scholarly journals Epidemiology ofSalmonellasp. in California cull dairy cattle: prevalence of fecal shedding and diagnostic accuracy of pooled enriched broth culture of fecal samples

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omran A. Abu Aboud ◽  
John M. Adaska ◽  
Deniece R. Williams ◽  
Paul V. Rossitto ◽  
John D. Champagne ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe primary objective of this cross-sectional study was to estimate the crude, seasonal and cull-reason stratified prevalence ofSalmonellafecal shedding in cull dairy cattle on seven California dairies. A secondary objective was to estimate and compare the relative sensitivity (Se) and specificity (Sp) for pools of 5 and 10 enriched broth cultures of fecal samples forSalmonellasp. detection.MethodsSeven dairy farms located in the San Joaquin Valley of California were identified and enrolled in the study as a convenience sample. Cull cows were identified for fecal sampling once during each season between 2014 and 2015, specifically during spring, summer, fall, and winter, and 10 cows were randomly selected for fecal sampling at the day of their sale. In addition, study personnel completed a survey based on responses of the herd manager to questions related to the previous four month’s herd management. Fecal samples were frozen until testing forSalmonella. After overnight enrichment in liquid broth, pools of enrichment broth (EBP) were created for 5 and 10 samples. All individual and pooled broths were cultured on selective media with putativeSalmonellacolonies confirmed by biochemical testing before being serogrouped and serotyped.ResultsA total of 249 cull cows were enrolled into the study and their fecal samples tested forSalmonella. The survey-weighted period prevalence of fecal shedding of allSalmonellasp. in the cull cow samples across all study herds and the entire study period was 3.42% (N = 249; SE 1.07). The within herd prevalence ofSalmonellashed in feces did not differ over the four study seasons (P = 0.074). The Se of culture of EBP of five samples was 62.5% (SE = 17.12), which was not statistically different from the Se of culture of EBP of 10 (37.5%, SE = 17.12, P = 0.48). The Sp of culture of EBP of five samples was 95.24% (SE = 3.29) and for pools of 10 samples was 100.00% (SE = 0). There was no statistical difference between the culture relative specificities of EBP of 5 and 10 (P > 0.99).DiscussionOur study showed a numerically higher prevalence ofSalmonellashedding in the summer, although the results were not significant, most likely due to a lack of power from the small sample size. A higher prevalence in summer months may be related to heat stress. To detectSalmonella, investigators may expect a 62.5% sensitivity for culture of EBP of five, relative to individual fecal sample enrichment and culture. In contrast, culture of EBP of 10 samples resulted in a numerically lower Se. Culture of EBP of size 5 or 10 samples, given similar prevalence and limit of detection, can be expected to yield specificities of 95 and 100%, respectively.

1994 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 195-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOHN M. GAY ◽  
DANIEL H. RICE ◽  
JACOB H. STEIGER

On nine occasions over a 1-year period, cull dairy cattle (n = 1,289) at four saleyards and one abattoir in Washington State were surveyed for salmonellae shedding by bacterial culture of duplicate rectal swabs, 251 single fecal samples and duplicate rectal swabs, and 225 mesenteric lymph node and duplicate rectal swabs. Using parallel selective enrichment and brilliant green media, salmonellae were isolated from six cattle, from rectal swabs only, and consisted of five isolates of Salmonella typhimurium and one of Salmonella dublin. In the two rectal swab- positive cattle for which mesenteric nodes were also sampled, 1-g samples of the nodes were negative. The rate of fecal shedding of cull dairy cattle marketed in Washington State as detected by this methodology is estimated to be 4.6 per 1,000 head (95% confidence interval of 1.9 to 10.6) and is expected to be no higher than 9.2 per 1,000 head if larger fecal samples were used. Based on antibiograms and plasmid profiles, none of the six isolates matched any of the 280 previously characterized isolates of the same serotypes obtained from human salmonellosis cases 2 years previously by the State health department. Four of the five S. typhimurium isolates matched three of 215 S. typhimurium isolates obtained from bovine submissions to the State's animal disease diagnostic laboratory and by a field animal disease investigation unit. The S. dublin isolate matched 17 of the 165 S. dublin isolates in those submissions. In this State, swab sampling of cull dairy cows at the point of first market concentration does not appear to be an efficient method of detecting salmonellae- infected dairy herds.


PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e6546 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Pereira ◽  
Deniece R. Williams ◽  
Paul Rossitto ◽  
John Adaska ◽  
Emmanuel Okello ◽  
...  

Background In this study cull dairy cows from six California dairy herds were sampled seasonally over the course of a year. The objectives were to determine the prevalence of antimicrobial resistant (AMR) Salmonella spp. shed in cull cow feces, and the factors associated with fecal shedding of AMR and multidrug resistant (MDR) Salmonella. Methods Six dairy farms located in the San Joaquin Valley of California were identified and enrolled as a convenience sample. On each dairy, and once during each of the four seasons, 10 cull cows were randomly selected for fecal sampling on the day of their removal from the herd. In addition, study personnel completed a survey based on responses of the herd manager to questions related to the previous 4 month’s herd management and the specific cattle sampled. Fecal samples were submitted to the California Animal Health and Food Safety laboratory for Salmonella isolation. Antimicrobial resistance was evaluated using broth microdilution method and a gram-negative assay plate following Clinical Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guidelines and breakpoint references. All statistical models were survey adjusted for number of animals on sampling day. Results A total of 62 Salmonella were isolated from 60 of the 239 fecal samples collected. For 12% (95% confidence interval (CI) [3–20]) of fecal samples a multidrug resistant Salmonella was isolated. The survey-weighted results for the two most common drug classes for which isolates were resistant were tetracycline (39%; 95% CI [27–51]) and ampicillin (18%; 95% CI [9–27]). An important finding was the identification of cephalosporin as the third most common drug class for which isolates were resistant, with ceftriaxone (10%; 95% CI [2–17]) being the most common drug associated with resistance in that class. At the cow-level, reason for culling, prior treatment with antimicrobial drugs as the reason for culling was associated with higher odds of isolating an AMR Salmonella isolate. At the herd-level, percent of animals monthly culled on the farm as well as number of milking cows in the herd were associated with isolation of antimicrobial resistant Salmonella in cull cows. Discussion Salmonella isolated from fecal samples from cull cows were resistant to important antimicrobials, such as ceftriaxone. The most common drug classes for which isolates were resistant were tetracyclines and beta-lactams, with ampicillin, ceftriaxone and ceftiofur being the three most common drugs within the latter. Cow and herd level factors were associated with isolating antimicrobial resistant Salmonella that should be further investigated for their potential role in promoting occurrence of AMR Salmonella. Our results also highlight the importance of monitoring dairy cattle sent to slaughter for shedding of Salmonella resistant to medically important antimicrobial drugs.


2000 ◽  
Vol 66 (5) ◽  
pp. 1994-2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. Wesley ◽  
S. J. Wells ◽  
K. M. Harmon ◽  
A. Green ◽  
L. Schroeder-Tucker ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, and Arcobacter spp. were detected in feces of healthy dairy cows by highly specific multiplex-PCR assays. For C. jejuni, at this one-time sampling, cows from 80.6% of farm operations (n = 31) and 37.7% of individual dairy cattle fecal samples (n = 2,085) were positive. Farm management factors were correlated with prevalence in herds in which >25% of cows were positive for C. jejuni. Statistical significance was set at a P of 0.20. Using these criteria, application of manure with broadcast spreaders (P = 0.17), feeding of whole cottonseed or hulls (P = 0.17) or alfalfa (P = 0.15), and accessibility of feed to birds (P = 0.17) were identified as possible risk factors for C. jejuni infection. C. coli was detected in at least one animal in 19.4% of operations and 1.8% of individual cows (n = 2,085). At the herd level, use of broadcaster spreaders was not a risk factor for C. coliinfection. For Arcobacter, cows from 71% of dairy operations (n = 31) and 14.3% of individual dairy cattle fecal samples (n = 1,682) were positive. At the herd level, for Arcobacter spp., feeding of alfalfa (P = 0.11) and use of individual waterers (P = 0.19) were protective. This is the first description of Arcobacter spp. in clinically healthy dairy cattle and the first attempt to correlate their presence with C. jejuni.


