Bioremediation is based on microorganisms able to use pollutants either as a source of carbon or in co-metabolism, and is a promising strategy in cleaning the environment. Using soil contaminated with petroleum products from an industrial area in Saudi Arabia (Jubail), and after enrichment with the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) naphthalene, a Methylobacterium radiotolerans strain (N7A0) was isolated that can grow in the presence of naphthalene as the sole source of carbon. M. radiotolerans is known to be resistant to gamma radiation, and this is the first documented report of a strain of this bacterium using a PAH as the sole source of carbon. The commonly reported Pseudomonas aeruginosa (strain N7B1) that biodegrades naphthalene was also identified, and gas chromatography analyses have shown that the biodegradation of naphthalene by M. radiotolerans and P. aeruginosa did follow both the salicylate and phthalate pathways.

The suitability of low-cost impedance sensors for microbiological purposes and biofilm growth monitoring was evaluated. The sensors with interdigitated electrodes were fabricated in PCB and LTCC technologies. The electrodes were golden (LTCC) or gold-plated (PCB) to provide surface stability. The sensors were used for monitoring growth and degradation of the reference ATCC 15442 Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain biofilm in invitro setting. During the experiment, the impedance spectra of the sensors were measured and analysed using electrical equivalent circuit (EEC) modelling. Additionally, the process of adhesion and growth of bacteria on a sensor’s surface was assessed by means of the optical and SEM microscopy. EEC and SEM microscopic analysis revealed that the gold layer on copper electrodes was not tight, making the PCB sensors susceptible to corrosion while the LTCC sensors had good surface stability. It turned out that the LTCC sensors are suitable for monitoring pseudomonal biofilm and the PCB sensors are good detectors of ongoing stages of biofilm formation.

In the present study a severe outbreak of hemorrhagic pneumonia (HP) in neonatal minks concomitant with Leismania infantum (L. infantum) detection is reported. The outbreak took place on a Greek mink farm and affected 1,362 mink kits, with 524 dying. Macroscopic lesions of 14 necropsied affected kits were confined to the respiratory system with dark red, consolidated lung lobes and to the small intestine with severe, acute, hemorrhagic and necrotic enteritis. Microscopic examination of lung sections revealed severe hemorrhagic pyogranulomatous pneumonia. Bacteria were obtained in pure culture from the lungs of all necropsied animals and were confirmed as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa). Three out of 14 (21.4%) animals were positive for the presence of L. infantum DNA. The outbreak was attributed to the infection of minks with P. aeruginosa, possibly as a consequence of being immuno-suppressed by L. infantum. Further research is necessary, especially on the pathogenesis of P. aeruginosa/L. infantum co-infection and the implications of this interaction on HP disease outcome.

In a dairy cow herd consisted of herd of 200 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows and heifers, clinical signs of mastitis in 40 out of 170 animals were observed. Treatments with antibiotics were proved ineffective. Milk bacterial cultures from 15 affected animals revealed Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An autogenous vaccine was administered subcutaneously, twice in a month period, to all adults. Cases of clinical mastitis declined significantly (p<0.0001) during next 3 months.

Studies were carried out in the summer seasons of l 995-1999 (from June to September) on the quantitative and qualitative composition of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria (including Escherichia coli and Salmonella sp.), and potentially pathogenic bacteria Aeromonas hydrophila, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus sp. in the water of 8 bathing sites of the Lake Wigry. Aeromonas hydrophila occurred in the all samples of studied water and was the most numerous in water sampled from sites of increased trophic levels. Irrespective of the site and time of sampling Pseudomonas aeruginosa was rarely isolated. In the total of 160 samples of water analysed Salmonella sp.. Escherichia coli and Staphyloccocus aureus were determined in 32 (22.6%), 68 (42.4%) and 90 (55%) samples, respectively. Pathogenic bacteria of the genus Salmonella sp. and potentially pathogenic Staphylococcus aureus and Aeromonas hydrophila identified in the analysed offshore waters (also when Escherichia coli were absent) suggest that the use of the Lake Wigry waters for swimming, falling into account faecal bacterial counts, may not be sufficient to fully reflect safety conditions for bathers. The results of the research suggest that the evaluation of the Lake Wigry surface waters for recreational use should include the frequency of the occurrence of Salmonella sp., Staphylococcus aureus, Aeromonas hydrophila and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These three species, which arc not directly linked to faecal contamination, can cause various diseases of the skin, nasal and oral cavities, eyes, internal car and other problems in people swimming in contaminated water.

In the last decade, atmospheric plasma has been used to treating bacterial infections in humans due to its bactericidal effects; however, its efficacy in dogs is unclear. This study evaluated the in vitro bactericidal efficacy of atmospheric plasma on Staphylococcus pseudinter- medius and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, two of the most important bacterial agents isolated from canine pyodermas. Three isolates each of S. pseudintermedius and P. aeruginosa obtained from dogs with pyoderma were subjected to atmospheric plasma. The isolates from the control group were not exposed to plasma, while those from the treatment groups were exposed to plasma for 15 (7.5 J/cm2), 30 (15 J/cm2), 60 (30 J/cm2), or 90 (45 J/cm2) seconds. After each treatment, a reduction in colony formation was observed. Bacterial viability was evaluated using the LIVE/ DEAD® BacLight™ Bacterial Viability Kit. The antibacterial effects were evaluated with Image J software and significance was assessed statistically in comparison to the control group. The bactericidal effect of atmospheric plasma against both bacteria increased significantly in a time-dependent manner. These results demonstrate the bactericidal capacity of atmospheric plasma, and suggest that it could serve as an alternative treatment method for canine pyoderma. Further studies are needed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of atmospheric plasma in dogs.