Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “FECES”

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 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

The effects of skin pressure by clothing on whole gut transit time and amount of feces.

The experiment investigated the effects of skin pressure by clothing on whole gut transit time and amount of feces. Comparisons of transit time and amount of feces were taken between 6 young female adults with and without a girdle. The skin pressure applied by a girdle (mean +/- SD) on participant's waist, abdomen and hip region was 16.6 +/- 7.80 mmHg, 17.1 +/- 4.5 mmHg and 12.6 +/- 5.0 mmHg, respectively. The difference of skin pressure with and without a girdle was about 10 mmHg. During each experimental period of 4 days with and without a girdle, the whole gut transit time and amount of feces were measured. The whole gut transit time of each day was determined as the time between the oral intake of each day's markers and their first appearance in the stool. The whole gut transit times of the markers taken on the first day were significantly prolonged (p < 0.05) and those of the markers taken on the second day tended to be prolonged for participant using a girdle (p < 0.1). The whole gut transit time of the markers taken on the third day could not be compared because they were not excreted into the stool. The cumulative increases of feces on the third day and the fourth day were significantly reduced with a girdle (p < 0.05). These results indicate that the skin pressure by clothing has an effect on whole gut transit time and the amount of feces.

Adult↗

[Analysis of lac color in diets and feces of rats for toxicity studies].

An analytical method was developed for lac color in diets fed to rats and in the feces, and the contents of lac color were determined. After lac color was extracted with 0.05% sodium carbonate and 50% ethanol containing 0.02% sodium lauryl sulfate from the diets and feces, the extracted color solutions were analyzed by HPLC. The recoveries of lac color from diets spiked at 1.25, 5.00% and that from feces spiked at 5.00% were 85.6, 93.4% and 69.5%, respectively. Contents of lac color in diets prepared to contain 1.25 and 5.00% were 1.1 and 5.2%, and dose levels were confirmed by these results. Contents of lac color in feces of male and female rats given lac color were 127.8 mg/g and 138.6 mg/g, respectively. By comparing the HPLC chromatograms of laccaic acids in the diet with those in feces of rats, laccaic acid A, B, C and E were detected in both, and their content ratios were approximately determined.

Animal Feed↗

Detection of Salmonella enteritidis in feces from poultry using booster polymerase chain reaction and oligonucleotide primers specific for all members of the genus Salmonella.

Salmonella enteritidis was identified in feces from hens using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligonucleotide primers specific for all members of the genus Salmonella. Feces from specific-pathogen-free Leghorn hens were determined to be negative for Salmonella by microbiological culture and by the PCR. Fecal samples were inoculated with known numbers of colony-forming units of S. enteritidis. The DNA was extracted from fecal samples and amplified by the PCR using genus-specific primers. Salmonella were detected in all samples known to be positive; the sensitivity of the assay extended to 1 cfu of S. enteritidis/g feces. Feces that were not inoculated with Salmonella were negative. Microbiological culture was less sensitive than the PCR assay; results of culture of feces with less than 10(2) cfu/g were negative. Although S. enteritidis was used in this study, the oligonucleotide primers used in this study have been previously demonstrated to be genus-specific for Salmonella.

Animals↗

Effect of duration of fasting and a short-term high-roughage ration on the concentration of Escherichia coli biotype 1 in cattle feces.

A field trial using cattle from a commercial feedlot was conducted to quantify the effect of duration of fasting and a temporary change in ration on the concentration of Escherichia coli biotype 1 in feces. A nested hierarchical design with repeated measures through time was used. Two groups of 20 British x European breed beef steers having reached slaughter weight (mean live weight 685 kg; SD 50 kg) were fed entirely on a high-energy ration typical of that used in the Ontario beef finishing industry or were switched for 4 days onto a high-roughage ration. This was followed by a period of fasting and water deprivation to mimic that which occurs prior to slaughter. Fecal samples were collected at 0, 24, and 48 h of fasting, and for each sample the total presumptive E. coli (biotype 1) CFU/g of feces was enumerated by spiral plating. Estimates of effect for the design factors were obtained by restricted maximum likelihood, and these were compared to robust counterparts obtained from generalized estimating equations. Results indicated that the ration, the duration of fasting, and their interaction had significant effects on total log E. coli concentration in feces. Cattle on the high-roughage ration for four days had a significantly lower initial log E. coli CFU/g of feces compared to cattle on the normal ration, but after 48 h of fasting they had a significantly higher concentration. It is concluded that while a temporary change in ration and duration of fasting does affect E. coli concentration in feces, these changes do not seem large enough to deliver a drastic improvement in beef carcass hygiene should they be incorporated in hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) plans for the preslaughter period of beef production.

