Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “fecal sample”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 775 records · Page 43Linked to original sources
PubMed1984

[Strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae isolated from chronic bacterial carriers of Salmonella typhi and Salmonella schottmuelleri and from healthy persons].

Fecal samples obtained from 51 chronic carriers of S. typhi and S. schottmuelleri and from 35 healthy persons were studied. Strains of different species of Enterobacteriaceae were isolated and identified. The resistance of the isolated strains to the most commonly used antibiotics was determined. The fecal samples of the carriers were found to yield a greater number of strains than those of the healthy persons. Among the strains isolated from the carriers a variety of species was noted. S. typhi and S. schottmuelleri strains were found to be sensitive to the tested antibiotics. Antibiotic-resistant strains were mostly isolated from members of the medical staff.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed2002

Effects of flavophospholipol on resistance in fecal Escherichia coli and enterococci of fattening pigs.

A "plasmid-curing effect" of multiresistant Escherichia coli by flavophospholipol, an antibiotic used as an antimicrobial growth promoter (AMGP) in animal feeds, has been reported to occur in vitro and in vivo under experimental conditions. In this study, the effect of flavophospholipol under field conditions was studied. The prevalence and degree (proportion of resistant strains to the total numbers present per gram of feces) of resistance of indicator bacteria, E. coli and enterococci, was determined in fecal samples from three groups of pigs that were fed a commercial finisher feed without any AMGP. Group A was the negative control group without any AMGP, group B received the same feed with 9 mg of flavophospholipol/kg of feed (study group), and group C received the same feed with 15 mg of avoparcin/kg (positive control). Fecal samples from each pig were collected at the start and at the end of the study and assessed for the prevalence and degree of resistance against antibiotics commonly used either for therapy in pig medicine or as an AMGP. Before the start of the study, all pigs were colonized with multiresistant E. coli by mixing three resistant pig isolates through their feed after disturbance of the colonization resistance of the intestinal flora by a 3-day course of lincomycin and spectinomycin. At the end of the study, the overall prevalence and degree of resistance of E. coli in the fecal flora had increased significantly in groups A and C but remained at the same level as at the start of the study in group B. The prevalence of vancomycin resistance was 44 and 41% in groups A and B, respectively, but only very low numbers of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) per gram of feces were found. In the avoparcin-fed group, the prevalence was 72%, and in 57% of the samples, more than 50% of all enterococci present were vancomycin resistant. The prevalence of resistant Enterococcus faecalis increased only in the flavophospholipol-exposed group, from 23% before the start of the study to 43% at the end of the study. It was concluded that flavophospholipol effectively suppressed the augmentation and dissemination of multiresistant E. coli in the intestinal flora of fattening pigs. Avoparcin use strongly selected for VRE carriage and excretion. Therefore, as neither flavophospholipol nor any related molecule is used therapeutically, no cross-resistance with therapeutic antibiotics exists and no transmissible resistance has been shown; the major decrease in resistance in intestinal E. coli of flavophospholipol-fed animals seemed to outweigh the small increase in the risk of transfer of flavophospholipol-resistant E. faecalis from animals to humans via the food chain.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) infection in randomly selected population of Ilam Province (Iran).

In a randomly selected population, 2,008 fecal samples were screened for presence of Verotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) by colony sweep polymyxin-B extraction method. Non-sorbitol fermentation (NSF) phenotype and slide agglutination with O157: H7 antisera were used for screening and detection of this serotype. Ninety-eight (4.9%) fecal samples were found to be VTEC-positives and none of them belonged to the O157: H7 serotype. In rural areas, most individuals carrying VTEC isolates were asymptomatic, whereas in urban areas, a significant association was found between VTEC isolation and diarrhoea (p < 0.01).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

In vitro incubation of human feces with daidzein and antibiotics suggests interindividual differences in the bacteria responsible for equol production.

