•Sulfonamide resistance in microorganisms and the prevalence of sulfonamide resistance genes does not depend on the presence of sulfonamides in the water and soil surrounding a swine farm that uses ...antibiotics.•Pyrosequencing analysis revealed a highly diverse microbial community structure and extreme sequence identity in the sulfonamide resistance gene sul1.•Wastewater discharge resulted in persistent changes in the microbial community of downstream water bodies.•The transfer of sulfonamide resistance genes could involve class 1 integrons.•Known pathogens and microorganisms in wastewater-receiving water bodies and soils showed high sul1 sequence identity (99%), implying the recent transfer of sul1 between the pathogens and environmental microorganisms.
Antibiotics are commonly used in swine feed to treat and prevent disease, as well as to promote growth. Antibiotics released into the environment via wastewater could accelerate the emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes in the surrounding environment. In this study, we quantified the occurrence of sulfonamides, sulfonamide-resistant microorganisms and resistance genes in the wastewater from a swine farm in northern Taiwan and its surrounding natural water bodies and soils. Sulfonamide levels were similar in the receiving downstream and upstream river water. However, the prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria and resistance genes, as analyzed by cultivation-dependent and -independent molecular approaches, was significantly greater in the downstream compared to the upstream river water samples. Barcoded-pyrosequencing revealed a highly diverse bacterial community structure in each sample. However, the sequence identity of the sulfonamide resistance gene sul1 in the wastewater and downstream environment samples was nearly identical (99–100%). The sul1 gene, which is genetically linked to class 1 integrons, was dominant in the downstream water bodies and soils. In conclusion, the increased prevalence of sulfonamide resistance genes in the wastewater from a swine farm, independent of the persistent presence of sulfonamides, could be a potential source of resistant gene pools in the surrounding environment.
Abstract
Infrared thermography (IRT) can measure a temperature change on the surface of objects, and is widely used as an inflammation or fever detection tool. The objective of this longitudinal ...study was to investigate the feasibility of detecting hoof lesion cattle using IRT under subtropical climate conditions. The experiment was conducted in two free-stall commercial dairy farms and 502 dairy cows participated between August 2020 and March 2022. Before hoof trimming, the portable IRT was used to measure the maximum temperature of each hoof from three shooting directions, including anterior (hoof coronary band), lateral (hoof lateral coronary band), and posterior (skin between heel and bulbs). In order to evaluate the effect of hoof lesions on the behavior of dairy cows, we also collected behavior data by automated accelerometers. The results indicated that the temperature of hooves with lesions was significantly higher than that of sound hooves in hot environments regardless of the shooting directions (P < 0.0001). In all of three shooting directions, the maximum temperature of feet with severe lesion was significantly higher than those of feet with mild lesion and sound feet (P < 0.05). Cows with lesion feet had lower daily activity and feeding time than sound cows before clinical diagnosis (P < 0.05). Furthermore, we used thresholds of both anterior hoof temperature at 32.05 °C and average daily activity at 410.5 (arbitrary unit/d) as a lame cow detecting tool. The agreement of this integrated tool reached 75% with clinical diagnosis, indicating that this integrated approach may be feasible for practice in dairy farm. In conclusion, IRT has the potential to be used as a hoof lesion detecting tool under subtropical climate conditions when using sound hoof temperature as reference points, and detection precision can be improved when IRT integrated with automated accelerometers as a lame cow detecting tool.
To counteract heat stress in dairy cows, a more reliable and efficient method for monitoring the activity of dairy cows and ambient environmental conditions should be developed. This research ...presents a cost-effective embedded imaging system that is capable of monitoring the drinking behaviour of dairy cows, while ambient temperature and humidity are simultaneously and continuously recorded with the integrated sensor modules. The embedded imaging system was implemented and tested on an experimental dairy farm, with imaging modules installed above the drinking troughs to collect video streams. To estimate the drinking time and frequency of dairy cows, detections of the dairy cow's head over the drinking troughs was performed on video stream using a deep learning convolutional neural network (CNN) model. The F1 score and true positive rate of the cow head detection were 0.987 and 0.983, respectively. The drinking behaviour data and environmental conditions were recorded and analysed to further assess the effects of heat stress on the drinking behaviour of dairy cows. The experimental results show that the daily total length and frequency of drinking bouts of the dairy cows were highly related to the temperature and humidity index (THI). Data from long-term monitoring using the automated imaging system clearly demonstrated that drinking behaviour reflects the effects of heat stress on dairy cows. The proposed monitoring system offers a novel approach for automatic and quantitative assessment of the drinking behaviours of dairy cows.
