Investigation of plasmid-mediated resistance in E. coli isolated from healthy and diarrheic sheep and goats.

Escherichia coli is zoonotic bacteria and the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant strains becomes a critical issue in both human and animal health globally. This study was therefore aimed to investigate the plasmid-mediated resistance in E. coli strains isolated from healthy and diarrheic sheep and goats. A total of 234 fecal samples were obtained from 157 sheep (99 healthy and 58 diarrheic) and 77 goats (32 healthy and 45 diarrheic) for the isolation and identification of E. coli. Plasmid DNA was extracted using the alkaline lysis method. Phenotypic antibiotic susceptibility profiles were determined against the three classes of antimicrobials, which resistance is mediated by plasmids (Cephalosporins, Fluoroquinolone, and Aminoglycosides) using the disc-diffusion method. The frequency of plasmid-mediated resistance genes was investigated by PCR. A total of 159 E. coli strains harbored plasmids. The isolates antibiogram showed different patterns of resistance in both healthy and diarrheic animals. A total of (82; 51.5%) E. coli strains were multidrug-resistant. rmtB gene was detected in all Aminoglycoside-resistant E. coli, and the ESBL-producing E. coli possessed different CTX-M genes. Similarly, fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli possessed different qnr genes. On the analysis of the gyrB gene sequence of fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, multiple point mutations were revealed. In conclusion, a high prevalence of E. coli with high resistance patterns to antimicrobials was revealed in the current study, in addition to a wide distribution of their resistance determinants. These findings highlight the importance of sheep and goats as reservoirs for the dissemination of MDR E. coli and resistance gene horizontal transfer.

Childhood intracranial arteriovenous malformation in Saudi Arabia.

Twenty-three patients in whom intracranial arteriovenous malformation (ICAVM) occurred while they were in the pediatric age group (16 years or less) were identified. The patients had presented to three major centers in Saudi Arabia (King Fahad Hospital of the University, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center, and Riyadh Military Hospital). The incidence of ICAVM in Saudi Arabia is estimated. ICAVM in the pediatric age group accounts for 7.72% of all ICAVM cases. Most of the pediatric patients presented with intracranial bleeding, and seizure was the only other mode of presentation. Spontaneous changes involving ICAVM occurred in 4 children, in the form of either increase or decrease in size or new vascularization. Most children had higher grade ICAVM and the morbidity rate was higher than in adults. The cure rate was 50% with different therapeutic modalities. This report represents the first study to provide the hospital-based frequency of pediatric ICAVM in Saudi Arabia.

Aneurysmal bone cyst involving the skull base: report of three cases.

Aneurysmal bone cyst is a bening, non-neoplastic lesion that present most frequently under the age of 20 years. The metaphysis of long bones is the usual site of origin. The involvement of the skull is rare. In the 2.5 to 6% of such cases reported in the literature, the skull vault is more often the site than the skull base. Three cases of aneurysmal bone cyst involving the skull base have been managed at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center. Two females and one male, all 10 years of age and younger, presented with a painless, progressive swelling. The preoperative radiological studies showed characteristic findings and were highly suggestive of the diagnosis. Angiography also gave characteristic findings. Preoperative endovascular embolization of the arterial feeders to the tumor was performed in two patients who had a significant decrease in intraoperative bleeding from the tumor. All cases underwent surgical excision with a good outcome.