Comparison of bacterial quantities in left and right colon biopsies and faeces

AIM:To compare quantities of predominant and pathogenic bacteria in mucosal and faecal samples.METHODS:Twenty patients undergoing diagnostic colonoscopy with endoscopically and histologically normal mucosa were recruited to the study,14 subjects of which also supplied faecal(F) samples between 15 d to 105 d post colonoscopy.Mucosal biopsies were taken from each subject from the midportion of the ascending colon(right side samples,RM) and the sigmoid(left side samples,LM).Predominant intestinal and mucosal bacteria including clostridial 16S rRNA gene clusters Ⅳ and ⅩⅣab,Bacteroidetes,Enterobacteriaceae,Bifidobacterium spp.,Akkermansia muciniphila(A.muciniphila),Veillonella spp.,Collinsella spp.,Faecalibacterium prausnitzii(F.prausnitzii) and putative pathogens such asEscherichia coli(E.coli),Clostridium difficile(C.difficile),Helicobacter pylori(H.pylori) and Staphylococcus aureus(S.aureus) were analysed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction(qPCR).Host DNA was quantified from the mucosal samples with human glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene targeting qPCR.Paired t tests and the Pearson correlation were applied for statistical analysis.RESULTS:The most prominent bacterial groups were clostridial groups Ⅳ and ⅩⅣa+b andBacteroidetes and bacterial species F.prausnitzii in both sample types.H.pylori and S.aureus were not detected and C.difficile was detected in only one mucosal sample and three faecal samples.E.coli was detected in less than half of the mucosal samples at both sites,but was present in all faecal samples.All detected bacteria,except Enterobacteriaceae,were present at higher levels in the faeces than in the mucosa,but the different locations in the colon presented comparable quantities(RM,LM and F followed byP 1 for RMvs F,P 2 for LMvs F andP 3 for RM vs LM:4.17 ± 0.60 log 10 /g,4.16 ± 0.56 log 10 /g,5.88 ± 1.92 log 10 /g,P 1 = 0.011,P 2 = 0.0069,P 3 = 0.9778 forA.muciniphila;6.25 ± 1.3 log 10 /g,6.09 ± 0.81 log 10 /g,8.84 ± 1.38 log 10 /g,P 1 < 0.0001,P 2 = 0.0002,P 3 = 0.6893 forBacteroidetes;5.27 ± 1.68 log 10 /g,5.38 ± 2.06 log 10 /g,8.20 ± 1.14 log 10 /g,P 1 < 0.0001,P 2 ≤ 0.0001,P 3 = 0.7535 forBifidobacterium spp.;6.44 ± 1.15 log 10 /g,6.07 ±1.45 log 10 /g,9.74 ±1.13 log 10 /g,P 1 < 0.0001,P 2 ≤ 0.0001,P 3 = 0.637 forClostridium cluster Ⅳ;6.65 ± 1.23 log 10 /g,6.57 ± 1.52 log 10 /g,9.13 ± 0.96 log 10 /g,P 1 < 0.0001,P 2 ≤ 0.0001,P 3 = 0.9317 forClostridium cluster ⅩⅣa;4.57 ± 1.44 log10/g,4.63 ± 1.34 log10/g,7.05 ± 2.48 log 10 /g,P 1 = 0.012,P 2 = 0.0357,P 3 = 0.7973 for Collinsella spp.;7.66 ± 1.50 log 10 /g,7.60 ± 1.05 log 10 /g,10.02 ± 2.02 log 10 /g,P 1 ≤ 0.0001,P 2 = 0.0013,P 3 = 0.9919 forF.prausnitzsii;6.17 ± 1.3 log 10 /g,5.85 ± 0.93 log 10 /g,7.25 ± 1.01 log 10 /g,P 1 = 0.0243,P 2 = 0.0319,P 3 = 0.6982 for Veillonella spp.;4.68 ± 1.21 log 10 /g,4.71 ± 0.83 log 10 /g,5.70 ± 2.00 log 10 /g,P 1 = 0.1927,P 2 = 0.0605,P 3 = 0.6476 forEnterobacteriaceae).TheBifidobacterium spp.counts correlated significantly between mucosal sites and mucosal and faecal samples(Pearson correlation coefficients 0.62,P = 0.040 and 0.81,P = 0.005 between the right mucosal sample and faeces and the left mucosal sample and faeces,respectively).CONCLUSION:Non-invasive faecal samples do not reflect bacterial counts on the mucosa at the individual level,except for bifidobacteria often analysed in probiotic intervention studies.

