1,209 research outputs found
Characterisation of Australian isolates of Actinobacillus capsulatus, Actinobacillus equuli, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11
No full textObjective: The objective of this work was to perform a comprehensive phenotypic characterisation of 16 isolates of bacteria previously identified as Actinobacillus equuli.
Design: The 16 isolates that had been obtained from Australian animals &endash; 15 from horses and one from a rabbit &endash; were compared with reference strains of A equuli, A capsulatus, Pasteurella caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11.
Results: The characterisation study demonstrated that only nine of the isolates were A equuli. The other isolates were identified as A capsulatus (the isolate from rabbit), P caballi (one isolate), Bisgaard Taxon 11 (two isolates) and Bisgaard Taxon 9 (one isolate). The final two isolates could not be assigned to any recognised species or taxa.
Conclusion: This study has highlighted the importance of a complete characterisation of Actinobacillus-like organisms isolated from horses and rabbits. The study represents the first time that A capsulatus, P caballi and Bisgaard Taxa 9 and 11 have been recognised as being present in Australia
Bewältigung eines schleichenden Hörverlusts : Erwartungen und Erfahrungen erwachsener, neuer Hörgerätenutzer ; eine anthropologische Untersuchung in Dänemark
No full textThe dissertation, ”Coping with emergent hearing loss”, is written in English and is based on the diversity of problems connected to hearing loss and the adaptation of hearing aids. The research was carried out in Denmark and involves adults with an emergent hearing loss, who have decided to become hearing aid users. The data is analyzed through methods of cultural anthropology with focus on the following topics: How do the new users cope with the status passage towards being hearing aid users, how do they integrate the hearing aids into their lives, and what are the involved learning processes. What are the consequences of the provision by the state of free hearing aids, their free adaptation as well as free batteries, and does the state take part in the construction of the social group of new hearing aid users? The method is based on qualitative field work. Two public hospitals were helpful in identifying 24 new users, who acquired a free hearing aid through the hearing health care system. Through ENTs and private dispensers 17 further respondents joined the study – these acquired their hearing aids with a considerable state subsidy but mostly they themselves contributed financially as well. The 41 respondents between the ages of 42 to 92 years of age came from a wide range of professions and were followed throughout 2003 und 2004. After an in-depth qualitative interview, the contact to the respondents was maintained in order to follow the process of integration into their lives. When possible, the respondents were accompanied to their appointments in the private or public clinics. Moreover, interviews with experts from the public hearing health care system, politicians and user organisations were carried out, and the general public debate on the hard of hearing and hearing loss was followed and recorded. The second chapter gives an overview of the position of audiology in Denmark, of epidemiological information on hearing loss in the Danish society and statistics to the use of hearing aids. Moreover, basic information is given about the functioning of the human ear, the auditive perception and diagnosis and classification of hearing loss as well as a short introduction to the hearing aid technology. The structure of the further thesis divides the material into three pillars that make the discussion of the interaction processes possible. (1) The user’s interaction with the lifeworld concerns the meaning of hearing in relation to social participation. For some of the users, a good sense of hearing was essential to communicate freely and uphold their position in relation to others, whereas other respondents paid less attention to the information they acquired through their sense of hearing. A number of the respondents were selective and only used their hearing aids in specific situations, whereas another group discontinued the use of their hearing aids for various reasons. Status passages that hold specific challenges like a new work place or a new marriage motivate the