Diversity of microorganisms in the environment and dry fermented sausages of small traditional French processing units.

Naturally fermented sausages produced in nine traditional French processing units and their environmental surfaces were characterised by microbial and physico-chemical analyses. Salmonella and Staphylococcus aureus were not detected in the environment whereas Listeria monocytogenes was detected in four samples. Staphylococcus/Kocuria, lactic acid bacteria (LAB), Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, yeasts/moulds and enterococci contaminated the surfaces of two processing units, indicating insufficient cleaning and disinfection procedures. The final sausages did not present any health risk in seven of the processing units. In two of the processing units, the final sausages were contaminated with S. aureus and L. monocytogenes, respectively, at levels exceeding the maximum tolerable limit. Staphylococcus/Kocuria and LAB grew well in the products. Biogenic amines were found in the majority of the final products. Their occurrence was associated with high numbers of lactic acid bacteria and enterococci. The study outlined the processing and microbial diversities of French naturally fermented sausages.

Seasonal variations of antioxidant imbalance in Cuban healthy men.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the antioxidant imbalance in healthy Cuban men 2y after the end of the epidemic neuropathy (50 862 cases from 1991 to 1993) and to evaluate its change over 1 y. DESIGN: Prospective study. SETTING: La Lisa health centres (Havana, Cuba). SUBJECTS: One-hundred and ninety-nine healthy middle-aged men were selected and 106 completed the study. Subjects were studied at 3 month intervals over 1 year. INTERVENTIONS: No invervention. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: An assessment of dietary intake and the determination of blood lipid peroxides (TBARS), glutathione, diglutathione, glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, vitamin E, carotenoids, copper, zinc and selenium were performed at each period. RESULTS: While dietary zinc, vitamins C and E, carotenoids and fat dietary intakes and blood concentrations were low for adult men compared to international reference ranges, serum TBARS concentrations were high at every period. Some significant seasonal variations were observed. The lowest carotenoids (P < 0.002) and vitamin C(P = 0.0001) intakes, serum beta-carotene (P = 0.0001) and lutein/zeaxanthin (P < 0.05) concentrations, and the highest blood TBARS (P = 0.0001) and diglutathione (P < 0.001) concentrations were observed at the end of the rainy season (October). This period seemed to pose the greatest risk of antioxidant imbalance. CONCLUSIONS: Cuban men still represent a vulnerable population in terms of antioxidant imbalance. A national program of vegetable growing and increase in fruit and vegetable consumption is now evaluated in Cuba.

Risk factors for stillbirth in Holstein heifers under field conditions in France: a prospective survey.

Risk factors for stillbirth, defined as birth of a dead calf or a calf dead within 24 h after parturition, were studied in Holstein heifers. Data came from an overall 4-yr prospective survey conducted in French dairy herds. Only heifers that delivered a single calf were included in the study. The stillbirth incidence was 6.9%. The predictive indicators of stillbirth risk were: gestation length, prepartum body condition and dirtiness scores, biochemical and hematological blood parameters measured during the last 2 mo of gestation, and calving conditions. Multiple logistic regressions were run using herd, calving year, calving season, blood sampling-to-parturition interval, and body scoring-to-parturition interval as the fixed effects. The results, expressed as the ratio of the odds of disease occurrence in the exposed and non-exposed subgroups (OR), indicated that dystocia and a body condition score (BCS) higher than 4 before calving were significant risk factors for stillbirth (OR=14.6, P<0.0001 and OR=2.98, P<0.05, respectively). Prepartum circulating neutrophil counts higher than 1950/mm3 (OR=0.50, P<0.05) were associated with a lower risk of stillbirth. A higher occurrence of placental retention, lower fertility and a lower 305-d milk yield were significant consequences of stillbirth.

Biological predictors for early clinical mastitis occurrence in Holstein cows under field conditions in France.

Individual risk factors for clinical mastitis within the first month of lactation (early clinical mastitis, ECM) were analyzed in 695 Holstein multiparous cows (561 ECM- and 134 ECM+) which were clinical mastitis-free during the previous lactation. They belonged to 44 herds from the French Brittany region and were surveyed for 4 years. Individual biological parameter levels during the last 2 months of gestation, production of the preceding lactation and calving conditions and health were the available explanatory variables. The construction and explanation model used multiple logistic regression run with herd as a fixed effect. High precalving plasma ceruloplasmin oxidase (p < 0.01) and low glutamate dehydrogenase (p < 0.05) activities, high 305-day previous-lactation milk yield (p < 0.001) and milk protein content at the last milk-test day before drying-off (p < 0.01) were the significant risk factors for ECM occurrence. Intensive production and unsatisfactory dietary conditions (energy and antioxidants) would increase ECM risk in the dairy cow. Further studies should be conducted to determine if metabolic and/or genetic factors could explain the relationship between ceruloplasmin and subsequent ECM occurrence.

