A total of 960 male Cobb 500 broilers were used in a growth performance study to explore the effect of coccidial vaccination and/or coccidial challenge on blood biochemistry and veterinary postmortem ...metrics. Day-old chicks were randomly divided into one of the 4 experimental treatments. Treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the factors being without or with vaccination (administered on day 1) or coccidial challenge (oral gavage on day 7). Growth performance was monitored on a weekly basis. Blood sample collection, as well as full veterinary necropsies, were carried out on days 6, 8, 13, 20, 27, and 34. Birds that did not receive the vaccination but were challenged with coccidiosis had higher feed conversion ratio, lower body weights, and higher mortality than the other experimental groups, and this effect was particularly evident from day 13 to day 20. Birds challenged with coccidiosis had lower plasma sodium and total carotenoid concentrations and higher potassium and globulin concentrations than nonchallenged birds. Significant interactions between age and experimental treatment for these blood parameters were observed, particularly on day 13. The necropsy results confirmed the effectiveness of the challenge and vaccination treatments, wherein birds that were challenged had higher coccidiosis scores on day 13 and day 27 than birds that were not challenged. These results demonstrate the potential for plasma sodium, potassium, total protein, total carbon dioxide, globulin, and carotenoid analysis for early diagnosis of coccidiosis in growing broiler chickens. Further work is necessary to establish whether the changes in blood biochemistry observed in the present study are transferable to alternative flocks of chicken and whether early diagnosis and intervention may mitigate performance losses associated with this disease.
A total of 640 broilers were used to determine the effects of strain, sex, and age on hematology and blood chemistry using rapid detection devices. Day old chicks from two genetic lines of common ...fast-growing and high-yield broiler strains were sexed and allocated to 40 pens (16 birds per pen) containing either male or female and Ross or Cobb strains (n = 10). Venous blood was analyzed weekly using 2 broilers from each pen (n = 20) using the i-STAT® Alinity Handheld Clinical Analyzer, Zoetis Vetscan VS2, and iCheck™ Carotene devices at 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 d, as well as growth performance. Post-mortem health tracking metrics were also recorded on 42 d. Broilers were deemed healthy based on posting data results and performed in accordance with industry standards with males presenting greater BW and reduced FCR than female broilers. Ross broilers displayed greater BW to 14 d with similar FCR compared with Cobb birds. Day of age had a highly significant impact on blood calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride, carotene, aspartate aminotransferase, creatine kinase, bile acids, uric acid, total protein, albumin, globulin, total carbon dioxide, hematocrit, and malondialdehyde. Male broilers had reduced blood sodium, chloride, carotene, uric acid, albumin, and increased total protein, glucose, and total carbon dioxide. Ross broilers had greater blood potassium, and sodium, as well as reduced uric acid, total protein, globulin, and malondialdehyde, compared with Cobb birds. These results demonstrated the effectiveness of point-of-care devices in measuring blood chemistry and hematology in modern broilers. These data can be utilized to determine normal healthy blood ranges in these types of broilers when accounting for strain, sex, and age.
Broiler, Biomarkers, Blood physiology, Rapid point-of-care detection, Animal breeding, Animal product, Biochemistry, Animal physiology, Veterinary science.
The introduction of a pneumococcal conjugate vaccine in Venezuela needs previous studies to assess vaccine efficiency. We conducted a survey of nasopharyngeal pneumococcal carriage in urban children ...in Caracas and studied the distribution of serotypes. We compared these data with survey data available for invasive strains isolated in the same area and in the same time period. An overall pneumococcal carriage rate of 27% was observed. The most predominant capsular serotypes among carriage isolates were 6B (29%), 19A (13.8%), 23F (10%), 14 (8.3%), 6A (8.3%) and 15B/C (3.3%) and among invasive isolates 6B (25%), 14 (15%), and 19A, 6A, 7F, and 18 (7.5% each). The serotypes/groups 1, 5, 7F and 18, jointly covering 30% of the invasive strains, represented less than 0.7% of the carrier strains. The theoretical coverage of the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine PCV13 for carriage and invasive strains was calculated to be 74% and 90%, respectively. Our study demonstrates important differences for the serotype distribution in disease and carriage isolates and provides a key baseline for future studies addressing the prevalence and replacement of invasive and carriage serotypes after the introduction of the PCV 13 vaccine in Venezuela in the year 2010.
Summary The immune regulatory mechanisms involved in the acquisition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in children are largely unknown. We investigated the influence of parasitic infections, ...malnutrition and plasma cytokine profiles on tuberculin skin test (TST) positivity in Warao Amerindians in Venezuela. Pediatric household contacts of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) cases were enrolled for TST, chest radiograph, plasma cytokine analyses, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) testing and stool examinations. Factors associated with TST positivity were studied using generalized estimation equations logistic regression models. Of the 141 asymptomatic contacts, 39% was TST-positive. After adjusting for age, gender and nutritional status, TST positivity was associated with Trichuris trichiura infections (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.1–11.6) and low circulating levels of T helper 1 (Th1) cytokines (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.33–0.79). Ascaris lumbricoides infections in interaction with Th2- and interleukin (IL)-10-dominated cytokine profiles were positively associated with TST positivity (OR 3.1, 95% CI 1.1–8.9 and OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.04–5.7, respectively). A negative correlation of QFT-GIT mitogen responses with Th1 and Th2 levels and a positive correlation with age were observed (all p < 0.01). We conclude that helminth infections and low Th1 cytokine plasma levels are significantly associated with TST positivity in indigenous Venezuelan pediatric TB contacts.
