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Aboelhadid SM, Hashem S, Abdel-Kafy ES, Mahrous LN, Farghly EM, Abdel-Baki AAS, Al-Quraishy S, Kamel AA. Prebiotic supplementation effect on Escherichia coli and Salmonella species associated with experimentally induced intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits. PeerJ 2021; 9:e10714. [PMID: 33552731 PMCID: PMC7831364 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.10714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2020] [Accepted: 12/15/2020] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Coccidian infection may enhance the proliferation of gut Enterobacteriaceae. Bacterial infections in rabbits can negatively affect the body condition and cause high mortality, especially at young ages. Therefore, the effect of prebiotic supplementation on the presence of Escherichia coli and Salmonella species in rabbits experimentally infected with intestinal coccidiosis was investigated. Methods Thirty male rabbits aged 35–40 days were divided into three equal groups. These groups were; prebiotic supplemented (PS), positive control (PC), and negative control (NC) groups. The prebiotic group was supplemented with 2 g/L of Bio-Mos® until the end of the experiment. At day ten post prebiotic supplementation; the PS and PC groups were inoculated orally with 5.0 × 104 sporulated oocysts of mixed species of rabbit Eimeria. The daily fecal examination was carried out from the day 4 post-infection (PI) until the day 8 PI. At day 5 and day 8 PI, 5 rabbits from each group (PS, PC, and NC) were humanely slaughtered and parts of intestinal tissue were collected for microbiological analysis. Results There was a significant decrease (P≤ 0.05) in the oocyst count in the PS group (25.12 × 104 ± 10.36) when compared with the PC group (43.43 × 104 ± 11.52) and this decrease was continued till the end of the experiment. Eleven E. coli isolates were detected in the collected samples with an overall prevalence of 24.4%. The highest prevalence of E. coli was in the PC group (13.33%) while the lowest one was in the PS group (4.44%). Meanwhile, four Salmonella serovars were isolated with an overall prevalence of 8.89%. The NC group showed one serovar (2.22%) and PC revealed three serovars (6.67%) while the prebiotic supplemented group didn’t show any salmonella isolate. Of E. coli isolates, five isolates (O78, O125, O152, O115 and O168) showed high resistance to florfenicol and neomycin (100%). Also, of salmonella serovars, thee serovars (Salmonella entrica subsp. enterica serovar Macclesfield, Salmonella entrica Subsp. enterica serovar Canada and Salmonella entrica Subsp. enterica serovar Kisangani) showed high resistance to sulphamazole, amoxicillin and flumequin (75%) while it was sensitive to levofloxacin and ciprofloxacine (75%). The bacterial colony in this study was the same results at days 5 and 8 PI. Conclusion The use of prebiotic as prophylaxis in this experiment significantly reduced the prevalence of E. coli and salmonella associated with the intestinal coccidiosis in rabbits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shawky M Aboelhadid
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Shaymaa Hashem
- Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - El-Sayed Abdel-Kafy
- Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Lilian N Mahrous
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
| | - Eman M Farghly
- Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | | | - Saleh Al-Quraishy
- Zoology Department, College of Science, King Saud University, Riadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Asmaa A Kamel
- Parasitology Department, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Beni-Suef University, Beni-Suef, Egypt
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2
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Bessalah S, Fairbrother JM, Salhi I, Vanier G, Khorchani T, Seddik MM, Hammadi M. Characterization and antimicrobial susceptibility of Escherichia coli isolated from healthy farm animals in Tunisia. Anim Biotechnol 2020; 32:748-757. [PMID: 32293994 DOI: 10.1080/10495398.2020.1752702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Healthy animals can constitute a reservoir for Escherichia coli potentially dangerous for humans. Our objectives were to investigate virulence genes in E. coli isolated from healthy animals in southern Tunisia and to determine their resistance to antimicrobials of high importance in humans and animals. 126 fecal samples were collected from healthy animals (cattle, sheep, goats, chicken, camel, bustard and rabbit) and assayed by PCR for virulence genes and by disk diffusion for antimicrobial resistance. STEC were isolated most frequently from goats (27.7%), sheep (20%) and cattle (14.2%). ExPEC prevalence of iucD (41.6%), papC (27.7%), sfa (13.8%), afa8 (13.8%) and iron (72.2%) was highest in camels. Prevalence of the ExPEC associated genes iss and cnf and the EPEC defining gene eae was highest in rabbits (53.3, 13.3, and 53.3%, respectively). The genes defining enterotoxigenic, enteroinvasive and enteroaggregative E. coli were not detected and faeG was found only in camels (5.5%). The most common phylogenetic groups were B1 (54.5%) and B2 (16.6%). Virulence gene profiles varied greatly between animal species. Overall, antimicrobial resistance was not highly prevalent, the highest resistance being observed against tetracycline, 43.9%.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma Bessalah
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - John Morris Fairbrother
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, OIE Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli (EcL), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - Imed Salhi
