Is There a Shift in Salmonella Diversity Among Poultry in Northern India?

The present study was conducted to determine the serotype diversity of Salmonella among poultry in northern India. A total of 101 poultry droppings from 30 farms in the Jammu and Kashmir union territory were analyzed. Nineteen isolates of Salmonella were obtained, and these belonged to four serotypes: Salmonella enterica enterica serotype Kentucky (n = 3), Salmonella enterica enterica serotype Infantis (n = 5), Salmonella enterica enterica serotype Agona (n = 4), and Salmonella enterica enterica serotype Typhimurium (n= 7). The study has isolated some Salmonella serotypes that are infrequently reported in India. Some of the isolated serotypes are reported to be endemic for human nontyphoidal salmonellosis cases in the region. Whether this indicates a shift in the serotype pattern in poultry in the region needs to be investigated further. Nevertheless, the study clearly indicates the risk of foodborne salmonellosis associated with consumption of contaminated poultry and poultry products in the region.

Nota de Investigación- ¿Hay un cambio en la diversidad de Salmonella entre las aves comerciales en el norte de la India? El presente estudio se realizó para determinar la diversidad de serotipos de Salmonella entre las aves comerciales en el norte de la India. Se analizaron un total de 101 muestras de heces de aves comerciales de 30 granjas en el territorio de la unión de Jammu y Cachemira. Se obtuvieron diecinueve aislamientos de Salmonella, pertenecientes a cuatro serotipos: Salmonella Kentucky (n = 3), Salmonella Infantis (n = 5), Salmonella Agona (n = 4) y Salmonella Typhimurium (n = 7). El estudio ha aislado algunos serotipos de Salmonella que se reportan con poca frecuencia en la India. Se ha reportado que algunos de los serotipos aislados son endémicos para los casos de salmonelosis no tifoidea en humanos en la región. Debe investigarse más a fondo si esto indica un cambio en el patrón de serotipos en las aves comerciales de la región. Sin embargo, el estudio indica claramente el riesgo de salmonelosis transmitida por los alimentos asociado con el consumo de aves y productos avícolas contaminados en la región.

Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA)-typing of Brucella abortus isolates of India reveals limited genetic diversity.

Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) technique has wide applications in studying phylogenies and short-term epidemiology of pathogens. The technique has been extensively used worldwide in molecular epidemiology of Brucella genus. Only one study on this aspect is reported from India despite its economic and public health significance in country. The present study isolated B. abortus from domesticated bovines of Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir state, India, and applied MLVA for 16 loci (MLVA-16). MLVA results were compared with the results of a previous study and with MLVA data of Indian isolates present in http://microbesgenotyping.i2bc.paris-saclay.fr/database. In the study, 136 samples from bovines (cattle and buffaloes) of 47 farms of Jammu region were processed for isolation. Eleven isolates of B. abortus biovar 1 from 6 farms were obtained. In MLVA-16 analysis, although the isolates were classified in a single cluster, 5 genotypes were obtained with a specific genotype being prevalent on each farm. The study identifies that MLVA-16 is capable to differentiate B. abortus strains in an area having high genetic similarity among isolates. On comparing the results with previous study and database, the isolates were found to have high genetic similarity indicating that the genetic diversity of B. abortus in India is very limited. It probably indicates that India is contaminated recently with B. abortus. To test this hypothesis, analysis of whole genome sequencing data of diverse collection of Indian B. abortus strains is required.

A study on device-related infections with special reference to biofilm production and antibiotic resistance.

BACKGROUND: Indwelling medical devices (IMDs) in critical patients are vulnerable to colonization by biofilm producing bacteria. Complex characteristics of bacterial biofilms promote antibiotic resistance, leading to the emergence of resistant device-related infections (DRI), which pose new challenges in their management. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was done on 135 hospitalized (Intensive care units) pediatric patients with IMDs (intravascular catheter, urinary catheter, and endotracheal tube) to determine the device-specific infection rates. Biofilm formations were demonstrated by the tube method and by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Bacteria in biofilms were identified by the standard conventional methods and tested for antibiotic resistance. We also detected the presence of extended spectrum ß-lactamases (ESßLs), particularly, bla(CTX-M,) in gram-negative isolates. RESULTS: The rates of biofilm-based catheter-related blood stream infections (CRBSI), catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), and Ventilator Associated Pneumonia (VAP), in our study, were 10.4, 26.6, and 20%. Biofilm formation by the tube method correlated well with the SEM findings. A majority of infections were caused by Klebsiella pneumoniae followed by Staphylococcal biofilms. A high percentage (85.7%, 95% confidence interval 64.5 to 95.8%) of biofilm producing bacterial isolates, causing infection, were multidrug resistant. Many biofilm producing gram-negative isolates were ESßLs producers, and a majority particularly harbored bla(CTX-M,) among the ESßLs genotypes. CONCLUSION: The incidence of resistant device-related infections, predominantly caused by biofilm producing bacteria, is rising. The tube method is an effective screening method to test biofilm production, where sophisticated microscopy facilities are not available. The varying resistance pattern of organisms isolated in our setup, emphasizes the importance of studying the pattern of infection in every setting and providing antibiotic guidelines in the management of such infections.

Serum retinol concentration in patients with acute falciparum malaria in Aligarh, India.

BACKGROUND: Vitamin A (retinol)-deficiency and falciparum malaria are two major public health problems in developing countries. Falciparum malaria is associated with significant destruction of erythrocytes and can lead to severe anaemia. METHODOLOGY: The present study was designed to estimate the serum retinol concentration in 150 acute falciparum-malaria patients (aged two to five years) by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Serum retinol concentrations of 20 healthy (age and sex matched, population based) volunteers were included as controls. RESULTS: The mean serum retinol concentration of healthy controls was 34.31 +/- 1.274 microg/dl and that of diseased cohort was 12.562 +/- 0.276 microg/dl. The mean parasitemia was 1239.2 +/- 33.609 per microL. CONCLUSIONS: The diseased cohort demonstrated significant reduction in concentrations of retinol in comparison to healthy controls (p < 0.001) and there was an inverse relationship (coefficient of correlation r = -0.899) between parasitemia and serum retinol concentration.