Botulism and Guillain-Barré syndrome.
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Animals↗
Biomedical subjects
S H Notermans
Publications and source records attributed to S H Notermans.
[Mortality of cattle following feeding of moldy flower bulbs].
Five of eight meat cattle died suddenly without showing prior symptoms of disease. The sudden death occurred in connection with the feeding of mouldy tulip bulbs. A short review is given of the use of flower bulbs as cattle feed, the use of herbicides/fungicides in bulb cultivation, and the relevant legislation. Several toxicological aspects that should be taken into consideration when flower bulbs are used as cattle feed are discussed. Both the Central Veterinary Institute and the State Institute for Public Health and Environmental Hygiene showed, in experiments with mice, the presence of a toxin in extracts of the mouldy tulip bulbs. This toxin is probably produced by moulds present in the tulip bulbs. The death of the animals was probably caused by an as yet unidentified mycotoxin.
Animal Feed↗
Formation of antigenic extracellular polysaccharides by selected strains of Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhizomucor spp., Absidia corymbifera and Syncephalastrum racemosum.
In this study, polyclonal IgG antibodies raised against extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) of Mucor racemosus were characterised as almost specific for moulds belonging to the order of Mucorales. Cross-reactivity in the ELISA could be observed only towards the yeast Pichia membranaefaciens. EPS were isolated from various cultures of M. hiemalis growing on six different carbon sources and two nitrogen sources, with ratios varying from 0.13 to 0.44 relative to the amount of biomass. Other strains including Mucor spp., Rhizopus spp., Rhizomucor spp., Absidia corymbifera and Syncephalastrum racemosum also excreted EPS, with ratios varying from 0.05 to 0.23. In all cases, the excreted EPS had similar antigenic properties as determined by ELISA. No enzymatic degradation of the antigenic parts of the polysaccharides could be observed upon prolonged incubation. Considering that all tested strains formed similar amounts of antigenic EPS there might be scope for the specific detection of biomass of Mucoralean moulds using ELISA techniques for example in food.
Antibodies, Fungal↗
Detection of Aspergillus and Penicillium extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) by ELISA: using antibodies raised against acid hydrolysed EPS.
Species of the fungal genera Aspergillus and Penicillium produce immunologically active extracellular polysaccharides (EPS) in which galactofuranose residues are immunodominant. The antigenic determinant of the EPS of A. fumigatus, A. niger and P. digitatum could be removed by acid hydrolysis. Due to the hydrolysis of the EPS the immunological reaction between IgG anti-native EPS and hydrolysed EPS disappeared. Antibodies raised in rabbits against the acid hydrolysed EPS revealed new antigenic determinants that were exposed as a result of the acid hydrolysis. Immunological inhibitory experiments showed that the antibodies were no longer directed to galactofuranose residues. Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay, carried out with antibodies raised against the acid hydrolysed EPS showed that the antibodies against the acid hydrolysed EPS were more species specific in comparison with the antibodies against the native EPS.
Animals↗
The identification of Salmonella enteritidis-infected poultry flocks associated with an outbreak of human salmonellosis.
In the summer of 1991 a human outbreak of Salmonella enteritidis infection occurred following a barbecue in which about 100 persons were involved. Eggs, supplied by one or more of 10 different layer farms, were the most probable source of the infection. To identify the S. enteritidis-positive flocks, an immunoassay was used to detect salmonella serogroup D-specific antibodies in the yolk of hens eggs. Antibody titres in the eggs from two layer farms, farm A and B, clearly exceeded the titres found in randomly collected eggs. Further investigation on farm A and B yielded high antibody titres in the eggs from flocks A1, A2 and B2, and low titres in the eggs from flock B1. S. enteritidis was isolated from the faecal samples of flocks A1, A2 and B2, whereas no salmonella was detected in the faecal samples of flock B1. The flocks present on both farms originated from the same breeder flock.
Animals↗
Salmonella contamination of poultry flocks in The Netherlands.
