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Cigarette smoke (CS) promotes the development of chronic pulmonary disease and has been associated with increased risk for influenza-related illness. Here, we directly addressed the impact of CS disordered microbiota on the severity of influenza A virus (IAV) infection. Specific and opportunistic pathogen-free (SOPF) C57BL/6J mice were exposed to CS or room air (RA) for 5.5 months. Each exposed mouse was then cohoused with a group of recipient germ-free (GF) mice for 1 month for microbial transfer. Colonized GF mice were then infected intranasally with IAV and disease development was monitored. Upper and lower airway and fecal microbiota were longitudinally investigated by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and bacterial cultures in donor and recipient mice. The bacterial family Streptococcaceae accounted for the largest difference between CS- and RA-exposed microbiota in the oropharynx. Analysis of the oropharynx and fecal microbiota indicated an efficient transfer to coprophagic recipient mice, which replicated the differences in microbiota composition observed in donor mice. Subsequent IAV infection revealed significantly higher weight loss for CS microbiota recipient mice at 8-10 days post infection (dpi) compared to control recipient mice. In addition, H1N1 infection inflicted substantial changes in the microbiota composition, especially at days 4 and 8 after infection. In conclusion, mice with a CS-associated microbiota suffer from higher disease severity upon IAV infection compared to mice colonized with a normal SOPF microbiota. Our data suggest that independently of CS exposure and concomitant structural lung damage, microbial distortion due to CS exposure may impact the severity of IAV disease course.IMPORTANCEIt has been reported that chronic exposure to CS is associated with a disordered microbiota composition. In this study, we colonized germ-free (GF) mice with the microbiota from SOPF mice which were chronically exposed to CS or RA. This allowed disentangling the effect of the disordered microbiota from the immune-modulating effects of actual CS exposure. We observed a successful transfer of the microbiotas after cohousing including specific microbiota differences induced by CS exposure in formerly GF mice, which were never exposed to CS. We then investigated the effects of IAV infection on the disease course and microbiotas of formerly GF mice. We found that mice with CS-associated microbiota reveal worse disease course compared to the control group. We hypothesize that CS-induced disordering of the microbiota may, indeed, impact the severity of influenza A disease.

Over the past two decades, as the importance of gut microbiota to human health has become widely known, attempts have been made to treat diseases by correcting dysbiosis of gut microbiota through fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Apart from current knowledge of gut microbiota, FMT to treat disease has a long history, from the treatment of food poisoning in the fourth century to the treatment of Clostridioides difficile infections in the twentieth century. In 2013, FMT was recognized as a standard treatment for recurrent C. difficile because it consistently showed high efficacy. Though recurrent C. difficile is the only disease internationally recognized for FMT efficacy, FMT has been tested for other diseases and shown some promising preliminary results. Different FMT methods have been developed using various formulations and administration routes. Despite advances in FMT, some issues remain to be resolved, such as donor screening, manufacturing protocols, and unknown components in the fecal microbiota. In this review, we discuss the mechanisms, clinical indications, methods, and challenges of current FMT. We also discuss the development of alternative therapies to overcome the challenges of FMT., Competing Interests: Declarations Conflict of interest All authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Microbiological Society of Korea.)

There is increasing recognition that alien species may be 'sleepers', becoming invasive with favourable changes in conditions, yet these changes remain difficult to predict. As populations of frugivorous birds shift with urbanisation and climate change, they could provide dispersal services for introduced fruiting plants that have previously been considered benign. This is likely to be especially problematic at higher latitudes where bird migration phenologies are altering rapidly. However, any consequences for fruit dispersal have not yet been explored. Here, we use Helsinki, Finland, to investigate whether (i) streetscapes provide birds with a fruit resource that differs from urban forest fragments and (ii) the chances for dispersal of alien species (i.e., preferential consumption of native fruits). While there were both more fruits and birds in streetscapes (replicated across multiple years), fruits were not consumed preferentially according to origin. Additionally, seed analysis from faecal samples of blackbird Turdus merula L., a previously migratory but increasingly resident species, suggested that alien and native plants are equally likely to be dispersed. These results indicate that birds could be dispersing alien species more frequently than previously thought and highlight the complex effects of changing climates on potentially invasive species., (© 2024 The Author(s). Global Change Biology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Scald burns occur when the skin encounters hot liquid or steam. Although most scald burns are accidental, the medical provider must assess for possible abuse. We report a case of a 2-year-old female who presented to the hospital with her parents due to a burn to the buttocks with a history of stool expelling from the anus and becoming trapped against the skin. Medical providers need to consider accidental and inflicted differentials, as accidental injuries do occur in children, and an incorrect diagnosis may have severe medicolegal consequences., Competing Interests: CONFLICTS OF INTEREST None to report., (Copyright © 2024 National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The banded langur (Presbytis femoralis) is a critically endangered primate, which within Malaysia has not been known to extend significantly outside the state of Johor. Traditionally, distribution studies on this highly threatened primate have relied on conventional methods such as DNA identification, live counting, and camera trapping. However, ethnoprimatology offers an alternative approach to data collection, involving the active participation of indigenous and local communities possessing valuable knowledge and experience with local primate species. This study employed an integrated approach incorporating ethnoprimatology by utilizing pooled local expert opinion, local surveys, interviews, and fecal DNA analysis, resulting in a novel distribution range for the banded langur. The combination of expert opinions revealed this species' most optimistic distribution scenario across Johor and Pahang, inhabiting various ecosystems, including lowland forests, peat swamps, and human-modified landscapes. Further interviews and surveys conducted within the Orang Asli community in Tasik Chini and Tasek Bera have provided additional support for the revised distribution, documenting occurrences of banded langur utilization in indigenous practices, such as food consumption, cultural beliefs, medicinal applications, and craftsmanship. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated genetic differentiation between populations in Johor and Pahang, with the populations in the southern part of Peninsular Malaysia likely serving as ancestral sources for other populations. Consequently, this study not only elucidated the updated distribution of banded langur through DNA records and direct observations but also established the efficacy of ethnoprimatology as a precursory tool for uncovering the present distribution patterns of other primate species in Malaysia., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Dog feces are a known source of nutrient, pathogen, and plastic pollution that can harm human and ecosystem health. Home composting may be a more environmentally sustainable method of managing dog feces and reducing this pollution. While composting is an established method for recycling animal manures into low-risk soil conditioners for food production, few studies have investigated whether household-scale compost methods can safely and effectively process dog feces for use in backyard edible gardens. A broad range of literature on in situ composting of dog feces is evaluated and compared according to scale, parameters tested, and compost methods used. Studies are analyzed based on key identified knowledge gaps: appropriate compost technologies to produce quality soil conditioner on small scales, potential for fecal pathogen disinfection in mesophilic compost conditions, and biodegradation of compostable plastic dog waste bags in home compost systems. This review also discusses how existing methods and quality standards for commercial compost can be adapted to dog fecal home composting. Priorities for future research are investigation of household-scale aerobic compost methods and potential compost amendments needed to effectively decompose dog feces and compostable plastic dog waste bags to produce a good-quality, sanitized, beneficial soil conditioner for use in home gardens. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:1876-1891. © 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC)., (© 2024 The Author(s). Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).)

The study was conducted to determine the proportion and concentration of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 and six non-O157 (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) serogroups and identify seasonal and processing plant differences in feces and on hides of cull dairy cattle processed in commercial slaughterhouses in the United States. Approximately 60 rectal and 60 hide-on samples from matched carcasses were collected in each of three processing plants, in two periods; summer of 2017 and spring of 2018. Samples before enrichment were spiral plated to quantify EHEC, and postenriched samples underwent culture methods that included immuno-magnetic separation, plating on selective media, and PCR assays for identification and serogroup confirmation of putative isolates. An isolate was considered EHEC O157 positive if it harbored serogroup-specific ( rfbE ), Shiga toxin ( stx 1 and/or stx 2), and intimin ( eae ) genes and EHEC non-O157 positive if at least one of the non-O157 serogroup-specific, stx 1 and/or stx 2, and eae genes was identified. Generalized linear mixed models were fitted to estimate overall proportion of positives for EHEC O157 and non-O157 EHEC serogroups, as well as seasonal and processing plant differences in fecal and hide-on proportion of positives. The fecal EHEC proportion at the sample level was 1.8% (95% CI = 0.0-92.2%) and 4.2% (95% CI = 0.0-100.0%) for EHEC O157 and EHEC non-O157, respectively. Hide sample level proportion of positives was 3.0% (95% CI = 0.0-99.9%) for EHEC O157 and 1.6% (95% CI = 0.0-100.0%) for EHEC non-O157. The proportion of EHEC O157 and non-O157 significantly differed by processing plant and sample type (hide vs. feces), but not by season. The association between proportion of EHEC serogroups in feces with the proportion on hides collected from matched cattle was 7.8% (95% CI = 0.6-53.3%) and 3.8% (95% CI = 0.3-30.8%) for EHEC O157 and non-O157, respectively. Taken together, our findings provide evidence of a low proportion of EHEC serogroups in the feces and on hides of cull dairy cattle and that their proportion varies across processing plants.

