Multiple Drug Resistant Streptococcus Strains-An Actual Problem in Pig Farms in Western Romania.

Streptococci are a type of bacteria that can cause severe illnesses in humans and animals. Some typical species like S. suis, or atypical species like S. porcinus and, S. dysgalactiae subsp. dysgalactiae, can cause infections like septicemia, meningitis, endocarditis, arthritis, and septic shock. S. suis is considered a newly emerging zoonotic pathogen. Although human streptococcal infection outbreaks are rare, it is appropriate to review the main streptococcal species isolated in pig farms in western Romania, due to the high degree of antibiotic resistance among most isolates commonly used in human treatment. This study examines the resistance patterns of these isolates over 5 years (2018-2023). The research investigated the antimicrobial susceptibility of 267 strains of Streptococcus spp. isolated from pigs, primarily from lung and brain tissues. This report is the first to describe the distribution of atypical Streptococcus species (SDSE, S. porcinus, S. hyovaginalis, S. pluranimalium, S. canis) in Romania, as well as the antibiotic resistance profile of these potentially zoonotic species. It is important to re-evaluate and consider the high rates of resistance of S. suis to tetracyclines, lincosamides, macrolides, and aminoglycosides, as well as the high recovery rates of S. suis from the lungs and brain when treating swine diseases.

Integrating (Nutri-)Metabolomics into the One Health Tendency-The Key for Personalized Medicine Advancement.

Metabolomics is an advanced technology, still under development, with multiple research applications, especially in the field of health. Individual metabolic profiles, the functionality of the body, as well as its interaction with the environment, can be established using this technology. The body's response to various external factors, including the food consumed and the nutrients it contains, has increased researchers' interest in nutrimetabolomics. Establishing correlations between diet and the occurrence of various diseases, or even the development of personalized nutrition plans, could contribute to advances in precision medicine. The interdependence between humans, animals, and the environment is of particular importance today, with the dramatic emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases, food, water and soil contamination, and the degradation of resources and habitats. All these events have led to an increase in risk factors for functional diseases, burdening global health. Thus, this study aimed to highlight the importance of metabolomics, and, in particular, nutrimetabolomics, as a technical solution for a holistic, collaborative, and precise approach for the advancement of the One Health strategy.

Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. as contaminant protozoa of the main rivers of western Romania: genetic characterization and public health potential of the isolates.

The objective of this study was to establish the prevalence, contamination level, and public health significance of Giardia duodenalis and Cryptosporidium spp. in the primary rivers of western Romania. A total of 53 sampling points in the 24 most important western Romanian rivers in four counties (Arad, Bihor, Caraș-Severin, and Timiș) were investigated from March to September 2016. Surface water samples were collected by microfiber filtration. Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts were isolated using immunomagnetic separation (IMS) according to the USEPA 1623 method and, after staining with fluorescently labeled (FITC) monoclonal antibodies, were identified and counted under a microscope. The Cryptosporidium and Giardia (oo)cysts were identified to species and assemblage/sub-assemblage level through the nested PCR-RFLP procedure targeting the 18S ribosomal RNA and gdh genes, respectively. PCR-based techniques were utilized for all water samples. Overall, 22 samples (41.5%) were determined to be positive for Giardia cysts (ranging from 0.05 to 300 cysts per liter), and four samples (7.5%) tested positive for Cryptosporidium oocysts (0.17-48 oocysts/l). G. duodenalis was molecularly identified in 13 water samples (24.5%), indicating the presence of the sub-assemblage A-II (n = 12) and assemblage E (n = 1). PCR-RFLP showed that two samples (3.8%) contained Cryptosporidium DNA, and the identified species were Cryptosporidium parvum and Cryptosporidium canis. All positive results were successfully confirmed by DNA sequencing. Subtyping of the zoonotic C. parvum isolate based on sequence analysis of the GP60 gene revealed the occurrence of the IIaA16G1R1 subtype. The results of this study highlight considerable contamination of river waters with pathogenic Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp., suggesting a potential risk for the public and animal health. This report presents the first extended published description of the presence of Giardia spp. and Cryptosporidium spp. in the aquatic environment in Romania.

The prevalence, abundance and distribution of cyathostomins (small stongyles) in horses from Western Romania.

Forty seven working horses from Romania were post-mortem examined for small strongyles (Cyathostominae) infections. All horses were found infected. The overall cyathostomins intensity ranged from 390 to 13,010 and horses were infected by 8-24 species. The intensity was higher in ventral colon (1531) and dorsal colon (824), the lowest in the caecum (524). Twenty four species were identified. Cyathostomum catinatum, Cylicocyclus insigne, and C. Nassatus had 100% of prevalence. Over 50% of horses were infected by Coronocyclus coronatus, Cylicostephanus calicatus, C. goldi, and C. longibursatus. Other prevalent species (34%-45%) were Cyathostomum tetracanthum, Cylicostephanus minutus and Gyalocephalus capitatus. Coronocyclus labiatus, Parapoteriostomum mettami, Poteriostomum imparidentatum and P. ratzii had the lowest prevalence. Most species showed high organ preference with a niche breadth value between 1 and 1.96 while only 7 species (Coronocyclus labiatus, Cyathostomum tetracanthum, C. brevicapsulatus, Cylicocyclus elongatus, C. insigne, C. leptostomum and C. radiatus) showed a more generalist selection. The niche breadth of 10 species was significantly (p<0.05) influenced by itself intensity (Coronocyclus labratus, Cyathostomum pateratum, C. tetracanthum, Cylicocyclus elongatus, C. radiatus, C. ultrajectinus, C. leptostomum, Cylicodontophorus euproctus, Poteriostomum imparidentatum, P. ratzii). The niche breadth of Cylicocyclus nassatus was positively (p<0.05) influenced by the summed intensity of the other species while that of Cylicocyclus elongatus was negatively (p<0.05) influenced by the intensity of the other species. The cluster analysis of the Cyathostominae community composition showed a major cluster composed by the three dominant species, followed by a cluster composed by Coronocyclus coronatus, while all the other species presented a tree like structure.