Monitoring antimicrobial resistance of foodborne pathogens in poultry is critical for food safety. We aimed to compare antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in Salmonella isolated from poultry samples as influenced by isolation and antimicrobial susceptibility testing methods. Salmonella isolates were cultured from a convenience sample of commercial broiler ceca with and without selective broth enrichment, and resistance phenotypes were determined for 14 antimicrobials using the Sensititre® platform and a qualitative broth breakpoint assay. The broth breakpoint method reported higher resistance to chloramphenicol, sulfisoxazole, and the combination of trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole, and lower resistance to streptomycin as compared to the Sensititre® assay in trial one. Selective enrichment of samples containing Salmonella in Rappaport-Vassiliadis broth reported lowered detectable resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, ampicillin, azithromycin, cefoxitin, ceftriaxone, nalidixic acid, and meropenem, and increased resistance to streptomycin and tetracycline than direct-plating samples in trial one. Using matched isolates in trial two, the Sensititre® assay reported higher resistance to chloramphenicol and gentamicin, and lower resistance to nalidixic acid as compared to the broth breakpoint method. These results suggest methodology is a critical consideration in the detection and surveillance of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes in Salmonella isolates from poultry samples and could affect the accuracy of population or industry surveillance insights and intervention strategies.
The use of a differential quantitative blood culture technique (Isolator) to diagnose intravascular-device-related bacteremia (IDRB) was studied prospectively. During septic episodes in 44 patients, blood was obtained simultaneously through the suspected infected device and from a peripheral venipuncture. The blood samples were processed by the Isolator technique, which enables easy quantification of microorganisms. The cannula was removed, and its tip was cultured semiquantitatively. Of the 52 cannulas studied, 15 were the cause of IDRB, but only 7 of these showed a significantly higher bacterial count in blood obtained through the device compared with peripheral blood. The bacterial count was higher in blood drawn through the device than in peripheral blood in four of six cases that did not fulfill the definition of IDRB. Some blood cultures obtained through the device were positive despite negative cultures of peripheral blood and cannula tips (six cannulas). Quantitative blood cultures were not useful in diagnosing IDRB in this study.
COCKERILL, F. R. III; MULLER, S. R.; ANHALT, J. P.; MARSH, H. M.; FARNELL, M. B.; MUCHA, P.; GILLESPIE, D. J.; ILSTRUP, D. M.; LARSON-KELLER, J. J.; THOMPSON, R. L. Author Information
Two battery experiments were conducted to evaluate a commercial yeast extract feed supplement, Alphamune, in a cold stress-Escherichia coli challenge of 1-wk-old turkeys. Experiment 1 used 1-d-old male poults that were the progeny of 33-wk-old hens in their second week of lay. Experiment 2 used male poults of the same genetic line from 40-wk-old hens in their eighth week of lay. Poults were fed a standard unmedicated turkey starter diet or the same diet with either a low level (504 g/t) or a high level (1,008 g/t) of yeast extract. Challenged birds were exposed to intermittent cold stress during wk 1 to 3 and to a respiratory E. coli challenge at 1 wk of age. In both experiments, BW at wk 1 was increased by feeding yeast extract. In experiment 1, challenged, control-fed birds had decreased BW at wk 3 and feed conversion was protected by both levels of yeast extract supplementation. In experiment 2, challenge had no effect on control-fed birds; however, yeast extract decreased the BW of challenged birds. In experiment 1, total leukocyte numbers were decreased by challenge of control-fed birds only, and there was no effect of challenge on the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio. In experiment 2, total leukocyte numbers were decreased and the heterophil/lymphocyte ratio was increased in challenged, control-fed birds. Percentage mortality was not affected by challenge in experiment 1; however, in experiment 2, mortality was increased by challenge of control-fed birds and those fed the lower level of yeast extract. These results suggest that hen age should be considered when designing studies to evaluate antibiotic alternatives and in making decisions for incorporating such alternatives into production.
Modern broilers grow much faster and more efficiently than their predecessors. Because of the rapid growth rates of broilers, particular attention must be given to the skeletal development of the bird. Calcium formate (CaFo) has been used as a calcium source in animal diets in the European Union for many years. The objective of this study was to evaluate CaFo in broiler diets as an alternative source of calcium. Four experimental groups (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% CaFo) were evaluated, with 10 replicate pens per treatment. Variables measured included BW, FCR, tibia weight, bone ash percentage, tibia breaking strength, and gut morphology. Many of the parameters measured were statistically similar to the calcium carbonate control treatment. However, the 1.0% CaFo treatment significantly increased tibia breaking strength and duodenal villus height when compared with the other treatments at the completion of grow out. Therefore, CaFo can serve as an alternative calcium source in broiler diets and may significantly improve skeletal development.
