Implications of domestic dogs in the epidemiology of Rickettsia parkeri strain Atlantic rainforest and Rangelia vitalii in Southeastern Brazil / Implicações dos cães domésticos na epidemiologia da Rickettsia parkeri cepa Mata Atlântica e da Rangelia vitalii no Sudeste do Brasil

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of diseases transmitted by Amblyomma ovale in 61 dogs monitored for three years through collections of ticks and blood, interviews, telemetry and camera traps in three areas of Serra do Mar State Park, Brazil. Blood samples were used to investigate infection by Rangelia vitalii by real-time TaqMan PCR and Rickettsia parkeri by IIFA. The collected ticks were submitted to conventional PCR to investigate the presence of R. parkeri . These data were compared with the monitoring results and interviews with the owners. Dogs considered as companion presented a risk of infection by R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica 5.4 times higher than those not considered as companion (p = 0.009). Dogs that had at least one A. ovale collected during the campaigns had a 10 times higher risk of infection by R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica than those who did not (p = 0.009). One dog positive for R. vitalii by real-time TaqMan PCR was parasitized by A. ovale frequently during monitoring. Sequenced ompaA - positive DNA samples had 100% identity of R. parkeri strain Mata Atlantica clone As106. From the findings, it is urgent to control domestic dogs around rainforests to reduce zoonoses transmission.

Resumo A ocorrência de doenças transmitidas por Amblyomma ovale em 61 cães monitorados por três anos através de coletas de carrapatos, sangue, entrevistas, telemetria e armadilhas fotográficas foi avaliada em três áreas do Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar - SP. Amostras de sangue foram utilizadas para investigação de Rangelia vitalii através de PCR TaqMan em tempo real e Rickettsia parkeri através da RIFI. Carrapatos coletados foram submetidos à PCR convencional para investigação de R. parkeri . Estes dados foram comparados considerando os resultados do monitoramento e entrevistas. Cães de companhia apresentaram risco de infecção pela R. parkeri cepa Mata Atlântica 5,4 vezes maior que os não considerados como de companhia (p = 0,009). Cães que tiveram pelo menos um A. ovale coletado apresentaram risco de infecção por R. parkeri cepa Mata Atlântica 10 vezes maior do que aqueles que não tiveram (p = 0,009). Um cão positivo para R. vitalii através de PCR TaqMan em tempo real foi parasitado por A. ovale durante o monitoramento. Amostras positivas para o gene ompaA possuíam 100% de identidade do clone As106 de R. parkeri cepa de Mata Atlântica. Assim, é urgente o controle de cães na Mata Atlântica para redução dos riscos de zoonoses.

Temporal evolution of antimicrobial resistance among Neisseria gonorrhoeae clinical isolates in the most populated South American Metropolitan Region

A total of 124 Neisseria gonorrhoeae isolates recovered during a 12-year period (2003-2015) from outpatients assisted at Centro de Referência e Treinamento DST/AIDS-CRT of São Paulo city, Brazil, were analysed. The following resistance rates were observed: penicillin-59.6%, ciprofloxacin-15.3%, and azithromycin-6.7%. Although reduced susceptibility to these drugs was observed since 2003, no ceftriaxone-resistant isolates were detected. Ciprofloxacin- and azithromycin non-susceptible isolates were grouped in 11 clusters. Mutations were detected in GyrA and ParC of isolates 124 and 260, and a C2611T substitution on 23S rRNA alleles was also observed in isolate 260. Both isolates belonged to ST1901/ST6210 (MSLT/NG-MAST schemes).

Diversity of metallo-b-lactamase-encoding genes found in distinct species of Acinetobacter isolated from the Brazilian Amazon Region

BACKGROUND The multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype is frequently observed in Acinetobacter baumannii, the most clinically relevant pathogenic species of its genus; recently, other species belonging to the A. calcoaceticus-A. baumannii complex have emerged as important MDR nosocomial pathogens. OBJECTIVES The present study aimed to verify the occurrence of metallo-β-lactamase genes among distinct Acinetobacter species in a hospital located in the Brazilian Amazon Region. METHODS Antimicrobial susceptibility profiles were determined by broth microdilution. The genetic relationships among these isolates were assessed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Pyrosequencing reads of plasmids carrying the bla NDM-1 gene were generated using the Ion Torrent™ platform sequencing. FINDINGS A total of six isolates carried bla NDM-1: A. baumannii (n = 2), A. nosocomialis (n = 3), and A. pittii (n = 1); three carried bla IMP-1: A. baumannii, A. nosocomialis, and A. bereziniae. Resistance to colistin was observed for an NDM-1-producing A. nosocomialis isolate. Diverse PFGE patterns and sequence types were found among A. nosocomialis and A. baumannii isolates. The bla NDM-1 sequence was inserted in a Tn125 transposon, while the bla IMP-1 was found as a gene cassette of the class 1 integron In86. MAIN CONCLUSIONS To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing the dissemination of bla NDM-1 among distinct Acinetobacter species recovered from the same hospital in South America.

Early dissemination of OXA-72-producing Acinetobacter baumannii strain in Colombia: a case report

Nosocomial infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolates have reached epidemic levels in past decades. Currently this microorganism is responsible for outbreaks of difficult eradication and with high mortality rates worldwide. We herein report a rare case of an OXA-72-producing A. baumannii isolate colonizing a 47-year-old male patient with peritonitis due to abdominal stab wound, four years earlier than the first report of this carbapenemase in Acinetobacter pittii in Colombia. Although OXA-72 presents a low prevalence compared with OXA-23, our study demonstrated that A. baumannii isolates carrying the blaOXA-72 gene were present in the hospital environment in Colombia and could act as a reservoir for further spread to other Acinetobacter species, like A. pittii, causing carbapenem-resistance.

Evaluation of MALDI-TOF MS in the microbiology laboratory / Avaliação da técnica de MALDI-TOF MS no laboratório de microbiologia

Rapid identification of microorganisms by the clinical microbiology laboratory is of crucial importance for optimal patients’ management and treatment. In general, bacterial identification by conventional methods requires 18-24 hours for colony isolation and at least 24 additional hours for species identification. New technologies in microbiology have focused on the rapid diagnosis of bloodstream infections, since they are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.

A rápida identificação de microrganismos no laboratório de microbiologia clínica é de extrema importância para direcionar o manejo e o tratamento de pacientes. Geralmente, a identificação bacteriana por métodos bioquímicos convencionais necessita de 18 a 24 horas para o crescimento e o isolamento da colônia bacteriana e, pelo menos, 24 horas adicionais para a identificação da espécie. Novas tecnologias em microbiologia têm focado no desenvolvimento de métodos relacionados com o diagnóstico rápido das infecções da corrente sanguínea, uma vez que essas infecções são associadas à alta morbimortalidade.