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Ghyslaine Vanier
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, OIE Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli (EcL), Université de Montréal, Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada
| | - Touhami Khorchani
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Mabrouk-Mouldi Seddik
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Hammadi
- Livestock and Wildlife Laboratory, Arid Lands Institute (I.R.A), University of Gabès, Médenine, Tunisia
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3
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Fabian NJ, Mannion AJ, Feng Y, Madden CM, Fox JG. Intestinal colonization of genotoxic Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor in small mammal pets. Vet Microbiol 2019; 240:108506. [PMID: 31902483 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2019.108506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli encoding colibactin (clb), cytolethal distending toxin (cdt), and hemolysin-associated cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf) are associated with various intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases in humans and animals. Small mammal pets are not evaluated for genotoxin-encoding E. coli. Thus, the prevalence of such strains is unknown. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize genotoxin-encoding E. coli from healthy and ill small mammal pets examined at a veterinary clinic and at two animal adoption centers. E. coli isolates were cultured from fecal samples and biochemically characterized. A total of 65 animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hedgehogs, were screened. Twenty-six E. coli isolates were obtained from 24 animals. Twelve of the 26 isolates (46.2 %) were PCR-positive for the pks genes clbA and clbQ. Two isolates (7.7 %) were PCR-positive for cnf. All isolates were PCR-negative for cdt. All genotoxin-encoding isolates belonged to the pathogen-associated phylogenetic group B2. Representative genotoxin-encoding isolates had serotypes previously associated with clinical disease in humans and animals. Isolates encoding pks or cnf induced megalocytosis and cytotoxicity to HeLa cells in vitro. Although most isolates were obtained from healthy pets, two guinea pigs with diarrhea had pks-positive isolates cultured from their feces. Whole genome sequencing on four representative isolates confirmed the presence of pks and cnf genes and identified other virulence factors associated with pathogenicity in animals and humans. Our results suggest that small mammalian pets may serve as a reservoir for potentially pathogenic E. coli and implicate a zoonotic risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niora J Fabian
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 16-825, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
| | - Anthony J Mannion
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 16-825, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
| | - Yan Feng
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 16-825, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
| | - Carolyn M Madden
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 16-825, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
| | - James G Fox
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Building 16-825, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 02139, USA.
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Stalder GL, Pinior B, Zwirzitz B, Loncaric I, Jakupović D, Vetter SG, Smith S, Posautz A, Hoelzl F, Wagner M, Hoffmann D, Kübber-Heiss A, Mann E. Gut microbiota of the European Brown Hare (Lepus europaeus). Sci Rep 2019; 9:2738. [PMID: 30804494 PMCID: PMC6390100 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-39638-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 01/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract due to changes in the bacterial flora have been described with increasing incidence in the European brown hare. Despite extensive demographic and phylogeographic research, little is known about the composition of its gut microbiota and how it might vary based on potential environmental or host factors. We analysed the intestinal and faecal microbiota of 3 hare populations by Illumina MiSeq 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The phyla and OTU abundance composition differed significantly between intestinal and faecal samples (PERMANOVA: P = 0.002 and P = 0.031, respectively), but in both sample types Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes dominated the microbial community composition (45.51% and 19.30% relative abundance). Intestinal samples contained an enrichment of Proteobacteria compared with faecal samples (15.71-fold change, P < 0.001). At OTU level, a significant enrichment with best BLAST hits to the Escherichia-Shigella group, Eubacterium limosum, Sphingomonas kyeonggiensis, Flintibacter butyricus and Blautia faecis were detected in intestinal samples (P < 0.05). In our statistical model, geographic location and possibly associated environmental factors had a greater impact on the microbiota composition than host factors. Population had a significant effect on the composition of abundant intestinal and faecal OTUs, and on the abundance of potential pathogenic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, regularly associated with intestinal dysbiosis in hares, in faecal samples. Our study is the first to describe the microbiota in brown hares and provides a foundation to generate hypothesis aiming to test the role of gut health in population fluctuations of the species.
