Fecal Droppings Research Articles

Integrated Geophysical Investigation in Delineating Extent of Pollution Caused by Poultry Waste at Ilora Area, Southwestern Nigeria

An integrated VLF-Electromagnetic and Electrical Resistivity survey was carried out in Odo Abata, Ilora area of Southwestern Nigeria in order to investigate the possible extent of groundwater contamination caused by an indiscriminate accumulation of poultry fecal droppings in a seasonal stream. The poultry fecal accumulation solidifies during the dry season and the percolating water plays a significant role in leachate generation and infiltration during the wet season. When in contact with the subsurface aquifer, the leachate forms a plume which diffuses into the pore spaces of aquifer with high rate of infiltration. Field data were collected using ABEM WADI VLF- EM equipment and campus Tigre Terrmeter. A total of eight VLF profiles, four electrical imaging profiles and two VES points were obtained in the vicinity of the study area. Control profiles and VES point were obtained at 500 m away from the study area. Field data were interpreted using KHFFilt program version 1.1a for VLF, Dipro software for electrical imaging and Winresist version 1.0 for VES data. Interpretation of VLF data showed conductive near surface layers and some fractures at depth. Electrical imaging data however revealed a near surface very low resistivity region which is due to the surface fecal accumulation. VES results showed that the overburden is clayey, and the basement is fractured. Depth to basement ranges from 9.3 – 12.8 m. Poultry fecal accumulation with leachate is mostly restricted to the topmost 6 m of the soil and if not controlled, leachate infiltration may reach the shallow basement with time and contaminate the groundwater system of Odo Abata area. Keywords: Very Low Frequency Electromagnetic (VLF-EM), Electrical Resistivity, Contamination, Leachate, Fracture DOI : 10.7176/JEES/9-10-09 Publication date :October 31 st 2019

Evaluation of the effect of a modified proprietary poultry feed on cholesterol excretion in laying birds

Abstract The effect of modified proprietary poultry feed on cholesterol excretion in laying birds was evaluated. The study sort to lower the cholesterol content of eggs at the point of their physiological formation via a modification of the proprietary feed fed to laying poultry birds. This was with a view to lower the net cholesterol content in their eggs, thereby lowering the cholesterol levels available in such eggs for intake upon consumption. A 20% rice bran modification of the proprietary feed was made. Animal subjects were divided into experimental and control groups and the mean total cholesterol in their faecal droppings where determined before and after varying their feeding programs. Whereas the experimental group was fed with the modified feed, the control group was maintained on the unmodified feed. Enzymatic colorimetric method was used for the determination of mean total cholesterol in the dried faecal droppings of each group of birds under investigation. The results showed that the mean total cholesterol excretion before and after the modified feed regimen were 5.97±0.16 mg/g and 9.99±0.47 mg/g respectively and were found to be significantly different when compared using a t-test at p > 0.05 and 49 degree of freedom The results also showed that the modified proprietary poultry feed increased total cholesterol excretion in the faecal droppings of laying birds fed with the modified feed by 67.3%, and this was found to be statistically significant at p > 0.05. Hence, a 20% rice-bran modification of the proprietary feed yields a modified feed with a proven potency in elevating total cholesterol excretion while producing no drastic deviation from the proximate composition of the unmodified proprietary feed and is thus likely to have no adverse effect on the productivity of laying birds.

Dispersal of rotifers and cladocerans by waterbirds: seasonal changes and hatching success

Aquatic invertebrates can be geographically dispersed by abiotic vectors (wind, rain and water flow) or organisms (mainly by insects, fishes and waterbirds). However, there is a lack of information on the dispersal by waterbirds of cladocerans and especially rotifers, and on the hatching success of the dispersed propagules. Here, we quantify the dispersal of cladocerans and rotifers by waterbirds through analysis of their faecal droppings collected in a wetland formed by two natural lakes located in Donana National Park (Spain). We also study the influence of different photoperiod and temperature conditions on the hatching success of the dispersal propagules. Diapausing propagules of 22 species of rotifers or cladocerans were identified in waterbird faecal droppings, with a mean number of 0.9 diapausing propagules per dropping. The hatching success rate, which was not influenced by photoperiod or temperature, was low (~ 12.5%). Nevertheless, the role of rotifer dispersal by waterbirds appears to have been underestimated in the past. In this study area, the dispersal of rotifers by waterbirds may be at least as relevant as their dispersal by air currents. Further studies are needed to evaluate the relative importance of dispersal mechanisms (mainly air currents and animal vectors) in different geographical areas.