Daidzein can be metabolized to equol, dihydrodaidzein (DHD), and O-desmethylangolensin (ODMA) by intestinal bacteria. Only one third to one half of individuals produce equol, and evidence exists to support potential cancer-protective effects of equol production. We investigated the in vitro metabolism of daidzein by fecal bacteria and assessed the effect of several antibiotics on metabolism. Fresh or previously frozen feces from 7 equol producers and 6 nonproducers were incubated with daidzein, with or without antibiotics, for 5 d at 37 degrees C. With the exception of one previously frozen sample, fecal inoculates from equol producers converted daidzein to equol. Conversion occurred under anaerobic, but not aerobic conditions. Fecal inoculates from equol nonproducers did not produce equol, but some produced ODMA and DHD. Between-subject differences in the effects of antibiotics on daidzein metabolism were apparent. Some antibiotics inhibited the production of equol but had no effect on DHD production. These results suggest that several bacteria may be involved in daidzein metabolism, and that they may differ among subjects. This simple in vitro system can facilitate the study of factors influencing equol production and minimize the need for animal models or human interventions. Furthermore, these analyses can be conducted on fecal samples that have been frozen and stored.

Anaerobiosis↗
PubMed1984

Selective medium for isolation of Clostridium butyricum from human feces.

A selective medium, Clostridium butyricum isolation medium (BIM), is described for the isolation of C. butyricum from human feces. The BIM is a synthetic minimal medium and contains trimethoprim (16 micrograms/ml), D-cycloserine (10 micrograms/ml), and polymyxin B sulfate (20 micrograms/ml) as selective inhibitory agents. Qualitative tests indicated that C. butyricum and other butyric acid-producing clostridia grew on BIM, Clostridium sphenoides and Bacillus cereus produced small colonies, and other clostridia and other obligate anaerobic or facultatively anerobic bacteria were inhibited. Quantitative recovery of C. butyricum from cultures or seeded fecal samples was comparable with BIM and with complex medium, but the quantitative recovery of the other butyric acid-producing clostridia tested (C. beijerinckii, C. acetobutylicum) was lower with BIM than with complex medium. The BIM should aid the rapid isolation of C. butyricum from fecal samples and should be useful for bacteriological investigation of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1998

Efficacy of fenbendazole in the treatment of experimental Giardia infection in dogs.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of fenbendazole as a treatment for Giardia sp. ANIMALS: 10 male and 10 female commercial-source Beagles. PROCEDURE: The experiment was conducted in 2 replicates. Dogs considered free of Giardia infection on the basis of results of 3 consecutive negative fecal examinations were experimentally infected with approximately 1,000 Giardia cysts isolated from dog feces. After verification of infection, the dogs were allocated to 2 groups (treated and untreated) and were housed in separate rooms. Treated dogs received 50 mg of fenbendazole/kg of body weight, p.o., daily, for 3 days. After treatment on the third day, treated dogs were removed from their runs, shampooed, rinsed with disinfectant, and returned to disinfected runs. Fecal samples were collected from all dogs 12 times during the next 25 days. RESULTS: Giardia cysts were found in the feces of every untreated dog during all or part of the test period. Nine of 10 treated dogs did not have Giardia cysts in any fecal sample examined; the other dog had a positive result on a single sample in the third week after treatment. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fenbendazole, at the nematocidal label dosage, is an effective drug for treatment of Giardia infection in dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan.

A survey was conducted to examine the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan. During May 1999 and May 2000, fecal samples from cattle (n=332) and swine (n=250), chicken cloacal swabs (n=234), and vaginal swabs of cattle (n=61) and swine (n=15) were submitted for the isolation of Arcobacter species. Arcobacter species were isolated from 3.6 and 10.0% of the cattle and swine fecal samples, respectively, along with 14.5% of chicken cloacal swabs. No significant seasonal differences were observed. Species-specific polymerase chain reaction assay showed that A. butzleri was the most prevalent species (83.3, 60.0 and 47.1% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively), followed by A. cryaerophilus 1B (16.7, 36.0 and 55.9% of the cattle, swine and chicken isolates, respectively). Of the samples from vaginal swabs, 8.1 and 13.3% were positive for Arcobacter in cattle and swine, respectively. This is the first report demonstrating the distribution of Arcobacter species among livestock in Japan.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Prevalence and intensity of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) and raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) in Otaru City, Hokkaido, Japan.

