scholarly journals Investigation of extramammary sources of Group B Streptococcus reveals its unusual ecology and epidemiology in camels

PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (12) ◽  
pp. e0252973
Author(s):  
Dinah Seligsohn ◽  
Chiara Crestani ◽  
Nduhiu Gitahi ◽  
Emelie Lejon Flodin ◽  
Erika Chenais ◽  
...  

Camels are vital to food production in the drylands of the Horn of Africa, with milk as their main contribution to food security. A major constraint to camel milk production is mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland. The condition negatively impacts milk yield and quality as well as household income. A leading cause of mastitis in dairy camels is Streptococcus agalactiae, or group B Streptococcus (GBS), which is also a commensal and pathogen of humans and cattle. It has been suggested that extramammary reservoirs for this pathogen may contribute to the occurrence of mastitis in camels. We explored the molecular epidemiology of GBS in camels using a cross-sectional study design for sample collection and phenotypic, genomic and phylogenetic analysis of isolates. Among 88 adult camels and 93 calves from six herds in Laikipia County, Kenya, GBS was detected in 20% of 50 milk samples, 25% of 152 nasal swabs, 8% of 90 oral swabs and 3% of 90 rectal swabs, but not in vaginal swabs. Per camel herd, two to four sequence types (ST) were identified using Multi Locus Sequence Typing (MLST). More than half of the isolates belonged to ST617 or its single-locus variant, ST1652, with these STs found across all sample types. Capsular serotype VI was detected in 30 of 58 isolates. In three herds, identical STs were detected in milk and swab samples, suggesting that extramammary sources of GBS may contribute to the maintenance and spread of GBS within camel herds. This needs to be considered when developing prevention and control strategies for GBS mastitis. The high nasal carriage rate, low recto-vaginal carriage rate, and high prevalence of serotype VI for GBS in camels are in stark contrast to the distribution of GBS in humans and in cattle and reveal hitherto unknown ecological and molecular features of this bacterial species.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dinah Seligsohn ◽  
Chiara Crestani ◽  
Nduhiu Gitahi ◽  
Emelie Lejon Flodin ◽  
Erika Chenais ◽  
...  

Camels are vital to food production in the drylands of the Horn of Africa, with milk as their main contribution to food security. A major constraint to camel milk production is mastitis, inflammation of the mammary gland. The condition negatively impacts milk yield and quality as well as household income. The leading cause of mastitis in dairy camels is Streptococcus agalactiae, group B Streptococcus (GBS), which is also a commensal and pathogen of humans. It has been suggested that extramammary reservoirs for this pathogen may contribute to the occurrence of mastitis in camels. We explored the molecular epidemiology of GBS in camels using a cross-sectional study design for sample collection and phenotypic, genomic and phylogenetic analysis of isolates. Among 88 adult camels and 93 calves from six herds in Laikipia County, Kenya, GBS was detected in 20% of 50 milk samples, 25% of 152 nasal swabs, 8% of 90 oral swabs and 3% of 90 rectal swabs, but not in vaginal swabs. Per camel herd, two to four sequence types (ST) were present. More than half of the isolates belonged to ST617 or its single-locus variant, ST1652, with these STs found across all sample types. Serotype VI was detected in 30 of 58 isolates. In three herds, identical STs were detected in milk and swab samples, suggesting that extramammary sources of GBS may contribute to the maintenance and spread of GBS within camel herds. This needs to be considered when developing prevention and control strategies. In addition, the high nasal carriage rate, low recto-vaginal carriage rate, and high prevalence of serotype VI for GBS in camels are in stark contrast to the distribution of GBS in humans and reveal hitherto unknown ecological and molecular features of this bacterial species.


Pathogens ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 418
Author(s):  
Maria Maroudia Berikopoulou ◽  
Aikaterini Pana ◽  
Theodota Liakopoulou-Tsitsipi ◽  
Nikos F. Vlahos ◽  
Vasiliki Papaevangelou ◽  
...  

