scholarly journals Detection of Virulence Genes in Multidrug Resistant Enterococci Isolated from Feedlots Dairy and Beef Cattle: Implications for Human Health and Food Safety

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Eric Tatsing Foka ◽  
Collins Njie Ateba

The misuse/abuse of antibiotics in intensive animal rearing and communities led to the emergence of resistant isolates such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VREs) worldwide. This has become a major source of concern for the public health sector. The aim of this study was to report the antibiotic resistance profiles and to highlight the presence of virulence genes in VREs isolated from feedlots cattle of the North-West Province of South Africa. 384 faecal samples, 24 drinking troughs water, and 24 soil samples were collected aseptically from 6 registered feedlots. Biochemical and molecular methods were used to identify and categorise the enterococci isolates. Their antibiotic resistance profiles were assessed and genotypic methods were used to determine their antibiotic resistance and their virulence profiles. 527 presumptive isolates were recovered, out of which 289 isolates were confirmed asEnterococcussp. Specifically,E. faecalis(9%),E. faecium(10%),E. durans(69%),E. gallinarum(6%),E. casseliflavus(2%),E. mundtii(2%), andE. avium(2%) were screened after molecular assays.VanA(62%),vanB(17%), andvanC(21%) resistance genes were detected in 176Enterococcussp., respectively. Moreover,tetK(26),tetL(57),msrA/B(111), andmefA(9) efflux pump genes were detected in 138 VRE isolates.Multiple antibiotic resistances were confirmed in all the VRE isolates of this study; the most common antibiotic resistance phenotype wasTETR-AMPR-AMXR-VANR-PENR-LINR-ERYR.CylA,hyl,esp,gelE, andasa1virulence genes were detected in 86 VREs with the exception of vancomycin-resistantE. mundtiiisolates that did not display any virulence factor. Most VRE isolates had more than one virulence genes but the most encountered virulence profile wasgelE-hyl. Potentially pathogenic multidrug resistant VREs were detected in this study; this highlights the impact of extensive usage of antimicrobials in intensive animal rearing and its implications on public health cannot be undermined.

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. V. Tuat ◽  
P. T. Hue ◽  
N. T. P. Loan ◽  
N. T. Thuy ◽  
L. T. Hue ◽  
...  

Antimicrobial use (AMU) and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are a growing public health and economic threat in Vietnam. We conducted a pilot surveillance programme in five provinces of Vietnam, two in the south and three in the north, to identify antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in rectal swab samples from pigs and fecal samples from chickens at slaughter points during three different points in time from 2017 to 2019. Escherichia coli (E. coli) and non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) isolates were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using disk diffusion assay for 19 antimicrobial agents belonging to nine antimicrobial classes and Etest for colistin (polymyxin). Almost all E. coli (99%; 1029/1042) and NTS (96%; 208/216) isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent; 94% (981/1042) of E. coli and 89% (193/216) of NTS isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR). Higher proportions of E. coli and NTS isolated from chickens were resistant to all antimicrobial classes than those isolates from pigs. There was a significantly higher proportion of MDR NTS isolates from the southern provinces of Ho Chi Minh City and Long An (p = 0.008). Although there were increasing trends of NTS in proportion of resistance to fluoroquinolone over the three surveillance rounds, there was a significant decreasing trend of NTS in proportion of resistance to polymyxin (p = 0.002). It is important to establish an annual AMR surveillance program for livestock in Vietnam to assess the impact of interventions, observe trends and drive decision making that ultimately contributes to reducing AMR public health threat.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (12) ◽  
pp. 310-315
Author(s):  
Nergis Aşgın ◽  
Emre Taşkın

Objective: In this study, we aim to determine the frequency of antibiotic resistance and five virulence genes in Enterococcus species and the relationship between antibiotic resistance and virulence genes. Material and Methods: A total of 86 Enterococcus strains isolated from inpatients between 2015 and 2016 were included. Identification and antibiotic susceptibilities of strains were determined using a BD Phoenix fully automated system. The presence of virulence-associated genes (esp, gel E, asa1, hyl, and cyl) were investigated by using PCR method. Results: Of the 86 Enterococcus strains, 53 (61.6%) and 33 (38.4%) were Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis, respectively. Vancomycin and high-level gentamicin resistance (HLGR) in E. faecalis strains were 0.6% and 60.6%, respectively. Furthermore, 52 of the 53 E. faecium strains were both vancomycin-resistant and HLGR. The frequency of esp, gel E, asa1, cyl, and hyl was 91.9%, 60.5%, 54.7%, 43%, and 26.7%, respectively.  The asa 1, cyl, and gel E genes were detected at high frequencies in vancomycin-susceptible and non-HLGR strains, whereas hyl gene was detected at high frequencies in vancomycin-resistant and HLGR strains. Conclusion: Virulence genes were more frequent in vancomycin-susceptible and non-HLGR Enterococcus strains than in the resistant strains. Although infections caused by multidrug-resistant strains are difficult to treat, it should be considered that susceptible strains have more virulence genes. This may reduce the in vivo efficacy of drugs and lead to treatment failures. Therefore, in addition to the in vitro susceptibilities of drugs, clinical efficacy should be monitored.