The contamination of poultry in the Netherlands with Salmonella enteritidis was tested. For this, different methods (detection of S. enteritidis in faecal samples of 25 g; detection of S. enteritidis in cloacal swabs; detection of S. enteritidis by serological testing of antibodies in serum) were compared for their efficiency to detect S. enteritidis in flocks of poultry. Testing of faecal samples clearly yielded the best results. This method was used in a transmission study, in which 14 flocks descending from a contaminated primary mother flock were screened for the presence of S. enteritidis. The method was also used for screening 49 flocks of laying hens and 52 flocks of broiler chickens throughout the Netherlands. From the transmission study it became clear that S. enteritidis, phage type 2 (Dutch phage set) was isolated both from the mother flock and from five of the descendent flocks. Screening of poultry flocks for the presence of salmonella revealed that salmonella was present in 47% of the layer flocks and in 94% of the broiler flocks. S. enteritidis was isolated from 15% of the flocks screened.
Animals↗
Use of the polymerase chain reaction for direct detection of Listeria monocytogenes in soft cheese.
The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification technique was investigated as a tool for direct detection of Listeria monocytogenes in soft cheeses. Different sets of oligonucleotide primers were used, and parts of the L. monocytogenes Dth 18-gene could be amplified specifically when either a plasmid vector carrying the cloned gene or chromosomal DNA was used a template. The detection limit for L. monocytogenes in dilutions of pure cultures was between 1 and 10 colony-forming units. In extracts from soft cheeses containing L. monocytogenes DNA, the amplification was strongly inhibited. This inhibition could be reduced by an additional purification step. Despite this the detection limit showed a large variation, depending on the brand of cheese used. In some cheeses 10(3) cfu/0.5g could be visualized whereas in others the presence of 10(8) cfu/0.5 g did not yield a detectable quantity of amplified product.
Base Sequence↗
Phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C activity as a marker to distinguish between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria species.
In this study, 468 Listeria strains were checked for the presence of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PI-PLC) activity by using a simple assay that consisted of overlaying colonies formed on agar plates with L-alpha-phosphatidylinositol as substrate. In this assay, PI-PLC-active colonies show turbid halos around the colonies as a result of the release of insoluble diacylglycerol from the substrate. This activity was detected only in the pathogenic species Listeria monocytogenes and was not present in any of the 167 strains of Listeria seeligeri, Listeria welshimeri, Listeria innocua, Listeria murrayi, and Listeria grayi tested. Hence, screening for PI-PLC activity permits discrimination between pathogenic and nonpathogenic Listeria species. In particular, the hemolytic but nonpathogenic species L. seeligeri can now be separated from the hemolytic and pathogenic species L. monocytogenes and L. ivanovii. The use of this assay will improve the specific detection and/or isolation of pathogenic Listeria species from clinical samples or food enrichment cultures.
Base Sequence↗
Gene probes for the detection of aerolysin in Aeromonas spp.
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Aeromonas↗
[Botulism].
In view of large-scale outbreaks of botulism among waterfowl and farm animals in the Netherlands, studies were done designed to estimate the risks incurred by man. The presence of C. botulinum in the environment as well as contamination cycles and the potential for multiplication were studied. Raw materials used in the production of food were frequently found to be contaminated with types of C. botulinum pathogenic for man. The growth of C. botulinum in foods and meat preservatives other than nitrite were examined. To reduce the use of laboratory animals in research on botulism, immunological methods to detect botulinum toxins were developed.
Animals↗
[Incidence of Clostridium botulinum on cattle farms].
Clostridium botulinum, mainly type B, was constantly found to be present on cattle farms. The organism was isolated both from samples of the soil of pastures and from the faeces of cattle during the winter housing period. The number of C. botulinum type B in samples of soil varied from 10 to 300 organisms per 100 grams. Contamination with C. botulinum was found to be of a similar order of magnitude on farms on which pastures are regularly dressed with sewage sludge. C. botulinum was detected in 13 per cent of the faecal samples (420 samples of one gram each). Particularly grass silage pits prepared with wilted grass were found to provide a possible link between contamination of pastures and cattle.
Animals↗