Characterization of Staphylococcus intermedius from healthy dogs and cases of superficial pyoderma by DNA restriction endonuclease patterns.

In order to study the possible clonal relation of Staphyloccocus (S.) intermedius from canine superficial pyoderma and from healthy carriers, isolates from pustular swabs and from vaginal, nasal and normal skin sabs were typed using macrorestriction analysis with Sma I and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. From the size of the resulting fragments the size of the chromosome of S. intermedius could be determined to be roughly 1500 +/- 200 kb on the average. The fingerprints were very heterogeneous though characteristically distinct from patterns of (human) S. aureus as published by others. Strains from superficial pyoderma were not found to be more similar to each other than strains from healthy carriers. Therefore it was concluded that strains from this type of skin infection probably did not belong to a certain subpopulation of S. intermedius, which might have indicated a higher virulence of these strains.

Laparoscopic-endoscopic rendezvous resection of gastric tumors.

BACKGROUND: Submucosal and mucosal tumors of the stomach display a wide spectrum of histopathologic and prognostic characteristics. Biopsies obtained using endoscopic techniques often do not provide the representative histologic sample needed for further therapeutic decisions. METHODS: From 1999 to 2002, 18 patients with gastric tumors underwent a combined endoscopic-laparoscopic local resection of the tumors using two different procedures and were prospectively analyzed. Tumors of the posterior wall were resected using laparoscopic intragastral resection (LIR). Tumors located in the anterior wall were resected using lesion-lifting or the laparoscopic wedge resection (LWR) approach. RESULTS: Laparoscopic resections were performed in 18 patients. The mean age of the patients was 64.4 years (range, 38-81 years). Preoperative preparation included endoscopy with biopsies and histologic examination, ultrasound examination, computed tomography scan, and endoscopic ultrasonography. We performed the LWR on 10 patients and the LIR on 8 patients. After resection, the final immunohistologic examination of the specimens showed gastrointestinal stroma cell tumors in nine cases, neurinomas or benign neurofibrotic tumors in four cases, and one leiomyoma. Four additional patients with mucosal early gastric cancer and high comorbidity risks also underwent a limited full-thickness wedge resection. In all the patients, the surgical margins were tumor free, and no lymphatic or venous invasion was encountered in pathologic specimens. Method-specific complications occurred in one case (perforation of the stomach wall). No fatal outcome had to be registered. CONCLUSIONS: When selected properly, the laparoscopic-endoscopic approach is considered to be curative and minimally invasive for resection of localized gastric tumors. In cases of histopathologically unknown tumors preoperatively, definitive examination of the complete specimen provides the basis for further therapeutic decisions.

[Serologic examinations for the detection of antibodies against Eubacterium suis in swine]. / Serologische Untersuchungen zum Nachweis von Antikörpern gegen Eubacterium suis beim Schwein.

Determination of antibodies against Eubacterium suis (E. suis) in the serum of pigs was carried out by an indirect immunofluorescence test. Therefore 35 sows with urinary tract infections as well as 43 healthy control sows were investigated. E. suis could be detected in the urine of 19 sows. Serological results were compared with the bacteriological examinations. To reach a specificity of 100% for detection of animals actually infected with E. suis, titres from 1:16++ can be accepted as positive. Therefore sensitivity gave a level of 78.9%. Seroconversion and development of antibody titers were studied on 15 sows, which were experimentally infected with E. suis. Antibodies could be shown 3 weeks after infection at the earliest, they were preferably demonstrated in sows with a haemorrhagic cystitis. No correlation existed between the affection of the kidneys and the development and the level of titres respectively. Serological investigations can turn out negative in spite of E. suis infection, if immunological response still has not taken place or development of antibodies has failed to appear after short-time infection of the bladder.

[The diagnosis of swine dysentery and spirochaete diarrhea. 1. Cultural-biochemical differentiation of intestinal Serpulina in routine diagnosis]. / Zur Diagnostik von Schweinedysenterie und Spirochätendiarrhoe. 1. Mitteilung: Kulturell-biochemische Differenzierung intestinaler Serpulinen in der Routinediagnostik.

