Comparative Effects of L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 and L. reuteri LR1 on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Function, and Intestinal Immunity in Weaned Pigs

Lactobacillus plantarum CGMCC 1258 and Lactobacillus reuteri LR1 are two important strains of probiotics. However, their different advantages in the probiotic effect of weaned pigs are still poorly understood. Therefore, the study was to investigate the comparative effects of dietary supplementation of L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 and L. reuteri LR1 on growth performance, antioxidant function, and intestinal immunity in weaned pigs. Ninety barrows [initial body weight (BW) = 6.10 ± 0.1 kg] 21 days old were randomly divided into 3 treatments with 5 replicates, each replicate containing 6 pigs. Pigs in control (CON) were fed a basal diet, and the basal diets supplemented with 5 × 1010 CFU/kg L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 (LP) or L. reuteri LR1 (LR) for 42 days, respectively. The results showed that LP increased (p < 0.05) serum superoxide dismutase (SOD), and decreased (p < 0.05) serum malondialdehyde (MDA) and the expression and secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in intestinal mucosa, but has no significant effect on growth performance and diarrheal incidence. However, LR increased (p < 0.05) final BW and average daily gain (ADG), reduced (p < 0.05) 29–42-day diarrheal incidence, decreased (p < 0.05) the expression and secretion of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ, and increased (p < 0.05) the expression of transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) in intestinal mucosa. In addition, the serum glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), mRNA relative expression of Na+-K+-2Cl– co-transporter 1 (NKCC1) and cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) and the content of toll-like relative (TLR2) and TLR4 in the jejunum, and secretory immunoglobulin (sIgA) content of ileal mucosa were higher (p < 0.05) than LP. Collectively, dietary L. plantarum CGMCC 1258 improved intestinal morphology, intestinal permeability, intestinal immunity, and antioxidant function in weaned pigs. Dietary L. reuteri LR1 showed better growth performance, a lower incidence of diarrhea, better intestinal morphology, and a higher extent of immune activation in weaned pigs.

273 Effect of Bioadditives on the Bioproductive Behavior and Histomorphometric Changes of cobb-500 Chicks

The objective of this study was to evaluate the probiotic action of two bioadditives and their behavior on the bioproductive parameters and histomorphometric changes of CoBB-500 chickens, in the first 21 days of age. 450 Cobb-500 chicks were used, distributed in three groups of 150 animals each. Control (T1); microbial culture A (T2) and microbial culture B (T3). Substrate T2 (molasses-vinasse) fermented with Lactobacillus acidophillus, L. bulgariccus spp. T3 (molasses-vinasse) fermented with Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Kluyveromyces fragilis (L-4 UCLV). A completely randomized design was used to evaluate live weight, mean daily gain, diarrheal incidence, mortality, relative weight of the digestive tract organs, and histomorphometric changes. In the evaluations carried out at 21 days of age, the weight gain in the chicks that consumed biopreparations (T2 and T3) was higher (P> 0.05). Chickens that consumed biopreparation did not die during the study. The relative weight of the digestive tract organs was higher (P <0.001) in treatments T2 and T3. The length and width of the villi were better in groups T2 and T3 (P <0.05), the depth of the crypts was greater (P <0.05) in T1. Regarding the depth / length relationship of the villi T2 and T3 it was better (P <0.05). It concludes that the inclusion of biopreparations in chicken feed improves weight gain, development and growth of organs of digestive importance. Likewise, a reduction in the occurrence of diarrhea and animal mortality is achieved.

Handwashing effect on diarrheal incidence in children under 5 years old in rural eastern Ethiopia: a cluster randomized controlled trial

Background Handwashing with soap reduces diarrheal diseases burden considerably. However, the importance of handwashing in homes has received little attention in rural eastern Ethiopia. The effectiveness of handwashing may be reduced by lack of information on when and in what event hands must be washed, the frequency of handwashing, the individual who should wash his/her hands, and the procedure of handwashing. In these areas, indicators of adherence to handwashing are yet to be established. This study aimed at assessing the efficiency of handwashing on reducing diarrheal disease in children under 5 years old in rural kebeles of Dire Dawa, east Ethiopia. Methods Community-based cluster randomized controlled trial was conducted in rural kebeles of Dire Dawa for 4 months starting from October 2018 to January 2019. Selected clusters were randomized in intervention and control arms using draw method and data collectors conducted the baseline survey. Households assigned to the intervention group were given two bars of plain soap on a bi-monthly basis together with information promoting hand hygiene. Control households were allowed to continue their habitual handwashing practices. We compared the diarrheal incidences of the intervention and non-intervention households. Generalized estimation equations using Poisson family and log choice of the link was employed to calculate adjusted incidence rate ratio with its 95% confidence interval. Results We recorded a significant lesser diarrheal incidence in the handwashing arm than in the non-intervention arm (6.9 versus 13.8 episodes per 100 person weeks of observation). In all, there was a 41% reduction in diarrheal incidence in the intervention arm in relation to the non-intervention arm. Conclusion Handwashing with soap complemented with hand hygiene promotion significantly decreased diarrheal episodes in children under 5 years old in rural kebeles of Dire Dawa. We recommend the promotion and adaptation of washing hands using soap at recommended times to be an effective means of reducing childhood diarrhea morbidity in rural populations of Ethiopia towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goal 6. Trial registration PACTR, PACTR201807815961394. Registered 16 July 2018,

Surveillance data confirm multiyear predictions of rotavirus dynamics in New York City

Prediction skill is a key test of models for epidemic dynamics. However, future validation of models against out-of-sample data is rare, partly because of a lack of timely surveillance data. We address this gap by analyzing the response of rotavirus dynamics to infant vaccination. Syndromic surveillance of emergency department visits for diarrhea in New York City reveals a marked decline in diarrheal incidence among infants and young children, in line with data on rotavirus-coded hospitalizations and laboratory-confirmed cases, and a shift from annual to biennial epidemics increasingly affecting older children and adults. A published mechanistic model qualitatively predicted these patterns more than 2 years in advance. Future efforts to increase vaccination coverage may disrupt these patterns and lead to further declines in the incidence of rotavirus-attributable gastroenteritis.

