Molecular identification of cryptic bumblebee species from degraded samples using PCR-RFLP approach.

The worldwide decline and local extinctions of bumblebees have raised a need for fast and accurate tools for species identification. Morphological characters are often not sufficient, and molecular methods have been increasingly used for reliable identification of bumblebee species. Molecular methods often require high-quality DNA which makes them less suitable for analysis of low-quality or older samples. We modified the PCR-RFLP protocol for an efficient and cost-effective identification of four bumblebee species in the subgenus Bombus s. str. (B. lucorum, B. terrestris, B. magnus and B. cryptarum). We used a short partial mitochondrial COI fragment (446 bp) and three diagnostic restriction enzymes (Hinf I, Hinc II and Hae III) to identify species from degraded DNA material. This approach allowed us to efficiently determine the correct species from all degraded DNA samples, while only a subset of samples 64.6% (31 of 48) resulted in successful amplification of a longer COI fragment (1064 bp) using the previously described method. This protocol can be applied for conservation and management of bumblebees within this subgenus and is especially useful for fast species identification from degraded samples.

Interaction of Campylobacter spp. and human probiotics in chicken intestinal mucus.

Campylobacter is the most common cause of bacterial food-borne diarrhoeal disease throughout the world. The principal risk of human contamination is handling and consumption of contaminated poultry meat. To colonize poultry, Campylobacter adheres to and persists in the mucus layer that covers the intestinal epithelium. Inhibiting adhesion to the mucus could prevent colonization of the intestine. The aim of this study was to investigate in vitro the protective effect of defined commercial human probiotic strains on the adhesion of Campylobacter spp. to chicken intestinal mucus, in a search for alternatives to antibiotics to control this food-borne pathogen. The probiotic strains Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG and Propionibacterium freudenreichii ssp. shermanii JS and a starter culture strain Lactococcus lactis ssp. lactis adhered well to chicken intestinal mucus and were able to reduce the binding of Campylobacter spp. when the mucus was colonized with the probiotic strain before contacting the pathogen. Human-intended probiotics could be useful as prophylactics in poultry feeding for controlling Campylobacter spp. colonization.

Pleuropneumonia caused by Haemophilus parahaemolyticus. An attempt to control the disease at two progeny testing stations by serological blood testing followed by removal of the seropositive animals and their litter mates.

The complement fixation test was employed at two progeny testing stations in an attempt to avoid outbreaks of contagious pleuropneumonia, caused by Haemophilus parahaemolyticus. Pigs were isolated immediately after arrival at the testing stations and blood samples taken for serology. Test groups with seropositive animals were not admitted to the testing station. The sanitation scheme proved successful, in that acute outbreaks were avoided at both stations and the frequency of chronic pleuritis at slaughter fell from appr. 12 per cent to appr. 6 per cent (Station A) and from appr. 8 per cent to appr. 1 per cent (Station B). Accordingly, the complement fixation test may be of value in diagnosing subclinical infections and thus in the control of Haemophilus parahaemolyticus pleuropneumonia.