The gut microbiome plays a crucial role in maintaining animal health and is influenced by various factors, including light exposure; however, the response in laying hens of the gut microbiome to intermittent light regimes and the related impact on antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) remain poorly understood. In this study, we divided 20-week-old laying hens into two groups. These groups were exposed to either continuous normal light or intermittent light for 8 weeks. The feces and cecal contents of laying hens were collected for analysis. Metagenomic analysis of both feces and cecal content samples revealed significant shifts in the microbial composition and abundance of ARGs under intermittent light exposure compared to normal light exposure (P < 0.05). Furthermore, metabolomic analysis of the cecal contents revealed substantial alterations in the abundance and composition of ARGs and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in response to intermittent light exposure (P < 0.05). Network analysis revealed intricate co-occurrence patterns among bacterial communities, metabolites, and ARGs, highlighting correlations between Bacteroidetes species, ARGs, and metabolites. Although certain bacterial species showed differential associations, the dominant bacteria carrying ARGs or MGEs had relatively low numbers, suggesting that other bacterial communities may have had a greater influence on ARG dissemination. Moreover, our observations highlight the crucial role of metabolites as mediators between bacterial communities and ARGs, providing novel insights into the dynamics of antibiotic resistance development. Our findings underscore the impact of intermittent light exposure on ARG proliferation in poultry farming and emphasize interconnections among ARGs, bacterial communities, and metabolic pathways. The results underscore the importance of considering both microbial communities and metabolic processes to understand antibiotic resistance in agricultural settings., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The conditions in livestock housing are suitable for the survival of airborne microorganisms, mainly due to high temperatures, humidity, and the presence of organic material. The total count of airborne bacteria concentrations in cattle farms ranged from 3.01 log 10 CFU/mL to 6.90 log 10 CFU/mL; for coliform bacteria, they were from 2.18 log 10 CFU/mL to 3.34 log 10 CFU/mL; and for molds, they ranged from 3.00 log 10 CFU/mL to 4.57 log 10 CFU/mL. Bacteria resistant to antimicrobial substances and resistance genes can be spread on animal farms. Antimicrobial resistance in ubiquitous Escherichia coli isolated from cattle feces was investigated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) testing was utilized to identify phenotypic resistance profiles, and the PCR method was employed to detect the presence of resistant genes. A higher percentage of resistance was found to amikacin (65%), tetracycline (61%), streptomycin (56%), ampicillin (55%), and nalidixic acid (45%). Multidrug resistance was determined in up to 64.3% of the isolates studied. The most widespread resistance genes were bla TEM (85.7%), sul 2 (66.7%), tet B (52.38%), and sul 1 (47.6%). We found that 4.8% of the E. coli isolates had the bla CMY gene. We found that, despite phenotypic resistance, E. coli isolates do not necessarily carry genes conferring resistance to that particular antimicrobial agent.

Porcine models are increasingly recognized for their similarities to humans and have been utilized in disease modeling and organ grafting research. While extensive metabolomics studies have been conducted in swine, primarily focusing on conventional cohorts or specific animal models, the composition and functions of fecal metabolites in pigs across different age groups-particularly in the elderly-remain inadequately understood. In this study, an untargeted metabolomics approach was employed to analyze the fecal metabolomes of pigs at three distinct age stages: young (one year), middle-aged (four years), and elderly (eight years). The objective was to elucidate age-associated changes in metabolite composition and functionality under standardized rearing conditions. The untargeted metabolomic analysis revealed a diverse array of age-related metabolites. Notably, L-methionine sulfoxide levels were found to increase with age, whereas cytidine-5-monophosphate levels exhibited a gradual decline throughout the aging process. These metabolites demonstrated alterations across various biological pathways, including energy metabolism, pyrimidine metabolism, lipid metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Collectively, the identified key metabolites, such as L-methionine sulfoxide and Cholecalciferol, may serve as potential biomarkers of senescence, providing valuable insights into the mechanistic understanding of aging in pigs.

Many studies report the importance of using feces as source sample for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in patients with COVID-19 symptoms but who are negative to oropharyngeal/ nasopharyngeal tests. Here, we report the case of an asymptomatic child whose family members had negative results with the rapid antigen nasopharyngeal swab tests. The 21-month-old child presented with fever, diarrhea, bilateral conjunctivitis, and conspicuous lacrimation. In this study, analysis for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in fecal samples by using Luminex technology allowed accurate detection of the presence of the viral RNA in the feces of the child and of all her relatives, which thus resulted to be positive but asymptomatic. It is the first time that SARS-CoV-2- is observed inside the bacteria of the human gut microbiome and outside a matrix resembling extracellular bacterial lysates, in agreement with a bacteriophage mechanism with the images obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), post-embedding immunogold, and by fluorescence microscope. In addition to the typical observations of respiratory symptoms, accurate evaluation of clinical gastrointestinal and neurological symptoms, combined with efficient highly sensitive molecular testing on feces, represent an efficient approach for detecting SARS-CoV-2, and for providing the correct therapy in challenging COVID-19 cases, like the one here reported., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Author Carlo Brogna, Domenico Rocco Bisaccia, and Francesco Lauritano are employed by Craniomed Group. Author Mauro Petrillo is employed by Seidor Italy Srl. Author Simone Cristoni is employed by ISB Srl. All authors of the manuscript declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright: © 2024 Brogna C et al.)

Background: Intestinal fungal composition plays a crucial role in modulating host health, and thus is of great significance in the conservation of endangered bird species. However, research on gut fungal composition in birds is limited. Therefore, in this study, we aimed to examine gut fungal community and potential fecal pathogen composition in wild Arborophila rufipectus ., Methods: Fecal samples were collected from the habitats of wild A. rufipectus and Lophura nycthemera (a widely distributed species belonging to the same family as A. rufipectus ) in summer and autumn. Thereafter, RNA was collected and the internal transcribed spacer rRNA gene was sequenced via high-throughput sequencing to investigate seasonal variations in intestinal core fungi, microbial fungi, and potential pathogenic fungi., Results: The gut microbiota of A. rufipectus and L. nycthemera were highly similar and mainly consisted of three phyla, Ascomycota (58.46%), Basidiomycota (28.80%), and Zygomycota (3.56%), which accounted for 90.82% of the fungal community in all the samples. Further, the predominant genera were Ascomycota&#95;unclassified (12.24%), Fungi&#95;unclassified (8.37%), Davidiella (5.18%), Helotiales&#95;unclassified (2.76%), Wickerhamomyces (1.84%), and Pleosporales&#95;unclassified (1.14%), and the potential fecal pathogens identified included Candida , Cryptococcus , Trichosporon , and Malassezia ., Conclusion: Our results provide evidence that the diversity of intestinal fungi in the endangered species, A. rufipectus , is similar to that in the common species, L. nycthemera , and may serve as a basis for monitoring the status of A. rufipectus and for developing conservation measures., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Ma, Li, Li, Chen, Ling, Feng, Zhong, Peng, Wang, Jiang and Gu.)