Animal Feed↗

Evaluation of the 1-2 test for detecting Salmonella in swine feces.

The 1-2 Test is a rapid culture test for the detection of motile Salmonella. The aim of this study was to evaluate the 1-2 Test for its ability to detect Salmonella in swine feces following preenrichment and selective enrichment. Pooled pen fecal samples (n = 118) and pig rectal swabs (n = 51) were cultured for Salmonella by the 1-2 Test, which was compared with the standard isolation protocol currently used in our laboratory. In addition, pen fecal samples known to be free of Salmonella were spiked with various concentrations of Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium and cultured by both methods to determine the minimum number of organisms needed to produce a positive result. When naturally contaminated pen feces and rectal swabs were used, results obtained with the standard culture method were similar to those obtained with the 1-2 Test. However, the 1-2 Test did outperform the standard culture method when the spiked feces samples were tested (chi2 = 4.00). The test kit reduced the time and materials required for the detection of Salmonella in swine feces. The results of this study indicate that the 1-2 Test is an accurate method for monitoring Salmonella in swine feces.

Animals↗

Evaluation of immunomagnetic separation and PCR for the detection of Escherichia coli O157 in animal feces and meats.

Series of animal feces and meat samples artificially contaminated with strains of Escherichia coli O157 isolated from different sources were tested by both an immunomagnetic separation (IMS)-based method and a PCR method using primers specific for a portion of the rfbE gene of E. coli O157. IMS is laborious and time consuming but ends up with the isolation of the pathogen. PCR is fast and less laborious, but it can only be used for screening purposes, so a further culture step is required to isolate the organism. For both fecal and meat samples, the IMS method was found to be more sensitive than the PCR. Furthermore, the detection efficiency of the PCR was influenced by the origin of the fecal sample and the type of meat. For sheep feces, the efficiency of the PCR appeared to be systematically lower than for cattle feces. And the efficiency of the PCR in detecting E. coli O157 in spiked samples of raw minced beef and dry-fermented sausages was systematically lower than in samples of filet americain. Based on this study, it can be concluded that both for animal feces and meat, IMS can be used more successfully to detect E. coli O157 than PCR, because IMS showed to be more sensitive and the outcome was not influenced by the type of animal feces or meat.

Animals↗

Bat feces as an indoor allergen.

We have demonstrated in an animal model (specific IgG) as well as in atopic patients suffering from rhinitis/asthma (specific IgE) that bat feces have antigenic properties. A single peak with high glycoprotein content was obtained by chromatography, while SDS-PAGE revealed several proteins between 29 and 116 kDa which showed immune serum blotting at 43.6 and 66 kDa. Positive specific skin tests with bat feces and IgE-RAST anti-bat feces were detected in atopic patients living in tall buildings and old houses in Buenos Aires. As bat feces did not cross-react with bat epithelium, studies evaluating rat serum and epithelium and pigeon feces in order to analyze the role of bat serum proteins, such as IgA, are encouraged.

Adult↗

[Investigations on the sulfate concentration in milk substitutes and milk products and its effect on feces composition in calves].

In continuing investigations on effects of milk replacers with high ash and mineral contents (KAMPHUES et al., 1999a) on feces' quality and composition in calves in the present study the sulfate concentration (and its effects) in milk replacers and whey products were proved. In 13 samples of milk replacers the SO4 concentration varied between 2.4 and 6.7 g/kg dry matter, in 14 samples of dried whey products SO4- concentrations of 1.4 up to 41.8 g/kg dm were found. In general higher sulphur contents were caused by higher concentrations of sulfate. In feeding a milk replacer (6.7 g SO4/kg dm) about 20% of the consumed sulfate were excreted via feces (app. digestibility of about 80%). In experiments with elevated SO4 intake (in liquid diets: 560-1980 mg/l) the digestibility rate of sulfate decreased dose dependently (75-->65%). By analysis of milk replacers (used in previous experiments, TSCHENTSCHER, 1998) resulting in diarrhea in all treated calves unexpected SO4- concentrations were found of 16.3 and 10.2 g/kg dm. In feeding experiments (6 calves) by addition of Na2SO4 (85%) and MgSO4 (15%) sulfate concentration in the liquid diet was elevated from 560 mg to 1980 mg/l. Here the SO4 concentration in the diet and the dry matter content in calves' feces were correlated significantly (r = -0.86). Presented results on the SO4 concentration in milk replacers and the observed effects of sulfate intake on feces quality (i.e. dry matter content of feces) indicate by the first time that the SO4 content in milk replacers and dried whey products is an essential parameter when an estimation of milk replacers or whey products' quality is required.