continued everyday use. On the whole, the thesis illustrates that hearing loss is a socially dividing factor that complicates the interaction with others. In comparison to other bodily impairments or diseases, the hearing loss is rarely used as occasion to unite with fellow sufferers, join patient organisations or form self help groups. (2) The users’ interaction with the institutions The medical anthropologist Arthur Kleinman conceptualises health care as a moral process in which essential issues are at stake for the users. Different factors interact in the process: the training of the experts, allocation of funds, the quality of the technology, the dispensing procedures and the motivation and individual characteristics of the new users. The integration of the hearing aid into the lifeworld can be compared to a learning process, for which reason the learning theory of the anthropologist Gregory Bateson is outlined. Susanne Bisgaard’s own theory lists the meaning creating elements that serve as motivation for the users to counteract contingency (occurrences that influence the adaptation negatively). In the interaction between individual and society, the individual can apply strategies in order to eliminate stumbling blocks. (3) The users’ interaction with the technology A number of theorists from Anthropology as well as Science and Technology Studies are discussed in order to question their validity with regard to human action autonomy vs. technological determination and test the theoretical models with regard to their usability for the thesis. Hearing aids have a supporting function in everyday life and have the capability of moderating the user’s perception of sound. The alienating experience of hearing one’s own voice amplified, of wearing a foreign body in the ear and the different strategies that emerge from the more or less successful handling of the technology is reported by way of case stories and quotes from the interviews.Die vorliegende in englischer Sprache verfasste Dissertation, „Coping with emergent hearing loss,“ entstand vor dem Hintergrund der Vielfalt der Probleme in Verbindung mit Schwerhörigkeit und der Anpassung von Hörgeräten. Die Recherchen der Arbeit sind in Dänemark durchgeführt worden. Es handlet sich um Erwachsenden mit einem beginnenden bzw. fortschreitenden Gehörverlust, die sich für ein Hörgerät entschieden haben. Die Gruppe der „neuen Hörgerätenutzer“ wird kulturanthropologisch auf drei Ebenen untersucht: Wie ändert sich der Status der Betroffenen und ihrer Angehörigen, und wie integrieren sie das Hörgerät in ihre Lebenswelt? Welche Bedeutung hat die Kostenübernahme des dänischen Gesundheitssystem für Geräte, Batterien und Anpassung und trägt diese Regelung zum Entstehen einer neuen Gruppe bei? Wie werden die Hörgeräte von ihren Nutzern angenommen und welche Lernprozesse sind dabei erforderlich? Die angewandte Methode ist qualitative Feldforschung. Über zwei öffentliche Krankenhäuser wurden 24 neue Nutzer gefunden, die im Rahmen der gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung ein kostenloses Hörgerät angepasst bekamen. Darüber hinaus gelang es 17 weitere Respondenten zu kontaktieren, die als Privatversicherte ihre Hörgeräte außerhalb des öffentlichen Gesundheitssektors erhielten. Die 41 Respondenten im Alter von 42 bis 92 Jahren repräsentierten eine weite Bandbreite von Berufen und wurden in den Jahren 2003 und 2004 begleitet. Nach einem ausführlichen qualitativen Interview wurde die Verbindung zu den Respondenten durch wiederholte Kontakte aufrechterhalten, um den Prozess der Einfügung des Hörgeräts in deren eigenes Leben mitvollziehen zu können. Soweit dieses möglich war, wurden die Untersuchungspersonen auch zu ihren Terminen im Krankenhaus bzw. im Hörgerätegeschäft begleitet. Zusätzlich wurden Interviews mit Experten aus dem öffentlichen Gesundheitssystem, mit Unternehmen und Geschäften, mit Politikern und Patientenorganisationen geführt sowie der gesellschaftliche Diskurs über Hörschädigungen und Schwerhörigkeit verfolgt. Das zweite Kapitel gibt einen Überblick über die Situation der Audiologie in Dänemark, epidemiologische Informationen zur Verbreitung von Schwerhörigkeit in der dänischen Bevölkerung und Statistiken zur Hörgeräteverbreitung und –nutzung. Außerdem werden grundlegende Informationen zur Funktion des menschlichen Ohrs, zur auditiven Wahrnehmung und zur Diagnose und Klassifikation von Gehörschädigungen