Seroconversion against antigen MPB83 in badgers (Meles meles) vaccinated with multiple doses of BCG strain Sofia.

Serological diagnosis of Mycobacterium bovis infection in badgers (Meles meles) has relied primarily on antibody recognition of MPB83, a sero-dominant antigen of M. bovis. Most vaccine studies in badgers to date have used the Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) Danish strain, a low producer of MPB83.

A molecularly defined skin test reagent for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis compatible with vaccination against Johne's Disease.

Tuberculin Purified Protein Derivatives (PPDs) exhibit multiple limitations: they are crude extracts from mycobacterial cultures with largely unknown active components; their production depends on culture of mycobacteria requiring expensive BCL3 production facilities; and their potency depends on the technically demanding guinea pig assay. To overcome these limitations, we developed a molecularly defined tuberculin (MDT) by adding further antigens to our prototype reagent composed of ESAT-6, CFP-10 and Rv3615c (DIVA skin test, DST). In vitro screening using PBMC from infected and uninfected cattle shortlisted four antigens from a literature-based list of 18 to formulate the MDT.

Evaluation of chemical immersion treatments to reduce microbial populations in fresh beef.

The aim of the current study was to assess the ability of a number of chemicals (acetic Acid (AA), citric acid (CA) lactic acid (LA), sodium decanoate (SD) and trisodium phosphate (TSP)) to reduce microbial populations (total viable count, Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Listeria monocytogenes) on raw beef using an immersion system. The following concentrations of each chemical were used: 3 & 5% for AA, CA, LA, SD and 10 &12% for TSP. Possible synergistic effects of using combinations of two chemicals sequentially (LA+CA and LA+AA) were also investigated.

IL-10 suppression of IFN-γ responses in tuberculin-stimulated whole blood from Mycobacterium bovis infected cattle.

The measurement of bovine interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) forms the basis of a diagnostic test for bovine tuberculosis where Mycobacterium bovis sensitised effector T cells produce IFN-γ following in vitro stimulation with tuberculin antigens. In cattle infected with M. bovis it is also known that the anti-inflammatory IL-10 cytokine can inhibit in vitro production of IFN-γ leading to a reduced response in the IFN-γ diagnostic test.

The impact of environmental conditions on Campylobacter jejuni survival in broiler faeces and litter.

Introduction: Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial food-borne pathogen within the European Union, and poultry meat is an important vehicle for its transmission to humans. However, there is limited knowledge about how this organism persists in broiler litter and faeces. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a number of environmental parameters, such as temperature, humidity, and oxygen, on Campylobacter survival in both broiler litter and faeces.

The impact of biosecurity and partial depopulation on Campylobacter prevalence in Irish broiler flocks with differing levels of hygiene and economic performance.

Background: Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial food-borne pathogen within the European Union (EU), and poultry meat is the primary route for transmission to humans.

Material And Methods: This study examined the impact of partial depopulation (thinning), season, and farm performance (economic, hygiene, and biosecurity) on Campylobacter prevalence in Irish broilers over a 13-month period. Ten caecal samples were taken per flock, for a total of 211 flocks from 23 farms during the duration of the study.

Antigen-Specific IP-10 Release Is a Sensitive Biomarker of Mycobacterium bovis Infection in Cattle.

The most widely used ante-mortem diagnostic tests for tuberculosis in cattle are the tuberculin skin test and the interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay, both of which measure cell-mediated immune responses to Mycobacterium bovis infection. However, limitations in the performance of these tests results in a failure to identify all infected animals. In attempting to increase the range of diagnostic tests for tuberculosis, measurement of the cytokine IP-10 in antigen-stimulated blood has previously been shown to improve the detection of M.

Restoring the selectivity of modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar for the isolation of Campylobacter species using tazobactam, a β-lactamase inhibitor.

Extended spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli have emerged as a contaminant on modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) when attempting to selectively isolate Campylobacter spp. from poultry. E.

Genotypic characterisation and cluster analysis of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from domestic pets, human clinical cases and retail food.

The genetic similarity of Campylobacter jejuni isolates from pets, compared to human clinical cases and retail food isolates collected in Ireland over 2001-2006 was investigated by cluster analysis of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) fingerprinting profiles. Comparison of the PFGE profiles of 60 pet isolates and 109 human isolates revealed that seven (4.1%) profiles were grouped in clusters including at least one human and one pet C.

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis typing of human and retail foodstuff Campylobacters: an Irish perspective.

Campylobacter enteritis is a zoonosis, an infectious disease transmissible under normal conditions from vertebrate animals to man, presenting a major global public health burden. In this study, Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) was employed to identify common genotypes in a collection of 600 Campylobacter isolates in order to investigate if profiles obtained from retail samples of foodstuffs matched genotypes causing illness in the community in Ireland. The Campylobacters were isolated from retail foodstuffs, and cases of gastroenteritis, over the same 20-month period in three population centres in Ireland.

Antimicrobial resistance profiles and mechanisms of resistance in Campylobacter jejuni isolates from pets.

The presence of antimicrobial resistance in 51 Campylobacter jejuni isolates obtained from cats and dogs was determined by E-testing. Resistance to nalidixic acid (37.3% of isolates), ciprofloxacin (19.