Abstract
Background
Footbaths can be used to manage digital dermatitis (DD), a common cause of lameness in dairy cattle. Copper sulfate and chelated copper–zinc (CZS) solutions in footbaths are ...potentially harmful to the environment.
Hypothesis/Objectives
To determine if a quaternary ammonium salt‐based disinfectant (QASD) footbath is as effective as a chelated CZS solution in controlling DD in dairy cows.
Animals
Fifty‐one lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups, with DD status based on the M‐stage scoring system and locomotion score balanced between treatment groups.
Materials and Methods
The groups were treated with a 1% QASD or a 2.5% chelated CZS. Footbaths were performed once per week for 15 weeks. Logistic regression was used to analyse clinical improvement. All cows received appropriate medical treatment for DD and other hoof diseases.
Results
Clinical improvement rates were 67% in the QASD group and 38% in the CZS group (
p
= 0.03). Logistic regression analysis showed that the odds (95% confidence interval) for clinical improvement rate in the CZS group were 0.30 (0.095–0.948) times that of the QASD group (
p
= 0.04). The M0 score in the QASD and CZS groups increased significantly (
p
< 0.05) at the end of the 15 week study period. In the QASD group, the proportion of M2, M3 and M4 scores were significantly decreased (
p
< 0.05).
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
Over a 15 week period, QASD for footbathing was associated with a lower prevalence of active DD lesions than when using CZS.
摘要
背景
足浴可以用来治疗趾间炎(DD)，这是奶牛跛足的常见原因。足浴中的硫酸铜和螯合铜锌溶液可能对环境有害。
假设/目的
确定季铵盐消毒剂(QASD)足浴在控制奶牛DD方面是否与螯合铜锌(CZS)溶液一样有效。
动物
51头泌乳荷斯坦奶牛被随机分为两个治疗组，DD状态基于M阶段评分系统，运动评分在治疗组之间保持平衡。
材料和方法
各组用1%QASD或2.5%螯合CZS处理。每周进行一次足浴，为期15周。采用Logistic回归分析临床改善情况。合理治疗所有奶牛的DD和其他蹄病。
结果
QASD组和CZS组的临床改善率分别为67%和38%(p=0.03)。Logistic回归分析显示，CZS组临床改善率的比值(95%置信区间)是QASD组的0.30(0.095–0.948)倍(p=0.04)。在15周研究期结束时，QASD和CZS的M0评分显著增加(p<0.05)。在QASD组中，M2、M3和M4评分的比例显著降低(p<0.05)。
结论和临床相关性
在15周的研究期间，与使用CZS相比，QASD用于足浴可以降低DD病变的活动性。
Résumé
Contexte
Les pédiluves peuvent être utilisés pour traiter la dermatite digitale (DD), une cause fréquente de boiterie chez les bovins laitiers. Les solutions de sulfate de cuivre et de cuivre‐zinc chélaté contenues dans les pédiluves sont potentiellement nocives pour l'environnement.
Hypothèse/objectifs
Déterminer si un bain de pieds désinfectant à base de sel d'ammonium quaternaire (QASD) est aussi efficace qu'une solution de cuivre‐zinc chélaté (CZS) pour contrôler la DD chez les vaches laitières.
Animaux
Cinquante et une vaches Holstein en lactation ont été assignées au hasard à l'un des deux groupes de traitement, le stade de la DD étant déterminé avec le système de notation M et le score de locomotion dans les différents groupes de traitement.
