Seroprevalence survey for Salmonella Abortusovis infection in Swiss sheep flocks

Between 1976 and 2003, no infections with Salmonella Abortusovis had been officially recorded in Switzerland. Since then, however, several sheep flocks were infected and suffered massive fetal losses suggesting a re-emergence of the disease. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the epidemiological situation of S. Abortusovis infection in sheep in this country. A representative serum sample collected in 2007 in the context of certifying Brucella freedom included sera from 578 flocks with a total of 8426 sheep from all regions in Switzerland and the Principality of Liechtenstein. Sera were tested by ELISA for the presence of antibodies specific for S. Abortusovis. The cantonal seroprevalence was estimated at the sheep as well as the flock-level by taking into account (a) all flocks with one or more seropositive sheep (Flock 1+) and (b) only the flocks with two or more seropositive sheep (Flock 2+). Flocks with seropositive sheep were found throughout the country with an overall sheep-level prevalence of 1.7%. At the flock-level, overall prevalences of 16.3% and 5.0% were found for Flock 1+ and Flock 2+ definitions, respectively. Significant sheep-level clusters were located in the cantons of Bern, the Valais and Graubunden, while significant flock-level clusters (Flock 1+ and Flock 2+) were located in the canton of Graubunden only. Our results indicate that exposure of Swiss sheep flocks to S. Abortusovis is wide-spread.

Effect of pregnancy and birth on the course of myasthenia gravis before or after transsternal radical thymectomy

OBJECTIVE: Myasthenia gravis (MG) affects women at childbearing age. Therefore, the question arises if these patients should become pregnant and if thymectomy has a positive effect on the course of MG in pregnant patients. METHODS: Fifteen pregnancies had been followed retrospectively. All patients underwent transsternal radical thymectomy for MG. The course of MG in the period before, during, and after the pregnancy was scored according to Ossermann's classification. The effect of thymectomy on delivery and on the newborns was evaluated. RESULTS: Patients were divided in two groups: pregnancies before (group I, n=8) and after (group II, n=7) thymectomy. During pregnancy, in group I, one deterioration was observed and in seven patients the disease was unchanged. In group II, one deterioration, five unchanged courses, and one improvement were observed. In the postpartum period, in group I, seven patients did not change and one improved. In group II, two deteriorations, three unchanged courses, and two improvements were observed. Before pregnancy, group II patients were in a better Ossermann stage in comparison with those in group I. Eight of the 12 deliveries were spontaneous (three abortus). Myasthenic symptoms were observed in two newborns in group I. CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that MG is not prohibitive to have children. The course of MG after transsternal radical thymectomy is often ameliorated. A better MG-stage, reached after thymectomy, before pregnancy seems to be correlated with a better course during pregnancy.

Ovine Enzootic Abortion (OEA): a comparison of antibody responses in vaccinated and naturally-infected swiss sheep over a two year period

BACKGROUND: Prevention and control of ovine enzootic abortion (OEA) can be achieved by application of a live vaccine. In this study, five sheep flocks with different vaccination and infection status were serologically tested using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) specific for Chlamydophila (Cp.) abortus over a two-year time period. RESULTS: Sheep in Flock A with recent OEA history had high antibody values after vaccination similar to Flock C with natural Cp. abortus infections. In contrast, OEA serology negative sheep (Flock E) showed individual animal-specific immunoreactions after vaccination. Antibody levels of vaccinated ewes in Flock B ranged from negative to positive two and three years after vaccination, respectively. Positive antibody values in the negative control Flock D (without OEA or vaccination) are probably due to asymptomatic intestinal infections with Cp. abortus. Excretion of the attenuated strain of Cp. abortus used in the live vaccine through the eye was not observed in vaccinated animals of Flock E. CONCLUSION: The findings of our study indicate that, using serology, no distinction can be made between vaccinated and naturally infected sheep. As a result, confirmation of a negative OEA status in vaccinated animals by serology cannot be determined.