Little is known about exposure of humans and companion animals to liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), which are extensively used in digital displays. We determined the concentrations of 52 LCMs in feces of humans, pet dogs and cats from New York State, USA, using gas chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS). Twenty-four, eight, and six LCMs, that were mainly fluorinated, were detected in human, dog, and cat feces, respectively. ∑LCMs concentrations in the feces of humans (mean: 8.01 ng/g dry weight [dw]) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those of dogs (mean: 1.82 ng/g dw) and cats (mean: 1.24 ng/g dw) and with concentrations measured as high as 39.8 ng/g dw. Rel-4'-((1r,1'r,4 R,4'R)-4'-ethyl-[1,1'-bi(cyclohexan)]-4-yl)-3,4-difluoro-1,1'-biphenyl (RELEEBCH or 2bcHdFB) was found at the highest detection frequency (DF) among LCMs analyzed in human (DF: 89 %), dog (DF: 28 %), and cat (DF: 50 %) feces, although this compound accounted only < 4 % of ∑LCM concentrations. The mean cumulative daily intakes of ∑LCMs, calculated through a reverse dosimetry approach, were 71.7, 87.5, and 10.7 ng/kg body weight (bw)/day for humans, dogs, and cats, respectively. This study provides evidence of exposure of both humans and pets to LCMs, highlighting the importance of assessing sources of exposure and associated health risks., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Medical care for domestic dogs is now respected worldwide as being at a similar level to that of humans. We previously established a test method to determine whole mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) using oral mucosal DNA that may be useful for medical care and welfare. However, the sample types tested in dogs are not limited to those obtained from the oral mucosa. Therefore, in the present study, we attempted to establish a test method to determine whole mtDNA sequences using feces, which represents the least invasive specimen. Two Japanese domestic dogs were used in the present study. DNA was extracted from approximately 100 mg of fresh feces from each dog, and PCRs were performed using four primer pairs that can amplify whole mtDNA. Following PCR, amplicons were pooled to create a DNA library using an experimental robot with an original program. Data were then acquired via NGS and data analysis was performed. The results showed that the whole mtDNA sequence of the two dogs was determined with high accuracy. Our results suggest that feces can be adapted for mitochondrial disease and individual identification testing and could serve as a useful testing method for the future medical care and welfare of domestic dogs.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants with half-lives in humans in the range of years in case of the long-chain compounds, leading to accumulation and measurable levels in plasma. In contrast, short-chain and "alternative" PFAS have lower levels or are not detectable in humans with background exposure. This may be due to lower exposure, but also due to much shorter half-lives compared to long-chain compounds. To get better data on kinetics, a healthy volunteer orally ingested a mixture of fifteen predominantly 13 C-labeled PFAS ("MPFAS") in a pilot investigation (MPFBA, MPFPeA, MPFHxA, MPFHpA, MPFOA, MPFNA, MPFDA, MPFUdA, MPFDoA, PFBS, MPFHxS, MPFOS, DONA, HFPO-DA, 6:2FTS). After application, concentrations were measured over 450 days in plasma, urine and feces, using UHPLC-MS/MS analysis after extraction. The compounds were absorbed quickly and almost completely. Data analysis revealed volumes of distribution between 110 and 177 mL/kg bw for most compounds, but higher values for MPFDA, MPFUdA and MPFDoA (maximum of 354 mL/kg bw). Half-lives were found to vary extremely, from 0.5 days (MPFPeA) and 1.5 days (MPFHxA) to 51 days (PFBS) and 152 days (MPFHpA) in case of the short-chain and "alternative" compounds. For the long-chain compounds, half-lives in the range of several years were confirmed for MPFOA, MPFNA, MPFHxS and MPFOS, but with even higher chain-lengths of the carboxylic acids, the half-lives were found to decrease, with the shortest half-life for MPFDoA (295 days). Elimination from the body was completely explained by the urinary losses in case of the short-chain and "alternative" PFAS, and in part by the fecal losses in case of the long-chain PFCA. Overall, elimination kinetics seem to be determined by several different renal and gastrointestinal factors (fraction unbound in plasma, binding affinity to organic anion transporters causing netto secretion or reabsorption, fecal loss with mechanisms to be clarified)., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

To investigate the association between the microbiota in mothers and gut microbiota in infants from 0 to 6 months, the microbiotas in infant feces, maternal feces, and breast milk were determined by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The contribution of each maternal microbiome to the infant was assessed using fast expectation-maximization for microbial source tracking calculations. The levels of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) in the feces of infants were also determined using gas chromatography and IDK-sIgA ELISA to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the infant gut microbiome. The results of this study showed that in addition to Firmicutes (E1) and Bifidobacterium (E2), the dominant microorganisms of the intestinal microbiota of infants aged 0-6 months include Proteobacteria, which is different from previous findings. Acetic acid, the most abundant SCFA in the infant gut, was positively correlated with Megasphaera ( P < 0.01), whereas sIgA was positively correlated with Bacteroides ( P < 0.05) and negatively correlated with Klebsiella and Clostridium&#95;XVIII ( P < 0.05). The maternal gut microbiota contributed more to the infant gut microbiota (43.58% ± 11.13%) than the breast milk microbiota, and significant differences were observed in the contribution of the maternal microbiota to the infant gut microbiota based on the delivery mode and feeding practices. In summary, we emphasize the key role of maternal gut health in the establishment and succession of infant gut microbiota.IMPORTANCEThis study aims to delineate the microbial connections between mothers and infants, leveraging the fast expectation-maximization for microbial source tracking methodology to quantify the contribution of maternal microbiota to the constitution of the infant's gut microbiome. Concurrently, it examines the correlations between the infant gut microbiota and two distinctive biomolecules, namely short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA). The findings indicate that the maternal gut microbiota exerts a greater influence on the infant's gut microbial composition than does the microbiota present in breast milk. Infants born via vaginal delivery and receiving mixed feeding display gut microbiota profiles more similar to their mothers'. Notably, the SCFA acetate displays positive associations with beneficial bacteria and inverse relationships with potentially harmful ones within the infant's gut. Meanwhile, sIgA positively correlates with Bacteroides species and negatively with potentially pathogenic bacteria. By delving into the transmission dynamics of maternal-infant microbiota, exploring the impacts of metabolic byproducts within the infant's gut, and scrutinizing how contextual factors such as birthing method and feeding practices affect the correlation between maternal and infant microbiota, this research endeavors to establish practical strategies for optimizing early-life gut health management in infants. Such insights promise to inform targeted interventions that foster healthier microbial development during the critical first 6 months of life., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Phelan-McDermid syndrome (PMS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by a developmental delay and autism spectrum disorder (ASD)-like behaviors. Emerging research suggests a link between gut microbiota and neuropsychiatric conditions, including PMS. This study aimed to investigate the fecal microbiota and immune profiles of children with PMS compared to healthy controls. Fecal samples were collected from children diagnosed with PMS and age-matched healthy controls. The bacterial composition was analyzed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, while short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) were quantified through gas chromatography. Immunological profiling was conducted using a multiplex cytokine assay. Significant differences were observed in the gut microbiota composition between PMS patients and controls, including a lower abundance of key bacterial genera such as Faecalibacterium and Agathobacter in PMS patients. SCFA levels were also reduced in PMS patients. Immunological analysis revealed higher levels of several pro-inflammatory cytokines in the PMS group, although these differences were not statistically significant. The findings indicate that children with PMS have distinct gut microbiota and SCFA profiles, which may contribute to the gastrointestinal and neurodevelopmental symptoms observed in this syndrome. These results suggest potential avenues for microbiota-targeted therapies in PMS.

Chronic wasting disease (CWD) affects cervids in North America, Asia, and Scandinavia. CWD is unique in its efficient spread, partially because of contact with infectious prions shed in secreta. To assess temporal profiles of CWD prion shedding, we collected saliva, urine, and feces from white-tailed deer for 66 months after exposure to low oral doses of CWD-positive brain tissue or saliva. We analyzed prion seeding activity by using modified amyloid amplification assays incorporating iron oxide bead extraction, which improved CWD detection and reduced false positives. CWD prions were detected in feces, urine, and saliva as early as 6 months postinfection. More frequent and consistent shedding was observed in deer homozygous for glycine at prion protein gene codon 96 than in deer expressing alternate genotypes. Our findings demonstrate that improved amplification methods can be used to identify early antemortem CWD prion shedding, which might aid in disease surveillance of cervids.