dargestellt. Schließlich wird noch ein kurzer Überblick über die Hörgeräteakustik gegeben. Die Struktur der weiteren Arbeit besteht aus drei Säulen, die ermöglichen die Ebenen des Interaktionsprozesses zu thematisieren: (1) die Interaktion mit der Lebenswelt und der umgebenden Gesellschaft, wobei die Bedeutung des Hörens für die lebensweltliche Partizipation dargestellt wird. Das Spektrum reicht von Individuen, in deren Leben die soziale Teilhabe unbedingt ein gutes Gehör erfordert, um ausreichend kommunizieren zu können, bis hin zu Befragten, für die Informationen, die sie über das Gehör aufnehmen, eine verhältnismäßig geringe Wichtigkeit haben. Viele Befragte agieren selektiv und setzen das Hörgerät für bestimmte soziale Situationen ein, während es bei anderen nicht zum Einsatz kommt. Welche diese im Einzelnen sind, unterscheidet sich wiederum von Person zu Person. Statuspassagen, die besondere Herausforderungen beinhalten – eine neue Arbeitsstelle, eine neue Ehe – motivieren eher dazu, das Hörgerät dauerhaft im Alltag einzusetzen. Ins gesamt macht die Arbeit deutlich, dass Schwerhörigkeit ein sozial trennender Faktor ist, der die Interaktionen mit anderen erschwert. Im Unterschied zu anderen körperlichen Einschränkungen oder Krankheiten wird der Verlust des Gehörs von ihren Interviewpartnern selten als Anlass dafür genommen, sich mit Leidesgenossen zusammenzuschließen und Patientenorganisationen oder Selbst-hilfegruppen zu bilden. (2) die Interaktion mit den Institutionen Der Ansatz des Medizinanthropologen Arthur Kleinman konzeptualisiert den Verlauf im Gesundheitssystem als moralischen Prozess, in dem Entscheidendes für die Nutzer auf dem Spiel steht. Hier interagieren verschiedene Faktoren zu denen – neben der Ausbildung der Experten, der Zuteilung der Finanzmittel, der Qualität der Hörgerätetechnologie und der Organisation der Vergabe von Hörgeräten - insbesondere die Motivationen und Umgangsweisen der neuen Hörgerätenutzer zählen. Auch ist die Integration eines Hörgeräts mit einem Lernprozess zu vergleichen, und um diesen analysierbar zu machen, wird die Lerntheorie des Anthropologen Gregory Bateson herangezogen. Als eigene Theorie wird ein Instrumentarium entwickelt, das die sinnstiftenden Elemente darstellt, die als Motivation dienen, Kontingenz (Ereignisse, die die Anpassung negativ beeinfließen) entgegenzuwirken. Es geht um eine Wechselwirkung zwischen Gesellschaft und Individuum, wobei das Individuum auf Grund seiner Persönlichkeitszüge Strategien einsetzen kann, um Hindernisse zu beseitigen. Die Umgangsweisen der Respondenten mit den institutionellen Strukturen werden in fünf Kategorien unterteilt. Nur zwei Respondenten aus den Teilnehmern der Informantengruppe sind unkompliziert und haben nach Ausgabe des Gerätes keinen weiteren Bedarf nach institutioneller Betreuung. Die größte Gruppe von Respondenten (21 Personen) kehrt mindestens einmal zu Ausgabestelle zurück, weil Änderungen gemacht werden muss. Eine weitere Kategorie von den neuen Nutzern (4 Personen) verweigert relativ bald nach dem Erhalt die Nutzung. Eine Gruppe (9 Personen) verwendet eine passive Strategie ihrer Hörgeräte gegenüber und versucht nicht wirklich die Technologie in ihr Leben zu integrieren. Die letzte der eingekreisten Gruppen (5 Personen) umfasst die wirklichen Problem-fälle, bei denen es zu Beschwerden, Missverständnisse und Konflikten kamen. (3) die Interaktion zwischen Körperbildern und Technologien Hierzu werden eine Reihe von Autoren der Anthropologie und Science und Technology Studies miteinander ins Gespräch gebracht, um die Fragen von menschlicher Handlungsautonomie gegenüber der technologischen Determination zu diskutieren und theoretische Modelle auf ihre Nutzbarkeit für die vorliegende Arbeit hin zu befragen. Hörgeräte haben eine unterstützende Funktion im Alltagsleben der Nutzer, besitzen aber auch die Fähigkeit zu entscheiden wie der Nutzer welche Geräusche wahrnimmt und welche diese sind. Die befremdende Erfahrung der durch Lautsprecher verstärkten eigenen Stimme, die Erfahrung des Geräts als Fremdkörper im Ohr und die unterschiedlichen Umgangsweisen, die aus der mehr oder weniger geglückten Umgang mit der Technologie resultierten, sind anhand von Fallgeschichten und Äußerungen der Interviewten dargestellt
Classification of avian haemolytic <em>Actinobacillus</em>-like organisms (Bisgaard taxon 26) associated with anseriforme birds as <em>Actinobacillus anseriformium</em> sp. nov.
