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Biomedical subjects

A Gunnarsson

Publications and source records attributed to A Gunnarsson.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Prevalence of Serpulina species in relation to diarrhea and feed medication in pig-rearing herds in Sweden.

OBJECTIVE: To determine prevalence of various pheno- and genotypes of Serpulina sp in young pigs in relation to diarrhea and feed medication in Swedish pig-rearing herds. DESIGN: Isolation of spirochetes. Phenotypical and genotypical classification. SAMPLE POPULATION: Young pigs (n = 358) in 19 pigrearing herds. PROCEDURE: Serpulina isolates were classified according to a biochemical scheme based on hemolysis, indole production, hippurate hydrolysis, and alpha-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase, and beta-glucosidase activities. The 16S rRNA sequences for 10 of the field strains and 2 type strains of Serpulina spp were aligned and compared. Minimum inhibitory concentrations of olaquindox for 9 of the strains were determined. RESULTS: Weakly beta-hemolytic intestinal spirochetes (WBHIS) were isolated from 17 of the herds and 65% of the samples. More than 1 phenotype of WBHIS was found in 12 of the 19 herds. S hyodysenteriae was not isolated in any of the herds. Hippurate-positive WBHIS were isolated in 6 of 7 herds affected by diarrhea, but in only 1 of 8 herds without diarrhea. Hippurate-positive strains were closely related to the pathogenic strain P43 if judged from sequence comparisons. Strains with the same biochemical profile isolated within a herd had identical sequences, but when isolated from different herds, sequence differences were observed. The prevalence of WBHIS was reduced in herds medicated with olaquindox. Investigated field strains had minimum inhibitory concentration values < or = 1 microgram/ml for olaquindox. CONCLUSION: The presence of WBHIS, with the ability to hydrolyze hippurate, was related to diarrhea in pig herds. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Potentially pathogenic WBHIS can be distinguished from nonpathogenic strains by the hippurate hydrolysis test.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1995

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia in northern Tanzania, culture confirmation and serological studies.

After an absence of about 25 years contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) appeared again in 1990 in Tanzania. It was preceded by a spread in Kenya to an area bordering Tanzania. Due to the frequent cattle movements across the border it was soon introduced into Loliondo in northern Tanzania. One month after the first cases, CBPP was suspected in a total of 9 herds comprising 1,500 cattle. However, few animals showed clear clinical signs and frequent antibiotic treatment at an early stage further obscured the clinical picture. In one herd with acute cases, the diagnosis was confirmed by autopsy and Mycoplasma mycoides subsp. mycoides, SC type, was isolated. From this herd several serum samples were positive in the complement fixation test and gave high absorbance values in an ELISA with M. mycoides subsp. mycoides antigen. From 5 other herds with suspected cases blood samples were negative by the complement fixation test but in the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay at least one in each herd was positive.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Acute outbreak of porcine parvovirus infection in Mozambique.

Investigations were made to determine the causal agent of an acute outbreak of abortions recorded in a swine herd in Mozambique. Isolation of porcine parvovirus and demonstration of its specific antibodies accomplished by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, haemagglutination inhibition and immunofluorescent tests, indicated that porcine parvovirus was the causal agent of the abortions. Other pathogenic agents causing reproductive failure, e.g. pseudorabies virus, Leptospira or Brucella species, were ruled out because investigations of these agents proved to be negative.

Abortion, Veterinary↗
PubMed1995

Phenotypical characterisation of intestinal spirochaetes isolated from pigs.

A combined evaluation of the phenotypical properties of five Serpulina type or reference strains and 163 Swedish isolates of spirochaetes from pigs and two from birds was made. The porcine isolates were collected from herds with a history of dysentery or severe diarrhoea and from herds chosen at random. On the basis of beta-haemolysis, indole production, hippurate hydrolysis, and alpha-galactosidase, alpha-glucosidase and beta-glucosidase activity, the isolates could be divided into four main groups, I to IV, with three subgroups in group III. Group I included the type strain for Serpulina hyodysenteriae (B78). Group II was differentiated from group I only by weak beta-haemolysis. Group III included the type strain for Serpulina innocens (B256). Group IV included the pathogenic, weakly haemolytic strain P43. Group IV-spirochaetes were characterised by their ability to hydrolyse hippurate and by their lack of beta-glucosidase activity. Group I and II-spirochaetes were isolated only from dysenteric or diarrhoeic pigs. There was a statistical relationship between pigs with diarrhoea and the isolation of group IV spirochaetes but no relationship with group III spirochaetes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Phylogeny of Serpulina based on sequence analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and comparison with a scheme involving biochemical classification.