A survey was done in an attempt to investigate the epidemiological status of Echinococcus multilocularis in red foxes and raccoon dogs in Otaru city from June to September 1999. Sixty-seven red foxes (Vulpes vulpes schrencki) and 13 raccoon dogs (Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) were captured, and postmortem examinations were conducted with them. Thirty-eight red foxes (56.7%) and 3 raccoon dogs (23.1%) were found to be infected with E. multilocularis. The total biomass of E. multilocularis in all infected red foxes and raccoon dogs were 2,817,000 and 1,515 worms, respectively. Nine of the infected red foxes harboring more than 100,000 worms accounted for 90.6% of the total biomass. No significant differences in the prevalence were observed between male and female, and juvenile and adult. However, the worm burden was higher in juvenile than in adult foxes. In one of the infected raccoon dogs, mature worms and eggs of E. multilocularis were found in the intestine and fecal sample, respectively. This result suggested that the raccoon dogs are probably playing a small role in the egg contamination of the environment. The validity of coproantigen ELISA for diagnosis of foxes was confirmed by comparing the results of autopsy, egg examination and coproantigen ELISA using rectal fecal samples.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay employing monoclonal antibodies for direct identification of enteric adenoviruses (Ad40,41) in feces.

For detection and identification of enteric adenovirus (Ad) types 40 and 41 in stool specimens, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed with the use of three monoclonal antibodies: Ad group-specific, Ad40 type-specific, and Ad41 type-specific antibodies. Of 860 fecal samples from patients with acute gastroenteritis, 44 strains of Ad were isolated using Graham 293 cell cultures. Of these isolates, 20 were typed as Ad40, 18 were Ad41, and 6 were other Ads by neutralization tests with cell cultures. Results of the ELISA tests on these 860 fecal samples resulted in good agreement to those with the cell culture method. The ELISA tests using Ad type-specific monoclonal antibodies proved to be a specific and rapid technique for laboratory diagnosis of acute gastroenteritis caused by enteric Ads.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1999

Duration of naturally acquired giardiosis and cryptosporidiosis in dairy calves and their association with diarrhea.

OBJECTIVE: To determine duration of infection and association of infection with diarrhea for dairy calves with naturally acquired cryptosporidiosis and giardiosis. DESIGN: Cohort study. ANIMALS: 20 Holstein calves on a single dairy farm. PROCEDURE: Fecal samples were collected 3 times/wk for the first 45 days after birth, then weekly until calves were 120 days old and examined for Giardia duodenalis cysts and Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. Calves were monitored for diarrhea during the first 45 days after birth; during each episode of diarrhea, fecal samples were examined for parasitic, bacterial, and viral pathogens. RESULTS: All 20 calves shed Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts at some time during the study. Mean ages at which Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts were first detected were 31.5 and 16.3 days, respectively. Mean number of Giardia cysts in feces remained high throughout the study, whereas Cryptosporidium occysts decreased to low or undetectable numbers 2 weeks after infection. Eighteen calves had a total of 38 episodes of diarrhea during the first 45 days after birth. Giardia duodenalis was the only pathogen identified during 6 (16%) episodes, C parvum was the only pathogen identified during 9 (24%) episodes, and G duodenalis and C parvum were identified together during 10 (26%) episodes. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalences of giardiosis and cryptosporidiosis were high in these calves, and both parasites were associated with development of diarrhea. Cryptosporidium parvum was an important pathogen when calves were < 1 month old, but G duodenalis was more important when calves were older. Calves cleared C parvum infections within 2 weeks; however, G duodenalis infections became chronic in these calves.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

Detection of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis by PCR.

Strains of enterotoxigenic Bacteroides fragilis (ETBF) are associated with diarrhea in young farm animals and, at least in particular settings, in children. Enterotoxin production by ETBF is currently detected by a tissue culture assay with HT-29 cells. We have developed a PCR assay based on the detection of the enterotoxin gene to identify ETBF in culture and in stool samples. Overall, 113 bacterial strains were examined, including 3 B. fragilis reference strains, 75 B. fragilis isolates (comprising 40 ETBF isolates), 20 Bacteroides spp. other than B. fragilis, and 15 strains belonging to other genera. Complete agreement was found between the results of the tissue culture assay and those of the PCR for our strains. PCR was also used to detect ETBF directly in fecal samples. Stools from two healthy volunteers were spiked with known numbers of ETBF and were processed by three different methods. A culture method, which required inoculation of the stools on selective plates and the collection of the whole bacterial growth ("sweeps"), was found to be the most sensitive. PCR performed with the plate sweeps yielded amplification products with a detection limit of 10(5) to 10(4) CFU/g of feces. By this method 18 samples of diarrheic stools (10 positive and 8 negative for ETBF) were examined. The results of the PCR were in accordance with the culture results in all cases. The proposed PCR assay represents a diagnostic tool for the rapid identification of ETBF in culture as well as in fecal samples.