Biosensors ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 4
Author(s):  
Donggee Rho ◽  
Seunghyun Kim

An optical cavity-based biosensor (OCB) has been developed for point-of-care (POC) applications. This label-free biosensor employs low-cost components and simple fabrication processes to lower the overall cost while achieving high sensitivity using a differential detection method. To experimentally demonstrate its limit of detection (LOD), we conducted biosensing experiments with streptavidin and C-reactive protein (CRP). The optical cavity structure was optimized further for better sensitivity and easier fluid control. We utilized the polymer swelling property to fine-tune the optical cavity width, which significantly improved the success rate to produce measurable samples. Four different concentrations of streptavidin were tested in triplicate, and the LOD of the OCB was determined to be 1.35 nM. The OCB also successfully detected three different concentrations of human CRP using biotinylated CRP antibody. The LOD for CRP detection was 377 pM. All measurements were done using a small sample volume of 15 µL within 30 min. By reducing the sensing area, improving the functionalization and passivation processes, and increasing the sample volume, the LOD of the OCB are estimated to be reduced further to the femto-molar range. Overall, the demonstrated capability of the OCB in the present work shows great potential to be used as a promising POC biosensor.


Author(s):  
Franziska Beck ◽  
Carina Horn ◽  
Antje J. Baeumner

AbstractElectrochemical immunosensors enable rapid analyte quantification in small sample volumes, and have been demonstrated to provide high sensitivity and selectivity, simple miniaturization, and easy sensor production strategies. As a point-of-care (POC) format, user-friendliness is equally important and most often not combinable with high sensitivity. As such, we demonstrate here that a sequence of metal oxidation and reduction, followed by stripping via differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), provides lowest limits of detection within a 2-min automatic measurement. In exchanging gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), which dominate in the development of POC sensors, with silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), not only better sensitivity was obtained, but more importantly, the assay protocol could be simplified to match POC requirements. Specifically, we studied both nanoparticles as reporter labels in a sandwich immunoassay with the blood protein biomarker NT-proBNP. For both kinds of nanoparticles, the dose-response curves easily covered the ng∙mL−1 range. The mean standard deviation of all measurements of 17% (n ≥ 4) and a limit of detection of 26 ng∙mL−1 were achieved using AuNPs, but their detection requires addition of HCl, which is impossible in a POC format. In contrast, since AgNPs are electrochemically less stable, they enabled a simplified assay protocol and provided even lower LODs of 4.0 ng∙mL−1 in buffer and 4.7 ng∙mL−1 in human serum while maintaining the same or even better assay reliability, storage stability, and easy antibody immobilization protocols. Thus, in direct comparison, AgNPs clearly outperform AuNPs in desirable POC electrochemical assays and should gain much more attention in the future development of such biosensors.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 4530-4530
Author(s):  
Sarah Fleming ◽  
Dina Gifkins ◽  
Waleed Shalaby ◽  
Jianjun Gao ◽  
Philip Rosenberg ◽  
...  

