The Effects of Photobiomodulation Therapy on Porcine Islet Insulin Secretion.

Background and objective: Xenotransplantation of porcine islets to human recipients has been investigated as a potential cure for type 1 diabetes. However, the porcine islets have poor insulin secretion capacity compared with human islets. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) in insulin secretion on isolated porcine islets. Methods: Eight pancreata were harvested from crossbred market porcine and the islets were isolated from the pancreas. The isolated islets were treated with PBMT (wavelength: 633 nm and dosages: 0.0, 15.6, and 31.3 J/cm2) followed by 30-min incubation in low (3.0 mM) or high (16.7 mM) glucose. The relative percentage differences on insulin secretion between three dosages were compared in low and high glucose, respectively. Results: Insulin secretion was higher in samples exposed to 15.6 J/cm2 PBMT in low glucose (p < 0.05), but not in high glucose. When evaluating sex differences, male islets had higher insulin secretion by 15.6 J/cm2 PBMT in low glucose compared with females (p < 0.05). No significant differences were seen in high glucose. When compared within the control groups (0.0 J/cm2 PBMT), the relative changes on insulin secretion in high glucose was significantly higher on male islets (p < 0.05), but not on female islets. Conclusions: PBMT may increase insulin secretion on isolated porcine islets in basal condition, but it may not improve islets' glucose responsiveness to secrete insulin. Male porcine islets may respond to PBMT and glucose stimuli better than female islets on insulin secretion.

Presence of Salmonella and Escherichia coli O157 on the hide, and presence of Salmonella, Escherichia coli O157 and Campylobacter in feces from small-ruminant (goat and lamb) samples collected in the United States, Bahamas and Mexico.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the frequency of Salmonella and E. coli O157 found on the hides, as well as presence of Salmonella, Campylobacter and E. coli O157 found in small-ruminant fecal samples from abattoirs and farms in California, New Mexico, Texas, Mexico and the Bahamas. In small-ruminant fecal samples, overall organism presence was identified as 13.9% Salmonella (n=532), 15.3% E. coli O157 (n=477) and 80.7% Campylobacter (n=176). Overall, on small-ruminant hide surfaces, Salmonella frequency was 17.1% (N=339) and E. coli O157 was detected at 1.5% (n=266). The overall lower detection (P<0.0001) of E. coli O157 from hide samples (1.5%) when compared to presence in fecal samples (15.3%), is not consistent with trends expected. Results from this study can be used to better understand and potentially control pathogens in small-ruminants utilized for meat and milk.

E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. in white-tailed deer and livestock.

Escherichia coli O157 and Salmonella spp. are among the leading causes of food-borne illness in the United Sates and bacteria have been isolated from numerous ruminant animal sources. The objective of this study was to assess the incidence of E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. in white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and livestock simultaneously grazing the same rangeland. Escherichia coli O157 was found in 1.25% of cattle, 1.22% of sheep, and 5.00% of water all from samples taken in September; however, no E. coli O157 was found in other sampled months or any species. Salmonella spp. were found in the highest quantities in deer and sheep, 7.69% and 7.32%, respectively. Salmonella spp. were also found in sampled water troughs, goats, and cattle (5.00%, 3.70%, and 1.25%, respectively). Further research examining pathogen distribution is needed to determine if white-tailed deer are a natural reservoir for these bacteria.