Frequent incidence of Serpulina strains showing all cultural and biochemical characteristics of Serpulina (S.) hyodysenteriae except of being indole negative, and alpha-galactosidase positive isolates showing strong haemolysis on Columbia agar with 5% sheep blood and trypticase soy agar with 5% ox blood, respectively, was the cause to evaluate common biochemical and cultural methods in Serpulina routine diagnostics. To this purpose ten type and reference strains as well as 47 field strains were examined for their ability to produce indole, haemolysis, hippurate cleavage, alpha-galactosidase, alpha- and beta-glucosidase activity. Two four-hour identification-systems were used, RapID ANA II and Rosco diagnostic tablets. The ability to produce indole was determined by different methods. All investigations were carried out at least two times. For the investigation of haemolytic patterns trypticase soy agar with 10% ox blood proved to be most effective. Results received using this agar could always be confirmed by the ring phenomenon. Determining the ability to produce indole by adding p-dimethylaminocinnamaldehyde to bacterial growth collected on a cotton swab was confirmed to be more sensitive than other methods. Both four-hour-systems were shown to be useful in Serpulina diagnostics, though in the RapID ANA II only four of 18 available reactions could be used and the hippurate cleavage reaction has to be carried out additionally. Using cultural and biochemical methods, it was possible to assign the type and reference strains to the correct species, as well as 46 of 47 field isolates could be identified including all five known intestinal Serpulina species from swine. 27 strains were determined as S. hyodysenteriae, nine of these isolates atypically being indole negative. In contrast one canine S. pilosicoli strain was atypical showing indole production. Therefore incidence of indole negative variants of S. hyodysenteriae as well as indole positive S. pilosicoli isolates must be taken into consideration.

[Investigations on Brachyspira--diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in swine dysentery]. / Untersuchungen zur Brachyspira--Diagnostik und Behandlungsstrategie bei der Schweinedysenterie.

The infectious agent of swine dysentery, Brachyspira (Br.) hyodysenteriae, seems to be widespread in German pig herds. Due to different reasons the eradication is increasingly difficult. Not only the success of therapeutic procedures but also the possibilities of diagnostics are unsatisfactory. Although only the bacteriological investigation of faeces or intestinal probes by culture techniques allows the typing of Brachyspira strains and the testing of drug resistance, however, the rate of false negative results is relatively high. In comparison with the cultural method an easy, prompt and cheap immunofluorescent test (IFT) resulted in a good sensitivity (90%). The higher rate of negative results by culture techniques can not be attributed to a lower specificity of the IFT, but to an insufficient transport of samples to the laboratory. The IFT therefore has to be considered as a valuable supplement to the cultural diagnostic of Br. hyodysenteriae. It is absolutely necessary to establish strategies in eradication of swine dysentery which result in pig breeding herds free of Br. hyodysenteriae. Only weaner pigs which are reliable free of this germ guarantee a fattening period sufficiently free of swine dysentery. The principles of different measures in effective eradication are described.

[The effect of bacterial interference phenomena in experimental Staphylococcus hyicus infections of gnotobiotic piglets]. / Untersuchungen über die Wirkung bakterieller Interferenzphänomene bei der experimentellen Staphylococcus-hyicus-Infektion gnotobiotischer Ferkel.

The prevention of exudative epidermitis could be confirmed in experimental investigations with gnotobiotic piglets when the skin first was colonized with avirulent strains of Staphylococcus (Staph.) hyicus and subsequently exposed to virulent strains of Staph. hyicus. However, locally restricted cutaneous lesions in the area of application corresponding to exudative epidermitis were seen in five of nine piglets. Using the strain Staph. sciuri the spread of virulent Staph. hyicus could not be suppressed. Such infected two piglets developed generalized exudative epidermitis. In another experiment with four piglets it could be shown, that the relative protective mechanism correlating to bacterial interference on the one hand can be influenced by the virulence of causative organisms. On the other hand it even can be abolished when skin lesions are involved. For that reason probably the utilization of bacterial interference in prevention of exudative epidermitis under field conditions is considerably limited.

[Diagnosis of swine dysentery and spirochaetal diarrhea. III. Results of cultural and biochemical differentiation of intestinal Brachyspira species by routine culture from 1997 to 1999]. / Zur Diagnostik von Schweinedysenterie und Spirochaetendiarrhoe. 3. Mitteilung: Ergebnisse kulturell-biochemischer Differenzierung intestinaler Brachyspiren in der Routinediagnostik der Jahre 1997 bis 1999.

