ABSTRACT
Microbiological examinations are frequently performed as part of breeding management examinations in the bitch, but also in case of (suspected) reproductive tract problems. As most bacteria are opportunistic pathogens, evaluation of bacterial findings is challenging for veterinarians. Besides, breeders might request antimicrobial treatment in breeding bitches, fearing conception failure-even without medical indication. Considering the rising threat of antimicrobial resistance, gaining deeper insights into the bacterial findings from the vagina of healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches might contribute to the knowledge of the canine aerobic vaginal flora and consequently improve the responsible use of antibiotics. We analyzed results from bacteriological cultures of 23,254 vaginal swabs sent in to three commercial laboratories in Germany between 2015 and 2021, where standard aerobic microbiological examination was carried out. We found a variety of 319 bacterial species that mostly grew in mixed cultures of two or more bacterial species. Commonly found species were Escherichia coli, beta-hemolytic Streptococci, coagulase-positive Staphylococci, Pasteurellales, and aerobic sporulators, as well as other Streptococcus spp. Our results showed a large diversity of the canine vaginal flora in healthy and (suspected) reproductive-diseased bitches. They largely support earlier findings of small studies on the physiological canine vaginal flora, emphasizing that solely the results of a bacterial evaluation should not be the base for antimicrobial treatment. Instead, bacterial findings should be evaluated with the results of a clinical gynecological examination.
ABSTRACT
Broomcorn millet (Panicum miliaceum L.) is not one of the founder crops domesticated in Southwest Asia in the early Holocene, but was domesticated in northeast China by 6000 BC. In Europe, millet was reported in Early Neolithic contexts formed by 6000 BC, but recent radiocarbon dating of a dozen 'early' grains cast doubt on these claims. Archaeobotanical evidence reveals that millet was common in Europe from the 2nd millennium BC, when major societal and economic transformations took place in the Bronze Age. We conducted an extensive programme of AMS-dating of charred broomcorn millet grains from 75 prehistoric sites in Europe. Our Bayesian model reveals that millet cultivation began in Europe at the earliest during the sixteenth century BC, and spread rapidly during the fifteenth/fourteenth centuries BC. Broomcorn millet succeeds in exceptionally wide range of growing conditions and completes its lifecycle in less than three summer months. Offering an additional harvest and thus surplus food/fodder, it likely was a transformative innovation in European prehistoric agriculture previously based mainly on (winter) cropping of wheat and barley. We provide a new, high-resolution chronological framework for this key agricultural development that likely contributed to far-reaching changes in lifestyle in late 2nd millennium BC Europe.
Subject(s)
Agriculture/history , Crops, Agricultural/history , Panicum/growth & development , Archaeology , Crops, Agricultural/growth & development , Domestication , Europe , History, Ancient , Radiometric DatingABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To describe the bacterial and fungal microbiota of the conjunctiva and factors influencing these microbiota of healthy cats. To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profile and discuss the use of appropriate antimicrobial drugs. ANIMALS STUDIED: One hundred and twenty healthy cats PROCEDURES: Conjunctival samples with dry or premoistened swabs were obtained from both eyes and cultured for aerobic and anaerobic bacteria and fungi. In vitro bacterial, susceptibility testing was performed. The effects of age, sex, breed, season, living environment, and sample collection technique on the frequency and composition of microbial isolation were evaluated. RESULTS: In 49 of 120 cats (40.8%) and 73 of 240 swabs (30.4%), microorganisms were isolated. Of the isolates, 71% (61/86) were Gram-positive bacteria, 26% (22/86) were Gram-negative bacteria, and 3% (3/86) were fungi. Staphylococcus felis (17/86; 19.8%) was the most commonly isolated species. Moraxella osloensis (5/86; 5.8%) was the most frequent Gram-negative species. The season had a statistically significant influence (P = 0.04) on the frequency of isolation. The use of premoistened swabs increased the rate of Gram-positive bacterial detection significantly (P = 0.03). The in vitro susceptibility testing showed high efficacy of chloramphenicol, gentamicin, pradofloxacin, and enrofloxacin. CONCLUSIONS: The isolated microbiota aligns with previous studies performed in other countries, although the microbiota of cats in the present study showed wider bacterial diversity, and more Gram-negative species were isolated. Swab sampling should be performed with premoistened swabs. The topical antimicrobials gentamicin and chloramphenicol are suitable therapeutics for first-line treatment.
Subject(s)
Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology , Cats/microbiology , Conjunctiva/microbiology , Fungi/drug effects , Gram-Negative Bacteria/drug effects , Gram-Positive Bacteria/drug effects , Animals , Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use , Cat Diseases/drug therapy , Eye Infections, Bacterial/drug therapy , Eye Infections, Bacterial/veterinary , Eye Infections, Fungal/drug therapy , Eye Infections, Fungal/veterinary , Female , Fungi/isolation & purification , Germany , Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification , Gram-Positive Bacteria/isolation & purification , Male , Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary , Pedigree , Reference Values , SeasonsABSTRACT
Einleitung: Ätherische Öle sind die Grundlage der Aromatherapie. Unter anderem wird ihnen eine antibakterielle Wirkung zugeschrieben. In dieser Studie sollte die In-vitro-Wirksamkeit ätherischer Öle gegen ein breites Spektrum veterinärmedizinisch relevanter Erreger getestet werden. Methoden: Die antibakterielle Aktivität von 16 ätherischen Ölen wurde mittels Agardiffusionstest bestimmt. Getestet wurden grampositive und gramnegative Erreger, die aus klinischen Isolaten von Hunden, Katzen und Pferden aus der veterinärmedizinischen Routinediagnostik stammten. Die Einteilung der Wirksamkeit in nicht, gering-, mittel- und hochgradig wirksam erfolgte anhand der Größe der Hemmhofradien des Bakterienwachstums. Ergebnisse: Generell zeigten sich sowohl grampositive als auch gramnegative Erreger empfindlich gegen einige der getesteten ätherischen Öle. Nicht nur gegen Staphylokokken, sondern auch gegen Methicillin-resistente Stämme der Staphylokokken wiesen die ätherischen Öle in vitro eine nicht zu vernachlässigende Wirkung auf. Pasteurella multocida stellte sich als eher sensibler Keim heraus, während Pseudomonas aeruginosa als vollkommen resistenter Keim eine Ausnahme bildete. Teebaum-, Oregano-, und Bergbohnenkrautöl waren die potentesten Öle. Zusätzlich zeigten sich bei den grampositiven Erregern Lemongrasöl und bei den gramnegativen Erregern Thymianöl als gut wirksam. Schlussfolgerung: Ätherische Öle verfügen in vitro über eine antibakterielle Aktivität gegen klinische Isolate von Hunden, Katzen und Pferden. Diese Studie bietet eine Grundlage für die Anwendung ätherischer Öle in der Veterinärmedizin. Es zeichneten sich Tendenzen im Wirkspektrum einzelner ätherischer Öle bzw. im Grad der Wirksamkeit ätherischer Öle hinsichtlich einzelner Erregerspezies ab, allerdings lässt sich keine sichere Vorhersage über ihre Wirksamkeit gegen einen spezifischen Keim eines individuellen Patienten treffen. Deswegen sollte vor einer Therapie mit ätherischen Ölen deren individuelle Wirksamkeit mittels Aromatogramm getestet werden.
