Effect of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae Postbiotic Feed Additive on Salmonella Enteritidis Colonization of Cecal and Ovarian Tissues in Directly Challenged and Horizontally Exposed Layer Pullets.

Determining the efficacy of feed-additive technologies utilized as pre-harvest food-safety interventions against Salmonella enterica may be influenced by factors including, but not limited to, mechanism of action, experimental design variables, Salmonella serovar(s), exposure dose, route, or duration in both controlled research and real-world field observations. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the dietary inclusion of a Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation-derived postbiotic (SCFP) additive (Diamond V, Original XPC®) on the colonization of cecal and ovarian tissues of commercial pullets directly and indirectly exposed to Salmonella Enteritidis (SE). Four hundred and eighty commercial, day-of-age W-36 chicks were randomly allotted to 60 cages per treatment in two identical BSL-2 isolation rooms (Iowa State University) with four birds per cage and fed control (CON) or treatment (TRT) diets for the duration of study. At 16 weeks, two birds per cage were directly challenged via oral gavage with 1.1 × 109 CFU of a nalidixic-acid-resistant SE strain. The remaining two birds in each cage were thus horizontally exposed to the SE challenge. At 3, 7, and 14 days post-challenge (DPC), 20 cages per group were harvested and sampled for SE prevalence and load. No significant differences were observed between groups for SE prevalence in the ceca or ovary tissues of directly challenged birds. For the indirectly exposed cohort, SE cecal prevalence at 7 DPC was significantly lower for TRT (50.0%) vs. CON (72.5%) (p = 0.037) and, likewise, demonstrated significantly lower mean SE cecal load (1.69 Log10) vs. CON (2.83 Log10) (p = 0.005). At 14 DPC, no significant differences were detected but ~10% fewer birds remained positive in the TRT group vs. CON (p > 0.05). These findings suggest that diets supplemented with SCFP postbiotic may be a useful tool for mitigating SE colonization in horizontally exposed pullets and may support pre-harvest food-safety strategies.

Isolation and Characterization of Campylobacter hepaticus from Layer Chickens with Spotty Liver Disease in the United States.

Spotty liver disease (SLD) is characterized by multifocal liver lesions, mortality, and drop in egg production. The disease is emerging in Europe and Australia, particularly in free-range and floor-raised layer flocks. Campylobacter hepaticus has been recently identified as the causative agent of SLD. We report the isolation and characterization of C. hepaticus from livers of laying hens affected with SLD in the United States. Two isolates were characterized and found to be highly similar to those described from SLD cases in the United Kingdom and Australia. Initial isolation of C. hepaticus from liver samples required microaerophilic and thermophilic conditions and incubation for a particularly long duration (approximately 7 days). Morphologic and phenotypic properties of the isolates were typical for Campylobacter spp. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequences and detection of a glycerol kinase gene confirmed the identity of the isolates as C. hepaticus. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of C. hepaticus isolation from layer chickens with SLD in the United States. With the increasing changes in the egg industry from conventional cages to cage-free housing systems, the incidence and economic impact of SLD could become significant.

Stellate Ganglion Block for the Treatment of Hot Flashes in Patients with Breast Cancer: A Literature Review.

BACKGROUND: Currently, hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is the only US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for hot flashes, resulting in clinical improvement in 80%-90% of symptomatic women. However, HRT is not recommended for patients with breast cancer. Current data regarding the use of stellate ganglion block (SGB) for the treatment of vasomotor symptoms in symptomatic women with a diagnosis of breast cancer are promising. METHODS: A PubMed search for recent articles on the effects of SGB for the treatment of hot flashes in patients with breast cancer identified 11 articles published between 2005-2014. RESULTS: Five articles described the physiology of hot flashes and the hypothesis of why SGB would be a treatment option, and 6 were clinical articles. CONCLUSION: The available results of SGB efficacy are promising but demonstrate significant variability. A large prospective randomized controlled trial is required to determine the exact success of SGB on hot flashes and quality of life in breast cancer survivors.

Large granules in the peripheral blood smear and bone marrow aspirate of a 3-year-old male with lymphadenopathy and fever.

A 3-year-old male with oculocutaneous albinism presented with lymphadenopathy and fever. Serological testing revealed Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-specific immunoglobulin M (IgM) and a diagnosis of infectious mononucleosis was made. A complete blood count and peripheral blood smear demonstrated mild anemia, thrombocytopenia, and neutropenia with leukocytes that contained large azurophilic and eosinophilic granules. Bone marrow examination demonstrated increased hemophagocytic histiocytes along with granulocytes that contained large eosinophilic granules. In addition to hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, presumably due to acute EBV infection, the patient was diagnosed with Chediak-Higashi syndrome based on the pathognomonic granules within peripheral leukocytes and precursors. The differential diagnosis of a young patient with oculocutaneous albinism presenting with an acute viral infection includes a relatively narrow range of genetic syndromes based solely on the history of albinism. This case demonstrates the application of clinical laboratory data to presumptively diagnose Chediak-Higashi syndrome in the midst of a presentation of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis secondary to acute EBV infection.

The effects of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins and glucomannan in turkey poults based on specific and non-specific parameters.

