Prevalence of virulence factors in enterotoxigenic isolated from pigs with post-weaning diarrhoea in Europe.

Background: Post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), due to , is an important cause of economic losses to the pig industry primarily as a result of mortality and worsened productive performance. In spite of its relevance, recent data about the prevalence of virulence genes and pathotypes among isolates recovered from cases of PWD in Europe are scarce.

Results: This study investigates the prevalence of fimbrial and toxin genes of by PCR among 280 farms with PWD across Europe.

The impact of Fusarium mycotoxins on human and animal host susceptibility to infectious diseases.

Contamination of food and feed with mycotoxins is a worldwide problem. At present, acute mycotoxicosis caused by high doses is rare in humans and animals. Ingestion of low to moderate amounts of Fusarium mycotoxins is common and generally does not result in obvious intoxication.

Porcine intestinal epithelial barrier disruption by the Fusarium mycotoxins deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin promotes transepithelial passage of doxycycline and paromomycin.

Background: The gastrointestinal tract is the first target for the potentially harmful effects of mycotoxins after intake of mycotoxin contaminated food or feed. With deoxynivalenol (DON), T-2 toxin (T-2), fumonisin B1 (FB1) and zearalenone (ZEA) being important Fusarium toxins in the northern hemisphere, this study aimed to investigate in vitro the toxic effect of these mycotoxins on intestinal porcine epithelial cells derived from the jejunum (IPEC-J2 cells). Viability of IPEC-J2 cells as well as the proportion of apoptotic and necrotic IPEC-J2 cells was determined by flow cytometry after 72 h of exposure to the toxins.

Toxicokinetic study and absolute oral bioavailability of deoxynivalenol, T-2 toxin and zearalenone in broiler chickens.

Mycotoxins lead to economic losses in animal production. A way to counteract mycotoxicosis is the use of detoxifiers. The European Food Safety Authority stated that the efficacy of detoxifiers should be investigated based on toxicokinetic studies.

A modified glucomannan mycotoxin-adsorbing agent counteracts the reduced weight gain and diminishes cecal colonization of Salmonella Typhimurium in T-2 toxin exposed pigs.

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of a modified glucomannan binder on the course of a Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs. Therefore, four pig diets were provided during 23 days: (1) free of mycotoxins, (2) containing 1g binder per kg feed, (3) containing 83 μg T-2 toxin per kg feed and (4) containing 83 μg T-2 toxin and 1g binder per kg feed. After 18 days, all pigs were inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium and euthanized five days later.

Interaction between tylosin and bentonite clay from a pharmacokinetic perspective.

The interaction between bentonite and tylosin was investigated in broiler chickens, based on pharmacokinetic characteristics obtained in vivo. Simultaneous oral administration of bentonite and tylosin significantly lowered plasma levels of tylosin and reduced the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC(0-inf)), maximal plasma concentration (C(max)), time to maximal plasma concentration (T(max)) and relative oral bioavailability. The results prove unambiguously the binding of tylosin by bentonite.

Influence of mycotoxins and a mycotoxin adsorbing agent on the oral bioavailability of commonly used antibiotics in pigs.

It is recognized that mycotoxins can cause a variety of adverse health effects in animals, including altered gastrointestinal barrier function. It is the aim of the present study to determine whether mycotoxin-contaminated diets can alter the oral bioavailability of the antibiotics doxycycline and paromomycin in pigs, and whether a mycotoxin adsorbing agent included into diets interacts with those antibiotics. Experiments were conducted with pigs utilizing diets that contained blank feed, mycotoxin-contaminated feed (T-2 toxin or deoxynivalenol), mycotoxin-contaminated feed supplemented with a glucomannan mycotoxin binder, or blank feed supplemented with mycotoxin binder.

T-2 toxin induced Salmonella Typhimurium intoxication results in decreased Salmonella numbers in the cecum contents of pigs, despite marked effects on Salmonella-host cell interactions.

The mycotoxin T-2 toxin and Salmonella Typhimurium infections pose a significant threat to human and animal health. Interactions between both agents may result in a different outcome of the infection. Therefore, the aim of the presented study was to investigate the effects of low and relevant concentrations of T-2 toxin on the course of a Salmonella Typhimurium infection in pigs.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol potentiates intestinal inflammation by Salmonella typhimurium in porcine ileal loops.

Background And Aims: Both deoxynivalenol (DON) and nontyphoidal salmonellosis are emerging threats with possible hazardous effects on both human and animal health. The objective of this study was to examine whether DON at low but relevant concentrations interacts with the intestinal inflammation induced by Salmonella Typhimurium.

Methodology: By using a porcine intestinal ileal loop model, we investigated whether intake of low concentrations of DON interacts with the early intestinal inflammatory response induced by Salmonella Typhimurium.

The mycotoxin deoxynivalenol promotes uptake of Salmonella Typhimurium in porcine macrophages, associated with ERK1/2 induced cytoskeleton reorganization.

Both the mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) and Salmonella Typhimurium are major issues in swine production. This study aimed at examining the interaction between DON and Salmonella Typhimurium at the level of the porcine innate immune system, represented by macrophages. First, we assessed the direct cytotoxic effect of DON on porcine macrophages.

Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 2: Companion animals.

This is the second in a series of three review articles on animal poisoning in Europe and focuses on cases in pet animals and horses in five European countries (Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Spain) reported over the last decade. In the participating countries, dogs were the most commonly poisoned species, particularly younger animals. The majority of cases in companion animals resulted from exposure to insecticides, although rodenticides (especially anticoagulants and strychnine) posed a significant risk.

Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 3: Wildlife.

This review article is the third in a series on animal poisoning in Europe and represents a collation of published and non-published wildlife poisoning data from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Spain over the last 10 years. Birds, particularly waterfowl and raptors, were more commonly reported as victims of poisoning than wild mammals. In addition to specific but important toxicological disasters, deliberate primary or secondary poisonings are of concern to all countries.

Animal poisoning in Europe. Part 1: Farm livestock and poultry.

The lack of a reference Veterinary Poison Control Centre for the European Union (EU) means that clinicians find it difficult to obtain information on poisoning episodes. This three-part review collates published and unpublished data obtained from Belgium, France, Greece, Italy and Spain over the last decade in order to provide a broader toxicoepidemiological perspective. The first article critically evaluates the national situation in the five European countries and concludes that information for livestock and poultry is limited and fragmentary compared to other animal groups.

Multi-residue analysis of eight anticoagulant rodenticides in animal plasma and liver using liquid chromatography combined with heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry.

A sensitive method for the simultaneous quantification of eight anticoagulant rodenticides (brodifacoum, bromadiolone, chlorophacinone, coumatetralyl, difenacoum, difethialone, flocoumafen and warfarin) in animal plasma and liver using liquid chromatography combined with heated electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HESI-MS/MS) is described. The sample preparation includes a liquid-liquid extraction with acetone. The compound 7-acetoxy-6-(2,3-dibromopropyl)-4,8-dimethylcoumarin is used as an internal standard.