scholarly journals Horse: a potential source of Cryptococcus neoformans and Cryptococcus gattii in Egypt

2022 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Rahma Mohammed ◽  
Sara M. Nader ◽  
Dalia A. Hamza ◽  
Maha A. Sabry
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Soil Samples ◽  
Bacteriological Examination ◽  
Molecular Serotyping ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Sporadic Cases

Abstract Background Cryptococcosis is an opportunistic mycozoonosis of global significance in a wide variety of host species. In equines, cryptococcosis is uncommon, and sporadic cases have been reported with rhinitis, sinusitis, pneumonia, and meningitis. Cryptococcus spp. represents a potential risk for immunosuppressed and healthy persons. In Egypt, epidemiological data on cryptococcal infection in horses are limited. The current study was carried out to investigate the occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses and its possible role in the epidemiology of such disease in Egypt. A total of 223 samples was collected from different localities in Egypt included 183 nasal swabs from horses, 28 nasal swabs from humans, and 12 soil samples. Bacteriological examination and the identification of Cryptococcus spp. were performed. Molecular serotyping of Cryptococcus spp. was determined by multiplex PCR using CNa-70S/A-CNb-49S/A. The virulence genes (LAC1, CAP59, and PLB1) of the identified isolates were detected by PCR. Moreover, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the C. gattii gene from horses, humans, and soil isolates found nearby were performed. Result The overall occurrence of Cryptococcus spp. in horses were 9.3, 25, and 10.7% in horses, the soil, and humans, respectively. Molecular serotyping of the Cryptococcus spp. isolates recovered from the nasal passages of horses proved that C. gattii (B), C. neoformans, and two hybrids between C. neoformans (A) and C. gattii (B) were identified. Meanwhile, in case of soil samples, the isolates were identified as C. gattii (B). The human isolates were serotyped as C. gattii in two isolates and C. neoformans in only one isolate. Molecular detection of some virulence genes (LAC1), (CAP59), and (PLB1) were identified in both C. gattii and C. neoformans isolates. The C. gattii gene amplicons of the isolates from horses, humans, and the soil were closely related. Conclusion This study provides the first insights into the Egyptian horse ecology of Cryptococcus species and highlights the role of horses as asymptomatic carriers in disseminating the potentially pathogenic Cryptococcus spp. It also presents the possible risk of cryptococcosis infection in humans.

Low Potential Virulence Associated with Mutations in the inlA and prfA Genes in Listeria monocytogenes Isolated from Raw Retail Poultry Meat

2013 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 129-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
VICTORIA LÓPEZ ◽  
JAIME NAVAS ◽  
JOAQUÍN V. MARTÍNEZ-SUÁREZ
Keyword(s):  
Listeria Monocytogenes ◽  
Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis ◽  
Poultry Meat ◽  
Pathogenic Potential ◽  
Molecular Serotyping ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Raw Foods ◽  
Over Time

Packaged raw foods can represent a potential source of Listeria monocytogenes contamination when opened at home, and listeriosis is associated with the consumption of undercooked raw foods. The aim of this study was to characterize a group of L. monocytogenes strains isolated from 56 packages of raw chicken meat from a single brand in order to determine the diversity of the strains that dominate in a particular food over time, as well as their pathogenic potential. Forty (71%) samples were found to be positive for L. monocytogenes, and three isolates per sample were subjected to PCR molecular serotyping. Subtyping of 45 isolates from different manufacturing dates (n = 40) or different molecular serotype within the same sample (n = 5) identified 11 different L. monocytogenes subtypes as defined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and sequencing of virulence genes actA and inlA. Two of the subtypes accounted for 51% of the isolates. About 40% of isolates (three subtypes) were found to potentially present attenuated virulence because of the presence of mutations in the prfA and inlA genes.

