Therapeutic efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in North-Eastern Tanzania.

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends that regular efficacy monitoring should be undertaken by all malaria endemic countries that have deployed artemisinin combination therapy (ACT). Although ACT is still efficacious for treatment of uncomplicated malaria, artemisinin resistance has been reported in South East Asia suggesting that surveillance needs to be intensified by all malaria endemic countries. This study assessed the efficacy and safety of artemether-lumefantrine (AL) for the treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria in Muheza district of north-eastern Tanzania, an area where the transmission has significantly declined in recent years. METHODS: Eighty eight children (aged 6 months to 10 years) with uncomplicated falciparum malaria were recruited into the study. The patients were treated with standard doses of AL and followed up for 28 days. The primary end point was parasitological cure on day 28 while the secondary end points included: improvement in haemoglobin levels and occurrence, and severity of adverse events. RESULTS: A total of 163 febrile patients were screened, out of which 88 patients (56 under-fives and 32 aged ≥ 5 years) were enrolled and 79 (89.8%) completed the 28 days of follow-up. There were no cases of early treatment failure whilst 40 (78.4%) under-fives and 21(75.0%) older children had adequate clinical and parasitological response (ACPR) before PCR correction. Late clinical failure was seen in 5.6% (n=51) and 3.6% (n=28) of the under-fives and older children respectively; while 15.7% and 21.6% had late parasitological failure in the two groups respectively. After PCR correction, ACPR was 100% in both groups. Reported adverse events included cough (49.7%), fever (20.2%), abdominal pain (10.1%), diarrhoea (1.3%), headache (1.3%) and skin rashes (1.3%). CONCLUSION: This study showed that AL was safe, well-tolerated and efficacious for treatment of uncomplicated falciparum malaria. Since Muheza has historically been a hotspot of drug resistance (e.g. pyrimethamine, chloroquine, and SP), surveillance needs to be continued to detect future changes in parasite sensitivity to ACT.

Chronological Change of Resistance to ß-Lactams in Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis Isolated from Broilers in Japan.

Epidemiologic surveillance study was conducted in southern Japan to determine the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and characterize the ß-lactamase genes and the plasmids harboring these genes in Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) isolates from broilers. Between January, 2007 and December, 2008, a total of 1,472 fecal samples were collected and examined at the Laboratory of Veterinary Public Health, Kagoshima University, Japan. In 93 (6.3%) isolates recovered, 33 (35.5%) isolates showed resistance to cefotaxime, an extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC), conferred by TEM-20, TEM-52 and CTX-M-25 extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs). In addition to ESC-resistance, eight (8.6%) isolates exhibited resistance to cefoxitin mediated by CMY-2 AmpC ß-lactamase. Plasmid analysis and polymerase chain reaction replicon typing revealed the bla TEM-20 and bla CMY-2 genes were associated with IncP plasmids, bla TEM-52 was linked with a non-typable plasmid and bla CTX-M-25 was carried by an IncA/C plasmid. Non-ß-lactam resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and oxytetracycline encoded by the aadA1, sul1, and tet(A) genes, respectively, was found in 86 (92.5%) isolates. Resistance to kanamycin and ofloxacin was exhibited in 12 (12.9%) and 11 (11.8%) isolates, respectively, the former was mediated by aphA1-Iab. These data indicate that S. Infantis isolates producing ESBLs and AmpC ß-lactamase have spread among broiler farms in Japan. These data demonstrated that the incidence of ESC-resistant S. Infantis carrying bla TEM-52 remarkably increased and S. Infantis strains harboring bla CMY-2, bla TEM-20, or bla CTX-M-25 genes emerged from broilers in Japan for the first time in 2007 and 2008.

Change in antimicrobial resistance pattern in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates detected in a beef cattle farm.

Multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) isolates with four different antimicrobial resistance patterns obtained from a beef cattle farm were characterized to determine their clonality. Macrorestriction analysis of genomic DNA revealed that these four isolates are closely related to each other and can be classified as a newly emerged pulsed-field gel electrophoresis type among cattle: cluster VII. Three of the four isolates showed resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs), and this resistance was mediated by AmpC ß-lactamase encoded by the bla(CMY-2) gene in a 190-kbp IncA/C plasmid. Results of restriction analysis and IncA/C backbone PCR suggest that the three 190-kbp plasmids are identical and that a 70-kbp IncA/C plasmid of the ESC-susceptible isolate is derived from the 190-kbp plasmid by a deletion event. Three isolates harboured a virulence-resistance plasmid (165 or 180 kbp), and restriction analysis revealed that these plasmids were identical or closely related to each other. These results suggest that the four S. Typhimurium cluster VII isolates originate from a common ancestor that probably invaded the farm prior to the salmonellosis outbreak. Antimicrobial resistance patterns may not necessarily reflect the relationships of the isolates.

