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We describe a case of endocarditis caused by Streptobacillus moniliformis bacteria, a known cause of rat-bite fever, in a 32-year-old woman with pet rats in Germany. The patient had a strong serologic response, with high IgM and IgG titers. Serologic analysis is a promising tool to identify S. moniliformis bacterial infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Union Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) serves as an information exchange platform to alert on food and feed that are risky. This study aimed to analyze 434 RASFF notifications on eggs and egg products from 2000 to 2022, based on the year, notification classification, origin country, notifying country, hazards categories, hazards, risk decision, and action taken. The results showed that the majority of notifications were classified as information, alert, and border rejection, accounting for 61.98%, 34.79%, and 3.23% of the total notifications, respectively. Italy, Germany, and France were the most notifying countries, accounting for 19.82%, 14.75%, and 10.14%, respectively. On the other hand, Italy, Poland, and Germany comprised the top notified origin countries, representing 16.13%, 15.90%, and 11.06%, respectively. Egg's top hazard categories were pathogenic microorganisms (40.78%), pesticide residues (27.88%), veterinary drug residues (7.37%), feed additives (5.99%), and environmental pollutants (5.07%). The detection frequency (%) of the top hazards in eggs was as follows: Salmonella (36.4%), fipronil (25.8%), lasalocid (3.92%), furazolidone (2.3%), dioxin-like PCBs (2.07%), nicarbazin (2.07%), dioxins (1.84%), enrofloxacin (1.6%), nitrofen (1.38%), and nitrofurazone (0.92%). The majority of these notifications resulted in undecided risk decisions (44.01%), followed by not serious (32.03%), and serious (23.96%). The most frequently observed response to notifications was market withdrawal, accounting for 24.88% of the actions taken. Interestingly, the findings indicate a notable surge in notifications during the year 2017, with 126 notifications recorded mostly due to fipronil. This study emphasizes the significance of regular surveillance and control of eggs and egg derivatives to maintain food safty and prevent consumer public health. • 434 EU RASFF notifications on eggs and egg products were analyzed. • Italy, Poland, Germany, and Spain comprised the top origin countries (53.46%). • The most noticeable hazards in eggs were Salmonella (36.41%) and fipronil (25.81%). • Withdrawal was the most common action taken (24.88% of all actions). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Development of a novel hierarchical Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) typing approach and characterization of MAP field cultures in Central Germany. Methods and Results: By combining single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and mycobacterial interspersed repetitive unit-variable number tandem repeat, we developed a highly discriminating and phylogenetically accurate hierarchical MAP typing approach. Moreover, a novel stepwise workflow was employed to reduce the number of SNP reactions required making the typing approach more affordable. MAP field cultures (n = 142) from dairy herds in Central Germany were classified as cattle type and showed a high level of heterogeneity. Intra-herd multiple genotypes were evident in (13-25%) of the investigated herds. Conclusions: The hierarchical MAP typing approach proved to be useful in fine discrimination between MAP cultures within limited geographical regions. This could potentially be used in unravelling MAP transmission chains in the respective regions. The observed heterogeneity in some herds is assumed to be due to either multiple introductions through inter-herd trade or intra-herd evolution over time. Significance and Impact of the Study: Future MAP epidemiological studies will benefit from the advantages of the novel hierarchical typing approach. The SNP number reduction approach employed here could be extrapolated for other analogous pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broiler meat is the predominant source of Salmonella as a foodborne pathogen. Several control strategies have focused on the reduction of Salmonella spp. levels at different production stages. However, the persistence of Salmonella between consecutive flocks is still of great concern. This study was designed to understand the cause of reinfection in broiler flocks due to survival of Salmonella in feeding lines of related matrices. Salmonella ( S. ) Enteritidis, S. Infantis, and S. Typhimurium isolated from broiler farms in North-West Germany were used. Four types of matrices (phosphate buffer saline (PBS), dietary plant fat, fat with feed mixture, and feed) were applied to evaluate Salmonella survival (with the initial dose about 8.0 log 10 CFU/mL) during a simulation of 4 production cycles. To evaluate the growth and survival status of Salmonella ISO 6579-1:2017 were performed (quantitatively by plate count method (PCM) and most probable number method (MPN)) and qualitatively) at 5 defined time points (−7, 0, 4, 7, and 35 d). In all matrices and for the 3 serovars, the Salmonella count decreased at the end of the fourth cycle in comparison to the beginning of the experimental infection, and was still cultivated except for fat matrix. The PBS matrices showed the highest survival level of Salmonella and did not decline drastically by the end of the fourth cycle (5.93 ± 0.00, 5.87 ± 0.02, 5.73 ± 0.05 log 10 CFU/mL, respectively). However, the fat matrices showed the lowest survival level for the 3 isolates at d 35 since the first cycle (0 log 10 CFU/mL using PCM). Regarding the fat-feed mixture, and feed matrices, there was a fluctuation in the survival rate of Salmonella (all serovars) within each cycle. For the qualitative method, the 3 serovars persisted in all matrices until the end of the fourth cycle except for fat matrices. The present study highlights the ability of Salmonella to survive for a long time in different temperatures and matrices despite efficient cleaning and disinfection processes in the feeding lines, which may influence reinfection with Salmonella in poultry houses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim This study investigated the periodontal regenerative potential of gingival margin-derived stem/progenitor cells ( G- MSCs) in conjunction with IL-1ra-releasing hyaluronic acid synthetic extracellular matrix ( HA-s ECM). Materials and Methods Periodontal defects were induced at four sites in eight miniature pigs in the premolar/molar area (−4 weeks). Autologus G- MSCs were isolated from the free gingival margin and magnetically sorted, using anti- STRO-1 antibodies. Colony formation and multilineage differentiation potential were tested. The G- MSCs were expanded and incorporated into IL-1ra-loaded/unloaded HA-s ECM. Within every miniature pig, four periodontal defects were randomly treated with IL-1ra/ G- MSCs/ HA-s ECM (test group), G- MSCs/ HA-s ECM (positive-control), scaling and root planing ( SRP; negative control-1) or left untreated (no-treatment group; negative control 2). Differences in clinical attachment level (Δ CAL), probing depth (Δ PD), gingival recession (Δ GR), radiographic defect volume (Δ RDV), and changes in bleeding on probing ( BOP) between baseline and 16 weeks post-transplantation, as well as periodontal attachment level ( PAL), junctional epithelium length ( JE), connective tissue adhesion ( CTA), cementum regeneration ( CR) and bone regeneration ( BR) at 16 weeks post-transplantation were evaluated. Results Isolated G- MSCs showed stem/progenitor cell characteristics. IL-1ra loaded and unloaded G- MSCs/ HA-s ECM showed higher Δ CAL, Δ PD, Δ GR, PAL, CR and BR as well as a lower JE compared to their negative controls and improved BOP. Conclusion G- MSCs in conjunction with IL-1ra-loaded/unloaded HA-s ECM show a significant periodontal regenerative potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a study on retention of questionable and hopeless teeth in compliant patients treated for aggressive periodontitis (AgP). The study aims to determine survival rates of questionable and hopeless teeth in such patients with AgP as well as chronic peridontitis (CP) during 15 or more years of supportive periodontal therapy. The results showed that patients with AgP have an 88.2 percent and 59.5 percent survival rate for questionable and hopeless teeth respectively.

