Iranian Journal of Microbiology
Volume:1 Issue: 3, Sep 2009

A number of different subtypes of avian influenza (AI) viruses have emerged in humans includingH5N1, H7N2, H7N7 and H9N2. These influenza viruses are excreted in the infected birds and in their respiratory secretions.The aim of this study was to investigate seropositivity against H9N2 and H7N7 viruses among poultry and slaughterhouse workers with occupational risk of exposure to poultry in Tehran province. A cross-sectional seroprevalence study was performed using two types of HI assay among 127poultry and slaughter-house workers and 25 controls with the regular consumer related exposure to poultry against H9N2 and H7N7 avian influenza viruses. Data were analyzed using SAS 9.1. There was no evidence of previous H7N7 infection among subjects. Both poultry workers had elevated antibodiesagainst H9N2 Influenza viruses compared to controls. Slaughter-house workers who self-reported eviscerating poultrywith their bare hands had markedly increased evidence of previous H9N2 infection (15.7%) compared to controls (0%)(OR=18.241, 95% CI ([6.802-48.914]). Our results suggest poultry-to-human transmission of avian influenza A H9N2 can occur in poultry workers.Eviscerating section workers, in contrast to others had the highest risk of H9N2 infection. It is emphasized that evisceratingsections of poultry work is the most contaminated part of poultry industry that could increase the likelihood of poultry-tohumantransmission

In May 2007, high mortality with severe septicemia was reported in 17 flocks of canaries in different regions of Tehran province. This study was designed to follow up and study a great outbreak of salmonellosis in these canaries. Two carcasses from every flock, environment, food and water resources were examined. After isolating the bacteria, serotyping and multiplex PCR were performed to confirm the bacteria identified. The isolates within thesame serovars were investigated by R-typing using 33 antibiotics and then subjected to RAPD-PCR with three primers. The genomic DNA from these isolates were digested with XbaІ and the macro restriction fragment were separated by PFGE. S. Typhimurium was isolated from dead carcasses, visceral organs, stools and feed. Thirty-six isolated strains (35 isolates from canary carcasses and one isolate from feed) showed similar results in all of the tests, confirming the occurrenceof an outbreak. Canaries seem to be very susceptible to infection with S. Typhimurium. The clonality of isolated organisms andits characteristics is significantly important due to the severe septicemia and high mortalities in this outbreak and its public health threats. Environmental contamination within the cages, and food contaminated with stools of other canaries were the sources of infection. Inspection for food hygiene, daily cleaning of canary’s cage from stool and carrier insects and rodents are necessary to prevent such outbreaks. Combination of R-typing, RAPD-PCR and PFGE increase the differentiation power of isolates, however, they showed clonality of S. Typhimurium involved in this outbreak.

A new Real- Time PCR protocol for the detection of Trichomonas vaginalis in pooled urine samples has been optimized and validated. The amplification protocol, targeting a 2kb repeated gene in the T. vaginalis genome, was optimized by varying PCR parameters. As a reference method, a Real-Time PCR protocol targeting the beta-tubulin gene (Y. Versluiset al, 2006, Int J STD AIDS 17:642) was used. Clinical validation was performed with pooled urine samples obtained from patients of the sexually transmitted diseases clinic of a university hospital (n=963; from February – June 2007). Positive samples with the new optimized technique is 1.1% (n=10), while the beta-tubulin real-time PCR method generated four positives (0.3%). The new RT- PCR protocol is a sensitive (1.000) and specific (0.993) procedure to detect and to identify T.vaginalis in urine samples.

Antibiotic resistance among bacteria in particular those producing Extended Spectrum Beta lactamases (ESBLs)has a very significant role in hospital acquired infections. Some of the gram negative bacilli including Klebsiella pneumoniaand Escherichia coli are known to be ESBL producers which cause uncontrollable infections because they are also oftenresistant to other antimicrobial agents. This study was designed to assess the ESBL producing gram-negative bacilli amongclinical isolates of inpatients at Shohada-ye Ashayer Hospital, Khorramabad, Iran. Samples were processed with routine laboratory methods and gram-negative bacilli were identified by standard tests. ESBL producing gram-negative bacilli were screened by MacConkey Agar containing 4 mg/liter ceftazidimeand confirmed with the double disk synergy method. Fifty-three cases (23.6%) of 225 total isolated gram-negative bacilli were positive in terms of ESBL production.Klebsiella pneumoniae comprising 20 cases (8.9%) was the dominant organism producing ESBLs followed by Escherichiacoli (10 cases; 4.4%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (10 cases; 4.4%). The most ESBL producing organisms were found inurine samples (21 cases; 39.6%). Ten cases (18.9%) of isolates were from samples collected with sterile bronchoscopy. Results of the study indicated that ESBL producing gram negative bacilli are frequently isolated from ShohadayeAshaier Hospital. Regarding the high resistance of these strains against many of the antibiotics and even against carbapenems,health care professionals need to plan policies to fight the induction and spread of such strains

Tuberculosis continues to be a serious public health problem causing nearly three million deaths per year all over the world. Despite major improvement in diagnosis, it is not possible to control the disease in the absence of surveillancetreatment, and follow-up programs. This research was designed to study the frequency of Mycobacterium tuberculosis among specimens referred tothe tuberculosis research laboratory in Qaem Hospital, Mashhad, North- East of Iran in 2005-2006. 3207 samples (1331 sputum, 1209 bronchial lavage, 69 ascitis aspirates, 52 urine samples, 30 CSF samples, 25 joint aspirates and 15 wound secretions) were cultured according to standard procedure and examined microscopically using Ziehl Neelsen staining method. 536 samples (16.7%) recognized as positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (bronchial lavage 18.6%, sputum 17%,gastric lavage 13.3%, CSF 10%, ascitis aspirates 7.2%, wound 6.25%, pleural aspiration 4.5%). No Mycobacterium tuberculosiswas found in urine samples and joint aspirates. Considering reported prevalence of 13 cases per 100,000 in the Iranian population, these results are acceptable but more preventive measures should be sought for controlling TB.

