International Journal of Enteric Pathogens
Volume:10 Issue: 1, Feb 2022

 Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are two zoonotic pathogens that commonly colonize the digestive tract of animal sources, including poultry, dogs, cats, and other various domestic farm animals. Colonization can lead to acute bacterial gastroenteritis in humans after close contact with animals or through the consumption of contaminated food or water.

 The present study aimed to detect and identify these bacteria in the fecal samples of domestic and livestock employees.

 A total of 96 samples were collected, including 48 sheep faces and 48 livestock workers’ stool samples. DNA was extracted from the samples, and the presence of Campylobacter species was investigated by the polymerase chain reaction due to the detection of specific marker genes.

 Based on the PCR on hippuricase gene (hipO) and aspartokinase gene (asp), C. jejuni was found in 7 (7.3%) and C. coli in 4 (4.2%) of 96 isolates. Analysis of nucleotide sequences of PCR amolicons showed the genetic similarity of isolates from a common livestock center.

 Direct animal-to-human contamination seems unlikely. However, the contamination of farm water sources and sheep products with Campylobacter species can be a potential risk to human health.

 Escherichia coli is known to inhabit the gastrointestinal tract of poultry and other animals. E. coli infection can cause major economic losses in poultry production. The development of resistance to the commonly used antimicrobials in the treatment of such infection can be a setback in the poultry sector.

 This study was carried out to determine the antibiotic resistance profile of E. coli isolated from chickens in Imo State, Nigeria.

 Twelve poultry farms were selected across the 3 senatorial zones of the state using purposive random sampling. A total of 120 cloacal samples were collected from chickens using sterile swabs. The samples were streaked onto MacConkey agar (MCA) and incubated at 37o C overnight. Pink colonies on the MCA were streaked onto eosin-methylene blue agar, incubated for 24 hours at 37o C, and confirmed by indole, methyl red, Voges-Proskauer, and citrate (IMVIC) tests. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out using disc diffusion technique, and the inhibition zone diameter was measured and recorded as resistant or susceptible.

 Twenty isolates out of the 120 samples were identified as E. coli. Twenty isolates were highly resistant to 5 antibiotics out of 10 antibiotics used. Antibiotic resistance patterns were as follows: amoxicillin (AMP) (95%), cephalothin (CEP) (90%), nalidixic acid (NA) (85%), trimethoprim (SXT) (85%), cefoperazone (PEF) (80%), ampicillin (AMP) (70%) ofloxacin (OFX) (15%), ciprofloxacin (CIP) (10%), gentamicin (CN) (10%), and streptomycin (S) (10%). Sixteen resistance patterns were recorded with AMC-SXT-AMP-CEP-NA-PEF being the most prevalent.

 This study shows that multi-drug resistant E. coli strains are present in poultry farms in Imo State.

 Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are among the pathogens causing urinary tract infections (UTIs). UPEC strains utilize autotransporter (AT) proteins for pathogenesis, especially the development of biofilm in the urinary tract.

 There is no general data about the frequency of ATs among the UPECs, thus we decided to assess the frequency and AT patterns in patients with UPEC recovered from UTI, as well as to find the possible correlation between the ATs and biofilm.

 Totally, 200 Escherichia coli were recovered from the urine of outpatients and inpatients with UTIs in Iran. Biofilm production was assessed by a phenotypic method. Extraction of DNA was done using the boiling method, and the extracted products were used for polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Amplification of AT genes was done by PCR with an optimized program in a thermal cycler apparatus. Then, the amplified genes were evaluated by electrophoresis.

 Among the UPEC isolates, 63.5% and 36.5% were isolated from cystitis and pyelonephritis patients, respectively. In addition, the majority of UPECs (66.5%) were associated with hospitalized patients. Totally, 92% of isolates produced biofilm, of which 53.5%, 21.5%, and 17% were weak, moderate, and strong biofilm producers, respectively. Among investigated ATs, the most frequent genes were upaH (89%), upaB (87%), upaG (79%), vat (78%), sat (69%), upaC (67%), and ag43 (37%). There were 37 AT patterns among UPECs, and pattern 1 with the presence of all AT genes was the most common. It was found that the prevalence of upaB and upaG was significantly higher among the cystitis isolates compared to pyelonephritis isolates. Further, no significant difference was observed between the AT genes, except for upaC (P=0.003), and the intensity of biofilm formation in UPEC isolates.

 According to the high prevalence of AT genes among UPECs isolated from inpatients and outpatients, these factors can be ideal vaccine candidates for designing effective vaccines against the isolates. Evaluation of the efficacy of these ATs against UPECs is under investigation.

 Shiga toxin-producing strains have been considered remarkable diarrheagenic agents and foodborne pathogens. Several studies have mentioned the role of some Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains in diarrhea and dysentery in calves. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) have also been isolated from diarrheic calves. Generally, the culture and antibiogram results obtained from fecal samples are used to select antibiotics to treat calf diarrhea. However, the value of such a sampling method has not been evaluated yet.

 This study aimed to evaluate the clinical utility of fecal sample cultures for isolating STEC and EPEC in calf diarrhea by comparing them with small intestine samples.

 The small intestine and fecal samples were simultaneously collected from 35 diarrheic calves. Small intestine samples were collected under the ultrasonographic guide. A total of 70 confirmed E. coli isolates were screened by the multiplex polymerase chain reaction to detect genes encoding Shiga toxin1 (stx1), Shiga toxin2 (stx2), intimin (eae), and hemolysin (E-hly). We also compared the presence of class 1 and 2 integrons and antimicrobial resistance properties in the STEC and EPEC isolates recovered from the small intestine and fecal samples. Finally, the presence of important STEC/EPEC serogroups, including O26, O103, O111, O113, O145, and O157 in isolates from both samples, was determined as well.

 STEC strains were detected in 25.7%, and 20% of E. coli isolates obtained from the small intestine and fecal samples, respectively. The stx1 was the sole Shiga toxin subtype detected among STEC in intestinal and fecal isolates. EPEC was detected only in one and two E. coli isolates from the small intestine and fecal samples, respectively.

 A numerically higher prevalence of STEC was observed in the small intestine compared to fecal samples; there was no significant difference in the frequencies of STEC and EPEC isolates between the small intestine and fecal samples. The results indicated that the fecal sample, as a non-invasive and practical method, could be used for isolating STEC and EPEC in calf diarrhea. The antibiogram showed the presence of a high degree of multi-drug resistance among the isolates.

 Diabetes mellitus is known to be a potential risk factor for herpes zoster (HZ). The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between diabetes and HZ statistically. What is the status of diabetes in people with HZ, and are diabetes and HZ associations statistically significant? Answering these questions is the main purpose of this study.

 Systematic search was carried out in four major international databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google scholar for eligible records between January 2000 and December 2020. The overall prevalence of diabetes in HZ people, studies heterogeneity, as well as geographical distribution were estimated by a random-effect model applied in comprehensive meta-analysis (V2, BioStat) software.

 Ultimately, 28 studies (29 datasets) were included in the present meta-analysis. The overall prevalence of diabetes in HZ people was estimated to be 12.7% (95% CI: 11.5%- 14%), the highest and lowest prevalence rates were 17.4% and 4% in Southeast Asian and American regions, respectively. Additionally, the odds ratio (OR) results suggested a significant association between HZ and diabetes (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.18-1.38).

 The results indicate a significant association between HZ and diabetes, and this association should not be neglected. Future studies may reflect the effect of vaccination more seriously by considering this association.