Molecular characterization of oxacillinases among carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii nosocomial isolates in a Saudi hospital.

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii has successfully become a significant nosocomial pathogen because of its remarkable ability to acquire antibiotic resistance and to survive in nosocomial environments. This study aimed to determine the drug susceptibility patterns and the distribution of four subgroups of carbapenem-hydrolyzing class D ß-lactamases (OXA-carbapenemases), as well as their insertion sequences (ISAba1), among A. baumannii nosocomial isolates from a Saudi tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A total of 108 non-duplicate A. baumannii isolates were identified, and their susceptibilities to different antibiotics were determined using the breakpoint method. Isolates were then subjected to multiplex-PCR targeting blaOXA genes. RESULTS: More than 75% of the isolates showed resistance to different antibiotics. The rates of susceptibility to colistin, meropenem, imipenem and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole were 95.6, 50, 48.1 and 34.3%, respectively. All isolates possessed a blaOXA-51-like gene. Of the 56 carbapenem-resistant isolates, 48 isolates (85.7%) carried blaOXA-23-like, 3 isolates (5.4%) carried blaOXA-40-like and two isolates (3.6%) had blaOXA-58-like genes. The ISAba1 element was found upstream of the blaOXA-23 and blaOXA-24 genes in 40 (71.4%) and 3 (5.4%) isolates, respectively, while it was detected upstream of blaOXA-51 in only one (1.8%) isolate. CONCLUSION: Our findings further illustrate the challenge of increasing carbapenem-resistance in A. baumannii isolates in Saudi Arabia. The high distribution of class D carbapenemase-encoding genes, mainly ISAba1/OXA-23 and ISAba1/OXA-24 carbapenemases, is worrisome and presents an emerging threat in our hospital. Local molecular surveillance is essential to help control carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii nosocomial infections and to prevent DNA exchange among endemic nosocomial pathogens.

Gastrointestinal Helminth Parasites of the fish Synodontis clarias (Siluriformes: Mochokidae) from Lekki lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria

A total of 362 specimens of the fish Synodontis clarias were randomly selected and subjected to parasitological examination for helminth parasites. They were collected over a period of one year from Lekki lagoon, Lagos, Nigeria. The prevalence of gastrointestinal infection was 38.7%. The helminth worms found include two cestodes, Proteocephalus spp., Wenyonia acuminata, and a nematode species, Raphidascaroides. Male specimens (196) presented a higher rate of infection (37.8%) than female specimens (166) which showed a rate of 23.5%. The overall worm burden was high (678) and it was independent of fish sex and fish size. Rev. Biol. Trop. 56 (4): 2021-2026. Epub 2008 December 12.

Se muestrearon aleatoriamente un total de 362 especímenes de Synodontis clarias, los cuales fueron sometidos a análisis parasitológicos. Los especimenes fueron recolectados durante un período de un año del lago Lekki, Nigeria. La existencia de infecciones gastrointestinales fue de un 38.7% del total de especímenes examinados, lo cual representó 114 especímenes infectados con parásitos helmintos. Los gusanos helmintos encontrados incluyen dos céstodos, especies de Proteocephalus, Wenyonia acuminata, y una especie de nemátodo, Raphidascaroides sp. Los especímenes machos (196) presentaron una tasa de infección mayor (37.8%) que la presentada por hembras (23.5%). La cantidad total de gusanos parásitos fue alta (678) y fue independiente del sexo y la talla del pez.

Association of cytokine gene polymorphism with susceptibility and clinical types of leprosy.

BACKGROUND: Both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines are implicated in development and prognosis of leprosy so the genetic regulation of such cytokines could play an important role. OBJECTIVE: . This study was planned for testing the association of cytokine gene polymorphisms with susceptibility and clinical types of leprosy among Egyptian cases. SUBJECTS: This study included 47 cases (29 men, 18 females, mean age = 46.3 years) with leprosy in addition to 98 healthy unrelated controls (52 males, 46 females, mean age = 44.9 years). Cases were recruited from Leprosy Clinics, Delta region of Egypt. Cases were classified into paucibacillary (PB) (n = 17; 10 males, 7 females; mean age 42.6 years) and multibacillary (MB) (n = 29; 19 males, 10 females; mean age 43.9 years). METHODS: For all cases and controls, DNA was extracted and amplified using polymerase chain reaction with sequence specific primers (PCR-SSP) for detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the promoter regions of cytokine genes, TNF-α-308 (G/A), IL-10-1082(G/A), IL-6-174(G/C) as well as IL-1RaVNTR in intron 2 of the gene. RESULTS: COMPARED TO CONTROLS, ALL CASES HAVE SHOWN INCREASED FREQUENCY OF HOMOZYGOUS GENOTYPES : IL-10-1082 (GG) (Odds ratio 6.6, P <0.05), homozygous TNF-α-308 (GG) (Odds ratio =3.23), and homozygous IL-1Ra (11) (Odds ratio = 3.6, P<0.05) with increased frequency of IL10 G and ILRa 1 alleles (P<0.05). BP subgroup showed increased frequency of homozygous IL-10-1082 (GG) (Odds ratio = 18.6, P<0.05) with increased frequency of IL10 G allele (P<0.05). On the other hand, MB subgroup showed increased frequency of homozygous TNF-α-308 (GG) (Odds ratio = 5.84, P<0.05) and homozygous IL-1Ra (11) (Odds ratio = 4, P<0.05) with increased frequency of IL-1Ra 1 allele (P<0.05). There is predominance for heterozygous IL-6-174 (G/C) polymorphism in all studies patient subgroups as well as controls with no significant difference among them. CONCLUSION: Genetic polymorphisms related to TNF-α-308 and IL-10-1082 and IL-1Ra may be used as genetic markers for susceptibility and clinical outcome of leprosy among Egyptian cases from the Nile Delta.

Dust and sand storms : Characteristics , vulnerability, awareness and preparedness

This paper provides a review and analysis of dust storm phenomena in may parts of the world. The study investigates their types, general characteristics, hazards, preparedness and their relation to atmospheric elements. A suggested mechanism of dust storm formation is discussed as well as detailed study of dust storms of desert depression type, including some case studies. The results show the importance of descending motion for true dust storms and that the transverse indirect circulation may play an important role in these phenomena. The relationship between dust storms over China and the suppression of the Walker cell, as a result of El Niño events, is also discussed. (AU)