Tuberculous lesions in pigs in the Czech Republic in the years 1990-1999

In the Czech Republic, bovine tuberculosis in cattle was controlled in 1968. The last outbreak was diagnosed in cattle and domestic pigs in 1995. During the veterinary hygiene inspection of pigs slaughtered in slaughterhouses, however, tuberculous lesions were still being found above all in the head and intestinal lymph nodes. In the decade monitored a total of 45 873 318 pigs were slaughtered and examined according to veterinary hygiene standards. Apart from 1991, when results of tuberculous findings were not obtained, tuberculous lesions were found in 134 088 (0.32%) of the 41 458 565 pigs examined in the remaining nine years. During a detailed analysis of the pathological anatomical examination of 190 940 pigs slaughtered in one district, tuberculous lesions in lymph nodes were found in 4 107 (2.2%) pigs: mesenteric (65.3% pigs), submandibular (18.6% pigs), inguinal (0.1% pigs) and simultaneously intestinal and head lymph nodes (15.9% pigs). Miliary tuberculosis was found only in the parenchymatous organs of four (0.1%) pigs. The following financial losses resulted: 6% for confiscating the head, intestines and stomach, and 22 to 24% for assessing meat as conditionally edible after processing, i.e. intended only for heat-processed products. Mycobacteria were isolated from 7 246 (41.8%) pigs through the cultivation of tissue samples from 17 326 pigs. Mycobacterium bovis was detected in only five (0.07%) animals which originated from the last outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the Czech Republic in 1995. M. avium complex (MAC) isolates came from 6 870 (94.8%) animals: 55.7% M. a. avium isolates were mainly of serotypes 2 and 3 and genotype IS901+ and IS1245+ and 39.2% M. a. hominissuis isolates were mainly of serotypes 4, 8 and 9 and genotype IS901- and IS1245+. Conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. terrae, M. phlei and M. fortuitum) were isolated from 371 (5.1%) pigs. In the whole period monitored, two marked increases In the findings of tuberculous lesions were recorded: In the mid-1990s as a result of using deep bedding with wood shavings and at the end of the 1990s as a result of supplementing the pigs’ feed with peat

Mycobacterial contamination of environment in pig farms in the Czech Republic between 1996 and 2002

The purpose of this study was to find source of mycobacterial infections in pig farms. A total of 2 411 environmental samples (bedding materials, water, biofilm from pipelines, peat, etc.) were examined by microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified by serotyping and PCR. Mycobacteria were isolated from 579 (24.0%) samples. 47.0% isolates were Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis isolates (IS901-, IS1245+, serotypes 4, 6, 8, 9), 2.2% isolates were M. a. avium (IS901+, IS1245+, serotype 2) and 50.8% belong to atypical mycobacteria comprising of fifteen species. The frequent isolates were found in peat samples (213/65.1%) in which 81.2% isolates comprised M. a. hominissuis. High amount of mycobacteria were isolated from biofilm (36.4%) and water (29.6%). Alike peat, non-pathogenic species were predominant. The third sources of mycobacteria were bedding materials, mostly sawdust (43.6%). Presence of mycobacteria in the animals’ environment leads to economic losses due to meat condemnation in abattoirs

Dynamic relationship of the epithelium and mesenchyme during salivary gland initiation: the role of Fgf10.

Peer reviewe

Organic residue analysis shows sub-regional patterns in the use of pottery by Northern European hunter–gatherers

The introduction of pottery vessels to Europe has long been seen as closely linked with the spread of agriculture and pastoralism from the Near East. The adoption of pottery technology by hunter–gatherers in Northern and Eastern Europe does not fit this paradigm, and its role within these communities is so far unresolved. To investigate the motivations for hunter–gatherer pottery use, here, we present the systematic analysis of the contents of 528 early vessels from the Baltic Sea region, mostly dating to the late 6th–5th millennium cal BC, using molecular and isotopic characterization techniques. The results demonstrate clear sub-regional trends in the use of ceramics by hunter–gatherers; aquatic resources in the Eastern Baltic, non-ruminant animal fats in the Southeastern Baltic, and a more variable use, including ruminant animal products, in the Western Baltic, potentially including dairy. We found surprisingly little evidence for the use of ceramics for non-culinary activities, such as the production of resins. We attribute the emergence of these subregional cuisines to the diffusion of new culinary ideas afforded by the adoption of pottery, e.g. cooking and combining foods, but culturally contextualized and influenced by traditional practices