Matériels et méthodes
Les groupes ont été traités avec un QASD à 1 % ou un CZS chélaté à 2,5 %. Les bains de pieds sont effectués une fois par semaine pendant 15 semaines. La régression logistique est utilisée pour analyser l'amélioration clinique. Toutes les vaches reçoivent un traitement médical approprié pour la DD et d'autres maladies des sabots.
Résultats
Les taux d'amélioration clinique sont de 67 % dans le groupe QASD et de 38 % dans le groupe CZS (p = 0,03). L'analyse de régression logistique montre que la probabilité (intervalle de confiance à 95 %) du taux d'amélioration clinique dans le groupe CZS était 0,30 (0,095‐0,948) fois supérieure à celle du groupe QASD (p = 0,04). Le score M0 dans les groupes QASD et CZS augmente de manière significative (p < 0,05) à la fin de la période d'étude de 15 semaines. Dans le groupe QASD, la proportion des scores M2, M3 et M4 diminue de manière significative (p < 0,05).
Conclusion et pertinence clinique
Sur une période de 15 semaines, le QASD pour le bain de pieds est associé à une prévalence plus faible de lésions DD actives que lors de l'utilisation du CZS.
Zusammenfassung
Hintergrund
Fußbäder können beim Management der digitalen Dermatitis (DD), einer häufigen Lahmheitsursache von Milchkühen, eingesetzt werden. Kupfersulfat und chelatierte Kupfer‐Zink Lösungen in Fußbädern sind möglicherweise für die Umwelt schädlich.
Hypothese/Ziele
Das Ziel der Studie war es herauszufinden, ob quarternäre Ammonium Salz‐basierte Desinfektionsmittel (QASD) in Fußbädern genauso wirksam sind bei der Kontrolle der DD von Milchkühen wie chelatierte Kupfer‐Zink (CZS) Lösungen.
Tiere
Einundfünfzig laktierende Holsteiner Milchkühe wurden zufällig für eine von zwei Behandlungsgruppen ausgewählt, wobei der DD Status auf dem M‐Stage Bewertungssystem basierte sowie einem ausgeglichenen Bewegungswert zwischen den Behandlungsgruppen.
Materialien und Methoden
Die Gruppen wurden mit einer 1%igen QASD oder einer 2,5%igen chelatierten CZS behandelt. Die Fußbäder wurden einmal wöchentlich 15 Wochen lang durchgeführt. Die logistische Regression wurde zur Analyse der klinischen Verbesserung eingesetzt. Alle Kühe erhielten eine medizinische Behandlung für DD und andere Klauenerkrankungen.
Ergebnisse
Die Raten der klinischen Verbesserung lagen bei 67% in der QASD Gruppe und bei 38% in der CZS Gruppe (
p
= 0,03). Die logistische Regressionsanalyse zeigte, dass die Chancen (95%iges Konfidenzintervall) für klinische Verbesserungsraten in der CZS Gruppe beim 0,30 (0,095‐0,948) ‐fachen der QASD Gruppe (
p
= 0,04) lag. Der M0 Wert der QASD und der CZS Gruppe nahm am Ende der 15. Woche der Studiendauer signifikant zu (
p
< 0,05). In der QASD Gruppe waren die Proportionen der M2, M3 und M4 Werte signifikant vermindert (
p
< 0,05).
Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Bedeutung
Über eine Studiendauer von 15 Wochen traten beim Einsatz von QASD Fußbäder aktive DD Läsionen mit einer niedrigeren Prävalenz auf als beim Einsatz von CZS.