Twenty-one putative Serpulina strains, representing six proposed biochemical groups, were selected for phylogenetic studies based on 16S rRNA sequencing. The biochemical groups were distinguished by the degree of beta-haemolysis, indole production, hippurate hydrolysis and alpha-galactosidase-, and beta-glucosidase activity. The 16S rRNA sequences of the U2 to U5 region, including three evolutionarily variable regions, from representatives of each biochemical group were determined by automated solid phase DNA sequencing after in vitro amplification by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The sequences generated were 532 nucleotides in length. Sequence alignments showed that all the strains were closely related, with six informative positions in the region sequenced. A dendrogram was constructed from these data and compared with the tentative biochemical classification. The results support the proposed biochemical classification and indicate that at least five genetic variants of the genus Serpulina can be identified.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Identification of the causative agent of granulocytic ehrlichiosis in Swedish dogs and horses by direct solid phase sequencing of PCR products from the 16S rRNA gene.

Seven Swedish isolates of Ehrlichia species from the blood of four dogs and three horses with clinical granulocytic ehrlichiosis, were identified by direct solid phase DNA sequencing of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products from the 16S rRNA gene. The amplified DNA fragments were produced with primers complementary to the universal regions, U1, U2, U5 and U8 of the 16S rRNA molecule. Identical sequences were obtained from all seven isolates. This nucleotide sequence was similar to the sequences deposited in GenBank for Ehrlichia phagocytophila and E equi. The sequence of the Swedish ehrlichiae differed in two nucleotide positions from the E phagocytophila sequence and in three positions from the E equi sequence, and it is tentatively proposed that it is a subspecies of one of these two. The alignment of the sequence of the Swedish isolates with a recently deposited sequence from human cases of ehrlichiosis in the USA revealed 100 per cent identity in a segment of about 1400 bp.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Salmonella isolated from animals and feedstuffs in Sweden during 1988-1992.

The present paper surveys the number of Salmonella isolations in animals and feedstuffs in Sweden during 1988-1992. It is the eighth in a series of reports published by the National Veterinary Institute (NVI) since 1949. During the period referred to, 602 outbreaks of Salmonella were reported in animals, both domestic and wild. Compared with the previous 5-year period there was a 20% reduction in the number of outbreaks (760). Fifty-six different serotypes were reported, 19 of which had never been isolated in any animal in Sweden previously. A temporary increase in the number of outbreaks in poultry was seen in 1991 following an extended sampling before slaughter of layers. A remarkably high prevalence (38%) of Salmonella was observed in snakes in the wild. In 1990, the end-point testing of feeds was replaced by an approach based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles for the monitoring of feed mills. Significantly higher number of Salmonella positive samples were found by using this technique compared with the previous analysis of finished feed. It is concluded that the adopted Salmonella control program has contributed to a reduced number of Salmonella outbreaks in animals in Sweden.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1994

Biochemical phenotypes of Salmonella Livingstone isolated from humans, animals and feedstuffs in Sweden.