Rapid diagnosis and quantification of Francisella tularensis in organs of naturally infected common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus)

Francisella tularensis, a small Gram-negative facultative intracellular bacterium, is the causative agent of tularaemia, a severe zoonotic disease transmitted to humans mostly by vectors such as ticks, flies and mosquitoes. The disease is endemic in many parts of the northern hemisphere. Among animals, the most affected species belong to rodents and lagomorphs, in particular hares. However, in the recent years, many cases of tularaemia among small monkeys in zoos were reported. We have developed a real-time PCR that allows to quantify F. tularensis in tissue samples. Using this method, we identified the spleen and the kidney as the most heavily infected organ containing up to 400 F. tularensis bacteria per simian host cell in two common squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus) from a zoo that died of tularaemia. In other organs such as the brain, F. tularensis was detected at much lower titres. The strain that caused the infection was identified as F. tularensis subsp. holarctica biovar I, which is susceptible to erythromycin. The high number of F. tularensis present in soft organs such as spleen, liver and kidney represents a high risk for persons handling such carcasses and explains the transmission of the disease to a pathologist during post-mortem analysis. Herein, we show that real-time PCR allows a reliable and rapid diagnosis of F. tularensis directly from tissue samples of infected animals, which is crucial in order to attempt accurate prophylactic measures, especially in cases where humans or other animals have been exposed to this highly contagious pathogen.

Food-safety hazards in the pork chain in Nagaland, North East India: implications for human health.

Pork occupies an important place in the diet of the population of Nagaland, one of the North East Indian states. We carried out a pilot study along the pork meat production chain, from live animal to end consumer. The goal was to obtain information about the presence of selected food borne hazards in pork in order to assess the risk deriving from these hazards to the health of the local consumers and make recommendations for improving food safety. A secondary objective was to evaluate the utility of risk-based approaches to food safety in an informal food system. We investigated samples from pigs and pork sourced at slaughter in urban and rural environments, and at retail, to assess a selection of food-borne hazards. In addition, consumer exposure was characterized using information about hygiene and practices related to handling and preparing pork. A qualitative hazard characterization, exposure assessment and hazard characterization for three representative hazards or hazard proxies, namely Enterobacteriaceae, T. solium cysticercosis and antibiotic residues, is presented. Several important potential food-borne pathogens are reported for the first time including Listeria spp. and Brucella suis. This descriptive pilot study is the first risk-based assessment of food safety in Nagaland. We also characterise possible interventions to be addressed by policy makers, and supply data to inform future risk assessments.

Conjugal Transfer of the Tn916-like Transposon TnFO1 from Enterococcus faecalis Isolated from Cheese to Other Gram-positive Bacteria

A Tn916-like transposon (TnFO1) was found in the multiple antibiotic resistant Enterococcus faecalis strain FO1 isolated from a raw milk cheese. In this strain, the tetracycline determinant was localized by DNA-DNA hybridization with a tetM nucleotide probe on the chromosome and on a 30-kb plasmid. The transposon TnFO1 was identified and characterized by DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with the five internal HincII fragments of Tn916. The tetracycline resistance determinant was identified by its complete nucleotide sequence as TetM. Transposon TnFO1 was also detected in its circular form by DNA-DNA hybridization and PCR amplification. Both ends including the joining region of the closed circular transposon TnFO1 were sequenced. TnFO1 could be transferred by conjugation from Enterococcus faecalis into Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis, Listeria innocua, Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Staphylococcus aureus, and from Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis into Listeria innocua. Pulsed-field electrophoresis of genomic DNA from E. faecalis FO1 transconjugants showed that transposon TnFO1 integrated at different sites.

Lipid A biosynthesis in Rhizobium leguminosarum: role of a 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonate-activated 4' phosphatase.

Lipid A from several strains of the N2-fixing bacterium Rhizobium leguminosarum displays significant structural differences from Escherichia coli lipid A, one of which is the complete absence of phosphate groups. However, the first seven enzymes of E. coli lipid A biosynthesis, leading from UDP-GlcNAc to the phosphorylated intermediate, 2-keto-3-deoxyoctulosonate (Kdo2)-lipid IVA, are present in R. leguminosarum. We now describe a membrane-bound phosphatase in R. leguminosarum extracts that removes the 4' phosphate of Kdo2-lipid IVA. The 4' phosphatase is selective for substrates containing the Kdo domain. It is present in extracts of R. leguminosarum biovars phaseoli, viciae, and trifolii but is not detectable in E. coli and Rhizobium meliloti. A nodulation-defective strain (24AR) of R. leguminosarum biovar trifolii, known to contain a 4' phosphatase residue on its lipid A, also lacks measurable 4' phosphatase activity. The Kdo-dependent 4' phosphatase appears to be a key reaction in a pathway for generating phosphate-deficient lipid A.

