High Doses of Halotolerant Gut-Indigenous Reduce Cultivable Lactobacilli in Newborn Calves without Increasing Its Species Abundance.

To elucidate the ecological effect of high oral doses of halotolerant (resistant to table salt) indigenous-gut bacteria on other commensals early in life, we conducted a culture-based study to quantify the effect of intestinal strain of bovine origin (with remarkable aerobic growth capabilities and inhibitory activity against O157:H7 and F5) on clinical health and gut lactobacilli/coliforms in newborn calves. In a double-blind placebo-randomized trial twelve colostrum-fed calves, consecutively born at a farm, were fed within 12 hours from birth at low (10 CFU/day) or high concentrations (10) or placebo (q24 h, 5 d; 10 d follow-up). We developed a 2.

Prevalence of netF-positive Clostridium perfringens in foals in southwestern Ontario.

NetF-producing Clostridium perfringens have recently been identified as a cause of necrotizing enteritis in neonatal foals, but little is known about its prevalence in clinically normal foals. Foals (n = 88) ranging in age from < 1 wk to 2 to 4 mo (median age 2 to 4 wk) on 8 horse-breeding farms in Ontario were examined on 1 or 2 occasions for the presence of C. perfringens.

Comparison of microbial populations in the small intestine, large intestine and feces of healthy horses using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism.

Background: The composition of the microbiota of the equine intestinal tract is complex. Determining whether the microbial composition of fecal samples is representative of proximal compartments of the digestive tract could greatly simplify future studies. The objectives of this study were to compare the microbial populations of the duodenum, ileum, cecum, colon and rectum (feces) within and between healthy horses, and to determine whether rectal (fecal) samples are representative of proximal segments of the gastrointestinal tract.

Presence and molecular characterization of Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens in intestinal compartments of healthy horses.

Background: Clostridium difficile and Clostridium perfringens are commonly associated with colitis in equids, but healthy carriers exist. Scarce information is available on the prevalence of Clostridium spp. in gastrointestinal compartments other than faeces in healthy horses, and it is unknown whether faecal samples are representative of proximal compartments.

Prevalence of Clostridium difficile in horses.

Fecal samples were collected to establish the apparent prevalence of Clostridium difficile shedding in Standardbred and Thoroughbred racehorses housed at 4 racetracks and 2 breeding facilities, and in horses admitted to a referral large animal clinic. Forty-one (7.59%) of 540 racetrack horses, seven (5.

Clostridium difficile survives minimal temperature recommended for cooking ground meats.

We quantified the thermal inhibitory effect of 71°C (recommended for cooking ground meats), and re-heating at 85°C, on food- and food-animal-derived Clostridium difficile spores. All C. difficile strains tested (n=20) survived 71°C for 2 h, but 90% died within 10 min when re-heated at 85°C.

Possible seasonality of Clostridium difficile in retail meat, Canada.

We previously reported Clostridium difficile in 20% of retail meat in Canada, which raised concerns about potential foodborne transmissibility. Here, we studied the genetic diversity of C. difficile in retail meats, using a broad Canadian sampling infrastructure and 3 culture methods.

Clostridium difficile in retail ground meat, Canada.

Clostridium difficile was isolated from 12 (20%) of 60 retail ground meat samples purchased over a 10-month period in 2005 in Canada. Eleven isolates were toxigenic, and 8 (67%) were classified as toxinotype III. The human health implications of this finding are unclear, but with the virulence of toxinotype III strains further studies are required.

Suspected Clostridium difficile-associated hemorrhagic diarrhea in a 1-week-old elk calf.

Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea was suspected in a 1-week-old elk (Cervus elaphus) calf. The isolation of a toxigenic strain of C. difficile from a diarrheic fecal sample, along with exclusion of other enteropathogens, formed the basis of this presumptive diagnosis.

PCR ribotyping of Clostridium difficile isolates originating from human and animal sources.

Molecular typing of Clostridium difficile isolates from animals and humans may be useful for evaluation of the possibility for interspecies transmission. The objective of this study was to evaluate C. difficile isolates from domestic animals and humans using PCR ribotyping.

Experimental Clostridium difficile enterocolitis in foals.

Despite empirical clinical association of infection with Clostridium difficile with colitis in horses, a causal link has not been confirmed. The objective of this study was to develop a model of C. difficile-associated diarrhea in foals with normal transfer of passive immunity.

West Nile virus encephalomyelitis in horses in Ontario: 28 cases.

West Nile virus encephalomyelitis was diagnosed in 28 horses presented to the Ontario Veterinary College Veterinary Teaching Hospital between August 20 and October 15, 2002. The age range of affected horses was 5 months to 20 years (mean 6.9 years, median 6 years).

Experimental determination of net protein charge and A(tot) and K(a) of nonvolatile buffers in human plasma.

The mechanism for an acid-base disturbance can be determined by using the strong ion approach, which requires species-specific values for the total concentration of plasma nonvolatile buffers (Atot) and the effective dissociation constant for plasma weak acids (Ka). The aim of this study was to experimentally determine Atot and Ka values for human plasma by using in vitro CO2 tonometry. Plasma Pco2 was systematically varied from 25 to 145 Torr at 37 degrees C, thereby altering plasma pH over the physiological range of 6.