Salmonella Livingstone is occasionally isolated from humans, animals and feedstuffs in Sweden. To follow the spread of infection and trace the source of isolates, adequate typing methods are needed. We have developed an automated typing system based on biochemical fingerprinting of bacteria (the PhP system) for typing of different Salmonella serotypes. The system measures the kinetics of various biochemical reactions of bacteria grown in liquid medium in microtiter plates and uses numerical techniques to identify biochemical phenotypes (BPTs) among the tested strains. In the present study we used a set of 16 highly discriminatory tests to differentiate strains of Salmonella of serotype Livingstone and evaluated the system for its discriminatory ability using a collection of 34 unrelated human isolates of S. Livingstone. We also used the system to investigate BPTs of 45 Livingstone strains isolated from animals and feedstuffs in Sweden between 1987 and 1991. Altogether 19 different BPTs were found among human isolate giving a diversity index (Di) of 0.930. In contrast, most strains isolated from animals and feedstuffs in Sweden belonged to 2 dominating BPTs (Di = 0.704). One of these contained 17 strains mainly isolated during 1992 whereas the other contained 18 strains isolated between 1987 and 1991. None of the Swedish human isolates were identical to those of animals and feedstuffs. These findings suggest that 2 different BPTs of Salmonella Livingstone strains are particularly common among animals and feedstuffs in Sweden and that they are not related to human cases of enteritis in this country. We also conclude that biochemical fingerprinting with the PhP system is a reliable and highly discriminatory method for detecting epidemic strains of Salmonella Livingstone.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1993

Comparison of a cold enrichment method and the IDF method for isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from animal autopsy material.

The method most often used in Sweden for isolation of Listeria monocytogenes from animal autopsy material is a cold enrichment method. This method is very slow. The International Dairy Federation (IDF) has recently presented a method for detection of L. monocytogenes in milk and milk products that is complete in one week. During a two year period 69 specimens from dead animals with suspected listeriosis were examined for L. monocytogenes in parallel analyses with both the cold enrichment method and the IDF method. Samples derived from different autopsy material representing a variety of animals. L. monocytogenes was isolated in 27.5% of the samples with the IDF method but only in 4.3% with the cold enrichment method. It is concluded that the IDF method was more sensitive than the cold enrichment method.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Salmonella isolated from animals and feedstuffs in Sweden during 1983-1987.

This survey describes the frequency of Salmonella in animals and feedstuffs isolated in Sweden 1983-1987. Since 1949 National Veterinary Institute (NVI) has published such reports every fifth year. During the period of this report 760 outbreaks of Salmonella were reported in animals. This includes both domestic and wild animals. The corresponding figure for the previous period was 1266 outbreaks. 56 different serovariants were reported, 17 of these were new to Sweden. In cattle and swine there were a decrease of outbreaks. In poultry 86 outbreaks were reported, compared with 220 outbreaks during the previous five-year period. Swedish feed producing plants are checked both voluntary and compulsory, for the presence of Salmonella in raw materials, scrape and dust samples and compound feed. During 1983-1987 a total of 236 strains at Salmonella were isolated. This is the lowest incidence found during the last 15 years. All consignments of feedstuffs of animal origin intended for import to Sweden has to be examined for the presence of Salmonella. During 1983-1987 8.6% of the consignments were positive for Salmonella and were thus not allowed to be used in Sweden.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1990

A method for measuring pressure sores.

A simple, reproducible method for measuring the volume of pressure sores is described. The sore is covered with a transparent film which follows the previous skin as much as possible. An isotonic solution is injected through the film; the amount of fluid required to fill the sore represents the sore volume.

Dermatology↗
PubMed1989

Synthesis of Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc and Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta-SEt by an enzymatic method comprising the sequential use of beta-galactosidases from bovine testes and Escherichia coli.

Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc (1) and Gal beta 1-3GlcNAc beta-SEt (2) were synthesized on a 100 mg scale by the transgalactosylation reaction of bovine testes beta-galactosidase with lactose as donor and N-acetylglucosamine and GlcNAc beta-SEt as acceptors. In both cases the product mixtures contained unwanted isomers and were treated with beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli which has a different specificity, under conditions favouring hydrolysis, yielding besides the desired products, monosaccharides and traces of trisaccharides. The products were purified to greater than 95% by gel filtration, with a final yield of 12% of 1 and 17% of 2, based on added acceptor. In a separate experiment Gal beta 1-6GlcNAc beta-SEt (3) was synthesized by the transglycosylation reaction using beta-galactosidase from Escherichia coli. No other isomers were detected. Compound 3 was purified by HPLC.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Characterization of a glucoamylase G2 from Aspergillus niger.

