Cultivation of monoxenous trypanosomatids: A minireview.

Trypanosomatids are obligatory parasites, some of which are responsible for important human and animal diseases, but the vast majority of trypanosomatids are restricted to invertebrate hosts. Isolation and in vitro cultivation of trypanosomatids from insect hosts enable their description, characterization, and subsequently genetic and genomic studies. However, exact nutritional requirements are still unknown for most trypanosomatids and thus very few defined media are available. This mini review provides information about the role of different ingredients, recommendations and advice on essential supplements and important physicochemical parameters of culture media with the aim of facilitating first attempts to cultivate insect-infesting trypanosomatids, with a focus on monoxenous trypanosomatids.

[The care standard 'Depressive disorders']. / De zorgstandaard Depressieve stoornissen.

BACKGROUND: The care standard 'Depressive disorders' describes the complete patient journey for patients with depressive symptoms and disorders from the age of 8 years onwards.
AIM: To describe the most important recommendations in this care standard.
METHOD: The care standard is an adaptation of the existing guidelines for depression, supplemented with practical knowledge from professionals and patients' values and preferences.
RESULTS: Core elements in the care for depression are an appropriate use of care and a focus on relapse prevention. A combination of psychotherapy and medication is indicated for persistent depression and more sessions of psychotherapy might be required. There is some evidence for the use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in treatment-resistant depression.
CONCLUSION: The care standard is an important instrument to improve the quality of care for depression at both the organisational and the regional level.

Reducing exposure to pathogens in the horse: a preliminary study into the survival of bacteria on a range of equine bedding types.

AIMS: To compare the rate of growth of four microbial strains that cause disease in the horse, on four commonly used types of bedding. The moisture-holding capacity of each bedding type was also tested. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microbial strains included Streptococcus equi, Streptococcus zooepidemicus, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Dichelobacter nodosus and Dermatophilus congolensis. The bedding types tested were Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine shavings), Pinus nigra (Corsican pine shavings), Picea sitchensis (Sitka spruce shavings), Cannabis sativa (hemp) and chopped wheat straw. A suspension of each microbial strain was spread in triplicate on agar media and incubated in its optimal growth conditions. The viable count (colony-forming unit per ml) was determined for each bacterial strain for the five different bedding types. Pinus sylvestris bedding resulted in significantly less (P = 0·001) bacterial growth of all strains tested. CONCLUSIONS: Factors resulting in the inhibition of bacterial growth include the antibacterial effects reported in the Pinacea family and the physical properties of the bedding substrate. Research is currently focussed on the diagnosis and management of disease. Prevention of disease is also important for matters of biosecurity. Strategies should include the provision of a hygienic environment and the use of specific types of bedding. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Bedding choice has implications for global equine health and disease prevention as well as potential benefits in other animal species.

Thrombin generation in Cushing's Syndrome: do the conventional clotting indices tell the whole truth?

Cushing's Syndrome (CS) is associated with an increased mortality, where hypercoagulability seems to have a crucial role in both arterial and venous thrombosis. Parameters of in vitro thrombin generation (TG) such as lag time, peak thrombin and endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), that describe the time until thrombin burst, the peak amount of TG and the total amount of thrombin generated, respectively as well as classical clotting markers were evaluated in 33 CS patients compared to both a group of 28 patients matched for the features of Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) and 31 healthy individuals. CS and MetS patients had shorter lag time (p < 0.0001), higher peak and ETP (p < 0.0001) than healthy controls, though lag time was less shortened in CS (p < 0.0001) respect to MetS group. Prothrombin time (PT) was increased (p < 0.0001) in both CS and MetS patients, while partial thromboplastin time (PTT) was shorter (p < 0.0001) in CS compared to both MetS and healthy group (p < 0.0001). Factor VIII (FVIII), Antithrombin (AT), protein C and S were increased only in CS patients (p < 0.0001). lag time, AT and FVIII correlated to night salivary cortisol (r = + 0.59; p = 0.0005, r = + 0.40; p = 0.003, r = + 0.40; p = 0.04, respectively); PTT correlated inversely to urinary free cortisol (r = -0.45; p = 0.009). BMI correlated negatively to lag time (r = -0.40; p = 0.0001) and positively to peak and ETP (r = + 0.34; p = 0.001, r = + 0.28; p = 0.008, respectively). Obese and diabetic patients had shorter lag time (p = 0.0005; p = 0.0002, respectively), higher ETP (p = 0.0006; p = 0.007, respectively) and peak (p = 0.0003; p = 0.0005, respectively) as well as a more prolonged PT (p = 0.04; p = 0.009, respectively). Hypertensive individuals had higher ETP (p = 0.004), peak (p = 0.0008) and FVIII (p = 0.001). Our findings confirm a prothrombotic state in both CS and MetS patients, though lag time was less shortened in CS. The high levels of endogenous physiological anticoagulants, could possibly represent a protective mechanism against hypercoagulability seen in CS patients.

