[Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. [jejuni and coli] isolated from beef and raw chicken in Tehran]

Microbial food safety and food borne pathogens with antibiotic resistance or multidrug resistance is an increasing public health concern worldwide. Campylobacter is one of the most common causes of acute bacterial gastroenteritis in human, especially in children. The objects of our study were to determine the frequency and antibiotic resistance pattern of thermopilic Campylobacter spp. [jejuni and coli] in raw poultry and beef isolates. The samples of raw chicken and beef [packaged and non-packaged] were purchased from the different parts of Tehran and then transferred to laboratory. Specimens were enriched in Preston Broth and cultured on Campylobacter selective agar medium for 48h. After that, suspected colonies isolated and confirmed by standard tests. Antimicrobial sensitivity was carried out using disk diffusion method. Out of 379 samples, Campylobacter spp was identified in 109 [28.8%] cases comprising of C.jejuni [76.1%] and C.coli [23.9%]. The rate of isolation from chicken [49.7%] was more than that of beef [7.9%]. There was a significant correlation between the rate of contamination by Campylobacter and type of meat [P<0.05]. 41.8% of packaged and 54.1% of non-packaged [P value = 0.197] chicken samples and 4.5% of packaged and 9.8% of non -packaged beef samples [P value = 0.105] were contaminated with Campylobacter. Among the variety of tested antibiotics, the highest resistance was found for Nalidixic acid [71%] and Ciprofloxacin [46.7%]. None of the strains were observed to be resistant to Gentamicin. The high prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni contamination in chicken meat represents the absence of hygiene rules in slaughtering the poultries and transferring process. Isolated strains from meat show increasing susceptibility against Fluroquinolone. The reason of susceptibility increment in isolated Campylobacter strains could be misusage of consumption of antibiotics such as Enrofloxcin in chicken farms. Sensitivity to Gentamicin makes this drug a suitable alternative for treatment of Campylobacter infection

Seroprevalence of hepatitis E in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran: a population-based study

A 2-month community-based survey in February/March of 2003 was carried out to study the seroprevalence of hepatitis E virus [HEV] infection in Nahavand, Islamic Republic of Iran. From each of 6 urban regions of Nahavand, 304 inhabitants >/= 6 years were recruited through systematic random sampling [total 1824]. Participants were tested for anti-HEV IgG using ELISA. The overall seroprevalence of HEV was 9.3% [95% CI: 8.2%-10.9%]. Based on multivariate adjustment, only sex [OR = 1.61, 95% CI: 1.13-2.28] and age [OR = 1.03, 95% CI: 1.01-1.04] emerged as significant risk factors. This intermediate prevalence urges further investigations on HEV infection in the Islamic Republic of Iran

Prevalence of antibodies to hepatitis E virus among male blood donors in Tabriz, Islamic Republic of Iran

Serum samples from 399 voluntary male blood donors were tested for anti-hepatitis E virus [HEV] IgG during July and August 2004 at a blood transfusion centre in Tabriz city. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG was 7.8% [95% CI: 5.2-10.4]. Risk factors for infection included age and a low educational level. Seroprevalence increased significantly with age, from 3.3% in subjects under 30 years of age to 37.5% in individuals 50 years and over. Illiterate individuals were at significantly higher risk for infection than educated persons. The high seropositive rate among our male blood donors is compatible with endemicity of HEV in the Islamic Republic of Iran

[Determining the prevalence of Salmonella serotypes obtained from meat and chicken samples and their antibiotic resistance pattern in Tehran]

Food borne diseases are still the major problem in both industrial and nonindustrial countries and the prevalence of these diseases are on rise. Consuming of contaminated meats with Salmonella is the major source for distributing these diseases. Adding antibiotics in domestic animals' food causes antibiotic resistance so the resistant bacterium could be transfer to the human through the consumption of such foods. The aim of this study was to determine the Salmonella serotypes, and antibiotic resistance of isolated serotypes obtained from packed and non- packed meat and chicken purchased in different districts of Tehran, during 2004 and 2005. In this cross-sectional study, samples were taken randomly from 10 packaged meat suppliers and 17 non-packaged meat suppliers. Out of 133 prepared samples, 67 ones were chicken and 66 samples were meat. Samples were weighted, separated [each 25gr] and put into 225ml of Buffered Peptone Water. Then homogenized by Stomacher and incubated at 37[o]c for 24 hours. After that 0.1 ml of solution poured into 10 ml of Rappaport Vassilidis broth and remained 24 hours in 42[o]c. Then, one loop of this medium was cultured on Hektoen Entro Agar and remained for a period of 24 hours in 37[o]c to enter Salmonella colonies. For the antibiotic sensitivity test, the agar disc diffusion was used according to the standard method. Out of 67 tested samples of chicken, 32 samples [47.8%] were contaminated with Salmonella, as well as 19 meat samples [28.8%] [from the total 66 ones]. The dominated serotype of both chicken and meat samples was S.thompson [54.6%]. The results of antibiotic susceptibility showed that 90.6% of isolated chicken samples were resistant to Nalidixic acid, compared to 36.8% of meat samples. According to the observed antibiotic resistance in some of tested samples, special attention in quality control of food's safety in order to prevent the related diseases is needed

Frequency of antibodies to hepatitis E virus among male blood donors in Tabriz

Hepatitis E virus [HEV] causes enterically transmitted acute viral hepatitis. Hepatitis E virus infection spreads by the fecal-oral route. However, blood donors might transmit HEV during the transient phase viremia that precedes the onset of symptoms. To our knowledge, few reports on the prevalence of Hepatitis E in Iranian blood donors exist. The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of anti-HEV among male blood donors in Tabriz. This cross-sectional study was carried out between July and August 2004 in Tabriz. Serum samples were collected from 399 voluntary male blood donors and tested for anti-HEV IgG using EIA. All the subjects were negative for anti-HIV, anti-HBV and anti-HCV antibodies. The prevalence of anti-HEV IgG among 399 blood donors was 7.8% [95% CI: 5.2%-10.4%]. Seropositive subjects had a mean of 40.7 +/- 12.4 SD. Donors who were 40 and older [14 out of 83] had significant higher seroprevalence than those who were younger than 40 [17 of 316] [p<0.001]. 3 of 11 illiterate donors had anti-HEV IgG. Among educated donors 10 of 88, 14 of 206 and 4 of 94 in elementary, intermediate and college levels were positive respectively [p<0.025]. These findings demonstrate the high seropositive rate of anti-HEV among male blood donors in Iran that is compatible with endemicity of this virus in our country