Effect of cooled and chlorinated chiller water on Campylobacter and coliform counts on broiler carcasses during chilling at a middle-size poultry processing plant.

To evaluate the effect of cooled and chlorinated chill water for Campylobacter and coliforms at a middle-size processing plant which was considered to be difficult for eliminate pathogenic bacteria on carcasses, following three conditions were examined; keeping temperature at < 20, < 10 and < 10°C, and chlorine concentration at < 50, < 50 and 50 to 70 ppm during processing in experiment 1, 2 and 3 respectively. Fifteen prechill and 15 postchill carcasses were examined in each experiment. In lower temperature of experiment 2, decreasing rate (%) of coliforms was significantly higher (P<0.01) than that in experiment 1. In higher chlorination of experiment 3, no Campylobacter was detected from all postchill carcasses.

Characterization of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium isolates harboring a chromosomally encoded CMY-2 beta-lactamase gene located on a multidrug resistance genomic island.

Since 2004, extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) isolates have been detected from cattle in the northern major island of Japan, Hokkaido. Resistance to ESCs was found to be mediated by CMY-2 type ß-lactamase among 22 epidemiologically unrelated isolates showing indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. Southern blot analysis using I-CeuI-digested genomic DNA demonstrated that the CMY-2 ß-lactamase gene (bla(CMY-2)) was integrated in a 2.5-Mb chromosomal fragment. Genetic analysis of S. Typhimurium isolate L-3553 indicated that bla(CMY-2) was located on a unique 125-kb genomic island, GI-VII-6, which consists of 140 open reading frames. Pairwise alignment of GI-VII-6 and Escherichia coli plasmid pAR060302 (size, 167 kb) revealed that a large proportion of GI-VII-6 (99%) shows a high sequence similarity (>99%) with pAR060302. GI-VII-6 contains 11 antimicrobial resistance genes including sul1, qacEΔ1, aadA2, and dfrA12 in the aadA2 region; sugE1 and bla(CMY-2) in the bla(CMY-2) region; and sul2, strA, strB, tet(A), and floR in the floR region. Two directly repeated IS26 copies were present at both ends of GI-VII-6. Junction regions of GI-VII-6 were flanked by an 8-bp direct repeat, indicating that GI-VII-6 was acquired by transposition involving IS26 transposase. PCR scanning revealed that the overall structure of GI-VII-6 was almost identical in the 22 isolates. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that S. Typhimurium isolates harboring GI-VII-6 belong to a different genomic lineage than other whole-genome-sequenced S. Typhimurium strains. These data indicate that a particular clone of S. Typhimurium harboring GI-VII-6 has spread among the cattle population in Hokkaido, Japan.

Characterization of antibiotic resistance and the emergence of AmpC-producing Salmonella Infantis from pigs.

During the period of 2007-2008, a total of 270 pig fecal samples were collected from a meat processing plant located in southern Japan and examined for Salmonella species. A total of 44 Salmonella isolates were recovered, and antimicrobial resistance was detected in serotypes Typhimurium (n=9), Infantis and Choleraesuis (n=2), and Derby, Miyazaki and Schwarzengrund (n=1). Multidrug resistance was seen in serotypes Typhimurium (n=8) and Infantis (n=2). The most commonly observed resistance phenotypes were against streptomycin, oxytetracycline and sulfamethoxazole (100%), ampicillin (90%), chloramphenicol (50%), cephalothin (30%) and cefoxitin, ceftazidime and kanamycin (each 20%). Extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant Salmonella Infantis isolates producing plasmid-mediated, bla(CMY-2) gene were detected. These AmpC-producing isolates showed resistance to ampicillin and cephems (cephalothin, cefoxitin and ceftazidime). Resistance transfer experiments showed that transconjugants and transformants coexpressed resistance phenotypes similar to the donor isolates. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report worldwide describing serovar Infantis from pigs capable of producing AmpC ß-lactamase. Then, we detected the pentadrug-resistance phenotype in Salmonella Typhimurium isolates, which yielded class 1 integron amplicons of 1.0 and 1.2 kb. Genetic fingerprinting analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and an assay by polymerase chain reaction confirmed the isolates to be Salmonella Typhimurium DT104. In conclusion, the findings of this survey call for the systematic and comprehensive domestic and international surveillance programs to determine the true rates of occurrence of AmpC-producing Salmonella both in the livestock and public health sectors.

