Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Dairy Goats: Genotypic and Phenotypic Comparison of Intramammary and Environmental Isolates.

Following the identification of a case of severe clinical mastitis in a Saanen dairy goat (goat A), an average of 26 lactating goats in the herd was monitored over a period of 11 months. Milk microbiological analysis revealed the presence of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in 7 of the goats. Among these 7 does, only goat A showed clinical signs of mastitis.

Photoluminescence-based detection of particle contamination on extreme ultraviolet reticles.

Here, we propose a comparison-free inspection technique to detect particle contamination on the reticle of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography systems, based on the photoluminescence spectral characteristics of the contaminant particles and their elemental composition. We have analyzed the spectra from different particles found on reticles in EUV lithographic systems and have determined the minimum detectable particle size: 25 nm for organic particles and 100 nm for Al particles. Stainless steel coatings (50 nm thick and 50 × 50 μm(2) in area) exhibit detectable photoluminescence, and the estimated minimum detectable particle is 2 μm.

Efficacy of vaccination on Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci intramammary infection dynamics in 2 dairy herds.

The aim of this study was to evaluate vaccine efficacy of a commercial vaccine (Startvac, Hipra Spain) aimed at reducing intramammary infections (IMI) with Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci under field conditions. During the 21-mo duration of the study, 1,156 lactations from 809 cows were enrolled in 2 herds. During the first phase of the trial, all cows that were due to calve were vaccinated until approximately 50% of cows in the milking herd were vaccinated (at ~6mo).

Clonal diversity, virulence-associated genes and antimicrobial resistance profile of Staphylococcus aureus isolates from nasal cavities and soft tissue infections in wild ruminants in Italian Alps.

Staphylococcus aureus is a commensal and a pathogenic bacterium that causes a wide variety of diseases in humans and animals with a high impact on public health and the livestock industry. S. aureus virulence pattern, antimicrobial resistance profile and host specialization are of great concern both in livestock and in companion animals.

Identification of virulence factors in 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer genotyped Staphylococcus aureus isolated from water buffaloes and small ruminants.

Staphylococcus aureus is an important human and animal pathogen, and is regarded as an important cause of intramammary infection (IMI) in ruminants. Staphylococcus aureus genetic variability and virulence factors have been well studied in veterinary medicine, especially in cows as support for control and management of IMI. The aim of the present study was to genotype 71 Staph.

Use of PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis for identification of yeast species isolated from bovine intramammary infection.

This study reports a rapid PCR-based technique using a one-enzyme RFLP for discrimination of yeasts isolated from bovine clinical and subclinical mastitis milk samples. We analyzed a total of 1,486 milk samples collected over 1 yr in south Sardinia and northern Italy, and 142 yeast strains were preliminarily grouped based on their cultural morphology and physiological characteristics. Assimilation tests were conducted using the identification kit API ID 32C and APILAB Plus software (bioMérieux, Marcy l'Etoile, France).

Effect on quarter milk somatic cell count and antimicrobial susceptibility of Staphylococcus rostri causing intramammary infection in dairy water buffaloes.

In many parts of the world, coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) are the predominant cause of intramammary infections (IMI) in dairy cows and in water buffaloes, as well. A longitudinal field study was carried out on one well-managed dairy water buffalo herd to determine the prevalence and distribution of CNS and a recently described CNS-species, Staphylococcus rostri, in milk samples to explore its relevance for buffaloes' udder health throughout lactation, and to gain insight into the susceptibility of the latter species toward commonly used antimicrobials. Twice weekly quarter milk samples from a cohort of 11 lactating water buffaloes were collected over an 8-mo period.

Short communication: Epidemiology and genotyping of Candida rugosa strains responsible for persistent intramammary infections in dairy cows.

The present study was undertaken during an outbreak of clinical and subclinical mastitis in 14 dairy cows caused by Candida rugosa, in which high somatic cell counts were seen and cases did not respond to antibiotic treatment. Intramammary infection cured spontaneously in 10 cows, whereas 4 cows were culled as a result of persistent infections. Repeated sampling of these cows and biomolecular analysis of the isolates showed that the infections were caused by the same genotype, even over a period of 2 lactations.

In vitro permissivity of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells to bovine viral diarrhoea virus is dependent on the animal specific immune status.

The in vitro permissivity to infection with homologous and heterologous bovine viral diarrhoea virus (BVDV) strains of bovine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from eight naïve and eight BVDV-1b immune animals was studied. Four reference strains (BVDV-1a NADL, BVDV-1b NY-1, BVDV-2 125 and BVDV-2 890) were selected, based on genotype, prevalence and biotype. Virus neutralizing antibody titres were determined at bleeding and the viral loads were measured in PBMCs by end point titration in cell culture and by real-time PCR.

Effects of intramammary infections on somatic cell score and milk yield in Sarda sheep.

Aim: To evaluate the effects of intramammary infections (IMI) on somatic cell score (SCS) and milk yield in dairy ewes.

