Removal of diclofenac from water by in/out PAC/UF hybrid process.

Results from a lab-scale investigation of a hybrid in/out ultrafiltration and powdered activated carbon adsorption PAC/UF for removal of diclofenac (c0 = 5 mg/L) are presented. The efficiency of the process was compared for single pulse and continuous carbon dosing (PAC dose 5 mg/L) in dechlorinated tap water under fluxes of 87 and 135 L/(m2 h). For higher flux conditions, it was observed that single pulse dosing has an advantage over continuous dosing procedure when comparing cycle average removal efficiency. Increase of carbon dose under these conditions increased cycle average removal only to a limited extent. PAC dose above 15 mg/L did not give improvements of the removal. Hypothesis was made that non-effective carbon distribution might be the possible reason.

Chlamydiae in oviducts and uteri of repeat breeder pigs.

Chlamydial infections of the genital organs cause reproductive failure in female pigs, and the uterus is recognized a target tissue for an infection. In contrast, information on the effect of chlamydiae on the porcine oviduct is patchily and inconclusive, although the bacteria are known to cause severe tubal defects in humans and laboratory animals. The aim of this study was to examine the segments ampulla (A), isthmus (I) and utero-tubal junction of the left (n=20) or both (n=22) oviducts, and uteri (U) from 42 culled repeat breeder pigs for chlamydiae using ompA-PCR, partial ompA gene sequencing, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and microscopy of tissue specimens for histopathology. As revealed by PCR, among a total of 26 chlamydia-positive females, 19 were tested positive in one or more segments of one or both oviducts, 14 were found positive in the uterus, and concomitant infections of both organs were observed in 7 of them. Sequencing of 33 PCR products revealed the following chlamydial species: Chlamydophila (Cp.) psittaci (n=18), Cp. abortus (n=2), Chlamydia (C.) suis (n=10), and C. trachomatis (n=3). Immunopositive staining was observed within the surface epithelium (in A, I, U), stromal tissue (in I, U) and muscular layer (in A, I, U). A total of 24 females had inflamed oviductal segments (in A and/or I) and 36 inflamed uteri. However, there was no relationship between histopathology and results of PCR or IHC. In conclusion, chlamydiae were found to infect oviducts and uteri of pigs. Further studies are required to clarify whether chlamydial infection causes specific histopathology and alters tubal function.

A field study into the appropriateness of transcutaneous ultrasonography in the diagnoses of uterine disorders in reproductively failed pigs.

This study was conducted to define the characteristics of the uterus of reproductively failed pigs by transcutaneous ultrasonography (SONO) in order to investigate the appropriateness of SONO to diagnose presumptive uterine disorders. Zearalenone (ZEA) is known to affect uterine function and causes endometrial liquid accumulation and was also determined. In 33 sows and 14 gilts, of unknown reproductive stages and culled for failing to conceive, the uterus was scanned transcutaneously and the females slaughtered on the same day or the day after scanning. Parameters determined by SONO were uterine echotexture (UET; graded 1 for homogeneous to 4 for highly heterogeneous), uterine size (US; expressed as the mean sectional area of two to three cross-sections of the uterine horns given in cm2) and intrauterine content. Post mortem, the ovarian structures were assessed and females grouped accordingly into those in estrus (n=2), early diestrus (n=14), diestrus (n=15), late diestrus (n=1), anestrus (n=10) and having polycystic ovarian degeneration (n=5). The uterine weight (UW) was recorded and uterine specimens microscopically evaluated for an endometrial oedema (EO; grades 1 for none, to 4, if an oedema was clearly evident) and for immune cells to assess endometritis. Total ZEA was analysed in bile and females with >or=50 ng/ml judged as positive. The uterus could be examined in all animals. UET, US, UW and EO was found to be different between groups, and a positive correlation (P<0.001) established for US and UET (r=0.71), US and EO (r=0.51), UET and EO (r=0.57), US and UW (UW=357.6 x US(0.801); r=0.88). One female had intrauterine fluid and an acute-chronic endometritis diagnosed. Almost all females had a chronic endometritis and a majority found ZEA positive. No differences were observed between groups and a relationship between ZEA or chronic endometritis and UET, US, UW and EO were not established. In conclusion, transcutaneous SONO is appropriate to examine the uterus in reproductively failed pigs on farms, and the estimation of UET and US gives information on EO and UW. Intrauterine fluid is indicative for a severe uterine inflammation. Since groups differed in UET and US, but were equally ZEA positive and the uteri chronically inflamed, an UET and US specifically associated with ZEA or chronic endometritis is questioned.