Genetic analysis of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovars Stanley and Typhimurium from cattle.

During 2005-2008, a longitudinal study was conducted in southern Japan to detect and characterize multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica serovars recovered from cattle diagnostic specimens. Determination of antimicrobial resistance phenotypes and genotypes, identification of Salmonella genomic island 1 (SGI1), detection of virulence genes, plasmid analysis, conjugal transfer experiments, and sequencing of class 1 integrons were conducted. Multidrug-resistant Salmonella detected were serovars Stanley, Typhimurium, and O4:d. Salmonella Stanley isolates exhibited resistance to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, oxytetracycline, trimethoprim, and kanamycin (ACSSuT+) encoded by bla(TEM), catA, aadA2, tetA, sul1, dfrA12, and aphA1 genes, respectively. Sequencing analysis revealed that aadA2 and dfrA12 were integrated as gene cassettes within the class 1 integrons of 1.5kb size. Importantly, the isolates harboured easily transferable plasmids of ca. 210kb with the potential of transmitting resistance phenotype and genotype detected in the donor isolates. Moreover, Salmonella Typhimurium DT104 isolates with typical SGI1 were detected and presented ACSSuT+ resistance phenotype encoded by bla(PSE-1) and bla(TEM); floR; aadA1; sul1; and tetA and tetG, respectively. Salmonella Typhimurium isolates carried plasmids of variable sizes ranging from 3.5 to 100 kb with DT104 isolates harbouring plasmids of ca. 90 kb. Salmonella serovar O4:d had ACSSuT+ resistance phenotype mediated by bla(TEM), catA, aadA1, sul1, tetA, and aphA1 genes. A virulence gene invA was found in all multidrug-resistant Salmonella Typhimurium, Stanley and O4:d clinical isolates. In conclusion, this is the first report describing the occurrence of multidrug-resistant Salmonella Stanley from bovine species. The emergence of Salmonella Stanley isolates exhibiting plasmid-encoded high-level multidrug resistance is an important health concern because this new pathogenecity was associated with mortality in cattle.

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae isolated from pigs in Southern Japan with a modified agar dilution method.

The determination of antimicrobial minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) in Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae by using the agar dilution method has not been covered by the Clinical and Laboratory Institute (CLSI). Only the broth microdilution method has been outlined. This report describes a modification of the agar dilution procedure for E. rhusiopathiae using Trypto-soy agar supplemented with 0.1% Tween 80 and incubation in ambient air at 37 degrees C for 24 hr. The MICs of the assay were in agreement with those of the broth microdilution method recommended by the CLSI. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was performed using this method for 149 E. rhusiopathiae isolates from 2 meat processing plants in Kagoshima Prefecture during the period of April 2004 to March 2005. The number of strains resistant to oxytetracycline, erythromycin, lincomycin, ofloxacin and enrofloxacin were 56 (37.6%), 4 (2.7%), 18 (12.1%), 21 (14.1%) and 19 (12.8%), respectively. All strains were susceptible to ampicillin.

Genetic analysis of multi-drug resistance and the clonal dissemination of beta-lactam resistance in Salmonella Infantis isolated from broilers.

