34 research outputs found
Prevalence, genotyping and risk factors of thermophilic Campylobacter spreading in organic turkey farms in Germany
Background The need for organic food of animal origin has increased rapidly in
recent years. However, effects of organic animal husbandry on food safety have
not been rigorously tested especially in meat turkey flocks. This study
provides for the first time an overview on the prevalence and genetic
diversity of Campylobacter species (spp.) in five organic meat turkey farms
located in different regions in Germany, as well as on potential risk factors
of bacterial spreading. Thirty cloacal swabs as well as water samples and
darkling beetles were collected from each flock and examined for the presence
of Campylobacter by conventional and molecular biological methods. The
isolates were genotyped by flaA-RFLP. Results Campylobacter spp. were detected
in cloacal swabs in all 5 turkey flocks with prevalence ranged from 90.0 to
100 %. 13 cloacal swabs collected from birds in farm III and IV were harboured
mixed population of thermophilic campylobacters. In total, from 158
Campylobacter isolated from turkeys 89 (56.33 %) were identified as C. coli
and 69 (43.76 %) as C. jejuni. Three Campylobacter (2 C. jejuni and 1 C. coli)
were detected in drinkers of two farms and 3 C. coli were isolated from
darkling beetles of one farm. No Campylobacter were isolated from main water
tanks. flaA-RFLP assay showed that turkey farms can harbour more than one
genotype. In a single turkey two different genotypes could be detected. The
genotypes of campylobacters isolated from water samples or beetles were
identical with those isolated from turkeys. No effect was found of some
environmental parameters [ammonia concentration (NH3), carbon dioxide
concentration (CO2), relative humidity (RH) and air temperature)] on
Campylobacter prevalence in organic turkey farms. Additionally, drinking water
and darkling beetles might be considered as risk factors for the spreading of
Campylobacter in turkey flocks. Conclusions This study highlights the high
prevalence and genotypic diversity of Campylobacter spp. isolated from organic
turkey flocks. Further research is needed to assess other potential risk
factors responsible for bacteria spreading in order to mitigate the spread of
Campylobacter in organic turkey flocks by improving biosecurity control
measures
Characterization of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolated from Healthy Turkeys and Broilers Using DNA Microarrays
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a major human health
problem and recently, domestic animals are described as carriers and possible
reservoirs. Twenty seven S. aureus isolates from five turkey farms (n = 18)
and two broiler farms (n = 9) were obtained by culturing of choana and skin
swabs from apparently healthy birds, identified by Taqman-based real-time
duplex nuc-mecA-PCR and characterized by spa typing as well as by a DNA
microarray based assay which covered, amongst others, a considerable number of
antibiotic resistance genes, species controls, and virulence markers. The
antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were tested by agar diffusion assays and
genotypically confirmed by the microarray. Five different spa types (3 in
turkeys and 2 in broilers) were detected. The majority of MRSA isolates
(24/27) belonged to clonal complex 398-MRSA-V. The most frequently occurring
spa types were accordingly t011, t034, and t899. A single CC5-MRSA-III
isolated from turkey and CC398-MRSA with an unidentified/truncated SCCmec
element in turkey and broiler were additionally detected. The phenotypic
antimicrobial resistance profiles of S. aureus isolated from both turkeys and
broilers against 14 different antimicrobials showed that all isolates were
resistant to ampicillin, cefoxitin, oxacillin, doxycycline, and tetracycline.
