Bericht - Evaluation des Projekts „Unabhängige Beratungsstelle für Menschen im Freiheitsentzug und ihre Angehörigen“ von humanrights.ch

Das Projekt „unabhängige Beratungsstelle für Menschen im Freiheitsentzug und ihre Angehörigen“ wurde 2017 von humanrights.ch für eine voraussichtlich dreijährige Pilotphase im Kanton Bern ins Leben gerufen und hat zum Ziel und Zweck, Menschen im Freiheitsentzug und ihren Angehörigen Zugang zu einer unabhängigen kompetenten Rechtsberatung zu verschaffen. So werden die Grundrechte dieser marginalisierten sozialen Gruppe gestärkt und die zuständigen Anstaltsleitungen und Behörden im Hinblick auf systemisch bedingte Schwachstellen im Grund- rechtsschutz sensibilisiert. Das Projekt soll zukünftig auf weitere Kantone ausgeweitet werden. Die Evaluation dauerte vom 1. Juni 2019 bis zum 31. Juli 2019 und fragte nach der Einhaltung der Menschenrechte im Freiheitsentzug, dem Bedarf einer unabhängigen Rechtsberatung, der Qualität der Arbeit der Beratungsstelle gemäss der Wahrnehmung verschiedener Anspruchsgruppen und eruierte potentielle Entwicklungsmöglichkeiten

Intrafamilial spread of a Panton‐Valentine leukocidin‐positive community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus belonging to the paediatric clone ST5 SSCmecIV

Introduction: Community‐acquired methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA‐MRSA) is increasingly recognized as an important pathogen. Panton–Valentine leukocidin (PVL)‐producing CA‐MRSA constitutes a public health concern because it can be responsible for severe, progressive necrotizing skin, soft‐tissue and pulmonary infections. Case presentation: We describe a case of recurrent transmission of PVL‐producing ST5, staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec type IV MRSA (paediatric clone) from an asymptomatic nasal carrier to his family causing severe skin and soft‐tissue infections in the mother and children. Nasal application of mupirocin in the carrier was successful for prevention of new infections. Conclusion: Recurrent skin infections are often not taken into account but may represent a serious threat if caused by a PVL‐producing MRSA strain. Family members of MRSA carriers are in danger of transmission. Characteristics of currently circulating CA‐MRSA strains require closer surveillance. Identification and decolonization of carriers is important to reduce the risk of spread into the community

Effects of NO2 and Nitrate on Sulfate Assimilation in Maize

Summary The effect of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrate on sulfate assimilation was studied in maize seedlings. The seedlings (Zea mays L. cv. LG 9) were grown on a N-free nutrient solution for 10 days and subsequently fumigated with 520 nLL-1 NO2 or transferred to a nutrient solution containing 4 mM nitrate. Fresh weight, contents of protein, cysteine, γ-glutamylcysteine and glutathione, and the extractable activity of adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase, a key enzyme of sulfate assimilation, were measured in the second, third and fourth leaves during the following 7 days. For comparison, the activity of nitrate reductase was measured. The level of extractable proteins was higher in the leaves of fumigated or nitrate treated seedlings than in leaves of controls without NO2 and nitrate. Adenosine 5'-phosphosulfate sulfotransferase and nitrate reductase activities of the second and third leaves increased to a significantly higher level after 1 day of NO2 fumigation or nitrate treatment. Nitrate induced a significantly higher level of glutathione in the leaves, whereas its level at NO2 fumigation was not always significantly higher than that of the controls. Even though the quantitative changes in enzyme activities induced by nitrate were much greater, our results, in principle, show the same qualitative effects of nitrate and NO2, indicating that NO2 was used as a N-source and regulated sulfate assimilation in the same way as nitrate

Success of interventions in mastitis problems with Staphylococcus aureus after the introduction of an automatic milking system

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is often the cause of mastitis problems in dairy herds and causes great economic losses. In this study, isolates from a dairy herd with a known S. aureus mastitis problem were examined by means of molecular methods (spa typing, PFGE, and DNA microarray) to investigate their epidemiological relationship and the success of intervention measures. The investigated dairy farm has a herd size of 60 cows and uses a fully automated milking system for milk production. A S. aureus strain, which contaminated the automated milking system and was subsequently spread among the herd through the latter, was suspected to be the origin of the mastitis problem within the herd. Thanks to the applied molecular methods, the common origin of the S. aureus isolates from the collected milk and swab samples could be shown. By culling chronically infected cows, optimising dry cow management and ensuring reliable intermediate cluster disinfection, the bulk milk somatic cell count improve

Short communication: Staphylococcus aureus isolated from colostrum of dairy heifers represent a closely related group exhibiting highly homogeneous genomic and antimicrobial resistance features

