Acute phase reaction to lipopolysaccharide-induced mastitis in early lactation dairy cows fed nitrogenic, glucogenic, or lipogenic diets.

The availability of certain macronutrients is likely to influence the capacity of the immune system. Therefore, we investigated the acute phase response to intramammary (i.mam.) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in dairy cows fed a nitrogenic diet (n = 10) high in crude protein, a glucogenic diet (n = 11) high in carbohydrates and glucogenic precursors, or a lipogenic diet (n = 11) high in lipids. Thirty-two dairy cows were fed one of the dietary concentrates directly after calving until the end of trial at 27 ± 3 days in milk (mean ± standard deviation). In wk 3 of lactation, 20 µg of LPS was i.mam. injected in one quarter, and sterile NaCl (0.9%) in the contralateral quarter. Milk samples of the LPS-challenged and control quarter were taken hourly from before (0 h) until 9 h after LPS challenge and analyzed for milk amyloid A (MAA), haptoglobin (HP), and IL-8. In addition, blood samples were taken in the morning, and composite milk samples at morning and evening milkings, from 1 d before until 3 d after LPS challenge, and again on d 9, to determine serum amyloid A (SAA) and HP in blood, and MAA and HP in milk. The mRNA abundance of various immunological and metabolic factors in blood leukocytes was quantified by quantitative reverse-transcription PCR from samples taken at -18, -1, 6, 9, and 23 h relative to LPS application. The dietary concentrates did not affect any of the parameters in blood, milk, and leukocytes. The IL-8 was increased from 2 h, HP from 2 to 3 h, and MAA from 6 h relative to the LPS administration in the milk of the challenged quarter and remained elevated until 9 h. The MAA and HP were also increased at 9 h after LPS challenge in whole-udder composite milk, whereas HP and SAA in blood were increased only after 23 h. All 4 parameters were decreased again on d 9. Similar for all groups, the mRNA abundance of HP and the heat shock protein family A increased after the LPS challenge, whereas the mRNA expression of the tumor necrosis factor α and the leukocyte integrin ß 2 subunit (CD18) were decreased at 6 h after LPS challenge. The glucose transporter (GLUT)1 mRNA abundance decreased after LPS, whereas that of the GLUT3 increased, and that of the GLUT4 was not detectable. The mRNA abundance of GAPDH was increased at 9 h after LPS and remained elevated. The acute phase protein response was detected earlier in milk compared with blood indicating mammary production. However, immunological responses to LPS were not affected by the availability of specific macronutrients provided by the different diets.

Effect of different dietary regimens at dry-off on performance, metabolism, and immune system in dairy cows.

Concentrate withdrawal and feed restriction are commonly used to reduce milk production and to facilitate dry-off, but may impair immune function in dairy cows. We investigated the effect of feed rations providing different amounts of nutrients in combination with feed restriction on performance, endocrine, and metabolic responses, as well as on leukocyte function before and after abrupt dry-off. Forty-three cows were studied from d 12 before until d 6 after dry-off (56 d before scheduled calving). Cows were fed experimental concentrates rich in crude protein (nitrogenic, n = 14), glucogenic precursors (glucogenic, n = 14), or lipids (lipogenic, n = 15). On d 3 before dry-off, total feed allowance was restricted to 50% in half of the animals of each dietary group, whereas feed allowance remained unchanged in the other animals. Performance parameters (milk yield, milk composition, and dry matter intake) were recorded, and daily blood and milk samples were taken and analyzed for various metabolic and endocrine parameters. Additionally, activity and mRNA abundance of several genes in leukocytes were measured at selected time points before and after feed restriction and dry-off, respectively. Feed restriction immediately resulted in a negative energy balance and decreased milk production. Concomitantly, concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids increased, whereas insulin, insulin-like growth factor-1, and glucagon decreased. After dry-off, energy balance turned positive and plasma nonesterified fatty acids decreased. Plasma glucose, insulin, and insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations increased in all groups after dry-off. Glucose, insulin, and glucagon concentrations in plasma were higher in nonrestricted compared with restricted animals after dry-off. The experimental concentrate types marginally affected the investigated metabolic and endocrine factors, with the exception of elevated milk and plasma urea concentrations in cows fed the nitrogenic concentrate. Chemotactic and phagocytic activity of leukocytes were not affected by diets, feed restriction, or dry-off. Likewise, blood leukocyte mRNA abundance encoding for tumor necrosis factor α (TNF), heat shock protein family A (HSP70), and the glucose transporters (GLUT) 1 and 3 remained unchanged throughout the study period. Overall, the short-term negative energy balance induced by feed restriction was temporarily accompanied by metabolic adaptations, but did not alter the studied factors related to the immune system. Metabolic and endocrine adaptations supporting milk synthesis were continued during the first days after dry-off despite cessation of milking. Thus, the abrupt dry-off resulted in a short-term increase of glucose and triglyceride concentrations, with a delayed endocrine response to re-establish nutrient homeostasis in blood.

