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At least 451 records · Page 25Linked to original sources
PubMed2006

Molecular fingerprinting of the intestinal microbiota of infants in whom atopic eczema was or was not developing.

BACKGROUND: The rise in atopic diseases has been linked to disturbances in the intestinal microbiota composition. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the intestinal microbiota composition in infants in whom atopic (IgE-associated) eczema was or was not developing, using a molecular fingerprinting technique. METHODS: Within a prospective birth cohort study, fecal samples have been collected at the infant's age of 1 month. Within the context of this cohort, we conducted a nested case-control study comparing fecal samples of 26 infants who became sensitized and developed eczema within the first year of life with 52 non-sensitized non-eczematous infants. The composition of the fecal samples was examined using PCR combined with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Using real-time PCR, total bacterial counts and bifidobacterial counts were enumerated. RESULTS: Neither total bacterial profiles nor the type and proportion of bifidobacteria in the feces were associated with the development of atopic eczema. The similarity of bacterial profiles was low; mean similarity was approximately 33% in both infants with or without atopic eczema. The prevalence of one specific band in total bacterial profiles was significantly higher in infants with atopic eczema compared with controls (96% vs. 71%, P = 0.01). Identification of this band revealed that it represented Escherichia coli. CONCLUSION: Although no association was found between the development of IgE-associated eczema and the dominant gut microbiota as a whole or with the bifdobacterial microbiota, the association with E. coli indicates that differences in gut microbiota do precede the development of atopy.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

[Relationships between the prevalence of Toxocara eggs in dogs' faeces and soil].

Toxocariasis is a cosmopolitan infection of dogs and cats. Humans (mainly children) become infected by accidentally ingesting embryonated eggs from the environment. The studies were conducted on the role of dogs in the epidemiology of human toxocariasis. A total of 112 soil samples and 110 fecal samples were collected from the same public places in Poznań, including backyards in the centre of the city, playgrounds and public squares grounds. Of these soil samples, 6.3 % were positive for Toxocara spp., 1.8 % for Trichuris vulpis. Fecal examination revealed that 0.9 % samples were positive for Toxocara canis, 1.8 % for Trichuris vulpis and 0.9 % for Toxascaris leonina.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Influence of dietary fiber on xylanolytic and cellulolytic bacteria of adult pigs.

Xylanolytic and cellulolytic bacteria were enumerated over an 86-day period from fecal samples of 10 8-month-old gilts that were fed either a control or a 40% alfalfa meal (high-fiber) diet. Fecal samples were collected from all pigs on days 0, 3, 5, 12, 25, 37, 58, and 86. Overall, the numbers of xylanolytic bacteria producing greater than 5-mm-diameter zones of clearing on 0.24% xylan roll tube medium after 24 to 36 h of incubation were 1.6 X 10(8) and 4.2 X 10(8)/g (dry weight) of feces for the control pigs and those fed the high-fiber diet, respectively. After 1 week of incubation, a large number of smaller zones of clearing (1 to 2 mm) appeared. Besides Bacteroides succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens, which produced faint zones of clearing in xylan roll tubes, three strains which closely resembled B. ruminicola hydrolyzed and used xylan for growth. The overall numbers of cellulolytic bacteria producing zones of clearing in 0.5% agar roll tube medium were 0.36 X 10(8) and 4.1 X 10(8)/g for the control pigs and those fed the high-fiber diet, respectively. B. succinogenes was the predominant cellulolytic isolate from both groups of pigs, and R. flavefaciens was found in a ratio of approximately 1 to 15 with B. succinogenes. Degradation of xylan and cellulose, measured by in vitro dry matter disappearance after inoculation with fecal samples, was significantly greater for pigs fed the high-fiber diet than that for the controls. These data suggest that the number of fibrolytic microorganisms and their activity in the large intestine of the adult pig can be increased by feeding pigs high-alfalfa-fiber diets and that these organisms are similar to those found in the rumen.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed2001

Seasonal distribution of enteropathogens detected from diarrheal stool and water samples collected in Kathmandu, Nepal.

