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Biomedical subjects

W J Snelling

Publications and source records attributed to W J Snelling.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Under the microscope: Arcobacter.

This review describes characteristics of the genus Arcobacter. Unlike its close phenotypically related neighbour Campylobacter, Arcobacter is not currently a major public health concern, but is considered as an emerging human pathogen, and is of significance towards animal health. This review focuses on the public health significance, culturing and typing, reservoirs, and antimicrobial studies of Arcobacter. Collectively, increasing knowledge in these areas will help to develop measures, which can be used to control this emerging pathogen.

Animals↗

Cryptosporidium.

This review discusses characteristics of the genus Cryptosporidium and addresses the pathogenesis, reservoirs, public health significance and current applications for the detection and typing of this important pathogen. By increasing knowledge in key areas of Cryptosporidium research such as aetiology, epidemiology, transmission and host interactions, the numbers of cases of human cryptosporidiosis should be reduced.

Animals↗

Rapid and sensitive detection of single cryptosporidium oocysts from archived glass slides.

In this study we report on the development and application of a novel method for efficiently extracting and detecting single Cryptosporidium oocysts from archived glass slides. Laser capture microscopy was used to extract low numbers of oocysts from archived glass slides. Highly sensitive real-time PCR methods were then developed to enable the rapid detection and identification of Cryptosporidium oocysts from these samples. The method was applied to fecal smears stained with a variety of standard oocyst stains and water samples. This application, with samples derived from both public health and water service laboratories, highlighted the strong potential of this method to be used as a rapid high-throughput screening tool for the routine monitoring of Cryptosporidium and other medically important pathogens from clinical, veterinary, and environmental water samples. Importantly, the application of our protocol could be used to type Cryptosporidium and other pathogens from stored archived glass slides in public health and water service laboratories, providing vital epidemiological updates and helping to identify and trace pathogens and their routes of infection and ultimately improve their control.

Animals↗

Campylobacter jejuni.

This review describes characteristics of the family Campylobacteraceae and traits of Campylobacter jejuni. The review then focuses on the worldwide problem of C. jejuni antimicrobial resistance and mechanisms of pathogenesis and virulence. Unravelling these areas will help with the development of new therapeutic agents and ultimately decrease illness caused by this important human pathogen.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

Survival of Campylobacter jejuni in waterborne protozoa.

The failure to reduce the Campylobacter contamination of intensively reared poultry may be partially due to Campylobacter resisting disinfection in water after their internalization by waterborne protozoa. Campylobacter jejuni and a variety of waterborne protozoa, including ciliates, flagellates, and alveolates, were detected in the drinking water of intensively reared poultry by a combination of culture and molecular techniques. An in vitro assay showed that C. jejuni remained viable when internalized by Tetrahymena pyriformis and Acanthamoeba castellanii for significantly longer (up to 36 h) than when they were in purely a planktonic state. The internalized Campylobacter were also significantly more resistant to disinfection than planktonic organisms. Collectively, our results strongly suggest that protozoa in broiler drinking water systems can delay the decline of Campylobacter viability and increase Campylobacter disinfection resistance, thus increasing the potential of Campylobacter to colonize broilers.

Acanthamoeba castellanii↗