Molecular Biology and Pathological Process of an Infectious Bronchitis Virus with Enteric Tropism in Commercial Broilers.

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) induces respiratory and urogenital disease in chickens. Although IBV replicates in the gastrointestinal tract, enteric lesions are uncommon. We have reported a case of runting-stunting syndrome in commercial broilers from which an IBV variant was isolated from the intestines. The isolate, CalEnt, demonstrated an enteric tissue tropism in chicken embryos and SPF chickens experimentally. Here, we determined the full genome of CalEnt and compared it to other IBV strains, in addition to comparing the pathobiology of CalEnt and M41 in commercial broilers. Despite the high whole-genome identity to other IBV strains, CalEnt is rather unique in its nucleotide composition. The S gene phylogenetic analyses showed great similarity between CalEnt and Cal 99. Clinically, vent staining was slightly more frequent in CalEnt-infected birds than those challenged with M41. Furthermore, IBV IHC detection was more evident and the viral shedding in feces was overall higher with the CalEnt challenge compared with M41. Despite underlying intestinal lesions caused by coccidiosis and salmonellosis vaccination, microscopic lesions in CalEnt-infected chickens were more severe than in M41-infected chickens or controls, supporting the enteric tropism of CalEnt. Further studies in SPF chickens are needed to determine the pathogenesis of the virus, its molecular mechanisms for the enteric tropism, and its influence in intestinal health.

Assessment of gaseous ozone treatment on Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 reductions in poultry litter.

Poultry litter is used as soil amendment or organic fertilizer. While poultry litter is enriched with organic matter suitable for land, the presence of pathogens such as Salmonella in poultry litter is a concern. To investigate the effect of gaseous ozone on pathogen reductions in poultry litter, this study conducted a series of experiments that involved understanding of Salmonella Typhimurium and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inactivation at various doses of Ozone (O3) in wet and dry poultry litter conditions. Previously, ozone treatment has been shown to disinfect the surface of foods and plant materials including fruits, juices, and wastewater, however, additional research are needed to better understand the impacts of ozone on treatment of soil amendments. Sanitizing methods capable of eliminating pathogens of soil amendments are crucial to mitigate disease outbreaks related with litter/manure-based fertilizers. In this study, a bench scale continuous ozone treatment system was designed to produce O3 gas, with a range O3 concentrations (7.15-132.46 mg·L-1), monitor ozone concentrations continuously, and control the ozone exposure time (15 to 90 mins) to understand the effectiveness of O3 in eliminating S. Typhimurium and E. coli O157:H7 in poultry litter. Results showed that 7.15 mg·L-1 did not reduce the counts of S. Typhimurium until exposure to O3 for 90 min. The O3 concentrations of 43.26 ~ 132.46 mg·L-1 exposure reduced the bacterial counts. Furthermore, the moisture content of poultry litter was found to be an influencing factor for pathogen reduction. The pathogen reduction rates were reduced when the moisture content was increased. At higher moisture content, high concentrations of O3 (132.46 mg·L-1) were needed for pathogen reductions. The moisture content of 30% or lower was found to be more effective for controlling pathogen levels in poultry litter. Our study demonstrates that gaseous O3 treatment could be used as an additional decontamination technique to ensure the certain degree of microbiological safety of poultry litter based soil amendment.

Converging methods in the assessment of sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity.

AIMS: Abnormalities of the sympathetic baroreflex regulation are documented in various diseases. The recording of sympathetic nerve activity allows for the calculation of baroreflex gain but this is not available in practice. A non-invasive method based on blood pressure during the late phases of Valsalva manoeuvre (VM) was proposed. Sympathetic gain could be calculated from the pressure fluctuations following ventricular extrasystole or non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (NSVT). METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed both indices in 25 subjects with no significant cardiovascular disease. VM was performed at 40 mmHg for 12 s. Paced NSVT consisted of five to six cycles. The sympathetic gains were determined based on the recovery of mean arterial pressure (MAP, mmHg/s). The maximum slope of five consecutive MAP elevations occurring within a 15-cycle period after NSVT was calculated. This MAP turbulence slope (MAP(TS)) was expressed in mmHg/cycle. Five patients were excluded because of unacceptable VM. VM-derived sympathetic gain (SBRS(vals)) and the NSVT-derived gain (SBRS(NSVT)) correlated closely (R = 0.86, P < 0.001). Their mean difference was 3.2 +/- 4.8 mmHg. Both SBRS(vals) and SBRS(NSVT) correlated closely with MAP(TS) (R = 0.77, P < 0.001 and R = 0.86, P < 0.001, respectively). CONCLUSION: The sympathetically mediated arterial pressure recovery is an analogous process following both VM and NSVT. SBRS(NSVT) or MAP(TS) may be useful in the assessment of patients with implanted antiarrhythmic devices.

La técnica Delphi y la investigación en los servicios de salud / The Delphi method and the investigation in health services

La técnica Delphi se puede considerar como una importante técnica de investigación para utilizarse en el contexto de los Servicios de Salud. En las ciencias sociales se considera una forma efectiva y válida de reunir información sobre un tema donde hay escasas evidencias o acuerdos. El objetivo de este artículo es presentar una revisión bibliográfica y se examina críticamente esta técnica. Se analizan sus principales características, las diversas variantes en su aplicación y, finalmente, se discute su uso en los Servicios de Salud.

The method Delphi can be considered as an important investigation methodology to be used in the context of health services. In the social sciences it is considered an effective and valid method of gathering information on a topic about which there is scarce evidence or agreement. The objective of this article is to present a bibliographical revision and to examine this method critically. Its main characteristics will be analyzed, the diverse variants in its application, and finally, its use is discussed, regarding the health services.