Detection of cell surface hydrophobicity, biofilm and fimbirae genes in salmonella isolated from Tunisian clinical and poultry meat

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of 15 serotypes of Salmonella to form biofilm on poly-styrene, polyvinyl chloride [PVC] and glass surfaces. Initially slime production was assessed on CRA agar and hydrophobicity of 20 Salmonella strains isolated from poultry and human and two Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium references strains was achieved by microbial adhesion to n-hexadecane. In addition, biofilm formation on polystyrene, PVC and glass surfaces was also investigated by using MTT and XTT colorimetric assay. Further, distribution of Salmonella enterotoxin [stn], Salmonella Enteritidis fimbrial [sef] and plasmid encoded fimbrial [pef] genes among tested strains was achieved by PCR. Salmonella strains developed red and white colonies on CRA and they are considered as hydrophilic with affinity values to n-hexadecane ranged between 0.29% and 29.55%. Quantitative biofilm assays showed that bacteria are able to form biofilm on polystyrene with different degrees and 54.54% of strains produce a strong biofilm on glass. In addition, all the strains form only a moderate [54.54%] and weak [40.91%] biofilm on PVC. PCR detection showed that only S. Enteritidis harbour Sef gene, whereas Pef and stn genes were detected in S. Kentucky, S. Amsterdam, S. Hadar, S. Enteritidis and S. Typhimurium. Salmonella serotypes are able to form biofilm on hydrophobic and hydrophilic industrial surfaces. Biofilm formation of Salmonella on these surfaces has an increased potential to compromise food safety and potentiate public health risk

Incidence and natural course of symptomatic central serous chorioretinopathy in pregnant women in a maternity hospital in Kuwait

To report the incidence, clinical features and natural course of central serous chorioretinopathy [CSR] in pregnant women in Kuwait. Patients were actively recruited from a private maternity hospital. Out of the 17,000 pregnant women who visited the antenatal care clinics [Al-Orf Hospital, Kuwait] over 3 years, 900 had visual complaints. Patients with visual complaints underwent complete ophthalmological assessment. Medical records of patients with CSR were reviewed, and a full clinical ophthalmological assessment was performed including measurement of best corrected visual acuity, intraocular pressure, slit lamp biomicroscopy, dilated indirect ophthalmoscopy and Amsler grid screening, color and red free fundus photography and retinal optical coherence tomography. All patients were evaluated throughout the course of pregnancy and for 6 months after delivery. Four patients had CSR among the 17,000 pregnant women reviewed over 3 years corresponding to an incidence of 0.008% per year. Two patients [50%] had CSR with white subretinal exudates and 2 [50%] had no exudates. There was complete resolution in all patients [100%] within 3 months after delivery. In pregnant women, CSR can present with or without retinal exudates and completely resolves in either case. Further studies with a larger sample size are warranted to investigate the risk factors in pregnant women

On the helminth parasites of the genus jaculus (rodentia: dipodidae) in Tunisia: a preliminary survey study

A total of 149 specimens of jerboas from different localities in Tunisia were surveyed for helminth parasites. The host species were Jaculus jaculus [n = 50], J. orientalis [n = 50] and J. deserti [n = 49]. Jerboas examined herein were characterized by a poor richness of parasites where a total of three cestodes and none of nematodes and trematodes were found. The helminth cestodes recovered here were Raillietina trapezoides [Janicki, 1904], Catenotaeniidae and Inermicapsifer sp. This study was the first report on helminths of J. deserti

In vitro antimicrobial activity of four ficus carica latex fractions against resistant human pathogens [antimicrobial activity of ficus carica latex]

Methanolic, hexanoi'c, chloroformic and ethyl acetate extracts of Ficus carica latex were investigated for their in vitro antimicrobial proprieties against five bacteria species and seven strains of fungi. The green fruit latex was collected from Chott Mariam Souse, Middle East coast of Tunisia. The antimicrobial activity of the extracts was evaluated and based respectively on the inhibition zone using the disc - diffusion assay, minimal inhibition concentration [MIC] for bacterial testing and the method by calculating inhibition percentage [1%] for fungi-inhibiting activities. The methanolic extract had no effect against bacteria except for Proteus mirabilis while the ethyl acetate extract had inhibition effect on the multiplication of five bacteria species [Enterococcus fecalis, Citobacter freundei, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Echerchia coll and Proteus mirabilis]. For the opportunist pathogenic yeasts, ethyl acetate and chlorophormic fractions showed a very strong inhibition [100%]; methanolic fraction had a total inhibition against Candida albicans [100%] at a concentration of 500 micro g/ml and a negative effect against Cryptococcus neoformans. Microsporum canis was strongly inhibited with methanolic extract [75%] and totally with ethyl acetate extract at a concentration of 750 micro g/ml. Hexanoi'c extract showed medium results

Urinary excretion of glycosaminoglycans and ultrasound urinary bladder wall thickness in children with refractory primary nocturnal enuresis

This study was undertaken to determine variations in the amount of glycosaminoglycans [GAGs] excreted by patients with refractory primary nocturnal enuresis [RPNE], and assessment of associated bladder dysfunction with the use of a special ultrasound [US] protocol, as prediction of pathophysiology of refractory primary nocturnal enuresis and associated bladder dysfunction. The study included 30 children with [RPNE] with mean age 7.33 +/- 2.23 and 30 healthy age matched control children with mean age 8.9 +/- 1.68 years. All patients more than 5 years old were treated for primary nocturnal enuresis [PNE] with behavioral therapy and desmopressin for at least 6 months with no response. The studied groups were subjected to the following complete medical history, physical examination, urine analysis and their urinary GAGs excretion was assessed over 24 h using the sodium tetraboratecarbazole method. Plain KUB, and abdominal ultrasound using special protocol was designed for the evaluation of bladder parameters using bladder volume and wall thickness index [BVWI%], and expected percentage bladder volume index for kidney volume. Patients with refractory primary nocturnal enuresis had higher mean values of urinary GAGs excretion than age-matched controls. Also they had low bladder capacity and thick bladder wall more than age-matched. The mean urinary GAGs contents were 38.9, and 27.5 mg/g creatinine in patients with RPNE and controls respectively; [P<0.001]. Comparing the BVWI in normal and enuretic children in correlation with functional bladder capacities we found that patients with low capacity thick bladder wall also have high GAGs excretion. Measuring urinary GAGs excretion and Ultrasound bladder wall thickness can be used as predictive pathophysiological clues, for underlying bladder dysfunction, which has an important role in the pathophysiology of enuresis especially in refractory cases. Also they can minimizing the need for invasive urodynamic study in children with RPNE for assessing bladder wall dysfunction

Endogenous nitric oxide and lipid peroxidation in ischemic heart disease

This study was performed on 30 patients with ischemic heart disease [IHD] categorized according to the stability of chest pain into three groups: A unstable angina group [n = 10], B stable angina group [n = 10] and C silent ischemia group [n = 10]. A significant decrease in total serum nitrite [NO2-] and nitrate [NO3-] and a significant increase in serum malondialdehyde [MDA] were found in all patients groups versus the control group. The same findings were noticed in the unstable angina group versus both the stable angina and the silent ischemia group. The sex, type of arrhythmia, presence or absence of ST segment depression in electrocardiographic Holter monitoring and the echocardiographic findings did not affect the mean levels of both parameters. A significant negative correlation was found between both measured parameters