ABSTRACT
Clostridium difficile (CD), Salmonella, Campylobacter and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are major causes of morbidity in a variety of enteric diseases in humans and animals, but subclinical carriage in both is probably more common than are clinical cases. Little is known regarding the prevalence of these pathogens in animals raised for exhibit at Michigan county fairs or the frequency with which Michigan citizens raising these animals may have been subclinically colonized. To address these issues, 361 fecal specimens from 158 humans and 203 of their farm animals were cultured for CD, Salmonella and Campylobacter. Additionally, 50 people and their cattle were tested for EHEC. No EHEC, Salmonella or Campylobacter were detected. However, 16 specimens (4.4%) were positive for CD: 13 humans, two horses and one pig. None of the farm animal specimens submitted by any of the 13 CD-positive humans were positive for CD. Strain characterization [toxinotype, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE)] demonstrated that the human CD isolates were similar to what has been reported previously in the general US population. We conclude that horses and farm animals (cattle, sheep, goats and swine) at 1-2 months before market weight showed no evidence of wide-spread carriage of the common enteric pathogens, including the recently reported CD toxinotype V. These results provide no support to the hypothesis that 4-H members or others visiting county fair animal husbandry projects in these counties may be at increased risk for acquisition of CD, Salmonella, Campylobacter or EHEC from animals.
Subject(s)
Animals, Domestic/microbiology , Campylobacter/isolation & purification , Carrier State/veterinary , Clostridioides difficile/isolation & purification , Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli/isolation & purification , Salmonella/isolation & purification , Analysis of Variance , Animals , Carrier State/microbiology , Cattle/microbiology , Cohort Studies , Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field , Enterobacteriaceae/isolation & purification , Feces/microbiology , Humans , Michigan , Risk FactorsABSTRACT
AIMS: To investigate the genetic diversity among S. Enteritidis isolates from different geographic regions to evaluate the relationship between phage types (PTs) and variable number tandem repeat analysis (VNTR) loci. METHODS AND RESULTS: We performed multiple-locus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA) and phage typing on 245 S. Enteritidis isolates collected from sporadic human clinical cases in Michigan, Minnesota, New York, and Washington states between 2000 and 2007. Ninety-four MLVA types and 22 different PTs were identified. Specific PTs were associated with a predominant allele for certain VNTR loci. Cluster analysis using a minimum-spanning tree demonstrated two major clusters (I, II) and one minor cluster of isolates. PTs 8, 13a, 13 and 34 were significantly associated with MLVA cluster I. Phage types 1, 4, 6a, and 18 were significantly associated with MLVA cluster II. CONCLUSIONS: We found significant association between MLVA-based clusters and PTs. Certain VNTR loci were associated with specific PTs and could serve as useful molecular markers for S. Enteritidis in epidemiological investigations. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: MLVA genotyping in combination with phage typing can be used for effective characterization of S. Enteritidis isolates. It can also be useful for tracing possible sources during investigations of sporadic and outbreak cases of S. Enteritidis.
Subject(s)
Bacteriophage Typing/methods , Genetic Variation , Minisatellite Repeats , Multilocus Sequence Typing/methods , Salmonella enteritidis/classification , Adolescent , Adult , Alleles , Child , Child, Preschool , Cluster Analysis , Female , Genotype , Geography , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Salmonella enteritidis/genetics , Salmonella enteritidis/isolation & purification , United States , Young AdultABSTRACT
We conducted a case-control study to explore the role of health behavior and sexual and medical history on urinary tract infection (UTI) risk among otherwise healthy women aged 40-65. Cases and controls were recruited from nine practices and clinics in Michigan and a single clinic in Israel. In both countries, several factors were reported significantly more frequently among UTI cases than controls: a previous UTI within 12 months, incontinence symptoms, a recent episode of 30-plus minutes of cold hands, feet, back or buttocks, and recent antibiotic use. Cases were less likely than controls to report recent estrogen use, but the results were only statistically significant in Michigan. Sexual activity during the previous 2 weeks and having ceased menses were modestly, but not statistically significantly, protective at both study sites. Risk factors for UTI among women 40-65 differ from those for younger women and these differences cannot be attributed solely to changes in menopausal status.
Subject(s)
Sexual Behavior , Urinary Tract Infections/epidemiology , Adult , Aged , Case-Control Studies , Cold Temperature , Female , Humans , Israel/epidemiology , Logistic Models , Menstruation , Michigan/epidemiology , Middle Aged , Risk Factors , Surveys and Questionnaires , Urinary Incontinence/complications , Urinary Tract Infections/etiologyABSTRACT
We studied genetic diversity in Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae in throat culture isolates from 38 children attending two day-care centers in Michigan. Culture specimens were collected weekly; 184 S. pneumoniae and 418 H. influenzae were isolated from the cultures. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis identified 29 patterns among the S. pneumoniae isolates and 87 among the H. influenzae isolates. Of the cultures, 5% contained multiple genetic types of S. pneumoniae, and 43% contained multiple types of H. influenzae. Carriage of multiple H. influenzae isolates, which was associated with exposure to smoking, history of allergies, and age 36 to 47 months, may increase risk for otitis media in children.
