Staphylococcus aureus in poultry, with special emphasis on methicillin-resistant strain infection: A comprehensive review from one health perspective

Review (Published online: 17-12-2021)

16. Staphylococcus aureus in poultry, with special emphasis on methicillin-resistant strain infection: A comprehensive review from one health perspective

Wafaa A. Abd El-Ghany

International Journal of One Health, 7(2): 257-267

ABSTRACT

Staphylococcus aureus is a Gram-positive coccus normally present on the skin and internal organs of animals, birds, and humans. Under certain conditions, S. aureus could produce septicemia and affection of the skin, joints, and heart, as well as sepsis and death. The pathogenicity of S. aureus is associated with the presence of some virulent surface proteins and the production of some virulent toxins and enzymes. This pathogen is considered one of the most important and worldwide foodborne causes as it is incriminated in most cases of food poisoning. The hazardous use of antibiotics in the veterinary field leads to the development of multidrug-resistant S. aureus strains that can be transmitted to humans. The incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) strains has increased globally. These resistant strains have been detected in live animals, poultry, and humans. In addition, retail animal products, especially those of avian origin, are considered the main source of MRSA strains that can be easily transmitted to humans. MRSA infection is regarded as nosocomial or occupational. Humans get infected with MRSA strains through improper handling or preparation of contaminated animals or poultry carcasses or improper cooking with contaminated meat. Live birds also can transmit MRSA to close-contact workers in poultry farms. Transmission of MRSA infection in hospitals is from an infected individual to a healthy one. Prevention and control of MRSA are based on the application of hygienic measures in farms as well as proper processing, handling, and cooking of retail poultry products. The cooperation between veterinary and human practitioners is a must to avoid the possibility of zoonotic transmission. Accordingly, this review focused on the sources and transmission of MRSA infection, virulence and resistance factors, incidence and prevalence in poultry and different products, antibiotic resistance, and prevention and control strategies.

Keywords: chickens, food poisoning, humans, methicillin-resistant Staphylococci, zoonosis.

Validation of single-step genomic predictions using the linear regression method for milk yield and heat tolerance in a Thai-Holstein population

Research (Published online: 15-12-2021)

7. Validation of single-step genomic predictions using the linear regression method for milk yield and heat tolerance in a Thai-Holstein population

Piriyaporn Sungkhapreecha, Ignacy Misztal, Jorge Hidalgo, Daniela Lourenco, Sayan Buaban, Vibuntita Chankitisakul and Wuttigrai Boonkum

Veterinary World, 14(12): 3119-3125

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Genomic selection improves accuracy and decreases the generation interval, increasing the selection response. This study was conducted to assess the benefits of using single-step genomic best linear unbiased prediction (ssGBLUP) for genomic evaluations of milk yield and heat tolerance in Thai-Holstein cows and to test the value of old phenotypic data to maintain the accuracy of predictions.

Materials and Methods: The dataset included 104,150 milk yield records collected from 1999 to 2018 from 15,380 cows. The pedigree contained 33,799 animals born between 1944 and 2016, of which 882 were genotyped. Analyses were performed with and without genomic information using ssGBLUP and BLUP, respectively. Statistics for bias, dispersion, the ratio of accuracies, and the accuracy of estimated breeding values were calculated using the linear regression (LR) method. A partial dataset excluded the phenotypes of the last generation, and 66 bulls were identified as validation individuals.

Results: Bias was considerable for BLUP (0.44) but negligible (–0.04) for ssGBLUP; dispersion was similar for both techniques (0.84 vs. 1.06 for BLUP and ssGBLUP, respectively). The ratio of accuracies was 0.33 for BLUP and 0.97 for ssGBLUP, indicating more stable predictions for ssGBLUP. The accuracy of predictions was 0.18 for BLUP and 0.36 for ssGBLUP. Excluding the first 10 years of phenotypic data (i.e., 1999-2008) decreased the accuracy to 0.09 for BLUP and 0.32 for ssGBLUP. Genomic information doubled the accuracy and increased the persistence of genomic estimated breeding values when old phenotypes were removed.

