ABSTRACT
A strain of Alcaligenes faecalis A12C (A. faecalis A12C) isolated from Argyrosomus regius is a probiotic in fish. Previous experiments showed that A. faecalis A12C had inhibitory effects on the growth of multidrug-resistant bacteria. We aimed to confirm whether A. faecalis A12C is safe and has adequate intestinal colonization in experimental rats, and evaluate its efficacy in an animal model of peritonitis. We used 30 male rats, randomly divided into 6 groups (n = 5): three groups (HA7, HA15, HA30) received A. faecalis A12C in drinking water (6 × 108 CFU/mL) for 7 days, and three control groups received drinking water only. All groups were evaluated at 7, 15, and 30 days. Survival after A. faecalis A12C administration was 100% in all groups. Mild eosinophilia (1.5%, p < 0.01) and increased aspartate aminotransferase (86 IU/L, p < 0.05) were observed in HA7, followed by progressive normalization. No histological signs of organ injury were found. We observed significant E. coli decline in faeces, parallel to an increase in A. faecalis A12C at 7 days. E. coli had a tendency to recover initial values, while A. faecalis A12C disappeared from the intestinal microbiota at 30 days. To evaluate its efficacy against peritonitis, we studied two additional groups of animals: IA group pretreated with A. faecalis A12C before E. coli intra-abdominal inoculation, and IC group inoculated with no A. faecalis A12C. We found an increase in C-reactive protein, alanine aminotransferase, urea, and eosinophils in IC animals when compared with IA. Peritonitis was more evident in IC than in IA animals. Our findings suggest that A. faecalis A12C altered clinically relevant parameters in sepsis and was associated with a lesser spread of infection.
Subject(s)
Alcaligenes faecalis , Peritonitis , Probiotics , Animals , Drinking Water , Escherichia coli/pathogenicity , Male , Peritonitis/therapy , RatsABSTRACT
The CD40 pathway is involved in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CD40 gene, rs1883832 and rs4810485, are associated with susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and are thought to alter CD40 expression at the mRNA and protein level. This study assessed for the first time the association of these SNPs with RA and CD40 mRNA levels in a western Mexican population. A total of 278 RA patients and 318 control subjects were included. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and CD40 mRNA expression was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. No significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies were identified between the RA patients and controls. When stratified by genotype, these SNPs were not found to be associated with the presence of autoantibodies or the clinical activity of the disease. CD40 mRNA levels were elevated 1.5-fold in RA patients compared to control subjects; however, no clear tendencies were observed following stratification by genotype. These results suggest that the CD40 SNPs rs1883832 and rs4810485 are not RA susceptibility markers in the western Mexican population. Further studies are needed to clarify their roles in CD40 mRNA expression.
Subject(s)
Arthritis, Rheumatoid/genetics , CD40 Antigens/genetics , Genetic Association Studies , Genetic Predisposition to Disease , Adult , Aged , Arthritis, Rheumatoid/pathology , CD40 Antigens/biosynthesis , Female , Gene Expression Regulation , Genotype , Humans , Male , Mexico , Middle Aged , Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide , RNA, Messenger/biosynthesis , RNA, Messenger/geneticsABSTRACT
Two protocols to immobilise free-ranging Pampas foxes for ear-tagging or radio-collaring were evaluated. One hundred fifteen foxes were injected with ketamine-xylazine (K-X) and thirteen with tiletamine-zolazepam (T-Z). The use of both T-Z and K-X combinations typically resulted in a smooth induction and recovery. In 86% of the cases K-X protocol was judged effective (mean±SD, K: 10.7±3.3mg/kg, X: 1.0±1.0mg/kg) while T-Z protocol was judged effective in 92% of the cases (T: 3.6±1.05mg/kg, Z: 3.6±1.05mg/kg). The primary differences between the two drug combinations were that the time necessary for the complete recovery was longer with T-Z, and thermic problems were found more frequently with K-X. Additionally, our results suggest that thermic stress may be a relatively frequent complication for Pampas foxes. This study provides baseline data on some physiologic variables in Pampas foxes captured with different methods and drugs in field conditions.
