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Background: The aim of this study was to characterize and identify the bacterial flora associated with a specific hoof infection in a population of horses in the Rochester NY area. Methods: Samples taken from horses showing symptoms of infection were first grown on a Brain-Heart Infusion (BHI) solid medium. Forty different bacterial colonies were obtained and characterized microscopically and biochemically. The identity of these bacteria was also confirmed by 16S ribosomal DNA sequencing. Results: We have identified normal inhabitants of the skin such as Staphylococcus epidermidis as well as bacteria of the genus Bacillus commonly found in soil. In addition, bacteria such as Enterococcus gallinarum and Lactobacillus normally found in the intestinal tract of mammals were recovered. Interestingly, Corynebacterium xerosis, which is known to cause animal diseases was also isolated from infected horses. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the infection affecting the horses is likely the result of the presence of multiple bacterial genera including members of the normal skin and gut flora, as well as soil bacteria.

International audience; Minor Actinide Bearing Blanket (MABB) fuels, where minor actinides are diluted with UO$_2$ into the radial breeder blankets of Sodium-cooled Fast Reactors (SFR), are an option of interest for the transmutation of minor actinides in this type of reactors. However, their operation under very specific conditions raises many questions, such as the impact of the high helium production during irradiation, which, combined with relatively low temperature could enhance the fuel gaseous swelling and fuel-cladding mechanical interaction. This type of behaviour would require specific design changes in order to meet the design criteria.This paper describes the preliminary thermo-mechanical design of an Americium Bearing Blanket (AmBB) pin and thermal-hydraulic features of an AmBB sub-assembly with the following conditions 10% Am in UO2 matrix, pin and fuel sub-assembly geometry of the typical ASTRID outer-core, and irradiation duration of 1940 EFPD. The behaviour of the pin is calculated with GERMINAL fuel performance code, which has been upgraded according to the specificity of AmBB fuel, with, in particular, a specific model to take into account the swelling due to gas retention. The calculation results show that thermal and mechanical margins are high, from both the design criteria (creep usage fraction and swelling of the cladding) and the thermal-hydraulic criteria (flow rate and pressure loss). Uncertainties taken into consideration do not affect this conclusion.

Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.