This study investigated arsenic (As) concentrations in diverse environmental components and their potential impact on the health risks faced by residents of the arsenic (As)-contaminated Nadia district in West Bengal, India. A random selection of 182 cattle and 255 goats from 40 livestock farmers in the district revealed that both animals and humans were naturally exposed to elevated arsenic levels through contaminated drinking water, foods, grasses, concentrate feeds, various fodder tree leaves, and other food/feed resources. The mean As concentration in roughages (483.18 µg/kg DM) was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in tree leaves (391.53 µg/kg DM), and concentrate feed/ingredients (186.66 µg/kg DM). Pond water exhibited higher arsenic levels (106.11 µg/L) compared to shallow tube well water (47.96 µg/L) and deep tube well water/tap water (10.64 µg/L and 10.04 µg/L, respectively). The mean arsenic concentration in soils DM of fodder fields, crop fields, and grassland was 10.25, 10.58, and 10.20 mg/kg, respectively. It was observed that protein-rich feeds had lower levels of arsenic accumulation (p < 0.048), while fiber-rich feeds containing more cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin had higher arsenic levels (p < 0.017). Goats consumed 73.46% more arsenic per kg body weight compared to dairy cows. Although chronic and sub-chronic arsenic exposure in the district did not typically manifest symptoms or visible signs in ruminant animals, concentrations in the hair and feces of both cattle and goats exceeded normal values. Cattle feces had significantly higher arsenic (410.43 µg/kg DM) levels (p < 0.001) than goat feces (227.00 µg/kg DM), and arsenic concentration in cattle hair (1917.74 µg/kg DM) was also significantly greater (p < 0.001) than goat hair (1435.74 µg/kg DM). Arsenic levels in milk samples from both species were below 10 µg/kg. Liver (356.02 µg/kg DM) and kidney (317.22 µg/kg DM) contained significantly higher (p < 0.001) levels of arsenic compared to muscle (204.23 µg/kg DM), and bone (161.98 µg/kg DM) in local meat-type adult male goats. The skin accumulated the highest amount of arsenic (576.24 µg/kg DM) among the non-edible parts of the goat carcass. The cumulative cancer risk value for adults was 4.96 × 10 -3 , exceeding the threshold value (1 × 10 -6 ). This suggests a significant risk of cancer development for the population in arsenic-affected areas. Non-cancer risks (hazard indexes) were estimated at 11.01 for adults. Our observations revealed that the highest bioaccumulation of arsenic occurred in the hair of cows, and goats in the examined localities. The biotransformation factor (BTF) for hair was much higher compared to other excreted samples from both species. The calculated BTF followed the order: hair > feces > milk for cows and goats. Livestock farmers in Nadia district are advised to carefully select feed resources, prioritizing those high in crude protein and low in neutral detergent fiber, and they should provide drinking water from deep aquifers to ensure the safety of milk and meat for human consumption., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The microbiota-derived short chain fatty acid butyrate has been shown to lower blood pressure (BP) in rodent studies. Nonetheless, the net effect of butyrate on hypertension in humans remains uncovered. In this study, for the first time, we aimed to determine the effect of oral butyrate on BP in patients with hypertension., Methods: We performed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled trial including 23 patients with hypertension. Antihypertensive medication was discontinued for the duration of the study with a washout period of 4 weeks before starting the intervention. Participants received daily oral capsules containing either sodium butyrate or placebo with an equivalent dosage of sodium chloride for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was daytime 24-hour systolic BP. Differences between groups over time were assessed using linear mixed models (group-by-time interaction)., Results: Study participants (59.0±3.7 years; 56.5% female) had an average baseline office systolic BP of 143.5±14.6 mm Hg and diastolic BP of 93.0±8.3 mm Hg. Daytime 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP significantly increased over the intervention period in the butyrate compared with the placebo group, with an increase of +9.63 (95% CI, 2.02-17.20) mm Hg in daytime 24-hour systolic BP and +5.08 (95% CI, 1.34-8.78) mm Hg in diastolic BP over 4 weeks. Butyrate levels significantly increased in plasma, but not in feces, upon butyrate intake, underscoring its absorption., Conclusions: Four-week treatment with oral butyrate increased daytime systolic and diastolic BP in subjects with hypertension. Our findings implicate that butyrate does not have beneficial effects on human hypertension, which warrants caution in future butyrate intervention studies., Registration: URL: https://onderzoekmetmensen.nl/; Unique identifier: NL8924., Competing Interests: M. Nieuwdorp is on the scientific board at Caelus Pharmaceuticals, the Netherlands. S.L. Hazen reports being named as a coinventor on pending and issued patents held by the Cleveland Clinic relating to cardiovascular diagnostics and therapeutics, being a paid consultant formerly for Procter & Gamble, and currently being with Zehna Therapeutics. He also reports having received research funds from Procter & Gamble, Zehna Therapeutics, and Roche Diagnostics and being eligible to receive royalty payments for inventions or discoveries related to cardiovascular diagnostics or therapeutics from Cleveland HeartLab, a wholly owned subsidiary of Quest Diagnostics, Procter & Gamble, and Zehna Therapeutics. The other authors report no conflicts.

Aim: Caregivers in home care settings may experience significant physical, emotional, and financial burdens in providing toileting assistance. However, few studies have evaluated these three aspects of caregiver burden. Therefore, this study aimed to clarify the physical, emotional, and financial burdens of toileting assistance and examine the factors associated with each burden., Methods: A self-administered postal questionnaire was distributed to 405 family caregivers of older adults receiving home care and subsidies for incontinence products in Japan in 2019. Family caregivers answered questions about toileting assistance, the perceived physical, emotional, and financial burdens of providing toileting assistance at home, and the urinary/fecal symptoms of older adults., Results: Of the 242 family caregivers who reported each burden, 213 (88%) had experienced at least one physical, emotional, or financial burden. The prevalence of physical, emotional, and financial burdens was 77.3%, 78.1%, and 70.7%, respectively. Approximately 60% of respondents reported experiencing all three burdens. Physical burden was associated with spouses acting as primary caregivers, nocturia, fecal incontinence, and the odor of urine/feces from toileting assistance. Emotional burden was associated with nighttime assistance, urinary/fecal leakage from absorbent incontinence products, and the odor of urine/feces. Financial burden was associated with frequent assistance, disposal costs of absorbent incontinence products, and the degree of toileting assistance., Conclusions: The results revealed a high prevalence of the three burdens of toileting assistance among family caregivers, suggesting the need to assess these burdens. Furthermore, they suggested the importance of providing guidance to family members, which may help reduce these burdens., (© 2024 Japan Academy of Nursing Science.)

The study aimed to evaluate the effects of supplementation with Lacticaseibacillus casei CSL3 in Swiss mice immunosuppressed with cyclophosphamide on immunological, biochemical, oxidative stress, and histological parameters. The animals were distributed into four groups (control, CSL3, cyclophosphamide, and CSL3 + cyclophosphamide), where two groups were treated with L. casei CSL3 (10 log CFU mL -1 ) for 30 days, and two groups received chemotherapy (days 27 and 30-total dose of 250 mg kg -1 ). Counts of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and bile-resistant LAB in stool samples; blood count (erythrogram, leukogram, and platelets); serum total cholesterol levels; catalase enzyme activity; and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels in liver, kidney, and brain; IL-4 expression; IL-23, TNF-α, NF-κβ in the spleen; and histological changes in the liver, kidneys, and intestine were evaluated. The CSL3 + cyclophosphamide group showed a significant increase in bile-resistant LAB counts in feces (p = 0.0001), leukocyte counts, and expression of IL-23, TNF-α, and NF-κβ (p < 0.05) significantly reduced total cholesterol levels (p = 0.001) and protected liver damage of supplemented animals. For oxidative stress damage, the bacterium did not influence the results. It is concluded that the bacterium is safe at a concentration of 10 log CFU mL -1 and has probiotic potential due to its positive influence on the immune response and lipid metabolism., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: The prolificacy of sows (litter size at birth) has markedly increased, leading to higher post-natal mortality. Heat stress can exacerbate this issue. Arginine plays an important role in several physiological pathways; its effect on gestating sows can depend on the period of supplementation. This study evaluated the effects of arginine supplementation on the productive performance and physiological status of sows during different gestation periods and seasons, using a multi-omics approach., Methods: A total of 320 sows were divided into 4 groups over 2 seasons (warm/cold); a control group (CO) received a standard diet (including 16.5 g/d of arginine) and 3 other groups received the standard diet supplemented with 21.8 g/d of arginine (38.3 g/d of arginine) either during the first 35 d (Early35), the last 45 d (Late45) or throughout the entire gestation period (COM). The colostrum was analyzed for nutritional composition, immunoglobulins and metabolomic profile. Urine and feces were analyzed on d 35 and 106 for the metabolomic and microbial profiles. Piglet body weight and mortality were recorded at birth, d 6, d 26, and on d 14 post-weaning., Results: Interactions between arginine and season were never significant. The Early35 group had a lower percentage of stillborn (P < 0.001), mummified (P = 0.002) and low birthweight (LBW) piglets (P = 0.02) than the CO group. The Late45 group had a lower percentage of stillborn piglets (P = 0.029) and a higher percentage of high birthweight piglets (HBW; P < 0.001) than the CO group. The COM group had a higher percentage of LBW (P = 0.004) and crushed piglets (P < 0.001) than the CO group. Arginine supplementation modifies the metabolome characterization of colostrum, urine, and feces. Creatine and nitric oxide pathways, as well as metabolites related to microbial activity, were influenced in all matrices. A slight trend in the beta diversity index was observed in the microbiome profile on d 35 (P = 0.064)., Conclusions: Arginine supplementation during early gestation reduced the percentage of stillborn and LBW piglets, while in the last third of pregnancy, it favored the percentage of HBW pigs and reduced the percentage of stillbirths, showing that arginine plays a significant role in the physiology of pregnant sows., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

As DNA sequencing technology continues to rapidly improve, studies investigating the microbial communities of host organisms (i.e., microbiota) are becoming not only more popular but also more financially accessible. Across many taxa, microbiomes can have important impacts on organismal health and fitness. To evaluate the microbial community composition of a particular microbiome, microbial DNA must be successfully extracted. Fecal samples are often easy to collect and are a good source of gut microbial DNA. Additionally, interest in the avian preen gland microbiome is rapidly growing, due to the importance of preen oil for many aspects of avian life. Microbial DNA extractions from avian fecal and preen oil samples present multiple challenges, however. Here, we describe a modified PrepMan Ultra Sample Preparation Reagent microbial DNA extraction method that is less expensive than other commonly used methodologies and is highly effective for both fecal and preen oil samples collected from a broad range of avian species. We expect our method will facilitate microbial DNA extractions from multiple avian microbiome reservoirs, which have previously proved difficult and expensive. Our method therefore increases the feasibility of future studies of avian host microbiomes., Competing Interests: The authors of this paper have no conflicts of interest., (© 2024 The Author(s). Ecology and Evolution published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Background: Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) has transformed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) management, but the cost to purchase high-end equipment can be prohibitive., Aim: To assess prospectively the feasibility of POCUS using pre-existing mid-end ultrasound equipment without incurring additional cost., Methods: Consecutive IBD patients underwent POCUS with or without faecal calprotectin (FCP) using a mid-end ultrasound machine. If POCUS with or without FCP could not guide management, we performed additional ileocolonoscopy or cross-sectional imaging. We evaluated the impact of POCUS on IBD management and its correlation with ileocolonoscopy or cross-sectional imaging. We analysed pregnant, paediatric and post-operative patients separately., Results: Among 508 patients with IBD, we analysed 419 (60.4% Crohn's disease [CD]; 61.3% male, age [years]: 36 [18-78]) undergoing 556 POCUS sessions. POCUS with or without FCP independently influenced clinical management in 42.8% of patients with CD and 49.7% with ulcerative colitis (UC). POCUS helped avoid colonoscopy in 51.4% of patients with CD and 51.8% with UC, and cross-sectional imaging in 38.1% of suspected active small bowel CD. In patients with additional diagnostics, POCUS-based decisions remained unchanged in 81.2% with CD and 85% with UC. Sensitivity and specificity of POCUS compared to ileocolonoscopy were 80% and 94.4% for CD and 80.8% and 92.8% for UC, respectively. Sensitivity and specificity compared to cross-sectional imaging were 87.2% and 87.5%, respectively., Conclusion: POCUS using existing mid-end ultrasound equipment in low-resource settings influenced IBD clinical decision-making with excellent accuracy, often avoiding colonoscopy and cross-sectional imaging., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