Little attention has been paid to pneumococcal carriage and disease in Amerindians from Latin America. The Warao people, an indigenous population from Venezuela, live in the delta of the Orinoco ...River in geographically isolated communities with difficult access to medical care. To obtain insight into pneumococcal carriage and the theoretical coverage of pneumococcal vaccines in this population, we investigated pneumococcal colonization, serotype, and genotype distribution among Warao children in 9 distinct, geographically isolated communities in the Delta Amacuro area in the northeast of Venezuela. From April 2004 through January 2005, a total of 161 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were recovered from single nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained from 356 children aged 0-72 months. The overall pneumococcal carriage rate was 49%, ranging from 13% to 76%, depending on the community investigated and the age of the children (50% among children aged <2 years and 25% among children aged >2 years). The most frequent serotypes were 23F (19.5% of isolates), 6A (19.5%), 15B (10.4%), 6B (9.1%), and 19F (7.2%). The theoretical coverage of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, including the cross-reactive nonvaccine serotype 6A, was 65%. A total of 26% of the isolates were resistant to first-line antibiotics, with 70% of these strains being covered by the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Restriction fragment end labelling analysis revealed 65 different genotypes, with 125 (80%) of the isolates belonging to 27 different genetic clusters, suggesting a high degree of horizontal spread of pneumococcal strains in and between the villages. The high colonization rates and high (registered) acute respiratory tract infection morbidity and mortality in this part of Venezuela suggest that Warao children are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease and, therefore, benefit from vaccination.
BackgroundDue to the age and clinical situation of the residents in the nursing home, the collaboration with specialists guarantees continuing care.PurposeDescribe the collaboration of the hospital ...ophthalmology department in resolving queries or consultations concerning the ophthalmological medication used by the residents in the public nursing home of the referential area.Material and methodsA proposal was presented to the ophthalmology service in December 2017. Two doctors collaborated. A transverse study was carried out in January 2018 with residents using eye-drop treatments and their medical records were revised. Data about the use of medication of the S group (ATC codes) was collected between January 2015 and December 2017.The medications which can interact with ophthalmological diseases, e.g. glaucoma and cataracts, were revised, as were the adverse effects of the eye drops. Recommendations and improvement proposals have been sent.ResultsIn January 2018, of the 194 residents in the care home, 23 were receiving treatment with artificial tears and seven (average age 82.7 years) were being treated, chronically, with eye drops for glaucoma.Of the seven patients, only three were being revised by the specialist. For the four residents without follow-up, the ophthalmologist suggested visiting the residence to measure ocular tension and visual acuity, and later book an outpatient appointment in 2018.Of the seven patients in treatment: one was receiving quadruple therapy (carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, alpha-2adrenergic receptor, beta-blocker and prostaglandin analogues); two received triple therapy; three double therapy; and one received monotherapy (prostaglandinanalogues). A therapeutic of beta-blockers and prostaglandin analogues was detected.The greatest use of ophthalmological preparations (2015–2017) corresponded with lubricants, tobramycin-dexamethasone, tobramycin, diclofenac and latanoprost.Regarding the medication which required to be taken into account with ophthalmological diseases, these were:Anticholinergic drugs which can interact in patients with acute angle–closure glaucoma: hyoscine, tolterodine, tryciclic antidepressant, typical antipsychotic, hydroxycine. Topiramate can produce glaucoma.Alpha–1 adrenergic blockers. The discontinuation (or cancellation or suspension) in cataract interventions needs to be evaluated, due to the risk of inter–operative flaccid iris syndrome.ConclusionCollaboration with the ophthalmologists was found to be useful and guarantees continuing care and an efficient use of the resources, as well as the acquisition of knowledge.References and/or acknowledgementsImprovement of pharmacological treatments in nursing homes: medication review by consultant pharmacists ejhp.bmj.com/content/22/4/207No conflict of interest.
Little attention has been paid to pneumococcal carriage and disease in Amerindians from Latin America. The Warao people, an indigenous population from Venezuela, live in the delta of the Orinoco ...River in geographically isolated communities with difficult access to medical care. To obtain insight into pneumococcal carriage and the theoretical coverage of pneumococcal vaccines in this population, we investigated pneumococcal colonization, serotype, and genotype distribution among Warao children in 9 distinct, geographically isolated communities in the Delta Amacuro area in the northeast of Venezuela. From April 2004 through January 2005, a total of 161 Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates were recovered from single nasopharyngeal swab samples obtained from 356 children aged 0–72 months. The overall pneumococcal carriage rate was 49%, ranging from 13% to 76%, depending on the community investigated and the age of the children (50% among children aged <2 years and 25% among children aged >2 years). The most frequent serotypes were 23F (19.5% of isolates), 6A (19.5%), 15B (10.4%), 6B (9.1%), and 19F (7.2%). The theoretical coverage of the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, including the cross-reactive nonvaccine serotype 6A, was 65%. A total of 26% of the isolates were resistant to first-line antibiotics, with 70% of these strains being covered by the 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine. Restriction fragment end labelling analysis revealed 65 different genotypes, with 125 (80%) of the isolates belonging to 27 different genetic clusters, suggesting a high degree of horizontal spread of pneumococcal strains in and between the villages. The high colonization rates and high (registered) acute respiratory tract infection morbidity and mortality in this part of Venezuela suggest that Warao children are at increased risk for pneumococcal disease and, therefore, benefit from vaccination.
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