No full textAvian haemolytic Actinobacillus-like organisms have tentatively been named Bisgaard taxon 26. Phenotypic information has been published on 65 strains of this taxon. In the current study, 31 isolates were selected for genotypic characterization. Thirty strains had the same rpoB sequence and only one strain diverged in 1 nt. The highest rpoB similarity to members of other taxa was 89.7 % to the type strain of Actinobacillus equuli subsp. haemolyticus and the similarity to the type strain of the type species, Actinobacillus lignieresii, was 88.2 %. The lowest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains of the group was determined in previous investigations to be 99.6 % and the highest similarities of 96.4 and 96.2 % outside the group were obtained to the reference strain of Actinobacillus genomospecies 2 and to the type strain of A. equuli subsp. equuli, respectively; 95.8–95.3 % similarity was obtained with the type strain of A. lignieresii. recN gene sequence similarities within the group were from 99.5 % (strains F66T and F64) to 99.8 % (strains F66T and F67) corresponding to genome similarities of 93.9–94.6 %, which are near the upper limit for species compared with other members of the Pasteurellaceae. The highest recN similarity outside the group (83.4 %) was observed to the type strain of Actinobacillus capsulatus, whereas the similarity to the type strain of A. lignieresii was 80.9 %, corresponding to genome similarities of 57.7 and 52.0 %, respectively. All isolates meet the phenotypic characters outlined for Actinobacillus (urease-, phosphatase- and porphyrin-positive, indole-negative, acid production from fructose, sucrose, maltose and dextrin). β-Haemolysis of bovine blood is observed and isolates may demonstrate in vitro satellitic growth, referred to as V-factor or NAD requirement. Isolates have been obtained from the upper respiratory tract of web-footed birds in which they may cause sinusitis, conjunctivitis and septicaemia. Based on the characterization reported, it is proposed that the isolates belong to a novel species, Actinobacillus anseriformium sp. nov., which includes taxon 26 and a V-factor-dependent strain. The major fatty acids of the type strain are C16 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0, C16 : 0 and C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso-C16 : 1 I, corresponding to the profile observed for the type strain of A. lignieresii. Five to 12 characters separate A. anseriformium from other taxa of Actinobacillus, with Actinobacillus ureae being most closely related; A. anseriformium can be differentiated from A. ureae based on haemolysis, β-glucosidase, and production of acid from (−)-d-sorbitol, trehalose and glycosides. The type strain of A. anseriformium is F66T ( = CCUG 60324T = CCM 7846T), which was isolated from conjunctivitis in a White Pekin duck.</jats:p
High Diversity of Extended-Spectrum beta-Lactamases in Escherichia coli Isolates from Italian Broiler Flocks
No full textWe characterized 67 Escherichia coli isolates with reduced susceptibility to cefotaxime or ceftiofur obtained from healthy broilers housed in five Italian farms. The blaCTX-M-1, blaCTX-M-32 and blaSHV-12 beta-lactamase genes were identified on IncI1, IncN, or IncFIB plasmids. Considerable genetic diversity was detected among the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates, and we identified indistinguishable strains in
unrelated farms and indistinguishable plasmids in genetically unrelated strains. The detection of highly mobile plasmids suggests a potential animal reservoir for beta-lactamase genes
<i>Mannheimia pernigra</i> sp. nov., isolated from bovine respiratory tract
