Lactobacillus ruminis is a predominant lactic acid producing bacterium in the caecum and rectum of the pig

Aims: To identify the predominant lactic acid producing bacteria in the small intestine, caecum and the rectum of the healthy pig. Methods and Results: Samples obtained from the large intestine of healthy pigs post-mortem were cultured using a modified agar-MRS medium in roll tubes. Thirteen isolates were selected on the basis of their morphological characteristics and Gram stain reaction for gene sequencing. These isolates were characterized by DNA sequence analysis of 16S rDNA. Eight isolates were identified as Lactobacillus ruminis , two as Enterococcus faecium , one as Mitsuokella multiacidus and two as Escherichia coli . Conclusion: This is the first report of Lact. ruminis as the dominant lactic acid bacteria in the large intestine of the pig. Significance and Impact of the Study: The results suggest that Lact. ruminis is a dominant bacterium in the large intestine of the healthy pig. Future work should focus on the role of this bacterium in relation to the physiological function of the intestine and the health of the animal.

Colonisation of the chicken caecum by afimbriate and aflagellate derivatives of Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis

A semi-quantitative cloacal-swab method was used as an indirect measure of caecal colonisation of one-day old and five-day old chicks after oral dosing with wild-type Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis PT4 and,genetically defined isogenic derivatives lacking the ability to elaborate flagella or fimbriae. Birds of both ages were readily and persistently colonised by all strains although there war a decline in shedding by the older birds after about 21 days. There were no significant differences in shedding of wild-type or mutants in single-dose experiments. In competition experiments, in which five-day old birds were dosed orally with wild-type and mutants together, shedding of non-motile derivatives was significantly lower than wild-type, At 35 days post infection, birds were sacrificed and direct counts of mutants and wild-type from each caecum were determined. Whilst there appeared to be poor correlation between direct counts and the indirect swab method, the overall trends shown by these methods of assessment indicated that flagella and not fimbriae were important in caecal colonisation in these models. Crown Copyright (C) 1999 Published by Elsevier Science B.V.

Pathological and practical observations on diseases of the alimentary canal, oesephagus, stomach, caecum and intestines.

Mode of access: Internet.

Synchronous primary malignant tumors of the breast, caecum and sigma. Case report

We present the case of a patient with a double adenocarcinoma of the right colon and sigma associated with a bilateral infiltrating ductal breast carcinoma. Sigma and caecum bowel cancers were diagnosed at colonoscopy, with computerized tomography staging, while breast cancer was found with screening mammography. Following right hemicolectomy , sigmoidectomy and bilateral mastectomy the histology confirmed the presence of colonic adenocarcinoma and infiltrating and in situ lobular cancer. This case report reviews the treatment of synchronous neoplasia.

Rearrangement of diflunisal acyl glucuronide into its beta-glucuronidase-resistant isomers facilitates transport through the small intestine to the colon of the rat

Many non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) which form acyl glucuronide conjugates as major metabolites have shown an antiproliferative effect on colorectal tumors. This study assesses the extent to which rearrangement of an acyl glucuronide metabolite of a model NSAID into beta -glucuronidase-resistant isomers facilitates its passage through the small intestine to reach the colon. Rats were dosed orally with diflunisal (DF), its acyl glucuronide (DAG) and a mixture of rearrangement isomers (iso-DAG) at 10 mg DF equivalents/kg. The parent drug DF appeared in plasma after all doses, with maximum concentrations of 20.5 +/- 2.5, 28.8 +/- 8.3 and 11.0 +/- 1.6 mug DF/ml respectively, obtained at 3.8 +/- 0.3, 3.6 +/- 1.8 and 7.5 +/- 0.9 hr after the DF, DAG and iso-DAG doses respectively. At 48 hr, 16.2 +/- 3.3, 19.8 +/- 0.8 and 42.9 +/- 10.1% of the doses respectively were recovered in feces, with less than or equal to 1% remaining in the intestine. About half of each dose was recovered as DF and metabolites in 48 hr urine: for DF and DAG doses, the majority was in the first 24 hr urine. whereas for iso-DAG doses, recoveries in the first and second 24 hr periods were similar. The results show that hydrolysis of both DAG and iso-DAG, and absorption of liberated DF, occur during passage through the gut, but that these processes occur more slowly and to a lesser degree for iso-DAG. The intrinsic hydrolytic capacities of various intestinal segments (including contents) towards DAG and iso-DAG were obtained by incubating homogenates under saturating concentrations of DAG/iso-DAG at 37 degreesC. Upper small intestine, lower small intestine, caecum and colon released 2400, 3200, 9200 and 22800 mug DF/hr/g tissue plus contents respectively from DAG substrate, and 18, 10, 140 and 120 mug DF/hr/g tissue plus contents respectively from iso-DAG substrate. The much greater resistance of iso-DAG to hydrolysis appears attributable to its resistance to beta -glucuronidases. The data suggest that in rats dosed with DF, DAG excreted in bile would be substantially hydrolysed in the small intestine and liberated DF reabsorbed, but that portion which rearranges to iso-DAG would likely reach the colon. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.