A total of 334 diarrheal fecal samples (from 210 males and 124 females) collected in Kathmandu, Nepal, were studied for various kinds of enteropathogens. Overall, 33% (111/334) fecal samples were positive for one or more enteropathogens. There was no difference in detection rates between males and females. Enteropathogen detection rates in summer, winter, spring, and autumn were 61% (40/66), 52% (45/87), 31% (25/81), and 25% (25/100), respectively. Altogether eight species of bacteria, three genera of viruses, and five species of protozoan parasites were detected with considerable seasonal variations. Among the bacterial isolates, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli topped the list followed by Vibrio sp. Only one sample had Shigella (S. sonnei). Rotavirus type A was the most frequently detected among the enteric viruses, followed by human enterovirus and human adenovirus, respectively. Among the enteric protozoan parasites, Giardia intestinalis was the most frequently detected followed by Cryptosporidium parvum. Detection of bacterial and protozoan pathogens showed a slightly high tendency in the summer season compared with that in the other seasons (p>0.05), whereas the detection of viruses was significantly high in the winter season (p<0.05). Of the total 57 water samples, 43 (75%) showed one or more bacterial species out of which 51% (22/43) were E. coli. Among the E. coli isolates, 68% were EPEC. Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (O157) was not detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2026

Genomic Diversity and Extended-Spectrum &#x3b2;-Lactamase Gene Contexts of Community Resident-Carried Escherichia coli in Ecuador.

Community carriage of extended-spectrum &#x3b2;-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli represents an important reservoir of antimicrobial resistance. However, the genomic diversity and population structure of ESBL-producing E. coli circulating in community settings remain poorly characterized. This study aimed to characterize ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from fecal samples of residents in Ecuador, with an emphasis on the diversity and genomic context of ESBL genes. ESBL-producing E. coli was isolated from fecal samples obtained from 55 residents using MacConkey agar supplemented with cefotaxime. Whole-genome sequencing of the isolates was performed using a hybrid approach combining long- and short-read platforms. Plasmids and &#x3b2;-lactamase genes were identified using DFAST and PlasmidFinder. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were conducted by MALDI-TOF MS and the broth microdilution method, respectively. ESBL-producing E. coli were isolated from 35 of 55 fecal samples (63.6%). Complete circular genomes were obtained from 31 isolates. All isolates harbored bla CTX-M genes, predominantly belonging to the bla CTX-M-1 group, whereas 65.7% carried bla TEM, mainly bla TEM-1, and related variants. Although &#x3b2;-lactamase genes were predominantly plasmid-borne, chromosomal integration was detected in 40% of the isolates. Notably, 87.5% of the isolates harbored IncF plasmids with multiple replicons. Conserved IS26-flanked transposons carrying bla CTX-M and bla TEM were frequently identified in the plasmids. Phylogenetic analysis revealed substantial genomic diversity across seven phylogroups, together with closely related isolates detected within and between households. These findings provide high-resolution genomic insights into the ESBL determinants circulating in community residents and reveal region-specific patterns of ESBL genomic diversity.

CTX-M &#x3b2;-lactamases↗
PubMed1982

Radionuclide export and elimination by coyotes at two radioactive waste disposal areas in southeastern Idaho.

