Effects of high-level dietary B-vitamins on performance, body composition and tissue vitamin contents of growing/finishing pigs.

Forty-eight growing pigs were randomly assigned to five dietary groups and penned individually. They received a diet based on barley, wheat, corn and soya bean meal according to requirement. The experimental groups were supplemented with 400% or 800% of vitamins B(2), B(6) and pantothenic acid, or 400% or 800% of biotin, while all other vitamins were administered according to requirement. Growth performance, carcass characteristics, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and content of vitamins in blood, liver and muscles were recorded. Growth performance showed no influence of supplementation, while backfat thickness in the group with 800% B(2)/B(6)/pantothenic acid was significantly higher. Content of B(2) in blood, liver and muscle was similar in all groups. Content of B(6) in blood and liver showed significant differences according to supplementation. The content of vitamin B(6) in muscle in the experimental groups was significantly higher than that in the control group. The content of pantothenic acid in blood and muscle in the experimental groups was significantly higher, while in liver all groups were significantly influenced by the supplementation level. Biotin content in liver showed no influence, but the content in plasma was significantly higher in the experimental groups and the content in muscle was significantly higher according to supplementation. The activity of AST showed no significant influence of the dietary vitamin level, but it was obviously decreased in the groups supplemented with biotin. The findings indicate that the dietary supplementation of vitamin B(2), B(6), pantothenic acid and biotin could not improve performance, but the contents in blood, liver and muscle.

Dietary probiotic supplementation and resulting effects on performance, health status, and microbial characteristics of primiparous sows.

In an experiment with 33 first-litter sows from day 90 of pregnancy to day 28 of lactation, the influence of a probiotic supplementation on weight performance, feed intake, litter sizes, litter weights, health status and microbiological profile was tested. Enterococcus faecium DSM 7134 was supplemented in a concentration of 5 x 10(8) CFU/kg feed to the gestation and lactation diets of gilts. The supplemented sows showed a significant higher improvement of feed intake (4.16 vs. 3.71 kg/day), litter size (9.2 vs. 7.7 piglets) and weight performance. The average live weight of the probiotic sows at day 28 of lactation was 11 kg higher than of the controls. The bacterial counts/g faeces (lactobacilli, Gram-positive anaerobes, Gram-negative anaerobes, Escherichia coli and enterococci) and the incidence of adhesive and haemolytic E. coli organisms revealed no significant differences between the sows of the two groups or their piglets. While the litter size cannot necessarily be assumed as a primary effect of the probiotic supplementation, the significantly better feed intake and weight performance might be partly due to the probiotic use and can prevent "starvation sterility" of young sows after their first litter caused by reduced feed intake during lactation with high mobilization of body tissue accompanied with lack of energy.

Efficiency of Echinacea purpurea on performance and immune status in pigs.

The aim of the present investigation was to examine the inclusion of the dried herb Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH as feed additive in diets of sows, piglets, and grower/finisher pigs on growth performance, blood picture, plasma enzymes including proliferation of lymphocytes, antibody status, and protein and immune globulin content of colostrum. The control groups were supplemented with alfalfa meal. The sows (total 36) received 0%, 1.2%, or 3.6% Echinacea cobs in the diet from day 85 to day 110 of gestation and 0%, 0.5%, or 1.5% Echinacea cobs up to day 28 of lactation. No significant differences were found for growth performance, weight loss, blood picture, plasma enzymes, and colostrum composition. Performance of the sucking piglets was not impaired either during lactation or during a 4 week observation period after weaning. The health status was similar in all treatment groups. In a second experiment, lasting 6 weeks, with 36 piglets (5.8-22.1 kg body weight), 1.8% Echinacea cobs, or 20 mg/kg feed Flavomycin were supplemented. No significant differences were found for the recorded parameters. Feed conversion ratio (kg feed/kg gain) of the Echinacea group was slightly (4%) increased (1.54 vs. 1.60). In a third trial, 48 grower/finisher pigs were used during a 9-week experimental period with two supplementation phases (weeks 1-3 and weeks 7-9). The experimental groups received 0%, 1.5% cobs or 4-6 ml pressed juice (commercial standard) per day respectively. Vaccination with Swine erysipelas was implemented in weeks 1 and 5 to determine the specific immune response. Growth performance and blood picture for all groups were similar, however, feed conversion of both Echinacea supplemented groups was significantly (p < 0.03) better than of the unsupplemented control group (2.44 vs. 2.51). In addition, the Swine erysipelas antibodies showed a marked significance (p < 0.05) in regard of altitude in both supplemented groups. It is concluded, that E. purpurea might be used as a feed additive to achieve immune stimulating efficiency in pig production and increase feed-to-gain-conversion. The efficiency of cobs is comparable to a commercial juice product.

Precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) or an inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix and effects on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the precaecal and faecal digestibility of inulin (DP 10-12) and inulin/Enterococcus faecium mix, and the effects of these substances on nutrient digestibility and microbial gut flora. For the experiment four of eight male pigs were fitted with an end-to-end ileo-rectal anastomosis (IRA) with preserved ileo-caeco-colic valve. The residual pigs were used as intact partner (IN). The animals received 1.5 kg/day of a diet based on corn, wheat, barley and soybean meal, supplemented with either 8 x 10(9) CFU E. faecium/kg, 2% inulin or a mixture of both substances. The digestibility trial was carried out from weeks 4 to 8 after surgery. Precaecal digestibility of inulin was assessed to be 57%. The addition of E. faecium to the diet resulted in a similar precaecal digestibility of inulin of 55%. Supplementation of E. faecium, inulin, and a mixture of E. faecium and inulin did not affect precaecal and faecal nutrient digestibility with the exception of the precaecal digestibility of CF which increased when inulin alone was supplemented. Bacterial population in the digesta of IRA and IN pigs were not affected by the experimental diets except the concentration of bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. The supplementation of E. faecium to the diet significantly decreased the concentration of bifidobacteria and the population of lactobacilli inclined to decrease when IN pigs received the probiotic diet. The combination of E. faecium and inulin prevented a reduction of enterococci in faeces of IN pigs. The daily digesta excretion (DM) tended to decrease in IRA and IN pigs when inulin was supplemented. The results indicate that inulin (DP 10-12) in pig nutrition did partly react as a prebiotic as has been confirmed for humans. A combination of E. faecium and inulin improves the survival of the probiotic strain through the upper intestinal tract and allocates the synbiotic effect. Furthermore inulin might be able to show positive effects on precaecal and faecal microbial characteristics.

Successful treatment of meningoencephalitis caused by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare in AIDS.

A wide variety of pathologies afflicting the CNS is see in patients infected with the human immunodeficiency virus. We report the case of relapsing meningoencephalitis caused by Mycobacterium avium intracellulare (MAI) in a homosexual male with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome in whom repeated use of polymerase chain reaction was required to detect MAI-specific DNA in the cerebrospinal fluid. Successful responses to early empirical antibiotic combination treatment, including the drugs clarithromycin and rifabutin, were demonstrated by clinical, EEG, and CSF improvement during an 8-month period. To our knowledge, this study presents the first known patient with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome effectively treated for MAI meningoencephalitis and suggests that modern antimycobacterial combination therapy may improve the poor prognosis of CNS infections with nontuberculous mycobacteria.

[Cervix cancer in HPV16-associated Bowenoid papulosis]. / Zervixkarzinom bei HPV16-assoziierter bowenoider Papulose.

In a 38-year-old female patient with bowenoid papulosis of the anogenital region and an extensive carcinoma in situ of the cervix uteri, HPV16 DNA was found in the biopsy specimens and HPV16/18 DNA was detected in the cervical swab. The known coincidence of both these diseases indicates the necessity for careful regular gynaecological check-ups of patients with bowenoid papulosis.

Neuropeptide Y- and substance P-like immunoreactive nerve fibers in the rat dura mater encephali.

Density and pattern of nerve fibers with neuropeptide Y-like immunoreactivity (NPY-LI) and substance P-like immunoreactivity (SP-LI) in the rat dura mater encephali were investigated by light and electron microscopy using whole-mount preparations. NPY-LI fibers are observed throughout the encephalic dura mater. A remarkable net of NPY-LI nerve fibers is located in the walls of the sagittal and transverse sinuses. Beyond that NPY-LI network, distinct NPY-LI nerve fibers or plexus occur in the rostral falx, parietal dura mater of the olfactory bulb, supratentorial dura mater, parietal dura mater of the cerebellum, tentorium cerebelli and the ventral dura mater. Electron microscopic studies reveal that NPY-LI is exclusively located in unmyelinated axons of small and large nerve fiber bundles, with or without a perineural sheath. Immunopositive C-fibers are predominantly associated with the vascular bed. SP-LI nerve fibers have a moderate and more uniform distribution in the encephalic dura mater. A distinct plexus of SP-LI fibers follows the branches of the middle meningeal artery and the adjacent dura mater. SP-LI fibers are most prominent in the parietal dura mater of the cerebellum. Fine beaded SP-LI fibers, arising from larger SP-LI fiber bundles, are observed in close association to the capillary bed. SP-LI axons are all unmyelinated. They are found in larger nerve fiber bundles with a perineural sheath or in Schwann cells lacking any perineural sheath. The function of NPY-LI and SP-LI nerve fibers in the rat dura mater is discussed in relation to their topography, density and termination.