The dietary ecology of a species can provide information on habitat requirements, food resources, and trophic interactions, important to guide conservation efforts of wildlife populations in endangered habitats. In this study, we investigated the dietary ecology of bearded capuchin monkeys (Sapajus libidinosus) in Brasilia National Park, in the endangered Cerrado biome of central Brazil. To obtain diet composition and evaluate the role of these primates as seed dispersers of local tree species, fecal sample collections and feeding observations were performed for a 7-month period. To determine whether seeds germinated better after passing through a primate gut, we conducted germination trials with (i) pulped seeds from trees, (ii) depulped seeds from trees, (iii) seeds from feces planted with feces, and (iv) seeds from feces planted without feces. During experimental procedures, 7308 seeds from 8 families and 10 species were planted. We found that S. libidinosus spent more time feeding on fruits than on any other food item and the diet consisted of 33 plant species from 21 families. However, 20% of their diet consisted of anthropic food. Most seeds planted with feces germinated faster compared to seeds in other experimental treatments, suggesting that passing through the gut and being deposited with fecal material is advantageous. The bearded capuchins also defecated many medium- (5 species) and large-sized (2 species) seeds that may be inaccessible to smaller arboreal frugivores. The results obtained emphasize the important role of bearded capuchins as seed dispersers for the maintenance and conservation of the endangered Cerrado biome., (© 2024 Wiley Periodicals LLC.)

Background: Irinotecan administration can lead to severe delayed-onset diarrhea (SDOD) in clinical practice. Currently, there is no reliable surrogate predictor of intestinal exposure to SN-38 and subsequent diarrhea incidence., Methods: The relationship between fecal 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38) content and SDOD was investigated in Fisher 344 rats using a novel spectrofluorimetric method. Additionally, a pharmacokinetic study of irinotecan was performed to evaluate the biodistribution of SN-38 to establish the relationship between tissue and fecal SN-38 exposure., Results: The spectrofluorimetric method was successfully employed to measure fecal SN-38 and CPT-11 content from Day 3 to Day 6 post-irinotecan administration. Only fecal SN-38 content on Day 3 exhibited a significantly positive correlation with SDOD incidence on Days 4 and 5. A cutoff value of SN-38 ≥ 0.066 mg/g in feces was identified, predicting severe diarrhea incidence with 81% accuracy and 80% specificity. The positive correlation between fecal SN-38 content and SN-38 exposure in the ileum on Day 3 was also reflected in the changes of indicators during intestinal injury, such as prostaglandin E2 level and antioxidant activity., Conclusion: Fecal SN-38 content proves to be representative of intestinal exposure to SN-38, indicative of intestinal injury, and predictive of SDOD incidence in rats, while the spectrofluorimetric method demonstrates the translational potential., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Background and Aim: Inflammatory bowel disease is challenging to diagnose. Fecal biomarkers offer noninvasive solutions. The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is implicated in intestinal inflammation. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) regulate its activity, but conflicting findings on these enzymes in colitis require further investigation. We aimed to assess ACE and ACE2 presence and activities in the feces, serum, and colon of 2,4,6-trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced rats., Methods: Colitis was induced in male rats by rectal instillation of a 21% ethanolic TNBS solution. After rats' sacrifice, colonic portions, serum, and feces were collected. ACE and ACE2 presence in the feces was analyzed by western Blot, and colonic and serum enzymes' concentrations were quantified using ELISA kits. ACE activity was assessed using Hippuryl-His-Leu and Z-Phe-His-Leu as substrates. ACE2 activity was assessed using Mca-APK (Dnp) as a substrate in the presence and absence of DX600 (ACE2 inhibitor)., Results: An ACE isoform of ~70 kDa was found only in the feces of TNBS-induced rats. ACE concentration was higher than that of ACE2 in the serum and the inflamed colon. ACE N-domain activity was higher than that of the C-domain in all matrices. ACE2 activity was higher in the feces of TNBS-induced animals compared to controls., Conclusion: A 70 kDa ACE isoform only detected in the feces of TNBS-induced rats may have translational relevance. ACE N-domain seems to play a significant role in regulating colonic lesions. Further research using human samples is necessary to validate these findings., (© 2024 The Authors. Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology published by Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

