Antimicrobial susceptibility and biofilm forming ability of staphylococci from subclinical buffalo mastitis.

The starting objective of this research communication was to determine the prevalence of subclinical mastitis in buffalo in Turkey. We also seeked to isolate and identify staphylococci, determine their antimicrobial susceptibilities and biofilm-forming abilities as well as investigating the presence of biofilm-related genes and microbial surface components recognizing adhesive matrix molecules. A total of 107 (66.9%) staphylococci (28 S. aureus and 79 coagulase-negative staphylococci, CoNS) were isolated from 160 mastitic milk samples collected from 200 lactating water buffalos. The staphylococci were especially resistant to beta-lactams except for cefoxitin but were less resistant to the other antimicrobials that were tested. Based on the Congo red agar method, 92.9% of the S. aureus and 70.9% of the CoNS isolates were positive for biofilm-forming ability, while all S. aureus and 97.5% of CoNS isolates were positive by a microtiter plate analysis. The presence of icaA and icaD genes was not always correlated with biofilm synthesis, and even in the absence of these genes, the isolates were able to synthesize biofilm.

Bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections in Algerian dromedary camels (Camelus dromaderius).

This study was performed to investigate the presence of bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1), bovine leukemia virus (BLV) and bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infections in dromedary camels (Camelus dromaderius) kept in mixed herds with sheep and goats in Algeria, since the prevalence of BHV-1, BVDV, and BLV infections among dromedary camels in Algeria is unknown. Totally, 111 camel sera were collected from two provinces (Laghouat and Ghardaia) in Algeria. The sera were analyzed for BHV-1 specific antibodies, BVDV specific antibodies and BVDV antigen using the ELISA, and BLV nucleic acid using PCR. The seropositivity rate was 9.0% for BVDV-specific antibody, although 41.4% of camels tested were positive for BVDV antigen. Moreover, there was no evidence of BHV-1 and BLV infections. The results indicated that camels might represent an important source for BVDV infection in all ruminants, including cattle, sheep, and goats bred in mixed herds in Algeria, since they had a higher BVDV prevalence rates. Therefore, the prevention and control measures for BVDV infection should put in place in camel populations to limit the spread of BVDV infection to ruminant populations in Algeria.

Theranekron for treatment of endometriosis in a rat model compared with medroxyprogesterone acetate and leuprolide acetate.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to compare the effects of theranekron, medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), and leuprolide acetate (LA) on surgically induced endometriosis in a rat model. STUDY DESIGN: Endometriosis was surgically induced in forty female rats during estrus. After 3 weeks, a second operation was performed and the rats were randomized using a randomization table into theranekron, MPA, LA, and control groups. These treatments were continued for 3 weeks. A third operation was performed to evaluate treatment results. Then, the experimental treatments were halted and estrogen was initiated again to maintain estrus. After three additional weeks; i.e. after 9 weeks, the recurrence rate of endometrial foci was evaluated in a fourth operation and the rats were sacrificed. The volume of endometriotic foci and histopathology scores before and after treatment were compared. RESULTS: The respective mean volumes of the endometriotic foci after 3, 6, and 9 weeks were 86.4±21.2, 16.4±8.2, and 20.1±9.6 mm(3) in the theranekron group, 78.3±20.4, 42.6±13.5, and 66.7±16.2 mm(3) in the MPA group, and 91.8±30.2, 34.4±11.4, and 72.4±21.9 mm(3) in the LA group. The respective mean histopathology scores were 2.4±0.6, 1.8±0.6, and 1.6±0.6 in the theranekron group, 2.5±0.8, 2.0±1.1, and 2.7±1.0 in the MPA group, and 2.3±0.5, 2.1±1.2, 2.4±0.8 in the LA group. After 9 weeks, the mean volume of endometriotic foci and histopathology scores were significantly lower in the theranekron group. CONCLUSIONS: Theranekron caused more evident regression of endometriotic foci than MPA or LA in a rat model. After stopping the theranekron treatment, the recurrence rate was also lower than that of the other groups.

The protective effect of erythropoietin and dimethylsulfoxide on ischemia-reperfusion injury in rat ovary.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of erythropoietin and dimethylsulfoxide in the recovery from ischemia-reperfusion injury in an experimental rat adnexal torsion model. STUDY DESIGN: Thirty-six Wistar-albino rats were divided into six groups. Except for the sham operation group, all groups were subjected to left unilateral adnexal torsion for 3h. Erythropoietin and dimethylsulfoxide were intraperitoneally administered 30min before the detorsion operation. Malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels were detected from both the plasma and the tissue samples. The sections of the tissues were evaluated histologically. The results were analyzed by a one-way analysis of the variance (ANOVA) followed by the Duncan test for multiple comparisons using computer software, SPSS Version 15.0 for Windows. RESULTS: This study demonstrated that dimethylsulfoxide and erythropoietin pretreatment attenuated ischemia-reperfusion-induced lipid peroxidation, prevented post-ischemic ovarian injury and helped to maintain the ovarian morphology. Malondialdehyde levels of plasma and ovary were higher in the torsion and detorsion groups than the sham group. This showed that ischemia-reperfusion had caused lipid peroxidation of the ovarian tissue, thus leading to oxidative damage. One of the major findings of this study is that malondialdehyde was significantly decreased in the plasma of rats who were pre-treated with dimethylsulfoxide and erythropoietin before detorsion. This suggests that dimethylsulfoxide and erythropoietin might prevent oxidative damage in ovarian ischemia-reperfusion injury. Histological examination confirmed that reperfusion caused more detrimental effects than only ischemia, which could be at least partially prevented by dimethylsulfoxide and erythropoietin administration prior to detorsion. CONCLUSION: Erythropoietin and dimethylsulfoxide may have beneficial effects in ischemia-reperfusion injury in ovarian torsion.