No full textOver a period of 1 year, 270 isolates identified as Taxon 39 of Bisgaard were obtained from the nasopharynx of veal calves at 11 epidemiologically independent Swiss fattening farms. Two isolates from each farm and the Australian Taxon 39 reference strain BNO311 were further characterized by genetic and phenotypic methods. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA and recN gene sequences placed the isolates in a single, distinct cluster within the genus Mannheimia. As to the rpoB gene, most isolates clustered together, but four strains formed a separate cluster close to Mannheimia varigena. Genome sequence analysis of isolates from both rpoB clusters confirmed their species status, with an average nucleotide identity (ANI) >98.9 % between isolates and <84 % to the closest species, M. varigena. Based upon whole genome sequences, the G+C content was determined as 39.1 mol%. Similarly, analysis of MALDI-TOF MS reference spectra clustered the isolates clearly separated from the other Mannheimia species, making this the method of choice for identification. In addition, numerous biochemical markers based on classical as well as commercial identification schemes were determined, allowing separation from other Mannheimia species and identification of the new taxon. Major fatty acids for strain 17CN0883T are C14: 0, C16: 0, C16: 1 ω7c and C18: 1 ω7c. Major respiratory quinones are ubiquinone-7 and ubiquinone-8. We propose the name Mannheimia pernigra sp. nov. for former Taxon 39 of Bisgaard. The type strain is 17CN0883T (=CCUG 74657T=DSM 111153T) isolated from a veal calf in Switzerland.</p
Frederiksenia
No full textThe description of Frederiksenia is based on the characterization of 24 strains from five European countries and were mainly isolated from dogs and human dog‐bite wounds. The strains were previously classified as Bisgaard taxon 16 and formed a phenotypically and genetically homogenous group within the family Pasteurellaceae. The genus is phenotypically similar to Pasteurella, but phylogenetically forms a clearly separated monophyletic branch based on 16S rRNA, rpoB, infB, and recN gene sequences. Frederiksenia showed closest genetic relationship with Bibersteinia trehalosi. Predicted genome similarity values based on the recN gene sequences between taxon 16 isolates and the type strains of type species of known genera of Pasteurellaceae were below the genus level. Furthermore, MALDI‐TOF clearly separated it from all other genera of Pasteurellaceae, showing a characteristic peak combination. The genus is currently formed by a single species Frederiksenia canicola. Major whole‐cell fatty acids for the type strain of this species are C14:0, C16:0, C18:0, and C16:1 ω7c/C15:0 iso 2OH. Major respiratory quinones are menaquinone‐8, ubiquinone‐8, and demethylmenaquinone‐8.
DNA G + C content (mol%): 42.6 by genome analysis of the type strain DSM 25797T.
Type species: Frederiksenia canicola Korczak et al. 2014, VL158
Evolution of the leukotoxin promoter in genus <i>Mannheimia</i>
No full text<b>Background</b>: The <i>Mannheimia</i> species encompass a wide variety of bacterial lifestyles, including opportunistic pathogens and commensals of the ruminant respiratory tract, commensals of the ovine rumen, and pathogens of the ruminant integument. Here we present a scenario for the evolution of the leukotoxin promoter among representatives of the five species within genus <i>Mannheimia</i>. We also consider how the evolution of the leukotoxin operon fits with the evolution and maintenance of virulence.
<b>Results</b>: The alignment of the intergenic regions upstream of the leukotoxin genes showed significant sequence and positional conservation over a 225-bp stretch immediately proximal to the transcriptional start site of the <i>lktC</i> gene among all <i>Mannheimia</i> strains. However, in the course of the <i>Mannheimia</i> genome evolution, the acquisition of individual noncoding regions upstream of the conserved promoter region has occurred. The rate of evolution estimated branch by branch suggests that the conserved promoter may be affected to different extents by the types of natural selection that potentially operate in regulatory regions. Tandem repeats upstream of the core promoter were confined to <i>M. haemolytica</i> with a strong association between the sequence of the repeat units, the number of repeat units per promoter, and the phylogenetic history of this species.
