Prevalence and number of Salmonella in irish retail pork sausages

A national Salmonella control program in the pork industry was enacted in Ireland in August 2002. This study was undertaken as part of a larger project investigating the role of pork as a source of human salmonellosis in Ireland. The objective of this survey was to assess the prevalence of Salmonella in Irish pork sausage at retail level. Samples, comprising branded prepacked sausages and loose sausages from supermarket meat counters and butcher shops, were collected from selected retail sites in four cities from October to December 2001 and from June to August 2002. A three-tube most-probable-number method was used to enumerate Salmonella in a selected number of samples that were positive by enrichment. Salmonella serotypes were detected in 4.4 and 1.7% of samples at each of the respective sampling periods, a level similar to those reported in other U.S. and U.K. studies. Isolates were characterized by serotype, phage type, and antimicrobial susceptibility. Eighteen (70%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial, and 15 (58%) were resistant to four or more antimicrobials. Most of the isolates exhibited resistance to tetracycline. Five different phage types were detected. DT104 was the predominant phage type among Salmonella Typhimurium isolates. This study revealed that multidrug-resistant salmonellae are present in a proportion of Irish sausages and that further risk analysis work is necessary in order to quantify the risk posed to public health.

Consent for tonsillectomy

Rulings in recent negligence cases reveal a shift towards what the 'reasonable patient' would expect in deciding the risks doctors must disclose to patients. This survey aimed to investigate whether the 'reasonable patient' and 'responsible body of medical opinion' agree about which risks should be discussed regarding tonsillectomy. Using questionnaires, surgeons were asked which of the 10 complications they routinely discussed and patients were asked how seriously they regarded these complications. The results were compared with the Test of Proportions. Most surgeons routinely mentioned otalgia, odynophagia, throat infection and re-operation. Most patients regarded potentially fatal bleeding, pneumonia and blood transfusion as very serious but only the minority of surgeons mentioned these (P < 0.001). When obtaining consent for tonsillectomy, surgeons do not routinely mention all the risks that the 'reasonable patient' would expect. The 'reasonable patient' would expect that re-operation, transfusion, pneumonia and fatal blood loss are discussed.

Estimation of infection prevalence from correlated binomial samples

Infection prevalence in a population often is estimated from grouped binary data expressed as proportions. The groups can be families, herds, flocks, farms, etc. The observed number of cases generally is assumed to have a Binomial distribution and the estimate of prevalence is then the sample proportion of cases. However, the individual binary observations might not be independent--leading to overdispersion. The goal of this paper was to demonstrate random-effects models for the estimation of infection prevalence from data which are correlated and in particular, to illustrate a nonparametric random-effects model for this purpose. The nonparametric approach is a relatively recent addition to the random-effects class of models and does not appear to have been discussed previously in the veterinary epidemiology literature. The assumptions for a logistic-regression model with a nonparametric random effect were outlined. In a demonstration of the method on data relating to Salmonella infection in Irish pig herds, the nonparametric method resulted in the classification of herds into a small number of distinct prevalence groups (i.e. low, medium and high prevalence) and also estimated the relative frequency of each prevalence category in the population. We compared the estimates from a logistic model with a nonparametric distribution for the random effects with four alternative models: a logistic-regression model with no random effects, a marginal model using a generalised estimating equation (GEE) and two methods of fitting a Normally distributed random effect (the GLIMMIX macro and the NLMIXED procedure both in SAS). Parameter estimates from random-effects models are not readily interpretable in terms of prevalences. Therefore, we outlined two methods for calculating population-averaged estimates of prevalence from random-effects models: one using numerical integration and the other using Monte Carlo simulation.