An epidemiologic study was conducted to investigate the incidence and characterize the antimicrobial resistance determinants, analyzing plasmid profiles, and establishing the genetic relationship among beta-lactam-resistant isolates of Salmonella Infantis from broilers in Southern Japan. A total of 120 isolates were recovered from 56 flocks belonging to 44 holdings during 2004-2006. The percentages of resistance were as follows: ampicillin (24%), cephalothin (23%), cefoxitin (0%), ceftazidime (11%), cefotaxime (11%), chloramphenicol (0%), kanamycin (7.5%), ofloxacin (20%), oxytetracycline, streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole (100%) and trimethoprim (75%). The incidence of bla(TEM)-encoded beta-lactam resistance in 2004-2006 was significantly higher than in 1998-2003 (P<0.001). BlnI-digested PFGE patterns generated two related clusters implicated in the dissemination of beta-lactam resistance. Two types of plasmid profiles were observed and two plasmids of ca. 50 and 180-kb size were carried by beta-lactam-resistant isolates. Streptomycin resistance was conferred by aadA1 (n=116), aadA1-aadA2 (n=1), and aadA1-strA-strB (n=3). Resistances to kanamycin, oxytetracycline, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim were conferred by aphA1 (n=9, 100%), tetA (n=120, 100%) sul1 (n=120, 100%) and dfrA5 (n=90, 100%), respectively. Two types of class 1 integrons were detected: 1.0 kb (n=120) and, 1.0/1.5 kb (n=3). Integrons of 1.0/1.5 kb were found in isolates with the aadA1-strA-strB gene combination. For the first time, all S. Infantis isolates showed resistance to at least three classes of antimicrobial agents; and the intestinal tract of healthy poultry was a reservoir of the extended-spectrum cephalosporin-resistant isolates of serovar Infantis.

Detection and characterization of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (TEM-52)-producing Salmonella serotype Infantis from broilers in Japan.

During 2004 and 2006, multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Infantis (Salmonella Infantis) isolates (n = 120) were recovered from broiler cecal samples collected from a meat-processing plant, and the isolates were examined. The study was conducted to detect and characterize extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella Infantis isolates recovered from broiler chickens and determine the mechanisms of transfer of the resistance traits. Extended-spectrum cephalosporins-resistant Salmonella Infantis isolates producing ESBL TEM-52 were detected. The mutant bla(TEM-52) gene and the wild-type bla(TEM-1) gene that mediated resistance to ampicillin (an extended-spectrum penicillin) and cephalothin (a narrow-spectrum cephalosporin) were located on approximately 50-kb conjugative plasmids among beta-lactam-resistant (n = 29) isolates. The bla(TEM) genes did not cotransfer with aadA1, sul1 (both associated with class 1 integrons), tetA, and dfrA5, signifying a chromosomal location of these non-beta-lactam resistance-encoding genes. This is the first report describing TEM-52-producing S. enterica from food-producing animals in Japan. An emergence of TEM-type ESBL is an important concern to public health because this readily transferable resistance mechanism threatens the value of the third-generation cephalosporins and may reduce the clinical utility of this class of antibiotics against pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria.

Successful treatment of bacillary hemoglobinuria in Japanese Black cows.

Four pasture-fed Japanese Black cows showed the main clinical symptoms of severe hemoglobinuria at different periods between 2003 and 2007. Hematological analyses at the first consultation revealed severe anemia, and biochemical analyses indicated both severe hemolysis and disruption of hepatic function. Although the first 2 patients died, the hemoglobinuria and general condition of the remaining 2 cows, who were immediately initiated on large doses of antibiotics, improved within 3 days. Clostridium haemolyticum was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis of the blood sample of 1 of the infected cows. Anti-fascioliasis medicine is administered, and since then, no case of hemoglobinuria has been observed. The cows were diagnosed with bacillary hemoglobinuria, and they represent the first few cases in Japan.

Effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid administration on health and growth rate of group-housed Japanese black calves fed using an automatic controlled milk feeder.

The efficacy of a gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) preparation in improving general health condition and growth rate was evaluated in suckling Japanese Black beef calves housed together and fed using an automatic milk feeder. The GABA preparation was administered from 4 to 10 d postpartum until weaning. A significant difference in mean body weight was observed at 3 and 8 weeks after introduction of the GABA preparation. The calves in the GABA group tended to require less medication than those in the control group (3.0 d/calf for BABA; 7.6 d/calf for the control; P=0.06). The health statuses of the 2 groups may be reflected in their blood parameters. GABA may possibly have etiotropic effects in group-housed calves fed using an automatic milk feeder.

Absence of correlation between karyotype profiles of Trypanosoma congolense and resistance to isometamidium chloride.