Bacteria, most prevalently the Pseudomonas species possess high capacity to utilize and degrade petroleum hydrocarbons and are classified as the hydrocarbonoclastic microorganisms. Many species of the genus Pseudomonas are notorious for their aerobic degradation capacity, extracellular enzyme production and are metabolically versatile organisms capable of utilizing a wide range of hydrocarbons and other compounds. In this study, the ability of diesel utilization by some locally isolated Pseudomonas species was tested. From a local red laterite soil, four different Pseudomonas species were isolated on King’s B medium, characterized, identified and tested their potential in utilizing diesel, a petroleum hydrocarbon. At the same time, production of protease and urease enzymes during the utilization of diesel was also assayed following the standard procedures. The isolates were grown well on diesel and subsequently produced the extracellular enzymes protease and urease at significant levels when compared to their production in the absence of diesel. Optimum temperature and pH for increased growth by four isolates was found to be 37oC and pH 8.0 indicating the maximum utilization of diesel. All the isolates showed maximum growth in medium with 100% diesel than 100% glycerol as carbon source, when tested with different proportions of diesel and glycerol as carbon sources. Plasmid profile of the isolates revealed that, all four Pseudomonas isolates harbored two low molecular weight plasmids; one with 3 Kb size and the other with 10 kb to 12 Kb size. The four Pseudomonas isolates of the present study were found to have potential in diesel degradation and can be recommended for bioremediation of sites that are contaminated with diesel.

Cattle dermatophytosis (syn. cattle ringworm), an important skin infection, has received majorconsideration not only for economical losses in the animal breeding industry but also in regards to its zoonotic transmission tohumans. For effective control measures, it is important to determine the disease prevalence in cattle herds. To determine ringworm prevalence, a total number of 3,540 cattle in different age groups at three major farms of Mashhad including Kenebist (KB) in the east, Mazraeh Nemooneh (MN) in the south, and Moghoofat Malek (MM) in the north-east were examined. Skin scrapings were prepared from all animals clinically suspected to have dermatophytosis.The samples were examined microscopically for fungal elements (hyphae and/or arthrospores) by adding potassium hydroxide (KOH) to samples. To isolate the etiologic dermatophytes, all samples were cultured on selective agar for pathogenic fungi medium for 4 weeks at room temperature. Among 684 suspected cases (19.3%) selected from a total number of 3,540 cattle based on clinical signs, 604 cases (88.3%) were KOH positive in direct microscopy, while 490 cases (71.6%) were culture positive on selective agar for pathogenic fungi (SAPF) medium. The most frequent dermatophyte isolated was Trichophyton verrucosum (495 isolates accounting for 99% of total isolates) which was obtained from all culture positive cases except five cases (1.0%) infected with another dermatophyte named Trichophyton mentagrophytes. This work is the first comprehensive study on cattle ringworm in Iran. With respect to the high prevalence of cattle ringworm, particularly in young animals reported in the present study, effective management programs such as vaccination and improved hygiene are necessary for disease control in the herds.

Bhitarkanika is the mangrove ecosystem of Orissa, India. It was not explored before for occurrenceand distribution of Streptomyces. With the aim of isolation and characterization of special group of bacteria from this mangrove ecosystem, the present study has been made. Isolates of Streptomyces were obtained from plant, soil and water collected from Bhitarkanika mangroves on specific ISP media. Different isolates of Streptomyces were characterized for their colony characteristics, morphological properties, physiological and biochemical properties and were tentatively identified. 105 isolates of Streptomyces belonging to 20 different species were isolated from 19 mangrove plants in different locations of Bhitarkanika mangroves. According to physiological and biochemical data, all strains were taxonomically identified to the genus Streptomyces. However, all the strains were morphologically varied and exhibited different extracellular activity. Maximum number of Streptomyces species was observed in the Khola region. S. xanthochromogenes was found to be most prevalent species followed by S. exfoliates and S. auranticus. We have confirmed occurrence and distribution of Streptomyces in the Bhitarkanika mangrove environment.This is the first report of Streptomyces biodiversity in mangrove ecosystem of Bhitarkanika.

Campylobacter jejuni is a Gram negative, microaerophilic, non-spore-forming and a small curved bacillus which is able to cause foodborne infection in human. In this study the occurrence of C. jejuni in poultry andbeef meat was investigated. Forty raw meat samples including 22 poultry samples and 18 beef samples were investigated for the presence of C. jejuni. To isolate the bacterium, the samples were initially enriched in Preston Broth medium and subsequentlytransferred to Campylobacter selective Agar containing defibrinated sheep blood and antibiotics. The biochemical tests wereused for identification of isolated bacteria at species level. Three poultry samples were positive for C. jejuni. Alimentary tract of chickens contain high numbers of C. jejuni therefore, this bacterium can be easily found in their feces. It is recommended to use chlorinated water in birds’ feed and to perform slaughtering, skinning and evisceration under aseptic conditions to prevent campylobacteriosis in human from poultry meat. None of the beef samples yielded any Campylobacter, this may be due to limited number of samples of beef meat analyzed in this study.