Staphylococci that carry the nuc gene

Inflammation of the mammary gland, known as mastitis, is a serious problem, because it is responsible for the decrease in milk yield and quality. Bacteria of the species Staphylococcus aureus, causing intramammary infections in small ruminants, are often isolated from milk samples and frequently resistant to antimicrobials. The thermostable nuclease encoded by the nuc gene is a virulence factor, as it promotes evasion of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which are networks of DNA strands with antimicrobial proteins. The nuc gene is present in most S. aureus, however some isolates not carrying this gene have been described. Moreover, the nuc gene has also been detected in other Staphylococcus species, notably in S. intermedius, S. hyicus and S. simulans. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of the nuc gene in staphylococci isolated from goat and sheep milk samples. Three hundred and sixty-eight samples of milk were collected, from 187 animals, belonging to six flocks in Alentejo. Ninety-one isolates of the genus Staphylococcus were identified by classical biochemical methods and through the VITEK2 microbial identification system (BioMérieux, France). The presence of the nuc gene was assessed by PCR. The reference strain S. aureus ATCC 25923 was used as positive control. According to VITEK2, 24 S. caprae, 13 S. epidermidis, 13 S. chromogenes, 11 S. aureus, nine S. simulans, five S. warneri, five S. lentus, four S. capitis, four S. haemolyticus, one S. auricularis, one S. hominis spp. hominis and one Staphylococcus spp. (not identified to species level) were identified. Twenty-three out of the 91 isolates (25.3%) carry the nuc gene. With the pair of primers used, this gene was detected in seven different Staphylococcus species: 10 S. aureus (43.5%), three S. warneri (13%), three S. lentus (13%), two S. caprae (8.7%), two S. epidermidis (8.7%), two S. chromogenes (8.7%) and one S. capitis (4.3%). Furthermore, the nuc gene was not detected in one S. aureus isolate. We suggest that the presence/absence of the nuc gene is not a reliable method for the identification of S. aureus and that this virulence factor may be involved in small ruminant mastitis pathophysiology.CNPq - Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico-Brasil 249398/2013-3 and by National Funds through FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology under the Project UID/AGR/00115/2013. M. Laranjo acknowledges a Post-Doc research grant also from FCT (SFRH/BPD/108802/2015)

Mastites caprinas: Utilização do Teste Californiano de Mastites.

A mastite é uma das patologias mais desafiantes no setor de lacticínios, esta patologia está diretamente relacionada com perdas de produção, decréscimo da qualidade e higiene do leite, elevados custos na terapêutica e com problemas para a saúde pública. Para o diagnóstico de MSC, como não há alterações visíveis nem no úbere nem no leite, faz-se uma análise ao leite. O método de diagnóstico mais utilizado é o Teste Californiano de Mastites (TCM). Este teste faz uma estimativa da contagem de células somáticas (CCS) presente no leite. No caso do leite de cabra, existe controvérsia devido ao facto de a secreção do leite ser apócrina, em que é eliminado o produto de secreção e parte do citoplasma da célula. Foi realizado um estudo em 308 metades mamárias, respeitantes a 158 cabras para avaliar a utilização do TCM como indicador de infeção intramamária.FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do Projecto UID/AGR/00115/2013

Utilização de própolis como alternativa no controlo de mastites para garantir a qualidade do leite e proteção da saúde pública.

Os antimicrobianos e antisséticos são utilizados para o controlo das mastites. Esta prática conduz a eliminação de resíduos no leite além de induzir a pressão de seleção sobre estirpes resistentes a antimicrobianos. A própolis é uma massa, utilizada para proteger as colmeias das abelhas (Apis mellifera), formada por resinas retiradas de vários vegetais, selecionadas de forma natural pelas abelhas. Este produto altamente variável, consoante os vegetais utilizados, apresenta colorações diversas e também qualidades antimicrobianas variáveis. O objetivo deste estudo foi testar a suscetibilidade, de isolados de Staphylococccus aureus provenientes de amostras de leite de cabras e ovelhas com mastite, a 16 antimicrobianos utilizados em Portugal no controlo desta doença, e analisar “in vitro” a ação antimicrobiana de extratos etanólicos de própolis (EEP).FCT – Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia no âmbito do Projecto UID/AGR/00115/2013. M. Laranjo agradece a bolsa de Pós-Doutoramento da FCT (SFRH/BPD/108802/2015)

Propolis components accountable for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity

This study aimed at evaluating antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of phenolic compounds present in propolis ethanol extracts (PEE). Seventy per cent ethanol extracts from seven types of propolis, one Green, two Red and four Brown collected in four Brazilian States were prepared and total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins were assessed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and inhibitor effect on Staphylococcus aureus biofilm formation and capacity to disrupt established biofilms were assessed towards eight S. aureus isolates from milk of small ruminants with mastitis, one methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and S. aureus ATCC 25923. To evaluate different propolis components accountability for bactericidal accomplishment and antibiofilm activity, the results were analysed by the non-parametric Spearman coefficient. Results of phenolic compounds were 216,21 to 312,08 gallic acid milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EGA/g) of total phenolics, 55,08 to 140,6 quercetin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EQ/g) of flavonoids, 118,51 to 3766,16 catechin milligram equivalent per extract gram (mg EC/g) of tannins and 1,03 to 8,39 milligram per extract gram (mg/g) of anthocyanins. Red1 and Red2 showed higher tannin contents, while Red2 exhibited superior amount of anthocyanins and total phenolics. Brown3 presented higher flavonoid quantity. Green, Red1 and Red2 PEE showed the lowest levels of flavonoids, but the higher antimicrobial activity. Most PEE exhibit bactericidal activity at a concentration of 1.6 mg/mL. Brown4 PEE showed the worst capacity to inhibit S. aureus. Green PEE showed to be the most efficient in both preventing and disrupting biofilm. All PEE studied exhibited a better inhibitory activity prior-to than post-biofilm formation. According to non-parametric Spearman correlation analysis, there seems to be a significant negative correlation between the ability to disrupt biofilm and both tannins and anthocyanins contents

A review of support services for smallholder and small-scale agricultural producers

The CBPEP/GTAC Project: Employment intensive land reform in South Africa: policies, ‘programmes and capacities aims to formulate a set of options for rural land reform in South Africa aimed at generating a large number of employment, self-employment and livelihood-enhancing opportunities through the promotion of small-scale agriculture. The anticipated project outputs include: • formulating national policy guidelines on the promotion of employment intensive agriculture; • designing ‘programmes for implementation by national and provincial departments in conjunction with non-governmental partners; • costing such ‘programmes; • conceptualizing the provision of relevant support services for those acquiring access to land in different settings, including provision of extension advice and support for marketing of produce. This thematic study reviews support services for smallholders provided by state and non-state actors to date. It provides an analysis of recommendations from the High Level Panel (High Level Panel 2017) and the recent report of the Presidential Panel on Agriculture and Land Reform (2019). It provides an assessment of what needs to change to provide a range of appropriate support services for smallholder and black commercial producers in order promote employment intensive land reform. The final section of the report examines the institutional and capacity requirements of effective extension, institutional and production support systems, with a particular focus on smallholder and small-scale black commercial farmers. It examines what types of support should be offered to producers at different scales, what systems of extension management and institutional oversight are required to manage the provision of effective support systems, and how current support systems would need to be reconfigured to align with this objective

A synthesis of evidence from four local municipality studies: Sakhisizwe Local Municipality – Eastern Cape, Nkosi Langalibalele Local Municipality – KwaZulu-Natal, Greater Tzaneen Local Municipality – Limpopo, Matzikama Local Municipality – Western Cape

This paper sets out to provide an accessible summary of the key findings which have emerged from the extensive research conducted as part of a project to develop a draft policy framework for employment intensive land reform. The project has been managed by the Institute for Poverty Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) in association with Phuhlisani NPC. It has been funded under the auspices of the Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion (CBPEP) managed by the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) with support of the delegation of the European Union to South Afric

A synthesis of evidence from five commodity studies

This is the second of three papers which draw together and summarise the key findings from the extensive research conducted as part of a project to develop a draft policy framework for employment-intensive land reform. The project has been managed by the Institute for Poverty Land and Agrarian Studies (PLAAS) in association with Phuhlisani NPC. It has been funded under the auspices of the Capacity Building Programme for Employment Promotion (CBPEP) managed by the Government Technical Advisory Centre (GTAC) with support of the delegation of the European Union to South Africa. This paper summarises the findings from five commodity studies selected for their potential to promote employment intensive land reform and sustainable livelihood opportunities. The five commodities are: • livestock; • wool; • fresh vegetables; • subtropical fruit; • sugarcane

Thematic study: The strengths and weaknesses of systems of land tenure and land administration in South Africa and the implications for employment intensive land reform

The CBPEP/GTAC Project: Employment intensive land reform in South Africa: policies, programmes and capacities aims to formulate a set of options for rural land reform in South Africa aimed at generating a large number of employment, self-employment and livelihood-enhancing opportunities through the promotion of small-scale agriculture. The anticipated project outputs include: • formulating national policy guidelines on the promotion of employment intensive agriculture; • designing programmes for implementation by national and provincial departments in conjunction with non-governmental partners; • costing such programmes; • conceptualizing the provision of relevant support services for those acquiring access to land in different settings, including provision of extension advice and support for marketing of produce

Improved municipal planning for African cities : for a climate resilient urban future

Improved Municipal Planning in African CiTies (IMPACT) is a three-year project implemented in Zimbabwe and Malawi, which aims to investigate how enhanced collaboration mechanisms in municipal planning in African cities can enable climate resilient development. Examples of collaboration mechanisms include multi-sectoral forums, conferences, community-led mapping, ward committees and think tanks. Collaborative governance can improve municipal planning and in turn, increase the resilience of cities in relation to effects of climate change as well as associated social challenges