Evaluation of the Bacteriological Pollution of the Waters of the Lake of Sonfonia Commune of Ratoma (Republic of Guinea) 2021

The quality of surface waters is often altered by the presence of bacteria of faecal origin, as a result of untimely discharge of solid and liquid waste from households. The Sonfonia Lake located in the commune of Ratoma is under the influence of various forms of pollution resulting for the most part from anthropic activities. Field visits, interviews with resource persons and bacteriological analysis were carried out to assess the level of this pollution. Two water sampling campaigns were carried out during the low-water period and two others during the flood period of 2021. The comparison of the levels of faecal contamination bacteria in the present study with a previous one carried out in 2018 on the waters of the same lake, indicates an increase in the level of faecal coliforms and faecal streptococci that exceed the indicator values recommended by the WHO. These results show that Lake Sonfonia is polluted. This could be related to the increase in anthropogenic and demographic activities during the last four years. On the other hand, the analysis of the results showed the absence of pathogenic germs such as salmonella. The Mann-Whitney U statistical test was used to compare the value of the means of each of the variables observed during the two seasons.

Altitudinal Range of Black-and-white Snub-nosed Monkeys (Rhinopithecus bieti ) at Baima Snow Mountain, China

Faeces were counted along horizontal, 5.0m wide strips at altitude intervals of 100m to examine the altitudinal ranging pattern of a band of black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys （Rhinopithecus bieti） at Nanren （99°04′E, 28°34′N, Baima Snow Mountain Nature Reverse, Yunnan, China） at four areas in each season between 2000-2001. Faeces were also counted along vertical, 2.5 m wide strips in one subvalley and on one subridge in each area. Monkeys used an altitudinal range of 3500-4300m, but preferred occupying the upper forest belt between 3900 and 4200m asl year-round, being at the highest altitude in summer, the lowest altitude in spring, and middle altitudes between autumn and winter （lower in winter than autumn）. Moreover, there were secondary peaks of lower altitude use （3700m） in spring and winter. In addition, more faeces were distributed in subvalleys than on subridges in winter, this suggests that monkeys tend to spend more time in subvalleys where there is less wind and fluctuating temperatures. The significant correlation between faecal density and lichen load might indicate that altitudinal distribution of food resources may act as an important factor affecting the monkeys＇ range. The monkeys might migrate to lower altitudes to eat young sprouts and leaves in spring, and to shelter from snowstorms in winter, possibly resulting in the secondary peaks at lower altitudes.

Absorption of Food in African Pike Hepsetus odoe （Bloch, 1974） in Ado Ekiti Reservoir, Ekiti State, Southwestern Nigeria

The protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents of the food ingested and their absorption in the intestine ofHepsetus odoe in Ado-Ekiti Reservoir, Ekiti State, Nigeria were investigated. Samples were analysed chemically for protein, fat and carbohydrate using the official methods of analysis described by the Association of Official Analytical Chemist. The ingested food had mean total protein, mean total carbohydrate and mean total lipid of 60.2% - 8.55%, 15.4% ± 1.9% and 15.6% ±1.1% of the organic content respectively. Calculated mean total percentages absorbed were 72.4% protein, 52% carbohydrate and 51.5% lipid. The foregut had the highest percentage absorption while the hindgut had the lowest for all the nutrients. Different sizes of fish showed different dietary protein, carbohydrate and lipid contents. Absorptive capacity for these components of the food also varied with fish size.

A case report of cutaneous larva migrans in Argentina

Cutaneous larva migrans(CLM) represents the most common tropically acquired dermatosis.CLM is caused by infection with hookworm larvae in tropical and sub-tropical areas,and people who have a history of foreign travel and of walking barefoot on sandy soil or beaches are at a high risk of getting infected with it.The diagnosis is usually made on the basis of the typical appearance of the lesion,intense itching and history of foreign travel.CLM is a common parasitic skin disease that can be easily prevented by wearing 'protective' footwear.A case of CLM is described in this article.