Screening of crows and waterfowls for Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes infection

Background and Aim: Wild birds can carry a number of potential human and animal pathogens. These birds can intrude into human habitats giving the opportunity to transmission of such infection. Therefore, the current study was designed to investigate the role of crows and waterfowls as vectors of Salmonella and Listeria monocytogenes and to compare cultivation methods with direct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the detection of infection. Materials and Methods: A total of 200 fecal dropping samples were collected. Salmonella was cultivated by three step method (Universal Pre-enrichment Broth [UPB], Rappaport-Vassiliadis Broth, and Xylose Lysine Desoxycholate agar). The recovered isolates were characterized by biotyping, serotyping, and PCR detection of enterotoxin (stn) gene. The antibiogram pattern of isolates against a panel of 8 antibiotics was recorded. L. monocytogenes was cultivated on UPB, then on Listeria Oxford Agar and Listeria CHROMagar. The recovered isolates were characterized by biotyping and PCR detection of listeriolysin (hylA) gene. Results: The percentages of Salmonella infection in crows and waterfowls were 10 and 20, respectively. The most frequently recovered serovars were Typhimurium, Potengi, Enteritidis, and Kentucky. Antimicrobial susceptibility analysis of Salmonella isolates showed that the resistance rates for gentamicin were the highest (92%), followed by amoxicillin (88%) and cefixime (60%). Resistance to 8 antibiotics was recorded in 60% (15/25) of Salmonella isolates. The percentages of L. monocytogenes infection in crows and waterfowls were 1.3 and 2, respectively. Direct PCR applied to UPB revealed that 12% and 3% of samples were positive for Salmonella and L. monocytogenes, respectively, and there was no significant difference between direct PCR and cultivation method for the detection of infection. Conclusion: The present findings indicate that wild birds can harbor zoonotic enteric pathogens and this necessitates monitoring the epidemiologic status of these pathogens among wild birds and humans and applying the appropriate intervention measures to prevent the spread of infection.

Mixed natural Escherichia coli, staphylococcus aureus and streptococcus spp. infections in suspected case of fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome in commercial laying hens in masaka, Nigeria

Ten (10) carcasses from a flock of about 19,000 Isabrown laying chickens from a commercial poultry farm in Masaka, Nasarawa State, Nigeria were presented for post mortem examination following complaints of sudden mortality (0.74%) and drop in egg production (20.0%) on the farm during the hot-dry period of the year, 2017 with high ambient temperature (41.3°C). The pullets (19,000) were reportedly purchased and brought to the farm as point of lay chickens with full vaccination history and were in cage battery system feeding ad libitum. Although most (65%) of the birds looked apparently healthy but the affected birds were dull in appearance with about 35.00% morbidity. On visit to the farm, greenish faecal droppings were seen on the floor while some eggs were soft-shelled, small sized and cracked with some white pigmentation. Congested wattles and combs, prolapsed vents and pale carcasses were evident on gross examination with hepatomegaly, renomegaly and cardiomegaly. The enlarged liver was pale, friable and ruptured. Fibrinous exudation, perivascular oedema and cellular infiltration with microbial clumps were seen in sampled tissues. Microbial cultures yielded Escherichia coli in the liver and heart and Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp in the lungs, respectively and were sensitive to Levafloxacin® (+++). There was marked reduction in mortality with marked increase in feed consumption and egg production following Levafloxacin® treatment. In conclusion, mixed natural Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus spp. infections was diagnosed, as the cause of the mortality on the farm that might be triggered by stress occasioned by the prevailing high ambient temperature amongst others such as the high crude protein (16.80%) and energy feed (2680Kcal/kg).