An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of feeding grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins and a yeast derived glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) on selected specific and non-specific parameters in turkey poults. Two hundred and forty 1-day-old male turkey poults were fed the experimental diets for twelve weeks. Experimental diets were formulated with control grains, control grains+0.2% GMA, naturally-contaminated grains, or naturally-contaminated grains+0.2% GMA. Deoxynivalenol (DON) was the major contaminant of the contaminated grains and concentrations varied from 4.0 to 6.5 mg/kg in the contaminated diets. Non-specific parameters measured included: performance parameters, plasma biochemistry profiles, morphometry and CD8(+) T-lymphocyte counts in the duodenum. Plasma concentrations of DON and de-epoxydeoxynivalenol (DOM-1) were used as specific parameters. Performance parameters and plasma biochemistry were altered by the feeding of contaminated diets and GMA but this was not consistent throughout the trial. The feeding of contaminated diets reduced duodenal villus height and apparent villus surface area. This effect was prevented by GMA supplementation. The feeding of contaminated diets elevated total duodenal CD8(+) T-lymphocyte counts but this effect was not prevented by GMA. No significant differences were seen in plasma concentrations of DON and DOM-1 comparing birds fed contaminated and contaminated+GMA diets suggesting that GMA did not prevent DON absorption under these conditions.

A survey of free and conjugated deoxynivalenol in the 2008 corn crop in Ontario, Canada.

BACKGROUND: Deoxynivalenol (DON, vomitoxin), one of the most important mycotoxins produced by many Fusarium species, is found as a common contaminant of crops worldwide. Recent studies have described the presence of conjugated forms of DON (glycosides and fatty acid). The aim of the current study was therefore to investigate the natural occurrence of free and conjugated DON in Canadian corn. RESULTS: Free and conjugated DON was determined by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 86 corn samples collected from the 2008 crop in Ontario, Canada. Free DON concentrations determined by ELISA were similar to values determined in most samples using GC-MS. Conjugated DON was detected in 72 samples. Levels of free DON ranged from 0.17 to 14.00 µg g(-1) using GC-MS. The highest levels of free DON were found in corn samples from the southern and southwestern regions of Ontario, while samples from eastern regions were less contaminated. Conjugated DON was found mainly in corn from the east-central region, with five of six samples showing high levels of conjugated DON (up to 43% increase in DON following acid hydrolysis). Low levels of conjugated DON (≤ 10% increase in DON following acid hydrolysis) were detected in the majority of corn samples from the southwestern region (nine of 19 samples) and from the central region (16 of 36 samples). CONCLUSION: The current survey emphasizes the frequency of conjugated DON in Ontario grown corn and the potential challenges in understanding the hazard posed by DON-contaminated foodstuffs and feedstuffs.

Effects of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins and an organic mycotoxin adsorbent on immune cell dynamics in the jejunum of chickens infected with Eimeria maxima.

An experiment was conducted to explore the effects of Fusarium mycotoxins, common animal feed contaminants, on intestinal immune responses to coccidia (Eimeria) in chickens. Effects of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins and a polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA) on immune cell populations were studied in the jejunum of broiler breeder pullets using an Eimeria maxima infection model. Birds were fed a control diet, a diet naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, contaminated diet plus 0.2% GMA, or control diet plus 0.2% GMA. Contaminated diets contained up to 6.5µg/g deoxynivalenol (DON), 0.47µg/g 15-acetyl-DON and 0.73µg/g zearalenone. Birds received a primary oral inoculation (1000 oocysts/bird) with E. maxima USDA strain 68 at 2 weeks of age and a secondary oral inoculation (30,000 oocysts/bird) with the same strain at 4 weeks of age. Diet-related differences in CD4(+) cell, CD8(+) cell and macrophage recruitment pattern into the jejunum were observed following both the primary and secondary infections. It was concluded that feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins and GMA have the potential to modulate immune response to coccidial infections.

Immunomodulatory effects of feed-borne Fusarium mycotoxins in chickens infected with coccidia.

The potential for Fusarium mycotoxins to modulate immunity was studied in chickens raised to 10 weeks of age using an enteric coccidial infection model. Experimental diets included: control, diets containing grains naturally contaminated with Fusarium mycotoxins, and diets containing contaminated grains + 0.2% polymeric glucomannan mycotoxin adsorbent (GMA). Contaminated diets contained up to 3.8 microg/g deoxynivalenol (DON), 0.3 microg/g 15-acetyl DON and 0.2 microg/g zearalenone. An optimized mixture (inducing lesions without mortality) of Eimeria acervulina, E. maxima and E. tenella was used to challenge birds at 8 weeks of age. Immune parameters were studied prior to challenge, at the end of the challenge period (7 days post-inoculation, PI), and at the end of the recovery period (14 days PI). Total serum immunoglobulin (Ig) A and IgG concentrations in challenged birds fed the contaminated diet were higher than controls at the end of the challenge period. Serum concentration of IgA, but not IgG, was significantly decreased at the end of the recovery period in birds fed the contaminated diet. The percentage of CD4+ and CD8+ cell populations in blood mononuclear cells decreased significantly at the end of the challenge period in birds fed the control or the contaminated diet compared to their percentages prior to challenge. The pre-challenge percentage of CD8+ population was restored at the end of the recovery period only in birds fed the control diet. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) gene expression in caecal tonsils was up-regulated in challenged birds fed the contaminated diet at the end of the challenge period. No significant effect of diet was observed on oocyst counts despite the changes in the studied immune parameters. It was concluded that Fusarium mycotoxins modulate the avian immune system. This modulation involves alteration of gene expression but apparently does not enhance susceptibility or resistance to a primary coccidial challenge.