Bi-fluorescence imaging for estimating accurately the nuclear condition of Rhizoctonia spp.

AIMS: To simplify the determination of the nuclear condition of the pathogenic Rhizoctonia, which currently needs to be performed either using two fluorescent dyes, thus more costly and time-consuming, or using only one fluorescent dye, thus less accurate. METHODS AND RESULTS: A red primary fluorescence (autofluorescence) of the hyphal cell walls and septa of Rhizoctonia spp. with green excitation is evidenced in Rhizoctonia spp. This property is exploited and combined for the first time with a conventional DAPI fluorescence to accurately determine the nuclear condition of Rhizoctonia. This bi-fluorescence imaging strategy depicted the nuclear condition in Rhizoctonia spp. more accurately than the conventional DAPI fluorescence used alone and was validated against isolates previously genotyped by DNA sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated that the bi-fluorescence imaging strategy was safe, accurate and simple to perform and interpret. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The developed bi-fluorescence imaging strategy provides a sensitive tool for determining the nuclear condition of Rhizoctonia strains. Its simplicity is a key advantage when there are numerous cultures to be examined.

First Report of Black Swallow-Wort as an Alternate Host of the Two-Needle Pine Stem Rust Pathogen, Cronartium flaccidum, in France.

Stem rust disease, caused by Cronartium flaccidum (Alb. & Schwein.) G. Winter, is among the most destructive diseases of the two-needle hard pine in the Northern Hemisphere, including Scots pine but also several Mediterranean pines in southern Europe (2,3). This heteroecious rust has numerous alternate herbaceous hosts spanning different plant families, thereby contributing to epidemic outbreaks when environmental conditions for infection are optimal (2,3). The main alternate host in Europe is the white swallow-wort, Vincetoxicum hirundinaria Medik, a herbaceous perennial in the milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae). At the southwestern edge of its distribution, V. hirundinaria co-occurs with the black swallow-wort, V. nigrum (L.) Moench and cases of misidentification between the two species are not uncommon. Little to no disease occurs to V. nigrum likely because phenanthroindolizidine alkaloid antimicrobial compounds are produced in the weed. In 1918, occurrence of C. flaccidum was reported in Spain and Portugal on black and white swallow-worts albeit as C. asclepadium (1). In the early summer of 2011, at Saint Clément de Rivière in southern France, we detected orange-yellow rust pustules on the lower leaf surfaces of several black swallow-worts growing near Aleppo pines (Pinus halepensis). These orange-yellow pustules were erumpent uredinia in groups (range = 137 to 400 µm in diameter) with peridia that broke with the production of uredinospores. The latter were moderately echinulate, light yellow, broadly ellipsoid (length = 23 ± 4 µm and range = 11 to 33 µm; width = 15 ± 2 µm and range = 9 to 20 µm) with walls of 1 to 2 µm thick (mean 1.3 ± 0.2 µm). Hair-like columnar telia (length = 1123 ± 131 µm and range = 976 to 1280 µm; width = 136 ± 28 µm and range = 104 to 176 µm) were mostly formed from uredinia. Telia were hypophyllous and reddish orange. Teliospores were orange-yellow and ellipsoidal to cylindrical (length 26.3 ± 6.2 µm and range 13.5 to 46 µm; width = 10.5 ± 1.8 µm and range = 6.9 to 14.9 µm). Morphological features of these fruiting structures were consistent with those of C. flaccidum (Alb. & Schwein.) G. Winter on white swallow-worts (2). Additional confirmation was provided by sequencing the two internal transcribed spacer regions (ITS1 and ITS2) and the 5.8S gene (4). The sequence was 843 bp long (GenBank Accession No. JN802139), 99.7% similar to C. flaccidum found on Melampyrum in Finland (Accession No. JF13709), and 99.4% similar to C. flaccidum found on pines in Italy (Accession No. X83900). Voucher material has been deposited at the Herbarium of Montpellier's University under the collection Accession No. MPUØ188846. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of uredinia and telia of C. flaccidum on black swallow-worts clearly identified in France. The occurrence of the rust on this understory vine is of critical importance for the economic sustainability of pine forests in France, especially when they are heavily constrained by drought and fire. References: (1) R. Gonzalez Fragoso. Trab. Mus. Nac. Ci. Nat., Ser. Bot. 15:1, 1918. (2) J. Kaitera and H. Nuorteva. For. Pathol. 33:205, 2003. (3) A. Ragazzi. Phytopathol. Medit. 28:5, 1989. (4) T. J. White et al. PCR Protocols: A Guide to Methods and Applications. Academic Press, Inc., San Diego, CA, 1990.

