International Journal of Enteric Pathogens
Year:2014 | Volume:2 | Issue:3|Papers Count:8

Background: Salmonella are a genus of zoonotic bacteria of worldwide economic and health importance. Members of Salmonella enterica subspeciesenterica are mainly associated with warm-blooded vertebrates and are usually transmitted by ingestion of food or water contaminated by infected feces.Objectives: The aim of this study was to apply a PCR-RFLP method based on the fliC gene to identify the serotypes of Salmonella isolates from Karaj, Iran.Materials and Methods: A total of 30 Salmonella isolates were serotyped by specific antisera. For the PCR-RFLP method based on the fliC gene, extracted DNA was used as the template for amplifying thefliC gene (1500 bp) using specific primers. PCR products were subjected to digestion usingHhaI restriction endonuclease.Results: This study determined 30 serotypes as Salmonella durban (56.6%), Salmonella uno (23.3%), Salmonella enteritidis (3.3%), Salmonella tinda (3.3%), Salmonella mjimweme (3.3%), Salmonella Thompson (3.3%), Salmonella sIIO8 (3.3 %) and Salmonella sIIO7 (3.3%). Observations indicated thatHhaI is able to discriminate Salmonella tinda and Salmonella thompson, yet Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella durban and Salmonella mjimweme had the same pattern with this enzyme. Also Salmonella sIIO8, Salmonella sIIO7 and Salmonella uno showed the same pattern. Thus, regarding the size and the number of resulting fragments from this enzyme, four patterns were obtained for HhaI.Conclusion: A large number of Salmonella serotypes need to be analyzed by the PCR-RFLP method and different enzymes must be used to give reliable results.

Background: Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX) can be used for treatment of several infections including respiratory, renal, and gastrointestinal tract infections, skin and wound infections, septicaemia, and other infections caused by sensitive organisms.Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for acquisition of TMP-SMX-resistant Escherichia coli strains among hospitalized patients in a teaching hospital of Sanandaj, Iran.Materials and Methods: It was a case-control study on a patient, carrying a TMP-SMX-resistant E. coli strain. The control patient carried a TMP-SMX-sensitiveE. coli strain. TMP-SMX resistance was determined using disk diffusion methods.Results: Of 343 isolates, 197 (57.43%) were TMP-SMX-resistant. Using ventilator and catheter were risky for acquisition of TMP-SMX-resistant isolate (odds ratio (OR) =3.037, 95% CI=1.60-5.75, P<0.000, OR=2.93, 95% CI=1.15-7.43, P<0.013, respectively). There was significant correlation between days of staying in ward and TMP-SMX resistance (P<0.003).Conclusions: The main risk factors associated with TMP-SMX resistance were using of ventilator and catheter and days of staying in ward.There is need for more studies to evaluate the role of the factors to control the spread of drug resistance.

Background: According to ethnobotanical data, Elaeagnus angustifolia fruit has wound healing activity, anti-inflammatory effect and antifebrile prosperities.Objectives: This study was performed as to the best of our knowledge, there has been no scientific report on the characterization of antimicrobial effect of E. angustifolia extract. Materials and Methods: An aqueous extract of Elaeagnus angustifolia was prepared and antimicrobial activity tests were performed on various target cultures. Minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) of the extract was done using the broth dilution technique. To characterize the extract, shelf life, thermal and pH stability, effects of detergents such as Tween 80, Tween 20, Triton X100, toluene and enzymes on the antimicrobial activity of Elaeagnus angustifolia extract, were examined.Results: The MIC values ranged from 7.5 to 0.1 mg/mL, showing maximum activity (1.62 mg/mL) against E. coli. Similarly, the MBC of the extract against E. coli was 1.62 mg/mL. Antimicrobial activity of the extract was relatively stable when kept in the refrigerator for 60 days. The antimicrobial activity ofElaeagnus angustifolia extract was absolutely stable at temperatures up to 700oC. After exposure of the Elaeagnus angustifoliaextract to different pH solutions in the range of 4-10, almost 100% residual activity was found against E. coli at pH 4, 5, 6, and 7.Treatment of the extract with detergents, lipase and lysozyme eliminated its antimicrobial activity.Conclusions: Our study gives an indication of the presence of promising antimicrobial compounds and provides basic information about the nature of theElaeagnus angustifolia extract. Future studies should elucidate the components responsible for antimicrobial activity of these extracts against target cultures.

Background: The extensive use of antibiotics in animal farms to promote the growth rate and prevent the enteric pathogen has led to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and drug residues in the birds body. In the recent years, probiotics have been constantly studied for their inhibitory effects on pathogenic bacteria.Objectives: The current study aimed to assess the effect of magnesium oxide on controlling serum phosphorus levels and evaluate its side effects.Materials and Methods: Antibacterial activity of local and commercial probiotic bacteria was investigated using colony overlay assay.Then antibacterial activity of local and commercial probiotics against each pathogen, Salmonella typhimurium, Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were compared.Results: Local strain of lactic acid bacteria had significantly higher antibacterial activity compared to those of the commercial probiotics.Local probiotics showed a significantly stronger activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli compared to all commercial probiotics.Conclusions: Administration of mono strain of Lactobacillus salivarius ES1, or co-administration of ES1 and L. salivarius ES6, is not only more effective than commercial probiotics against Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus spp. And E.coli, but also, will have no negative effects on micro flora balance of local birds.