Mycoplasma mycoides ssp. capri (Mmc) is one of the etiological microorganisms of contagious agalactia, which is among the diseases causing the highest economical losses in small ruminants. We report a disease outbreak in a German flock that led to significant suffering of goats characterized by mastitis, arthritis, pleuropneumonia and sudden deaths. Mmc was persistently isolated from many animals both from milk, and from a number of different swab and tissue samples. A number of closely related Mycoplasma spp. have to be taken into consideration to rule out important animal epizootics listed by European Animal Health Law and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). Some goats developed cross-reacting antibodies against Mycoplasma mycoides ssp. mycoides. Although Mmc is believed to be an uncommon microorganism in Germany, this study highlights that veterinarians should consider this pathogen in their work during herd health monitoring in Central Europe. Although eradication was not fully achieved, autogenous vaccination significantly seemed to improve animal health and welfare. • Mycoplasma mycoides subspecies capri is an uncommon pathogen in Germany and other Central European countries. • Outbreaks with this pathogen can have high clinical and economic impact. • Not only veterinarians in Southern Europe need to take this pathogen into consideration during herd health monitoring. • Signs of disease and serological diagnostics might give a suspect of important notifiable pathogens like contagious caprine and bovine pleuropneumonia, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

From a phlegmon in a dog an aerobic and facultatively anaerobic, indole-, oxidase- and catalase-negative, non-motile bacterium was isolated in 2019 in Germany that stained Gram-negative and showed a pleomorphic, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming appearance. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain IHIT1603-19 T was assigned to the genus Streptobacillus with sequence similarities of 98.6, 98.0, 97.9, 97.1 and 94.4 % to the type strains of Streptobacillus felis , Streptobacillus notomytis , Streptobacillus ratti , Streptobacillus moniliformis and Streptobacillus hongkongensis , respectively. Strain IHIT1603-19 T could also clearly be differentiated from other Streptobacillus species by rpoB , groEL and recA gene, nucleotide and amino acid sequence analyses as well as by core genome phylogeny. Regarding DNA-DNA relatedness, strain IHIT1603-19 T demonstrated an average nucleotide identity of 83.00 and 82.28 % compared to S. felis 131000547 T and S. moniliformis DSM 12112 T , respectively. Chemotaxonomic and physiological data of strain IHIT1603-19 T were in congruence with other closely related members of the family Leptotrichiaceae , represented by highly similar enzyme profiles and fatty acid patterns. MALDI-TOF MS analysis also proved suitable in unequivocally discriminating strain IHIT1603-19 T from all currently described taxa of the genus Streptobacillus . On the basis of these data, we propose the novel species Streptobacillus canis sp. nov. with the type strain IHIT1603-19 T (=DSM 110501 T =CCUG 74118 T =CIP 111795 T ). The G+C content of the DNA of the type strain is 26.6 mol%, genome size is 1.60 Mbp.

Germany has been an officially bovine tuberculosis (bTB)-free (OTF) country since 1996. Gradually rising numbers of bTB herd incidents due to Mycobacterium bovis and M. caprae in North-Western and Southern Germany during the last few years prompted the competent authorities to conduct a nationwide bTB survey in 2013/2014. This led to the detection of a dairy herd in which as many as 55 cattle reacted positively to consecutive intra vitam testing. Test-positive animals lacked visible lesions indicative of bTB at necropsy. Extensive mycobacterial culturing as well as molecular testing of samples from 11 tissues for members of the M. tuberculosis complex (MTC) yielded negative results throughout. However, caseous lymphadenitis of Ln. mandibularis accessorius was observed during meat inspection of a fattening pig from the same farm at regular slaughter at that time. Respective tissue samples tested MTC positive by polymerase chain reaction, and M. tuberculosis T1 family were identified by spoligotyping. Four human reactors within the farmer's family were also found to be immunoreactive. As exposure of livestock to M. tuberculosis is not generally considered, its impact may result in regulatory and practical difficulties when using protocols designed to detect classical bTB, particularly in OTF countries.