Models to quantify excretion of dry matter,nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon in growing pigs fed regional diets

Modern pig production contributes to many environmental problems that relate to manure, especially in areas with highly intensive production systems and in regions like Asia where the regulative control is not effective. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use three different pig diets varying in dietary protein, fibre and fat as representative for Danish （DK）, Thai （TH） and Vietnamese （VN） pig production to develop and evaluate different approaches to predict/calculate excretion from growing pigs in comparison with the experimentally determined values. Nine female growing pigs were used in a digestibility and balance experiment. Excretion of dry matter （DM）, nitrogen （N）, phosphorus （P） and carbon （C） of the experimental diets were determined. Due to the highest dietary fibre content, VN had the lowest digestibility of N, P and C （73, 49, and 73%, respectively） compared with the DK and TH pig diets. From the known diet composition using standard table values on chemical and nutrient digestibly, high accuracy （bias） and low variation was found and the results could be used for prediction on chemical composition and excretion in faeces and urine in growing pigs. Calculation based on standard values regarding nutrient retention in the pig body as used in the Danish manure normative system （DMNS） showed likewise to be quite useful for quantifying the total excretion of N and P. Overall, the results demonstrate that simple models that require cheap and normally available information on dietary nutrients can give useful information on nutrient excretion in growing pigs.

Topsoil as Affected by Dung Deposition Under Resting Places of Red Howler Monkey (Alouatta seniculus)

The short-term influence of dung deposition and the further redistribution of dung by dung beetles were studied under a resting place of the red howler monkey （Alouatta seniculus） living in tropical ralnforests of South America. Monkey dung was experimentally clumped on the field in a place used by troops of howler monkeys for resting in the Nouragues Reserve Station, French Guiana. Dung-treated plots were sampled serially over three weeks and compared with controls located in their immediate vicinity. The composition of the soil matrix （top 10 cm） was studied in successive microlayers using an optical method. Under the influence of dung beetle activity, the topsoil became more homogeneous by losing its litter, its content in earthworm faeces increased in the course of time, and surface mineral deposits were penetrated by roots. The results were interpreted in the light of present knowledge on the effects of soil animal activity on plant growth and survival of seedlings.

Antimicrobial Resistance Profile of Salmonella Isolates from Livestock

Food animals are important reservoirs of infectious pathogens. The use of antimicrobial drugs in food animals is a major source of selection of drug resistant pathogens. This study investigated a total of 1000 faecal samples of livestock and poultry between January 2012 and March 2013 to determine the prevalence rate of Salmonella species and their antimicrobial resistance profiles. Faecal samples of chicken, pig, cattle, goat and sheep (200 samples of each) were pre-enriched in Tetrathionate broth and Rappapport Vassiliadis R10 broth. The broth culture was subcultured on XLD agar and incubated. The isolates were identified by standard biochemical tests and confirmed by AP1 20E test kit. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed by disk diffusion method. The result showed that the prevalence of Salmonella spp. in all the samples was 21.8%. Chicken faeces had the highest prevalence rate of 52.5% followed by pig faeces (40%), cattle (10%), goat (4.5%) and sheep (2%). The isolates have resistance profile ranging from 1 to 9 antimicrobial drugs. Tetracycline had the highest resistance (81%) of all the isolates followed by Streptomycin (68%). Gentamycin had the lowest resistance profile of 14%. We conclude that Salmonella species have high prevalence rate in chicken and pig, but less in cattle, goat and sheep, and that most of the isolates are resistant to most commonly used antibiotics. Effort is needed to adopt measures to control the spread of multidrug resistant pathogens to humans. Care must be taken in the use of antibiotics in farm animals to reduce the selection of multidrug resistant strains.