Conclusion: The LR method is useful for estimating accuracies and bias in complex models. When the population size is small, old data are useful, and even a small amount of genomic information can substantially improve the accuracy. The effect of heat stress on first parity milk yield is small.

Keywords: accuracy, genomic selection, heat stress, linear regression method, ssGBLUP.

Sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior in a major city in South Brazil: A cross-sectional study

Research (Published online: 14-12-2021)

6. Sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior in a major city in South Brazil: A cross-sectional study

Graziela Ribeiro da Cunha, Camila Marinelli Martins, Maysa Pellizzaro, Christina Pettan-Brewer and Alexander Welker Biondo

Veterinary World, 14(12): 3111-3118

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Hoarding cases have not been researched in depth in developing countries, such as Brazil. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of people with hoarding behavior in Curitiba, Brazil.

Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted based on complaints about hoarding situations received by the City Hall. The data on sociodemographic, income, and environmental characteristics of individuals displaying animal and object hoarding behavior were obtained and analyzed using descriptive statistics and multiple correspondence analyses.

Results: Out of the 113 hoarding cases reported, 69 (61.06%) were fully assessed. Most of the participants (43; 62.32%) were women, and it was observed that most of the animal hoarding cases were women (p=0.02). The average age was 62.47 years old, and most of them (44; 63.76%) had studied up to the middle school level. People associated with object hoarding belonged to the lower income category (p=0.031). In most cases, the homes had an unpleasant odor (45; 65.21%), and this was prevalent in cases involving women (p=0.004) and animals (p=0.001). The risk of fire (24 [34.78%]) and landslip (9 [13.04%]) was more frequent in the case of object hoarding (p=0.018 and 0.021, respectively).

Conclusion: The description of characteristics of individuals with hoarding behavior may assist in understanding the magnitude of this public health problem in Brazil and shed light on the need to develop studies on the health conditions of people and animals that live in these situations.

Keywords: epidemiology, hoarding, population characteristics.

Development of multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for differentiation of strains of infectious bursal disease virus and primary screening of the virus in Thailand

Research (Published online: 14-12-2021)

5. Development of multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for differentiation of strains of infectious bursal disease virus and primary screening of the virus in Thailand

Nataya Charoenvisal

Veterinary World, 14(12): 3105-3110

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: A new set of primers (400 base pairs partial of VP2) was designed and used for the infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) screening test. Using this new primer set, the enzymes MboI and BstNI were unable to differentiate the field and vaccine strains. As a result, a new simple, cheap, and appropriate tool for strain differentiation is required. The objective of this study was to develop the appropriate restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for the differentiation of classic IBDV (cIBDV) strains and very virulent IBDV (vvIBDV) strains in Thailand.

Materials and Methods: Ninety seven bursa of Fabricius from 16 farms were collected from farms in the eastern and central regions of Thailand. RT-PCR screening showed that 82 samples were positive for IBDV and 15 samples were negative. Then, selected samples were sequenced from each farm with a positive test.

Results: The sequencing results showed that samples from six of the farms were vvIBDV and samples from the other six farms were cIBDV. Although the whole genome sequencing was incomplete, both the sequencing results of segment A and segment B showed high similarity between cIBDV and vvIBDV. Restriction enzyme cutting site and primers for multiplex RT-PCR were hard to design. An RT-PCR-RFLP method was developed, but it failed to differentiate IBDV strains. However, the multiplex RT-PCR was able to differentiate cIBDV from vvIBDV. Four primers were used in the multiplex RT-PCR.

Conclusion: These four primers were used together in one reaction at an annealing temperature of 45°C. Therefore, multiplex RT-PCR is a less complicated, cheaper, and less time-consuming method for the differentiation of cIBDV and vvIBDV strains.

Keywords: infectious bursal disease virus, multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, restriction fragment length polymorphism, strain, Thailand.