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a leading cause of serious neonatal infections. Maternal GBS colonization is associated with early- and late-onset neonatal disease (EOD/LOD). In Greece, a screening-based strategy is recommended, in which concurrent vaginal-rectal cultures should be obtained between 36 0/7 and 37 6/7 weeks’ gestation. We sought to examine the level of adherence to the GBS screening guidelines and estimate the prevalence of GBS colonization among pregnant women. Although in Greece the screening-based strategy is followed, we also examined known EOD risk factors and linked them to GBS colonization. A cross-sectional study of 604 women postpartum in three hospitals and maternity clinics was conducted. Following written informed consent, data were collected via a short self-completed questionnaire and review of patients’ records. In 34.6% of the enrolled pregnant women, no culture had been taken. Of the remaining, 12.8% had proper vaginal-rectal sample collections. The overall maternal colonization rate was 9.6%. At least one risk factor for EOD was identified in 12.6% of participants. The presence of risk factors was associated with positive cultures (p = 0.014). The rate of culture collection did not differ between women with or without an EOD risk factor. Adherence to a universal screening of pregnant women with vaginal-rectal cultures was poor. Despite probable underestimation of GBS carrier status, almost 1 in 10 participants were GBS positive during pregnancy. Screening of women with risk factors for EOD should, at least, be prioritized to achieve prevention and prompt intervention of EOD.


PEDIATRICS ◽  
1969 ◽  
Vol 44 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H. Dossett ◽  
Ralph C. Williams ◽  
Paul G. Quie

The bactericidal capacity of newborn infants' whole blood for E. coli was deficient compared to the mothers, and attempts were made to identify cellular or humoral factors responsible for this deficiency. Separated polymorphonuclear leukocytes from newborn infants were found to be similar to polymorphs from mothers in capacity to engulf and kill E. coli and other bacteria so that cellular deficiency was not evident. Comparison of the serum opsonic capacity of newborn infants' and mothers' sera revealed deficient opsonic capacity for E. coli in newborn sera. The mean opsonic titer for E. coli was 46.7 in mothers and 4.3 in neonates. Serum opsonic titers for Staph. aureus and group B streptococcus were similar. The opsonic capacity for all bacterial species was decreased when the sera were heated or decomplemented with immune complexes indicating the phagocytosis amplifying role of complement. The newborn-maternal difference in opsonic capacity for E. coli was presumably a result of deficient 19S antibodies, the primary opsonic antibodies for this organism. Maternal 19S serum fractions alone, however, showed no opsonic capacity for E. coli. Addition of a complement source (newborn serum absorbed with E. coli) revealed the opsonic capacity of these 19S maternal serum fractions for E. coli. Antibodies in 19S serum fractions therefore are efficient opsonins for E. coli; however, complement is necessary to demonstrate their opsonic potential.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leila Goudarzi ◽  
Mohammad Bagher Khalili ◽  
Mahmood Vakili ◽  
Maryam Sadeh

Consequence of Streptococcus agalactiae, Group B Streptococcus (GBS) relating infant’s diseases are well documented. Although many women carry this bacterium in their vagina, they may transfer to their infant during delivery and may result in different neonatal invasive diseases. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of GBS and serotyping the isolated species among un-selective non-pregnant women who attended two gynecology clinics in Tehran. In this cross-sectional study, a total of 560 vaginal samples collected from non-pregnant women. Following inoculation of the specimen on Blood Agar, the standard technology was applied for the final identification of GBS. Detected GBS species were further confirmed using specific PCR directed on dlts gene. Capsular serotyping was done by using the multiplex PCR method. The chi-square method was used for statistical analysis. Fifty (8.9%) out of 560 non-pregnant women were carriers of GBS. The most common types were III (36%), followed by type II (32%), Ia (26%), and Ib (6%), respectively. Results represent that the prevalence rate of GBS in non-pregnant women was reliable and similar to what obtained from pregnant women. In addition, the serotype III was found the most dominant types, as well as other investigations in the Tehran area. Therefore, vaccine designation based on type III is recommended.