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Affiliation(s)
- G L Stalder
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria.
| | - B Pinior
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute for Veterinary Public Health, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - B Zwirzitz
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation FFoQSI GmbH, Technopark 1C, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - I Loncaric
- Department of Pathobiology, Institute of Microbiology, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
| | - D Jakupović
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - S G Vetter
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - S Smith
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - A Posautz
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - F Hoelzl
- Konrad Lorenz Institute of Ethology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - M Wagner
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria.,Austrian Competence Centre for Feed and Food Quality, Safety and Innovation FFoQSI GmbH, Technopark 1C, 3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - D Hoffmann
- Game Conservancy Deutschland e. V., Schloßstrasse 1, 86732, Oettingen, Germany
| | - A Kübber-Heiss
- Research Institute of Wildlife Ecology, Department of Integrative Biology and Evolution, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1160, Vienna, Austria
| | - E Mann
- Department for Farm Animals and Veterinary Public Health, Institute of Milk Hygiene, Milk Technology and Food Science, University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, 1210, Vienna, Austria
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Kylie J, Brash M, Whiteman A, Tapscott B, Slavic D, Weese JS, Turner PV. Biosecurity practices and causes of enteritis on Ontario meat rabbit farms. THE CANADIAN VETERINARY JOURNAL = LA REVUE VETERINAIRE CANADIENNE 2017; 58:571-578. [PMID: 28588327 PMCID: PMC5432143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Infectious enterocolitis is a significant cause of mortality in meat rabbits. Disease risk is enhanced by intensive rearing practices and poor on-farm biosecurity. This investigation was undertaken in farmed meat rabbits during an Ontario-wide outbreak of enteritis with high mortality to determine the prevalence of causative agents. A survey evaluating on-farm biosecurity practices was also conducted to identify potential means of pathogen contamination and zoonotic risks. Gross and microscopic pathology evaluations combined with microbiologic testing were conducted on 95 rabbits over spring and winter months. Escherichia coli and Clostridium spiroforme were most commonly associated with enteritis in rabbits regardless of age or season and lesions were significantly more severe in mature does (P < 0.0001). The survey results demonstrated a lack of consistent on-farm biosecurity practices. The infectious nature of enteric disease of rabbits combined with poor biosecurity practices may contribute to disease transmission within and between farms.
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Frydman GH, Metcalf Pate KA, Marini RP, de Laforcade AM, Bosch I, Bakthavatchalu V, Muthupalani S, Swennes AG, Lyons CE, Tompkins RG, Fox JG. Adult-onset, chronic, cyclic thrombocytopenia in a Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta) after dengue virus vaccination and viral challenge. Vet Clin Pathol 2017; 46:238-247. [PMID: 28518476 DOI: 10.1111/vcp.12497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
An 8-year-old, male Rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta), previously used for dengue virus (DENV) vaccine research with viral challenge, was presented with adult-onset, chronic, cyclic thrombocytopenia. Platelet number, morphology, and function were evaluated by automated hematology, peripheral blood smears, electron microscopy, flow cytometry, and impedance aggregometry. Bone marrow was evaluated by cytology. Both serum anti-dengue nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) antibodies and anti-platelet antibodies were detected by ELISA. Platelet characterization showed a lack of aggregation to all agonists (ADP, ASP, and collagen), increased activation with increased expression of surface marker (HLA-ABC), and an absence of surface receptor GPIX during clinical episodes of petechiae and ecchymoses, even in the presence of normal platelet counts. Bone marrow aspirates identified potential mild megakaryocytic hypoplasia. All platelet functions and morphologic attributes were within normal limits during clinically normal phases. Presence of anti-dengue NS1 serum antibodies confirmed a positive DENV titer 8 years postvaccination. Based on the history and clinical findings, a primary differential diagnosis for this chronic, cyclic platelet pathology was autoimmune platelet destruction with potential bone marrow involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galit H Frydman
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Center for Surgery, Innovation & Bioengineering, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.,Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kelly A Metcalf Pate
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Robert P Marini
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Armelle M de Laforcade
- Emergency and Critical Care, Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, Tufts University, North Grafton, MA, USA
| | - Irene Bosch
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | - Alton G Swennes
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Claire E Lyons
- Department of Molecular and Comparative Pathobiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Ronald G Tompkins
- Center for Surgery, Innovation & Bioengineering, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James G Fox
- Division of Comparative Medicine, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.,Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
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García-Rubio VG, Bautista-Gómez LG, Martínez-Castañeda JS, Romero-Núñez C. Multicausal etiology of the enteric syndrome in rabbits from Mexico. Rev Argent Microbiol 2017; 49:132-138. [PMID: 28431785 PMCID: PMC7117011 DOI: 10.1016/j.ram.2017.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2015] [Revised: 10/11/2016] [Accepted: 10/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Enteropathies in rabbits are difficult to diagnose; their etiology involves pathogens that act synergistically, causing damage to the intestine. The aim of the present study was isolate enteric pathogens from rabbits in Mexico. Using parasitological, bacteriological and molecular analyses, we screened 58 samples of the intestinal content of rabbits having a clinical history of enteric disease from the southeastern part of the State of Mexico. Out of the 58 samples analyzed, a total of 86 identifications were made, Eimeria spp. were found in 77.5%, followed by Aeromonas spp. in 15.5% and Escherichia coli in 8.6%, which were identified as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and the presence of the following agents was also confirmed: Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus spp., Mannheimia spp. and Rotavirus. The concurrent presence of Eimeria spp. with Aeromonas was frequent (15.5%); there was statistical significance for the presence of an association between the clinical profiles and Eimeria spp. (p=0.000), Mannheimia spp. (p=0.001), Salmonella spp., Klebsiella spp., Streptococcus spp. and Enterococcus spp. (p=0.006).