A survey is given on the occurrence and distribution of different Brachyspira species in pigs, in the northwest of Germany. In total 2975 specimen (feces, fecal swabs, colon) were taken and sent for laboratory analysis during the years 1997 to 1999. 1218 Brachyspira (B.) strains were found by cultural analysis. 1757 samples (59%) were negative. The cultural and biochemical differentiation revealed 720 (59.1%) strains B. hyodysenteriae (77.5% were indole negative), 22 (1.8%) B. pilosicoli, 29 (2.4%) B. intermedia, 167 (3.7%) B. innocens and 114 (9.4%) B. murdochii. 166 (13.6%) strains could not be identified. These strains could either not be compared with any of the described species by the methods used or it was impossible to achieve a pure culture from these isolates. The results demonstrate the wide spread of B. hyodysenteriae in pig herds in the northwest of Germany with a very high prevalence of indole negative strains. The most frequent strain was B. hyodysenteriae. B. pilosicoli which causes spirochaetal diarrhoea was rarely isolated and seems not to play an important role in Germany. Experience from routine cultures for Brachyspira give evidence that it is more useful to examine faeces from single pigs instead of pooled samples from a herd. It is recommended to use special transport media for the transport of the specimen.

[Diagnosis of swine dysentery and spirochaetal diarrhea. 2. Effort of macrorestriction analysis for differentiation of intestinal Serpulina relative to determination by culture-biochemical markers following species classification]. / Zur Diagnostik von Schweinedysenterie und Spirochätendiarrhoe.

Genotypic differentiation by means of macrorestriction fragment profile analysis using Mlul restriction enzyme was carried out differentiating 41 Serpulina field strains from swine (38), dog (2) and a rat as well as ten type and reference strains into 40 electrophoretic types. A dendrogram was created using the average linkage between groups method. At a level of 50% similarity the patterns could be divided into six groups that roughly corresponded to the results yielded by cultural and biochemical methods formerly (FELTRUP et al. 1999). Five of these clusters corresponded to the five known porcine Serpulina species, one cluster contained the S. pilosicoli isolates from dog and rat included in this study. Interestingly all nine investigated indole negative, strongly haemolytic isolates were clustered together in one group with the S. hyodysenteriae strains, so that incidence of indole negative variants of S. hyodysenteriae was confirmed. Because of being grouped together with two S. intermedia isolates, the suitability of B 256 as S. innocens type strain is--in accord to investigations carried out by PETTERSSON et al (1996)--called in question.

[The prevalence of Actinobaculum suis in boars of breeding herds in the Omsk region (Russian Federation) by indirect immunofluorescence technique]. / Untersuchung zur Verbreitung von Actinobaculum suis unter den Ebern in den Schweinezuchtbetrieben des Gebiets Omsk (Russische Föderation) unter Verwendung der indirekten Immunofluoreszenz-Technik.

Actinobaculum suis (Corynebacterium suis, Eubacterium suis, Actinomyces suis) was detected in the preputial diverticulum of 64,8% of 162 boars investigated in 8 districts of the region Omsk (Russian Federation) by indirect immunofluorescent technique. Until yet no informations were available about the prevalence of Actinobaculum (A.) suis in swine herds of the Russian Federation. The study shows that A. suis, as a main aetiological factor of cystitis and pyelonephritis in sows, is widely spread among the boars of the region Omsk. Prevalence of A. suis was not influenced by housing conditions, age or breed of investigated boars. Indirect immunofluorescent technique for detection of A. suis provides a good method for screening investigations with high numbers of samples.

[Humeral fracture due to arm wrestling - an indirect fracture in a doped athlete]. / Oberarmschaftfraktur beim Armdrücken - ein indirekter Bruch bei einem gedopten Sportler.

BACKGROUND: Humeral shaft fractures due to recreational arm wrestling are reported from time to time. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 19 year old, anabolic steroids up taking, recreational arm wrestler who sustained a spiral fracture of the right humeral bone and secondary radial nerve palsy. We discuss the surgical treatment and the biomechanics of this rare injury mechanism. CONCLUSION: Every professional or recreational arm wrestler has to be aware of dangerous sports injuries.