Salmonella serotypes present on a sample of Irish pig farms

A survey of the prevalence of Salmonella species infection was conducted on 59 Irish farrow-to-finish pig herds. Faecal samples were collected from the pens of first-stage weaners (growing pigs approximately three to 10 weeks of age), second-stage weaners (approximately 10 to 17 weeks of age) and fatteners, and from the dry sow and farrowing sow houses. The prevalence of infection was estimated to within 5 per cent with a 95 per cent confidence interval. Thirty of the 59 herds were infected, 12 with Salmonella Typhimurium only, eight with Salmonella Derby only and seven with both S Typhimurium and S Derby; serotypes London, Livingstone and Infantis were each isolated from a single herd. Farms in Ireland are assigned to one of three infection categories on the basis of the antibody levels in samples of meat juice taken at slaughter. When a herd was classified as either positive or negative on the basis of the isolation of Salmonella from at least one faecal sample there was no association between the herd's category as determined by meat juice serology and the probability of the isolation of Salmonella from the faecal samples. However, there were differences in prevalence between pigs at different stages of production in herds of different categories. Farrowing sow houses in moderately infected (category 2) herds had significantly lower infection rates (P < or = 0.05) than other herd categories and other stages of production. Pigs from first-stage weaner pens in slightly infected (category 1) herds were more likely to be infected with Salmonella than pigs at any other stage of production or category of herd.

Idiopathic mucosal lesions of the arytenoid cartilages of 21 Thoroughbred yearlings: 1997-2001

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY

Mucosal ulcers and, occasionally, small granulomas on the axial surface of one or both arytenoid cartilages have been found in TB yearlings presented for post sale endoscopic examination.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the incidence, endoscopic characteristics and outcome of a group of Thoroughbred yearlings affected with mucosal ulcers and granulomas of the arytenoid cartilage.

HYPOTHESIS

The incidence of mucosal ulceration of the arytenoid cartilages of yearling Thoroughbreds is relatively high compared to other upper airway abnormalities; and that the majority of mucosal ulcers heal uneventfully, although a small percentage may progress to a granuloma and, less commonly, to arytenoid chondropathy.

METHODS

The findings of post sale, upper airway endoscopic examinations of 3312 Thoroughbred yearlings, during a 5 year period, were reviewed, including those abnormalities listed in the conditions of sale and others not listed but considered likely to cause airway obstruction. Information obtained from the medical record of horses that had mucosal ulceration or granuloma of the arytenoid cartilage included the location and size of the lesion(s), sex of the affected horse and the presence and nature of other concurrent abnormalities of the upper portion of the respiratory tract. Additional information included treatment and results of follow-up, endoscopic examination by the authors or attending veterinarian.

RESULTS

Mucosal lesions were seen in 0.63% of yearlings evaluated, which represented the most common, documented condition of the upper portion of the respiratory tract. The mucosal ulcers of 15 of 19 horses were considered to have healed without complication during follow-up examination; one of the 19 horses was lost to follow-up. Two horses affected with bilateral, arytenoid mucosal ulceration developed a granuloma at each site of ulceration. One horse developed a granuloma at a site of ulceration and, subsequently, arytenoid chondropathy.

CONCLUSIONS

Arytenoid mucosal ulceration in sales yearlings was a relatively commonly encountered abnormality and a small percentage progressed to granuloma or chondropathy.

POTENTIAL RELEVANCE

The mucosa of the arytenoid cartilage, particularly at the rostral margin of the vocal process, should be examined carefully during endoscopic examination of the upper portion of the respiratory tract of Thoroughbred yearlings presented for sale. Because a small percentage of mucosal ulcers may progress to granuloma or, less commonly, chondropathy, identification of mucosal ulcers of the arytenoid cartilage seen during post sale, endoscopic examination warrants notification to the purchaser and sales company. Medical therapy of affected horses should be considered and follow-up endoscopic examination performed to determine if the lesion has healed.