Gut transcriptome reveals differential gene expression and enriched pathways linked to immune activation in response to weaning in pigs.

Weaning represents one of the most critical periods in pig production associated with increase in disease risk, reduction in performance and economic loss. Physiological changes faced by piglets during the weaning period have been well characterised, however little is currently known about the underlying molecular pathways involved in these processes. As pig meat remains one of the most consumed sources of protein worldwide, understanding how these changes are mediated is critical to improve pig production and consequently sustainable food production globally. In this study, we evaluated the effect of weaning on transcriptomic changes in the colon of healthy piglets over time using an RNA-sequencing approach. The findings revealed a complex and coordinated response to weaning with the majority of genes found to be rapidly differentially expressed within 1 day post weaning. Multiple genes and pathways affected by weaning in the colon were associated with immune regulation, cell signalling and bacterial defence. NOD-like receptors, Toll-like receptor and JAK-STAT signalling pathways were amongst the pathways significantly enriched. Immune activation was evidenced by the enrichment of pathways involved in interferon response, cytokines interactions, oxidoreductase activities and response to microbial invasion. Biosynthesis of amino acids, in particular arginine, was also amongst the most enriched KEGG pathways in weaned pigs, reinforcing the critical role of arginine in gut homeostasis under stress conditions. Overall, transcriptomic and physiological results suggest that pigs going through the weaning transition undergo a transient period of inflammatory state with a temporary breakdown of barrier functions in the gut. These findings could provide valuable tools to monitor host response post weaning, and may be of particular relevance for the investigation and development of intervention strategies aimed to reduce antibiotic use and improve pig health and performance.

Oregano essential oil improves piglet health and performance through maternal feeding and is associated with changes in the gut microbiota.

BACKGROUND: With a growing demand for safe and sustainable alternatives to antimicrobials, functional feed ingredients such as plant essential oils have been evaluated for their potential to improve gut health. Amongst these, oregano essential oil (OEO) with the main active compounds carvacrol and thymol has been reported to have antimicrobial and antioxidative properties resulting in improved intestinal barrier function and growth in pigs and poultry. However, its impact on the gut microbiota still remains unclear. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of an oregano essential oil phytobiotic on sow and piglet performance and faecal microbiota. RESULTS: Piglets from OEO supplemented sows were significantly heavier at one week of age and showed a trend for improved average daily weight gain from birth to weaning. Post-weaning, maternally supplemented piglets were numerically heavier at 10 weeks post-weaning and at slaughter with a reduced variability in bodyweight. Health records showed that piglets in the OEO supplemented litters had significantly reduced incidence of therapeutic treatment and reduced mortality. In both sows and piglets, the structure and composition of the faecal microbiota varied considerably over time. Sows supplemented with OEO during lactation showed an increase in the relative abundance of Lactobacillaceae family. In addition, there was an increase in the relative abundance of families known to be important in fibre digestion (Fibrobacteriaceae and Akkermansiaceae). Analysis of piglet microbiota at two weeks and four weeks of age revealed a relative decrease in Enterobacteriaceae while butyrate producers (Lachnospiraceae family) were increased at both timepoints. CONCLUSION: We hypothesise that the effects observed from this study were exerted through modulation of the gut microbial communities in the sow and her offspring through maternal microbial transfer. Understanding the link between the gut microbiota and dietary factors represents a keystone to improving health and performance for sustainable pig production. Reducing antimicrobial usage can help to reduce the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) which is a global focus for animal production.

