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Pathogenic Escherichia coli strains cause a large number of diseases in humans, including diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, hemolytic uremic syndrome, urinary tract infections, and neonatal meningitis, while in animals they cause diseases such as calf scours and mastitis in cattle, post-weaning diarrhea and edema disease in pigs, and peritonitis and airsacculitis in chickens. The different E. coli pathotypes are characterized by the presence of specific sets of virulence-related genes. Therefore, it is not surprising that pathogenic E. coli constitutes a genetically heterogeneous family of bacteria, and they are continuing to evolve. Rapid and accurate molecular methods are critically needed to detect and trace pathogenic E. coli in food and animals. They are also needed for epidemiological investigations to enhance food safety, as well as animal and human health and to minimize the size and geographical extent of outbreaks. The serotype of E. coli strains has traditionally been determined using antisera raised against the >180 different O- (somatic) and 53 H- (flagellar) antigens. However, there are many problems associated with serotyping, including: it is labor-intensive and time consuming; cross reactivity of the antisera with different serogroups occurs; antisera are available only in specialized laboratories; and many strains are non-typeable. Molecular serotyping targeting O-group-specific genes within the E. coli O-antigen gene clusters and genes that are involved in encoding for the different flagellar types offers an improved approach for determining the E. coli O- and H-groups. Furthermore, molecular serotyping can be coupled with determination of specific sets of virulence genes carried by the strain offering the possibility to determine O-group, pathotype, and the pathogenic potential simultaneously. Sequencing of the O-antigen gene clusters of all of the known O-groups of E. coli is now complete, and the sequences have been deposited in the GenBank database. The sequence information has revealed that some E. coli serogroups have identical sequences while others have point mutations or insertion sequences and type as different serogroups in serological reactions. There are also a number of other ambiguities in serotyping that need to be resolved. Furthermore, new E. coli O-groups are being identified. Therefore, there is an essential need to resolve these issues and to revise the E. coli serotype nomenclature based on these findings. There are emerging technologies that can potentially be applied for molecular serotyping and detection and characterization of E. coli. On a related topic, the genome sequence of thousands of E. coli strains have been deposited in GenBank, and this information is revealing unique markers such as CRISPR (clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) and virulence gene markers that could be used to identify E. coli pathotypes. Whole genome sequencing now provides the opportunity to study the role of horizontal gene transfer in the evolution and emergence of pathogenic E. coli strains. Whole genome sequencing approaches are being investigated for genotyping and outbreak investigation for regulatory and public health needs; however, there is a need for establishing bioinformatics pipelines able to handle large amounts of data as we move toward the use of genetic approaches for non-culture-based detection and characterization of E. coli and for outbreak investigations.

whole genome sequencing --- detection --- pathogenic E. coli --- E. coli characterization --- Molecular serotyping --- Genetic Markers --- subtyping --- outbreak investigation --- Shiga toxin-producing E. coli --- virulence genes

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Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important foodborne pathogen associated with both outbreaks and sporadic cases of human disease, ranging from uncomplicated diarrhoea to haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). STEC affects children, elderly and immuno-compromised patients. STEC is capable of producing Shiga toxin type 1 (Stx1), type 2 (Stx2) or both, encoded by stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively. These strains are likely to produce putative accessory virulence factors such as intimin (encoded by eae), an enterohaemolysin (EhxA) and an autoagglutinating protein commonly associated with eae-negative strains (Saa), both encoded by an enterohaemorrhagic plasmid. Several studies have confirmed that cattle are the principal reservoir of STEC (O157 and non-O157:H7 serotypes) and many of these serotypes have been involved in HUS and HC outbreaks in other countries. Transmission of STEC to humans occurs through the consumption of undercooked meat, vegetables and water contaminated by faeces of carriers and by person-to-person contact. Diagnostic methods have evolved to avoid selective diagnostics, currently using molecular techniques for typing and subtyping of strains. Control is still a challenge, although there are animal vaccines directed against the serotype O157:H7.

Escherichia coli. --- E. coli (Bacterium) --- Escherichia --- environment --- Cattle --- STEC --- Virulence Factors --- Food

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Today, the food and water that we encounter in any part of the world could contain antibiotic residues and/or antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This book presents research evidence for this and also a potential way to mitigate the problem. Although not presented in this book, it is likely that this situation exists for all other types of antimicrobial agents as well, including antivirals, antifungals, and antiprotozoal agents. The presence of antibiotic residues and/or antibiotic-resistant bacteria contributes to the generation and propagation of resistance in disease-causing pathogens in humans and animals. Therefore, the medicines that we use to treat and/or prevent infections will not work as expected in many cases. It is estimated that if we do not contain antimicrobial resistance urgently, by 2050, up to 10 million people will die due to bacterial infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, skin infections, urinary tract infections, etc., which were once easily treatable. However, this book presents a system that can eliminate resistant bacteria and antibiotics from the environment, with the potential to work on other environmental microbes and antimicrobials. This book opens pathways for academics and scientists to do further research on antimicrobials and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in various environmental areas and also presents evidence for policymakers to take further action and make the general public aware of the current situation in this context.