In vitro evidence for a bacterial pathogenesis of equine laminitis

Utilizing an in vitro laminitis explant model, we have investigated how bacterial broth cultures and purified bacterial proteases activate matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and alter structural integrity of cultured equine lamellar hoof explants. Four Gram-positive Streptococcus spp. and three Gram-negative bacteria all induced a dose-dependent activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and caused lamellar explants to separate. MMP activation was deemed to have occurred if a specific MMP inhibitor, batimastat, blocked MMP activity and prevented lamellar separation. Thermolysin and streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin B (SpeB) both separated explants dose-dependently but only thermolysin was inhibitable by batimastat or induced MMP activation equivalent to that seen with bacterial broths. Additionally, thermolysin and broth MMP activation appeared to be cell dependent as MMP activation did not occur in isolation. These results suggest the rapid increase in streptococcal species in the caecum and colon observed in parallel with carbohydrate induced equine laminitis may directly cause laminitis via production of exotoxin(s) capable of activating resident MMPs within the lamellar structure. Once activated, these MMPs can degrade key components of the basement membrane (BM) hemidesmosome complex, ultimately separating the BM from the epidermal basal cells resulting in the characteristic laminitis histopathology of hoof lamellae. While many different causative agents have been evaluated in the past, the results of this study provide a unifying aetiological mechanism for the development of carbohydrate induced equine laminitis. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Seasonality of nematode larvae in Iguanodectes spilurus (Characidae) an ornamental fish from northeastern Para, Brazil

The current study presents a parasitological survey of larval nematodes from freshwater ornamental fish Iguanodectes spilurus caught in the watercourse of the Caete River, in the northeast region of the State of Para, Brazil. A total of 176 specimens, 1.36±0.75 g weight and 5.53±0.98 cm total length, were analyzed. Nematode larvae were identified as Capillaria sp., Procamallanus sp. and Anisakidae, with prevalence of 70.45% and infection intensity ranging from 1.81 to 4.70 larvae. The highest prevalence 57.38% occurred in the liver, but no seasonality was observed, indicating high infection throughout the year. Seasonality was observed in fish parasitized in the stomach, intestine and caecum, with prevalence and mean intensity of 17.61% and 2.32 parasites, 12.5% and 1.81 parasites, 10.79% and 2.21 parasites, respectively. The highest degree of infection was observed in the rainy season, probably due to increased availability of intermediate hosts or food.

Deep infiltrating endometriosis of the colon causing cyclic bleeding

[Description] Endometriosis, the presence of functional endometrial tissue outside the uterus, occurs in about 3–10% of women of reproductive age and is a cause of chronic pelvic pain and infertility for some.1 Bowel involvement may be present in about 5–10% of these women, mostly affecting the rectum and distal sigmoid (over 80% of cases), and, more infrequently, the appendix, ileum and caecum. The most common lesions involve only the serosa (endometriotic implants) but they can penetrate the muscular layers of the wall, in which case they are called deep infiltrating endometriosis. (...)

Morfología del aparato digestivo de Enteroctopus megalocyathus y Loligo sanpaulensis (Mollusca, Cephalopoda)

A detailed description of the morphology of the digestive organs of Enteroctopus megalocyathus (Gould, 1852) and Loligo sanpaulensis Brakoniecki, 1984 is given. The mandibles, the crop diverticulum, a doubly coiled caecum, the loop of the medium intestine and the appendages of the digestive gland are first described for E. megalocyathus. The most outstanding finding in L. sanpaulensis is the location of the single posterior salivary gland, wholly embedded in the digestive gland.