[Sensitivity and specificity of the breast screening program in the Isere region based on positive results between 1991 and 1999]. / Analyse de la sensibilité et de la spécificité des mammographies en fonction des taux de tests positifs dans le programme de dépistage organisé de l'Isère de 1991 à 1999.

PURPOSE: The screening program guidelines specify that the call back rate of women for additional imaging (positive mammogram) should not exceed 7% at initial screening, and 5% at subsequent screening. Materials and methods. Results in the Isere region (12%) have prompted a review of the correlation between the call back rate and indicators of quality (detection rate, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value) for the radiologists providing interpretations during that time period. RESULTS: Three groups of radiologists were identified: the group with call back rate of 10% achieved the best results (sensitivity: 92%, detection rate: 0.53%, specificity: 90%). The group with lowest call back rate (7.7%) showed insufficient sensitivity (58%). The last group with call back rate of 18.3%, showed no improvement in sensitivity (82%) and detection rate (0.53%), but showed reduced specificity (82%). CONCLUSION: The protocol update in 2001 does not resolve this problematic situation and national results continue to demonstrate a high percentage of positive screening mammograms. A significant increase in the number of positive screening examinations compared to recommended guidelines is not advantageous and leads to an overall decrease in the quality of the screening.

[Tolerance of hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy for hepatic tumours]. / Tolérance de l'irradiation stéréotaxique hypofractionnée des tumeurs hépatiques.

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the outcomes of stereotactic radiation therapy for primary and secondary liver tumours in Jean-Perrin cancer centre (Clermont-Ferrand, France) in terms of efficacy and safety. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between December 2013 and June 2016, 25 patients were included. Treatment was performed on a linear accelerator Novalis TX®. The prescription dose was 42 to 60Gy in three to five fractions. Local control at 1 year was evaluated with modified Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumours (mRECIST) and RECIST criteria. Acute and late toxicity were evaluated with Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.0 criteria. RESULTS: Median follow-up was 10.5 months. Treatment tolerance was good with few side effects grade 3 or above, no acute toxicity and only one late toxicity. We have highlighted that hepatic artery haemorrhage was associated with the presence of a biliary prosthesis in contact with the artery (P=0.006) and in the irradiation field. There was no correlation with the dose delivered to the artery and hepatic artery haemorrhage. CONCLUSION: Stereotactic radiation therapy for liver tumours allows a good local control with few secondary effects. Caution should be exercised when treating patients with biliary prostheses in the vicinity of the target volume because there is a risk of haemorrhage of the hepatic artery in contact with the prosthesis.

Evidence for the importance of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine catabolism in humans from 19F nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry.

The use of a new methodology, 19F nuclear magnetic resonance, has allowed detection of all the fluorinated metabolites in the biofluids of patients treated with 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'-dFUrd) injected i.v. at a dose of 10 g/m2 over 6 h. This technique, which requires no labeled drug, allows a direct study of the biological sample with no need for extraction or derivatization and a simultaneous identification and quantitation of all the different fluorinated metabolites. As well as the already known metabolites, unmetabolized 5'-dFUrd, 5-fluorouracil, and 5,6-dihydro-5-fluorouracil, the presence of alpha-fluoro-beta-ureidopropionic acid, alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine (FBAL), N-carboxy-alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine, and the fluoride anion F- is reported. The catabolic pathway proposed for 5'-dFUrd is analogous to that of 5-fluorouracil, completed with FBAL----F- step, and the plasmatic equilibrium of FBAL with N-carboxy-alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine, its N-carboxy derivative. The quantitative analysis of the different metabolites found in plasma and urine emphasizes the significance of the catabolic pathway. High concentrations of alpha-fluoro-beta ureidopropionic acid and FBAL are recovered in plasma from 3 h after the beginning of the perfusion to 1 h after its end. The global urinary excretion results show that there is a high excretion of 5'-dFUrd and metabolites. Unchanged 5'-dFUrd and FBAL are by far the major excretory products and are at nearly equal rates. The protocol followed in this study produces relatively low but persistent plasmatic concentrations of 5-fluorouracil throughout the perfusion.