Survival of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in farm water: its role as a vector in the transmission of the organism within herds

AIMS

The study aimed to investigate the survival characteristics of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in farm water (FW), and in sterile distilled municipal water (SDW), stored outdoors under field conditions, with or without the addition of faeces (1% w/v), in a farmyard shed and the laboratory at 15 degrees C.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Water samples were inoculated with E. coli O157:H7 at 10(3) and 10(6) ml(-1), and sampled over a 31-day period. In FW stored outdoors in a field, E. coli O157:H7 survived for 14 days at temperatures <15 degrees C, at both inoculation levels, while in the laboratory at 15 degrees C, the organism was still detectable at low levels (<1 log10 cfu ml(-1)) after 31 days. The addition of bovine faeces to water outdoors (1% w/v) resulted in survival for 24 days. In SDW inoculated at 10(6) ml(-1) and stored in the laboratory (15 degrees C), only a 2.5 log reduction was observed after 31 days, while the organism could not be detected after 17 days in the field. Preliminary screening of water samples stored outdoors isolated a bacterium which exhibited antimicrobial activity towards E. coli O157:H7.

CONCLUSIONS

The survival of E. coli O157:H7 observed in this study illustrates the potential of farm water to act as a vehicle in the transfer of the organism across a herd.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The difficulty in extrapolating results from controlled laboratory situations to on-farm conditions is also highlighted in this study.

Myringoplasty: does the size of the perforation matter?

Does the size of a tympanic membrane defect influence the success rate in myringoplasty? Many studies which have suggested that size does not affect results have included only small numbers of patients. After a power analysis to identify the size of groups needed to detect a clinically significant difference between the success rate of small and large perforations, a retrospective study was carried out to answer the question. A retrospective study of 423 myringoplasty-only operations showed that size does influence success; the success rate for small perforations was 74.1% compared with 56.0% for large perforations (P = 0.0003). Size also influences the change in four-frequency air conduction thresholds (small perforations +7.2 dB, large perforations +10.2 dB; t = 2.08, P = 0.039) in successful myringoplasties, a positive value indicating an improvement in hearing. This change is unlikely to be clinically significant. Patients should be made aware of these facts when informed consent is being obtained.

Ca2+-independent binding of an EF-hand domain to a novel motif in the alpha-actinin-titin complex

The interaction between alpha-actinin and titin, two modular muscle proteins, is essential for sarcomere assembly. We have solved the solution structure of a complex between the calcium-insensitive C-terminal EF-hand domain of alpha-actinin-2 and the seventh Z-repeat of titin. The structure of the complex is in a semi-open conformation and closely resembles that of myosin light chains in their complexes with heavy chain IQ motifs. However, no IQ motif is present in the Z-repeat, suggesting that the semi-open conformation is a general structural solution for calcium-independent recognition of EF-hand domains.

Neither the New Zealand genetically hypertensive strain nor Dahl salt-sensitive strain has an A1079T transversion in the alpha1 isoform of the Na(+),K(+)-ATPase gene

A putative 1079A-->T mutation in the alpha1 isoform of the Na(+), K(+)-ATPase (Atp1a1) gene of the Dahl salt-sensitive rat inbred by John Rapp (SS/Jr) strain was projected to cause a conformation change in the membrane hydrophobic region of the protein product, possibly resulting in hypertension. The existence of the mutation was challenged, but the challenge was apparently rebutted. The New Zealand genetically hypertensive (GH) rat is known to have a blood pressure quantitative trait locus on chromosome 2 containing the gene for the ATPase. Thus, we sought to determine whether the GH rat carried the 1079A-->T transversion. We chose a method, first nucleotide change analysis, that can detect point mutations in a mixed population of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products, even in the presence of PCR bias, and confirmed our analysis by restriction enzyme digestion of PCR products. To ensure the validity of our analyses, we used site-directed mutagenesis to create positive controls containing the mutation. Surprisingly, we found that neither the GH nor the SS/Jr strain had the A1079T transversion. Indeed, the transversion was not found in any strain tested. As an incidental observation, we have sequenced the intron preceding the exon containing the putative A1079T transversion. Within this intron, a single-base C/T polymorphism was observed at base 132. Our results definitively eliminate the putative A1079T transversion in Atp1a1 as a causative factor underlying hypertension in the GH, spontaneously hypertensive, and SS/Jr rat strains and indicate that alternative candidate genes in the region defined by the chromosome 2 hypertension quantitative trait locus should be examined.