Bacterial Toxins↗
PubMed2005

Prospective multicenter evaluation of a new immunoassay and real-time PCR for rapid diagnosis of Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea in hospitalized patients.

In a prospective multicenter study, 367 fecal samples from 300 patients with diarrhea were tested for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhea (CDAD) with a new immunochromatography assay for toxins A and B (ICTAB), a real-time PCR on the toxin B gene, and the cell cytotoxicity assay. Twenty-three (6.2%) of the 367 fecal samples were positive by the cell cytotoxicity assay. With the cell cytotoxicity assay as the "gold standard," the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value for the ICTAB assay and real-time PCR were 91, 97, 70, and 99%, and 87, 96, 57 and 99%, respectively. In conclusion, both the ICTAB and the real-time PCR can be implemented as rapid screening methods for patients suspected of having CDAD.

Academic Medical Centers↗
PubMed2003

Inhibitory effects of Bifidobacterium longum on experimental ulcerative colitis induced in mice by synthetic dextran sulfate sodium.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The relationship between alterations in intestinal microflora and ulcerative colitis is still not clear. Whether improvement in bacterial populations might be a new strategy for prevention or treatment needs to be tested. METHODS: Ulcerative colitis was induced in mice by oral administration of synthetic dextran sulfate sodium (molecular weight 54,000). Inhibitory effects of concomitant treatment with Bifidobacterium longum were assessed in terms of total colon length and severity of histological changes. In addition, changes of microflora and short-chain fatty acids were tested in fecal samples and compared before and after treatment. RESULTS: Administration of B. longum significantly inhibited both shortening of total colon length and the severity of ulcerative colitis compared to controls. It was confirmed that the administered B. longum resided in the gut and blocked the decrease of lactobacilli in fecal samples in mice with dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of B. longum exerts marked inhibitory effects on ulcerative colitis in mice.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of fermented soy milk on the intestinal bacterial ecosystem.

AIM: To investigate the effect of fermented soy milk on human ecosystem in the intestinal tract by way of examining the population of different microorganisms isolated from fecal samples. METHODS: A crossover experimental design was applied. Twenty-eight healthy adults completed this experiment. Each subject consumed 250 mL, twice a day between meals, of either fermented soy milk or regular soy milk first for 2 wk, then switched to the other drink after 2 wk. Fecal samples were collected from all subjects every week starting from the second week to the end of the experiment. The microorganisms analyzed were Bifidobacterium spp., Lactobacillus spp., Clostridium perfringens, coliform organisms, and total anaerobic organisms. RESULTS: In the period of fermented soy milk consumption, the populations of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. increased (P<0.05) as well as the ratios of Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. to Clostridium perfringens (P<0.05). The population of coliform organisms decreased (P<0.05) when subjects were in the period of fermented soy milk consumption. CONCLUSION: Intake of fermented soy milk significantly improved the ecosystem of the intestinal tract in the body by increasing the amount of probiotics.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Evaluation of a bacteriological and mycological examination of psittacine birds.

Results are presented from a microbiological (bacteriological and mycological) investigation and the sensitivity tests of microorganisms isolated over a 2-year period (1983-84) from 80 fecal samples and 466 necropsies of psittacine birds. These results are correlated with signs of metaplasia of the salivary glands due to vitamin A deficiency in large parrots and with low vitamin A levels in the livers of small psittacine birds. Aerobic microorganisms were isolated from 76% of the fecal samples and 67% of the necropsies. Infections with primary pathogenic bacteria were found in less than 10% of the necropsies. Metaplasia was found in 51% of the large parrots, and the vitamin A levels in budgerigars were below acceptable levels. The possible role of a deficient diet in Psittaciformes in the occurrence of microbial infections and their treatment are discussed.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Studies of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in two adjacent watersheds.