Animal Feed↗

Human urine and chicken feces as fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) attractants for resource-poor fruit growers.

We evaluated human urine and chicken feces, two naturally occurring, inexpensive, and readily available substances, as baits for the capture of Anostrepha spp. (Diptera: Tephritidae) by using glass McPhail traps. Two studies were performed simultaneously in a commercial mango orchard in Veracruz, México. In the first study, we compared a 50% water dilution of human urine against hydrolyzed protein, both compounds at the fresh and 5-d-old stages, and water alone (control treatment). In the second study, we tested fresh chicken feces mixed with water, a torula yeast/borax solution at three different ages (1-4, 5-9, and 10-15 d), and water (control treatment). Both human urine and chicken feces were attractive to Anastrepha adults compared with water alone, but attracted two and three times fewer adults than hydrolyzed protein and torula yeast/borax, respectively. However, unlike torula yeast/borax, aging of human urine did not decrease its attractiveness. Five-day old human urine attracted numerically more A. serpentina females than males, similar numbers of A. obliqua males and females, and significantly more sexually immature A. obliqua females than mature ones. Chicken feces proved to be as attractive as the aged torula yeast/borax treatments for A. obliqua and A. serpentina. We argue that because both human urine and chicken feces are cost-free and can be easily obtained, they are viable, low-technology alternatives to costly commercial attractants, particularly for low-income growers or backyard farmers in Mexico and other Latin American countries.

Animals↗

Cryptosporidiosis: a brief literature review and update regarding Cryptosporidium in feces of Canada geese (Branta canadensis).

Canada geese are increasingly abundant in Ohio, with large nesting populations throughout the state, and goose feces contaminate grassy areas and pavements in many public, commercial, and residential sites. In 1999 the authors found a high prevalence of Giardia, Campylobacter, and especially Cryptosporidium in collected feces of Canada geese. The purpose of this follow-up study was to survey known Canada geese sites in three counties in Ohio (Lucas, Ottawa, and Wood) and to determine the prevalence of sites testing positive for Cryptosporidium. The sites included golf courses, cemeteries, public parks, and health care and teaching facilities. At each of 11 sites, 12 goose feces of wet and loose appearance were collected and manually compressed into one composite sample representing that site. The samples were tested for Cryptosporidium with a sensitive monoclonal enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method. In 2000 and 2001, nine of 11 sites (81.8 percent) and nine of 10 sites (90 percent), respectively, were positive for Cryptosporidium. The species or genotypes of Cryptosporidium found in the geese feces and their potential to infect humans is unknown. A survey of the literature indicates, however, that while C. parvum (human genotype) is the main cause of cryptosporidiosis in humans, C. parvum (zoonotic genotypes), C. meleagridis (bird genotype), and C. felis (cat genotype) have occasionally been isolated from infected people. Further research is required to define the public health importance of Cryptosporidium in feces of Canada geese and other bird species.

Animals↗

[The presence of bacteriophages in human feces and their potential importance].

Bacteriophages are widely distributed throughout the environment as well as in the bodies of humans and animals (feces, urine, saliva, sputum). Higher presence of Escherichia coli phages compared with Bacteroides fragilis and Salmonella phages was noticed in the feces of healthy human individuals and patients, mainly those with gastro-intestinal tract diseases. A strict correlation exists between the number of bacteria and of phages in the feces of healthy individuals as well as of patients with different diseases. The presence of phages in human feces correlates with the character of the coexisting disease. The frequency of phages in the feces depends on the different indicator bacterial host strains and the numbers of indicator strains. The role of bacteriophages in protecting against pathogenic microorganisms and controlling bacterial flora in the human organism is of major significance.

Animals↗

Identification of mammalian feces by coprostanol thin layer chromatography: method development.