Coyote fecal samples were collected near a radioactive waste leaching pond and a solid radioactive waste disposal facility and analyzed for radioactivity. Elevated concentrations of 137Cs, 90Sr and 238Pu in the samples from the liquid radioactive waste leaching area were attributed to coyotes ingesting contaminated pond water and/or small mammals. Elevated 241Am concentrations in coyote fecal samples collected around the solid radioactive waste disposal facility were due to ingestion of contaminated small mammals. Assumptions relative to the coyote use of these areas permitted an estimate of the maximum quantity of radioactivity exported and eliminated around the facilities. An annual total of 7.2, 31.4 and 1.8 microCi (90Sr, 137Cs, 238Pu, 239,240Pu, 241Am, 242Cm and 244Cm) was eliminated by coyotes within a 6.3 km radius of the solid radioactive waste disposal facility, liquid waste leaching pond, and control area, respectively. These quantities of radioactivity eliminated by coyotes were similar or less than quantities transported by other mechanisms such as waterfowl and vegetative uptake of radioactivity. Coyotes are a mode of radionuclide transport from the two radioactive waste disposal areas; however, due to the low radionuclide concentrations and low yearly radionuclide inventories in coyote fecal samples, it is doubtful that any significant environmental consequences occur as a result of this transport mechanism.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Studies on fluorescence in situ hybridization with group-specific 16S rRNA-based probes in analysis of human colonic microflora].

In order to establish the optional experimental conditions of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for analysis of colonic microflora, and analyze the stability and validation of the technique, fresh fecal samples were collected from the volunteers and five group-specific 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes were used, and the effects of keeping time and temperature of fresh fecal samples after collected, the centrifugal speed and time, the storage time of paraformaldehyde-stocks of samples on the results were analyzed. The stability and the validation were assessed by CV values. Results showed that: (1) The optional experimental conditions were that the fresh fecal samples were not kept for more than 12 hours at 4 degrees C, the centrifugal speed of samples was 700 g for 2 minutes, and the paraformaldehyde-stocks were not kept for more than 5 months at low temperature (-80 degrees C) before analysis; (2) The method had good stability and could detect the differences of colonic microflora composition between objects at a significant level.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Epidemiologic features of intestinal parasitic infections in Italian mental institutions.

To determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the residents of four Italian psychiatric institutions, we examined the stool specimens collected in triplicate from 238 residents, enrolled between May 1995 and May 1996. Besides, physician and staff nurses provided data about each resident by standardized questionnaires. Parasites were detected in the fecal samples from 128 patients (53.8%). However, in the stool specimens from 106 residents only non-pathogenic protozoa were found (82.8%). Trichuris trichiura ova, Giardia lamblia cysts and trophozoites, Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, and Balantidium coli cysts were found in the fecal samples from 22 residents (9.2%). B. hominis was the most prevalent parasite. It was detected in the fecal specimens from 97 residents (40.8%). The so-called nonpathogenic amebae were detected in the fecal specimens from 65 residents, though, at the same time, there was no evidence of Entamoeba histolytica infection. Twelve residents (5.0%) showed intestinal colonization by nonpathogenic flagellates. All the subjects with T. trichiura infection were housed in the facility of Ancona. Parasites were found in fecal samples from all the 11 residents with behavioural aberrations, but only three of those suffering from intestinal pathogen infection associated to diarrhea. Statistical analyses revealed that the presence of pathogenic parasites in fecal specimens was significantly associated with diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, fever, behavioural aberrations and nonpathogenic protozoa (p < 0.01), but did not demonstrate any other significant associations between these parasites and the other variables, such as pruritus, mucus or blood in the stools and presence of fecal leukocytes. On the other hand, the presence of nonpathogenic protozoa was significantly related to aberrations such as pica, geophagia, phytophagy, coprophagy, coprophilia and pathogenic parasites (p < 0.01). Data analyses revealed that both pathogenic and nonpathogenic parasites were significantly more common in institutionalized patients than in controls. The rare presence of clinical signs and symptoms in colonized patients represents an important public health problem, since the presence of asymptomatic carriers among residents with low hygienic conditions, raises concern of transmission of parasitic infections to professional staff and other residents. Since the eradication of parasitic colonization in residential facilities is hard to reach, an effective prevention is the only measure to deal with this public health problem.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Comparison of different salivary and fecal antibodies for the diagnosis of celiac disease.