[Legionella pneumophila pneumonia masked by simultaneous demonstration of further non-specific pneumonia pathogens]. / Pneumonie durch Legionella pneumophila, maskiert durch den Simultan-Nachweis weiterer, unspezifischer Pneumonieerreger.

We are presenting a case of Legionella type I pneumonia, accidentally diagnosed by selective culture with simultaneous identification of pneumococci, meningococci and Hemophilus influenzae in the general sputum culture. A 35-year-old patient had been hospitalized with the typical signs of Legionnaires' disease (severe pneumonia with symptoms of cardiac, hepatic, renal, and cerebral involvement), following several days of prodromi. The routine sputum bacteriology according to DGHM standards first revealed pneumococci, meningococci and H. influenzae in significant numbers. Later, the special culture medium named after Edelstein (BMPA alpha-medium), routinely inoculated in our laboratory, grew Legionella pneumophila type I. Legionella type I-specific serum antibodies in IIFT confirmed the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease. After therapy with amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid and cefoxitin, the temperature declined and laboratory as well as radiologic findings returned to normal. Without the culture of L. pneumophila from expectorated sputum, the diagnosis of Legionnaires' disease would not have been found.

Lactobacillus gasseri as the cause of septic urinary infection.

A 66-year-old patient developed severe urinary stasis due to a concrement in his right ureter; foudroyant septicemia followed. Lactobacillus gasseri was grown from pyoid urine from the right renal pelvis and in two blood cultures, thus suggesting septic urinary infection caused by lactobacilli. The infection was cured by catheterisation of right ureter and antibiotic treatment with cefotaxime and amoxicillin. The concrement was removed by dissolution. Diabetes and urinary stasis appear to be the main predisposing factors for this exceptional case of septic urinary infection caused by L. gasseri.

[Detection of meningococci in the sputum of bronchitis patients (author's transl)]. / Der Nachweis von Meningokokken im sputum von Bronchitikern.

Within a period of only three months meningococci, Sero B, C and also Y, were detected among the patients of a hospital. The meningococci were isolated as sole pathogen, or in association with other bronchopathogens in five cases of purulent respiratory tract infection, most of whom were suffering from acute or chronic bronchitis. The pathogens were initially identified falsely as "facultative" Neisseria subflava. It is stressed that meningococci must be considered as possible pathogens in such infections if large numbers of the socalled facultative Neisseria have been detected with corresponding culture findings. Reference is made to the possible epidemiological significance of such findings.