Detection of Potential Human Pathogenic Bacteria Isolated From Feces of Two Colonial Seabirds Nesting on Isla Rasa, Gulf of California: Heermann’s Gull (Larus heermanni) and Elegant Tern (Thalasseus elegans)

Some seabird species have shown to be carriers of human pathogenic bacteria, given their occurrence in contaminated coastal areas. This in turn may pose a health risk to humans and become a possible factor in the spread of infectious diseases. In this scenario, we studied whether potential human pathogenic bacteria of genera Escherichia, Vibrio, and Staphylococcus can be traced in the Heermann’s Gull and the Elegant Tern, two seabirds from Isla Rasa, Gulf of California. To this end, freshly deposited fecal droppings from both seabirds were collected and evaluated through several methods (standard bacterial methods, multiplex PCR, 16S rRNA sequencing, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrophotometry). We identified Escherichia coli isolates, however, no evidence of pathogenicity was found. The analysis of the 16S rRNA sequences allowed the identification of isolates related to Vibrio alginolyticus and Vibrio parahaemolyticus, both previously reported as human pathogens. Also, analysis of 16S rRNA and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) leads to the identification of isolates related to Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Staphylococcus sciuri, and Staphylococcus aureus, also reported as human pathogens. However, the identified bacteria do not represent any of the species or strains that most importantly affect humans. This study represents the first approach to the identification of pathogenic microorganisms in seabirds nesting in the central region of the Gulf of California; however, it was limited to only two species of seabirds and a few microorganisms. Therefore, monitoring and surveillance work like this should be continued and expanded to other species.

Table for five, please: Dietary partitioning in boreal bats.

Differences in diet can explain resource partitioning in apparently similar, sympatric species. Here, we analyzed 1,252 fecal droppings from five species (Eptesicus nilssonii, Myotis brandtii, M. daubentonii, M. mystacinus, and Plecotus auritus) to reveal their dietary niches using fecal DNA metabarcoding. We identified nearly 550 prey species in 13 arthropod orders. Two main orders (Diptera and Lepidoptera) formed the majority of the diet for all species, constituting roughly 80%–90% of the diet. All five species had different dietary assemblages. We also found significant differences in the size of prey species between the bat species. Our results on diet composition remain mostly unchanged when using either read counts as a proxy for quantitative diet or presence–absence data, indicating a strong biological pattern. We conclude that although bats share major components in their ecology (nocturnal life style, insectivory, and echolocation), species differ in feeding behavior, suggesting bats may have distinctive evolutionary strategies. Diet analysis helps illuminate life history traits of various species, adding to sparse ecological knowledge, which can be utilized in conservation planning.

English

Fluphenazine is a typical antipsychotic medicine with extrapyramidal effects. It was tested for purgative and neurological effects in turkeys. The results showed that the drug induced purgation at a dose range of 5 to 200 mg/kg body weight causing highest frequency of fecal droppings (7) at 10 mg/kg in 7 min and lowest frequency of dropping (1) at 50 mg/kg. However, the number of fecal droppings was not linearly correlated with dose progression. Fluidity of the dropping increased with dose. This effect may be due to the stimulation or sedation of gastrointestinal tract. At 5 mg/kg, the animals were calm, but at 15 mg/kg of fluphenazine, there was severe torticollis as the dose increased. In conclusion, fluphenazine has hormetic dose response of gastrointestinal stimulation and inhibition as well as central nervous system depression and stimulation, respectively. Key words: Fluphenazine, purgation, extrapyramidal effect, acetylcholine, sedation.

Sources of contamination, prevalence, and antimicrobial resistance of thermophilic Campylobacter isolated from turkeys.