Predictive markers in the late gestation period for retained placenta in black-pied dairy cows under field conditions in France.

A prospective ecopathogical survey was conducted in French commercial dairy herds located in Brittany. Previous production and reproduction data and blood parameters were used to identify predictive indicators of risk for retained placenta (RP) in Black-Pied cows. All the cows had delivered a single calf after a dry period of at least 30 d and had produced milk for at least 30 d. The cows with and without retained placenta were allocated to groups according to herd and interval between antepartum blood sampling and calving. Two groups of cows with (RP-positive group, n = 45) and without (RP-negative group, n = 184) retained placenta were compared. Univariate analysis indicated lower plasma glucose concentration, lower monocyte count and higher red blood cell count in the RP-positive group. A multiple logistic regression was run, with herd and blood sampling to calving interval as the fixed effects. It showed that a high red cell count and a low monocyte count were predictive indicators for retained placenta risk, which was found to be lower at third calving. Relationships of circulating indicators with placental retention etiology are discussed in terms of polyunsaturated fatty acid imbalance, its consequences on monocyte and erythrocyte functions, uterine motility and circulatory disturbances.

Metabolic profiles and risks of diseases in camels in temperature conditions.

A survey of 65 female camels has been conducted over a 1-year period in France to determine their metabolic profiles and to study the correlations between this profile and the feeding and health status in temperate conditions. The following parameters were measured: protein (albumin, globulin, total protein), urea, glucose, free fatty acid, liver enzymes (GLDH, GGT, GOT), minerals (Ca, Mg, Cu, Zn) and ceruloplasmin. The values obtained were similar to those reported in desert areas throughout the world, but the standard deviation was generally higher. This important variation might be due to the large variability of feeding conditions: albumin (36.4 +/- 4.7 g/l), total globulin (32.7 +/- 5.1 g/l), total protein (69.2 +/- 6.1 g/l), urea (30.0 +/- 14.8 mg/100 ml), glucose (111.0 +/- 12.2 mg/100 ml), FFA (0.15 +/- 0.15 mmol/l), GLDH (5.8 +/- 10.8 IU/l), GGT (10.1 +/- 5.8 IU/l), GOT (48.1 +/- 14.3 IU/l), calcium (10.2 +/- 6.5 mg/100 ml), magnesium (2.6 +/- 0.3 mg/100 ml), copper (65.4 +/- 20.2 micrograms/100 ml), zinc (34.6 +/- 7.8 micrograms/100 ml), ceruplasmin (41.4 +/- 2.6 UO). The season, the mineral supplementation and the health status had a significant effect on the metabolic profile of the she-camels.

[How does one detect biological imbalance and health disorders in the dairy cow within the framework of ecopathological research?]. / Comment dépister les déséquilibres biologiques et les troubles de santé chez la vache laitière dans le cadre d'études écopathologiques?

The methods of detection of health and biological imbalances in the dairy cow, which can be performed in ecopathological studies, are presented. Mastitis, metritis, liver disorders, nutritional imbalances, reproductive disorders, stress, specific diseases and non-specific inflammations are reviewed. The possible future evolutions are analyzed.

[Markers of nutritional risk for placental retention: use of blood analysis at the end of gestation]. / Marqueurs du risque nutritionnel de la rétention placentaire: utilité des analyses sanguines en fin de gestation.

A sample of 1,225 calvings was used to detect predictors for retained placenta before parturition: 300 with retention, 925 without. Biochemical analyses showed an increased energy mobilization, hypocalcemia, and lower levels of circulating amino acids and monocytes within the last 2 weeks of gestation in cows with a retained placenta. The results agree with the reported smaller quantity of concentrates supplied to these cows before parturition. More cows with retained placenta were fed cereals but received less phosphorus with the mineral supplementation.

[Nutritional factors and mammary inflammatory infection in the dairy cow. Ecopathological approach during the peripartum period]. / Facteurs nutritionnels et inflammation-infection mammaire chez la vache laitière. Approche écopathologique dans la période du peripartum.