Author(s):  
Setareh Sagheb ◽  
Ziba Mosayebi ◽  
Zahra Nikseresht

Background: Determination of contributing factors for jaundice would result in better programming for prevention. This study was performed to determine the prevalence rate of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) among neonates with jaundice admitted in Arash Hospital from October 2013 to October 2014. Methods: In this descriptive cross-sectional study, term neonates with non-hemolytic jaundice admitted in Arash Hospital from October 2013 to October 2014 were evaluated for UTI by urine culture and the data were recorded by checklist using medical documents. Results: A total of 436 term infants were enrolled in the study. Mean age at the time of admission was 6.03±3.355 days with age range of 3-18 days including 291(0.66%) males and 145(0.33%) females. Urine culture was positive in 32 neonates (7.3%).The most common germs were Klebsiella in 37.5%, Escherichia coli (E. coli) in 21.9%, Staphylococcus in 9.4%, Pseudomonas in 3.1%, Enterococcus in 15.6%, Enterobacter in 9.4%, and Group B Streptococcus (GBS) in 3.1%. Conclusion: Urine culture should be a part of routine clinical evaluation for all icteric neonates at the age of 5-6 days or more who have no risk factors to exclude the possibility of coincidental UTI.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e032487
Author(s):  
Amer Alshengeti ◽  
Amjad Alharbi ◽  
Shahad Alraddadi ◽  
Abdulsalam Alawfi ◽  
Bushra Aljohani

AimsGroup B streptococcus (GBS) is one of the most frequent bacterial pathogens causing invasive infections in neonates. It can be transmitted from colonised mother to neonates around delivery. Screening strategies for GBS during pregnancy include either universal culture-based or risk-based screening. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude and current practices of pregnant women towards GBS screening in Al-Madinah City, Saudi Arabia.MethodsA hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at Madinah Maternity and Children Hospital, Al-Madinah, Saudi Arabia, from May to July 2018. Participants were recruited from postnatal wards. Participants were interviewed using a previously published validated survey that was divided into the following domains: demographic data, knowledge, experience and attitude towards different GBS screening strategies.ResultsA total of 377 out of 450 women (response rate 83.7%) were enrolled. The results showed that the overall mean knowledge score of the pregnant women towards GBS screening was 59.8%. Majority of the women (66.8%) were not aware of the GBS bacterium, while 86.5% of them had never been informed of GBS risk assessment during their pregnancies. The mean knowledge score among women who were aware of GBS (62.8%) was significantly higher than that among women who were not (58.4%) (p=0.015). However, majority of the pregnant women (61.8%) showed preference for universal culture-based GBS screening strategy over risk-based strategy.ConclusionThe study results have concluded that the level of awareness and knowledge about GBS among pregnant women were relatively poor; however, majority of the pregnant women prefer universal culture-based screening.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (5_suppl5) ◽  
pp. 2325967120S0004
Author(s):  
A.H M.Asyraf ◽  
S Ashraf- Fareeq ◽  
S Zulfahrizzat ◽  
HS Arvinder-Singh ◽  
Vasantha Kumari Neela ◽  
...  