Aim:Sources of contamination, prevalence, and antimicrobial susceptibility of thermophilic Campylobacter isolated from turkey samples were determined.Materials and Methods:A total of 300 samples were collected from 3 farms (fecal droppings) and 4 poultry slaughterhouses (neck skins and ceca) located in the middle area of Algeria (Algiers, Boumerdès, and Bouira). After detection, an antibiogram was realized only for slaughterhouses samples.Results:Samples from cecum (90.0%, 90/100; 95% confidence interval (CI)=84.1-95.9%), fecal dropping (68.0%, 68/100; 95% CI=58.9–77.1%), and neck skin (55.0%, 55/100; 95% CI=45.2–64.8%) were positive for thermophilic Campylobacter (p<0.05). Contamination rate of turkey carcasses was higher in modern slaughterhouse (96.7%) than in traditional slaughterhouses (37.1%) (p<0.05). Isolated strains were resistant to nalidixic acid (NA) (87.5%), tetracycline (TE) (81.3%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (75.0%), ampicillin (AM) (65.6%), and erythromycin (25.0%) (p<0.05). 96.9% (124/128) of the isolates were multiresistant and 18 drug resistance patterns were registered. The predominant one (43.0%) was AM, NA, CIP, and TE.Conclusions:Potential sources of contamination of this fastidious bacterium were noticed in farms and slaughterhouses. Modern slaughterhouse allowed contamination of turkey carcasses more than a traditional slaughterhouse. However, the scalding step could not represent a source of contamination. The most tested strains exhibited resistance to erythromycin and/or CIP. It is worrisome because these molecules are considered as first-choice antibiotics for human campylobacteriosis.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars in poultry farms in central Ethiopia: prevalence and antimicrobial resistance

BackgroundPoultry is one of the common sources of non-typhoidal Salmonella and poultry products are the major sources of human infection with non-typhoidal Salmonella. In spite of flourishing poultry industry in the country, data on prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of non-typhoidal Salmonella serovars at farm level is not available in Ethiopia. This study investigated prevalence, serotype distribution and antimicrobial resistance of non-typhoidal Salmonella in poultry farms in Addis Ababa and its surrounding districts.ResultsA total of 549 fresh pool of fecal droppings (n = 3 each) were collected from 48 poultry farms and cultured for Salmonella using standard laboratory technique and serotyped using slide agglutination technique. Susceptibility of Salmonella isolates to18 antimicrobials was tested according to CLSI guideline using Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. Salmonella was recovered in 7 (14.6%) of the farms and 26 (4.7%) of the samples. Salmonella was more common in poultry farms with larger flock size than in the smaller ones and in Ada’a district as compared to other districts. All isolates were obtained from farms containing layers. Two out of 6 (33.3%) farms that kept birds in cage were positive for Salmonella while only 5 (11.9%) of the 42 farms who used floor system were positive. Oxytetracycline was used widely in 40 (83.3%) of the farms, followed by amoxicillin 14 (29.2%) and sulfonamides 11 (22.9%). Salmonella Saintpaul was the dominant serotype detected accounting for 20 (76.9%) of all isolates. Other serovars, such as S. Typhimurium3 (11.5%), S. Kentucky 2 (7.7%) and S. Haifa 1 (3.8%) were also detected. Of all the Salmonella isolates tested, 24 (92.3%) were intermediately or fully resistant to sulfisoxazole and streptomycin, 12 (46.2%) to cephalothin, while 11 (42.3%) were resistant to ampicillin, amoxicillin+clavulanic acid, kanamycin and chloramphenicol. Multidrug resistance (MDR) to several drugs was common in S. Kentucky and S. Saintpaul.ConclusionDespite low prevalence of Salmonella in poultry farms in the study area, circulation of MDR strains in some farms warrant special biosecurity measures to hinder dissemination of these pathogens to other farms and the public. Moreover, awareness creation on prudent use of antimicrobials is recommended.