To investigate the detectability and expressiveness of salivary and fecal anti-gliadin (AGA), anti-endomysium (EMA) and anti-tissue-transglutaminase (ATA) antibodies, 127 salivary and 160 fecal samples of healthy volunteers and salivary and fecal samples of 17 patients with histologically proven and 9 patients with suggested celiac disease were investigated in this study. With all salivary parameters and fecal IgA AGA, IgM AGA, IgA EMA and IgG EMA, healthy volunteers and patients showed partially overlapping results. The most promising results in our study with higher concentrations in patients with celiac disease were obtained by fecal scIgA AGA and a combined determination of fecal IgA AGA, IgG AGA and IgM AGA. Further investigations should be performed with fecal IgA EMA and scIgA ATA based on human recombinant tissue-transglutaminase. One patient with histologically proven celiac disease had normal serological but high fecal scIgA AGA and scIgA ATA values. This patient emphasizes the importance of fecal antibody determination for the diagnosis of celiac disease, at least in patients with suggested celiac disease and negative serum antibodies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Patent and pre-patent detection of Echinococcus granulosus genotypes in the definitive host.

The detection of Echinococcus granulosus in dogs is important for epidemiological surveillance and evaluation of cystic hydatic disease control programs. We report the efficacy of two PCR-based methods to detect patent and pre-patent infection in dogs experimentally infected with E. granulosus. The detection is based on amplification of a fragment of a mitochondrial gene (Mit-PCR) and a DNA repetitive element (Rep-PCR) of E. granulosus. We tested the ability of both methods to detect several genotypes of the parasite. Both PCR methods could detect E. granulosus in pre-patent and patent periods, even when microscopical observation of eggs resulted negative in fecal samples. The Mit-PCR produced the same amplification pattern for all the parasite genotypes tested while the amplification patterns with the Rep-PCR differed among groups of strains. Fecal samples collected from dogs of an endemic area were diagnosed with more sensitivity than arecoline hydrobromide purgation. These molecular methods could be applied in the confirmation of coproantigen-positive fecal samples and to verify the success of control programs.

Animals↗
PubMed2004

Assessment of fecal output in patients receiving enteral tube feeding: validation of a novel chart.

OBJECTIVE: To develop a practical, valid and reliable chart to assist in the accurate visual characterization of fecal output in patients receiving enteral tube feeding (ETF). DESIGN: A chart incorporating verbal and pictorial descriptors of fecal output was developed. Validity and reliability were assessed by a questionnaire survey of health professionals and a clinical study of patients commencing ETF. Content validity was assessed from the results of the questionnaire, construct validity by contrasting groups analysis, concurrent validity by comparison of the chart with actual fecal weight and inter-rater reliability by independent characterization of the same fecal sample by two nurses. SETTING: St George's Hospital, London, UK. SUBJECTS: In all, 35 health professionals completed a questionnaire with respect to the chart. The chart was then used to monitor fecal output in 36 patients commencing ETF for a total of 171 patient-days, during which time nurses used the chart to characterize 269 fecal samples, of which 59 were subsequently weighed. RESULTS: The results of the questionnaire suggested good content validity. The chart demonstrated statistically significant differences in fecal frequency, fecal consistency, fecal score and incidence of diarrhea for contrasting patient groups expected to have different fecal output (P < 0.05). The inter-rater reliability was almost perfect for fecal consistency (95% agreement, kappa = 0.91) and substantial for fecal weight (83%, kappa = 0.75). In all, 83% of fecal samples were assigned to the correct weight category (kappa = 0.75). CONCLUSION: The chart has good content, construct and concurrent validity and inter-rater reliability, and is suitable for both research and clinical use. SPONSORSHIP: This research was jointly supported by King's College London and Nestlé, UK.

Diarrhea↗
PubMed1982

Effect of an anthelmintic program with morantel tartrate on the performance of beef cattle.