Determining binding sites in protein-nucleic acid complexes by cross-saturation

Cross-saturation experiments have been shown to give accurate information regarding the interacting surfaces in protein-protein and protein-RNA complexes. The rate of magnetization transfer depends on a number of factors including geometry, spin topology, and effective correlation times. To assess the influence of these variables on such experiments, and to determine the range of applicability of the technique, we have simulated the time-course of magnetization transfer across the interface in a variety of protein-nucleic acid complexes (434 Cro, SRY, MetJ and U1A), each having a different binding geometry. The simulations have been carried out primarily to provide information about the experimentally accessible targets for selective saturation, such as the anomeric protons and the imino protons of the nucleic acid. Saturation of either of these groups of signals leads to partial excitation throughout the nucleic acid molecule, and the resulting transfer of saturation to the labelled protein moiety can be readily detected by the reduction in intensity of particular peaks in the HSQC spectrum of the protein. The simulations show that information can be obtained about the residues in contact with the nucleic acid without any need for deuteration. Experimental cross-saturation data have been obtained from the Mbp1-DNA complex and interpreted in conjunction with the simulations to map out the binding surface in detail.

Prevalence of Salmonella serotypes on pig carcasses from high- and low-risk herds slaughtered in three abattoirs

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes at two different sites on pig carcasses from herds classified as high-risk or low-risk and to elucidate the relationship between carcass contamination levels and serological status. Caecal samples and carcass surface swabs were cultured for Salmonella from a total of 210 pigs from low risk herds (< 19% of pigs in herd Salmonella seropositive) and 209 pigs from high risk herds (> 32% of pigs in herd Salmonella seropositive) in three abattoirs. Meat juice samples were collected for analysis by ELISA. The prevalence of Salmonella in the caecal contents of "low-risk" pigs was 10%, which was significantly lower than the 19% prevalence in "high-risk" pigs (p < 0.01). The corresponding figures for skin samples collected immediately post-evisceration were 2% and 12%. The predominant Salmonella serotype in the caecal contents of both the low-risk and high-risk pigs was Salmonella Typhimurium. Salmonella Kentucky and Salmonella Derby were the most frequent isolates from the carcass surface swabs of low- and high-risk pigs respectively. There was a positive association between seropositivity of pigs from high-risk herds and caecal carriage (p < 0.05). Results showed that herd categorisation based on serological results was useful in predicting Salmonella isolation rates from caecal samples and surface swabs of slaughtered pigs.

Structural analysis of the polysaccharide from the lipopolysaccharide of Porphyromonas gingivalis strain W50

The lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Porphyromonas gingivalis is an important pro-inflammatory molecule in periodontal disease and a significant target of the host's specific immune response. In addition, we recently demonstrated using monoclonal antibodies that the Arg-gingipains of P. gingivalis are post-translationally modified with glycan chains that are immunologically related to an LPS preparation from this organism. In the present investigation, we determined the structure of the O-polysaccharide of P. gingivalis W50 that was fully characterized on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR (DQF-COSY, TOCSY, NOESY, ROESY, 1H-13C HSQC and 1H-31P HXTOCSY) and GC-MS data. These data allowed us to conclude that the O-polysaccharide is built up of the tetrasaccharide repeating sequence: -->6)-alpha-D-Glcp-(1-->4)-alpha-L-Rhap-(1-->3)-beta-D-GalNAc-(1-->3)-alpha-D-Galp-(1--> and carries a monophosphoethanolamine residue at position C-2 of the alpha-rhamnose residue in a nonstoichiometric (approximately 60%) amount. These data indicate that the O-polysaccharide of P. gingivalis LPS is composed of an unusually modified tetrasaccharide repeating unit.