In heifers, intramammary infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus affect milk production and udder health in the first and subsequent lactations, and can lead to premature culling. Not much is known about Staph. aureus isolated from heifers and it is also unclear whether or not these strains are readily transmitted between heifers and lactating herd mates. In this study, we compared phenotypic characteristics, spa types, and DNA microarray virulence and resistance gene profiles of Staph. aureus isolates obtained from colostrum samples of dairy heifers with isolates obtained from lactating cows. Our objective was to (1) characterize Staph. aureus strains associated with mastitis in heifers and (2) determine relatedness of Staph. aureus strains from heifers and lactating cows to provide data on transmission. We analyzed colostrum samples of 501 heifers and milk samples of 68 lactating cows within the same herd, isolating 48 and 9 Staph. aureus isolates, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus strains from heifers, lactating herd mates, and an unrelated collection of 78 strains from bovine mastitis milk of mature cows were compared. With 1 exception each, characterization of all strains from heifers and lactating cows in the same herd yielded highly similar phenotypic and genotypic results. The strains were Staphaurex latex agglutination test negative (Oxoid AG, Basel, Switzerland) and belonged to agr type II, CC705, and spa types tbl 2645 and t12926. They were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents tested. In contrast, the strains from mature cows in other herds were spread across different clonal complexes, spa types, and SplitsTree clusters (http://www.splitstree.org/), thus displaying a far higher degree of heterogeneity. We conclude that strains isolated from colostrum of heifers and mastitis milk of lactating cows in the same herd feature highly similar phenotypic and genomic characteristics, suggesting persistence of the organism during the first and potentially subsequent lactations or transmission between heifers and mature herd mates

Co-existence of genetically and antigenically diverse bovine viral diarrhoea viruses in an endemic situation

Bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) is an important cattle pathogen that causes acute or persistent infections. These are associated with immunotolerance to the viral strain persisting in animals that became infected early in their intrauterine development. To this date, the epidemiology of BVD in Switzerland runs virtually undisturbed by control measures such as restrictions on animal traffic or vaccination. Here, we analysed the viral genetics of 169 Swiss isolates and carried out crossed serum neutralisation tests to assess the antigenic spectrum of BVDV strains present in the cattle population. Besides confirming the presence of BVDV type 1 subgroups b, e, h and k, a single "orphan" BVDV-1 virus was detected that does not belong to any known BVDV-1 subgroup. No BVDV type 2 viruses were detected, suggesting that they are rare or not present in the cattle population. Antigenic comparison revealed significant differences between the different subgroups, with anti-1k immune serum having up to tenfold lower neutralising activity against 1b, 1e and 1h subgroup viruses, which however may still suffice to protect 1k-immune animals against superinfection by viruses of those other subgroups. Serum from routinely vaccinated animals revealed generally low titres but good cross-neutralisation. A geographic information system revealed that the viruses of the different subgroups are distributed in an apparently randomised fashion in the cattle population. This geographic distribution pattern may reflect peculiarities of the management practice in the Swiss cattle industry that, especially through annual transhumance of up to 25% of the entire population in the alpine region, tend to optimise the spread of BVDV

Border Disease in einem Schafbetrieb

This report describes border disease in a flock of sheep in Switzerland. In April 2001, three ewes in a flock of 41 sheep gave birth to lambs that had generalized tremors and excessively hairy fleece. One of these, a three-week-old female lamb, was referred to our clinic for further diagnostic work-up. The lamb was very nervous, bleated constantly and had generalized muscle tremors, which were more pronounced in the head region. Hind end ataxia was observed, and the lamb was slow to correct its posture when the hind limbs were abducted, adducted or crossed. Blood samples were collected every six weeks to determine antibody titres to pestivirus and for virus isolation via cell culture. A skin biopsy sample was also collected and examined immunohistochemically for pestivirus antigen. Antibody titres in the first tests were suspicious and those of the second were negative. Pestivirus was identified in cell culture, and the skin biopsy sample was positive for pestivirus antigen. Blood samples were collected from all of the ewes and lambs and the buck for virus isolation via cell culture and determination of pestivirus antibody titres. Thirty-one animals were seropositive, six had borderline antibody titres and four were seronegative. Pestivirus was isolated from eight animals, which included the lamb described in this report. Of the virus-positive animals, three were seronegative, three others had borderline titres and two were seropositive. Six of the eight viruses isolated from cell culture were further characterized genetically via retrotranscription and polymerase chain reaction and subsequent sequencing. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the causative agent was border disease virus. This is the first time that border disease virus has been isolated in Switzerland. The lamb referred to our clinic was observed for three months; it was then euthanatised and a postmortem examination was performed. Immunohistochemical examination of numerous organs revealed pestivirus antigen. The source of infection was though to be infected sheep from another flock, which shared a pasture. All antigen-positive animals were slaughtered

Clinical appearance and pathology of cattle persistently infected with bovine viral diarrhoea virus of different genetic subgroups

Bovine viral diarrhoea (BVD) is an economically important cattle disease with a world-wide distribution that is caused by BVD virus, a pestivirus of the flaviviridae family. BVD viruses are genetically highly variable. They are classified into two genetic species (BVDV-1 and -2) that are further divided into numerous subgroups, particularly for BVDV-1. The complexity of these viruses is also reflected in their interaction with the host animals. Infections are either transient or persistent and can cause a wide spectrum of clinical signs, from no or very mild disease to severe forms, reminiscent of viral haemorrhagic fevers. In this work, we have analysed the clinical signs and the pathology of BVD viral infections in a cattle population where different subgroups of BVDV-1 genotype viruses are endemic. In addition, we have examined potential virulence properties of BVDV-1 subgroups during persistent infection by comparing the viral subgroups present in clinical cases with those detected in persistently infected (PI) animals sampled for epidemiological criteria, irrespective of their health condition. Furthermore, the clinical and postmortem findings were compared with respect to genetic characteristics of the viruses isolated from these animals. Our results indicate that the BVDV positive animals fall roughly into two categories, depending on the primary organ affected and the age, with lung-centred pathology occurring mainly in young animals and mucosal pathology predominantly in older animals. Furthermore, we found a markedly higher proportion of representatives of the BVDV-1e subgroup in stillborn calves and aborted foetuses originating from epidemically unrelated cattle herds, suggesting that BVDV-1e may play a special role in prenatal and perinatal losses