2019 ◽  
Vol 26 (15) ◽  
pp. 15105-15114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Pheeha Matlou ◽  
Marie Ebob AgborTabot Bissong ◽  
Christ-Donald Kaptchouang Tchatchouang ◽  
Mohomud Rashid Adem ◽  
Frank Eric Tatsing Foka ◽  
...  

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Jevtic ◽  
C Bouland

Abstract Public health professionals (PHP) have a dual task in climate change. They should persuade their colleagues in clinical medicine of the importance of all the issues covered by the GD. The fact that the health sector contributes to the overall emissions of 4.4% speaks to the lack of awareness within the health sector itself. The issue of providing adequate infrastructure for the health sector is essential. Strengthening the opportunities and development of the circular economy within healthcare is more than just a current issue. The second task of PHP is targeting the broader population. The public health mission is being implemented, inter alia, through numerous activities related to environmental monitoring and assessment of the impact on health. GD should be a roadmap for priorities and actions in public health, bearing in mind: an ambitious goal of climate neutrality, an insistence on clean, affordable and safe energy, a strategy for a clean and circular economy. GD provides a framework for the development of sustainable and smart transport, the development of green agriculture and policies from field to table. It also insists on biodiversity conservation and protection actions. The pursuit of zero pollution and an environment free of toxic chemicals, as well as incorporating sustainability into all policies, is also an indispensable part of GD. GD represents a leadership step in the global framework towards a healthier future and comprises all the non-EU members as well. The public health sector should consider the GD as an argument for achieving goals at national levels, and align national public health policies with the goals of this document. There is a need for stronger advocacy of health and public-health interests along with incorporating sustainability into all policies. Achieving goals requires the education process for healthcare professionals covering all of topics of climate change, energy and air pollution to a much greater extent than before.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle Seiler ◽  
Georg Staubli ◽  
Julia Hoeffe ◽  
Gianluca Gualco ◽  
Sergio Manzano ◽  
...  

Abstract Background We aimed to document the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on regions within a European country. Methods Parents arriving at two pediatric emergency departments (EDs) in North of Switzerland and two in South of Switzerland completed an online survey during the first peak of the pandemic (April–June 2020). They were asked to rate their concern about their children or themselves having COVID-19. Results A total of 662 respondents completed the survey. Parents in the South were significantly more exposed to someone tested positive for COVID-19 than in the North (13.9 and 4.7%, respectively; P <  0.001). Parents in the South were much more concerned than in the North that they (mean 4.61 and 3.32, respectively; P <  0.001) or their child (mean 4.79 and 3.17, respectively; P <  0.001) had COVID-19. Parents reported their children wore facemasks significantly more often in the South than in the North (71.5 and 23.5%, respectively; P <  0.001). Conclusion The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in significant regional differences among families arriving at EDs in Switzerland. Public health agencies should consider regional strategies, rather than country-wide guidelines, in future pandemics and for vaccination against COVID-19 for children.


AMB Express ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Quan Li ◽  
Jian Yin ◽  
Zheng Li ◽  
Zewei Li ◽  
Yuanzhao Du ◽  
...  

AbstractSalmonella is an important food-borne pathogen associated with public health and high economic losses. To investigate the prevalence and the characteristics of Salmonella in a pig slaughterhouse in Yangzhou, a total of 80 Salmonella isolates were isolated from 459 (17.43%) samples in 2016–2017. S. Derby (35/80, 43.75%) was the most prevalent, followed by S. Rissen (16/80, 20.00%) and S. Newlands (11/80, 13.75%). The highest rates of susceptibility were observed to cefoxitin (80/80, 100.0%) and amikacin (80/80, 100.0%), followed by aztreonam (79/80, 98.75%) and nitrofurantoin (79/80, 98.75%). The highest resistance rate was detected for tetracycline (65/80, 81.25%), followed by ampicillin (60/80, 75.00%), bactrim (55/80, 68.75%), and sulfisoxazole (54/80, 67.50%). Overall, 91.25% (73/80) of the isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 71.25% (57/80) of the isolate strains were multidrug resistant in the antimicrobial susceptibility tested. In addition, 86.36% (19/22) of the 22 antimicrobial resistance genes in the isolates were identified. Our data indicated that the resistance to certain antimicrobials was significantly associated, in part, with antimicrobial resistance genes. Furthermore, 81.25% (65/80) isolates harbored the virulence gene of mogA, of which 2 Salmonella Typhimurium isolates carried the mogA, spvB and spvC virulence genes at the same time. The results showed that swine products in the slaughterhouse were contaminated with multidrug resistant Salmonella commonly, especially some isolates carry the spv virulence genes. The virulence genes might facilitate the dissemination of the resistance genes to consumers along the production chain, suggesting the importance of controlling Salmonella during slaughter for public health.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Venkat Ratnam ◽  
S. Ravindra Babu ◽  
S. S. Das ◽  
Ghouse Basha ◽  
B. V. Krishnamurthy ◽  
...  