Antimicrobial resistance profile of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, adenosine-monophosphate-cyclic, and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria isolated from domestic animals

Research (Published online: 13-12-2021)

4. Antimicrobial resistance profile of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases, adenosine-monophosphate-cyclic, and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria isolated from domestic animals

Jôiciglecia Pereira dos Santos, Valesca Ferreira Machado de Souza, Marcos Wilker da Conceição Santos, Juliany Nunes dos Santos, Natilene Silva dos Santos, Angélica Prado de Oliveira, Valquíria Tatiele da Silva Rodrigues, Ianei Oliveira Carneiro and Layze Cilmara Alves da Silva Vieira

Veterinary World, 14(12): 3099-3104

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The production of beta-lactamase enzymes, such as extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), adenosine-monophosphate-cyclic (AmpC), and Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC), is one of the most important mechanisms of bacterial resistance to antimicrobials. Gram-negative bacteria show significant resistance due to various intrinsic and acquired factors. These intrinsic factors include low permeability of the outer membrane, various efflux systems, and the production of beta-lactamases, while acquired factors include chromosomal mutation and acquisition of resistance genes by horizontal transfer. Mobile elements such as plasmids, integrative conjugative elements, mobilizable islands, or transposable elements are involved in horizontal transfer. At present, the Gram-negative pathogens of most concern are Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and those belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family (e.g., Escherichia coli, K. pneumoniae, and Proteus mirabilis). This study aimed to evaluate the profile of antimicrobial resistance and the production of the enzymes ESBL, AmpC, and KPC, in 21 gram-negative bacteria isolated from domestic animals treated at the University Veterinary Hospital (HVU) of the Federal University of Western Bahia (UFOB).

Materials and Methods: The biological samples (21) were inoculated to brain heart infusion broth, blood agar, and MacConkey agar and incubated for 24-72 h at 37°C. Gram staining and identification through biochemical tests and matrix-associated laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry were conducted. To evaluate the antimicrobial resistance profile, the disk diffusion method was used, and 25 antibiotics were employed. For the detection of ESBL, the disk approximation method was applied using chromogenic agar. The presence of KPC was observed using chromogenic agar and the Hodge test. For AmpC evaluation, the disk approximation method was used.

Results: The most isolated agent was E. coli (66.66%, 14/21), followed by K. pneumoniae and P. mirabilis (both 14.29%, 3/21), and then Pasteurella spp. (4.76%, 1/21). The bacterial isolates showed high levels of resistance against clindamycin, penicillin, imipenem, polymyxin, cefoxitin, gentamycin, cefotaxime, ceftazidime, cephalothin, ceftriaxone, ciprofloxacin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, and tetracycline. The best effectiveness rates were observed for cefepime, streptomycin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, aztreonam, nalidixic acid, tobramycin, levofloxacin, amikacin, and meropenem. All biological isolates showed multiple resistance to at least three of the antibiotics tested (3/25), and some showed resistance to 24 of the antibiotics tested (24/25). Among the 21 pathogens analyzed, 8 were ESBL producers (38.09%); of these, 6 were identified as E. coli (28.57%), and 2 were identified as K. pneumoniae (9.52%). Two strains of K. pneumoniae produced both ESBL and KPC. None of the isolates were producers of AmpC.

Conclusion: The results found in the present work raise concern about the level of antimicrobial resistance among pathogens isolated from domestic animals in Brazil. The results highlight the need for the development and implementation of anti-resistance strategies to avoid the dissemination of multiresistant pathogens, including the prudent use of antimicrobials and the implementation of bacterial culture, antimicrobial sensitivity, and phenotypic tests for the detection of beta-lactamase enzymes in bacteria isolated from animals.

Keywords: antimicrobial resistance, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, phenotypic tests.