Malta, ca. 1745 (Raster Image)

This layer is a georeferenced raster image of the historic paper map entitled: Melite vulgo Malta : cum vicinis Goza, quae olim Gaulos, et Comino insulis : sita est haec insula inter Barbariam et Siciliam ad 35. Grad 53 min. latitudinis et 32 Grad 30 min. long, uti exhibetur á Nic. de Fer ; nunc aeri incisa per Matth. Seutter, S. C. M. geogr. Augustanum. It was published by Matth. Seutter, ca. 1745. Scale [ca. 1:41,000]. Covers Malta. Map in Latin.The image inside the map neatline is georeferenced to the surface of the earth and fit to the Europe Lambert Conformal Conic coordinate system. All map collar and inset information is also available as part of the raster image, including any inset maps, profiles, statistical tables, directories, text, illustrations, index maps, legends, or other information associated with the principal map. This map shows features such as drainage, roads, cities and other human settlements, built-up areas, fortification, shoreline features, harbors, and more. Relief shown pictorially. Includes also inset map of Valletta, and "Nomina et insignia magistrorum equitum ordinis Melitensis ...".This layer is part of a selection of digitally scanned and georeferenced historic maps from the Harvard Map Collection. These maps typically portray both natural and manmade features. The selection represents a range of originators, ground condition dates, scales, and map purposes.

P. Gasparis Schotti ... Technica curiosa, sive Mirabilia artis : libris XII, comprehensa : quibus varia experimenta, variaque technasmata pnevmatica, hydraulica, hydrotechnica, mechanica, graphica, cyclometrica, chronometrica, automatica, cabalistica, aliaque artis arcana ac miracula, rara, curiosa, ingeniosa, magnamque partem nova & antehac inaudita, eruditi orbis utilitati, delectationi, disceptationique proponuntur.

Appendix ad librum VI : Specula melitensis encyclica ... / Reverend. P. Athanasio Kircherus... , p. 423-477.

Proceedings of the third annual meeting of the Brucellosis Research Conference : held at Hotel Congress, Chicago, Illinois, November 28 and 29, 1950.

Cover title.

Selectae ex amaenitatibus academicis Caroli Linnaei, dissertationes ad universam naturalem historiam pertinentes /

Vol. 2 has title: Continuatio selectarum ex Amoenitatibus academicis; v. 3: Continuatio altera selectarum.

Short root mutant of Lotus japonicus with a dramatically altered symbiotic phenotype

Legume plants carefully control the extent of nodulation in response to rhizobial infection. To examine the mechanism underlying this process we conducted a detailed analysis of the Lotus japonicus hypernodulating mutants, har1-1, 2 and 3 that define a new locus, HYPERNODULATION ABERRANT ROOT FORMATION (Har1), involved in root and symbiotic development. Mutations in the Har1 locus alter root architecture by inhibiting root elongation, diminishing root diameter and stimulating lateral root initiation. At the cellular level these developmental alterations are associated with changes in the position and duration of root cell growth and result in a premature differentiation of har1-1 mutant root. No significant differences between har1-1 mutant and wild-type plants were detected with respect to root growth responses to 1-aminocyclopropane1-carboxylic acid, the immediate precursor of ethylene, and auxin; however, cytokinin in the presence of AVG (aminoetoxyvinylglycine) was found to stimulate root elongation of the har1-1 mutant but not the wild-type. After inoculation with Mesorhizobium loti, the har1 mutant lines display an unusual hypernodulation (HNR) response, characterized by unrestricted nodulation (hypernodulation), and a concomitant drastic inhibition of root and shoot growth. These observations implicate a role for the Har1 locus in both symbiotic and non-symbiotic development of L. japonicus, and suggest that regulatory processes controlling nodule organogenesis and nodule number are integrated in an overall mechanism governing root growth and development.

Evaluación de los perfiles de respuesta a interferón inducidos como respuesta a la infección con el virus del dengue

