Virulence and antimicrobial-resistance of shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) Isolated from edible shellfish and its public health significance.

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are an important cause of foodborne illness in humans with infections ranging from mild non-bloody diarrhea to bloody diarrhea (BD) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). This study aimed to investigate the distribution of STEC in shellfish from coastal shores of Lake Timsah in Ismailia Governorate, Egypt and its probable hazard to seafood consumers. Samples from the external surface and tissues of shrimp (n = 45), crabs (n = 45), and oysters (n = 45) batches were examined bacteriologically for the presence of STEC and tested for their antibiotic sensitivity. Moreover, occurrence of virulence genes was determined via detection of stx1, stx2 and eaeA genes using PCR. Overall, E. coli and presumptive STEC isolates (from CHROMagar) were identified from the surface (55.6 and 5.9%) and tissues (42.2 and 8.9%) of the examined shellfish batches, respectively. Five STEC isolates had been confirmed and found belonging to O26:H11, O125:H6, O146:H21, and O159 serogroups, those were 4 isolates from tissues of the three shellfish species and one isolate from the crab surface. The STEC isolates were multi-drug resistant, showing complete resistance to; penicillins, amoxycillin/clavulanic acid, colistin, fosfomycin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, and tetracycline, however, they were sensitive to gentamycin except O159 serogroup. The current study revealed low level of contamination of shellfish from coastal shores of Lake Timsah with STEC, however, it also highlights the extreme level of antimicrobial resistance exhibited by the presumptive and confirmed STEC isolates which is very hazardous for seafood consumers in the study area.

Genotyping of enterotoxigenic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) among commensal rodents in North Sinai, Egypt.

AIM: This study aimed to identify genotype enterotoxigenic antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus species, mainly methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) among commensal rodents. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 280 samples were collected from nasal and mouth swabs, heart blood, intestinal content and lung tissues of 56 commensal rodents trapped from North Sinai, Egypt. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed to bacteriologically identified S. aureus isolates against 15 antimicrobial agents by disc diffusion method. Detection was conducted for identifying coagulase gene (coA), antimicrobial-resistant genes (mecA and vanA/B), enterotoxigenic and virulence determinant genes (hlg, seb, sed and see) among the MRSA and VRSA isolates. RESULTS: Staphylococcus aureus species were isolated from 24 (42.86%) out of 56 rodents. Phenotypic examination revealed that all the isolates were multidrug-resistant, whereas two isolates were multiple antibiotic resistant (MAR). Out of 33 examined isolates, 33 (100%) were resistant to oxacillin and amoxicillin, 31 (93.93%) to cefoxitin and 12 (36.36%) to vancomycin. PCR assay revealed that 24 isolates revealed (100%) positivity to coA gene, 17 (70.83%) to mecA gene and 12 (50%) to vanA/B genes. Enterotoxin genes and haemolysin genes were detected among MRSA and VRSA isolates. There was a strong positive correlation between the tested antimicrobial-resistant genes and virulence genes (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated the occurrence of MRSA and VRSA strains among commensal rodents in North Sinai, Egypt. The detection of enterotoxigenic and virulence genes of the isolated MRSA and VRSA strains indicated the health hazards of food contamination and zoonotic infections. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACTS OF THE STUDY: This study emphasizes the role of commensal rodents in maintaining and disseminating multidrug-resistant MRSA and VRSA strains to the environment, animals and human beings.

Review of parasitic zoonoses in egypt.

This review presents a comprehensive picture of the zoonotic parasitic diseases in Egypt, with particular reference to their relative prevalence among humans, animal reservoirs of infection, and sources of human infection. A review of the available literature indicates that many parasitic zoonoses are endemic in Egypt. Intestinal infections of parasitic zoonoses are widespread and are the leading cause of diarrhea, particularly among children and residents of rural areas. Some parasitic zoonoses are confined to specific geographic areas in Egypt, such as cutaneous leishmaniasis and zoonotic babesiosis in the Sinai. Other areas have a past history of a certain parasitic zoonoses, such as visceral leishmaniasis in the El-Agamy area in Alexandria. As a result of the implementation of control programs, a marked decrease in the prevalence of other zoonoses, such as schistosomiasis and fascioliasis has been observed. Animal reservoirs of parasitic zoonoses have been identified in Egypt, especially in rodents, stray dogs and cats, as well as vectors, typically mosquitoes and ticks, which constitute potential risks for disease transmission. Prevention and control programs against sources and reservoirs of zoonoses should be planned by public health and veterinary officers based on reliable information from systematic surveillance.

Molecular and parasitological detection of Trypanosoma evansi in Camels in Ismailia, Egypt.

Trypanosoma evansi (T. evansi) is an endemic disease of camels and other domestic animals in Egypt. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of clinical and sub-clinical T. evansi infection among camels in Ismailia, Egypt, as well as survey their owners for T. evansi infection. The diagnostic sensitivity of three different PCR assays for detection of T. evansi in blood samples was evaluated. Blood samples were collected from 100 camels and 20 of their owners in the Ismailia governorate. Results revealed that the percentage of infected of camels with T. evansi vary with the detection method, ranging from 10% to 46% by PCR compared to 12% by microscopic examination of stained blood smears. Targeting the highly repeated sequence of mini-chromosome satellite DNA (TBR1/2 primer set) was more often seen in the PCR method (46% positive) compared to targeting ITS 1 (16% positive) or RoTat 1.2 VSG (10% positive) sequences. A partial sequence of RoTat 1.2 VSG gene was identical to the T. evansi sequences reported from India and Kenya, but varied similarity was seen when aligned with Egyptian T. evansi sequences. None of the camel owners were positive for T. evansi by microscopic examination of stained blood smears or PCR assays. PCR assay based on TBR sets is useful in the diagnosis and control disease and reducing economic losses.

Anti-H5N1 virus flavonoids from Capparis sinaica Veill.

Methanolic extract of Capparis sinaica Veill was tested for its in vitro antiviral activity against highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 using plaque inhibition assay in Madin-Darby canine kidney. The results indicated that the extract possessed potent antiviral activity (100% inhibition at the concentration of 1 µg/ml). Based on this result, C. sinaica Veill was selected for further study by applying bioactivity-guided fractionation to isolate its antiviral principles. The fractions eluted with EtOAc and 25% MeOH in EtOAc were found to hold the antiviral activity. Further chromatographic separation of the fractions holding the antiviral activity led to the isolation of quercetin (1), isoquercetin (2) and rutin (3) for the first time from this species. The isolates showed reduction in the virus titre by 68.13%, 79.66% and 73.22% inhibition at a concentration of 1 ng/ml, respectively.

Anti-H5N1 virus new diglyceride ester from the Red Sea grass Thallasodendron ciliatum.

Some Egyptian plants were screened against highly pathogenic avian influenza strain H5N1 using plaque inhibition assay in Madin-Darby canine kidney. The results indicated that the extracts of Red Sea grass Thallasodendron ciliatum possessed potent antiviral activity (100% inhibition at the concentration of 1 µg mL⁻¹). The bioactivity-guided fractionations led to the isolation of a new diglyceride ester (1) along with asebotin (2) for the first time from the plant. The two isolates showed reduction of virus titre by 67.26% and 53.81% inhibition at concentration of 1 ng mL⁻¹, respectively.