Genotypic characterisation of Avian paramyxovirus type-1 viruses isolated from aquatic birds in Uganda

Avian paramyxovirus type-1 (APMV-1) viruses of the lentogenic pathotypes are often isolated from wild aquatic birds and may mutate to high pathogenicity when they cross into poultry and cause debilitating Newcastle disease. This study characterised AMPV-1 isolated from fresh faecal droppings from wild aquatic birds roosting sites in Uganda. Fresh faecal samples from wild aquatic birds at several waterbodies in Uganda were collected and inoculated into 9–10-day-old embryonated chicken eggs. After isolation, the viruses were confirmed as APMV-1 by APMV-1-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The cleavage site of the fusion protein gene for 24 representative isolates was sequenced and phylogenetically analysed and compared with representative isolates of the different APMV-1 genotypes in the GenBank database. In total, 711 samples were collected from different regions in the country from which 72 isolates were recovered, giving a prevalence of 10.1%. Sequence analysis of 24 isolates revealed that the isolates were all lentogenic, with the typical 111GGRQGR’L117 avirulent motif. Twenty-two isolates had similar amino acid sequences at the cleavage site, which were different from the LaSota vaccine strain by a silent nucleotide substitution T357C. Two isolates, NDV/waterfowl/Uganda/MU150/2011 and NDV/waterfowl/Uganda/MU186/2011, were different from the rest of the isolates in a single amino acid, with aspartate and alanine at positions 124 and 129, respectively. The results of this study revealed that Ugandan aquatic birds indeed harbour APMV-1 that clustered with class II genotype II strains and had limited genetic diversity.

Prevalence of extended spectrum beta lactamase and plasmid mediated quinolone resistant genes in strains of Klebsiella pneumonia, Morganella morganii, Leclercia adecarboxylata and Citrobacter freundii isolated from poultry in South Western Nigeria.

A serious concern is arising on the coexistence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) producing bacteria in animal husbandry, which could be transferred to humans, especially in strains that may not be routinely screened for resistance. This study therefore tested the prevalence of ESBL and PMQR genes in selected bacteria isolated from poultry faeces. Faecal droppings of birds were collected from 11 farms in five states in South Western Nigeria. Bacteria were isolated from the samples on cefotaxime supplemented plates and identified with MALDI-TOF. The MIC was determined using VITEK system and resistance genes were detected with PCR. A total of 350 strains were isolated from different samples and selected strains were identified as 23 Klebsiella pneumonia, 12 Morganella morganii, seven Leclercia adecarboxylata and one Citrobacter freundii. All the species were resistant to gentamycin, trimethoprim/sulphamethaxole, tobramycin, piperacillin, cefotaxime and aztreonam (except Morganella morganii strains which were mostly susceptible to aztreonam). All the tested strains were susceptible to imipenem, meropenem and amikacin. All Leclercia adecarboxylata strains were resistant to ceftazidime, cefepime and fosfomycin while all Morganella morganii strains were resistant to fosfomycin, moxifloxacin and ciprofloxacin. All tested species were generally sensitive to ciprofloxacin except Morganella morganii strains which were resistant to ciprofloxacin. The resistance to ciprofloxacin, ceftazidime, cefepime, tigercylin, colistin and fosfomycin were 65%, 40%, 23%,, 7%, 33%, 48% respectively while the prevalence of SHV, TEM and CTX genes were 42%, 63%, 35% respectively. 9.3% of the isolates had the three ESBL genes, 2.33% had qnrA gene, 4.65% had qnr B gene while none had qnrS gene. The most prevalent PMQR gene is Oqxb (25.58%) while 6.98% had the qep gene. Klebsiella pneumoniae generally had both ESBL and PMQR genes. The high prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase genes in the studied strains calls for caution in the use of beta lactam antibiotics in poultry feeds. This is the first report of the occurrence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase and plasmid mediated quinolone resistance genes in Morganella morganii and Leclercia adecarboxylata strains isolated from poultry faeces.

