Characterization of Staphylococcus pseudintermedius isolated from diseased dogs in Lithuania

The aim of this study was to characterize Staphylococcus pseudintermedius for its antimicrobial resistance and virulence factors with a special focus on methicillin-resistant (MRSP) strains isolated from sick dogs in Lithuania. Clinically sick adult dogs suffering from infections (n=214) and bitches with reproductive disorders (n=36) from kennels were selected for the study. Samples (n=192) from the 250 tested (76.8%) dogs were positive for Staphylococcus spp. Molecular profiling using the species-specific nuc gene identified 51 isolates as S. pseudintermedius (26.6% from a total number of isolated staphylococci) of which 15 isolates were identified as MRSP. Ten MRSP isolates were isolated from bitches with reproductive disorders from two large breeding kennels. Data on susceptibility of S. pseudintermedius to different antimicrobials revealed that all isolates were susceptible to vancomycin, daptomycin and linezolid. Two isolates (3.9%) were resistant to rifampicin. A high resistance was seen towards penicillin G (94.1%), tetracycline (64.7%) and macrolides (68.7%). Resistance to fluoroquinolones ranged from 25.5% (gatifloxacin) to 31.4% (ciprofloxacin). The most prevalent genes encoding resistance included blaZ, aac(6′)-Ie-aph(2″)-Ia, mecA, and tet(M). The Luk-I gene encoding a leukotoxin was detected in 29% of the isolates, whereas the siet gene encoding exfoliative toxin was detected in 69% of the S. pseudintermedius isolates. This report of MRSP in companion animals represents a major challenge for veterinarians in terms of antibiotic therapy and is a concern for both animal and public health

BIOMARKERS AMONG TERPENOIDS AND QUANTITY OF EPIPHYTIC MICROFLORA OF ARTEMISIA L. SPECIES NATIVE FOR LITHUANIA

Species belonging to Artemisia L. genus are rich in secondary metabolites (flavonoids, essential oils) and have been widely used in pharmacology and food industry. The concentration of the secondary metabolites depends on nutrition and developmental stage of the plant. Little is known about biology of Artemisia species (A. campestris L., A. vulgaris L. and A. absinthium L.) naturally growing in Lithuania. The aim of the work included evaluation of biomarkers among terpenoids in the plants, growing under different climatic and environmental conditions. Morphological properties of the plants were evaluated. For the quantity and chemical composition of the essential oils the following methods and techniques were used: gas chromatograph (HP 5890 II) with mass spectrometric detector (HP 5971), HPLC (chromatograph Waters 2690) equipped with VIS-UV detector (Waters 2487) and VIS-UV spectrophotometer (Genesys 5). The main biomarkers among terpenoids were determined (major specific compounds, with amount ³ 10 %): a- ir b -pinenes, sabinene, thujones, 1,8-cineole (for A. vulgaris), epoxi-ocimene (for A. absinthium), chrysanthenyl acetate (for A. vulgaris), trans-caryophyllene, germacrene D, trans-sabinyl acetate (for A. absinthium ), g-curcumene+acoradiene (for A. campestris). Synthesis of the secondary metabolites is influenced by nutrition and related to the quantity of the epiphytic microorganisms. According to the quantity of epiphytic microflora developmental differences were observed, also aboveground organ specificity was documented. No expressed differences were found between investigated species according to the amount of surface microorganisms. The differences in nitrogen nutrition got the best reflection in the ratio of the amounts of bacteria and fungi

Formowanie i antybakteryjne właściwości elektroprzędzionych włóknin PVA zawierających małe ilości nanocząstek srebra

Electrospinning is a process which produces nonwoven material from nano/microfibres. The aim of this study was to electrospin poly(vinyl alcohol) nano/microfibres material with small amount of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs), and estimate the influence of Ag-NPs on the structures and antibacterial properties of nonwoven materials. It was found that the Ag-NPs concentration does not have a significant influence on the viscosity and morphologies of electrospun materials. The addition of Ag-NPs causes the formation of thinner PVA nano/microfibres. The antibacterial activity test showed that a small amount of Ag-NPs provides antibacterial properties to electrospun PVA nano/microfibres. Antibacterial properties were tested with different bacteria: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 12453, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. It was also noticed that the concentration of Ag-NPs in nonwoven materials affects antibacterial properties. Clearly superior antibacterial properties were obtained from nonwoven materials with a higher concentration of Ag-NPs.Celem badań było wyprzędzenie włóknin z alkoholu poliwinylowego składających się z cienkich (nano-/mikro-) włókien zawierających małe ilości nanocząstek srebra. Badano wpływ ilości nanocząstek srebra na strukturę i właściwości antybakteryjne otrzymanych włóknin. Stwierdzono, że stężenie nanocząstek srebra nie wywiera istotnego wpływu na lepkość roztworu przędzącego i morfologię wyprzędzionych włókien. Dodatek mikrocząstek srebra prowadzi do otrzymania cieńszych włókien. Stwierdzono, że już małe ilości cząstek nanosrebra powodują uzyskanie właściwości antybakteryjnych. Badano je stosując następujące szczepy: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923, Staphylococcus epidermidis ATCC 12228, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, Proteus mirabilis ATCC 12453, Bacillus cereus ATCC 11778 and Candida albicans ATCC 10231. Stwierdzono również, że stężenie nanocząstek srebra we włóknach polepsza właściwości antybakteryjne