Dietary supplementation of pulverised Astragalus membranaceus improved performance, immunity and diarrhoea incidence in weaned piglets

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of Astragalus membranaceus stem and leaves fibre: AMSLF on the diarrheal incidence, growth performance, and immunity in weaned piglets. The study started with sixty (Landrace x Large white) piglets, weaned at 28 days with average weight of 8.84±1.12 kg. The completely randomized design was used to allocate different levels of AMSLF (0, 2.5, 5, and 7.5 g/kg). The result indicates that AMSLF increased (P less than 0.05) the growth performance. Also, there was an improvement (P less than 0.05) in the immune system of piglets fed AMSLF diet. In addition, the piglet’s diarrhoea incidence was decreased by AMSLF addition. In conclusion, dietary addition of AMSLF may be important at weaning to prevent diarrheal incidence, improve production and health of piglets.

Quantifying antimicrobial access and practices for paediatric diarrheal disease in an urban community setting in Southeast Asia

Antimicrobial-resistant infections are increasing across Asia. Aiming to evaluate antimicrobial access and practices in Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) of Vietnam, we mapped pharmacy locations and used a simulated client method to calculate antimicrobial sales for paediatric diarrheal disease. We additionally evaluated healthcare choices for parents and caregivers when their children experienced diarrhoea. District 8 (population 396,175) of HCMC had 301 pharmacies (one for every 1,316 people), with a density of 15.8 pharmacies/km2. A wide range of different treatments (n=57) were sold for paediatric diarrheal disease, with 8% (3/37) and 22% (8/37) of the sampled pharmacies selling antimicrobials for watery and mucoid diarrhoea, respectively. Despite the apparent abundance of pharmacies, the majority of caregivers chose to take their child to a specialized hospital, with 81% (319/396) and 88% (347/396) of responders selecting this as their first, second, or third choice for watery and mucoid diarrhoea, respectively. Lastly, by combining denominators derived from caregiver interviews and diarrheal incidence figures, we calculated that 16% (2,359/14,427) of watery or mucoid diarrhoea episodes of the District 8 population aged 1 to <5 years would receive an antimicrobial for diarrhoea annually, but antimicrobial prescribing was almost ten times greater in hospitals than in the community. Our novel mixed-methods approach found that, whilst antimicrobials are commonly available for paediatric diarrhoea in the community of HCMC, usage is greater in hospitals. The observed non-standardized approach to diarrheal treatments is indicative of poor recommendations. We advocate better guidelines, training and dissemination of information regarding antimicrobials and their use in this location.

Association between Child Diarrhea and Maternal Depression

CORRECTION: The following authors were added to this paper on 11/10/2013: Grace Milad; Saria Izzeldin; Tahmeed Ahmed; William A. Petri.The author Mohammad Ibrahim Khalil was changed to Ibrahim KhalilBackground: Maternal depression has been found to be associated with increased diarrheal incidence and childhood malnutrition. Objective: The purpose of the present study was to observe whether the Self- Reporting Qustinative (SRQ-20) questionnaire was sensitive enough to pick-up the depressive symptoms of mothers in the urban slum community. Methodology: This was a pilot study in a Dhaka Shantytown and women were interviewed to examine the relationship between maternal depression and their children's diarrheal morbidity. In addition to other socio-demographic information, the Self-Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) was used to screen for maternal depression. Result: A total number of 55 women were interviewed to examine fifty-one percent of mothers scored within the high-risk psycho-morbidity group, suggesting depression. High SRQ scores significantly correlated with poor marital relationships (Regression coefficient ± standard error =-0.624+0.225, p=0.008; 95%CI:-1.076, -0.172). High-risk mothers breastfed for a shorter duration than low-risk mothers (3.4 vs. 4.4 months, p=0.35) and their children had more diarrheal episodes (2 episodes vs. 1, p=0.18), although these differences did not show statistical significance. Conclusion: Depression is common among mothers in urban slums and that a well-designed large study is required to further explore the provocative relationship between maternal depression and child diarrhea with subsequent malnutrition to improve the quality of life of those at risk. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jssmc.v5i1.16199 J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll, 2013;5(1):14-20

Optimizing the solar water disinfection (SODIS) method by decreasing turbidity with NaCl

Solar water disinfection (SODIS) has proven to be effective at reducing diarrheal incidence in epidemiological intervention studies. However, the SODIS method is limited to waters of low turbidity (&lt;30 NTU). This study investigates the use of common table salt (NaCl) to reduce the turbidity of water containing suspended colloidal clay particles for use in the SODIS method. Three representative clays found in tropical soils (kaolinite, illite and bentonite) were tested at three levels of turbidity (50, 100 and 200 NTU) for their flocculating behavior with multiple NaCl concentrations to find the optimum. Supernatants were tested for sodium concentration for comparison against health and taste thresholds. Results show that unlike kaolinite and illite, pure bentonite solutions were shown to be very responsive to NaCl and produced supernatants with as low as 4 NTU (98% particle removal efficiency). This study has shown that NaCl, in combination with high-activity clay particles in solution, may effectively reduce turbidity to levels suitable for SODIS treatment, thereby expanding the number of people who can utilize the technology effectively.