A pilot study on occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Latvian pigs at slaughtering

The aim of the study was to detect the distribution of presumptive pathogenic Yersinia spec1es in pigs of Latvian origm. In total tonsils of 108 pigs were collected from 6 farms m two abattoirs situated in different parts of Latvia. Samples were investigated by using direct plating on the selective CIN media and cold enrichment technique for 2 weeks. All presumptive isolates were confirmed biochemically. During the direct plating only 58% of cultures of Y.enterocolitica and 4 Y. pseudotuberculosts were recovered. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from the pig tonsil samples orig1nated from all six farms The distribution of positive samples among different farms varied from 15 to 45%. Y. pseudotuberculosis was recovered from 3 out of 6 herds studied rangmg from 5 to 25% on each positive farm. The mean prevalence of Y.enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis in all six farms was 31% and 8% respectively Results of study indicate that none of the investigated herds was free of potentially pathogenic Yersinia. The presence of Yersinia species in pigs indicates that a possibility for contamination with bacteria occurs during the offal removal of and meat mspection of carcasses. Further investigations on pathogenic properties and slaughtenng techniques at the slaughterhouses involved in this study should be continued

Kombucha tea beverage: Microbiological characteristic, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical composition

The aim of the present study was to determine the microbial composition, antioxidant activity, and content of phytochemicals in prepared kombucha tea beverage. Microbiota was identified by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, antioxidant activity of beverage was tested by ABTS and phosphomolybdenum method, the total content of phytochemicals (polyphenols, flavonoids, and phenolic acids) was measured by colorimetric methods. The major phenolic acids, flavonoids, and methylxanthines were detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Candida krusei, Sphingomonas melonis, Sphingomonas aquatilis, Brevibacillus centrosporus, and Gluconobacter oxydans were the most abundant microorganisms. Antioxidant activity of kombucha tested by ABTS and phosphomolybdenum method was 1.16 mg TEAC/ml and 2.04 mg TEAC/ml, respectively, which values were higher than in black tea 0.67 and 0.81 mg TEAC/ml, respectively. Also, content of total polyphenols (0.42 mg GAE/ ml), flavonoids (0.13 mg QE/ml), and phenolic acids (0.19 mg CAE/ml) was higher in kombucha than in black tea (0.18 mg GAE/ml; 0.02 mg QE/ml; 0.05 mg CAE/ml, respectively). Gallic, chlorogenic, syringic, and protocatechuic acids, and rutin and vitexin from flavonoids were dominant in kombucha beverage detected by HPLC. Strong difference in caffeine contents, 217.81 µg ml−1 (black tea) and 100.72 µg ml−1 (kombucha beverage), was observed. The amounts of theobromine were similar in black tea and kombucha, but theophylline was detected only in black tea in trace amount (0.52 µg ml−1)

Palaeolithic extinctions and the Taurid Complex

Intersection with the debris of a large (50-100 km) short-period comet during the Upper Palaeolithic provides a satisfactory explanation for the catastrophe of celestial origin which has been postulated to have occurred around 12900 BP, and which presaged a return to ice age conditions of duration ~1300 years. The Taurid Complex appears to be the debris of this erstwhile comet; it includes at least 19 of the brightest near-Earth objects. Sub-kilometre bodies in meteor streams may present the greatest regional impact hazard on timescales of human concern.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures; accepted for Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society (definitive version will be available at www.blackwell-synergy.com

TESTING POTATO COLLECTION SAMPLES FOR THE PRESENCE OF GENES FOR RESISTANCE TO PHYTOPATHOGENS BY MEANS OF DNA MARKERS

The development of phytopathogen-resistant varieties is the most reliable and economic way to reduce potato yield losses. Breeding of such varieties is possible by using genetic sources of resistance. The use of DNA markers for identification of valuable genotypes, including forms with several resistance genes, makes it possible to significantly improve breeding efficiency. The development of a multiplex PCR technique and using it to simultaneously test varieties and breeding lines for several genes that control the resistance to viruses and nematodes is a new approach to using DNA markers. This study is aimed at screening samples from the collection of the Narym Department of  Breeding and Seed Production of the Siberian Research Institute of Agriculture and Peat (the Branch of the Siberian Federal Agrobiotechnology Research Center, the Russian Academy of Sciences) using the multiplex PCR technique, for genes for resistance to Globodera rostochiensis and Globodera pallidas, potato wart disease, viruses X and Y. 40 samples were tested by means of genetic markers to identify genes for resistance to potato wart disease (Sen1), virus X (Rx), virus Y (Ryadg, Rychc, Rysto), Globodera rostochiensis (H1, Gro1-4) and Globodera pallida (Gpa2), in the genome. The sample included two varieties, three populations produced by self-pollination of the Ideal variety, and 35 individually selected potato hybrids. As a result, we identified marker NL25 (Sen1) in 19 samples; marker PVX (Rx) in 13 samples; marker RYSC3312 (Ryadg) in 10 samples; marker YES3-3A341 (Rysto) in 5 samples; markers TG 689141, 57R450, N195337 (H1) in 12 samples; marker Gro1-4-1602 (Gro1-4) in 6 samples; marker Gpa2-2452 (Gpa2) in 13 samples. In terms of economically valuable traits, sample С-31-15 is noted for high yield and quality indicators. It carries genes for resistance to potato virus X (Rx), Y (Rysto), Globodera rostochiensis (H1, Gro1-4), and Globodera pallida (Gpa2)