Two adjacent British Columbia, Canada, watersheds with similar topographical features were studied. Both the Black Mountain Irrigation District (BMID) and the Vernon Irrigation District (VID) serve rural agricultural communities which are active in cattle ranching. The present study was carried out in five phases, during which a total of 249 surface water samples were tested in the study watersheds. The aims of these phases were to determine levels of parasite contamination in raw water samples collected from the intakes as well as from other sites in each watershed and to investigate cattle in the watersheds as potential sources of parasite contamination of surface drinking water supplies. Giardia cysts were not detected in the raw water samples collected from lake sources at the headwaters of both watersheds but were found in 100% (70 or 70) of water samples collected at the BMID intake and 97% (68 of 70) of water samples collected at the VID intake. Significantly higher levels (P < 0.05) of Giardia cysts were found at the BMID intake (phase 1, 7 to 2,215 cysts per 100 liters; phase 3, 4.6 to 1,880 cysts per 100 liters) when compared with that of the VID intake (2 to 114 cysts per 100 liters). The BMID watershed has a more complex system of surface water sources than the VID watershed. Cattle have access to creeks in the BMID watershed, whereas access is restricted in the VID watershed. Collection of raw water samples from a creek upstream and downstream of a cattle ranch in the BMID watershed showed that the downstream location had significantly higher (P < 0.05) levels (0.6 to 42.9 cysts per 100 liters and 1.4 to 300.0 oocysts per 100 liters) of both Giardia cysts and Cryptosporidium oocysts than those of the upstream location (0.5 to 34.4 cysts per 100 liters and 0.5 to 34.4 oocysts per 100 liters). Peak concentrations of both parasites coincided with calving activity. Fecal samples, collected from cattle in both watersheds, showed 10% (3 of 30) in the BMID and 50% (5 of 10) in the VID watersheds to be Giardia positive. No Cryptosporidium-positive fecal samples were found. Giardia cysts isolated from the BMID watershed were repeatedly infective to gerbils in contrast to those from the VID watershed. The 10 BMID drinking water Giardia isolates retrieved into culture and biotyped showed zymodeme and karyotype heterogeneity. The differences in patterns of parasite contamination and cattle management practices contribute to the unique watershed characteristics observed between two areas which are topographically similar and geographically adjacent.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Development of a nested PCR assay for the detection of canine coronavirus.

A diagnostic test for canine coronavirus (CCV) infection based on a nested polymerase chain reaction (n-PCR) assay was developed and tested using the following coronavirus strains: CCV (USDA strain), CCV (45/93, field strain), feline infectious peritonitis virus (FIPV, field strain), transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV, Purdue strain), bovine coronavirus (BCV, 9WBL-77 strain), infectious bronchitis virus (IBV, M-41 strain) and fecal samples of dogs with CCV enteritis. A 230-bp segment of the gene encoding for transmembrane protein M of CCV is the target sequence of the primer. The test described in the present study was able to amplify both CCV and TGEV strains and also gave positive results on fecal samples from CCV infected dogs. n-PCR has a sensitivity as high as isolation on cell cultures, and can therefore be used for the diagnosis of CCV infection in dogs.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Technical note: labeling of forages with 13C for nutrition and metabolism studies.

Alfalfa was labeled in the field with 99 atom % 13CO2 and cut either the same day (C1) or 30 d after labeling (C30). The C1 alfalfa contained 84% of the 13C label in cell contents, whereas C30 alfalfa contained 47% of the 13C label in cell contents. In two separate trials, C1 and C30 alfalfa were dosed to two or four Suffolk ewes fed natural abundance alfalfa diets. Carbon isotope ratios (13C/12C, expressed as delta 13C/1000 [parts per thousand] vs Pee Dee Belemnite standard) were determined for breath, feces, blood, and blood serum from ewes fed C1 alfalfa and blood and feces from ewes fed C30 alfalfa. In the C1 trial, carbon isotope ratios of respired CO2 peaked 4 h after feeding, then declined to baseline levels by 40 h after the dose. Fecal samples increased in 13C only slightly from 12 to 40 h after the meal. Blood serum values increased by approximately .5/1000 from 0 to 4 h after the dose and remained relatively constant thereafter. In both trials, carbon isotope values from whole blood were constant. In the C30 trial, fecal samples peaked in carbon isotope value approximately 30 to 36 h after dosing, then declined; the time of this peak corresponded closely to that from a concurrent study that used a pulse dose of Yb-labeled alfalfa hay. Thus, when incorporated into cell wall material, the excretion pattern of 13C in feces was similar to that of Yb-labeled hay, but little 13C enrichment in feces was found when 13C was primarily in cell contents of the labeled forage.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animal Feed↗