Abstract. Tropical cyclones play an important role in modifying the tropopause structure and dynamics as well as stratosphere-troposphere exchange (STE) process in the Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere (UTLS) region. In the present study, the impact of cyclones that occurred over the North Indian Ocean during 2007–2013 on the STE process is quantified using satellite observations. Tropopause characteristics during cyclones are obtained from the Global Positioning System (GPS) Radio Occultation (RO) measurements and ozone and water vapor concentrations in UTLS region are obtained from Aura-Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) satellite observations. The effect of cyclones on the tropopause parameters is observed to be more prominent within 500 km from the centre of cyclone. In our earlier study we have observed decrease (increase) in the tropopause altitude (temperature) up to 0.6 km (3 K) and the convective outflow level increased up to 2 km. This change leads to a total increase in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) thickness of 3 km within the 500 km from the centre of cyclone. Interestingly, an enhancement in the ozone mixing ratio in the upper troposphere is clearly noticed within 500 km from cyclone centre whereas the enhancement in the water vapor in the lower stratosphere is more significant on south-east side extending from 500–1000 km away from the cyclone centre. We estimated the cross-tropopause mass flux for different intensities of cyclones and found that the mean flux from stratosphere to troposphere for cyclonic stroms is 0.05 ± 0.29 × 10−3 kg m−2 and for very severe cyclonic stroms it is 0.5 ± 1.07 × 10−3 kg m−2. More downward flux is noticed in the north-west and south-west side of the cyclone centre. These results indicate that the cyclones have significant impact in effecting the tropopause structure, ozone and water vapour budget and consequentially the STE in the UTLS region.


Finisterra ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 31 (62) ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew Pike ◽  
Mário Vale

The industrial policy in the UK and in Portugal, as in most EU countries, seeks to attract new investment capacity, to create jobs and to promote the impact of the so-called "demonstration efect" of "greenfield" development strategies pursued in the new plants of inward investors on existing or "brownfield" plants. This industrial policy focus is particularly evident in the automobile industry.This paper compares the industrial policy oriented towards the automobile industry in the UK and in Portugal. Two recent "greenfield" investments are analised: Nissan in the North-East region (UK) and Ford/VW in the Setúbal Peninsula (Portugal), as well as three "brownfield" plants: Ford Halewood and GM Vauxhall Ellesmere Port in the North-West region (UK) and Renault in Setúbal (Portugal). The first part starts with a discussion of industrial policy in the automobile sector, the role of "greenfield" development strategies and the "demonstration effect" on "brownfield" plants. Then, the limits of new inward investment are pointed out, basically their problems and restrictions. Afterwards, the structural barriers to the "demonstration effect" within "brownfield" plants are outlined and some possabilities for alternative "brownfield" development strategies are presented.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Golnaz Mobasseri ◽  
Thong Kwai Lin ◽  
Cindy Shuan Ju Teh

Abstract Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) poses a serious public health threat. K. pneumoniae strains that produce extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) are becoming increasingly reported in nosocomial and community-acquired infections. Besides resistance genes, integrons, and plasmids, altered membrane permeability caused by porin loss and energy-dependent efflux have also contributed to antibiotic resistance in K. pneumoniae. The objective of this study was to determine the correlation between the reduction of antibiotic susceptibility and overexpression of efflux pump as well as the lack of outer membrane proteins (OMPs) among clinical ESBLs resistant K. pneumoniae. The expression levels of ramA, acrA, ompK35 and ompK36 in 12 MDR K. pneumoniae strains with varying MICs levels were analyzed using quantitative real time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (qRT-PCR). The role of efflux pump on antibiotic resistance was also studied by using minimum inhibitory concentration (MICs) method with//without efflux pump inhibitor. The result indicated that the strains with highest resistance to cefotaxime showed the lowest level of ompK35 and ompK36 genes expression while the strains with lowest MIC level of resistance to cefotaxime showed the highest level of expression of acrA and ramA. Our finding also revealed the effect of efflux pump inhibitor phenyl-arginine-b-naphthylamide (PAβN) on the MIC levels of ceftazidime, amoxicillin-clavulanate and cefotaxime which were significantly reduced around 1–7 folds MIC levels. These results suggest that Efflux pump system and deficiently of OMPs contributing role in antibiotic susceptibility which should be taken seriously to prevent the treatment failure due to antimicrobial resistance.


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