A pilot study on occurrence of Yersinia enterocolitica and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in Latvian pigs at slaughtering

The aim of the study was to detect the distribution of presumptive pathogenic Yersinia spec1es in pigs of Latvian origm. In total tonsils of 108 pigs were collected from 6 farms m two abattoirs situated in different parts of Latvia. Samples were investigated by using direct plating on the selective CIN media and cold enrichment technique for 2 weeks. All presumptive isolates were confirmed biochemically. During the direct plating only 58% of cultures of Y.enterocolitica and 4 Y. pseudotuberculosts were recovered. Y. enterocolitica was isolated from the pig tonsil samples orig1nated from all six farms The distribution of positive samples among different farms varied from 15 to 45%. Y. pseudotuberculosis was recovered from 3 out of 6 herds studied rangmg from 5 to 25% on each positive farm. The mean prevalence of Y.enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis in all six farms was 31% and 8% respectively Results of study indicate that none of the investigated herds was free of potentially pathogenic Yersinia. The presence of Yersinia species in pigs indicates that a possibility for contamination with bacteria occurs during the offal removal of and meat mspection of carcasses. Further investigations on pathogenic properties and slaughtenng techniques at the slaughterhouses involved in this study should be continued.</p

RESEARCH OF INFLUENCE OF THE IRON CONTENT ON FORMATION OF IRON-BEARING PHASES IN FOUNDRY ALUMINUM ALLOYS

The microstructure and microhardness of aluminum and silumin аК12 with iron content of 0 to 12 mas.% produced by sand casting and mol casting have been investigated. For the Al–Si–Fe and Al–Si–Fe–Mn systems the portions of the liquidus surfaces, which correspond to commercial silumin compositions, have been calculated using the updated thermodynamic model of the Al– Si–Fe system and COST–507 database. The area of primary crystallization of the iron-containing a and b phases is assessed for the commercial silumin. It has been proved that manganese promotes the formation of the iron-containing a-phase in the commercial silumin

Bacteriota and Antibiotic Resistance in Spiders

Arthropods are reported to serve as vectors of transmission of pathogenic microorganisms to humans, animals, and the environment. The aims of our study were (i) to identify the external bacteriota of spiders inhabiting a chicken farm and slaughterhouse and (ii) to detect antimicrobial resistance of the isolates. In total, 102 spiders of 14 species were collected from a chicken farm, slaughterhouse, and buildings located in west Slovakia in 2017. Samples were diluted in peptone buffered water, and Tryptone Soya Agar (TSA), Triple Sugar Agar (TSI), Blood Agar (BA), and Anaerobic Agar (AA) were used for inoculation. A total of 28 genera and 56 microbial species were isolated from the samples. The most abundant species were Bacillus pumilus (28 isolates) and B. thuringensis (28 isolates). The least isolated species were Rhodotorula mucilaginosa (one isolate), Kocuria rhizophila (two isolates), Paenibacillus polymyxa (two isolates), and Staphylococcus equorum (two isolates). There were differences in microbial composition between the samples originating from the slaughterhouse, chicken farm, and buildings. The majority of the bacterial isolates resistant to antibiotics were isolated from the chicken farm. The isolation of potentially pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella, Escherichia, and Salmonella spp., which possess multiple drug resistance, is of public health concern

Properties of Ginkgo biloba L.: Antioxidant characterization, antimicrobial activities, and genomic microRNA based marker fingerprints

© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. The aim of this study was to characterize extracts from the leaves of Ginkgo biloba L. from selected Slovakian localities in terms of the content of bioactive constituents, antioxidants and their antimicrobial properties. The results indicated that the content of antioxidants was sample-specific, and this specificity was statistically significant. Ginkgo biloba L. from the locality of Košice had the best activity determined by the free radical scavenging activity (DPPH) (1.545 mg Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC)/g fresh matter (FM)) as well as the molybdenum-reducing antioxidant power (35.485 mg TEAC/g FM) methods. The highest content of total polyphenols (2.803 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g FM) and flavonoids (4.649 μg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g FM) was also detected in this sample. All samples of G. biloba leaf extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against one or more of the examined bacterial species, and Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus CCM 2461 was found to be the most susceptible (minimal inhibition concentration MIC50 and MIC90 values of 64.2 and 72.2 μg/mL, respectively). Based on the results it was concluded that Ginkgo biloba L. extracts can be used as antimicrobial and antioxidant additives. Selected miRNA-based molecular markers were used to examine the environmental adaptability of Ginkgo biloba L. An almost-complete genotype clustering pattern based on locality was determined in the analysis that involved a species-specific gb-miR5261 marker. Morphologically specific exemplar, cv. Ohatsuki, was excluded