Land-use and land-cover changes and their drivers in rangeland-dependent pastoral communities in the southern Afar Region of Ethiopia

The present study was conducted in the southern Afar Region in Ethiopia to analyse the trends of land-use and land-cover changes and their drivers in the period 1985 to 2015 using remote sensing, field observation, focus group discussions and semi-structured interviews. A substantial loss of grassland cover (64.5%), moderate decline of cultivated land (24%) and a considerable increase in bush and shrub land cover (114.3%) occurred between 1985 and 2015. Consequently, pastoralist’s access to rangeland resources and farmlands was highly restricted, thus putting the pastoral production system under increasing threat. A 13.3% decline of bare land was also observed during the same period. The results further indicated that policy, climate change, and variability, biotic factors including population growth, overgrazing, Prosopis juliflora seed dispersal via livestock’s fecal droppings and seed germination potential of P. juliflora under moisture stress were the most important drivers of land-use and land-cover changes. Therefore, policy and strategies should be developed to control P. juliflora and give pastoralists full rights to their grazing land. Furthermore, there should be a strategy to strengthen the customary institution for effective management of rangeland resources.

ANTIMOTILITY AND ANTISECRETORY RELATED ANTIDIARRHOEAL ACTIVITY OF THE ABELMOSCHUS MOSCHATUS MEDIK IN EXPERIMENTAL ANIMAL MODELS

Objective: This study was intended to evaluate the anti-diarrhoeal potential of Abelmoschus moschatus Medik (A. moschatus Medik) seeds and the possible mechanism therein involved by using different experimental models in albino Wistar rats.Methods: The hydroalcoholic seed extract of A. moschatus Medik. (HEAM) was orally administered at the doses of 150, 300 and 500 mg/kg respectively to the different groups in order to assess the effect of extract in castor oil induced diarrhea model in rats. In order to comprehend the mechanism involved in its anti-diarrhoeal potential, the extract was further investigated for its effect on gastrointestinal motility using charcoal meal test and antisecretory action by castor oil induced intestinal enter pooling where, atropine sulphate (5 mg/kg) and loperamide (2 mg/kg) were used as reference standards respectively.Results: The HEAM exhibited significant (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) and dose-dependent anti-diarrhoeal effect by decreasing the mean number of fecal droppings produced upon castor oil administration as compared to the normal control. The effect of the extract at 500 mg/kg was near to that of loperamide (2 mg/kg). The extract (300 mg/kg) showed antimotility action by significantly (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) attenuating the charcoal meal transit in the intestine as compared to negative control animals. Further, the extract showed significant (p&lt;0.05, p&lt;0.001) inhibition in the accumulation of intestinal fluid due to castor oil.Conclusion: The HEAM exhibited significant anti-diarrhoeal action that could be presumably related to its observed antimotility and antisecretory activities. This study justifies the usage of A. moschatus Medik. as an anti-diarrhoeal agent in traditional practices of medicine.

Variations in the hatching response of rotifers to salinity and waterbird ingestion

Climate change is increasing the salinity of waters in the Mediterranean region. This effect may negatively affect the resilience of aquatic communities and modify regional dynamics, favouring the colonization of salt-tolerant species. Our objective was to test the effects of salinity on the resilient capacity and dispersal response of rotifers at different temperatures through the study of their hatching success. Hatching responses are compared between diapausing eggs isolated from the sediments of two peridunal lakes and from waterbird faecal samples collected in the same area. Experiments were performed at two temperatures (15 and 25°C) with four salinity treatments (0.2, 1, 4 and 8 g L−1). Results showed species-specific hatching response of rotifers to salinity, which varied with temperature. No overall differences in hatching were observed between the lake sediments and waterbird faecal samples. However, the only diapausing eggs hatching from waterbird faecal samples were those isolated from faecal droppings of Anas platyrhynchos and A. clypeata. We observed that hatching success of Brachionus angularis was higher for dispersed diapausing eggs by waterbirds than for sedimentary diapausing eggs. Our results show that high water salinities and/or particular species of disperser waterbirds may limit the potential dispersal of rotifers by waterbirds.