The objective of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of microorganism isolates types, antibiotic usage preference, the prevalence of diabetic amputations in necrotizing fasciitis (NF) and predicitive factors of amputation. Methodology: This study was a cross-sectional study conducted by looking at medical records ttraced from Hospital Seremban identifying all necrotizing fasciits admissions in the year of 2017/2018. The researchers first traced all medical records via electronic medical records. All case records were reviewed and identifiers were removed. Patients with missing notes/medico-legal cases were excluded from this study. Results: A total of 159 records were traced of which none met the exclusion criteria. The mean age of patients were 56.09 (SD:12.20), mean days stayed at hospital 25.09 (17.70) and the mean number of days patients were on at least one antibiotic was 18.87 (41.78). From the total, 145 (91.2%) were suffered at the lower limbs, 68 (42.8%) suffered an amputation [of which 31 were above-knee-amputations], 97 (61.0%) suffered from sepsis and 19 (11.9%) suffered mortality. 139 (87.4%) of the patients were diabetics, 105 (66.0%) were hypertensives and 87 (54.7%) were immunocompramised. The majority were caused by unknown aetiology [103 (64.8%)], 131 (82.4%) presented with erythema/cellulitis and 116 (73.0%) had good prognosis. The commonest type of NF was type 2 [103 (64.8%)]. The top 3 commonest isolates were Pseudomonas aeruginosa (15.7%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (12.6%) and β haemolytic Group B Streptococcus (10.7%). The 3 commonest antibiotics started were ampicillin/sulbactam combination (69.8%), ceftazidime (9.4%) and amoxycillin/clavulanate (4.4%). The mean LRINEC score was 7.72 (SD:2.31). Among the 139 diabetics, 68 (48.9%) ended up with an amputation. Among the 102 patients having both diabetes and hypertension (n=102), 50% suffered an amputation. A cross tabulation done showed that Klebsiella pneumoniae (17.2%), β haemolytic Group B Streptococcus (15.5%) and Proteus mirabillis (13.8%) were the common causative organisms in an amputation. A regression analysis done to identify predictive variables for an amputation showed no statistical significant variables. Conclusion: Proper handling of seafood during preparation should be encouraged as a simple bite may turn deadly. Initiation of antibiotics according to suspected organisms should be performed to prevent worsening of soft tissue infections. Conclusion: From this study, we concluded that the commonest type of isolates at our centre was Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the commonest antibiotic choice was the ampicillin/sulbactam combination and nearly half of diabetics with NF ended up with an amputation. There were no predictive factors for an amputation among the collected variables


Microbiology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 157 (12) ◽  
pp. 3282-3291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marie-Frédérique Lartigue ◽  
Agnès Fribourg Poulard ◽  
Rim Al Safadi ◽  
Hélène Pailhories ◽  
Anne-Sophie Domelier-Valentin ◽  
...  

Serotype III group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the major cause of neonatal meningitis, but the risk of infection in the colonized neonates is variable. Capsular sialic acid (Sia), whose synthesis is encoded by neu genes, appears to be a major virulence factor in several bacterial species able to reach the cerebrospinal fluid. Therefore, variations of Sia expression related to the genetic diversity of strains may have an impact on the risk of meningitis in colonized neonates. We characterized by MLST the phylogenetic diversity of 64 serotype III GBS strains isolated from vaginal flora and randomly selected. These strains mostly belonged to three major sequence types (STs): ST1 (11 %), ST17 (39 %) and ST19 (31 %). The genetic diversity of strains of these lineages, characterized by PFGE, allowed the selection of 17 representative strains, three ST1, six ST17 and eight ST19, with NEM316 as reference, in order to evaluate (i) by quantitative RT-PCR, the level of transcription of the neuD gene as a marker for the transcription of neu genes and (ii) by enzymological analysis, the expression of Sia. The mean transcription level of neuD was higher for ST17 strains than for ST1 and ST19 strains in the early, mid- and late exponential growth phases, and was maximum in the early exponential growth phase for ST17 strains and in the mid-exponential growth phase for ST1 and ST19 strains. Mean Sia concentration was higher for ST17 than for ST1 and ST9 strains in all three growth phases. For the total population, Sia concentration varied notably in the stationary phase, from 0.38 to 9.30 nmol per 108 viable bacteria, with a median value of 2.99 nmol per 108 bacteria. All ST17 strains, only one-third of the ST19 strains and none of the ST1 strains had Sia concentrations higher than the median Sia concentration. Therefore, differences in the level of expression of Sia by strains of the major serotype III GBS phylogenetic lineages might be one of the factors that explain the leading role of ST17 strains in neonatal meningitis.


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