Serological Investigations of Brucellosis in Cattle, Farmers and Veterinarians in the Kars District of Turkey

The prevalence of brucellosis was investigated in cattle, farmers and veterinarians in the Kars district of Turkey between 2004 - 2006. In order to achieve this, a total of 407 serum samples of cattle from 27 herds having history of abortions were examined for Brucella antibodies by RBPT and SAT. In addition, the sera collected from 246 farmers (130 males and 116 females) and 28 veterinarians in the same district were analysed serologically by RBPT, SAT and ELISA. Of the cattle sera analysed, 134 (32.92%) and 141 (34.64%) were determined as positive by RBPT and SAT, respectively. Thirty-two (13%), 35 (14.22%) and 44 (17.88%) of the farmers' sera were found positive for brucellosis by RBPT, SAT and ELISA, respectively. There was no significant difference between sexes for Brucella seropositivity. Of the 28 sera from veterinarians, 13 (46.42%) were positive by the three serological tests. The high prevalence of brucellosis both in cattle and humans suggests that brucellosis is common in this area. Preventive and control measures should be implemented and pursued more strictly to reduce and/or eradicate brucellosis from the area

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy as a novel approach for analyzing the biochemical effects of anionic surfactants on a surfactant-degrading acrobacter butzleri strain

Cataloged from PDF version of article.Anionic surfactant-biodegrading capability of an Arcobacter butzleri strain was analyzed under aerobic conditions. The A. butzleri isolate displayed efficient surfactant-biodegrading capacity for sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) at concentrations of up to 100 mg/L in 6 days, corresponding to 99.0% removal efficiency. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to observe the effects of varying concentrations of SDS on the biochemistry of bacterial cells. Results suggest that protein secondary structures were altered in bacterial cells at sufficiently high SDS concentrations, concurrent with SDS biodegradation

CHMP1A encodes an essential regulator of BMI1-INK4A in cerebellar development

Charged multivesicular body protein 1A (CHMP1A; also known as chromatin-modifying protein 1A) is a member of the ESCRT-III (endosomal sorting complex required for transport-III) complex but is also suggested to localize to the nuclear matrix and regulate chromatin structure. Here, we show that loss-of-function mutations in human CHMP1A cause reduced cerebellar size (pontocerebellar hypoplasia) and reduced cerebral cortical size (microcephaly). CHMP1A-mutant cells show impaired proliferation, with increased expression of INK4A, a negative regulator of stem cell proliferation. Chromatin immunoprecipitation suggests loss of the normal INK4A repression by BMI in these cells. Morpholino-based knockdown of zebrafish chmp1a resulted in brain defects resembling those seen after bmi1a and bmi1b knockdown, which were partially rescued by INK4A ortholog knockdown, further supporting links between CHMP1A and BMI1-mediated regulation of INK4A. Our results suggest that CHMP1A serves as a critical link between cytoplasmic signals and BMI1-mediated chromatin modifications that regulate proliferation of central nervous system progenitor cells

First isolation report of Arcobacter cryaerophilus from a human diarrhea sample in Costa Rica

ABSTRACT Arcobacter cryaerophilus is an emerging enteropathogen and potential zoonotic agent transmitted by food and water. In Costa Rica, this bacterium has not been associated with cases of human gastroenteritis, even though it has been isolated from farm animals, especially poultry. This paper reports the first isolation of A. cryaerophilus from a human case of bloody watery diarrhea and the virulence genes associated with this isolate

Clonality of Campylobacter sputorum bv. paraureolyticus determined by macrorestriction profiling and biotyping, and evidence for long-term persistent infection in cattle.

Eighteen strains of Campylobacter sputorum bv. paraureolyticus (isolated over a 12-month period from seven dairy cows contained in a single herd) were examined by resistotyping, and macrorestriction profiling using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The resistotypes of these strains were identical, although repeat testing indicated resistance to metronidazole was not a reliable trait for typing purposes. Five SmaI-derived genotypes were identified among the 18 strains. In 5 of 7 cows, isolates obtained from the same animal, but from different time periods, were genotypically indistinguishable, indicating persistence of infection. Macrorestriction profiles of 5 strains representing the 5 SmaI genotypes and 8 other strains of C. sputorum from various sources, were prepared using 4 endonucleases (SmaI, SalI, BamHI and KpnI). The only other strain of C. sputorum bv. paraureolyticus examined (a Canadian isolate from human faeces), was found to have a SmaI macrorestriction profile identical with one of the five clones isolated from the cattle. Moreover, SalI and BamHI profiles of all bv. paraureolyticus strains were similar, while digestion with KpnI was not observed. By contrast, the seven strains of C. sputorum bv. sputorum yielded various macrorestriction profiles with all the enzymes used, and features distinguishing the two biovars studied could be identified. This study indicates that C. sputorum can persist in cattle for at least 12 months and exhibits a clonal population genetic structure