Changes in rat serum corticosterone after treatment with metabotropic glutamate receptor agonists or antagonists

From previous work, it appears that glutamate can activate the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical (HPA) axis by an interaction at either ionotopic or metabotropic (G-protein coupled) receptors. For example, (1S,3R)-1-aminocyclopentane-1,3-dicarboxylate (ACPD), a metabotropic glutamate (mGlu) receptor agonist, has been shown to increase the levels of serum corticosterone in rats. The present study was undertaken to further characterize which of the mGlu receptors are substantially involved in control of the HPA axis. The group I mGlu receptor agonists, 3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine (DHPG), 1S,3R-ACPD, and 2-chloro-5-hydroxyphenylglycine (CHPG) but not the inactive isomer 1R,3S-ACPD were found to dose-dependently increase serum corticosterone 1 h after intracerebroventricular (i.c.v.) injection in male rats. The relative potency, DHPG (EC50 = 520 nmol) > 1S,3R-ACPD (1.4 micromol) = CHPG (2.7 micromol) >> 1R,3S-ACPD (>> 3 micromol) is consistent with activation of group I (mGlu1/5) receptors. The effects of DHPG were long lasting with substantial elevations in corticosterone remaining for at least 3 h. In a similar manner, the group III mGlu receptor agonists, L-AP4 (4-phosphono-2-aminobutyric acid) and L-SOP (serine-O-phosphate), were found to increase serum corticosterone levels at 1 h. In contrast, the mGlu group II selective agonists LY354740 (10 mg/kg, i.p.) and subtype-selective doses of the group II antagonist LY341495 (1 mg/kg, i.p.) did not significantly elevate serum corticosterone. Given the group I agonists results, it was surprising to find that group I selective and mGlu1 selective antagonists given alone also increased serum corticosterone. As with the agonists, the rise in serum corticosterone with LY393675 (an mGlu1/5 antagonist, EC50 = 20 nmol, i.c.v.) and LY367385 (an mGlu1 antagonist, 325 nmol, i.c.v.) were dose-dependent and consistent with their relative affinity for the group I mGlu receptors. The selective mGlu5 antagonist MPEP [2-methyl-6-(phenylethylnyl)pyridine] increased serum corticosterone but only at high doses (> 30 mg/kg, i.p.). A model involving the high glutamatergic tone on GABAergic interneurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus is discussed as a possible explanation for these results.

Synthesis of radiolabeled congeners of the carbomers: (14)C-labeled poly(acrylic acid)s

A general method for the synthesis of (14)C-acrylic acid is described in detail. The material is used for the synthesis of a range of radiolabeled poly(acrylic acid)s in which the (14)C-label forms an integral part of the polymer backbone. The chemical structure of the synthesized polymers is examined in the light of spectroscopic data, molecular weight determinations, and rheological studies.

An investigation of mucus/polymer rheological synergism using synthesised and characterised poly(acrylic acid)s

A range of poly(acrylic acid)s with different average degrees of polymerisation and cross-linking densities were synthesised using a solution polymerisation process. The rheological characteristics of aqueous dispersions of these materials and those of mixtures with homogenised pigs gastric mucus were investigated using dynamic oscillatory rheology, and compared to the known mucoadhesive Carbopol 934P. From the storage moduli, the rheological synergy and relative rheological synergy were calculated, and the effects of concentration and pH on this considered. Generally, the larger the molecular weight (and degree of cross-linking), the greater the rheological synergy, with Carbopol 934P giving the most pronounced effect. Rheological synergy was seen to be concentration-dependent, and a maximum concentration to produce an optimum effect was evident. Acid pHs were seen to favour synergy, although in marked contrast to previous literature reports, the optimum mucus-polymer interaction was not observed at the half ionised value (pH = pKa) but at pH regimes that were unique to each polymer type. This could be influenced by the structural constrains imposed on potential hydrogen bonded interactions. It was concluded that synthesising poly(acrylic acid)s with better defined physicochemical properties than commercially available polymers will advance the study of the phenomenon of rheological synergy.