Background: The WASH benefits Bangladesh trial multi-component sanitation intervention reduced diarrheal disease among children < 5 years. Intervention components included latrine upgrades, child feces management tools, and behavioral promotion. It remains unclear which components most impacted diarrhea., Methods: We conducted mediation analysis within a subset of households (n = 720) from the sanitation and control arms. Potential mediators were categorized into indicators of latrine quality, latrine use practices, and feces management practices. We estimated average causal mediation effects (ACME) as prevalence differences (PD), defined as the intervention's effect on diarrhea through its effect on the mediator., Results: The intervention improved all indicators compared to controls. We found significant mediation through multiple latrine use and feces management practice indicators. The strongest mediators during monsoon seasons were reduced open defecation among children aged < 3 and 3-8 years, and increased disposal of child feces into latrines. The strongest mediators during dry seasons were access to a flush/pour-flush latrine, reduced open defecation among children aged 3-8 years, and increased disposal of child feces into latrines. Individual mediation effects were small (PD = 0.5-2 percentage points) compared to the overall intervention effect but collectively describe significant mediation pathways., Discussion: The effect of the WASH Benefits Bangladesh sanitation intervention on diarrheal disease was mediated through improved child feces management and reduced child open defecation. Although the intervention significantly improved latrine quality, relatively high latrine quality at baseline may have limited benefits from additional improvements. Targeting safe child feces management may increase the health benefits of rural sanitation interventions., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Microplastics (MPs) are found in a wide range of ecosystems, from the Arctic to the deep ocean. However, there is no data on their presence in terrestrial mammals that inhabit the Selva Maya. The aim of this study is to detect the presence of MPs in the feces of the Baird's tapir (Tapirus bairdii) from the region of Calakmul, located in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. We analyzed 129 fecal samples collected during 2017 and 2018, obtaining 57 and 72 samples during the rainy and dry seasons respectively. Sixty-eight percent of the samples contained 743 MPs with a mean of 19.3 ± 28.1 MPs/kg of dry weight (DW) feces in both years. An inter-annual variation in the average abundance of microplastic was observed during the two-year period (2017-2018), with a 72 % increase in these plastic particles in feces. Fourteen polymers were identified, with ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polypropylene (PP) and polyester (PES) being the most abundant during both years. Although the effects of MPs on the health of tapirs are not known, their presence is cause for concern. There is an urgent need for the implementation of appropriate plastic waste management programs in communities of the Selva Maya to diminish the consumption of MPs in species including humans where they pose a significant risk to health. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS: The use of plastics worldwide is increasing every day, so the presence of microplastics is and will continue to be a major environmental problem. It is known that contaminants can adhere to plastics, making them hazardous materials. Microplastics can contaminate remote areas such as Biosphere Reserves. Terrestrial species such as the tapir can ingest microplastics, putting their health at risk. Knowing the dispersion of microplastics is very important in order to manage them properly, taking into account their emission sources and type of polymer., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Purpose of Review: Malabsorption and malnutrition are common gastrointestinal manifestations clinicians face, requiring diagnostic workup for effective diagnosis and management of the underlying cause. This review discusses recent advances in diagnostic approaches to malabsorption and maldigestion of macronutrients - lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. We highlight underrecognized causes, available testing modalities, and ongoing diagnostic unmet needs., Recent Findings: Innovations in the diagnostic landscape are enhancing our understanding of malabsorption syndromes. Stool collection and handling is uncomfortable and commonly avoided. The objective quantification of stool lipids, bile acids, and gut enzymes is therefore underused in the diagnosis and management of common disorders such as exocrine pancreatic insufficiency, bile acid diarrhea, protein-losing enteropathy, and more. We review the recent advancements in spot quantification of stool fat and bile acid content, endoscopic imaging techniques such as endocytoscopy, confocal laser endomicroscopy, and optical coherence tomography and the future place in clinical practice., Summary: Malabsorption and maldigestion represent significant challenges in clinical nutrition and gastroenterology. Through the integration of advanced diagnostic techniques, clinicians will be better equipped to tailor therapy and monitor treatment response, ultimately improving patient health outcomes. This review underscores the critical role of innovative diagnostic tools in accurately detecting and effectively managing gastrointestinal disorders linked to nutritional status., (Copyright © 2024 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Atlantic salmon were subjected to an acute crowding scenario, and their subsequent stress responses were observed under three distinct swimming speed/water flow (WF) conditions: 0.5, 1, and 1.5 body lengths per second (BL/s). Feces, dermal mucus, and plasma were collected for analysis at 1, 6, and 24 h (h) post-stress. Additionally, the head kidney and two regions of the brain (pituitary and POA) were collected for transcript expression analysis. Fish swimming at 0.5 BL/s exhibited higher pre-stress (baseline) cortisol levels. Across all groups and matrices, the highest cortisol/cortisol metabolites (CM) levels were observed at the 1 h post-stress sampling point. At 6 h (second sampling time point), a clear decline toward baseline levels were observe in all groups. Significant increases in mean plasma glucose levels were observed at 1 h post-stress for all groups. The mean plasma lactate levels varied based on WF treatments, with a significant increase observed at 1 h only for the 1.5 BL/s group. Additionally, significant decreases in mean plasma lactate were noted at 6 and 24 h post-stress for some groups. The mRNA abundances of the tested genes (star, cyp17a1, hsd11β2, srd5a1) increased following the stress events. These changes were not uniform across all groups and were tissue dependent. In summary, the results indicate that mucus and feces can be used as potentially less invasive matrices than blood for evaluating stress and, consequently, the welfare of Atlantic salmon in captivity., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Cyrtosia septentrionalis, an orchid species, is notable for its sausage-shaped red fleshy fruits, which can reach up to 10 cm in length. Previous research identified frugivorous and omnivorous birds, especially the brown-eared bulbul Hypsipetes amaurotis (Pycnonotidae, Passeriformes), as key seed dispersers of C. septentrionalis in natural habitats. This finding challenges conventional belief that orchid seeds are primarily wind-dispersed. Moreover, given the rarity of specialized co-evolutionary relationships between fruits and frugivores, C. septentrionalis may also rely on mammals for seed dispersal in certain regions. We aimed to explore the fruit consumption habits of animals other than birds. Motion sensor-equipped cameras were used to observe interactions with the fruits of C. septentrionalis and assess the viability of seeds post-consumption. The observations revealed three animal species consuming the fruits, with the masked palm civet Paguma larvata (Viverridae, Carnivora) identified as a dominant consumer in the investigated population. Microscopy analysis of seeds retrieved from P. larvata faeces indicated that the seeds remained intact and viable after passing through the digestive system of this carnivorous mammal. The above discovery suggests a potential role for carnivorous mammals in seed dispersal of C. septentrionalis, alongside birds, thus broadening our understanding of the complex seed dispersal strategies employed by orchids., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Fecal waste is a significant source of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) pollution and provides valuable insights into the AMR development in animal and human populations within the "One health" framework. Various genetic elements, including antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), biocide and metal resistance genes (BMGs), mobile genetic elements (MGEs), and virulence factor genes (VFGs), are crucial AMR risk determinants (ARDs). However, few studies focused on compositional characteristics of ARDs in different feces. Here, we analyzed 753 public metagenomes from human, pig, chicken, and cattle feces, revealing significant differences in ARD richness and abundance across fecal types, notably lowest in cattle samples. Tetracycline, multi-metal, and -biocide resistance genes were dominant resistome. A few core genes contributed to 25.6%-91.1% of gene abundance, and their correlations were stronger in cattle samples. Procrustes analysis showed that microbial composition had higher correlations with ARGs (M 2  = 0.579) and BMGs (M 2  = 0.519). Gammaproteobacteria was identified as major ARD-hosts especially in human and pig feces, and they mainly carried multi-resistance genes. MGEs exhibited direct positive effects on ARGs and BMGs, indirectly impacting VFGs. Utilizing random forest methods, we identified 42 indicator genes for tracking AMR pollution originating from fecal sources in the environments. This study offers new insights into understanding and controlling the AMR pollution of fecal waste from human and food animals., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Different dog sizes are associated with variations in large intestinal physiology including gut microbiota, which plays a key role in animal health. This study aims to evaluate, using the CANIM-ARCOL (Canine Mucosal Artificial Colon), the relative importance of gut microbes versus physicochemical and nutritional parameters of the canine colonic environment in shaping microbiota structure and functions. CANIM-ARCOL was set up to reproduce nutrient availability, bile acid profiles, colonic pH, and transit time from small, medium, or large dogs according to in vivo data, while bioreactors were all inoculated with a fecal sample collected from medium size dogs ( n  = 2). Applying different dog size parameters resulted in a positive association between size and gas or SCFA production, as well as distinct microbiota profiles as revealed by 16S Metabarcoding. Comparisons with in vivo data from canine stools and previous in vitro results obtained when CANIM-ARCOL was inoculated with fecal samples from three dog sizes revealed that environmental colonic parameters were sufficient to drive microbiota functions. However, size-related fecal microbes were necessary to accurately reproduce in vitro the colonic ecosystem of small, medium, and large dogs. For the first time, this study provides mechanistic insights on which parameters from colonic ecosystem mainly drive canine microbiota in relation to dog size. The CANIM-ARCOL can be used as a relevant in vitro platform to unravel interactions between food or pharma compounds and canine colonic microbiota, under different dog size conditions. The potential of the model will be extended soon to diseased situations (e.g. chronic enteropathies or obesity).

The homeostasis of the microbiota is essential for human health. In particular, the gut microbiota plays a critical role in the regulation of the immune system. Thus, faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), a technology that has rapidly developed in the last decade, has specifically been utilised for the treatment of intestinal inflammation and has recently been found to be able to treat tumours in combination with immunotherapy. FMT has become a breakthrough in enhancing the response rate to immunotherapy in cancer patients by altering the composition of the patient's gut microbiota. This review discusses the mechanisms of faecal microorganism effects on tumour development, drug treatment efficacy, and adverse effects and describes the recent clinical research trials on FMT. Moreover, the factors influencing the efficacy and safety of FMT are described. We summarise the possibilities of faecal transplantation in the treatment of tumours and its complications and propose directions to explore the development of FMT.

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been shown to improve gut dysbiosis in dogs; however, it has not completely been understood in police dogs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of FMT on performance and gut microflora in Kunming police dogs. Twenty Wolf Cyan dogs were randomly assigned to receive physiological saline or fecal suspension at low, medium, or high doses through oral gavage for 14 days. Growth performance, police performance, serum biochemical profiling, and gut microflora were determined 2-week post-FMT. Dogs after FMT treatment were also subjected to an hour road transportation and then were evaluated for serum stress indicators. Overall, FMT enhanced the growth performance and alleviated diarrhea rate in Kunming dogs with the greatest effects occurring in the low dose FMT (KML) group. The improvement of FMT on police performance was also determined. These above alterations were accompanied by changed serum biochemical parameters as indicated by elevated total protein and albumin and reduced total cholesterol and glycerol. Furthermore, the serum stress indicators after road transportation in dog post-FMT significantly decreased. Increased bacterial diversity and modified bacterial composition were found in the feces of dogs receiving FMT. The fecal samples from FMT dogs were characterized by higher abundances of the genera Lactobacillus, Prevotella, and Fusobacterium and lower concentrations of Cetobacterium, Allobaculum, Bifidobacterium, and Streptococcus. The present study supports a potential benefit of FMT on police performance in Kunming dogs. KEY POINTS: • FMT improves the growth performance and reduces diarrhea rates in Kunming police dogs. • FMT alleviates the serum stress profiles after road transportation in Kunming police dogs. • FMT modifies the gut microbiota composition of Kunming police dogs., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Background: Poor child feces management contributes to enteropathogen exposure and, consequently, is associated with diarrheal disease and negative impacts on child growth. Despite high latrine coverage, only 37% of Indian households safely dispose of their child's feces into a latrine or have the child use the latrine, with the lowest rate in the state of Odisha at 12%. We evaluated a behavior change and hardware intervention designed to improve caregiver safe disposal of child feces and child latrine use., Methods: We conducted a cluster-randomized controlled trial among 74 villages in rural Odisha, India. Eligible villages previously participated in a water and sanitation infrastructure program. Following a baseline survey, half the villages were assigned to intervention and half to control. Caregivers of children < 5 years old from households with a latrine were eligible to participate. The intervention included five behavior change activities. Hardware was provided at the first activity, based on child age, to aid safe disposal and latrine training (wash basin and bucket with lid for children < 7 months old; latrine training mat platform with removable tray for children 7 to 48 months old). The primary outcome was caregiver reported 'safe disposal' as defined by the WHO/UNICEF Joint Monitoring Programme (JMP) which encompasses two behaviors: caregiver disposal of child's feces into a latrine and child latrine use. Safe disposal was measured four to six months after intervention delivery (endline)., Results: Endline analysis included 665 intervention caregivers (840 children) and 634 control caregivers (785 children). Prevalence of JMP-defined safe disposal was 1.16 times greater in the intervention arm compared to control (77.7% vs. 65.9%; prevalence ratio [PR] 1.16, 95% CI 1.04-1.29), with higher prevalence of caregiver safe disposal (18.6% vs. 13.6%; PR 1.46, 95% CI 1.12-1.92) but no significant difference in child latrine use (59.0% vs. 52.2%; PR 1.06, 95% CI 0.95-1.18). When restricted to children < 3 years old, JMP-defined safe disposal was 1.42 times greater (67.5% vs. 46.7%; PR 1.42 95% CI 1.21-1.67) with higher prevalence of both caregiver safe disposal (34.6% vs. 25.7%; PR 1.44, 95% CI 1.11-1.86) and child latrine use (32.9% vs. 20.9%; PR 1.41, 95% CI 1.08-1.83)., Conclusions: The intervention increased JMP-defined safe disposal, with substantial improvements in both caregiver safe disposal and child latrine use among children < 3 years old. While future research is needed to demonstrate sustainability of these effects, our results suggest a potentially scalable intervention for improving child feces disposal and reducing disease., Trial Registration: This trial was retrospectively registered at ISRCTN15831099 on 18/02/2020, which was approximately two months after the first participant was recruited for the baseline survey on 02/12/2019., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