Molecular identification of temperate Cricetidae and Muridae rodent species using fecal samples collected in a natural habitat

Molecular species identification from biological material collected at field sites has become an established ecological tool. However, extracting and amplifying DNA from degraded field samples, such as prey remains and feces that have been exposed to the elements, remains a challenge and costly. We collected 115 fecal samples of unknown small mammals, resembling fecal droppings of voles and mice (i.e., Cricetidae and Muridae), from a salt marsh in The Netherlands. We modified a previously published protocol into a relatively low-cost method with a PCR success of 95%. We demonstrate that species identification is possible for both Cricetidae and Muridae species using fecal samples of unknown age deposited in the field. For 90 samples, sequences of the variable control region in the mitochondrial genome were obtained and compared to published DNA sequences of small mammals occurring in north European salt marshes. A single sample, probably environmentally contaminated, appeared as Sus scrofa (n = 1). We positively identified house mouse Mus musculus, being the positive control (n = 1), and common vole Microtus arvalis (n = 88). In 81 sequences of 251 nt without ambiguous bases, ten haplotypes were present. These haplotypes, representing the central lineage of the western subspecies M. arvalis arvalis, were separated by 20 mutations from published control region haplotypes of the western European lineages sampled in France. Unlike earlier studies of cytochrome b variation in coastal European populations, we did not find indications of recent purging of genetic variation in our study area.

Molecular Analysis, Biochemical Characterization, Antimicrobial Activity, and Immunological Analysis of Proteus mirabilis Isolated from Broilers.

Proteus mirabilis, a Gram-negative bacterium, is ubiquitous in the environment and is considered as the normal microflora in the human gastrointestinal tract. However, this bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen in humans, often causing urinary tract infections. Moreover, Proteus has been frequently isolated from food animals, including poultry. Whether this bacterium contributes to the foodborne illness in humans is unclear. In this report, P. mirabilis isolates recovered from broilers during housing in the units were characterized, their antimicrobial activity was assayed, and broiler immune response to the soluble proteins was determined. Cecal contents and fecal droppings were treated according to the standard protocol for isolation. Speciation based on biochemical reactions and the antimicrobial activity of the isolates were carried out using commercial kits. Immunoblot was assayed to determine immune status of broilers against P. mirabilis. A total of 10 isolates of P. mirabilis were selected for further characterization. These isolates could grow in pH 6.0 and 1% NaCl conditions. They were resistant to sodium lactate, troleandomycin, rifamycin SV, vancomycin, but sensitive to nalidixic acid, cefotaxime and novobiocin. Moreover, the CTX, ACC, CMY-1, BIC, NDM, VEB, qnrB and qnrD genes were detected by PCR amplification in all isolates. Sera from broilers harboring this bacterium reacted to the P. mirabilis soluble proteins, but not from litter- and age-matched P. mirabilis negative and SPF chickens, indicating that this bacterium infected chickens that could have humoral immune response against P. mirabilis. This study provides a rationale for further monitoring P. mirabilis during poultry production to determine whether this bacterium poses potential threats to public health.

Pollen and spores in yellow rain from Lucknow, northern India

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the results of pollen and spore concentration of yellow drops in the Lucknow environs during the summer of 2014. The yellow spots were procured from the surface of a number of leaves and other objects from three different localities of Lucknow District of Uttar Pradesh. The size and shapes of these spots vary, ranging from linear to circular. Pollen grains recovered in good frequencies chiefly belong to angiosperms, whereas some gymnosperm pollen was also observed in trace frequencies. Other microbiota include fern spores, fungal remains and insect body parts in lower values. The study broadly suggests that palynomorphs recovered from yellow droppings are not fully airborne; rather, they are the types that honey bees gather from crop fields to feed their young. Brassica campestris and Asteroideae are the dominant plant taxa recorded in yellow rain samples. On investigation, it was noticed that yellow drop falling occurred for a few minutes on limited days during the summer of 2014, when the atmosphere experienced optimal temperature conditions with relatively humid environs. The observation also confirms that the yellow spots are nothing but faecal droppings, as suggested by the bee faeces theory which proposed that the origin of yellow rain is a phenomenon of nature. The study, in addition to aiding in understanding yellow rain occurrence, could also be helpful in aerobiological research, especially in examining the allergenicity of various pollen grains/spores in the area of investigation, causing bronchial asthma, hay fever (allergic rhinitis/pollinosis), nasobronchial allergy and other respiratory disorders along with conjunctivitis, contact dermatitis, eczema, food allergies and other health ailments. A multivariate principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to quantified data obtained from pollen frequency analyses of different areas of Lucknow, which clearly revealed a significant group variation in vegetation type on the basis of dispersal and deposition of pollen in yellow spots.