Radiation dose to the lens in sequential and spiral CT of the facial bones and sinuses

A tendency for over-utilization of the radiological examinations of facial bones and sinuses has been observed. The radiosensitive lens is exposed to radiation during such examination. Comparison of routine roentgenography and spiral axial and coronal CT in sequential and spiral acquisition modes with different mAs values was undertaken using Alderson Rando Phantom. The spiral-CT technique with pitch 1.5 performed in the coronal plane gave the lowest radiation dose to the lens as compared with other CT methods and only seven times higher than routine sinus roentgenography.

The Bowman-Birk inhibitor reactive site loop sequence represents an independent structural beta-hairpin motif

We have determined the NMR structure in aqueous solution of a disulphide-cyclised 11-residue peptide that forms a stable beta-hairpin, incorporating a type VIb beta-turn. The structure is found to be extremely well ordered for a short peptide, with the 30 lowest energy simulated annealing structures having an average pairwise r.m.s. deviation of only 0.36 A over the backbone. All but three side-chains adopt distinct conformations, allowing a detailed analysis of their involvement in cross-strand interactions. The peptide sequence analysed originates from a previously reported study, which identified potent inhibitors of human leukocyte elastase from screening a combinatorial peptide library based on the short protein beta-sheet segment that forms the reactive site loop of Bowman-Birk inhibitors. A detailed comparison of the peptide's solution structure with the corresponding region in the whole protein structure reveals a very good correspondence not only for the backbone (r.m.s. deviation approximately 0.7 A) but also for the side-chains. This isolated beta-hairpin retains the biologically active "canonical conformation" typical of small serine proteinase inhibitor proteins, which explains why it retains inhibitory activity. Since the structural integrity is sequence-inherent and does not depend upon the presence of the remaining protein, this beta-hairpin represents an independent structural motif and so provides a useful model of this type of protein architecture and its relation to biological function. The relationship between the conformation of this beta-hairpin and its biological activity is discussed.

The incidence of potential conjunctival contamination in tonsillectomy

A prospective study of 100 consecutive tonsillectomies was performed to assess the incidence of potential blood contamination of the surgeons' conjunctivae. Operating masks with plastic visors were used during these operations and examined by microscopy to detect blood contamination. 46% of visors were contaminated by blood. There was no significant difference with respect to how the operation was performed, or with the addition of adenoidectomy, but there was a significant difference between the rate of contamination between some surgeons. No surgeon performing more than three operations, however, escaped contamination. We recommend that eye protection be worn routinely in tonsillectomy.

Japanese occupational therapy in community mental health and telehealth

Help for people with mental health problems in Japan has traditionally centred on inpatient medical care. In a revision of the Mental Health Welfare Law planned for 2001, responsibility for the support of people with mental health problems will be transferred from central government to local government. Furthermore, local government will, in turn, delegate administrative tasks to a 'community life support centre'. We believe that such a centre could be linked to a university with a telehealth network. Connection to the network could benefit people with mental health problems living at home. We also believe that occupational therapists are ideally positioned to play a significant role in community life support centres. With the expected sustained growth in Japanese occupational therapy, it could become a key profession in the rehabilitation of people with mental health problems.

Effects of fluconazole and clarithromycin on rifabutin and 25-O-desacetylrifabutin pharmacokinetics

Ten human immunodeficiency virus-infected patients were given rifabutin in addition to fluconazole and clarithromycin. There was a 76% increase in the area under the concentration-time curve of rifabutin when either fluconazole or clarithromycin was given alone and a 152% increase when both drugs were given together with rifabutin. Patients should be monitored for adverse effects of rifabutin administered concomitantly with clarithromycin and/or fluconazole.