Genetic characteristics of Shiga toxin-producingE. coliO157, O26, O103, O111 and O145 isolates from humans, food, and cattle in Belgium

2013 ◽  
Vol 141 (12) ◽  
pp. 2503-2515 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. VERSTRAETE ◽  
K. DE REU ◽  
S. VAN WEYENBERG ◽  
D. PIÉRARD ◽  
L. DE ZUTTER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Whole Genome ◽  
Large Plasmid ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Genetic Typing ◽  
Genome Variations ◽  
Sporadic Cases

SUMMARYIn this study, we characterized 272 Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) isolates from humans, food, and cattle in Belgium [O157 (n = 205), O26 (n = 31), O103 (n = 15), O111 (n = 10), O145 (n = 11)] for their virulence profile, whole genome variations and relationships on different genetic levels. Isolates of O157 displayed a wide variation ofstxgenotypes, heterogeneously distributed among pulsogroups (80% similarity), but with a concordance at the pulsosubgroup level (90% similarity). Of all serogroups evaluated, the presence ofeaewas conserved, whereas genes encoded on the large plasmid (ehx,espP,katP) occurred in variable combinations in O26, O103, and O145. The odds of having haemolytic uraemic syndrome was less for all genotypesstx2a,stx2c,stx1/stx2c, andstx1compared to genotypestx2a/stx2c; and for patients aged >5 years compared to patients aged ⩽5 years. Based on the genetic typing and by using epidemiological data, we could confirm outbreak isolates and suggest epidemiological relationships between some sporadic cases. Undistinguishable pulsotypes or clones with minor genotypic variations were found in humans, food, and cattle in different years, which demonstrated the important role of cattle as a reservoir of STEC O157, and the circulation and persistence of pathogenic clones.

scholarly journals Virulence Genes, Antibiotic Resistance and Phylotyping of Escherichia coli O157 Recovered from Diarrheic Calves

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Keyword(s):  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Molecular Detection ◽  
Genetic Profiling ◽  
Phenotypic Resistance ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Amoxicillin Clavulanic Acid ◽  
Diarrheic Calves

E. coli O157 is one of the main food-borne pathogens that attributed to the attaching and effacing Shigatoxigenic E. coli pathotype (AE-STEC). The occurrence of E. coli O157 in diarrheic calves investigated through molecular detection of rfbEO157 encoding gene was 8.02% within E. coli strains. Detection of AE-STEC virulence genes in E. coli O157 strains using multiplex PCR showed the presence of eae, stx1, stx2 and ehylA in percentages of 93.3, 73.3, 20 and 13.3%, respectively. The virulence genes profile of E. coli O157 revealed the predominance of eae+stx1 combination in 66.7% of these strains. All E. coli O157 strains exhibited antibiotic multi-resistances with higher resistance (100%) to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefalexin, cefuroxime and tetracycline, while the lowest resistance was detected for gentamicin (40%). Phenotypic resistance to extended spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs) indicated that 60% of these strains were resistant to ceftriaxone and cefotaxime, while 53.3% were resistant to cefquinome. Molecular detection of extended spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) encoding genes recorded the superiority of blaTEM gene (100%), whereas the blaSHV and blaCTXM genes were detected in percentages of 40 and 20%, respectively. The genetic profiling of resistance genes revealed the role of blaCTXM gene in ESCs resistance as blaTEM+blaSHV+blaCTXM combination was detected only in ESC resistant strains. Finally, B2 phylogroup was the most prevalent one (80%) within E. coli O157 strains. This implicates diarrheic calves as a source of highly pathogenic multi-resistant E. coli O157 strains.

Neurological consultations and diagnoses in a large, dedicated COVID-19 university hospital

2020 ◽  
Vol 78 (8) ◽  
pp. 494-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adalberto STUDART-NETO ◽  
Bruno Fukelmann GUEDES ◽  
Raphael de Luca e TUMA ◽  
Antonio Edvan CAMELO FILHO ◽  
Gabriel Taricani KUBOTA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurological Diseases ◽  
Neuromuscular Disorders ◽  
Neurological Symptoms ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Special Treatment ◽  
Nasal Swabs ◽  
Neurological Exam ◽  
Neurological Conditions ◽  
De Medicina