Background: Increasing urbanization, immigration and tourism has changed the human lifestyle. This modern lifestyle has demanded safety, quality, and fast availability of ready to eat (RTE) foods like chicken sandwiches.Objectives: For presentation of proper solutions regarding food safety, identification of pathogens in different foods is necessary.Therefore, the present study was carried out to assess the microbiological quality of chicken sandwiches distributed in Tehran province, Iran.Materials and Methods: A total of 200 chicken sandwich samples (chicken sausage, chicken fillet, minced chicken fillet) were purchased from different supermarkets in Tehran city randomly during 2013 and transported to the laboratory of food hygiene of Islamic Azad University, Karaj branch under temperature-controlled conditions for bacteriological examination by American Public Health Association (APHA) method.Results: The average count ± standard error (and percent of unacceptable samples) of S. aureus, B. cereus and Coliform were 1.6 ± 0.56 (28%), 2.0 ± 0.62 (10%), 4.2 ± 1.12 (50%) CFU/g, respectively. Moreover, E. coli and Salmonella spp. were identified in 21% of chicken sandwich samples. Conclusions: The large number of foodborne pathogens detected in this study, represented a potential health hazard to consumers. Thus, it is necessary to employ Good Hygiene Practices (GHP) and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) in order to minimize the risk caused by secondary contamination.

Context: Brucellosis represents a zoonotic bacterial disease, caused by a gram negative bacterium called Brucella. Between the diverse species of this bacteria, B. melitensis, B. abortus, B. suis and B. canis consist the main causes of the disease in humans.More than half a million new cases of Brucellosis are reported annually. Consequently, brucellosis is a remarkable threat for the health of society. Because of the multiple nonspecific clinical signs of this infection, such as fever (60% of cases), night sweating, insomnia and anorexia, which are similar to other diseases, the detection of brucellosis is time-consuming and needs more scrutiny.Evidence Acquisition: Blood culture is considered the gold standard for the detection of brucellosis and the sensitivity of this test in the acute form is high. However, for the chronic type of disease, it is remarkably low, in addition, in some cases, it needs long reaction times.Nevertheless, today, some kinds of tests like automatic culturing system and serological methods, such as Rose Bengal (RB) test, serum agglutination test (SAT), 2-mercaptoethanol (2ME) and coombs, which are operated based on agglutination, are useful for the problems mentioned earlier.Conclusion: Although serological methods are common for the diagnosis of brucellosis, false results are observable for several methods, such as the SAT method. Tests like the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), for the screening of specific traits, although confirmed, have their advantages and defects. The lateral flow assay (LFA) shows promising evidence to be effective in the diagnosis of brucellosis. The polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is more prevalent than other common tests, according to sensitivity and fast answering potency in case of molecular diagnosis. Also, PCR is proper for patients' follow-up during the period of treatment and crimination of relapse by this method is easier compared to others.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is the most prevalent infectious agent of food materials. Enterotoxin producing types of S. aureus cause well-known food-borne disease. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin A (SEA) is the most important agent of gastroenteritis.Objectives: The present study aimed to screen the raw meat samples collected from different regions of Tehran for S. aureus infection and type of encoding enterotoxin.Materials and Methods: Hundred and eighty six meat samples were collected randomly from city dealers and transferred to laboratory within screw cap containers. The samples were first cultured according to the standard bacteriological methods and thenS. aureus isolates were identified using standard bacteriological tests. The isolates were subjected to Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to detect gene encoding SEA.Results: Staphylococcus aureus isolated from 29 (15.6%) meat samples including beef 14.8%, raw lamb 15%, raw chicken 15.7% and raw turkey 16.6%. Using special primer sets proved that the species isolated from five samples (two raw chicken, two raw beef and one raw turkey) encoded enterotoxin A.Conclusions: Although staphylococcal contamination within food material is more or less a routine, but detection of enterotoxin encoding species from raw meat samples is alarming for health authorities. These data highlight the importance of periodic surveillance of raw meat distributed among ordinary consumers.

Background: Toxocariasis is a zoonotic helminthic infection of humans and animals caused by the larvae of intestinal parasites of dogs and cats (Toxocara canis and Toxocara cati, respectively). These nematodes develop in to their adult stage in the intestines of cats and dogs.Three clinical entities have been recognized in humans, visceral larva migrans, ocular larva migrans and covert toxocariasis. Eosinophilia is a common finding in infected patientsObjectives: In this study the frequency of toxocariasis in eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic individuals referred to the laboratory of Abadan health centers was compared.Materials and Methods: Serum samples were collected from individuals attending the laboratory of health centers for any medical problem and were tested for complet blood count (CBC). The samples of patients were divided in to two groups, those with more than 10% peripheral eosinophils, as the eosinophilic group (n=54) and those with normal eosinophils (0-3%) as the non-eosinophilic group (n =54). Samples were examined for anti-oxocara IgG by the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and confirmed western blotting.Results: Anti-oxocara IgG was detected in the sera of six (11.11%) cases from the eosinophilic group and two (3.7%) of the non-eosinophilic group by the ELISA method, but all had negative results for the western blot analysis.Conclusions: The results of this study indicated that the eosinophilic individuals might beexposed to other helminthic infections or allergic agents. Further studies are required with more samples with different ages and occupations.