High through-put characterization of insect morphocryptic entities by a non-invasive method using direct-PCR of fecal DNA.

The development of non-invasive molecular techniques is currently increasing, particularly in the fields of behavioural ecology and conservation genetics of mammals. Surprisingly, genetic studies of Arthropods and particularly the insects have not benefited yet from the contributions that non-invasive methods have made. Here, we outline a strategy for identifying phytophagous insect genetic entities based on direct-PCR of fecal DNA combined with double strand conformation polymorphism (DSCP) typing. This allows the differentiation of morphocryptic entities within the species Ceutorhynchus assimilis (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), a candidate biocontrol agent of a noxious weed. The results obtained clearly demonstrate the potential for this method to provide a valuable means for genetic and ecological studies of Arthropods.

Effect of a single dose of Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii on the occurrence of porcine neonatal diarrhoea.

Piglet neonatal diarrhoea is an important issue in modern pig production and is linked to increased mortality and poor growth rates, affecting long-term pig health, increasing use of medication and cost of production. Saccharomyces cerevisiae var. boulardii (SB) is a probiotic yeast with documented clinical efficacy in the prevention and treatment of diarrhoeal diseases in humans. The objectives of the current study were to evaluate the effect of SB on occurrence and severity of neonatal diarrhoea in piglets, mortality and growth rate. Forty-six litters (606 piglets) were randomly allocated to a control or SB treatment (n=23 per treatment). Within 24 h of farrowing, piglets assigned to the SB treatment received a single oral dose of a paste containing 3.3×10(9) CFU of SB CNCM I-107(9). Piglets from the control litters received a placebo paste. Piglet weight, mortality and diarrhoea were recorded up to day 7 of age. It was shown that numbers of diarrhoea days were significantly correlated with increased mortality rate and reduced weight gain (P<0.05). SB treatment had no effect on growth or mortality in diarrhoeic litters. However, SB-supplemented litters had significantly lower faecal scores, indicating firmer faeces (P<0.01) and fewer numbers of diarrhoeic days (P<0.01) during the 1(st) week of life. Reduction in the number of diarrhoeic litters compared with the control group was observed following the probiotic administration (P<0.05). These results highlight the detrimental effects of neonatal diarrhoea on pre-weaning performance and suggest that SB, by reducing diarrhoea duration and severity, has the potential of improving enteric health in the early stages of life in pigs.

Association of polymorphism in the cytochrome CYP2D6 and the efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin.

OBJECTIVE: Because clinical data about the therapeutic consequences of polymorphic oxidation of simvastatin by CYP2D6 have not been well reported, we sought to investigate the possible link between polymorphism of CYP2D6 and the efficacy and tolerability of simvastatin treatment in a group of 88 patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS: The CYP2D6 genotype was determined with use of polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment analysis, whereas the CYP2D6 phenotype was determined by monitoring the dextromethorphan metabolism. RESULTS: Four of 5 patients with 2 defective CYP2D6 alleles discontinued the therapy at a low daily dose because of adverse events, with a significant mean decrease in the cholesterol levels of 0.23 mmol/L per milligram of simvastatin in the daily dose. In the group of 28 patients with 1 mutated CYP2D6 gene, 13 did not tolerate the therapy, whereas a mean decrease in the cholesterol levels of 0.20 mmol/L per milligram of simvastatin was found. One patient with a multiplication of the CYP2D6 gene showed a cholesterol reduction of only 0.01 mmol/L per milligram of simvastatin, at a maximal daily dose of 40 mg. Only 9 patients of the group of 54 persons who were homozygous for the wild-type allele discontinued the therapy because of intolerance. In that group, a mean decrease of cholesterol of 0.10 mmol/L per milligram of simvastatin was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our data provide evidence that the cholesterol-lowering effect of simvastatin is influenced by CYP2D6 polymorphism. The clinical use of this knowledge may allow for more efficient individual therapies.

New approach to metabolism of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine in humans with fluorine-19 NMR.

