D-Fagomine lowers postprandial blood glucose and modulates bacterial adhesion.

D-Fagomine is an iminosugar originally isolated from seeds of buckwheat (Fagopyrum sculentum Moench), present in the human diet and now available as a pure crystalline product. We tested D-fagomine for activities connected to a reduction in the risk of developing insulin resistance, becoming overweight and suffering from an excess of potentially pathogenic bacteria. The activities were: intestinal sucrase inhibition in vitro (rat mucosa and everted intestine sleeves), modulation of postprandial blood glucose in rats, bacterial agglutination and bacterial adhesion to pig intestinal mucosa. When ingested together with sucrose or starch, D-fagomine lowered blood glucose in a dose-dependent manner without stimulating insulin secretion. D-Fagomine reduced the area under the curve (0-120 min) by 20 % (P < 0·01) and shifted the time to maximum blood glucose concentration (Tmax) by 15 min at doses of 1-2 mg/kg body weight when administered together with 1 g sucrose/kg body weight. Moreover, D-fagomine (0·14 mm) agglutinated 60 % of Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium) populations (P < 0·01), while it did not show this effect on Bifidobacterium spp. or Lactobacillus spp. At the same concentration, d-fagomine significantly (P < 0·001) inhibited the adhesion of Enterobacteriaceae (95-99 % cells in the supernatant) and promoted the adhesion of Lactobacillus acidophilus (56 % cells in the supernatant) to intestinal mucosa. D-Fagomine did not show any effect on bacterial cell viability. Based on all this evidence, D-fagomine may be used as a dietary ingredient or functional food component to reduce the health risks associated with an excessive intake of fast-digestible carbohydrates, or an excess of potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Mediterranean theileriosis and other tick transmitted piroplasmoses in cattle in Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain): the effect of tick control on prevalence levels analyzed by reverse line blot (RLB) macroarrays.

Mediterranean theileriosis, caused by Theileria annulata, is endemic in Minorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The present study analyzes the prevalence of piroplasm infections in cattle in Minorca using reverse line blot (RLB) macroarrays, as well as the effect of herd tick control on those prevalence levels. One hundred and nineteen animals from 12 herds were sampled in representative areas of the island. Information was gathered regarding tick control for the animals (frequency and acaricide used) in each herd. More than 87% of the animals were positive for the presence of piroplasm species. Theileria annulata and Theileria buffeli were observed in all sampled herds (mean prevalence 53.3% for T. annulata and 69.75% for T. buffeli). The mean prevalence was 5.7% for Babesia bigemina. A significantly higher prevalence of Theileria spp. was observed in herds that grazed in, or near, forested areas. Theileria annulata prevalence was significantly lower in herds that followed tick control and was related to the frequency of the applied treatments. Theileria buffeli and B. bigemina prevalences were not affected by tick control for the herds. The results indicate that despite tick control, Mediterranean theileriosis remains endemic in Minorca. Adequate control measures and vaccination approaches are required to improve the situation of Mediterranean theileriosis on the island.

Low seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection associated with the limousin breed in cow-calf herds in Andorra, Europe.

Neospora caninum seroprevalence and risk factors affecting seroprevalence in beef cattle in Andorra were investigated. Antibodies to N. caninum were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay performed on a yearly basis in 1,758 animals older than 6 mo, belonging to 26 herds. Mean seroprevalence of antibodies to N. caninum for the herds was 7.4 +/- 1.2% (130/1,758). Logistic regression analyses were performed on data from each animal, considering N. caninum seropositivity as the dependent variable, and herd, grazing area, year of sampling, repeat-test animal (animals sampled twice or more), sex, breed, age (animals <4 yr old or > or =5 yr old), and country of birth as possible risk factors. Based on the odds ratio, the prevalence of infection was 2.1 times higher (P < 0.01) in animals from the Ordino grazing area, 1.64 times higher in animals older than 5 yr (P < 0.01), and 6.7 times (1/0.15) lower in Limousin-mixed Limousin cattle (P < 0.002). The results suggest that the particular grazing location could promote the horizontal transmission of this parasite and that certain breeds are less susceptible to N. caninum infection than others.