Description of microsporidia in simulids: molecular and morphological characterization of microsporidia in the larvae of Simulium pertinax Kollar (Diptera: Simuliidae)

Introduction Microsporidia constitute the most common black fly pathogens, although the species' diversity, seasonal occurrence and transmission mechanisms remain poorly understood. Infections by this agent are often chronic and non-lethal, but they can cause reduced fecundity and decreased longevity. The objective of this study was to identify microsporidia infecting Simulium (Chirostilbia) pertinax (Kollar, 1832) larvae from Caraguatatuba, State of São Paulo, Brazil, by molecular and morphological characterization. Methods Larvae were collected at a single point in a stream in a rural area of the city and were kept under artificial aeration until analysis. Polydispyrenia spp. infection was characterized by the presence of at least 32 mononuclear spores measuring 6.9 ± 1.0 × 5.0 ± 0.7µm in persistent sporophorous vesicles. Similarly, Amblyospora spp. were characterized by the presence of eight uninucleate spores measuring 4.5 × 3.5µm in sporophorous vesicles. Results The molecular analysis confirmed the presence of microsporidian DNA in the 8 samples (prevalence of 0.51%). Six samples (Brazilian larvae) were related to Polydispyrenia simulii and Caudospora palustris reference sequences but in separate clusters. One sample was clustered with Amblyospora spp. Edhazardia aedis was the positive control taxon. Conclusions Samples identified as Polydispyrenia spp. and Amblyospora spp. were grouped with P. simulii and Amblyospora spp., respectively, corroborating previous results. However, the 16S gene tree showed a considerable distance between the black fly-infecting Amblyospora spp. and the mosquito-infecting spp. This distance suggests that these two groups are not congeneric. Additional genomic region evaluation is necessary to obtain a coherent phylogeny for this group. .

Isolation and Antibiotic Susceptibility Pattern of Bacteria Associated with Blood Stream Infections.

Aim: To determine the pattern of bacterial agents responsible for blood stream infection and determine the antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the bacterial isolates. Study Design: Experimental Place and Duration of Study: blood samples were collected from general out patient clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria between February 2013 July 2010. Methodology: The study population was drawn from patients attending the General Out patient clinic of the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Oyo-State, Nigeria. Total blood samples of One hundred and fourty (140) were collected from adultsand children. Samples were immediately dispensed into blood culture bottles and incubated at 37ºC for six days. On the bottles were indicated Name, Age, Sex,and Time of collection. The samples were analysed, all the patientshad clinical evidence of varying degree of illness such as ferbrile illiness, sepsis,bilateral discharge, head injury, endocarditis, pyrexia, gastroenteritis, pneumonia, and poorly treated pnuemonia.Those patients who have been on antibiotics therapy were excluded from the study. Results: from 140 samples collected, only 100 samples showed turbidityindicating an incidence rate of 71.43%. When plated on blood agar, 60 showed microbial growth, 35 samples showed no growth and 5 were contaminated. The difference in prevalence among different sex groups was observed to be significant. The females (77/140, 55%) appeared to be more susceptible to blood stream infection than the males (66/140, 47.1%) in all the age groups.The commonest pathogenic bacteria in blood stream infection was seen to be Staphylococcus aureus having the highest frequency of 58.3%, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the least with the frequency of 1.7%.The bacteria harvested were subjected to In-vitro antibiotic susceptibility test using standardized disc agar diffusion methodand showed resistance to one or more of the ten (10) antibiotics used for the study. The lowest resistance of 40%and 60% (36 out of 60) sensitivity was observed in the organisms to Ofloxacinand amoxicillin. Conversely, the highest resistance of 85% (51 out of 60) and 15% (9 out of 60) was observed with Cefuroxime and Erythromycin. However some of the S. aureus (6) and E.coli (3) strains were multidrug resistance. Conclusion: The study confirmed the diverse nature of bacteria causing blood stream infection and the increase in drug-resistant pathogens needs to be periodically reviewed for epidemiologically data and clinical prescription.

Distribution of Serotypes and Antibiotic Susceptibility Patterns Among Invasive Pneumococcal Diseases in Saudi Arabia

BACKGROUND: Streptococcus pneumoniae causes life-threatening infections such as meningitis, pneumonia, and febrile bacteremia, particularly in young children. The increasing number of drug-resistant isolates has highlighted the necessity for intervening and controlling disease. To achieve this, information is needed on serotype distribution and patterns of antibiotic resistance in children. METHODS: All cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) in children aged less than 15 yr recorded at King Khalid University Hospital, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, were reviewed for serotyping and antibiotic susceptibility. Isolates were collected from 78 consecutive patients with IPD between 2009 and 2012. All collected isolates were subjected to serotyping by co-agglutination, sequential multiplex PCR, and single PCR sequetyping as previously described. RESULTS: The most frequently isolated IPD serotypes were 23F, 6B, 19F, 18C, 4, 14, and 19A, which are listed in decreasing order and cover 77% of total isolates. The serotype coverage for the pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV)7, PCV10, and PCV13 was 77%, 81%, and 90%, respectively. Results from sequential multiplex PCR agreed with co-agglutination results. All serotypes could not be correctly identified using single PCR sequetyping. Minimum inhibitory concentration showed that 50 (64%) isolates were susceptible to penicillin, whereas 70 (90%) isolates were susceptible to cefotaxime. CONCLUSIONS: The most common pneumococcal serotypes occur with frequencies similar to those found in countries where the PCV has been introduced. The most common serotypes in this study are included in the PCVs. Addition of 23A and 15 to the vaccine would improve the PCV performance in IPD prevention.

rare cause of intermittent dysphagia: giant fibrovascular polyp of the proximal esophagus

Fibrovascular polyps account for only 0.5-1% of all benign esophageal tumors and causes intermittent dysphagia. The patient was a 63-year-old gentleman with gradually progressive intermittent dysphagia of 40 days duration. Investigations revealed a submucosal tumor of the proximal esophagus causing luminal compromise. Excision was performed through a cervical esophagotomy and specimen was subject to histopathological examination. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and he was completely relieved of his symptoms