ABSTRACT Background: More than one-third of COVID-19 patients present neurological symptoms ranging from anosmia to stroke and encephalopathy. Furthermore, pre-existing neurological conditions may require special treatment and may be associated with worse outcomes. Notwithstanding, the role of neurologists in COVID-19 is probably underrecognized. Objective: The aim of this study was to report the reasons for requesting neurological consultations by internists and intensivists in a COVID-19-dedicated hospital. Methods: This retrospective study was carried out at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, a 900-bed COVID-19 dedicated center (including 300 intensive care unit beds). COVID-19 diagnosis was confirmed by SARS-CoV-2-RT-PCR in nasal swabs. All inpatient neurology consultations between March 23rd and May 23rd, 2020 were analyzed. Neurologists performed the neurological exam, assessed all available data to diagnose the neurological condition, and requested additional tests deemed necessary. Difficult diagnoses were established in consensus meetings. After diagnosis, neurologists were involved in the treatment. Results: Neurological consultations were requested for 89 out of 1,208 (7.4%) inpatient COVID admissions during that period. Main neurological diagnoses included: encephalopathy (44.4%), stroke (16.7%), previous neurological diseases (9.0%), seizures (9.0%), neuromuscular disorders (5.6%), other acute brain lesions (3.4%), and other mild nonspecific symptoms (11.2%). Conclusions: Most neurological consultations in a COVID-19-dedicated hospital were requested for severe conditions that could have an impact on the outcome. First-line doctors should be able to recognize neurological symptoms; neurologists are important members of the medical team in COVID-19 hospital care.

scholarly journals Modeling Syntactic Change under Contact: The Case of Italiot Greek

Languages ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 74
Author(s):  
Cristina Guardiano ◽  
Melita Stavrou
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
Potential Source ◽  
Syntactic Change ◽  
The Social ◽  
Linguistic Structures

In this paper, we investigate patterns of persistence and change affecting the syntax of nominal structures in Italiot Greek in comparison to Modern (and Ancient) Greek, and we explore the role of Southern Italo-Romance as a potential source of interference. Our aim is to highlight the dynamics that favor syntactic contact in this domain: we provide an overview of the social context where these dynamics have taken place and of the linguistic structures involved.

Generations on paper: Bourdieu and the critique of ‘generationalism’

2015 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 94-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Semi Purhonen
Keyword(s):  
20Th Century ◽  
Political Mobilization ◽  
Early 20Th Century ◽  
Sociological Study ◽  
Karl Mannheim ◽  
Word Generation ◽  
Potential Source

This article first examines the role of the concept of generation in Pierre Bourdieu’s work. It shows that Bourdieu’s usage of the concept of generation varied throughout his œuvre and that Bourdieu seldom if ever used the concept in the same sense as Karl Mannheim and many subsequent sociologists who have understood generation as a potential source of identity and political mobilization. However, and second, the article argues that Bourdieu’s sociology does have much to offer for the sociological study of generations, but only if we stop concentrating on those rare passages in which he explicitly used the word ‘generation’. We should focus instead on his more general approach to the genesis of social groupings, classification struggles and the difficult relationships of representation. The application and extension of Bourdieu’s ideas demonstrated here can provide a welcome antidote to so-called generationalism – a simplified and exaggerated picture of generations, which dates back to early 20th-century European intellectuals and which can still be found in today’s popular discourses as well as in academic studies.

DNA methylation in Yersinia enterocolitica: role of the DNA adenine methyltransferase in mismatch repair and regulation of virulence factors

Microbiology ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 151 (7) ◽  
pp. 2291-2299 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Fälker ◽  
M. Alexander Schmidt ◽  
Gerhard Heusipp
Keyword(s):  
Mismatch Repair ◽  
Yersinia Enterocolitica ◽  
Virulence Genes ◽  
Spontaneous Mutation ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Dna Adenine Methyltransferase

