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Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) infection in cattle remains a major zoonotic and economic problem in many countries. In addition, M. bovis is an important pathogen of both man and animals. The standard diagnostic test for this disease is the intradermal tuberculin test, one of the oldest immunological tests still in widespread use. However, this test can lack both sensitivity and specificity. Serological tests such as ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay) have been suggested as an alternative method for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. In the present study, two serum ELISA's, performed for the detection of M. bovis-specific antibodies, were evaluated against the culture of tissue samples from 135 slaughtered dairy cows, which were intradermal tuberculin-test-positive. ELISA plates were coated with Bovine Purified Protein Derivative (PPD B) and M. bovis-sonication antigen. Samples were taken from the bronchial (BLN), mesenteric (MLN) and prescapular (PLN) lymph nodes and tubercules (TB) of slaughtered cattle. Tissue samples were cultured in Lowenstein-Jensen medium. Blood samples, which were collected from the tuberculin-test-positive animals before slaughter, were tested by PPD B-ELISA (PPD-ELISA) and M. bovis sonication-ELISA (sonication-ELISA). Mycobacterium spp. was isolated from 77 out of 135 cattle. Out of 135 cattle, 62 (45.9%) and 43 (31.8%) were determined to be positive for PPD-ELISA and sonication-ELISA, respectively. Using culture-positive animals as a gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of these two methods were detected as 48.2%-55.2% and 31.2%-44.5%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A coagglutination test (CT) was developed to detect Brucella, Campylobacter and Salmonella antigens in stomach contents of 58 aborted sheep fetuses and compared with conventional culture techniques.Brucella melitensis, Campylobacter fetus and Salmonella abortus ovis were isolated from 31 (53.4%), 13 (22.4%) and 4 (6.9%) fetuses, respectively. Thirty-five of the fetal stomach contents were positive with the CT test, including 19 (61.3%) with Brucella, 12 (92.3%) with Campylobacter and 4 (100%) with Salmonella CT tests, respectively. Seven samples were negative with all three CT reagents. Cross-reactions were seen with Campylobacter CT (11 samples) and Salmonella CT (six samples).The sensitivity and specificity of the CT tests were 61 and 80% for Brucella, 92 and 80% for Campylobacter, and 100 and 90% for Salmonella, respectively.The CT was found to be technically simple and rapid in diagnosing Salmonella, Campylobacter or Brucella infections by comparison with conventional culture methods. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A total of 94 vaginal swab samples and 195 serum samples collected from aborted ewes in 15 flocks were examined by PCR and a complement fixation test, respectively. In addition, 172 samples of stomach contents from fetuses from different flocks submitted for the diagnosis of abortion during the four lambing periods between 2000 and 2004 were tested by PCR. Chlamydial DNA was detected in seven vaginal swabs obtained from five of the 15 flocks and in six samples of fetal stomach contents. The results of PCR and flock serology for Chlamydia were positive in five of the 15 flocks and negative in eight. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim To compare the efficacy of a standard NaOCl irrigation procedure with that of Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation in contaminated root canals having small and large apical foramina. Methodology Forty root canals of extracted central incisor teeth with straight roots were chosen so that their apical foramina just permitted the tip of a size 20-K file to pass through. The canals were then enlarged with files to size 60 and randomly divided into four groups of 10 teeth each. The apical foramina of one group were widened further so that the tip of a size 45-K file could just pass through. After sterilization, all roots were inoculated with Enterococcus faecalis for 48 h at 37 °C. The first group was used as a control, the second group was irrigated with 3% NaOCl solution for 15 min, and the last two groups having different sizes of apical foramina were irradiated with the Er,Cr:YSGG laser at output power from 0.5 W, with 20% air and water levels. The disinfecting efficacy of the groups was tested by collecting dentine chips from the inner canal walls of the specimens and counting viable E. faecalis on Mueller–Hinton agar plates. Results The differences in the mean number of viable colonies between the control and laser groups were statistically significant ( P < 0.05). The control specimens had the highest number of microorganisms (153 × 103 ± 39 × 103). Complete sterilization was achieved in the 3% NaOCl group. The mean colony forming units (CFU) values obtained after Er,Cr:YSGG laser irradiation were 6.6 × 103 CFU and 6.5 × 103 CFU in root canals having large and small apical foramina respectively. Conclusion In teeth with straight roots the Er,Cr:YSGG laser reduced the viable microbial population in root canals with small and large apical foramina but did not eradicate all bacteria. Three percent NaOCl inhibited the growth of E. faecalis and effectively sterilized all root canals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]