Human consumption of omega-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (n-3 PUFA) has increased due to reported health benefits. Despite the benefits of n-3 PUFA eggs, the addition of omega-3 enriched feedstuffs like flaxseed and fish oil may reduce egg quality. A standard n-PUFA diet containing flaxseed and fish oil (Diet A), a standard n-PUFA diet supplemented with vitamin B6 (Diet B), a standard n-PUFA diet without fish oil (Diet C) and a conventional milo ration (Diet D) were fed to four separate groups of laying hens to evaluate the effect of these diets on egg quality. Three individual shipments of eggs collected from hens fed these diets were received from a commercial layer operation, where these hens were reared. The eggs were stored for three weeks in a refrigerator to simulate consumer storage conditions. The eggs were evaluated for quality by determining whole egg weight, yolk weight, albumen thickness and Vitelline Membrane Strength (VMS). Significant increases in egg weights were observed in Diet B samples in the first egg shipment and Diets B, C and D in the third egg shipment. Yolk weights were significantly increased with Diet B samples from the third collection. No differences were observed in albumen thickness in any of the three shipments of eggs. Numerical increases in VMS were observed in Diets B, C and D in each of the three shipments, but only the third shipment had significant differences with these treatments. These data suggests that the addition of flaxseed and fish oil may negatively affect egg quality. The addition of vitamin B6 or the removal of fish oil to a standard n-PUFA diet may be comparable to a conventional layer ration’s effect on egg quality.
A rapid and effective means to clean and disinfect premises is needed by the poultry industry. We hypothesized that commercially available foaming disinfectants and cleaners applied via a compressed air foam system (CAFS) may be used to significantly reduce aerobic bacteria in a commercial caged layer complex. Six field trials were conducted to evaluate current industry cleaning and disinfection protocols and the proposed CAFS application. A commercially available chlorinated alkaline foaming cleaner (CHL/ALK) was applied in trials 1 and 2 by CAFS to one half of the house, and the other half of the house was not treated. The entire house was then washed with a high-pressure water rinse (HPWR). A commercially available peroxyacetic acid (PAA) in trials 3 and 4 or a 14% glutaraldehyde (HI GLUT)/2.5% quaternary ammonia (QAC) blended disinfectant in trials 5 and 6 was applied by CAFS to one half of a washed house. The remainder of the house was then treated with a 7% glutaraldehyde (LO GLUT)/26% QAC, which was spray-applied to cages by the integrator. Environmental swabs of drinker cups and cage floors were collected pre- and post-treatment to determine if aerobic bacteria were reduced. The HPWR and the CHL/ALK treatments did not consistently reduce bacteria on treated surfaces. Significant differences were observed with each of the CAFS applications of the PAA product, resulting in bacterial reductions of 1.83 to 2.27 log10 cfu/sample. Although inconsistent, differences (P < 0.05) were observed with the spray application of the 0.4% (v/v) LO GLUT/QAC with bacterial reductions of 0.42 to 2.15 log10 cfu/sample on both surfaces. The CAFS application of the 1.6% (v/v) HI GLUT/QAC resulted in bacterial reductions (P < 0.05) of 3.11 to 3.78 log10 cfu/sample. These data suggest that the application of 3.0% (v/v) PAA or a 1.6% (v/v) HI GLUT/QAC via CAFS may be used to consistently and significantly reduce aerobic bacteria in a commercial layer complex.
Pancreatic endocrine tumors (PETs) are uncommon tumors with an annual incidence <1 per 100 000 person-years in the general population. The PETs that produce hormones resulting in symptoms are designated as functional. The majority of PETs are non-functional. Of the functional tumors, insulinomas are the most common, followed by gastrinomas. The clinical course of patients with PETs is variable and depends on the extent of the disease and the treatment rendered. Patients with completely resected tumors generally have a good prognosis, and aggressive surgical therapy in patients with advanced disease may also prolong survival. The epidemiology, prognosis, and established and novel prognostic markers of PETs are reviewed.
Recently, a P-deficient diet caused rickets in commercial chicks within three days. This study aimed to investigate the duration of onset of rickets in chicks. Data were collected from 3–11 day old chicks raised on 88 commercial farms. Male day-old Arbor Acres Plus broilers (n = 450) were studied in three trials, with three to four treatments each. Each treatment used one of the following crumbled feeds: control feed (calcium (Ca): phosphorus (P)-1.41), slightly high Ca:P feed (SHCa:P, Ca:P-2.69), high Ca:P ratio, P deficient feed (HCa:P, Ca:P-3.08), and HCa:P feed plus 1.5% dicalcium phosphate (HCa:P + DP). Each treatment had three replicates with 15 birds each. Rickets was induced by HCa:P, and cured by HCa:P + DP, confirmed by gross anatomy, gait score, serum P concentration and growth performance. Lameness was not found in control groups, whereas, observed in the HCa:P groups as early as day 2.7 on commercial farms and day 3 in experimental farm. Serum P was reduced in HCa:P (p < 0.01). Bodyweight and feed intake started decreasing at day 3 on commercial farms and in all trials (p < 0.01). The duration of onset of hypophosphatemic rickets in broiler chicks fed HCa:P crumbled feed is approximately three days.
