The aim of this study was to describe the incidence of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in environmental samples from a pig slaughterhouse and from raw and processed meat samples collected from ...supermarkets and butchers. Three species of mycobacteria (M. chelonae, M. kansasii, and M. intermedium) were detected in 8.0% of the environmental samples from a pig slaughterhouse, and in 9.3% of raw and 7.7% of processed meat, respectively. The isolation of a single NTM species from these samples is a disturbing finding and means that raw meat may be a potential pathway for the transmission of NTM infections to humans.
The objectives of this study were to determine the distribution of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) in organs of farmed red deer and to investigate its vertical and horizontal spread ...among animals, using serology, cultivation and the standardized IS900 RFLP method. During the three years of the study, the production of antibodies for MAP increased from 0 to 7.7% (positive) in the first year and from 0 to 88.5% (dubious) in the third year of the study. The first performed global culture examination of faecal samples from 28 animals was negative. In three other subsequent examinations, the following positivity was found: 5.9%, 34.6%, and 36.8%, respectively. In the last year of the study, clinical signs such as diarrhoea were observed in four animals. The animals with clinical symptoms and those that were found to be infected with MAP by serology or faecal culture were euthanized. MAP was isolated from the intestinal tract and pulmonary lymph nodes of all studied animals. MAP was also isolated from mammary glands, milk, uterus, amniotic fluid and testicles. Application of the IS900 RFLP method revealed that the prevailing MAP isolates were of RFLP type B-C1; this profile was found in all types of tissue samples as well as in faeces, milk and amniotic fluid. A mixed infection of two profiles (B-C1 and B-C5, or B-C1 and B-C16) was detected in 5 animals.
Interstitial pneumonia (2/3 of the lungs were affected) and diffusely enlarged bronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes were diagnosed by gross examination of a dead 16-year-old mare. Based on ...histopathological examination and the detection of acid-fast rods after staining by the Ziehl-Neelsen technique, tuberculosis was suspected. Mycobacterium avium subsp. avium of serotype 2 and IS901+/IS1245+ genotype was isolated from the pulmonary lymph node after five-week incubation at 37 deg C. Due to the fact that horses have a naturally high resistance to mycobacterial infections, the high age of the mare most likely contributed to the development of the disease.
The first aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of different diagnostic methods that are routinely used to diagnose avian tuberculosis (ATBC, skin test, serology and culture of faeces and ...eggs) in naturally infected hens with different levels of infection. The second aim was to determine the excretion rate of MAA in faeces and eggs. Eighteen naturally infected hens from a flock of 64 hens were selected. The tuberculin skin test gave a positive result in nine infected hens of which four and one were heavily and slightly infected, respectively. A positive serological response to MAA-b antigen (water bird isolate of serotype 1) was observed in five and to MAA-p antigen (pig isolate serotype 2) in seven hens. No correlation between serological and skin-test data was found. The results show that both techniques, serological and skin-test data, are inadequate for the diagnosis of ATBC. In euthanized hens with heavy infection and tuberculous lesions serological positivity was significant in comparison with slightly infected hens lacking tuberculous lesions. Faecal culture detected MAA in 50 out of 168 samples collected for eight days before euthanasia. MAA excretion in faeces was intermittent, but significantly higher in heavily infected hens. No mycobacteria were detected in any of the 43 examined eggs, which implies that the shedding of MAA and/or transmission of ATBC through eggs may not be frequent.
The relationship between apricot tree (Prunus armeniaca L., variety Velkopavlovická) phenophases first flower and full flowering was evaluated in south Moravia region (161 a.s.l., 48°48'22''N, ...16°46'32''E). The phenological data originated from Phenological year books for period 1927–1960 and was collected at various sites in southern Moravia. During 1961–2009 the phenophases were observed by only one observer each year at one experimental site (Lednice). The computer tool PhenoClim was used for calculation of the best combinations of temperature sum (TS) and base temperature (Tbase) as a predictors for onset of phenophases. Two different method of calculation was set – first is the thermal time model (TTM) and second use the simple sine wave method (SW method) of calculation TS. With using the TS and Tbase values the onset of phenophases was calculated for future climate conditions (2050 and 2100).The results showed firstly the reaction of phenophases to the changing climate during the last decades. The onset of first flower has advanced by 11.2 days since 1961. In the next step the most likely combination of TS and Tbase was set by PhenoClim. The relationship between observed and modeled phenophases was evaluated by statistical parameter RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) which moved between 1.8 to 6.9 days for two phenophases and different periods. In model the values of TS and Tbase were subsequently used for estimation of timing the phenophases of apricot tree in future climate conditions. The onset of first flower and full flowering of apricot tree could be advanced by 11–13 days in 2050 and by 22–25 in 2100.
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