First report of a livestock-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus ST126 harbouring the mecC variant in Brazil.

Staphylococcus aureus is a versatile and highly adaptable pathogen associated with a wide range of infectious diseases in humans and animals. In the last decades, concern has increased worldwide due to the emergence and spread of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains shortly after this drug became a therapeutic option. In this study, we report the genomic features of the first mecC-mediated, ß-lactam resistant MRSA strain associated with livestock in Brazil and in the American continent. Three clonally related phenotypic MRSA isolates originated from a dairy herd were confirmed by polymerase chain reaction as mecC-harbouring MRSA isolates. Whole-genome sequencing was performed by Illumina Miseq platform. Downstream analyses showed that the strain was identified as the sequence type 126 (ST126) and spa type t605. In silico analysis revealed a mecC homolog gene in the orfX region associated with different penicillin-binding proteins. Moreover, genes encoding for efflux pump systems (arlR, mepR, LmrS, norA and mgrA), and antibiotic inactivation enzymes (blaZ and FosB) were also detected. Virulence analyses revealed that the strain harbours genes encoding for exoenzymes (aur, splA, splB and splE), toxin (hlgA, hlgB, hlgC, lukD and lukE) and enterotoxin (sea). The epidemiologic and genomic information provided by this study will support further epidemiological and evolutionary investigations to understand the origin and dissemination of mecC-MRSA among animals and its impact on public health.

Antimicrobial activity of polypyrrole nanoparticles and aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera against Staphylococcus spp. carriers of multi-drug efflux system genes isolated from dairy farms.

Our objectives were to identify genes of the multi-drug efflux system and to evaluate the antimicrobial activities of polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPy-NPs) and aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera against Staphylococcus spp. isolated from dairy farms in Northeast Brazil. Initially, 162 Staphylococcus spp. isolates were subjected to in vitro antimicrobial sensitivity tests. Of these, 35 presented antimicrobial multi-drug resistance phenotypes. These 35 isolates were then referred for the detection of norA, norB, norC, msrA, mgrA, tet-38, and lmrS genes, all of which feature in multi-drug efflux systems. In the isolates carrying the genes, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of PPy-NPs and Moringa oleifera aqueous extract were determined. In the molecular analysis of the 35 isolates norA, norC, tet-38, and msrA genes were detected and for the other genes norB, lmrS and mgrA there was no amplification. Antimicrobial activity was verified of PPy-NPs and aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera in Staphylococcus spp. carrying multi-drug efflux system genes. We concluded that there are multi-drug efflux system genes present in the Staphylococcus spp. from the agricultural environment in Northeast Brazil, and that aqueous extract of Moringa oleifera and PPy-NPs show bactericidal activity against these isolates.

Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and cattle from Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil / Fatores de risco para infecção por Toxoplasma gondii em ovinos e bovinos na Ilha de Fernando de Noronha, Brasil

Abstract Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of global distribution that affects all warm-blooded animals. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and identify the risk factors associated with its occurrence in domestic ruminants raised on the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, and to confirm that cattle and sheep raised in Fernando de Noronha Island present statistically different T. gondii prevalence rates. Serum samples were collected from sheep (n=240) and cattle (n=140) for the detection of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. Samples were collected from all the animals on all the farms. Risk factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression. The prevalence rate of positive sheep was 85.0% while that of cattle was 10.7%. A multivariate analysis revealed that the site of contact of sheep with felines was a risk factor. For cattle, the risk factors identified in this study were: extensive farming system, water source, more than three cats per farm, and the presence of rats in feed storage locations. The findings revealed a significant difference in the prevalence rates in sheep and cattle raised in this insular environment.

