Occurrence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci in pork and poultry products from a cattle-rearing area of France.
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Meat products were collected from public retail outlets and tested for the presence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in an area with a high prevalence of VRE reported in human fecal samples. VRE were detected in 66% of the samples, and a predominance of VanC strains was found, which is also true for human fecal samples. (+info)
Antibiotic resistance of faecal Escherichia coli in poultry, poultry farmers and poultry slaughterers.
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The percentage of faecal samples containing resistant Echerichia coli and the proportion of resistant faecal E. coli were determined in three poultry populations: broilers and turkeys commonly given antibiotics, and laying hens treated with antibiotics relatively infrequently. Faecal samples of five human populations were also examined: turkey farmers, broiler farmers, laying-hen farmers, broiler slaughterers and turkey slaughterers. The MICs of antibiotics commonly used in poultry medicine were also determined. Ciprofloxacin-resistant isolates from these eight populations and from turkey meat were genotyped by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) after SmaI digestion. The proportion of samples containing resistant E. coli and the percentages of resistant E. coli were significantly higher in turkeys and broilers than in the laying-hen population. Resistance to nearly all antibiotics in faecal E. coli of turkey and broiler farmers, and of turkey and broiler slaughterers, was higher than in laying-hen farmers. Multiresistant isolates were common in turkey and broiler farmers but absent in laying-hen farmers. The same resistance patterns were found in turkeys, turkey farmers and turkey slaughterers and in broiler, broiler farmers and broiler slaughterers. The PFGE patterns of the isolates from the eight populations were quite heterogeneous, but E. coli with an identical PFGE pattern were isolated at two farms from a turkey and the farmer, and also from a broiler and a broiler farmer from different farms. Moreover, three E. coli isolates from turkey meat were identical to faecal isolates from turkeys. The results of this study strongly indicate that transmission of resistant clones and resistance plasmids of E. coli from poultry to humans commonly occurs. (+info)
Entraining the natural frequencies of running and breathing in guinea fowl (Numida meleagris).
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Lung ventilation of tetrapods that synchronize their locomotory and ventilatory cycles during exercise could be economized if the resonant frequency of the respiratory system matched the animal's preferred step frequency. To test whether animals utilize this strategy, the input impedance of the respiratory system of five anesthetized, supine guinea fowl (Numida meleagris) was measured using a forced oscillation technique. The resonant frequency of the respiratory system was 7.12+/-0.27 Hz (N=5, mean +/- S.E.M.). No statistically significant difference was found between the resonant frequency of the respiratory system and the panting frequency used by guinea fowl at rest (6.67+/-0.16 Hz, N=11) or during treadmill locomotion (6.71+/-0.12 Hz, N=8) or to their preferred step frequency (6.73+/-0.09 Hz, N=7) (means +/- S.E.M.). These observations suggest (i) that, at rest and during exercise, panting guinea fowl maximize flow while expending minimal mechanical effort, and (ii) that natural selection has tuned the natural frequencies of the respiratory and locomotor systems to similar frequencies. (+info)
Respiratory symptoms in European animal farmers.
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Farmers are known to be at high risk for the development of occupational airway disease. The aim of this European study was to determine which airway symptoms predominate in different types of animal farmers (cattle, pigs, poultry, sheep) and to compare the prevalence of symptoms to the general population. A total of 6,156 randomly selected animal farmers in Denmark, Germany (Schleswig-Holstein, Niedersachsen), Switzerland, and Spain completed a questionnaire on respiratory symptoms and farming characteristics in 1995-1997. The prevalence of general respiratory symptoms was compared to the results of the European Community Respiratory Health Survey (ECRHS) obtained in the same regions. Pig farmers were at highest risk for the development of work-related symptoms. A significant dose-response relationship between daily hours worked inside animal houses and symptoms was established for pig and poultry farmers. Additionally, self-reported nasal allergies (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 3.92 (3.26-4.71)) and nasal irritation during work (3.98 (3.35-4.73)) were shown to be associated with the development of chronic phlegm. The prevalence of wheezing, shortness of breath, asthma and nasal allergies was signficantly lower among all farmers in the age group 20-44 yrs than among the general population. However, the prevalence of usually bringing up phlegm in winter among farmers was significantly higher than in the general population (9.4 (8.3-10.5%) versus 7.5 (6.5-8.5%)). Individual factors have been shown to be related to the prevalence of chronic phlegm among farmers. Additionally, this study could support the hypothesis that farming could be negatively related to allergic diseases. (+info)
Seroepidemiology of toxoplasmosis in the Lublin region.