4530 Background: FGFRa appear in approximately 15% of cases of mUC. Data on whether FGFRa in mUC have a prognostic impact or predictive benefit for particular treatments have been limited by small sample sizes. The objective of this study was to evaluate the association between tumor FGFRa and clinical outcomes of patients with advanced UC or mUC regardless of therapy type and status. Methods: A convenience sample of oncologists and urologists across the United States provided patient level data on 400 patients with stage IIIb or IV UC via a standardized questionnaire over a 1-month period (August 17, 2020 – September 20, 2020). Study design enriched for FGFRa by requiring physicians to provide ≥1 FGFRa patient record. The questionnaire included physician characteristics, patient demographic information, FGFR status, therapy given, response, and clinical and radiographic measures of progression. Patient records were eligible for inclusion if they were identified and treated during July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2019. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate adjusted risk of disease progression by FGFR status. Results: A total of 104 physicians (58.7% medical oncologists, 31.7% hematologic oncologists, and 9.6% urologic oncologists) contributed 414 patient records Overall, 73.9% of the patients were male and the average age was 64.5 years (SD ±10.6). Median follow-up was 15 months. Of the 414 patients, 218 (52.7%) had FGFRa and 196 (47.3%) had FGFR wild-type ( FGFRwt) mUC . Of the 218 patients with FGFRa, 47.2% were treated with front-line chemo, 27.5% with a programmed death-ligand 1 inhibitor (PD-L1), 11.5% with chemo + PD-L1, and 13.8% with other treatments. Of the 196 FGFRwt patients, 63.2% were treated with front-line chemo, 21.9% with PD-L1, 12.2% with chemo + PD-L1, and 2.6% with other treatments. There was no difference in response or progression status for those receiving front-line chemo (HR, 1.15; 95% CI, 0.86-1.55). Among 97 patients (55 FGFRa and 42 FGFRwt) who received PD-L1 alone as front-line therapy, those who had FGFRa had an adjusted risk of progression 2 times higher than their FGFRwt counterparts (HR, 2.12; 95% CI, 1.13-4.00). Conclusions: Patients with FGFRa mUC progressed earlier than FGFRwt patients treated with front-line PDL-1 inhibitors; however, there was no difference in progression in patients treated with chemo based upon FGFR status. This real-world study using a survey design efficiently generated a relatively large FGFRa dataset, mitigating a core limitation of other studies assessing the patient population with FGFRa. Further work is warranted to validate these results and determine the optimal strategy for treating the patient with FGFRa mUC. Gene expression profiling of FGFRa mUC samples from clinical trials will help determine the potential impact of subtype or other features that may associate with benefit from therapy.


Author(s):  
A. Potgieter ◽  
G. Roodt

The purpose of the study was to evaluate a questionnaire for the assessment of a customer intimacy culture in the value discipline context. The main survey was completed by using a convenience sample of permanent employees (N = 200) at line, middle and top management levels of an organisation in the entertainment industry. This sample was taken from staff on structured developmental paths, while attending scheduled training events. The 169 completed questionnaires that were returned were used for the final data analyses. Owing to the small sample size, an adapted procedure for first- and second-level factor analyses was used, followed by an iterative item analysis. The preliminary findings suggest that the questionnaire can be applied for assessing customer intimacy cultures. OpsommingDie doel van hierdie studie was om ’n vraelys te evalueer vir die beoordeling van ’n kliëntintimiteitskultuur in die waardedissipline konteks. Die hoofopname is voltooi deur ’n gerieflikheidsteekproef (N = 200) van permanente personeel in lyn, middel- en topbestuursvlakke van ’n organisasie in die vermaaklikheidsbedryf te gebruik. Dié steekproef is geneem vanuit personeel in gestruktureerde ontwikkelingspaaie wat geskeduleerde opleidingsgeleenthede bygewoon het. Die 169 voltooide vraelyste wat terugontvang is, is vir die finale dataontleding gebruik. Weens die klein steekproefgrootte, is ’n aangepaste prosedure vir eerste- en tweedevlakfaktorontleding gebruik, gevolg deur ’n iteratiewe itemontleding. Die voorlopige bevindinge dui daarop dat die vraelys toegepas kan word vir die beoordeling van ’n kliëntintimiteitskultuur.


2004 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
pp. 672-678 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. BACH ◽  
T. A. McALLISTER ◽  
G. J. MEARS ◽  
K. S. SCHWARTZKOPF-GENSWEIN