Chromosome profiles of 10 Trypanosoma (T.) congolense populations with different isometamidium sensitivities were compared using the pulsed field gel electrophoresis technique. The aim was to elucidate whether there was a karyotype pattern specific to eight isometamidium resistant phenotypes. Analysis of the profiles indicated that all populations displayed several discrete bands at the region of small, intermediate and large chromosomes. The highest similarity was observed between two isolates originating from Burkina Faso, indicating that they had the same genetic origin. Other eight strains exhibited different patterns in terms of chromosome size and numbers such that there was no characteristic karyotype pattern that was established specifically to identify resistant populations and discriminate them from the sensitive ones. This study has revealed that isometamidium resistance is not correlated to karyotype profile in T. congolense.

Antimicrobial susceptibility phenotypes, resistance determinants and DNA fingerprints of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolated from bovine in Southern Japan.

A longitudinal study was conducted in cattle to determine the antimicrobial resistance phenotypes, integron elements, resistance genes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis fingerprints among Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium isolates. A total of 33 strains were isolated and categorised into Groups A, B and C during the period 1989-2004. Thirty-one strains (93.9%) showed resistance to ampicillin (A) encoded by bla(OXA-1), bla(TEM) and bla(PSE-1) genes; 84.8% showed resistance to chloramphenicol (C) encoded by floR and catA1; 97.0% were resistant both to streptomycin (S) and sulfamethoxazole (Su), the former encoded by aadA1 and aadA2; 100% were resistant to oxytetracycline (T) encoded by tetA, tetB and tetG; and 42.4% were resistant to kanamycin (Km) encoded by aphA1-Iab. Multidrug resistance types observed were ACSSuT-Km (n=13), ACSSuT (n=15), ASSuT (n=3) and SSuT (n=2). Class 1 integrons ranging from 1.0 kb to 1.9 kb were detected from 54.5% of isolates (18/33). Integrons were not detected initially (1989-1992), then during the 1993-1996 interval a high frequency of 1.0 kb and 1.2kb amplicons were detected and during 2000-2004 the amplicon size increased to 1.7 kb and 1.9 kb. We report evidence of additional integration of resistance gene cassettes as shown by integrons with increased size. Finally, group B strains showed banding patterns indistinguishable from S. Typhimurium DT104 reference strain, indicating that the DT104 lineage existed on the island since 1993.

Molecular epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance among Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis from poultry in Kagoshima, Japan.

Antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance genes of 135 strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolated from poultry in Kagoshima were examined. One strain (0.7%) was resistant to ampicillin (A), 97% to streptomycin (S), 95.6% to sulphamethoxazole (Su), 96.3% to oxytetracycline (T), 11.1% to kanamycin (Km) and 36.3% to ofloxacin (O). Multiresistant phenotypes identified were ASSuT-Km, SSuT-Km, SSuT-O and SSuT. Class 1 integrons were detected in 94.8% of isolates. Approximately 89% of oxytetracycline-resistant strains carried the tetA gene and all of the 131 streptomycin-resistant isolates carried the aadA1a gene. Forty-percent of kanamycin-resistant isolates carried the aphA1-Iab gene. All isolates were susceptible to chloramphenicol. Recognition of TEM-type beta-lactamase in a S. Infantis strain from chickens is a recent rare finding in Japan.

Analysis of Campylobacter spp. contamination in broilers from the farm to the final meat cuts by using restriction fragment length polymorphism of the polymerase chain reaction products.

We investigated the genotype diversity and dynamics of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in six commercial broiler farms during rearing and abattoir processing. In total, 223 C. jejuni and 36 C. coli strains isolated (on farm, transportation crates, carcasses after defeathering, and chicken wing meat at the end of the processing line) were subtyped by PCR-RFLP based on flagellin (fla typing) gene. Eleven (C. jejuni) and four (C. coli) different RFLP patterns were found. Multiple C. jejuni genotypes were identified in five out of six farms (except Farm 5). Furthermore, a clear tendency for dominance of particular genotypes was observed in almost all farms except Farm 3. Although diverse C. jejuni genotypes were isolated on the farms and transport crates, they were not detected in chicken wing cuts at the end of the processing line. We also observed varied distribution of types in different sampling stages both at the farm level and the processing environment. However, the interpretation of such fluctuations is precarious as new types occurred on some occasions, particularly during processing. Our results show that chicken wing meat contamination resulted mainly from farm strain carryover, and that the carcasses were probably contaminated during processing. In addition, the new strain types observed were isolated more frequently after defeathering as compared to other processing steps. Therefore, this stage, in addition to evisceration, is one of the critical control points in the processing line to prevent cross-contamination and for controlling the spread of campylobacters.