DNA adenine methyltransferase (Dam) plays an important role in physiological processes of Gram-negative bacteria such as mismatch repair and replication. In addition, Dam regulates the expression of virulence genes in various species. The authors cloned the dam gene of Yersinia enterocolitica and showed that Dam is essential for viability. Dam overproduction in Y. enterocolitica resulted in an increased frequency of spontaneous mutation and decreased resistance to 2-aminopurine; however, these effects were only marginal compared to the effect of overproduction of Escherichia coli-derived Dam in Y. enterocolitica, implying different roles or activities of Dam in mismatch repair of the two species. These differences in Dam function are not the cause for the essentiality of Dam in Y. enterocolitica, as Dam of E. coli can complement a dam defect in Y. enterocolitica. Instead, Dam seems to interfere with expression of essential genes. Furthermore, Dam mediates virulence of Y. enterocolitica. Dam overproduction results in increased tissue culture invasion of Y. enterocolitica, while the expression of specifically in vivo-expressed genes is not altered.

scholarly journals The correlation between socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 among immigrants in Norway: a register-based study

2021 ◽  
pp. 140349482110158
Author(s):  
Marte Kjøllesdal ◽  
Katrine Skyrud ◽  
Abdi Gele ◽  
Trude Arnesen ◽  
Hilde Kløvstad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Socioeconomic Factors ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Emergency Preparedness ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Group Level ◽  
Socioeconomic Indicators ◽  
Targeted Interventions ◽  
Low Income Families ◽  
Crowded Housing

Aim: Immigrants in Norway have higher COVID-19 notification and hospitalisation rates than Norwegian-born individuals. The knowledge about the role of socioeconomic factors to explain these differences is limited. We investigate the relationship between socioeconomic indicators at group level and epidemiological data for all notified cases of COVID-19 and related hospitalisations among the 23 largest immigrant groups in Norway. Methods: We used data on all notified COVID-19 cases in Norway up to 15 November 2020, and associated hospitalisations, from the Norwegian Surveillance System for Communicable Diseases and the emergency preparedness register at the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. We report notified COVID-19 cases and associated hospitalisation rates per 100,000 and their correlation to income, education, unemployment, crowded housing and years of residency at the group level. Results: Crowded housing and low income at a group level were correlated with rates of both notified cases of COVID-19 (Pearson`s correlation coefficient 0.77 and 0.52) and related hospitalisations (0.72, 0.50). In addition, low educational level and unemployment were correlated with a high number of notified cases. Conclusions: Immigrant groups living in disadvantaged socioeconomic positions are important to target with preventive measures for COVID-19. This must include targeted interventions for low-income families living in overcrowded households.

Impact of some environmental chemical carcinogens on the incidence of hormone-dependent tumors and possible mechanisms of its realization (literary review)

2021 ◽  
Vol 99 (2) ◽  
pp. 44-55
Author(s):  
I.O. Chernychenko ◽  
◽  
N.V. Balenko ◽  
O.M. Lytvychenko ◽  
V.F. Babii ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Functional Organization ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Epidemiological Data ◽  
Environmental Carcinogens ◽  
Chemical Carcinogens ◽  
Environmental Chemical ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic ◽  
Pollution Emissions

Objective: We determined the possible effects of priority chemical environmental carcinogens on the incidence of hormone-dependent tumors and the mechanisms of their effect on the basis of the analysis of literature data and our own research. Results: The performed analysis demonstrates the scanity of the research devoted to the study of chemical carcinogens which are concerned only with the class of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), benzo(a)pyrene (BP), atmospheric pollution, emissions from vehicles, the cadmium heavy metal and products of smoking containing these substances. The connection with PAH (BP) and the development of breast, ovarian cancer, cadmium with the development of breast, endometrial, ovarian cancer in women and prostate cancer in men was established. Epidemiological data, combined with experimental ones, suggest a possible contribution of carcinogens into the increase of the incidence of hormone-dependent tumors. At the same time, mechanisms of action of PAH and cadmium on the development of hormone-dependent tumors are unclear. The accumulated experimental and epidemiological data allow us to conclude that the oncological danger of these carcinogens lies in the combination of genotoxic and hormone-mimetic properties; the main mechanisms, involved in the realization of the effect of BP and cadmium, are associated with changes and disorders at different levels of the structural and functional organization of the organism, including the endocrine system, which can lead to the development of tumors. The urgency of the problem of the incidence of hormone-dependent tumors and the potential role of the studied chemical carcinogens as pollutants of the environment of human functions indicate the need to take these circumstances into account when developing and implementing preventive measures.

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