Design of Using Public Relations Tools in the Brewery

Import 22/07/2015Hlavním cílem diplomové práce je návrh využití nástrojů public relations v pivovaru. Podstatná část práce je věnována problému nízké návštěvnosti exkurzní trasy pivovaru Ostravar. Prostřednictvím dotazníkového šetření jsou rozebrány exkurzní trasy všeobecně, s cílem nalézt vhodné návrhy a doporučení na zatraktivnění exkurzní trasy. Dalšími cíli jsou: analýza současných aktivit public relations pivovaru Ostravar prostřednictvím osobních rozhovorů a media research, zjišťující úroveň propagace exkurze a pivovarského muzea Ostravaru. Výstupem této části jsou doporučení týkající aktivit public relations a správné komunikace exkurze.The main objective of the thesis is design of using public relations tools in the brewery. Very important part of the thesis is focused on problem of low attendance Ostravar brewery tour. Trouhg an online questionnaire are analysed excursions in general to find an appropriate recommendations which will make excursion more attractive. Others objectives are: to analyse current activities of public relations in the brewery Ostravar via face to face interview and media research detecting where is advertised the excursion of the brewery Ostravar. Target of this part are recommendations for activities of public relations and better communication of the excursion.116 - Katedra marketingu a obchoduvýborn

Evaluation of a serum-based PCR assay for the diagnosis of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

The aim of this study was to estimate the relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay in the serum of dogs with naturally occurring non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), and to investigate the association between PCR positivity and immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) titres for Ehrlichia canis. Serum samples obtained from 38 dogs with non-myelosuppressive CME and 12 healthy dogs were analyzed retrospectively. Each serum sample was analyzed in triplicate using an E. canis-specific nested PCR assay targeting a 389 bp sequence of the 16S rRNA gene. E. canis DNA was amplified in 24 of 38 (63.1%) affected dogs; all samples from healthy dogs were negative. A high level of agreement was found among the PCR replicates (P < 0.0001). Median IFA titre of the 24 PCR-positive dogs was significantly lower than that of the PCR-negative infected dogs (P = 0.0029), indicating that E. canis DNA may circulate prior to the development of a high antibody titre. Serum-based PCR analysis is suggested for the early diagnosis of CME when whole blood samples are not available. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Diversity of vanA-type vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium isolated from broilers, poultry slaughterers and hospitalized humans in Greece

This study investigated the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in the broiler production environment after the avoparcin ban and their epidemiological relationship with human clinical VRE from the same geographical regions in Greece. Caecal contents from broilers (n500) from eight livestock farms and faecal samples from poultry slaughterers (n50), all collected in two slaughterhouses during 200508, were analysed for species and vancomycin resistance gene identification using multiplex PCR. Sixty-three human clinical vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF) isolates, obtained during 200609, were also examined. Discriminant analysis (DA) was used to establish the relationship of antimicrobial resistance profiles (ARPs) among broiler, poultry slaughterer and human clinical VREF. PFGE was conducted to study the genetic relatedness among VREF from the different sources. A total of 120 VRE were recovered from 113 (22.6) broiler samples. VREF carrying the vanA gene were predominant, being recovered from 72 (14.4) samples from five (62.5) broiler farms. Concerning poultry slaughterers, VREF were recovered from 10 (20) samples. Susceptibility testing revealed that broiler VREF were consistently resistant to tetracycline, whereas 93.7 of clinical VREF were resistant to ampicillin. Furthermore, 92.1 of clinical VREF compared with 54.4 of broiler VREF were multiresistant (resistant to at least five antimicrobial classes). DA classified broiler and human clinical VREF into their corresponding source with high classification rates (100 and 85.7, respectively), while the classification rate of poultry slaughterer VREF was relatively low (50), with 40 of them classified closely to broiler VREF. PFGE patterns were clearly related to the source of the VREF, with broiler isolates being clustered distinctly from all human isolates. A remarkable persistence of VREF was observed in the broiler production environment even 10 years after the avoparcin ban. Human and broiler VREF belonged to clearly unrelated populations, strongly indicating no clonal spread of VREF among the different sources, even between broilers and poultry slaughterers, despite them sharing common ARPs, as also supported by DA

Cytologic patterns of lymphadenopathy in canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

Background Recognition of different cytologic patterns in lymph nodes (LNs) from dogs with canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME) and noninfectious causes of lymphoid reactivity may have diagnostic utility. Objectives The aims of the present study were to compare cytologic patterns in LNs of dogs with different phases of CME, to investigate the association of cytologic pattern and presence of Ehrlichia spp. morulae, and to compare patterns of lymphoid reactivity between dogs with CME and those with noninfectious causes of lymphoid hyperplasia. Methods Cytologic preparations of LNs from 35 dogs with nonmyelosuppressive CME (group A), 16 dogs with myelosuppressive CME (group B), 26 dogs with noninfectious diseases (group C), and 15 healthy dogs (group D) were evaluated. Percentages of lymphocyte types, plasma cells, macrophages, neutrophils, and eosinophils were determined. Samples from dogs in groups A and B were evaluated for the presence of morulae. Results Cytologic abnormalities in LNs were recorded in 54% of dogs in group A, 88% in group B, 39% in group C, and 0% in group D and were more frequent (P=.02) in dogs with myelosuppressive CME than those with nonmyelosuppressive CME. Plasma cell hyperplasia was more frequent in CME than in noninfectious diseases (P=.03). An association between the presence of cytologic abnormalities and morulae in group A dogs was not found. Conclusions Dogs with myelosuppressive CME have more lymphoid cytologic abnormalities than dogs with nonmyelosuppressive CME. LN plasmacytosis is the major pattern of lymphadenopathy in dogs with CME and is found more frequently in dogs with CME than in dogs with noninfectious causes of lymphadenopathy