Methods: Monthly milk samples were collected from a flock of 202 Sarda sheep, over a period of 7 months, for bacteriological culture and measurement of somatic cell counts (SCC). During the same period, milk yield was measured daily using electronic milk meters connected to each half-udder cluster of the milking machine.

Multinucleated giant cells with an osteoclast phenotype derived from caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Formation of multinucleated giant cells (MGCs) by macrophage fusion is a typical cytopathic effect of lentiviral replication in caprine monocytes and MGC formation from cultured caprine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) has been considered to be diagnostic for small ruminant lentivirus (SRLV) infection. In this study, formation of MGCs was observed after 7-14 days when PBMCs were cultured from healthy goats free from SRLV infection. These MGCs expressed tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase, calcitonin receptor, integrin αVβ3, cathepsin K and matrix metalloproteinase 9 and were able to resorb bone in vitro in the absence of RANKL and macrophage colony stimulating factor, consistent with an osteoclast phenotype.

Genetic analysis of small ruminant lentiviruses following lactogenic transmission.

Lactogenic transmission plays an important role in the biology of lentiviruses such as HIV and SIV or the small ruminant lentiviruses (SRLV). In this work we analyzed the characteristics of viruses that goats, naturally infected with two strains of SRLV, transmitted to their kids. The spectrum of viral genotypes transmitted was broader and the efficiency of transmission greater compared to their human and simian counterparts.

Differentially expressed genes associated with Staphylococcus aureus mastitis in dairy goats.

To study gene expression within the mammary glands of dairy goats with mastitis, mRNA was collected from milk somatic cells (MSCs) of left udder halves challenged with Staphylococcus aureus and right udder halves infused with PBS, as control, at different time points (0, 12, 24 and 48h post-infection). Transcriptional profiles were investigated using bovine cDNA microarrays; of the total 288 differentially expressed genes identified with ANOVA analysis (False Discovery Rate=0.05, 1.

Down-regulatory effect of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein on bovine neutrophil degranulation.

In this paper, the possible involvement of the acute phase protein alpha(1)-acid glycoprotein (AGP) in the local immunomodulation of inflammation was investigated. The dose response of bovine neutrophils to AGP as to mobilization of primary and secondary granules was studied. It was found that AGP fulfils a protective role against spontaneous exocytosis of secondary, but not primary, granules.

Milk hygiene and udder health in the periurban area of Hamdallaye, Niger.

The prevalence of intra-mammary infections in dairy herds was studied in Hamdallaye, Niger. A total of 956 milk samples were collected in 2007 from 239 lactating cows of four local breeds in eight traditional herds; the first sampling was undertaken in the dry season at morning milking, and the second in the rainy season at evening milking. Staphylococcus aureus, Coagulase-Negative Staphylococci (CNS) and environmental microorganisms were detected in significantly (p < 0.

Short communication: isolation of Prototheca species strains from environmental sources in dairy herds.

Composite milk samples from 548 cows, and samples from feces, feed, bedding, water, liners (before and after milking), and the postdipping product were aseptically collected from 2 Italian dairy herds from February to November of 2006. Prototheca zopfii was isolated from 11.9% of milk samples, 15% of feces, and 33.

Large-scale screening of the in vitro susceptibility of Prototheca zopfii towards polyene antibiotics.

A large scale screening of the in vitro susceptibility of 105 strains of Prototheca zopfii to a panel of polyene antibiotics (amphotericin B, nystatin, primaricin and filipin) was conducted. Strains studied were isolated from dairy-associated environments in five different localities. Groups 1-4 included strains recovered from four separate regions of Italy, while group 5 included isolates from Belgium.

Enhanced second-harmonic generation in AlGaAs/AlxOy tightly confining waveguides and resonant cavities.

We demonstrate second-harmonic generation (SHG) from sub-micrometer-sized AlGaAs/AlxOy artificially birefringent waveguides. The normalized conversion efficiency is the highest ever reported. We further enhanced the SHG using a waveguide-embedded cavity formed by dichroic mirrors.

Dichroic mirror embedded in a submicrometer waveguide for enhanced resonant nonlinear optical devices.

We report the design, fabrication and characterization of novel dichroic mirrors embedded in a tightly confining AlGaAs/Al(x)O(y) waveguide. Reflection at the first-harmonic wavelength as high as 93% is achieved, while high transmission is maintained at the second-harmonic wavelength. The measured cavity spectrum is in excellent agreement with finite-difference time-domain simulations.

Efficient continuous wave second harmonic generation pumped at 1.55 microm in quasi-phase-matched AlGaAs waveguides.

We have fabricated quasi-phase-matched AlGaAs waveguides for continuous-wave second-harmonic generation (SHG) pumped around 1.55 microm. We find that the losses, which limit the conversion efficiency of this type of waveguide, are resulted from two corrugations--the initial template corrugation and the regrowth-induced domain-boundary corrugations.