A field trial was conducted to determine (1) the effectiveness of an anthelmintic program using morantel tartrate (MT) to control subclinical gastrointestinal parasitism among cattle on pasture and (2) the effects of the program on the performance of cattle. Two Hereford herds, each on a separate pasture with forage of comparable quality and quantity, were used. A stocking rate of .62 ha/cow-calf was maintained in both pastures. One herd consisted of 124 cows and 122 calves and served as a non-mediated control group. The second herd consisted of 126 cows and 124 calves. Cows and calves from the latter group were treated with a bolus formulation of MT at a dosage of 10 mg/kg body weight at the beginning of the trial and again 55 d later. Calves were treated again 42 d after the second treatment. Cattle were weighed individually each month and rectal fecal samples for nematode egg counts were obtained from 36 cows and 36 calves from each group at that time. These donor cattle were selected at random at the time of the first weighing; fecal samples were then obtained from the same animals throughout the study. Eggs of the Cooperia-Ostertagia-Trichostrongylus complex predominated in all fecal samplings. There was no difference in the number of nematode eggs from the two groups of cows. However, the medicated cows gained significantly more weight than the controls and had an average weight gain advantage of 28.8 kg. The medicated calves had significantly lower average egg counts and made higher weight gains than the unmedicated calves. The medicated calves had an average weight gain advantage over the control group of 11.1 kg.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Development of a new microwell hybridization assay and an internal control RNA for the detection of porcine noroviruses and sapoviruses by reverse transcription-PCR.

Recently, genetically diverse porcine noroviruses (NoV) and sapoviruses (SaV) were identified from field pig fecal samples. Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR is the primary method used for detection of human NoVs and SaVs. However, RT-PCR inhibitors frequently cause false-negative results. In this study, a competitive internal control (IC) RNA, specific for use in the SaV RT-PCR assay, was developed to monitor inhibition of RT-PCR; primers for detection of genetically diverse porcine NoVs and SaVs were designed; and microwell hybridization assays to confirm the specific RT-PCR products were developed. The primer pairs and the RT-PCR-hybridization combinations were compared using representative porcine NoV and SaV strains, positive pig fecal samples and a panel of 30 field pig fecal samples. Extracted RNA from 3 of 30 samples failed to amplify the IC RNA. However, this inhibition was not present after a 10-fold dilution of the extracted RNA. The five different RT-PCR-hybridization combinations developed specifically detected all three genotypes of porcine NoVs, all GIII porcine SaVs, unclassified JJ681-like, QW19 and LL26-like porcine SaVs, respectively. These RT-PCR-hybridization assays are specific, less time consuming and economical and particularly applicable to testing large number of samples for porcine NoVs and SaVs.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Approaches to the detection of enteric pathogens, including Campylobacter, using nucleic acid hybridization.

A previous study of the detection of Campylobacter jejuni in fecal samples spotted directly onto nitrocellulose filters before hybridization revealed a relatively low sensitivity and some false-positive results. We have investigated two factors that interfere with the detection of Campylobacter jejuni in fecal samples: interfering substances that create false-positive background signals and nonspecificity of the probe. Heterologous deoxyribonucleic acid probes bound nonspecifically to partially extracted fecal samples, indicating that the major basis for false-positive background was not due to homologous sequences. The problem of false-positive results could be reduced, but not eliminated, by extensive deoxyribonucleic acid extraction procedures applied to the clinical sample. The relative concentration of protein in each sample may be an important contributor to nonspecific binding. Other measures, such as sonication, glass bead fragmentation, and column separation, were not helpful. Development of a species-specific deoxyribonucleic acid probe derived from sequences encoding 16S ribonucleic acid is underway.

Campylobacter Infections↗
PubMed2003

Comparison of a polymerase chain reaction and the Kato-Katz technique for diagnosing infection with Schistosoma mansoni.