Moreover, all S. aureus isolated from broilers were resistant to erythromycin
and azithromycin. All isolates were susceptible to gentamicin,
chloramphenicol, sulphonamides, and fusidic acid. The resistance rate against
ciprofloxacin was 55.6% in broiler isolates and 42.1% in turkey isolates. All
tetracycline resistant isolates possessed genes tetK/M. All erythromycin-
resistant broiler isolates carried ermA. Only one broiler isolate (11.1%)
carried genes ermA, ermB, and ermC, while 55.6% of turkey isolates possessed
ermA and ermB genes. Neither PVL genes (lukF/S-PV), animal-associated
leukocidin (lukM and luk-P83) nor the gene encoding the toxic shock syndrome
toxin (tst1) were found in turkey and broiler isolates. In conclusion, the
detection of MRSA in healthy turkeys and broilers with even additional
antibiotic resistance markers is of major public health concern. The
difference in antibiotic resistance and virulence markers between MRSA
isolates from turkeys and broilers was addressed
Collaborative development of predictive toxicology applications
OpenTox provides an interoperable, standards-based Framework for the support of predictive toxicology data management, algorithms, modelling, validation and reporting. It is relevant to satisfying the chemical safety assessment requirements of the REACH legislation as it supports access to experimental data, (Quantitative) Structure-Activity Relationship models, and toxicological information through an integrating platform that adheres to regulatory requirements and OECD validation principles. Initial research defined the essential components of the Framework including the approach to data access, schema and management, use of controlled vocabularies and ontologies, architecture, web service and communications protocols, and selection and integration of algorithms for predictive modelling. OpenTox provides end-user oriented tools to non-computational specialists, risk assessors, and toxicological experts in addition to Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) for developers of new applications. OpenTox actively supports public standards for data representation, interfaces, vocabularies and ontologies, Open Source approaches to core platform components, and community-based collaboration approaches, so as to progress system interoperability goals
Genome-wide significant association with seven novel multiple sclerosis risk loci
Objective: A recent large-scale study in multiple sclerosis (MS) using the ImmunoChip platform reported on 11 loci that showed suggestive genetic association with MS. Additional data in sufficiently sized and independent data sets are needed to assess whether these loci represent genuine MS risk factors.
Methods: The lead SNPs of all 11 loci were genotyped in 10 796 MS cases and 10 793 controls from Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Russia, that were independent from the previously reported cohorts. Association analyses were performed using logistic regression based on an additive model. Summary effect size estimates were calculated using fixed-effect meta-analysis.
Results: Seven of the 11 tested SNPs showed significant association with MS susceptibility in the 21 589 individuals analysed here. Meta-analysis across our and previously published MS case-control data (total sample size n=101 683) revealed novel genome-wide significant association with MS susceptibility (p<5×10−8) for all seven variants. This included SNPs in or near LOC100506457 (rs1534422, p=4.03×10−12), CD28 (rs6435203, p=1.35×10−9), LPP (rs4686953, p=3.35×10−8), ETS1 (rs3809006, p=7.74×10−9), DLEU1 (rs806349, p=8.14×10−12), LPIN3 (rs6072343, p=7.16×10−12) and IFNGR2 (rs9808753, p=4.40×10−10). Cis expression quantitative locus effects were observed in silico for rs6435203 on CD28 and for rs9808753 on several immunologically relevant genes in the IFNGR2 locus.
Conclusions: This study adds seven loci to the list of genuine MS genetic risk factors and further extends the list of established loci shared across autoimmune diseases
Genome-wide significant association with seven novel multiple sclerosis risk loci
Objective: A recent large-scale study in multiple sclerosis (MS) using the ImmunoChip platform reported on 11 loci that showed suggestive genetic association with MS. Additional data in sufficiently sized and independent data sets are needed to assess whether these loci represent genuine MS risk factors.
Methods: The lead SNPs of all 11 loci were genotyped in 10 796 MS cases and 10 793 controls from Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Austria and Russia, that were independent from the previously reported cohorts. Association analyses were performed using logistic regression based on an additive model. Summary effect size estimates were calculated using fixed-effect meta-analysis.
Results: Seven of the 11 tested SNPs showed significant association with MS susceptibility in the 21 589 individuals analysed here. Meta-analysis across our and previously published MS case-control data (total sample size n=101 683) revealed novel genome-wide significant association with MS susceptibility (p<5×10−8) for all seven variants. This included SNPs in or near LOC100506457 (rs1534422, p=4.03×10−12), CD28 (rs6435203, p=1.35×10−9), LPP (rs4686953, p=3.35×10−8), ETS1 (rs3809006, p=7.74×10−9), DLEU1 (rs806349, p=8.14×10−12), LPIN3 (rs6072343, p=7.16×10−12) and IFNGR2 (rs9808753, p=4.40×10−10). Cis expression quantitative locus effects were observed in silico for rs6435203 on CD28 and for rs9808753 on several immunologically relevant genes in the IFNGR2 locus.