The metabolism of 5'-deoxy-5-fluorouridine (5'dFUrd), an antitumor fluoropyrimidine, has been investigated in human biofluids (blood, plasma, urine) using a new method: fluorine-19 NMR spectrometry. This method allows direct study of the biological sample and simultaneous identification of all the fluorinated metabolites. In the blood of a patient treated with 5'dFUrd during a 6-h continuous perfusion, we observed unmetabolized 5'dFUrd, 5-fluorouracil, 5,6-dihydrofluorouracil, and another metabolite which has not previously been reported alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine. The two major metabolites in urine are unmetabolized 5'dFUrd and alpha-fluoro-beta-alanine.

Neurogenetic correlates of Parkinson's disease: apolipoprotein-E and cytochrome P450 2D6 genetic polymorphism.

Brain tissue of 50 patients with morphological confirmed Parkinson's disease (PD), blood samples from 149 patients with clinical parkinsonism and from 96 healthy control subjects were collected. Apolipoprotein-E (apo E) and cytochrome P450 2D6 (CYP2D6) genotyping were performed by PCR followed by restriction fragment analysis. A significantly higher allele frequency of CYP2D6*4 was found in patients with PD (35%) but not with parkinsonism (14.1%) compared to control subjects (19.8%). The combined alleles frequency of CYP2D6*3 + apoE4 was significantly higher not only in the PD group (33.3%) but also in patients with parkinsonism (22.3%) compared to control subjects (1.6%). These results suggest that there is a substantial overlap not only in the clinical manifestation but also in the genetic risk factors between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases.

Otitis media with effusion and habitual mouth breathing in Dutch preschool children.

Habitual mouth breathing (HMB) is defined as the habit of in- and exhaling (part of) the air through the mouth, when an individual is at rest and the nose is sufficiently free. It is postulated that HMB is a risk factor for otitis media with effusion (OME) in preschool children. The results are presented of a prospective cohort study on 253 3-year-old children, free from OME, with a follow-up period of 3 months, to determine the role of HMB in the etiology of OME. The risk ratio for OME of habitual mouth breathers, compared to nose breathers, was found to be 2.4 (95% confidence interval (C.I.): 0.99-5.70). Moreover, there is a clear and significant linear trend in the proportion of OME in 3 breathing categories: nose breathing, intermediate and mouth breathing. This relation remains after correction for confounding. It is concluded that HMB is a risk factor for OME. It is estimated that about 20% of the incidence of OME is caused by HMB. The high incidence of OME means that HMB carries a great deal of impact. Suggestions are made for the prevention and treatment of HMB.

[Psychological factors and blood pressure in children. Various results using Zazzo's Bestiary Test]. / Facteurs psychologiques et pression artérielle chez l'enfant. Quelques résultats avec le test du Bestiaire de Zazzo.

The purpose of the study was to investigate the relationships between psychological characteristics and blood pressure. Through animal metaphor R. Zazzo's Bestiary test indicates the child's basic psychological position and his way of coping with his personal conflicts. The test was administered to 766 children between the ages of 4-10 years. The links between diastolic and systolic blood pressure values, and the children's responses to the test were established by several discriminant analyses. A correspondence-analysis threw light on the psychological meaning of these relationships by indicating in hypertensive children a tendency towards perceiving human relationships as aggressive, especially between males and females.

Inclusion of detergent in a cleaning regime and effect on microbial load in livestock housing.

Determining effective cleaning and disinfection regimes of livestock housing is vital to improving the health of resident animals and reducing zoonotic disease. A cleaning regime consisting of scraping, soaking with or without detergent (treatment and control), pressure washing, disinfection and natural drying was applied to multiple pig pens. After each cleaning stage, samples were taken from different materials and enumerated for total aerobic count (TAC) and Enterobacteriaceae (ENT). Soaking with detergent (Blast-Off, Biolink) caused significantly greater reductions of TAC and ENT on metal, and TAC on concrete, compared with control. Disinfection effect (Virkon S, DuPont) was not significantly associated with prior detergent treatment. Disinfection significantly reduced TAC and ENT on concrete and stock board but not on metal. Twenty-four hours after disinfection TAC and ENT on metal and stock board were significantly reduced, but no significant reductions occurred in the subsequent 96 hours. Counts on concrete did not significantly reduce during the entire drying period (120 hours). Detergent and disinfectant have varying bactericidal effects according to the surface and bacterial target; however, both can significantly reduce microbial numbers so should be used during cleaning, with a minimum drying period of 24 hours, to lower bacterial counts effectively.