Fecal samples from 194 individuals living in an area of Brazil endemic for Schistosoma mansoni were analyzed by a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the Kato-Katz parasitologic examination. Statistical analysis of the results showed a kappa index of 0.8 between the two methods. The prevalence of infection was 30.9% in three fecal samples examined by the Kato-Katz method, but 38.1% in one fecal sample examined by the PCR technique. Repeated survey of discordant results showed that five (41.6%) of 12 parasitologically negative cases for which PCR gave positive results were misdiagnosed by Kato-Katz examinations. The PCR technique showed a sensitivity of 96.7% and a specificity of 88% when the parasitologic examination was used as the reference test. The efficacy of cure with praziquantel was 87.8% in three parasitologic stool examinations and 75.6% in one PCR survey. These results demonstrate that the PCR assay might be a valuable alternative for diagnosing Schistosoma infections.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Use of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry in boron-10 stable isotope experiments with plants, rats, and humans.

The commercial availability of inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry technology (ICP-MS) has presented the opportunity to measure the boron concentrations and isotope ratios in a large number of samples with minimal sample preparation. A typical analytical sequence for fecal samples consists of 25 acid blanks, 1 digestion blank, 5 calibration solutions, 4 standard reference material solutions, 10 samples, and 4 natural abundance bias standards. Boron detection limits (3 x 1 sigma) for acid blanks are 0.11 ppb for 10B, and 0.40 ppb for 11B. Isotope ratios were measured in fecal samples with 20 to 50 ppb boron with < 2% relative standard deviation. Rapid washout and minimal memory effects were observed for a 50 ppb beryllium internal standard, but a 200 ppb boron biological sample had a 1.0 ppb boron memory after a 6-min washout. Boron isotope ratios in geological materials are highly variable; apparently this variability is reflected in plants of a fixed natural abundance value for boron requires that a natural abundance ratio be determined for each sample or related data set. The natural abundance variability also prevents quantitation and calculation of isotope dilution by instrument-supplied software. To measure boron transport in animal systems, 20 micrograms of 10B were fed to a fasted rat. During the 3 days after a 10B oral dose, 95% of the 10B was recovered from the urine and 4% from the feces. Urinary isotope ratios, 11B/10B, changed from a natural abundance of 4.1140 to an enriched value of 0.95077, a 77% change.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Gas-chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analysis of the odor of human feces.

Gas-chromatographic and mass-spectrometric analysis of human fecal samples was performed to identify the volatile compounds responsible for fecal odor. The compounds identified with fecal odor were the methyl sulfides methanethiol, dimethyl disulfide, and dimethyl trisulfide. Skatole and indole, the benzopyrrole volatiles believed to be responsible for fecal odor, in fact elaborated a napthalenelike "mothball" odor in the crystalline state as well as after purging from feces. A small amount of hydrogen sulfide gas was also identified in fecal samples. The components responsible for fecal odor are complex and may be influenced by dietary and endogenous contributions. However, the major components are methyl sulfide compounds rather than skatole and indole as is currently believed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Prospective study of nosocomial enteric infections in a pediatric hospital, Calcutta.

Hospital acquired enteric infections were investigated by studying 3138 children under 5 years of age who were admitted without diarrhea in nine medical words of a pediatric hospital, Calcutta during the period between March and September 1987. Three hundred and twenty (10.2%) children developed nosocomial diarrhea during their hospital stay. Fecal samples from 178 nosocomial diarrhea, 345 hospitalized diarrhea cases, 178 hospital controls and 200 outpatient controls were collected for detection of established enteropathogens. There were no statistically significant differences in the detection of most of the enteropathogens from fecal samples of nosocomial diarrhea, hospitalized diarrhea and hospital controls. Enteric pathogens were detected at a higher frequency (statistically significant) from fecal samples of nosocomial diarrhea cases as compared to outpatient controls. This study highlights the importance of most of the enteropathogens like Shigella, Salmonella, rotavirus, enteropathogenic E. coli as the cause of hospital cross infection. This study reinforces the importance of developing preventive measures in order to reduce the frequency of illness.

Case-Control Studies↗