Suspected Resistance against Moxidectin in Sheep Strongylid Nematodes in Austria

Loss of efficacy due to resistance development against anthelmintics in livestock parasites is a growing concern worldwide. The aim of the present study was to determine the efficacy of moxidectin, a frequently-used macrocyclic lactone, against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep in Austria. Individual faecal samples were collected from 243 adult sheep from 16 flocks in Styria and Salzburg before deworming and egg excretion （EPG （eggs per gram） of faeces） was determined using a modified McMaster technique. The animals were randomly assigned to a treatment group which received 0.2 mg/kg of body weight of moxidectin （Cydectin , Zoetis Schweiz GmbH, Zurich, Switzerland）, and an untreated control group. Fourteen days after deworming a FECRT （faecal egg count reduction test） for detection of anthelmintic resistance was performed. Before deworming, the infection rate for gastrointestinal strongylids was 94.7%, with EPG values of 0-5,800. The FECRT showed reduction rates between 93.08% and 99.78% and was sufficient in 15/16 flocks. The lower confidence interval was 70.0-100%. In 3/16 flocks this value was below the minimum for sufficient efficacy （70.0%, 79.0%, 85.0%）, and in two flocks the value （90,0%） was near the limit. These results indicated a （suspected） reduced efficacy of moxidectin in 5/16 examined flocks.

Metabolic responses of indigenous bacteria in chicken faeces and maggots to multiple antibiotics via heavy water labeled single-cell Raman spectroscopy

The use of maggots derived from chicken faeces as fish diets might serve as a vehicle for the widespread of multiple antibiotic resistant bacteria(ARB) in the environment. Heavy water labeled single-cell Raman spectroscopy(D_(2)O-Raman) was applied to detect the metabolic responses of indigenous bacteria in chicken faeces and maggots to different concentrations of combined colistin, kanamycin, and vancomycin. By incubating the samples with D_(2)O and antibiotics, metabolically active bacterial cells to antibiotics were distinguished from those inactive by the exhibition of C-D Raman band. Using the C-D band as a universal metabolic biomarker, 96% and 100% of cells in chicken faeces and maggots were revealed to be metabolically active to 1 × minimum inhibition concentration(MIC) of the aforementioned antibiotics. A noticeable decrease in the percentage of active cells from 96% to 76% in faeces and 100% to 93% in maggots was observed at 5 × MIC of antibiotics. However, these ratios were still far above that obtained from the same faeces(1.84%) and maggots(0.51%) samples using a cultivation method, indicating the wide presence of nongrowing but metabolically active bacterial cells under antibiotic treatment. Conclusively, the cultureindependent D_(2)O-Raman approach detected and quantified a large portion of metabolically active indigenous bacteria to multiple antibiotics in their native environments, illustrating the great potential risks of these active cells to spread antibiotic resistance via food chain.

Cholera outbreak caused by drinking lake water contaminated with human faeces in Kaiso Village,Hoima District,Western Uganda,October 2015

Background:On 12 October 2015,a cholera outbreak involving 65 cases and two deaths was reported in a fishing village in Hoima District,Western Uganda.Despite initial response by the local health department,the outbreak persisted.We conducted an investigation to identify the source and mode of transmission,and recommend evidenceled interventions to control and prevent cholera outbreaks in this area.Methods:We defined a suspected case as the onset of acute watery diarrhoea from 1 October to 2 November 2015 in a resident of Kaiso Village.A confirmed case was a suspected case who had Vibrio cholerae isolated from stool.We found cases by record review and active community case finding.We performed descriptive epidemiologic analysis for hypothesis generation.In an unmatched case-control study,we compared exposure histories of 61 cases and 126 controls randomly selected among asymptomatic village residents.We also conducted an environmental assessment and obtained meteorological data from a weather station.Results:We identified 122 suspected cases,of which six were culture-confirmed,47 were confirmed positive with a rapid diagnostic test and two died.The two deceased cases had onset of the disease on 2 October and 10 October,respectively.Heavy rainfall occurred on 7-11 October;a point-source outbreak occurred on 12-15 October,followed by continuous community transmission for two weeks.Village residents usually collected drinking water from three lakeshore points-A,B and C:9.8%(6/61)of case-persons and 31%(39/126)of control-persons were found to usually use point A,21%(13/61)of case-persons and 37%(46/126)of control-persons were found to usually use point B(OR=1.8,95%CI:0.64-5.3),and 69%(42/61)of case-persons and 33%(41/126)of control-persons were found to usually use point C(OR=6.7;95%CI:2.5-17)for water collection.All case-persons(61/61)and 93%(117/126)of control-persons reportedly never treated/boiled drinking water(OR=∞,95%CIFisher:1.0-∞).The village’s piped water system had been vandalised and open defecation was common due to a lack of latrines.The lake water was found to be contiminated due to a gully channel that washed the faeces into the lake at point C.Conclusions:This outbreak was likely caused by drinking lake water contaminated by faeces from a gully channel.We recommend treatment of drinking water,fixing the vandalised piped-water system and constructing latrines.