要約
背景
フットバスは乳牛の跛行の一般的な原因である趾皮膚炎(DD)の管理に使用できる。フットバスに含まれる硫酸銅やキレート化銅‐亜鉛溶液は環境に有害な可能性がある。
仮説/目的
本研究の目的は、第四級アンモニウム塩ベースの殺菌剤(QASD)フットバスが、乳牛の DD を抑制するのにキレート化銅‐亜鉛(CZS)溶液と同程度の効果があるかどうかを調べることであった。
動物
51頭のホルスタイン乳牛を2つの治療群のいずれかに無作為に割り付け、Mステージスコアリングシステムに基づくDD状態および運動スコアを治療群間でバランスさせた。
材料と方法
各群に1% QASDまたは2.5%キレートCZSを投与した。フットバスは週1回、15週間実施した。ロジスティック回帰を用いて臨床的改善を解析した。全ての牛は DD やその他の蹄病に対して適切な治療を受けた。
結果
臨床的改善率は QASD 群で 67%、CZS 群で 38%であった(p = 0.03)。ロジスティック回帰解析の結果、CZS群の臨床的改善率のオッズ(95%信頼区間)はQASD群の0.30倍(0.095‐0.948)であった(p = 0.04)。QASD群およびCZS群のM0スコアは、15週間の試験期間終了時に有意に増加した(p<0.05)。QASD群では、M2、M3、M4スコアの割合が有意に減少した(p < 0.05)。
結論と臨床的意義
15週間の期間において、QASDによるフットバスは、CZSを用いた場合よりも活動性DD病変の有病率が低いことと関連していた。
Resumo
Contexto
Pedilúvios podem ser utilizados no manejo das dermatites digitais (DD), uma causa comum de claudicação em gado de leite. Soluções de sulfato de cobre e cobre‐zinco quelado em pedilúvios são potencialmente perigosos para o meio ambiente.
Hipótese/Objetivos
Determinar se um desinfetante à base de sal de amônia quaternária (QASD) é tão eficaz quanto uma solução de cobre‐zinco quelado (CZS) no controle da DD em vacas de leite.
Animais
Cinquenta e uma vacas holandesas em lactação foram distribuídas aleatoriamente para um dos dois grupos de tratamento. O status da foi DD determinado baseado no sistema de escore do estágio M e escore de locomoção foi equilibrado entre os grupos de tratamento.
Materiais e Métodos
Os grupos foram tratados com QASD a 1% ou CZS quelado a 2,5%. Os pedilúvios foram realizados uma vez por semana durante 15 semanas. A regressão logística foi utilizada para analisar a melhora clínica. Todas as vacas receberam tratamento adequado para DD e outras doenças dos cascos.
Resultados
As taxas de melhora clínica foram de 67% no grupo QASD e 38% no grupo CZS (
p
= 0,03). A análise de regressão logística mostrou que as chances (intervalo de confiança de 95%) de melhora clínica no grupo CZS foram de 0,30 (0,095–0,948) vezes maiores que as do grupo QASD (
p
= 0,04). A pontuação M0 nos grupos QASD e CZS aumentou significativamente (
p
< 0,05) ao final do período de 15 semanas de estudo. No grupo QASD, a proporção dos escores M2, M3 e M4 diminuiu significativamente (
p
< 0,05).
Conclusão e Relevância Clínica
Durante o período de 15 semanas, o pedilúvio com QASD foi associado a uma menor prevalência de lesões DD ativas do que quando se utiliza CZS.
RESUMEN
Introducción
Los lavados podales se pueden utilizar para controlar la dermatitis digital (DD), una causa común de cojera en el ganado lechero. El sulfato de cobre y las soluciones queladas de cobre y zinc utilizadas en los lavados podales son potencialmente perjudiciales para el medio ambiente.
Hipótesis/Objetivos
Determinar si un lavado podal desinfectante a base de sales de amonio cuaternario (QASD) es tan eficaz como una solución quelada de cobre y zinc (CZS) para controlar la DD en vacas lecheras.
Animales
Cincuenta y una vacas Holstein en lactancia fueron asignadas aleatoriamente a uno de dos grupos de tratamiento, con un estado de DD basado en el sistema de puntuación de fase M y una puntuación de locomoción equilibrada entre los grupos de tratamiento.
Materiales y métodos
Los grupos fueron tratados con QASD al 1% o CZS quelado al 2,5%. Los baños de pies se realizaron una vez por semana durante 15 semanas. Se utilizó una regresión logística para analizar la mejoría clínica. Todas las vacas recibieron tratamiento médico adecuado para DD y otras enfermedades de las pezuñas.