Pathogenic potentials and shedding probability of Salmonella enterica serotype Kentucky in experimentally infected backyard chicken

Objective: Salmonella is a widely-reported zoonotic bacterial pathogen and human infection is mostly attributed through direct or indirect contact with chickens. Salmonella Kentucky (S. Kentucky) is one of the motile serovars which has recently been identified from both poultry and human samples in Bangladesh. This study was conducted to assess its pathogenic potentials and shedding probability in backyard chicken. Materials and methods: We infected 22 backyard chickens orally, each with 106 cfu of Salmonella Kentuckey, which were then observed for 23 days to enlist clinical signs, gross and histo-pathological changes. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for Salmonella was applied on some representative samples to identify the presence of Salmonella. Results: Four chickens were sacrificed and the internal organs were examined to observe gross and microscopic tissue changes. Some reactive changes were seen in spleen during prolonged course of infection. The probability of S. Kentucky shedding was 77% (95%; CI 54-90%) on DPI 2, 41% (95%; CI 21-60%) on DPI 12 and 13% (95%; CI 3-31%) on DPI 21. The survival probability of the infected chickens was 50% (95%; CI 28-68%) on DPI 6, 32% (95%; CI 14-51%) on DPI 15 and 14% (95%; CI 3-31%) on DPI 23. Conclusion: Zoonotic S. Kentucky strain of human non-typhoidal clinical cases of gastroenteritis has potentials to produce clinical signs such as reduced feed uptake, watery or pasty fecal droppings and lesions, such as catarrhal enteritis and typhlitis.

Schistosoma mansoni infection in human and nonhuman primates in selected areas of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia.

The transmission of schistosomiasis, caused by trematodes of the genus Schistosoma, relies on freshwater snails that act as an intermediate host while human and other mammalian act as the definitive hosts. Many non-human primates (NHPs) such as Chlorocebus aethiops (vervet) and Papio anubis (baboon) are reported to be infected with Schistosoma mansoni in Ethiopia, but the role they play in parasite maintenance and transmission is still not clear. The objective of this study was, therefore, to determine the prevalence of S. mansoni infection in human and NHPs living in close proximities to villages in selected endemic areas of Ethiopia. In this cross-sectional study, stool specimens were collected from 911 humans, and fresh faecal droppings from 106 NHPs from Bochesa (Ziway), Bishan Gari (Kime) and Finchaa (Camp 7) endemic localities in Oromia Regional State, and examined for S. mansoni and other helminth infections using Kato-Katz method for human participants and direct microscopic examination for NHPs. The prevalence of helminthiasis among the human study population was 42.4% (386/911), and for soil-transmitted helminth infections (A. lumbricoides, hookworms, and T. trichiura) it was 13.4% (122/911). In humans S. mansoni was the predominant parasite, 23.1% (210/911) followed by A. lumbricoides, 8.7% (79/911); hookworms, 5.8% (53/911); T. trichiura, 4.8% (44/911); Taenia species, 2.2% (20/911); E. vermicularis, 2.1% (19/911); and H. nana, 3.2% (29/911). NHPs were found positive for Trichuris species and Strongyloides species besides S. mansoni. NHPs might play a significant role in local transmission and maintenance of S. mansoni infection even in the absence of human hosts. This calls for supplementation of chemotherapy for schistosomiasis along with measures such as snail control to interrupt transmission of the disease from humans to NHPs, and vice-versa.