Resumo A toxoplasmose é uma zoonose cosmopolita que acomete animais de sangue quente. Objetivou-se nessa investigação determinar a prevalência e identificar os fatores de risco associados à ocorrência da infecção por T. gondii em ruminantes domésticos criados na Ilha de Fernando de Noronha e demonstrar que bovinos e ovinos criados na ilha de Fernando de Noronha, Brasil, apresentam prevalências estatisticamente distintas. Foram obtidas amostras de soro sanguíneo de todos os ovinos (n=240) e bovinos (n=140) de todas as propriedades da ilha para a pesquisa de anticorpos na Reação de Imunofluorescência Indireta. Os fatores de risco foram analisados por meio da análise univariada e regressão logística. A prevalência de ovinos reagentes foi de 85,0% e 10,7% para bovinos, que foram significativamente diferentes. Na análise multivariada, local de contato de ovinos com outras espécies foi identificado como fator de risco. Para os bovinos, os fatores de risco foram: sistema extensivo, fonte de água, número de gatos nas propriedades e a presença de rato. Os resultados obtidos demonstram diferença significativa nas prevalências em ovinos e bovinos criados neste ambiente insular.

Risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in sheep and cattle from Fernando de Noronha Island, Brazil.

Toxoplasmosis is a zoonotic disease of global distribution that affects all warm-blooded animals. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the prevalence of T. gondii infection and identify the risk factors associated with its occurrence in domestic ruminants raised on the island of Fernando de Noronha, Brazil, and to confirm that cattle and sheep raised in Fernando de Noronha Island present statistically different T. gondii prevalence rates. Serum samples were collected from sheep (n=240) and cattle (n=140) for the detection of antibodies by indirect immunofluorescence. Samples were collected from all the animals on all the farms. Risk factors were analyzed by univariate analysis and logistic regression. The prevalence rate of positive sheep was 85.0% while that of cattle was 10.7%. A multivariate analysis revealed that the site of contact of sheep with felines was a risk factor. For cattle, the risk factors identified in this study were: extensive farming system, water source, more than three cats per farm, and the presence of rats in feed storage locations. The findings revealed a significant difference in the prevalence rates in sheep and cattle raised in this insular environment.

A case study of a massive staphylococcal food poisoning incident.

In the summer of 1998, approximately 8000 individuals gathered to celebrate a Catholic priest's ordination in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Within hours of food consumption, 4000 patients experienced acute gastroenteritis, and approximately 2000 (50%) overwhelmed Emergency Departments of 26 local hospitals. Of the triaged patients, 396 ( approximately 20%) required subsequent admission, and of these patients, 81 ( approximately 20%) were admitted to intensive care units. A total of 16 ( approximately 20% of those admitted to the ICU) patients progressed on to develop irreversible multi-system shock and expired while hospitalized. The trace-back investigation implicated food preparers who were culture positive for enterotoxigenic Staphylococcus aureus as the source of contamination. This study provides information on the magnitude and severity of oral exposure to Staphylococcal enterotoxin.

An outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning in the Municipality of Passos, MG, Brazil

An outbreak of staphylococcal food poisoning involving 42 people who had eaten a meal at a restaurant in the Municipality of Passos, Minas Gerais, Brazil, is reported. Thirty-one of the individuals became ill with vomiting, diarrhea and dizziness within 30 minutes after eating the meal. The foods suspected were: chicken pancake, rice, beans, tomato sauce and mashed chick-peas. Large numbers (> 2.0x10(8) CFU/g) of enterotoxigenic staphylococci were present in the chicken pancake. These strains produced enterotoxins A, B and D. Swabs from the nasal cavity and throat and from under the fingernails of food handlers were cultured for the detection of enterotoxigenic staphylococci carriers. Four out of five of them were healthy carriers of enterotoxin A, B, C and D producing Staphylococcus aureus at the sites cultured and one of them was also a nasal carrier of TSST-1 toxin producing S. aureus. These results indicate that the food handlers would have been the source of the food contamination

Características físico-químicas de queijo de coalho comercializado em Recife, PE / Physical chemical composition of \"coalho cheese\" marketed in Recife city, Pernambuco State