To compare the differences in floral composition and functions between the two types of microbiota, ileal contents and feces were collected from Sprague Dawley (SD) rats fed in a conventional or specific-pathogen free (SPF) environment and rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD), and the V3-V4 region of the 16S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) gene in these rats was then amplified and sequenced. Compared with feces, about 60% of the bacterial genera in the ileum were exclusive, with low abundance (operational taxonomic units (OTUs) < 1000). Of bacteria shared between the ileum and feces, a few genera were highly abundant (dominant), whereas most had low abundance (less dominant). The dominant bacteria differed between the ileum and feces. Ileal bacteria showed greater β-diversity, and the distance between in-group samples was nearer than that between paired ileum-feces samples. Moreover, the ileum shared various biomarkers and functions with feces ( p < 0.05). The HFD and SPF conditions had a profound influence on α-diversity and abundance but not on the exclusive/shared features or β-diversity of samples. The present findings suggested that, under conventional circumstances, fecal bacteria can represent approximately 40% of the low abundant ileal bacterial genera and that dominant fecal bacteria failed to represent the ileal dominant flora. Moreover, fecal flora diversity does not reflect β-diversity in the ileum.

Globally, safe sanitation has improved significantly in the last two decades, but unsafe child feces disposal remains a growing challenge in many regions, exposing household members and communities to infectious pathogens. The drivers associated with child feces disposal in several contexts including humanitarian settings are not well understood. This study investigated child feces disposal (CFD) practices and associated factors in low- and middle-income countries, including in humanitarian settings. Data from 352,173 women in 34 countries, collected between 2012 and 2021 through Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS), were used. We utilized multivariate logistic regression to assess CFD practices among children under two years old and the factors linked to these practices. We incorporated data from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) regarding refugee camps' locations in the analysis. Time series and local spatial autocorrelation analyses were run to examine changes in safe CFD practices over time and space, respectively. Results showed minimal improvement in safe child feces disposal over the past decade, with 55.6 % of respondents in non-humanitarian settings and 38.1 % in humanitarian settings improperly disposing of feces. Improper CFD significantly correlated with increased odds of diarrhea in non-humanitarian settings (OR 1.09 95 % CI: 1.05-1.13) but not in humanitarian settings (OR 1.14 95 % CI: 0.53-2.49). The most significant factors (p < 0.05) associated with safe CFD included being in the richest wealth quintile (OR 3.27 95 % CI: 3.06-3.49), having basic education (OR 1.28 95 % CI: 1.22-1.33), children eating solid food (OR 1.53 95 % CI: 1.48-1.57), improved sanitation access (OR 1.88 95 % CI: 1.81-1.96), and listening to radio at least weekly (OR 1.40 95 % CI: 135-1.46). Policymakers and development partners must include safe CFD guidelines in national policies and programs, as well as prioritize investments in household-level sanitation and educate caregivers about safe CFD practices., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: The endocannabinoid system and its extension, the endocannabinoidome (eCBome), are involved in numerous biological processes, notably energy homeostasis, across virtually all tissues. While the circulating eCBome mediator profile is associated with dietary intakes and metabolic status, an important knowledge gap resides in the identification of the precise determinants of these mediators in the gut lumen. We aimed at establishing the profile of eCBome mediators in human feces and investigating their association with circulating eCBome mediators, dietary intakes, metabolic status and gut microbiota composition., Methods: N-acyl-ethanolamines (NAEs) and 2-monoacyl-glycerols (2-MAGs) were profiled by LC-MS/MS in plasma and feces of a cross-sectional cohort (n = 195) and a short term dietary intervention trials (n = 21) with comprehensive dietary intakes and gut microbiota measures., Results: Six NAEs and seven 2-MAGs were identified in fecal samples, but some, especially omega-3 derived mediators, were undetectable in the majority of samples. Fecal NAEs, and to a lower extent 2-MAGs, were positively albeit weakly correlated with the circulating levels of eCBome mediators. Fecal 2-AG, PEA and DHEA levels were positively associated with visceral adiposity and with some parameters of the metabolic profile. Dietary intakes of foods rich in fibers were associated with lower fecal levels of several eCBome mediators, while intakes of unsaturated fatty acids were associated with fecal 2-OG and 2-LG. Interestingly, gut microbiota diversity and composition were a strong correlate of the fecal eCBome profile., Conclusion: The fecal eCBome profile is associated with gut microbiota composition and dietary intakes, more than with the circulating profile. These results strengthen the hypothesis of an interrelation between the gut microbiome and eCBome signaling involved in the regulation of numerous host biological processes., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Endocrine Society.)

Laboratory animal studies have reported the biliary excretion of chemicals following exposure. Nevertheless, feces are rarely used as a matrix in biomonitoring of chemical exposures. In this study, feces and urine from pet dogs and cats were analyzed for the presence of 45 plasticizers, 45 environmental phenols, and 31 pesticides. Thirty-two analytes were detected in ≥70% pet feces, while up to 29 analytes were frequently (≥70%) found in urine. The sum concentrations of all analytes (∑All) in pet feces were significantly higher than those measured in urine (median: 393-666 ng/g wet weight in feces vs 216-464 ng/mL in urine). Plasticizers were the dominant class of chemicals, accounting for 81-97% and 69-77% of ∑All in urine and feces, respectively. Analyte concentrations measured in paired urine and feces exhibited weak correlations. The excretion rates of the chemicals via urine and feces were calculated through a reverse dosimetry approach. Low-molecular-weight phthalates excreted predominantly in urine, whereas high-molecular-weight phthalates and several organophosphate triesters were excreted predominantly in feces. The fecal excretion rates of parabens, benzophenones, bisphenols, naphthalene, 2,4-dichloronicotinic acid, and 4-nitrophenol were similar to or higher than those of urinary excretion. Our results suggest that feces are an important matrix in biomonitoring of exposure to environmental chemicals.

Background and Objectives: Helicobacters are gastric and enterohepatic and live in the gut. The role of enterohepatic Helicobacters as intestinal pathogens is uncertain, while stomach Helicobacters are well-known. The prevalence of Helicobacter species in cat feces helps us understand their impact on cat health and human disease transmission. This study used PCR to identify Helicobacter spp. in feces samples from healthy and diarrhoeic cats, independent of the reason. The study also compared intestinal and stomach Helicobacter species., Materials and Methods: PCR analysis was performed on fecal samples from 40 cats, with 20 cats having diarrhea and 20 cats showing no symptoms. The PCR analysis aimed to detect Helicobacter's presence using a method that identifies the bacteria through the 16S rRNA gene., Results: The diarrhoeic group had a greater prevalence of infection (17:9 ratio), with an overall 65% infection rate detected. Cats that were older than 2 years showed a higher incidence of disease. H. canis had the highest occurrence rate (69.2%), followed by H. bilis, H. bizzozeronii, and H. salomonis. Significantly, H. pylori, H. felis, and H. heilmannii were not reported., Conclusion: H. canis was the predominant species found in both healthy and diarrheic cats, indicating the need for more investigation. The detection of the gastric species H. salomonis and H. bizzozeronii further complicates the classification. This highlights the complex nature of Helicobacter infections in cats, emphasizing the need for further investigation to guide the development of preventative measures and treatment techniques for both veterinary and public health purposes., (Copyright© 2024 The Authors. Published by Tehran University of Medical Sciences.)