Resultados
Las tasas de mejoría clínica fueron del 67% en el grupo QASD y del 38% en el grupo CZS (
p
= 0,03). El análisis de regresión logística mostró que las probabilidades (intervalo de confianza del 95%) de una mejoría clínica en el grupo CZS fueron 0,30 (0,095–0,948) veces las del grupo QASD (
p
= 0,04). La puntuación M0 en los grupos QASD y CZS aumentó significativamente (
p
<0,05) al final del período de estudio de 15 semanas. En el grupo QASD, la proporción de puntuaciones M2, M3 y M4 disminuyó significativamente (
p
<0,05).
Conclusión y relevancia clínica
Durante un período de 15 semanas, el uso de QASD para baños podales se asoció con una menor prevalencia de lesiones activas de DD que cuando se usaba CZS.
Aquaculture faces substantial challenges in mitigating the detrimental environmental impacts of intensive farming. Traditional methods have given rise to serious concerns, leading to the search for ...alternative approaches using probiotics. An indigenously isolated photosynthetic purple bacterium,
Rhodovulum sulfidophilum
, was introduced into a marine integrated multitrophic aquaculture system cultivating
Chanos chanos
in southwestern Taiwan. The effects of
R. sulfidophilum
on water quality parameters, the relative levels of nitrogenase-encoding
nifH
and nitrous oxide reductase-encoding
nosZ
genes, the occurrence of sulfonamide resistance, the presence of sulfonamide resistance genes, and microbial community structure were determined. Supplementation with
R. sulfidophilum
decreased the chemical oxygen demand, the nitrate levels, and the occurrence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria in the fishpond water compared with that of the control after rearing. The level of the sulfonamide resistance gene
sul2
decreased in
R. sulfidophilum
-supplemented water samples, while the control exhibited an elevated level of
sul2
after rearing. Supplementation with
R. sulfidophilum
also maintained the integrity of the bacterial community structure. In conclusion, our results suggest that
R. sulfidophilum
is an attractive supplement for enhanced disease emergence control, microbial biodiversity maintenance, and sustainable marine aquaculture practice.
The gut microbiome is essential for a host to digest food, maintain health, and adapt to environments. Bacterial communities of gut microbiota are influenced by diverse factors including host ...physiology and the environment. Many non-human primates (NHPs), which are physiologically close to humans, are in danger of extinction. In this study, the community structure of the gut microbiota in three NHPs: siamangs (
Symphalangus syndactylus
, Ss), Bornean orangutans (
Pongo pygmaeus
, Pp), and white-handed gibbons (
Hylobates lar
, Hl)—housed at the largest Zoo in Taiwan were analyzed. Pp and Ss were housed in the Asian tropical rainforest area, while Hl was housed in two separate areas, the Asian tropical rainforest area and the conservation area. Bacterial community diversity of Ss, indicated by the Shannon index, was significantly higher compared with that of Hl and Pp, while the richness (Chao 1) and observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were similar across the three species of NHPs. Host species was the dominant factor shaping the gut microbial community structure. Beta-diversity analysis including non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) and unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) suggested gut bacterial communities of Hl housed in the conservation area were closely related to each other, while the bacterial communities of Hl in the rainforest area were dispersedly positioned. Further analysis revealed significantly higher abundances of
Lactobacillus fermentum, L. murinus
, and an unclassified species of
Lactobacillus
, and a lower abundance of
Escherichia-Shigella
in Hl from the conservation area relative to the rainforest area. The ratio of
Lactobacillus
to
Escherichia-Shigella
was 489.35 and 0.013 in Hl inhabiting the conservation and rainforest areas, respectively. High abundances of
Lactobacillus
and
Bifidobacterium
and a high ratio of
Lactobacillus
to
Escherichia-Shigella
were also observed in one siamang with notable longevity of 53 years. Data from the study reveal that host species acted as the fundamental driving factor in modulating the community structure of gut microbiota, but that habitats also acted as key determinants within species. The presence and high abundance of probiotics, such as
Bifidobacterium
and
Lactobacillus
, provide potential indicators for future diet and habitat optimization for NHPs, especially in zoological settings.