Existing methods for the identification of mammalian fecal particles in foods have not been completely satisfactory because visual identification of small particles is difficult. In addition, identification of feces by determining the presence of fecal alkaline phosphatase is limited to specimens in which the enzyme has not been inactivated, and it does not work well with feces from herbivores. A new method has been developed which uses coprostanol as a fecal indicator. Coprostanol is a heat-stable sterol found in the feces of mammals and some birds. A hexane extract of the suspect particle is applied to the preadsorbent zone of a silica gel thin layer chromatography plate which has been impregnated with 5% phosphomolybdic acid in ethanol. The plate is developed in diethyl ether-heptane (55 + 45), heated, and examined visually for the presence of coprostanol. Amounts of rat feces as small as 0.15 mg and cow feces as small as 0.5 mg have been identified using this method.

Animals↗

[Effect of aztreonam on bacterial flora in human feces].

Aztreonam (AZT), a new injectable monobactam antibiotic, was administered to 7 healthy male volunteers, aged 21-28 years (23 years, on average) and weighing 60.5-87.0 kg, (69.5 kg, on average) by one shot intravenous injection of 1,000 mg twice a day for 5 days. The effect of AZT on the fecal flora was studied 3 days before administration, on the day of the initiation, 3 and 5 days (end of the administration course) after the initiation, and 3, 5 and 10 days after the end of the administration. Fecal concentration of AZT was also studied. Also, fecal concentration and recovery rate of AZT in 4 healthy male volunteers aged 23-31 years (26 years, on average), weighing 59.5-70.5 kg (65.6 kg, on average) were measured by injecting 1,000 mg of AZT by intravenous injection only one time. Susceptibility of the bacteria isolated from the 7 cases receiving consecutive dosage to AZT, cefmetazole (CMZ), latamoxef (LMOX), cefoperazone (CPZ) and ceftazidime (CAZ) as well as side effect and laboratory values were examined with the following results. In the fecal flora, the population of Enterobacteriaceae on average was 10(7) cells/g feces on the day of the initiation and decreased by 2 logarithms to 10(5) cells/g 3 days after the initiation, 10(5) cells/g feces 5 days after the initiation with no bacterial isolation in 2 cases, 10(7) cells/g feces on 3 and 5 days after the end of administration respectively with recovery of the population to the average population on the day of the initiation. However, it increased 10 days after the end of administration with the population of 10(9) cells/g feces due to the isolation of one 10(10) cells/g feces, which was an increase by 2 logarithms as compared with average population before the administration. It was also higher than the average population 3 days before the initiation of administration. Temporal decrease or disappearance of the bacteria were noted by the administration of AZT. As to other cases of Gram-negative bacilli, Pseudomonas sp. was detected from only 2 cases 3 days before the initiation of administration and on the day of the initiation, but there was an increase to 4 and 5 cases 3 and 5 days after the initiation respectively. Number of isolation returned to 2 cases, 3, 5 and 10 days after the end of administration respectively and it was same as the number before the initiation of administration.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Adult↗

Factors controlling the volume of feces produced by triatomine vectors of Chagas' disease.

Triatomine species influenced volume of feces produced; Triatoma dimidiata produced the largest volume of feces followed by Panstrongylus megistus, Rhodnius prolixus, and Triatoma infestans. Moreover, stage and sex affected fecal production; 5th-stage female nymphs excreted the largest volume of feces. The amount of blood ingested was significantly correlated with the volume of feces produced in 10 out of 11 experimental groups. Triatome size and volume of feces produced were less closely correlated. Indeed, a "threshold" minimum amount of blood must be ingested before bugs are stimulated to defecate. The defecation habits of triatomines probably influence the vectorial capacity of a triatomine species to a lesser degree than do the density of domestic infestations, host affinity, and the degree of adaptation to the domestic habitat.

Animals↗

Thin-layer and gas--liquid chromatographic identification of neutral steroids in human and rat feces.

Natural steroids from rat and human feces were fractionated by sequential thin-layer chromatography (TLC) on Florisil, silica gel, and silver nitrate-impregnated silica gel and analyzed by gas--liquid chromatography (GLC). Cholesterol, coprostanol, and coprostanone accounted for more than 95% of the endogenous neutral steroid in human feces, the remainder being predominantly cholestanol. In addition, evidence was obtained for the presence in human feces of trace amounts of epicoprostanol and cholestanone. In rat feces, several cholesterol precursors that probably originated in the skin (and were ingested during fur=licking) were detected in relatively large amounts, accounting for as much as 27% of the total fecal neutral steroids, whereas these steroids were quantitatively trivial in human feces. As with cholesterol, the major dietary plant sterols (sitosterol, campesterol, and stigmasterol) were converted by intestinal bacteria to the corresponding coprostane and ketonic derivatives during intestinal transit in both human beings and rats. This combined use of TLC and GLC provided for the separation of steroids of endogenous and dietary origin that could not be resolved by either system alone. A majority of the fecal steroids could be tentatively identified by their chromatographic behavior in different TCL systems and on GLC, even when reference standards were unavailable.