Mollusks: how are they arranged in the rocky intertidal zone?

Mollusks occupy different kinds of environments, including the intertidal zone. The present study investigated the spatial distribution of mollusks on beach rocks of the intertidal zone of Pacheco Beach in the state of Ceará, Brazil. Sampling occurred from August 2006 to September 2007. Across two transects, six samples of 0.25 m² were collected monthly in gaps of 30 m (0 m, 30 m, 60 m, 90 m, 120 m and 150 m). The mollusks were counted in field, and samples of sediment and algae were taken for further analysis. A total of 74,515 individuals were found and classified into 67 species, 52 genera and 39 families. Gastropods were predominant, corresponding to 73.1% of the species, followed by bivalves (22.4%) and chitons (4.5%). Caecum ryssotitum de Folin, 1867 was the most abundant taxon, representing 68.8% of total specimen findings. In general, species were mostly found in Middle Littoral zone (samples 60 m and 90 m), suggesting that the greater number of microenvironments available in this area may contribute to establishment and survival.

Hysterothylacium rhamdiae sp.n., (Ascaridoidea: Anisakidae) from a Neotropical Catfish, Rhmdia sapo (Pisces: Pimelodidae)

A new species of Hysterothylacium is described and figured. The nematodes were collected from the intestine of a neotropical catfish, Rhamdia sapo, collected from its southernmost locality (Napostá stream and Sauce Grande river, Buenos Aires Province). The specimens resemble H. murrayense but differ in having a shorter spicules, in the number and distribution of papillae and the relative size of intestinal caecum ventricular appendix.

On a New Species of Hysterothylacium (Nematoda: Anisakidae) from Cauque mauleanum (Pisces: Atherinidae) by Brightfield and Scanning Electron Microscopy

Hysterothylacium geschei n. sp. (Nematoda, Anisakidae) is described from the intestine of Cauque mauleanum (Steindachner) (Pisces: Atherinidae) from Lake Panguipulli (39º43'S; 72º13'W), Chile. Eleven (78.6%) out of 14 fish were infected, with a mean intensity (range) of 14.4 (1-55) worms. The new species can be differentiated from the two previously described species of freshwater fishes from South America by the presence of lateral alae, the number of caudal papillae, and the length of the spicules, oesophagus, intestinal caecum, distance vulva-anterior extremity and the length ratio intestinal caecum: ventricular appendix. From the fishes examined in Lake Panguipulli, including the introduced salmonid species Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum) and the authochthonous species Basilichthys australis Eigenmann (Atherinidae) and Percichthys trucha (Valenciennes) (Percichthyidae), only one specimen of P. trucha was found parasitized by a third-stage larva of this species.

Electrical colonic stimulation reduces mean transit time in a porcine model.

Abstract Electrical stimulation is a new way to treat digestive disorders such as constipation. Colonic propulsive activity can be triggered by battery operated devices. This study aimed to demonstrate the effect of direct electrical colonic stimulation on mean transit time in a chronic porcine model. The impact of stimulation and implanted material on the colonic wall was also assessed. Three pairs of electrodes were implanted into the caecal wall of 12 anaesthetized pigs. Reference colonic transit time was determined by radiopaque markers for each pig before implantation. It was repeated 4 weeks after implantation with sham stimulation and 5 weeks after implantation with electrical stimulation. Aboral sequential trains of 1-ms pulse width (10 V; 120 Hz) were applied twice daily for 6 days, using an external battery operated stimulator. For each course of markers, a mean value was computed from transit times obtained from individual pig. Microscopic examination of the caecum was routinely performed after animal sacrifice. A reduction of mean transit time was observed after electrical stimulation (19 +/- 13 h; mean +/- SD) when compared to reference (34 +/- 7 h; P = 0.045) and mean transit time after sham stimulation (36 +/- 9 h; P = 0.035). Histological examination revealed minimal chronic inflammation around the electrodes. Colonic transit time measured in a chronic porcine model is reduced by direct sequential electrical stimulation. Minimal tissue lesion is elicited by stimulation or implanted material. Electrical colonic stimulation could be a promising approach to treat specific disorders of the large bowel.