Effect of an Escherichia coli F4/F18 bivalent oral live vaccine on gut health and performance of healthy weaned pigs.

Oral live vaccines stimulate host immunity, but they could also affect intestinal mucosa development and gut microbiota of piglets during the postweaning. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of an oral vaccine against Escherichia coli F4 and F18 (Coliprotec F4/F18®), on gut functionality and integrity, growth performance and health status of postweaning piglets. A total of 96 weaned piglets (23.30 ±â€¯1.85 days of age; 7334 ±â€¯1039 g BW) were divided into two groups (16 replicates/group; three piglets/replicate) as follows: (1) Control (CO), fed a standard diet (prestarter up to 14 days, then starter feed); (2) Treated (TRT): as CO but vaccinated with Coliprotec F4/F18® at weaning (day 0). Piglets were weighed at day 0 and weekly until day 35. Individual faecal score was recorded daily. Piglets were sacrificed at days 10 (1/3 of total) and 35 (2/3). Samples of jejunum mucosa and of cecum content were collected for morphometric, immunohistochemistry analysis and for microbiota profile analysis, respectively. Data were fitted using a linear model including treatment, class of starting BW as fixed factors and litter as random factor. From days 0 to 7, piglets from the TRT group tended to have a higher average daily gain (+22.6%, P = 0.08) and average daily feed intake compared to the CO group (+13.2%, P = 0.022). Gain to feed ratio was lower in the TRT group from days 14 to 35 (-6.6%, P = 0.011). From days 7 to 14, the TRT group had a higher diarrhoea index (-199%, P < 0.001). Crypt depth was higher in the CO group (+10.9%, P = 0.04) at day 10, but not at day 35. Jejunal expression of Claudin-4 (probability of having a score = 3) was higher in the TRT group at day 10 (CO = 1.50% vs TRT = 2.69%, P < 0.0001) and day 35 (CO = 1.29% vs TRT = 1.92%, P = 0.012). Oral vaccine affected beta diversity at day 10 (P = 0.040; R2 = 0.05) and increased the abundance of specific taxa and genera in the cecum at day 10, including Prevotella (lg2FC = 23.2, FDR < 0.001). The results showed how an Escherichia coli-based vaccine supplied to weaned pigs can promote gut health by controlling symptoms of the postweaning perturbation in the first 2 weeks postweaning. In addition, the vaccine strains showed a probiotic-like effect by modulating gut microbiota favouring the establishment of beneficial bacteria, and by promoting gut barrier integrity.

Observing and modeling long-term persistence of P. noctiluca in coupled complementary marine systems (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea and Messina Strait).

In the Mediterranean Sea, the Strait of Messina (MS) is a very peculiar area, connecting highly different regions and representing a privileged observatory for an early comprehension and assessment of ecosystems shifts. It is hypothesized that the outbreaks observed near the coast of many sites in the Mediterranean Sea may be the result of transport of permanent populations of P. noctiluca in pelagic waters to the coast, caused by specific hydrodynamic conditions. By both visual observations and numerical experiments our objective is twofold: (A) to help clarify whether the basin of the Aeolian Islands Archipelago (AIA), in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (STS), may be the site from which large populations of P. noctiluca are transported to the MS, and (B) to evaluate whether the upwelling turbulent system of the MS can be an energetic opportunity for this species. It should offer a rich habitat without jeopardizing the overall survival of the population, that is subject to stranding due to strong currents. Although very different, the two involved ecosystems (AIA and MS ) are complementary for the success of Pelagia noctiluca life cycle. Outputs obtained by coupling the 3D hydrodynamic model (SHYFEM) with a Lagrangian particle tracking model support the hypothesis of a connectivity between these two ecosystems, particularly in the first half of the year, indicating the coastal areas around the AIA as potential optimal source location for Pelagia larval stages. We support the very attractive hypothesis that two connected systems exist, the former one favours Pelagia's reproduction and acts as a nursery and the latter favours its growth due to higher productivity. We speculate that the reproductive population of the AIA is not permanent, but is renewed every year by individuals who have fed and quickly grown in the MS and who are passively transported by downwelling along canyon "corridors".

Initial experience with a new transurethral microwave thermotherapy treatment protocol '30-minute TUMT'.

OBJECTIVE: We report on our experience with a less invasive treatment for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), a high-energy '30-minute' treatment algorithm of transurethral microwave thermotherapy (TUMT). As initial investigators of this new device, we have tested its safety, tolerance and efficacy. METHODS: From April 1998 to May 1999, all males attending our Outpatient Clinic for symptomatic BPH were evaluated with physical examination, symptoms questionnaire, bladder and prostate ultrasound scan, cystomanometry and pressure-flow study. Sixty-one males with: prostate volume > 30 cm3, prostate length > 25 mm, Qmax < 15 ml/s, IPSS > or =13, MSS > or = 8, and without excessive middle lobe, underwent one session of 30-min TUMT treatment after informed consent was obtained. Treatments were performed on an outpatient basis and with oral sedation and local analgesia. Follow-up visits were scheduled for 2 weeks, 1, 3, 6 and 12 months post-treatment. RESULTS: Fifty-six out of 61 patients (92%) completed the 6-month follow-up visit: mean MSS improved from 12.0 to 4.3; IPSS changed from 18.1 to 5.2. The mean maximum flow rate improved from 9.1 to 17.8 ml/s and the mean post-void residual decreased from 92 to 18 ml. Cavities within prostatic tissue were observed in 54 out of 56 patients (95%). The most frequent adverse event was UTI (21.3%); no major complications were observed. CONCLUSION: Our experience demonstrated that 30-min TUMT is a safe, effective and well-tolerable treatment for patients with BPH and LUTS, although further studies are needed to assess result durability and long-term efficacy.