Tuberculous lesions in pigs in the Czech Republic in the years 1990-1999

In the Czech Republic, bovine tuberculosis in cattle was controlled in 1968. The last outbreak was diagnosed in cattle and domestic pigs in 1995. During the veterinary hygiene inspection of pigs slaughtered in slaughterhouses, however, tuberculous lesions were still being found above all in the head and intestinal lymph nodes. In the decade monitored a total of 45 873 318 pigs were slaughtered and examined according to veterinary hygiene standards. Apart from 1991, when results of tuberculous findings were not obtained, tuberculous lesions were found in 134 088 (0.32%) of the 41 458 565 pigs examined in the remaining nine years. During a detailed analysis of the pathological anatomical examination of 190 940 pigs slaughtered in one district, tuberculous lesions in lymph nodes were found in 4 107 (2.2%) pigs: mesenteric (65.3% pigs), submandibular (18.6% pigs), inguinal (0.1% pigs) and simultaneously intestinal and head lymph nodes (15.9% pigs). Miliary tuberculosis was found only in the parenchymatous organs of four (0.1%) pigs. The following financial losses resulted: 6% for confiscating the head, intestines and stomach, and 22 to 24% for assessing meat as conditionally edible after processing, i.e. intended only for heat-processed products. Mycobacteria were isolated from 7 246 (41.8%) pigs through the cultivation of tissue samples from 17 326 pigs. Mycobacterium bovis was detected in only five (0.07%) animals which originated from the last outbreak of bovine tuberculosis in cattle in the Czech Republic in 1995. M. avium complex (MAC) isolates came from 6 870 (94.8%) animals: 55.7% M. a. avium isolates were mainly of serotypes 2 and 3 and genotype IS901+ and IS1245+ and 39.2% M. a. hominissuis isolates were mainly of serotypes 4, 8 and 9 and genotype IS901- and IS1245+. Conditionally pathogenic mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. terrae, M. phlei and M. fortuitum) were isolated from 371 (5.1%) pigs. In the whole period monitored, two marked increases In the findings of tuberculous lesions were recorded: In the mid-1990s as a result of using deep bedding with wood shavings and at the end of the 1990s as a result of supplementing the pigs’ feed with peat.</p

Mycobacteria in the animal’s environment in the Czech Republic

The “atypical mycobacteria ” are widely distributed in the natural environment and can produce infection in farm and wild animals bred in captivity. The objective of the study was to analyze the variety of mycobacterial species in the environment of breeding facilities, tanks and aquariums, as well as in samples of peat used as a feed supplement in the Czech Republic over the 2003-2004 period. A total of 1389 samples from environment were examined, collected from 29 sites throughout the Czech Republic. The samples were decontaminated and cultured at 25 °C and 37 °C in three culture media: Stonebrink’s medium, Herrold’s egg yolk medium and Sula’s medium. Mycobacterial isolates grown were identified by the PCR method and growth and biochemical tests. Of the 1389 environmental samples, mycobacteria were demonstrated by culture in 400 (28.8%) of them originating from different substances. In the samples of farm environment and in peat, mycobacteria were isolated in 185 of 1064 (17.4%) samples, and in 201 of 325 (61.8%) samples from aquarium and breeding tank environment. The results show significant difference between the findings from the stable environment (17.4%) and those from the aquarium environment (61.8%). A wide range of species was found in all constituents of the environment. The following species were most frequently isolated from the stable environment: M. avium (6.5%), M. fortuitum (3.2%), M. flavescens (3.2%), and the aquarium environment harboured most frequently M. fortuitum (13.9%), M. marinum (8.0%) and M. gordonae (4.5%). The results confirm the frequent occurrence of various mycobacterial species in the environment, predominantly in aquariums, some of which can produce infection in animals and in man following contact with the infected environment

Mycobacterial contamination of environment in pig farms in the Czech Republic between 1996 and 2002

The purpose of this study was to find source of mycobacterial infections in pig farms. A total of 2 411 environmental samples (bedding materials, water, biofilm from pipelines, peat, etc.) were examined by microscopy and culture. Isolates were identified by serotyping and PCR. Mycobacteria were isolated from 579 (24.0%) samples. 47.0% isolates were Mycobacterium avium subsp. hominissuis isolates (IS901-, IS1245+, serotypes 4, 6, 8, 9), 2.2% isolates were M. a. avium (IS901+, IS1245+, serotype 2) and 50.8% belong to atypical mycobacteria comprising of fifteen species. The frequent isolates were found in peat samples (213/65.1%) in which 81.2% isolates comprised M. a. hominissuis. High amount of mycobacteria were isolated from biofilm (36.4%) and water (29.6%). Alike peat, non-pathogenic species were predominant. The third sources of mycobacteria were bedding materials, mostly sawdust (43.6%). Presence of mycobacteria in the animals’ environment leads to economic losses due to meat condemnation in abattoirs.</p