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Reported are results of serologic examinations for the presence of anti-Toxoplasma antibodies by direct agglutination in 1,497 people: 1,327 forestry workers and 86 farmers occupationally exposed to T. gondii from the Lublin region (eastern Poland) and 84 inhabitants of the city of Lublin examined as the control group, including 50 blood donors and 34 workers from forestry headquarters. 58.5% positive results in forestry workers, 56.9% in farmers and 46.4% in the control group were obtained. The highest percentages of positive results were obtained in Sosnowica, Wlodawa and Sobibor, all localities in the Chelm district. This finding and the prevalence of clinical cases may suggest that the Chelm district (easternmost area of the Lublin region, bordering Ukraine) is an endemic area of toxoplasmosis. A case of toxoplasmosis in a 39 year old farmer is described in whom reinfection was identified 20 years after primary diagnosis. Rapid increase in specific serologic titres and symptoms typical for toxoplasmosis were noted. The rest of the family and household animals were also found to be positive which supports the suggestion of a family-environmental case of toxoplasmosis. Survey for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies in various domestic and wild animals comprised sera from 262 cows, 120 pigs, 34 geese, 65 chickens, 3 roe deer and 10 sheep from the Lublin region. High percentages of positive results were found in cattle (53.8%) and in pigs (15%). Fowl were positive only in 0-5.9%. The cattle and pigs from the Chelm district are most probably the main sources of toxoplasmosis threatening humans in this area. (+info)
Resistance of Musca domestica L. populations to cyromazine (insect growth regulator) in Brazil.
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Five field populations of Musca domestica L. collected in poultry farms were bioassayed in order to detect possible resistance to the larvicide cyromazine in Brazil. The concentrations used were 0, 0.5, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 1, 2, 4 and 8 ppm. Three populations (Petropolis, RJ, Montes Claros, MG and Promissao, SP) were resistant, while the other two populations (Ibiuna, SP and Monte Mor, SP) were more susceptible than the reference pathern used by the World Health Organization. The presence of three resistant house fly populations to cyromazine in Brazilian poultry farms strongly suggests that the operational aspects of larvicide use are important for the resistance development. Cyromazine is applied as a feed-through, both in Brazil and in the USA, where resistance has already been documented. However, in Denmark, where it was approved only as a topical manure spray, no case of resistance has yet been detected. (+info)
Milk intake, circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor-I, and risk of colorectal cancer in men.
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BACKGROUND: Milk and dietary calcium may have antiproliferative effects against colorectal cancer, but milk intake also raises serum levels of insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I). A high ratio of IGF-I to IGF-binding protein-3 (IGFBP-3) has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer. METHODS: In a case-control study nested in the Physicians' Health Study, plasma samples were collected from the period 1982 through 1983 from 14 916 men, aged 40-84 years, who also answered dietary questionnaires. Circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 were assayed among 193 men who developed colorectal cancer during 13 years of follow-up and 318 age- and smoking-matched cancer-free control men. Conditional logistic regression was used to assess relative risks (RRs) of colorectal cancer for tertiles of IGF-I/IGFBP-3 and dietary factors. Statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS: Overall, there was a moderate but statistically nonsignificant inverse association between intake of low-fat milk or calcium from dairy food and colorectal cancer risk. Intake of dairy food (especially low-fat milk) was also positively and moderately associated with plasma levels of IGF-I, IGFBP-3, and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 among control men. We observed a statistically significant interaction between low-fat milk intake and IGF-I/IGFBP-3 in association with risk of colorectal cancer (P(interaction) =.03). Nondrinkers with IGF-I/IGFBP-3 in the highest tertile had a threefold higher risk than nondrinkers with IGF-I/IGFBP-3 in the lowest tertile (RR = 3.05; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.29 to 7.24), but no such increase was seen among frequent low-fat milk drinkers (RR = 1.05; 95% CI = 0.41 to 2.69). Conversely, among men with high IGF-I/IGFBP-3, frequent low-fat milk drinkers had a 60% lower risk (95% CI = 0.17 to 0.87; P(trend) =.02) than nondrinkers. CONCLUSION: Intake of dairy products was associated with a modest increase in circulating IGF-I levels, but intake of low-fat milk was associated with lower risk of colorectal cancer, particularly among individuals with high IGF-I/IGFBP-3. This subpopulation, which is at increased risk of colorectal cancer, might benefit the most from specific dietary intervention. (+info)
Characterization of hydrogen sulfide-producing bacteria isolated from meat and poultry plants.
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A survey of the types of aerobic organisms able to produce H2S on peptone iron agar (Levin, 1968), and commonly occurring in meat and poultry plants, revealed that these could be divided into four distinct groups. The ability of representative strains of each type to grow at low temperatures and cause off-odors on chicken muscle was examined. The results are discussed in relation to the role of these organisms in the psychrophilic spoilage of meat and meat products. (+info)