Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) in the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The medicinal properties of hawthorn (Crataegus spp., a genus comprising approximately 300 species) have been utilized by many cultures for a variety of therapeutic purposes for many centuries. In the Western world cardiovascular disease (CVD) has become one of the single most significant causes of premature death.

Rapid multiplex PCR and real-time TaqMan PCR assays for detection of Salmonella enterica and the highly virulent serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C.

Salmonella enterica is a human pathogen with over 2,500 serovars characterized. S. enterica serovars Choleraesuis and Paratyphi C are two globally distributed serovars.

Comparison of Salmonella species recovered from Irish liquid milk production holdings with temporal clinical veterinary isolates.

The presence of microbiological hazards in foodstuffs including, Salmonella, form a major source of food-borne diseases in humans. In-line milk filters from 97 liquid milk production holdings in Cork, the largest dairy region in Ireland, were surveyed for the presence of Salmonella species at herd level over a 2-year period (September 2001-September 2003). Each dairy farm was visited 6 times at 4 monthly intervals (denoted by cycles A-F).

Investigation of a global collection of nontyphoidal Salmonella of various serotypes cultured between 1953 and 2004 for the presence of class 1 integrons.

In this study, antibiotic resistance profiles, and the presence of class 1 integrons were determined for 108 Salmonella isolates comprising 37 serotypes cultured from a variety of sources between 1953 and 2004. Antibiogram analyses showed that all isolates were resistant to streptomycin/spectinomycin. Molecular analysis revealed that 50% of the collection contained an integrase-encoding gene (int1) and 25% contained class 1 integrons.

In-line milk filter analysis: Escherichia coli O157 surveillance of milk production holdings.

Escherichia coli O157 is a major etiological agent of food-borne illness. Bovine animals are recognized reservoirs for this organism and represent a significant source from where these pathogens can enter the food chain. Food products derived from these animals are convenient vehicles, and are often the focal point(s) of infection.