Setenta amostras de queijo de coalho foram avaliadas com o objetivo de verificar a composiçäo físico-química bem como observar se as mesmas atendem aos padröes oficiais sugeridos para a sua inspeçäo. Todas as amostras foram colhidas durante o período de janeiro a maio de 1997, no comércio varejista de Recife (PE). Em seguida, as mesmas foram transportadas sob refrigeraçäo para o laboratório de análises físico-químicas do DTIPOA da Escola de Veterinária da UFMG em Belo Horizonte (MG) onde foram realizadas as seguintes análises: determinaçöes dos teores percentuais de gordura, extrato seco total (EST), umidade, gordura no EST e pH. As médias dos resultados e coeficientes de variaçäo observados para as mesmas variáveis foram, respectivamente: teor de gordura 31,13 por cento (0,57 por cento), EST 51,9 por cento (6,81 por cento), umidade 48,1 por cento (7,35 por cento), gordura no EST 60,10 por cento (6,25 por cento) e pH 5,35 (14,42 por cento). Os resultados encontrados indicaram pequena oscilaçäo dos parâmetros físico-químicos de queijo de coalho, apesar deste produto apresentar grandes variaçöes no método de processamento, o que dificultaria uma padronizaçäo dos parâmetros físico-químicos apresentados. De acordo com a classificaçäo brasileira oficial de queijos em relaçäo do teor de gorudura no EST treze amostras (18,57 por cento) seriam consideradas como queijo magro e cinqüenta e sete amostras (81,43 por cento) como queijo semi-gordo e com relaçäo ao conteúdo de umidade uma amostra seria classificada como queijo de baixa umidade (1,43 por cento), vinte e oito amostras (40 por cento) como queijo de média umidade, trinta e oito amostras (54,29 por cento) como queijo de alta umidade e três amostras (4,29 por cento) como queijo de muito alta umidade.

Salmonelas isoladas de queijos tipo "Coalho": caracterizaçäo sorológica e resistência a agentes antimicrobianos - Recife(PE) / Salmonella isolated from \"curd\" of cheese: sorological characterization and resistence to antimicrobial agents - Recife(PE)

Com o objetivo de isolar, identificar e avaliar a resistência antimicrobiana de linhagens de Salmonella, 107 amostras de queijo tipo "coalho" foram colhidas no período de janeiro a maio de 1997, no comércio varejista de Recife(PE). As amostras, obtidas de estabelecimentos comerciais que acondicionavam o produto em temperatura ambiente, variando entre 29,0 e 33,0§C eram transportadas em embalagens plásticas hermeticamente fechadas, sob refrigeraçäo por via aérea até Belo Horizonte (MG) onde eram prontamente analisadas pelo Serviço de Microbiologia de Alimentos da Fundaçäo Ezequiel Dias (FUNED). O isolamento e identificaçäo de Salmonella foram realizados segundo metodologia preconizada por VANDERZANT & SPLITTSTOESSER (1992). Das amostras analizadas, 8,41(por cento)(9/107) apresentaram-se positivas para Samonellas. Samonella I (011:-:1,6;018;6,7:K:-;3,10:y:-,6,7:-:enz;13,23:z:-); Samonella sp. Samonella enteritidis foi identificada individualmente em 11,11 (por cento) (1/9) das amostras. Apenas Samonella enterica subsp I (6,7:-:enz) apresentou frequência de 22,22 (por cento) de positividade (2/9). As linhagens isoladas apresentaram resistência frente a 37,5 (por cento) (6/16) dos produtos antimicrobianos testados: ampicilina, tetraciclina, cefotaxima, sulfametropina, trimetoprin e sulfazotrim. A sensibilidade foi observada em 62,5(por cento) (10/16), frente aos seguintes antimicrobianos: ciprofloxacina, tobramicina, ceftazidima, amoxacilina, polimixina B, gentamicina, cloranfenicol, amicacina, ofloxacina e cefoxitina