Phenotypical and genotypical antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from cow mastitis

The objectives of this study were to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) isolated from dairy cows with subclinical mastitis. Antimicrobial resistance in staphylococci were evaluated by breakpoint values specific to the species (EU-CAST). The presence of resistance-encoding genes was detected by multiplex PCR. A total of 191 CNS isolates were obtained. The CNS isolates were typically resistant to penicillin (67.4%), tetracyc-line (18.9%), and erythromycin (13.7%). CNS isolates (78.0%) were resistant to at least one antimicrobial compound, and 22.0% were multiresistant. The multiresistant isolates were predominantly Staphylococcus chromogenes (28.6%), Staphylococcus warneri (19%) and Staphylococcus haemolyticus (14.3%). According to MIC pattern data, multiresistant isolates showed the highest resistance (p<0.05) rates to penicillin (85.7%), tetracycline (66.7%), and erythromycin (48.2%), but all of them were sensitive to daptomycin, oxacillin, qiunupristin/dalfopristin, and vancomycin. S. chromogenes (9.5%), S. haemolyticus (4.8%), and S. capitis ss capitis (2.4%) strains were resistant to methicillin; their resistance to oxacillin and penicillin was more than 8 mg/l. A high rate of resistance to penicillin was linked to a blaZ gene found in 66.6% of the isolated multiresistant CNS strains. Resistance to tetracycline via the tetK (38.1%) gene and penicillin via the mecA (23.8%) gene were detected less frequently. Gene msrAB was responsible for macrolides and lincosamides resistance and detected in 28.6% of the CNS isolates. Antimicrobial resistance genes were identified more frequently in S. epidermidis, S. chromogenes, and S. warneri

Helicobacter pylori antibodies and gastric cancer: a gender-related difference

Helicobacter pylori has been proposed as a causative agent of gastric cancer. The aim of this study was to define serum antibodies response against different H. pylori antigens in patients with gastric cancer. Serum samples were collected from 115 Lithuanian patients with non-cardia gastric cancer and 110 age- and sex-matched controls without cancer. Heat-stable, low-molecular-mass, and outer membrane proteins were used as antigens to analyze serum IgG antibody response against H. pylori by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Seroprevalence of H. pylori using low-molecular-mass antigen was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients, compared to controls (77% versus 57%, p < 0.05). Significant differences in the prevalence of H. pylori infection between gastric cancer patients and controls were found in females using all three studied antigens: heat-stable (98% versus 84%, p < 0.05), low-molecular-mass (88% versus 48%, p < 0.05) and outer membrane proteins (78% versus 57%, p < 0.05). In males, no significant differences were revealed between gastric cancer patients and controls. There may be other cofactors in addition to H. pylori that are important for the development of gastric cancer. H. pylori seems, however, to be a more important for development of gastric cancer in females than in males or males may have more confounding risk factors for gastric cancer than females

The humoral immune response to Helicobacter pylori infection in children with gastrointestinal symptoms

The prevalence of Helicobacter pylori is high in Eastern Europe. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of H. pylori in symptomatic Lithuanian children and to identify the infection by clinicopathological and serological analyses. One hundred sixteen symptomatic children (age 8-16) with gastritis and duodenal ulcer were included. Biopsies were histologically assessed according to the Sydney-System. Serum IgG antibodies against H. pylori were detected by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), using low molecular mass antigen. The western blot technique was used to detect serum antibodies against the cytotoxin-associated protein (CagA) using whole cell antigen. Histologically the prevalence of H. pylori infection was 79% and not influenced by demographic factors. Mucosal inflammation and atrophy were associated with a H. pylori infection. Intestinal metaplasia was found in eight children, suggesting early H. pylori acquisition in life. Increased levels of IgG antibodies were detected in 57% of children. The prevalence of IgG antibodies was significantly higher in patients with duodenal ulcer compared to children with gastritis. Forty-four (67%) H. pylori-seropositive children had antibodies against CagA. Low molecular weight-ELISA and whole cell-western blot results were significantly associated with histopathology, the presence of duodenal ulcer and the CagA status. A high number of false seronegative cases were due to poor immunological responses in children and poor locally validated tests. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in Lithuanian children is higher compared to Western Europe. The infection is acquired in early life. Diagnosing H. pylori infection, serology is helpful, but endoscopy/histology remains as gold standard