[Moraxella osloensis as pathogen in septicemia (author's transl)]. / Moraxella osloensis als Sepsis-Erreger

A case of septicemia caused by Moraxella osloensis is described. A 4-year old girl fell ill with symptoms similar to those described in cases of septicemia caused by Neisseria meningitidis. Two days after the commencement of treatment with penicillins, however, Moraxella osloensis could be isolated from cerebral fluid, which contained only a small number of cells. It is assumed that the delayed recovery of the child was directly related to the diminished susceptibility of this Moraxella strain to penicillins. Since Moraxella strains may be resistant to these antibiotics, it is necessary to distinguish between Moraxella and N. meningitidis by means of laboratory tests. The symptoms elicited by Moraxella are similar to those in septicaemia caused by N. meningitidis, but are considerably milder in character.

[Salmonella typhimurium masked as an Enterobacter species (author's transl)]. / Salmonella typhi-murium in der Maske einer Enterobacter-Species

A bacterial strain at first sight appearing to be an Enterobacter species causing enteritis could be identified as Salmonella typhimurium showing only a low formation of H2S. This small degree of H2S formation could not be demonstrated on commercial media ready for use. The high antibiotics resistance of the strain in question points to the possibility of its having undergone several antibiotics passages without recognition. Thus, serological verification is recommended in the case of so-called Enterobacter species appearing as agents of enteritis.

[Aeromonas punctata subsp. caviae as the causative agent of acute gastroenteritis (author's transl)]. / Aeromonas punctata subsp. caviae als Erreger einer akuten Gastroenteritis

Since in the past, Aeromonas hydrophila had been isolated from all cases of human infection described. A. punctata and the anaerogenic sub-species were considered as apathogenic. From the case described, a close association between acute diarrhea with vomiting and the identification of A. punctata subsp. caviae becomes evident so that a conditional pathogenicity of this sub-species must be assumed. The question is discussed whether a preceding disturbance of the intestinal habitat in the presence of a particular susceptibility of the gastrointestinal tract promoted gastro-enteritis. Infection may have been brought about by the ingestion of surface water contaminated by sewage. Attention is again drawn to the fact that in the case of enteritis occuring during the open-air bathing season, faeces samples should also be examined for their Aeromonas content which may be performed by a simple indophenol or so-called cytochrome oxidase reaction of the aerobic flora in feces by rubbing off colonies into a corresponding test strip.

[Investigations on the structure of the sphingolipids of the genus Bacteroides (author's transl)]. / Untersuchungen zur Struktur der Sphingolipoide von Bacteroides-Species

In 1972 Fritsche and Thelen have described the difference between the structure of the komplex lipids of the genus Bacteroides and the genus Sphaerophorus. Further investigations of Fritsche demonstrated the possibility of grouping gramnegative anaerobes into the genus Bacteroides in spite of the fact, that one of the final products of metabolism of these strains is butyric acid. These strains are the so-called butyric acid producing Bacteroides. This paper describes the structure of the still unknown fatty acids of the komplex lipids of Bacteroides strains and confirms the heterogenity of the sphingosine bases of Bacteroides as a principle. Fife strains of Bacteroides - with and without production of butyric acid - were used for purification of their long chain bases, which were characterized by degradation. The unknown fatty acids were isolated from B. thetaiotaomicron and analyzed by Dr. Rosenfelder with the aid of mass spectrometry, O-methylation and dehydratisation. The experiments of Rosenfelder demonstrate, that the unknown fatty acids have the behaviour of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, the two main peaks are a hexadecanoic and a heptade-behaviour of 3-hydroxy fatty acids, the two main peaks are a hexadecanoic and a heptadecanoic acid. They have an identical behaviour with the 3-hydroxy-15-methyl-palmitic acid of Myxococcus fulvus. Therefore the genus Bacteroides differs from the genus Sphaerophorus by synthesis of 3-hydroxy fatty acids. The production of sphingolipids is a common characteristic of the genus Bacteroides, each of the five strains demonstrated a heterogeneous pattern of bases with sphingosines with 16 to 20, perhaps also 12 to 14 carbon atoms, sometimes predominantly the branched and n-heptadeca- and the octadeca-sphinganine can be identified. The possibility of the production of phyto-sphingosines is discussed.