Conclusions: This study adds seven loci to the list of genuine MS genetic risk factors and further extends the list of established loci shared across autoimmune diseases
Assessment of microRNA-related SNP effects in the 3′ untranslated region of the IL22RA2 risk locus in multiple sclerosis
Abstract Recent large-scale association studies have identified over 100 MS risk loci. One of these MS risk variants is single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs17066096, located 14 kb downstream of IL22RA2. IL22RA2 represents a compelling MS candidate gene due to the role of IL-22 in autoimmunity; however, rs17066096 does not map into any known functional element. We assessed whether rs17066096 or a nearby proxy SNP may exert pathogenic effects by affecting microRNA-to-mRNA binding and thus IL22RA2 expression using comprehensive in silico predictions, in vitro reporter assays, and genotyping experiments in 6,722 individuals. In silico screening identified two predicted microRNA binding sites in the 3′UTR of IL22RA2 (for hsa-miR-2278 and hsamiR-411-5p) encompassing a SNP (rs28366) in moderate linkage disequilibrium with rs17066096 (r 2 =0.4). The binding of both microRNAs to the IL22RA2 3′UTR was confirmed in vitro, but their binding affinities were not significantly affected by rs28366. Association analyses revealed significant Electronic supplementary material The online version of this articl
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Supercontinuum generation in a carbon disulfide core microstructured optical fiber
We demonstrate supercontinuum generation in a liquid-core microstructured optical fiber using carbon disulfide as the core material. The fiber provides a specific dispersion landscape with a zero-dispersion wavelength approaching the telecommunication domain where the corresponding capillary-type counterpart shows unsuitable dispersion properties for soliton fission. The experiments were conducted using two pump lasers with different pulse duration (30 fs and 90 fs) giving rise to different non-instantaneous contributions of carbon disulfide in each case. The presented results demonstrate an extraordinary high conversion efficiency from pump to soliton and to dispersive wave, overall defining a platform that enables studying the impact of non-instantaneous responses on ultrafast soliton dynamics and coherence using straightforward pump lasers and diagnostics
An Evaluation of the Uses of Different Environmental Enrichments on a Broiler Farm with the Help of Real-Time Monitoring via a Farmer-Assistant System
Modern broilers are usually raised in barren environments in large enclosed halls. Various environmental enrichment elements such as perches, elevated platforms, and similar structures were proposed for these barns with the aim of improving the welfare and well-being of the birds. This study compares and evaluates three different types of environmental enrichment. In 2 identical barns, 8100 Ross 308 broilers were housed divided between a control group (CG) and a trial group (TG). In the TG, three types of environmental enrichment (perches, elevated platforms, and a combined structure) were used. A real-time monitoring device (FAS = farmer-assistance system) suspended from the ceiling was used in combination with single photographs to count the number of birds on the enrichment elements. In addition, the body weights of individual birds and their foot pad dermatitis (FPD) scores were collected at days 14, 21 and 28 in both barns. No differences in these parameters were seen between TG and CG. Birds showed highest preference for the elevated platforms (average 31.93 kg/m2), followed by the combined structure (average 21.36 kg/m2) and the perches (0.35 kg/m2). Overall, this study shows that Ross 308 broiler birds significantly prefer elevated platforms over combined structures or simple perches
An Approach towards Motion-Tolerant PPG-Based Algorithm for Real-Time Heart Rate Monitoring of Moving Pigs
Animal welfare remains a very important issue in the livestock sector, but monitoring animal welfare in an objective and continuous way remains a serious challenge. Monitoring animal welfare, based upon physiological measurements instead of the audio-visual scoring of behaviour, would be a step forward. One of the obvious physiological signals related to welfare and stress is heart rate. The objective of this research was to measure heart rate (beat per minutes) in pigs with technology that soon will be affordable. Affordable heart rate monitoring is done today at large scale on humans using the Photo Plethysmography (PPG) technology. We used PPG sensors on a pig's body to test whether it allows the retrieval of a reliable heart rate signal. A continuous wavelet transform (CWT)-based algorithm is developed to decouple the cardiac pulse waves from the pig. Three different wavelets, namely second, fourth and sixth order Derivative of Gaussian (DOG), are tested. We show the results of the developed PPG-based algorithm, against electrocardiograms (ECG) as a reference measure for heart rate, and this for an anaesthetised versus a non-anaesthetised animal. We tested three different anatomical body positions (ear, leg and tail) and give results for each body position of the sensor. In summary, it can be concluded that the agreement between the PPG-based heart rate technique and the reference sensor is between 91% and 95%. In this paper, we showed the potential of using the PPG-based technology to assess the pig's heart rate.status: publishe