Clinical and Experimental Study on the Protection of Gastric Mucosa by Faeces Trogopterus

Objective: To evaluate the protective effect of Faeces Trogopterus (FT) on gastric mucosa.Methods: Thirty-four patients of gastric ulcer were treated with FT and compared with a control group treated with Ranitidine. In the experimental study, the Shay model of rats was used. Results: The curative rate of FT in treating duodenal ulcer of six weeks was 70. 59 % and the total effective rate was 91. 18 %. Results of the experimental study showed the protective effects of FT on gastric mucosa. Conclusion: FT could inhibit gastric secretion and regulate gastric mucosal blood flow so as to enhance mucosal defense.

RP-HPLC Determination of 1,3-Dideoxygalactonojirimycin in Bombycis Faeces

Objective To establish a simple and rapid method for the determination of 1,3-dideoxygalactonojirimycin in Bombycis Faeces,a potent glucosidase inihibitor,by HPLC.Methods A RP-HPLC method with fluorescence detection has been developed.Results The HPLC method developed in this research has a good reliability including accuracy and precision.The detection limit was less than 72 ng.Conclusion This method is sufficiently sensitive for determining 1,3-dideoxygalactonojirimycin in Bombycis Faeces and other related products.

Effect of C/N ratio,aeration rate and moisture content on ammonia and greenhouse gas emission during the composting

Gaseous emission （N2O, CH4 and NH3） from composting can be an important source of anthropogenic greenhouse gas and air pollution. A laboratory scale orthogonal experiment was conducted to estimate the effects of C/N ratio, aeration rate and initial moisture content on gaseous emission during the composting of pig faeces from Chinese Ganqinfen system. The results showed that about 23.9% to 45.6% of total organic carbon （TOC） was lost in the form of CO2 and 0.8% to 7.5% of TOC emitted as CH4. Most of the nitrogen was lost in the form of NH3, which account for 9.6% to 32.4% of initial nitrogen. N20 was also an important way of nitrogen losses and 1.5% to 7.3% of initial total nitrogen was lost as it. Statistic analysis showed that the aeration rate is the most important factor which could affect the NH3 （p = 0.0189）, CH4 （p = 0.0113） and N20 （p = 0.0493） emissions significantly. Higher aeration rates reduce the CH4 emission but increase the NH3 and N20 losses. C/N ratio could affect the NH3 （p = 0.0442） and CH4 （p = 0.0246） emissions significantly, but not the N20. Lower C/N ratio caused higher NH3 and CH4 emissions. The initial moisture content can not influence the gaseous emission significantly. Most treatments were matured after 37 days, except a trial with high moisture content and a low C/N ratio.

Enhancing production of a 24-membered ring macrolide compound by a marine bacterium using response surface methodology

A 24-membered ring macrolide compound,macrolactin A has potential applications in pharmaceuticals for its anti-infectious and antiviral activity.In this study,macrolactin A was produced by a marine bacterium,which was identified as Bacillus subtilis by 16S ribosomal RNA(rRNA) sequence analysis.Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry(ESI/MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) spectroscopy analyses were used to characterize this compound.To improve the production,response surface methodology(RSM) involving Box-Behnken design(BBD) was employed.Faeces bombycis,the main by-product in sericulture,was used as a nitrogen source in fermentation.The interactions between three significant factors,F.bombycis,soluble starch,and(NH4)2SO4 were investigated.A quadratic model was constructed to fit the production and the factors.Optimum medium composition was obtained by analysis of the model.When cultivated in the optimum medium,the production of macrolactin A was increased to 851 mg/L,2.7 times as compared to the original.This study is also useful to find another way in utilizing F.bombycis.