Synovial fluid cytology in experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (Ehrlichia canis)

Evidence-based information of a cause-and-effect relationship between Ehrlichia canis infection and polyarthritis in naturally- or experimentally-infected dogs is currently lacking. The aim of this prospective study was to investigate whether synovial fluid cytological evidence of arthritis could be documented in dogs with acute monocytic ehrlichiosis. Direct synovial fluid cytology smears from eight Beagle dogs experimentally infected with E. canis were examined prior to, and on 21, 35 and 63 days post-inoculation. The cytological variables assessed included cellularity, percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils, macrophage reactivity and evidence of E. canis morulae. The median cellularity and percentages of mononuclear cells and neutrophils prior to inoculation did not differ when compared to post-inoculation cytological evaluation. Increased cellularity, E. canis morulae or cytological evidence of arthritis or macrophage reactivity were not observed throughout the course of the study. In the present study, no cytological evidence of arthritis was found in dogs with experimental acute canine monocytic ehrlichiosis, suggesting that E. canis infection should be considered a rather uncommon cause of arthritis in dogs. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A blood concentrations in dairy sheep flocks with increased or low clinical mastitis incidence

Objective of the study was to evaluate the relationship between blood concentrations of selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A with the incidence of acute clinical mastitis in dairy sheep. For this purpose, 13 flocks with increased (>= 10%) and five flocks with small (<3%) incidence rate of clinical mastitis, were studied. In flocks with increased incidence rate, whole blood selenium and serum vitamin A blood concentrations were smaller (P<0.001) compared with those in flocks with smaller incidence of the disease; no relationship between vitamin E blood concentration and mastitis incidence was found. Animals with mastitis associated with Staphylococcus aureus had smaller (P<0.05) selenium, vitamin E and vitamin A blood/serum concentrations compared to healthy animals within the same flock; animals with mastitis associated with Mycoplasma agalactiae had smaller (P<0.05) concentrations of selenium and vitamin A compared to healthy animals within the same flock (P<0.05); finally, animals with mastitis associated with coagulase-negative staphylococci had smaller (P<0.05) concentrations of selenium compared to healthy animals within the same flock. The results indicate a possible predisposing role of Se deficiency in ovine mastitis. Selenium status of ewes may possibly be used to indicate animals at risk to develop clinical mastitis. Reduced vitamin A serum concentration may also contribute to development of clinical mastitis. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Serum cardiac troponin I concentrations in naturally occurring myelosuppressive and non-myelosuppressive canine monocytic ehrlichiosis

The aim of this study was to determine whether serum cardiac troponin I (cTnI) concentration measured on admission was associated with the clinical severity of canine monocytic ehrlichiosis and was predictive of clinical outcome (death or survival) in dogs naturally infected with Ehrlichia canis. Serum cTnI concentration was compared among 22 dogs with non-myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (NME), 22 dogs with myelosuppressive ehrlichiosis (ME) and 10 healthy dogs. Unlike healthy dogs, 45.5% NME and 59.1% ME dogs had increased cTnI concentrations. There was no difference in the frequency of cTnI increase or mean cTnI concentrations between the NME and ME groups, whereas mean cTnI concentration was significantly lower in healthy dogs. No association was established between cTnI concentration on admission and clinical outcome. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Serum Acute Phase Proteins as Clinical Phase Indicators and Outcome Predictors in Naturally Occurring Canine Monocytic Ehrlichiosis

Background: Canine monocytic ehrlichiosis (CME), caused by Ehrlichia canis, is an important tick-borne disease of global importance. Currently, limited information is available on the diagnostic and prognostic value of acute phase proteins (APPs) in dogs naturally infected with E. canis. Hypothesis: APPs may be useful indicators of the clinical phase of CME and predictive of the clinical outcome (death or survival). Animals: Fifty-six dogs naturally infected with E. canis and 7 clinically healthy control dogs. Methods: C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A (SAA), haptoglobin (Hp), and albumin concentrations determined on admission were retrospectively compared among 27 dogs with nonmyelosuppressive CME, 29 dogs with myelosuppressive CME and 7 healthy dogs. Diagnosis of CME was based on clinical and clinicopathological findings, seropositivity to E. canis, polymerase chain reaction amplification of E. canis-specific 16S rDNA, microscopic observation of Ehrlichia sp. morulae in blood monocytes or some combination of these. Results: Mean concentrations of CRP, SAA, and Hp were significantly higher in the myelosuppressed dogs compared with the other groups, but no significant differences were found in the concentration of albumin. Survival analysis of the affected animals indicated that APP concentrations were not associated with clinical outcome; the latter was strongly associated with pancytopenia (odds ratio for death 22.7) and neutropenia (odds ratio for death 7.7). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: CRP, SAA, and Hp serum concentrations on admission are useful indicators of the clinical phase of CME, but are not useful predictors of clinical outcome