<b>Conclusion</b>: The mode of evolution of the intergenic regions upstream of the leukotoxin genes appears to be highly dependent on the lifestyle of the bacterium. Transition from avirulence to virulence has occurred at least once in <i>M. haemolytica</i> with some evolutionary success of bovine serotype A1/A6 strains. Our analysis suggests that changes in <i>cis</i>-regulatory systems have contributed to the derived virulence phenotype by allowing phase-variable expression of the leukotoxin protein. We propose models for how phase shifting and the associated virulence could facilitate transmission to the nasopharynx of new hosts
[<em>Pasteurella</em>] <em>caballi</em> infection not limited to horses - a closer look at taxon 42 of Bisgaard
No full textAim To investigate if taxon 42 of Bisgaard isolated from pigs represents genuine [Pasteurella] caballi which has previously only been isolated from horses. Methods and Results A total of 15 field isolates from horses and pigs from 5 different countries representing three continents were to subjected extended phenotypical characterization. Although minor differences were observed between taxon 42 and [P.] caballi, these differences did not allow phenotypic separation. Ribotyping based on HindIII digestion showed five profiles based on 9 band positions. One [P.] caballi strain and two taxon 42 strains shared the same profile. Ribotyping using HpaII gave a higher diversity with 9 profiles based on 10 band positions. While no profiles were shared between the Taxon 42 and [P.] caballi strains, pattern analysis showed that two of the Taxon 42 isolates were most similar (91 % similarity) with a [P.] caballi isolate. 16S rRNA gene sequencing of one strain of taxon 42 and one strain of [P.] caballi was performed and compared to the published sequence for the type strain of [P.] caballi. The three strains showed nearly identical sequences with at least 99.8 % similarity. DNA re-associations measured by the micro-well method were 79 and 77 %, respectively between the type strain of [P.] caballi and two strains of taxon 42 representing distinct ribotypes and confirmed that taxon 42 belongs to [P.] caballi. Conclusion The present investigation documents that [P.] caballi can be isolated from clinical respiratory specimens from pigs as well as the recognised association with respiratory infections in horses and horse bite infection in humans. Strains classified as taxon 42 are [P.] caballi isolated from pigs and for both pigs and horses lesions mainly include the respiratory tract. Significance and impact of study The results will improve the diagnostics and progress studies of virulence and epidemiology of [P.] caballi
Characterization of Pasteurellaceae-like bacteria isolated from clinically affected psittacine birds
No full textAIMS: The aim of the present investigation was to identify and characterize Pasteurella-like isolates obtained from clinically affected psittacine birds. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 37 isolates from psittacine birds tentatively classified with the family Pasteurellaceae were characterized phenotypically. The genetic relationship was investigated by sequencing of partial rpoB and 16S rRNA genes for selected isolates. The results obtained were compared with the data from 16 reference strains. Nine isolates were identified as Gallibacterium spp., 16 as Volucribacter spp. or Volucribacter-like, while 11 isolates were classified as taxon 44 of Bisgaard. A single isolate was identified as Pasteurella multocida. CONCLUSIONS: Characterization of Pasteurellaceae by traditional methods is often inconclusive because of inconsistent reactions and phenotypic diversity. For the same reason, genotyping is essential to allow proper classification as demonstrated in the present study. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Limited information exists on the isolation and significance of Pasteurellaceae associated with clinically affected psittacine birds showing signs of digestive and/or respiratory disorders. The present investigations demonstrated that these organisms are widely distributed among clinically affected birds, but isolation of these taxa cannot be unambiguously correlated with the symptoms observed
Prevalence of Taxa of Pasteurellaceae Among Populations of Healthy Captive Psittacine Birds
No full textSixty-two strains of Pasteurellaceae-like bacteria were isolated from the tracheas of 87 clinically healthy psittacine birds in two Danish zoos. The isolates were identified by a combination of rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequencing and by matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time of flight. Twenty-eight strains belonged to the genus Volucribacter or were related to this genus and to the unnamed taxon 34 of Bisgaard, and 28 strains were related to the unnamed taxon 44 of Bisgaard. Four strains were identified as Pasteurella multocida, two isolates were classified with the related taxon 45 of Bisgaard, and a single isolate was classified as Pasteurella sp. The investigation documented an unrecognized reservoir of rarely reported and unclassified or unnamed species of Pasteurellaceae-like bacteria in psittacine birds. The results were in accordance with a recent report on isolation of Pasteurellaceae from diseased psittacine birds, and the investigation documented that the same taxa of Pasteurellaceae-like bacteria can be isolated from apparently healthy birds as well as from diseased birds
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