The effects of weaning and transport on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli and on E. coli O157:H7 were investigated using 80 Angus and 94 Charolais range steer calves blocked by breed and assigned to four treatments. The calves were or were not preconditioned before transport on commercial cattle liner to the feedlot via long (15 h) or short (3 h) hauling duration, yielding preconditioned long haul (P-L; n = 44), preconditioned short haul (P-S; n = 44), nonpreconditioned long haul (NP-L; n = 43), and nonpreconditioned short haul (NP-S; n = 43). Preconditioned calves were vaccinated and weaned 29 and 13 days, respectively, before transport. Nonpreconditioned calves were weaned 1 day before long or short hauling, penned for 24 h and hauled again for 2 h, and vaccinated on arrival at the feedlot. Fecal samples were collected from calves while on pasture, at weaning, at loading for transport, on arrival at the feedlot, twice in the first week, and on days 7, 14, 21, and 28 for enumeration of total E. coli (biotype 1) and detection of E. coli O157:H7. No calves were positive for E. coli O157:H7 before transport. Following transport, more (P < 0.005) NP-L calves (6 of 43) tested positive for E. coli O157:H7 than did P-L (1 of 44), NP-S (1 of 43), or P-S (0 of 44) calves, and on days 0, 1, 7, and 21, their levels of shedding of E. coli were higher (P < 0.005). The calves' susceptibility to infection from the environment (possibly the holding facilities or feedlot pens) was likely elevated by the stresses of weaning, transport, and relocation. Lack of preconditioning and long periods of transport (NP-L) increased fecal shedding of E. coli and E. coli O157:H7. Preconditioning may serve to reduce E. coli O157:H7 shedding by range calves on arrival at the feedlot.


Author(s):  
Marcella Caputi ◽  
Barbara Forresi ◽  
Ludovica Giani ◽  
Giovanni Michelini ◽  
Simona Scaini

The first Italian lockdown imposed to fight the spread of COVID-19 caused important disruptions in families’ everyday lives. The main aim of this research was to investigate the predictors of psychopathology in children aged 5–10 years, immediately after the national 2-month lockdown. A total of 158 Italian parents (148 mothers, 10 fathers, mean age = 41 years) were recruited and asked to complete an online research concerning their 158 children (76 boys, mean age = 7.4 years). Parents completed questionnaires on parent–child conflict, resilience, temperament, behavior, and previous adverse childhood experiences. Hierarchical regressions showed that children’s psychopathology was predicted by low child resilience, high novelty seeking and harm avoidance, adverse experiences, and high flooding levels. Moreover, girls exposed to adverse experiences appeared more vulnerable to psychopathology. The recruitment of a convenience sample, the small sample size, and the cross-sectional design of our study limit the generalizability and interpretation of the present findings. Nonetheless, this research extends our knowledge of children’s functioning in such an exceptional period. Shedding light on predictors of children’s psychopathology following prolonged quarantine can indeed guide effective psychological interventions now and in future similar situations.


2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 66-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Itacir O. Farikoski ◽  
Luciana S. Medeiros ◽  
Yuri K. Carvalho ◽  
David A. Ashford ◽  
Eduardo E. S. Figueiredo ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: The capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) is the largest rodent in the world. In the state of Acre, Brazil, populations of capybaras have been increasing significantly. The role of capybaras in the transmission of certain bacterial zoonotic infections is not well understood, including bacteria of the genus Salmonella. Salmonella spp. generally cause enteritis or septicemia in mammals, however many mammalian species can carry the bacteria asymptomatically and shed it in their feces. To better understand the possible role of capybaras as reservoirs of Salmonella spp., we conducted a study of Salmonella within fecal samples from capybara in Acre. In a convenience sample, 54 capybaras from two urban and two rural areas of Acre were captured and kept for three to four days for sampling. None of the animals were symptomatic of any intestinal illness. Three separate fecal samples were collected from each animal, during their stays in captivity. Each sample was cultured for the presence of Salmonella spp. at the bacteriology laboratory of the Veterinary College of the Federal University of Acre. Samples were seeded in tetrationate pre-enrichment broth and in pre-enrichment broth peptone. After a 24 hour of incubation all samples were streaked on MacConkey Agar (MC) and Salmonella-Shigella Agar (SS). Suggestive colonies were submitted to biochemical analysis. Salmonella compatible colonies according to biochemical profile were submitted to serotyping (Sorokit for Salmonella - Probac do Brasil). In addition, the first sample from each of the 54 capybara was tested for Salmonella spp. using PCR targeting gene hilA. Eight (5%) of the 162 samples examined by bacterial culture were positive for Salmonella spp., while four (7%) of the 54 examined by PCR were positive. From the eight positive animals on culture, five were from urban area and three from rural area. On PCR, only one positive animal was from urban area and four were from rural area. Overall, by either test, one of the 54 animals was positive. All samples were collected in free - living animals with no apparent clinical signs of salmonellosis, indicating the potential of capybara as reservoir on this ecosystem.


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