Assessment of the contamination of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) by pesticides: Case of market gardeners in Ouagadougou

Research (Published online: 11-12-2021)

15. Assessment of the contamination of Lactuca sativa L. (lettuce) and Lycopersicon esculentum (tomato) by pesticides: Case of market gardeners in Ouagadougou

Sibiri Sylvain Rouamba, François Tapsoba, Bazoin Sylvain Raoul Bazié, Ollo Youl, Saybou Savadogo, Elie Kabré, Lassana Sangaré and Aly Savadogo

International Journal of One Health, 7(2): 251-256

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: The use of pesticides in vegetable production can cause public health problems because these agrochemicals can leave residues in foodstuffs and disrupt the appropriate functioning of the organism. The aim of this study was to assess the level of contamination of lettuce and tomato by pesticide residues.

Materials and Methods: This study was conducted from February 12 to May 3, 2021, in concerned five market gardening sites in the city of Ouagadougou. A survey was conducted among 58 market gardeners selected at random from the sites of Boulmiougou, Tanghin No. 1 and 2, Bissigin, and the National School of Public Health. Simultaneously, 25 lettuce samples and 25 tomato samples were collected in a randomized manner for the examination and determination of pesticide residues using the quick, easy, cheap, effective, rugged, and safe method.

Results: The market gardening population was predominantly represented by women who had a low level of education. The cultivated species were a mixture of exotic cultures and traditional cultures. These crops were treated with various pesticides, the most common of which belonged to the organochlorine family. The tomato was the crop most contaminated by pesticide residues. However, no active ingredient from the synthetic pyrethroid family was found on lettuce or tomato.

Conclusion: Raising the awareness of market gardeners on good practices in the use of pesticides and on alternative methods to synthetic phytosanitary products is of paramount importance for the health of consumers.

Keywords: lettuce, market gardeners, Ouagadougou, pesticides, tomato.

Levels of insulin-like growth factor in bovine, goat, and sheep milk in different lactation periods: The etiological factor of cancer in humans

Research (Published online: 10-12-2021)

14. Levels of insulin-like growth factor in bovine, goat, and sheep milk in different lactation periods: The etiological factor of cancer in humans

Marian Simonov, Vasyl Vlizlo, Volodymyr Stybel, Ruslan Peleno, Volodymyr Salata, Taras Matviishyn, Mariia Кhimych and Oleksii Gorobei

International Journal of One Health, 7(2): 246-250

ABSTRACT

Background and Aim: Despite the positive aspects of consuming dairy products, there are also some reservations. Recently, a large number of publications have demonstrated convincing evidence of a relationship between the intake of dairy products and the development of cancer in humans. This study aimed to determine the level of insulin-like growth factor [IGF], which can cause cancer in consumers, in the milk of farm animals (cows, goats, and sheep) obtained at different stages of lactation.

Materials and Methods: Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and statistical method were used for data processing. The IGF level in milk was determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Milk was collected from cows of Holstein and Ukrainian Black-and-White dairy breed, goats of Alpine and Saanen breed, and sheep of Tsigai and East Friesian breed. Milk samples in cows were collected at the beginning, on the peak, and at the end of lactation.

Results: The obtained results showed that the highest IGF level was detected in milk obtained at the beginning of lactation, but its level depended on the animal species. More specifically, the highest level of the hormone was typical for goat's milk and for cow's milk of Holstein breed. Slightly lower values were revealed in the milk of cows of Black-and-White Ukrainian breed and sheep. During lactation, the absolute content of IGF in the milk of all studied animal species decreased. It should be noted that the most pronounced decrease in the IGF level in milk during lactation was noted in sheep (25-40 times), and minor changes were observed in goats (12-14 times). The results also showed that there were individual variations in the IGF level in milk in farm animals.

Conclusion: The highest IGF level was noted in goat's milk, and the lowest level was observed in sheep's milk. Cow's milk, in this regard, had an intermediate IGF level. The level of this particular hormone depends on the period of lactation and the individual characteristics of the animal. It is advisable to include IGF as one of the assessment factors of dairy products' safety because this hormone can cause cancer in consumers of milk and dairy products.

Keywords: cows, goats, insulin-like growth factor, lactation, milk, sheep.