Molecular characterization of temporally and geographically matched Streptococcus agalactiae strains isolated from food products and bloodstream infections.

In a defined geographic area, during a 3-month period, 914 food products were screened for Streptococcus agalactiae, and S. agalactiae strains isolated from bloodstream infections (BSI) in nonpregnant adults were collected. Eleven S.

[Epidemiological aspects of human Q fever in Indre-et-Loire between 2003 and 2005 and comparison with caprine Q fever].

Objective: Chronic infection is the major risk of Q fever. C. burnetii infections result from the inhalation of contaminated aerosols.

Effects of dietary scFOS on immunoglobulins in colostrums and milk of bitches.

Fructo-oligosaccharides (scFOS) are prebiotic ingredients that improve protection against pathogens probably through promoting the growth of gastrointestinal bacteria-like Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli: this stimulation may lead to a better development of immune repertoire and/or stimulation of the local immune response. According to the existence of the immune entero-mammary link, we were wondering if the dietary supplementation with scFOS could enhance the mucosal immunoglobulin level in mammary secretions. Results in this study show that bitches supplemented with scFOS exhibit higher colostrum and milk IgM content without concomitant effect on IgG1, IgG2 and IgA.

Free radical generation of protease-resistant prion after substitution of manganese for copper in bovine brain homogenate.

The exchange between copper and seven transition metals is studied in a bovine brain obex homogenate according to the redox status of the medium. In reductive conditions, almost all the studied metals can substitute for copper when it is in the reduced form Cu+. This substitution is reversible, since copper uptake as Cu++ is restored in an oxidizing medium but only Co++, Ni++ and Mn++, in this decreasing order, can substitute perfectly for copper in bovine brain homogenate.

Detection of Listeria spp. in Food Samples by Immunomagnetic Capture: ListerScreen Method.

A new assay, ListerScreen, has been developed to detect Listeria spp. in food. This method separates Listeria cells from enriched food samples by means of immunomagnetic beads.

[Critical analysis of isolation, counting and identification methods of Listeria in food industry].

Stimulated by epidemic outbreaks in years 80's and 90's detection methods for Listeria, and L. monocytogenes particularly, have undergone many important progresses. New selective media for isolation and enrichment have been formulated with the aim to improve bacteriological methods and decrease time delays.

Isolation of Mycoplasma cloacale from a number of different avian hosts in great Britain and France.

Following the original isolation of Mycoplasma cloacale from a turkey in Great Britain, only one further turkey isolate has been obtained whereas the mycoplasma has been recovered from 2 species of wild ducks in Britain, and from 2 breeds of domestic ducks and from domestic geese in France. A few isolations have also been made from wild and exotic birds but M. cloacale has not been found in chickens.

[Bacteriological diagnosis of Neisseria ovis. Apropos of a strain isolated from keratoconjunctivitis of lambs].

The authors report a case of bacteriologic diagnosis of Neisseria ovis isolated from a keratoconjunctivitis of lamb. Difficulties of diagnosis and taxonomic position of N. ovis are briefly discussed.

[Protein A research in 1200 strains of Staphylococcus (using a rapid detection technic by passive hemagglutination with glutaraldehyde treated erythrocytes].

The technique used was that of passive hemaglutination of red cells of sheep prepared with glutaraldehyde and sensitized by anti-erythrocyte antibodies. A protein-A was not found in S. epidermidis strains, but was present in 96.

Cause of the continuous rise in plasma renin concentration after removal of manipulated submaxillary glands in nephrectomized mice.

After gentle manipulation with subsequent removal of the submaxillary glands in nephrectomized mice there is a vast increase in the concentrations of high molecular weight renin ("prorenin"?) as well active renin in plasma. The increase in active renin is continuous even after removal of glands as well as kidneys. Using in vitro incubation and replacement transfusion experiments, the continuous rise was found not to be due to activation of the high molecular weight renin.