Peptide fragments were generated by enzymic or chemical degradation of the small form, G2, and the large form, G1, of Aspergillus niger glucoamylase (EC 3.1.2.3). The G2 form was either identical to residues Ala1-Pro512 or to Ala1-Ala514 of the G1 polypeptide chain containing 616 amino acid residues. Structural analysis of the O-linked carbohydrates from the 70-amino-acid-residues long extensively glycosylated segment of G2 revealed no significant differences in the contents of single mannose and oligosaccharide units in comparison to the corresponding region of G1. The results suggest that the present G2 form has been generated by limited proteolysis of the larger G1. In contradistinction to this, a recently reported splicing out of an intervening sequence from G1 mRNA leads to a smaller mRNA coding for a G2 protein product with a different COOH-terminal sequence than the G2 form described in the present work [Boel et al. (1984) EMBO J. 3, 1097-1102].

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1986

Monocytosis and monocytic infiltration of decidua in early pregnancy.

This study showed a marked increase of blood monocytes in the 7th-20th week of pregnancy. The highest monocyte values were observed in the very first weeks whereas neutrophil counts were increasing throughout the observation period. No significant pregnancy associated changes were found in T-cell subpopulations or in HLA-DR expression by monocytes. First trimester decidual tissue contained many HLA-DR, Leu-M3 positive cells. Their distribution was patchy and mainly confined to areas of prominent decidual reaction. In contrast normal secretory phase endometrium showed only occasional Leu-M3, HLA-DR positive cells but a few clusters of glandular epithelial cells expressed HLA-DR. Culture supernatants from both decidual and secretory endometrial tissues contained PGE2 in concentrations known to suppress PHA lymphocyte responses in vitro. We postulate that monocytes infiltrating the decidual tissue may, possibly through PGE2 mediated immunosuppression, help to prevent rejection of the fetal allograft early in pregnancy.

Antigens, Surface↗
PubMed1984

Structural studies on the O-glycosidically linked carbohydrate chains of glucoamylase G1 from Aspergillus niger.

Glucoamylase G1 from Aspergillus niger contains an unusual type of carbohydrate-protein linkage, involving mannose O-glycosidically linked to serine and threonine. The majority of the neutral oligosaccharides of glucoamylase G1 are located in a region of about 70 amino acid residues which carries about 35 oligosaccharide units [(1983) Carlsberg Res. Commun. 48, 517-527]. Structural analysis was performed on the O-linked carbohydrates of a tryptic fragment from glucoamylase G1 comprising the segment characterized by a high degree of glycosylation. The carbohydrate structures released by trifluoroacetolysis were elucidated using sugar analysis, methylation analysis, mass spectrometry, chromium trioxide oxidation, digestion with alpha-mannosidase and 1H-NMR spectroscopy. The following structures could be identified. (formula; see text)

Aspergillus niger↗
PubMed1984

Degradation of chondroitin 4-sulphate by tri-fluoroacetolysis: isolation of oligosaccharides from the carbohydrate-protein linkage region.

Oligosaccharides from the linkage-region tetrasaccharide, beta-D-GlcpA-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D- Xylp, of chondroitin 4-sulphate were isolated after trifluoroacetolysis. The oligosaccharides were purified by ion-exchange chromatography and paper chromatography and subjected to sugar and methylation analysis and g.l.c.-m.s. The recovery of linkage-region oligosaccharides was approximately 45% after trifluoroacetolysis, calculated according to the D-xylose present in the chondroitin 4-sulphate preparation. The following structures were identified: beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Xylp, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-D-Galp, beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D-Xylp, beta-D-GlcpA-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----3)-beta-D-Galp-(1----4)-D- Xylp.

Animals↗
PubMed1984

Oligosaccharide structures mediating agglutination of sheep erythrocytes by Staphylococcus saprophyticus.

Agglutination of sheep erythrocytes by Staphylococcus saprophyticus was used as a model system for adherence studies. Glycolipids were isolated from sheep erythrocyte membranes, and oligosaccharides were prepared by trifluoroacetolysis. The oligosaccharides were characterized by sugar analyses, methylation analyses, gas-liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. We showed that oligosaccharides containing terminal beta-D-galactose-p-(1-4)-beta-D-2-acetamido-2-deoxyglucose-p-(1- were good inhibitors of the hemagglutination of sheep erythrocytes by S. saprophyticus.

Animals↗