Enteric Diseases (enteric + disease)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Faecal shedding and serological cross-sectional study of Lawsonia intracellularis in horses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil

EQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2009
C. V. Guimarães-Ladeira
Summary Reason for performing the study: Proliferative enteropathy, caused by the intracellular bacterium Lawsonia intracellularis, has been described in horses in Australia, the USA, Canada and European countries but has not been reported in Latin America. The prevalence of the disease in horses worldwide is unknown. Objective: To evaluate the presence of subclinical L. intracellularis infection in horses in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Methods: A longitudinal study using serology and PCR for detecting antibodies (IgG) and shedding of L. intracellularis in faecal samples, respectively, was conducted using a total of 223 horses from 14 different horse farms in Minas Gerais, and from the Veterinary School of UFMG equine herds in Minas Gerais. The immunoperoxidase technique in glass slides was used as the serological test. Results: Twenty-one horse sera had immunoglobulin G titres of 1:60 and were considered positive. The PCR technique in faeces for L. intracellularis DNA identified 7 horses as faecal shedders. Horses shedding the organism appeared healthy, indicating that subclinical infection of L. intracellularis occurred in the horses. Conclusion: Seropositivity and detection of faecal shedding of L. intracellularis indicates the presence of the agent in the equine population in Minas Gerais. Potential relevance: Results of this study should alert clinicians in countries where proliferative enteropthy in horses has not been reported to consider this disease as a possible cause of enteric disease. [source]


In vitro evaluation of the activity of microencapsulated carvacrol against Escherichia coli with K88 pili

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2009
Q. Wang
Abstract Aims:, The aim of the current study is to develop encapsulation of essential oils for oral delivery to the small intestine of pigs in order to retain their antimicrobial activity. Methods and Results:, Carvacrol was used as a model essential oil and successfully encapsulated in microcapsules made from Ca-alginate hydrogel using an emulsion,extrusion technology with high encapsulation efficiency. This encapsulation method did not compromise the antimicrobial activity when tested against Escherichia coli K88 in a culture medium, as well as in a simulated gastrointestinal model. In the simulated gastrointestinal model, <20% of encapsulated carvacrol was released in the simulated gastric fluid; the rest was nearly completely released in the intestinal fluid after 6 h of incubation. Conclusions:, Encapsulation in Ca-alginate microcapsules could effectively reduce the early absorption of carvacrol in the upper gastrointestinal tract after oral administration, therefore, retains its potential antibacterial activity for the small intestine. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The developed encapsulation method is expected to be suitable for encapsulation of other essential oils. The results from this study would increase the likelihood of success in the application of essential oils as antimicrobial agents for controlling enteric diseases in pigs. [source]


A PCR-DGGE method for detection and identification of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, Arcobacter and related Epsilobacteria and its application to saliva samples from humans and domestic pets

JOURNAL OF APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2007
R.F. Petersen
Abstract Aims:, To develop a PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) method for the detection and identification of Campylobacter, Helicobacter and Arcobacter species (Epsilobacteria) in clinical samples and evaluate its efficacy on saliva samples from humans and domestic pets. Methods and Results:, A semi-nested PCR was developed to allow sensitive detection of all Epsilobacteria, with species separation undertaken by DGGE. A database was constructed in BioNumerics using 145 strains covering 51 Campylobacter, Arcobacter and Helicobacter taxa; Nineteen distinct DGGE profile-groups were distinguished. This approach detected Epsilobacteria in all saliva samples collected from humans, cats and dogs, and identified Campylobacter concisus and/or Campylobacter gracilis in the human samples. The pet animal samples were taken from individuals with oral/dental diseases; PCR-DGGE identified up to four different species in each sample. The most common species detected included Wolinella succinogenes, Arcobacter butzleri and two hitherto uncultured campylobacters. The enteropathogen Campylobacter lari was also found. Conclusions:, PCR combined with DGGE is a useful tool for direct detection and preliminary identification of Epsilobacteria in the oral cavity of humans and small animals. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The PCR-DGGE method should allow determination of the true prevalence and diversity of Epsilobacteria in clinical and other samples. Contact with the oral cavity of domestic pets may represent a route of transmission for epsilobacterial enteric diseases. [source]


An epidemiological survey on pigs showing symptoms of infectious enteric diseases and dyspepsia in Japan

ANIMAL SCIENCE JOURNAL, Issue 5 2009
Kazunari USHIDA
ABSTRACT Diarrhea in pigs has the potential to have a serious economic impact on the swine industry. Previously, we suggested that the likely cause of the presence of non-infectious diarrhea in pigs characterized by lactate accumulation was dyspepsia. In this experiment, the prevalence of enteropathogens and hyper-lactate accumulation in feces of piglets in 4 distinct growth stages was examined. The feces were collected when veterinarian experts recognized abnormalities in sporadic outbreaks. Prevalence of enteropathogens in diarrheal feces was 100% in fattening pigs (FP), 75% in weaning pigs (WP), 50% in suckling pigs (SP), and 42% in growing pigs (GP). Prevalence of enteropathogens in loose feces was 53% in WP, 50% in SP, 40% in FP, and 28% in GP. Prevalence of hyper-lactate accumulation in diarrheal feces was 33% in GP, 33% in SP, 25% in WP, and 25% in FP. Prevalence of hyper-lactate accumulation in loose feces was 40% in GP, 0% in SP, 7% in WP, and 5% in FP. Accordingly, non-infectious dyspepsia is frequent in growing pigs. In this period, pigs are potentially exposed to needless antimicrobial therapeutic treatments in sporadic cases. [source]