The relationships between nutrition and udder inflammation/infection were studied in the dairy cow using an ecopathological approach. The study ('enquête écopathologique Bretagne') was performed over 4 yr in French herds with high-lactating cows. A long distribution time of Italian ryegrass silage and a low quantity of dietary cereal-based concentrates in the first 2 months of lactation was linked with low milk leukocyte counts, probably due to a high dietary energetic level or to a polyunsaturated fatty acid imbalance and a subsequent decrease in the synthesis of leukotriene LTB4. In the late gestation period, a long distribution time of fresh English rye-grass, which induced high uraemia and a larger distribution of vitamins A, D and E, was related to lower frequencies of major pathogens in the milk.

[Automated micro-determination by transfer analyzer of circulating alpha-amino nitrogen]. / Micro-dosage automatisé sur analyseur à transfert de l'azote alpha-aminé circulant.

An automated method for the determination of plasma free amino groups is described. The analysis is performed on a discrete computerized analyzer after plasma deproteinization using trichloracetic acid. The method is based on the formation of a complex between terminal NH2 radicals and 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonate (TNBS). The method is accurate (coefficient of variation = 2%), linear over a range of 0.2-7 mM/l and requires small analytic volumes; it also correlates well in the bovine with results from standard liquid chromatography (r = 0.953). With this method a single operator can determine free amino group contents of 50 samples per h.

[Automated microanalysis of plasma ceruloplasmin for the measurement of oxidase activity in cattle and sheep]. / Micro-dosage automatisé de la céruloplasmine plasmatique par mesure de l'activité oxydasique chez les bovins et les ovins.

An automated method for the determination of plasma ceruloplasmin in bovine and ovine species is described. The analytic principle of Holmberg and Laurell (1951), based on protein oxidase activity, has been applied to a discrete computerized analyzer (Isamat, Isa Biologie, 94230 Cachan, France). Using this method a single operator can determine the oxidase activity of 500 plasma ceruloplasmin samples per day. The method is accurate (2.6% precision for mean values), linear over a range of 7-240 mcg/100 ml in copper equivalents and low in cost because small volumes of reagents can be used; it also correlates well with results from standard atomic absorption spectrophotometry and single radial immunodiffusion methods (correlation coefficients: 0.944 to 0.968). The conservation of oxidase activity is adequate and plasma ceruloplasmin oxidase activity determination can be used for assessing copper nutritional state and for screening inflammatory processes in bovine and ovine herds.

[Automated micro-determination of bovine plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate without deproteinization]. / Micro-dosage automatisé sans déprotéinisation du 3-hydroxybutyrate plasmatique chez les bovins.

An automated method for the determination of plasma 3-hydroxybutyrate (3-HB) is described. The enzymatic principle of Williamson and Mellanby is applied to a discrete computerized analyzer (Isamat, Isa-Biologie, 94230 Cachan, France). Using this method, a single operator can determine each day the 3-HB content of 500-600 bovine plasma samples, without perchloric acid precipitation and without adding hydrazine. Aceto-acetate and acetone don't interfere in 3-HB determination. Addition of oxalate (5 mM) in Tris buffer abolishes the interference of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The method is accurate, with a precision of 2.8%, linear over the range 0.05-8 mM, low in cost because it needs small volumes of reagent, and correlates well with results from standard end-point manual method (common variance between the two methods: 94-98%). The method allows to use plasma 3-HB determination for assessing nutritional state of cow herds after a convenient standardization of sampling.

[Continuing eco-pathological survey: 6. Influence of zootechnical and space-time factors on some biochemical variables in the dairy cow]. / Enquête éco-pathologique continue: 6. Influence de facteurs zootechniques et spatio-temporels sur quelques variables biochimiques chez les vaches laitières.

Several hundred of blood samplings were performed on dairy cows in four French departments, from 1978 to 1982. They were used to analyse the effect of eight factors on the physiological variations of twelve biochemical variables. Only the blood withdrawal date related to calving date or milk production were able to explain more than 15% of the variance of free or total cholesterol or phospholipids.

[Continuing eco-pathological survey: 8. Epidemiological approach to postpartum mastitis in the dairy cow: discriminating biochemical parameters]. / Enquête éco-pathologique continue: 8. Approche épidémiologique des mammites post-partum chez la vache laitière: paramètres biochimiques discriminants.

To discriminate two groups of dairy cows (with or without post-partum mastitis), with blood parameters, we used discriminant analysis on two samples of dairy cows: one sample where blood was collected around parturition (15 days before and 15 days after calving); one sample where blood was collected at any time of the lactation, but with the same mean interval calving-blood collection in the two groups of animals. Blood parameters which differenciate the two groups (ill and safe) are essentially parameters of energetic metabolism i.e. glucose and 3-hydroxybutyrate. Results are discussed according to the possibility of glucose to be an indicator of energetic status.