Aquaculture, one of the most important food production practices worldwide, faces serious challenges of mitigating the detrimental impacts of intensive farming on the environment and increased ...prevalence of antibiotic resistance. To develop an environment-friendly aquaculture system, a land-based and farm-scale sequentially integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA) system was established for farming Chanos chanos in southwestern Taiwan. In this system, fishes are cultured in combination with organic extractive shellfish and inorganic extractive seaweed. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of sulfonamide-resistant bacteria, microbial community structure, and occurrence of sulfonamide resistance genes in the IMTA and traditional aquaculture systems. Water and sediment samples were collected before raising and after harvesting C. chanos. Our results showed that the occurrence of sulfonamide-resistant phenotypes in the IMTA system was comparable with that in influent seawater, while the traditional system exhibited a high sulfonamide resistance rate. Additionally, the traditional system resulted in a deviation of the bacterial community structure from that of seawater. In the water samples from the IMTA system and influent seawater, Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes were the two dominant phyla, representing approximately 75% and 15% of the community, respectively. In the traditional system, Actinobacteria, constituting 39% of the community, was the dominant bacterial phylum. Thirty-one sulfonamide-resistant bacterial species were isolated. In conclusion, a sequentially IMTA system showed superior ability to maintain the prevalence of antibiotic resistance and the integrity of the bacterial community structure compared to the traditional farming system, representing a potentially valuable aquaculture system for preserving the sustainability of the marine environment.
Display omitted
•IMTA system maintained microbial community structure and prevalence of sulfonamide resistance in marine environments.•Vibrio was the most frequently isolated sul1-possessing genus in marine fishponds.•High sul1 sequence similarity was observed in marine bacteria of distinct phylogenetic taxa.•Sulfonamide resistance was accompanied by streptomycin resistance in bacteria isolated from marine aquaculture systems.
The transition dairy cows are challenged by various stresses such as decreased dry matter intake, liver dysfunction, increased inflammation, and oxidative stress, particularly in subtropical regions. ...These might increase the requirement for vitamin E and trace elements. To examine whether supplementation of vitamin E, selenium or copper, zinc, and manganese complex would help transition dairy cows to achieve greater reproduction performance by overcoming the immune function and postpartum disorders in subtropical Taiwan. A total of 24 Holstein Friesian dairy cows were enrolled in this study and divided into three groups (
= 8 cows/group): treatment 1 supplemented with organic selenium and vitamin E (SeE), treatment 2 supplemented with organic copper, zinc, and manganese complex (CZM) and control (CON). The results showed SeE supplementation improved immune function, reproductive performance, and milk yield, but not negative energy balance status. Supplementation of CZM improved milk yield and energy regulation through antioxidative capacity and immune function, but had no influence on reproductive performance.
Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin which can cause loss in animal production. The aim of this study was to screen
strains for their ZEN detoxification capability and use a fermentation ...process to validate their potential application in the feed industry. In the high-level ZEN-contaminated maize (5 mg·kg
) fermentation test, B2 strain exhibited the highest detoxification rate, removing 56% of the ZEN. However, B2 strain was not the strain with the highest ZEN detoxification in the culturing media. When B2 grew in TSB medium with ZEN, it had higher bacterial numbers, lactic acid, acetic acid, total volatile fatty acids, and ammonia nitrogen. The ZEN-contaminated maize fermented by B2 strain had better fermentation characteristics (lactic acid > 110 mmol·L
; acetic acid < 20 mmol·L
; pH < 4.5) than ZEN-free maize. Furthermore, B2 also had detoxification capabilities toward aflatoxins B1, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1, and T2 toxin. Our study demonstrated differences in screening outcome between bacterial culturing conditions and the maize fermentation process. This is important for the feed industry to consider when choosing a proper method to screen candidate isolates for the pretreatment of ZEN-contaminated maize. It appears that using the fermentation process to address the ZEN-contaminated maize problem in animal feed is a reliable choice.
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