antibiotic resistance --- community --- environment --- India --- coliforms --- commensal --- antibiotic resistance genes --- blaCTX-M --- blaTEM --- qepA --- hospital wastewater --- core-shell --- disinfection --- Escherichia coli --- nanoparticles --- pathogens --- silver --- solar-photocatalysis --- Staphylococcus aureus --- water --- zinc oxide --- S. aureus --- beaches --- multiple-antibiotic resistance --- ramA --- efflux pump --- multilocus sequence typing --- surface water --- antibiotics --- pakchoi --- endophytic bacteria --- antibiotic-resistant genes --- hydroponic cultivation --- Campylobacter --- poultry --- antibiotic susceptibility --- Rep-PCR --- cdt toxin --- Acinetobacter --- JDS3 --- river --- carbapenemases --- antimicrobial resistance --- genotypes --- non-typhoidal Salmonella --- genes --- integrons --- subtyping --- ESBL --- MRSA --- VRE --- sewage sludge --- PER-1 --- pathogenic E. coli --- harvested rainwater --- public health --- Sub-Saharan Africa --- alternative water source --- farmer --- veterinary antibiotics use --- knowledge --- behavior probability model --- China --- antibiotics residue --- food animals --- bacteria --- Nigeria --- E. coli --- antibiotic-resistance gene --- MARI --- MARP --- multidrug resistance --- flooring design --- Turkey --- antibacterial resistance --- enrofloxacin --- commensal E. coli --- ESBL-producing E. coli --- β-lactamase genes --- insertion sequences --- antibiotic residues --- aquatic environment --- ciprofloxacin --- Fe-doped ZnO nanoparticles --- photocatalysis --- sunlight --- ceragenin --- multidrug-resistant bacteria --- biofilm --- antimicrobial peptides --- colistin --- n/a

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This reprint contains articles from the Special Issue of Animals “Housing Environment and Farm Animals' Well-Being”, including original research, review, and communication related to livestock and poultry environmental management, air quality control, emissions mitigation, and assessment of animal health and well-being.

broiler production --- alternative flooring --- ammonia emissions --- animal welfare --- environmental impact --- air pollution control --- air quality --- volatile organic compounds --- odor --- environmental technology --- advanced oxidation --- UV --- thermal index --- sows --- environmental parameters --- heat stress threshold --- skin temperature --- temperature and humidity index --- black globe-humidity index --- effective temperature --- equivalent temperature index for sows --- enthalpy --- group housing system --- individual stall --- behavior --- stress hormone --- offspring --- gestating sows --- weaned piglets --- cold exposure --- growth performance --- skeletal muscle fiber --- antioxidant capacity --- dairy cattle --- heat stress --- airborne E. coli --- settled E. coli --- survivability --- airborne transmission --- poultry --- heavy broiler --- surface temperature --- air velocity --- temperature humidity index --- alternative housing --- body temperature --- bone quality --- relative brain weight --- welfare --- pullet status --- housing type --- environmental management --- livestock monitoring --- camera coverage optimization --- sensor placement --- genetic algorithm

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Dear Colleagues, Ruminant production systems are very important in many areas of the world and a key aspect of the economy and culture. Food quality is a complex term that includes, in addition to safety, such intrinsic characteristics as appearance, color, texture, and flavor, which are modified by both pre- and post-mortem factors. For this Special Issue, we included studies on any of these factors or preservation methods for improving the quality and shelf-life of meat. We also collected manuscripts on carcass development, quality, and valorization. We are interested in applied research and the interaction between pre- and post-mortem factors, e.g., nutrition and preservation methods for improving the quality and conservation of a carcass and meat, and methods for assessing carcass quality (ultrasound, image analysis, etc.). However, manuscripts related to the extrinsic characteristics (origin, quality labels, price, etc.) of a carcass or meat do not fall into the scope of this Special Issue.

Research & information: general --- Biology, life sciences --- Technology, engineering, agriculture --- lambs --- carcass characteristics --- meat quality --- vitamin E --- rosemary residue --- cinisara breed --- beef --- cured meat --- fat --- fermented sausage --- Pisum sativum --- fatty acids --- colour --- texture --- soybean --- carcass fatness --- image analysis --- prediction --- young bulls --- goat meat --- food safety --- E. coli --- preharvest management --- postharvest intervention --- buffalo --- carcass --- costs --- meat --- supplementation --- rearing system --- tissue composition --- breed --- lipogenesis --- GPAT1 --- SNAP23 --- fatty acid composition --- Hanwoo steer --- Cape Lob Ear --- Cape Speckled --- Boer Goat --- meat goat breeds --- meat tenderness --- meat colour --- collagen --- chevon --- Onobrychis viciifolia --- condensed tannins --- performance --- plasma metabolites --- meat color --- beef cattle --- Angus bulls --- growth rate --- crossbred Holstein --- n/a