Introducción: El dengue es la principal enfermedad viral transmitida a humanos por artrópodos. Una de las características del cuadro clínico de la infección por el virus del dengue (DENV) es su alta variabilidad en la severidad, pronóstico y resolución de la enfermedad. Estudios recientes sugieren que diferentes cepas virales parecen inducir respuestas de interferón variables y que de ello pudiese depender la presentación clínica. No existen estudios previos que evalúen este fenómeno en cepas virales circulantes en México. Sumado a esto, se ha reportado que 80% de las infecciónes por DENV son asintomáticas: por lo tanto, los donadores de sangre virémicos son un riesgo para la seguridad en transfusiones. También nos propusimos estudiar si la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-DENV permanecía constante en donadores de sangre con respecto al tiempo. Objetivo: Conocer la contribución epidemiológica e impacto del dengue en Nuevo León, así como establecer si existe una asociación entre la patogénesis y la variabilidad genética de los serotipos 1 y 2 del DENV, mediante la evaluación de los perfiles de expresión y respuesta a interferón, en cultivos celulares infectados con cepas virales aisladas a partir de sujetos mexicanos virémicos. Materiales y métodos: Se hizo un estudio retrospectivo de los registros semanales de CENAVECE para conocer el panorama actual oficial del dengue en Nuevo León. En colaboración con el banco de sangre HU y el Centro Estatal de la Transfusión se recolectaron 285000 donaciones de sangre en el periodo de enero 2010 a diciembre 2012, con carta de consentimiento informado. A 2061 donadores sanos se les realizó ELISA para buscar anticuerpos contra Brucella, VHC, VDRL, HBsAg, HIV1 y 2, WNV, DENV IgM-IgG. Los sueros positivos a DENV se confirmaron por detección de NS1-DENV y RT-qPCR. A la par en colaboración con LESP-NL se recolectaron 1079 sueros NS1-DENV positivos de Nuevo León los cuales se analizaron por PCR en tiempo real para identificar serotipos, y fueron sembrados en células C6/36 para aislar partículas virales. Los virus aislados se titularon en células BHK-21. Posteriormente, se infectaron células Huh-7 a una m.o.i. de 0.1 durante 36h. Se usaron como control virus prototipo inactivados con luz UV. Transcurrido el tiempo de infección, las células se trataron 1h con IFNα (1000UI/mL). Los RNAs totales se montaron sobre arreglos de PCR tiempo real (PAHS-016Z, QIAGEN) para evaluar la respuesta de interferón de las cepas aisladas de pacientes. Resultados: Se encontró que en el transcurso de 5 años, el estado de Nuevo León pasó del lugar 12 al 5º con mayor incidencia de dengue a nivel nacional, y que la seroprevalencia de anticuerpos anti-DENV en donadores asintomáticos fue del 2.6%. Se aislaron 13 virus a partir de cutivos celulares infectados con sueros NS1 positivos y los virus tuvieron la capacidad de infectar otras líneas celulares, generar partículas infecciosas funcionales y de generar enfermedad en un sistema In vivo. Al infectar células Huh-7 se observó que las cepar virales tenían una capacidad diferente para modular la respuesta de interferón, regulando con diferente intensidad diferentes genes involucrados en el establecimiento del estado antiviral intracelular. Los virus serotipo 2 indujeron niveles de expresión más altos que los virus serotipo 1.

Rotation of Vibrio fischeri Flagella Produces Outer Membrane Vesicles That Induce Host Development

Using the squid-vibrio association, we aimed to characterize the mechanism through which Vibrio fischeri cells signal morphogenesis of the symbiotic light-emitting organ. The symbiont releases two cell envelope molecules, peptidoglycan (PG) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) that, within 12 h of light organ colonization, act in synergy to trigger normal tissue development. Recent work has shown that outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by V. fischeri are sufficient to induce PG-dependent morphogenesis; however, the mechanism(s) of OMV release by these bacteria has not been described. Like several genera of both beneficial and pathogenic bacteria, V. fischeri cells elaborate polar flagella that are enclosed by an extension of the outer membrane, whose function remains unclear. Here, we present evidence that along with the well-recognized phenomenon of blebbing from the cell's surface, rotation of this sheathed flagellum also results in the release of OMVs. In addition, we demonstrate that most of the development-inducing LPS is associated with these OMVs and that the presence of the outer membrane protein OmpU but not the LPS O antigen on these OMVs is important in triggering normal host development. These results also present insights into a possible new mechanism of LPS release by pathogens with sheathed flagella. IMPORTANCE Determining the function(s) of sheathed flagella in bacteria has been challenging, because no known mutation results only in the loss of this outer membrane-derived casing. Nevertheless, the presence of a sheathed flagellum in such host-associated genera as Vibrio, Helicobacter, and Brucella has led to several proposed functions, including physical protection of the flagella and masking of their immunogenic flagellins. Using the squid-vibrio light organ symbiosis, we demonstrate another role, that of V. fischeri cells require rotating flagella to induce apoptotic cell death within surface epithelium, which is a normal step in the organ's development. Further, we present evidence that this rotation releases apoptosis-triggering lipopolysaccharide in the form of outer membrane vesicles. Such release may also occur by pathogens but with different outcomes for the host.