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Affiliation(s)
- Virginia G García-Rubio
- Centro Universitario UAEM Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 2.5 Carretera Amecameca-Ayapango, C.P. 56900 Amecameca, Estado de México, México
| | - Linda G Bautista-Gómez
- Centro Universitario UAEM Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 2.5 Carretera Amecameca-Ayapango, C.P. 56900 Amecameca, Estado de México, México.
| | - José S Martínez-Castañeda
- Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México. Carretera de Cuota Toluca-Atlacomulco km 15.5, C.P. 50200, Toluca, Estado de México, México
| | - Camilo Romero-Núñez
- Centro Universitario UAEM Amecameca, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Km 2.5 Carretera Amecameca-Ayapango, C.P. 56900 Amecameca, Estado de México, México
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Guo M, Wu F, Hao G, Qi Q, Li R, Li N, Wei L, Chai T. Bacillus subtilis Improves Immunity and Disease Resistance in Rabbits. Front Immunol 2017; 8:354. [PMID: 28424690 PMCID: PMC5372816 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2017.00354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 166] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 03/13/2017] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Probiotics such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium have been successfully used to promote growth and prevent diseases. Previous reports have demonstrated that Bacillus subtilis (B. subtilis) was a potential probiotic for animals. In this research, 180 B. subtilis were isolated from the soil, identified, and investigated in vitro. Furthermore, five B. subtilis were selected and mixed to investigate their effect on growth performance, immune response, intestine microbiota, and disease resistance in rabbits. Rabbits with a diet of 106 CFU g-1 mixed B. subtilis exhibited the best growth performance and higher serum IgG and IgA than controls (P < 0.05). Moreover, dairy with B. subtilis can promote the balance of intestinal flora. The major proinflammatory factor and β-defensin were upregulated compared with the controls. After 7 weeks of feeding, the survival rate of the rabbits fed with B. subtilis was significantly higher than those in the control groups postinfected with Escherichia coli. At the same time, this study detected higher expression of β-defensin and reduced bacteria contents of the heart and cecal contents from the diet mixed with B. subtilis compared with the control groups. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with B. subtilis for rabbits could improve growth performance, intestinal homeostasis, and immune organ index and enhance innate immune response as well as disease resistance. These findings showed that the induction of β-defensin by B. subtilis might be an interesting new therapeutic strategy to strengthen innate defense mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjiao Guo
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for the Origin and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Taishan Medical University, Tai’an City, China
| | - Fahao Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
| | - Guangen Hao
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
| | - Qin Qi
- Tai’an City Central Hospital, Tai’an City, China
| | - Rong Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
| | - Ning Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center for the Origin and Control of Emerging Infectious Diseases, Taishan Medical University, Tai’an City, China
| | - Liangmeng Wei
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
| | - Tongjie Chai
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Shandong Agricultural University, Sino-German Cooperative Research Centre for Zoonosis of Animal Origin of Shandong Province, Tai’an City, China
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Nowland MH, Brammer DW, Garcia A, Rush HG. Biology and Diseases of Rabbits. LABORATORY ANIMAL MEDICINE 2015. [PMCID: PMC7150064 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-409527-4.00010-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Beginning in 1931, an inbred rabbit colony was developed at the Phipps Institute for the Study, Treatment and Prevention of Tuberculosis at the University of Pennsylvania. This colony was used to study natural resistance to infection with tuberculosis (Robertson et al., 1966). Other inbred colonies or well-defined breeding colonies were also developed at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Center for Genetics, the Laboratories of the International Health Division of The Rockefeller Foundation, the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands, and Jackson Laboratories. These colonies were moved or closed in the years to follow. Since 1973, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has reported the total number of certain species of animals used by registered research facilities (1997). In 1973, 447,570 rabbits were used in research. There has been an overall decrease in numbers of rabbits used. This decreasing trend started in the mid-1990s. In 2010, 210,172 rabbits were used in research. Despite the overall drop in the number used in research, the rabbit is still a valuable model and tool for many disciplines.
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