Background: Idiopathic rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (iRBD) is considered as a prodromal stage of synucleinopathies. Fecal short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) changes in iRBD and the relationships with synucleinopathies have never been investigated., Objectives: To investigate fecal SCFA changes among iRBD, multiple system atrophy (MSA), and Parkinson's disease (PD), and evaluate their relationships., Methods: Fecal SCFAs and gut microbiota were measured in 29 iRBD, 42 MSA, 40 PD, and 35 normal controls (NC) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and 16S rRNA gene sequencing., Results: Compared with NC, fecal SCFA levels (propionic, acetic, and butyric acid) were lower in iRBD, MSA, and PD. Combinations of these SCFAs could differentiate NC from iRBD (AUC 0.809), MSA (AUC 0.794), and PD (AUC 0.701). Decreased fecal SCFAs were associated with the common reducing SCFA-producing gut microbiota in iRBD, MSA, and PD., Conclusions: iRBD shares similar fecal SCFA alterations with MSA and PD, and the combination of these SCFAs might be a potential synucleinopathies-related biomarker. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society., (© 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.)

Background: Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is transmitted by the fecal route, usually through contaminated water in humans and/or infected animals, especially pigs. The objective of this study was to evaluate the level of anti-HEV antibodies in a panel of pig sera and to identify HEV in pig feces in farms. Methodology: The presence of HEV antibodies was tested by an in-house ELISA and a commercial ELISA IDvet. HEV genome was assessed by nested RT-PCR, and then, genotype was identified by sequencing (MinION Nanopore technology). Results: In 2017-2019, the 43% seroprevalence found in Forest Guinea was significantly higher than the 7% found in the Lower region ( p < 0.01). Presence of HEV genotype 3c was demonstrated during a secondary study in the Lower region (Conakry) in 2022. Conclusion: The presence of HEV-3c in pigs calls for an evaluation of seroprevalence in human populations and for a HEV genotype human circulation check. Contribution Heading: This study is the first report, to our knowledge, of seroprevalence and characterization of HEV infection in pigs in Guinea.

Background: Biological invasions are a leading cause of reductions in global biodiversity. Islands are particularly sensitive to invasions, which often result in cascading impacts throughout island communities. Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are globally invasive and pose threats to numerous taxa and ecosystems, particularly for islands where they have contributed to declines of many endemic species. However, the impacts of wild pig diet on the flora and fauna remain understudied in many island systems., Results: We used DNA metabarcoding of wild pig fecal samples to quantify the seasonal diet composition of wild pigs on three barrier islands in the southeastern United States. Wild pigs exhibited a diverse diet dominated by plants, but also including marine and terrestrial animals. The diet composition of plants varied seasonally and between islands. Consumption of invertebrates also changed seasonally, with a shift to coastal invertebrates, particularly crabs, in spring and summer. Vertebrates were found in <10% of samples, but spanned broad taxa including amphibians, fish, mammals, and reptiles. Species consumed by wild pigs indicate that wild pigs use a variety of habitats within barrier islands for foraging, including maritime forests, saltmarshes, and beaches., Conclusions: An observed shift to beach foraging during sea turtle nesting season suggests wild pigs have potential to hinder nesting success on islands without established management programs. These findings provide insight into the diverse diets of wild pigs on barrier islands and highlight the need for removal of wild pigs from sensitive island ecosystems because of their potential impacts to native plant and animal communities. © 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry., (© 2024 The Authors. Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry.)

Humans have impacted most of the planet, and the ensuing fragmentation results in small, isolated habitat patches posing a risk of genetic diversity loss, inbreeding, and genetic load. Understanding how natural and anthropogenic landscape features affect gene flow among habitat patches is critical for maintaining connectivity. Genome-wide data are required to comprehend the impacts of recent fragmentation, which can be challenging when only non-invasive samples are available. Here, we build upon advancements in conservation genomics to address connectivity of two large herbivores, gaur (Bos gaurus) and sambar (Rusa unicolor) in central India. Given their habitat associations, we expected these species to respond similarly to habitat fragmentation. We used faecal-DNA and methylation-based host-DNA enrichment with modified ddRAD protocol to generate genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data for 124 gaur and 99 sambar individuals. Our findings reveal that gaur populations in central India are fragmented, displaying high genetic differentiation, with drift significantly affecting small populations like Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary. Although sambar shows low genetic structure, another small population, Bor Tiger Reserve is genetically differentiated. Our results suggest that although land cover change and roads restrict animal movement, the extent of this impact varies across the two species. We show that different species respond differently to landscape features, even with similar habitat associations. We highlight small and isolated populations requiring urgent conservation intervention. Such multi-species approaches enhance our understanding of cross-species connectivity patterns. We suggest shifting from single-species to multi-species holistic conservation approach in rapidly developing landscapes to better manage co-occurring endangered species., (© 2024 The Author(s). Molecular Ecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Monitoring stress levels of farmed Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) is important to ensure fish welfare and optimize farm operations. Feces could be a promising matrix for assessing stress responses in fish, based on their properties of low-invasive sampling and allowing repeated sampling over time. Meanwhile, elevated levels of cortisol metabolites (CMs) in feces indicate the increases in plasma cortisol levels (PLA) after exposure to acute stress. However, the dynamics of fecal CMs following acute stress in Atlantic salmon remain unclear. In this study, a confinement stress involving chasing and crowding was conducted to investigate the responses of gastrointestinal CMs to an acute stressor in Atlantic salmon. The post-smolts, with an average weight of 155.21 g, were sampled before and at 30 min, 1.5, 6, 12, 18, 24, 36, and 48 h after the onset of stress. Blood and gastrointestinal contents from the stomach, proximal intestine, and distal intestine of each fish were collected and subsequently analyzed, using competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The results demonstrated that the pre-stress level of PLA was low (4.28 ± 6.13 ng/ml) and reached a peak within 30 min following stress. The levels of CMs in gastrointestinal contents from stomach (SCMs), proximal intestine (PCMs), and distal intestine (DCMs) in pre-stress group were 0.82 ± 0.50, 18.31 ± 6.14 and 16.04 ± 6.69 ng/g, respectively. Gastrointestinal CMs increased significantly within 30 min and the peak levels of SCMs (3.51 ± 3.75 ng/g), PCMs (68.19 ± 23.71 ng/g) and DCMs (65.67 ± 23.37 ng/g) were found at 1.5 h post-stress. The significant increases in PCMs and DCMs post-stress validate the biological relevance of measuring intestinal CMs for assessing acute stress responses in Atlantic salmon. No significant difference was noted between PCMs and DCMs across all samples, suggesting that intestinal contents can serve as a suitable matrix compared with feces when measuring the responses of CMs to acute stress. The time lag between the peak of PLA levels and their reflection in the intestinal contents exceeded 1 h, indicating that using intestinal contents as a matrix to assess stress levels in fish can extend and delay the sampling window. This study highlights valuable guidance for determining the optimal times to utilize intestinal contents for measuring stress responses, providing further insights into the dynamics of fecal CM following acute stress., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) can cause severe diarrhea and is a public health concern worldwide. Cattle are an important reservoir for this group of pathogens, and once introduced into the abattoir environment, these microorganisms can contaminate consumer products. This study aimed to characterize the distribution of DEC [Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC)] from extensive and intensive cattle production systems in Brazil. Samples (n = 919) were collected from animal feces (n = 200), carcasses (n = 600), meat cuts (n = 90), employee feces (n = 9), and slaughterhouse water (n = 20). Virulence genes were detected by PCR in 10% of animal samples (94/919), with STEC (n = 81) as the higher prevalence, followed by EIEC (n = 8), and lastly EPEC (n = 5). Animals raised in an extensive system had a higher prevalence of STEC (average 48%, sd = 2.04) when compared to animals raised in an intensive system (23%, sd = 1.95) (Chi-square test, P < 0.001). From these animals, most STEC isolates only harbored stx2 (58%), and 7% were STEC LEE-positive isolates that were further identified as O157:H7. This study provides further evidence that cattle are potential sources of DEC, especially STEC, and that potentially pathogenic E. coli isolates are widely distributed in feces and carcasses during the slaughter process., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Two strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative rod-shaped bacterial isolates, A2-P53 T and A1-P5, were isolated from an enrichment of fecal material from two alpacas (Vicugna pacos). Based on a comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolates were assigned to the genus Bacteroides with the highest sequence similarities to Bacteroides koreensis YS-aM39T (A2- P53T 97.7 % and A1-P5 97.9 %). Additionally, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between these isolates and their closest relatives within Bacteroides were less than 92.1 % and 49.1 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity between isolates A2-P53 T and A1-P5 was 99.9 %. The predominant cellular fatty acid for isolates A2-P53 T and A1-P5 was C 15:0 antesio. The G+C % content of the isolates was 41.7 %. Based on biochemical, phylogenetic, genotypic, and chemotaxonomic criteria, these isolates A2-P53 T and A1-P5 represent two individual strains of a novel species within the genus Bacteroides for which the name Bacteroides vicugnae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this species is strain A2-P53 T (CCUG 77273 T  = CCM 9377 T  = NRRL B-65693 T )., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no indirect or direct conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)