Animals↗

Absence of volatile nitrosamines in human feces.

Using a method for nitrosamine analysis that gives high recovery values and that is free from artifactual synthesis of nitrosamines, we have shown that human feces do not contain volatile nitrosamines (detection limit, 0.1 to 0.5 microgram/kg). We also showed that nitrosation reactions are not catalyzed by fecal organisms. Following a 2-day anaerobic incubation of feces with either a secondary amine (dimethylamine, dipropylamine, or morpholine) or nitrite, no nitrosamine was formed. When the amine and nitrite were added together, nitrosamine was formed, but at a level of 2 to 20% of that formed in autoclaved feces under the same conditions. Nitrosamines were stable following anaerobic incubation with feces for up to 4 days. These results suggest that fecal organisms inhibit the chemical formation of nitrosamines instead of catalyzing it. When morphine and nitrate were added together, nitrosomorpholine was formed. Morpholine nitrosates so rapidly that it intercepts nitrite formed by the action of nitrate reductase before the nitrite can be further reduced. However, very high concentrations of morphine and nitrate, which are far from the conditions in normal feces, were required to form measurable nitrosomorpholine. We may conclude that N-nitroso compounds are unlikely to be formed in any significant amounts in the human colon.

Feces↗

Comparison of stool containment in cloth and single-use diapers using a simulated infant feces.

Single-use diapers and cloth diapers with vinyl pants were compared for their relative abilities to contain stool within the diaper. Artificial feces with carbon black as an additive allowed a quantitative measure of fecal containment by image analysis in 60 infants. This method showed complete containment of feces in the diaper in 50% of the single-use diapers whereas only 10% of the cloth diapers showed complete containment. In infants where the border of the vinyl pants was used as the boundary of containment with the cloth diapers, complete containment occurred only 33% of the time. Fluorescein dye ratings for containment/leakage in 69 infants showed that 83% of single-use diapers and 30% of the cloth diapers were rated as having no or minor leakage of feces. Cultures were taken of laundered vinyl pants that had previously been used over cloth diapers to determine microbial contamination. Thirty-nine percent of the pants contained Gram-negative, lactose-fermenting bacilli indicating fecal contamination. This study comparing single-use and cloth diapers for containment of artificial feces by use of image analysis and fluorescein dye ratings showed better containment by single-use diapers. The study also raises the question of possible spread of feces-borne pathogens by the vinyl pants used over cloth diapers, particularly in a day-care center.

Bacteria↗

Daily rhythms of food intake and feces reingestion in the degu, an herbivorous Chilean rodent: optimizing digestion through coprophagy.

Animals must match their foraging and digestion to seasonal changes in availability and quality of food. When these parameters decline, the animal's performance limits for extracting energy and nutrients may be challenged. In the laboratory, we investigated daily patterns of food processing on a low-quality (high-fiber) diet of alfalfa in an herbivorous, day-active rodent, the degu (Octodon degus), which inhabits semiarid central Chile. We manipulated timing of food availability, from continuous availability down to as little as 5 h/d. Degus maintained weight while digesting only 53% of dry-matter consumption. With food continuously available in a metabolic cage, the animals ate more food and deposited about twice as much feces in the day as at night. Continuous 24-h behavioral observation revealed that degus were actually defecating at the same rate both night and day but then ingesting most of the feces they produced at night. Further experimental treatments challenged animals with limited periods of food availability that matched natural foraging patterns. With either 11 h of daytime food availability or only 5 h (in morning and afternoon periods of 2.5 h each), degus consumed as much food as those with 24-h food availability. Continuous 24-h behavioral observations revealed in the 11-h group that nearly all feces produced at night were reingested and nearly none were reingested in the day, whereas the 5-h group resorted to further coprophagy during the 6-h midday interval with no food. Despite these differences in timing of food intake and coprophagy in response to the three experimental treatments, the degus were defecating at the same rate both night and day, which indicated a constant rate of output from the colon. This suggests a range of adjustments of digestive physiology to the timing of gut function by balancing coprophagy with ingestion of food. Overall, 38% of 24-h feces production was reingested, and 87% of this coprophagy occurred at night. The ingestion of feces during parts of the day when food is unavailable provides for continued intake into the digestive tract and appears to represent an increase in overall efficiency of gut use.

Animals↗