobial resistance analysis was then carried out. Escherichia coli O78 and O2 were predominantly found. Moreover, based on the somatic antigens used in the study, strains were recovered that were nontypeable. On one occasion, an E. coli O111 strain was found in turkeys. The E. coli isolates differed in terms of antibiotic resistance and RAPD profile. All strains possessed the virulence genes that enabled them to be considered APEC. Strains not only differed between flocks, but also within the same flock. These findings point out the importance of addressing colibacillosis therapy on the basis of a sensitivity test
Near-infrared observations of galaxies in Pisces-Perseus: I. H-band surface photometry of 174 spirals
We present near-infrared, H-band (1.65 um), surface photometry of 174 spiral
galaxies in the area of the Pisces-Perseus supercluster. The images, acquired
with the ARNICA camera mounted on various telescopes, are used to derive radial
profiles of surface brightness, ellipticities, and position angles, together
with global parameters such as H-band magnitudes and diameters. The mean
relation between H-band isophotal diameter D_{21.5} and the B-band D_{25}
implies a B-H color of the outer disk bluer than 3.5; moreover, D_{21.5}/D_{25}
depends on (global) color and absolute luminosity. The correlations among the
various photometric parameters suggest a ratio between isophotal radius
D_{21.5}/2 and disk scale length of about 3.5 and a mean disk central
brightness of 17.5 H-mag arcsec^{-2}. We confirm the trend of the concentration
index C_{31} with absolute luminosity and, to a lesser degree, with
morphological type. We also assess the influence of non-axisymmetric structures
on the radial profiles and on the derived parameters.Comment: 10 pages, 11 postscript figures (one table and one figure are
available only at the CDS); to be published on A&A
Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Audouin gulls (Larus audouinii) Could they affect the surviving of the bird colonies
A total of 39 E. coli strains isolated from cloacal swabs and unhatched eggs of Audouin's gulls (Larus audouinii) living the Salento coast (Italy) were serotyped and molecular characterized for the presence of irp2, fyuA, tsh, papC, fimC, iucD, and eae genes described for Avian Pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Eight different serogroups (O1, 06, 08, 015, 075, 0139, 0146, 0147) were distinguished: we recorded a very high rate of untypeable strains. Genotyping by PCR achieved to detect fimC and irp2, described for APEC strains, as most predominant genes circulating in the gulls population, accounting for 94.87% and 97.43% respectively. Nevertheless, a significant co-existance of virulence genes was demonstrated to belong to E.coli of eggs origin. Particularly, fimC/tsh/iucD pathotype, recognized as most responsible of illness in poultry, emerged in 8.69% of E. coli of eggs origin
Star-forming dwarf galaxies in the Virgo cluster: the link between molecular gas, atomic gas, and dust
We present CO(1-0) and CO(2-1) observations of a sample of 20
star-forming dwarfs selected from the Herschel Virgo Cluster Survey, with
oxygen abundances ranging from 12 + log(O/H) ~ 8.1 to 8.8. CO emission is
observed in ten galaxies and marginally detected in another one. CO fluxes
correlate with the FIR 250 m emission, and the dwarfs follow the same
linear relation that holds for more massive spiral galaxies extended to a wider
dynamical range. We compare different methods to estimate H2 molecular masses,
namely a metallicity-dependent CO-to-H2 conversion factor and one dependent on
H-band luminosity. The molecular-to-stellar mass ratio remains nearly constant
at stellar masses <~ 10 M, contrary to the atomic hydrogen
fraction, M/M, which increases inversely with M. The flattening
of the M/M ratio at low stellar masses does not seem to be related
to the effects of the cluster environment because it occurs for both
HI-deficient and HI-normal dwarfs. The molecular-to-atomic ratio is more
tightly correlated with stellar surface density than metallicity, confirming
that the interstellar gas pressure plays a key role in determining the balance
between the two gaseous components of the interstellar medium. Virgo dwarfs
follow the same linear trend between molecular gas mass and star formation rate
as more massive spirals, but gas depletion timescales, , are not
constant and range between 100 Myr and 6 Gyr. The interaction with the Virgo
cluster environment is removing the atomic gas and dust components of the
dwarfs, but the molecular gas appears to be less affected at the current stage
of evolution within the cluster. However, the correlation between HI deficiency
and the molecular gas depletion time suggests that the lack of gas
replenishment from the outer regions of the disc is lowering the star formation
activity.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
The peculiar B-type supergiant HD327083
Coude spectroscopic data of a poorly-studied peculiar supergiant, HD327083,
are presented. Halpha and Hbeta line profiles have been fitted employing a
non-LTE code adequate for spherically expanding atmospheres. Line fits lead to
estimates of physical parameters. These parameters suggest that HD327083 may be
close to the Luminous Blue Variable phase but it is also possible that it could
be a B[e] Supergiant.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in A&A Lette
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