Discrimination of Arcobacter butzleri isolates by polymerase chain reaction-mediated DNA fingerprinting

Aims: The objective of this study was to subtype Arcobacter butzleri isolates using RAPD-PCR.AIMS: The objective of this study was to subtype Arcobacter butzleri isolates using RAPD-PCR.METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five A. butzleri isolates obtained from chicken carcasses were examined. PCR-mediated DNA fingerprinting technique with primers of the variable sequence motifs was used to detect polymorphism within the isolates. Eleven distinct DNA profiles were obtained as follows: Of the 35 strains, 10 as profile 4; seven as profile 1; five as profile 3; three as profiles 2 and 9; two as profile 10; one as profiles 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11.CONCLUSIONS: Chicken carcasses sold in markets were found to be contaminated with several different strains of A. butzleri. RAPD-PCR technique was found to be a useful technique for distinguishing A. butzleri isolates.SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The presence of several different A. butzleri strains on chicken carcasses may indicate multiple sources of contamination. The epidemiological role of A. butzleri in human and animal diseases should be investigated further

Lytic Activity of Various Phage Cocktails on Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria

Purpose: A bacteriophage is a virus that infects and replicates within a bacterium following the injection of phage genome into the bacterial cytoplasm. They are seen as a possible therapy for multi-drug-resistant strains of many bacteria. The aim of this study is to evaluate the lytic activity of the Pyo, Intesti and Fersisi bacteriophage cocktails on P. aeruginosa and S. aureus. Methods: Ten different S. aureus and P. aeruginosa strains, which were isolated from hospitalized patients in Turkey, were used in the study. The identification and antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates were performed using Vitec 2 system. The identities of the isolates were confirmed by a species-specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assay. Lytic activity of the bacteriophage cocktails on bacteria was determined by spot test and plaque assay methods. Results: The lytic activity of the Pyo phage cocktail was evaluated on P. aeruginosa and S. aureus strains. It was found that eight isolates of MDR S. aureus were susceptible to Pyo phage cocktail and two isolates were resistant. Nine isolates of antibiotic-resistant P. aeruginosa were found to be susceptible to this phage cocktail and one isolate was resistant. Thus, the Pyo, Intesti and Fersisi cocktails are very effective in treating clinical strains of multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa and S. aureus isolated in Turkey. Conclusion: The Pyo, Intesti and Fersisi cocktails may prove useful in the treatment of various infections caused by those bacteria

Prevalence and distribution of Arcobacter species in various sources in Turkey and molecular analysis of isolated strains by ERIC-PCR

Aims: To determine the prevalence of Arcobacter in various food, animal and water sources in Turkey and to subtype the isolated strains using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR.Aims: To determine the prevalence of Arcobacter in various food, animal and water sources in Turkey and to subtype the isolated strains using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR.Methods and Results: A total of 806 samples consisting of chicken (100) and turkey meat (100); minced beef (27); rectal swabs from cattle (173), sheep (68) and dogs (62); cloacal swabs of broilers (100) and layers (100); gall bladders of cattle (50) and drinking water samples (26) were examined. A previously described membrane filtration method was used for the isolation. Isolates were identified at species level using multiplex-PCR and discriminated by ERIC-PCR for subtyping. Ninety-eight (12·1%) of the samples examined were found positive for arcobacters. Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 68%, 4%, 6·9%, 8% and 37% of chicken and turkey meats, rectal swabs and gall bladders of cattle and minced beef, respectively. No arcobacters were obtained from the rectal swabs of sheep and dogs, cloacal swabs of broilers and layers, and water samples examined. In total, 99 Arcobacter isolates were obtained. Of these isolates, 92 were identified as Arcobacter butzleri, five were Arcobacter skirrowii and two were Arcobacter cryaerophilus. Thirteen distinct DNA profiles among A. butzleri isolates were obtained by the ERIC-PCR. Of these profiles, eight were from chicken carcass, three from cattle rectal swab and two from minced beef meat isolates. Some of the isolates originated from different sources gave the same DNA profiles. All isolates of A. skirrowii and A. cryaerophilus gave different DNA profiles.Conclusions: Poultry carcasses, minced beef meat, rectal swabs and gall bladders of cattle were found to be positive for Arcobacter spp. A. butzleri was the predominant species isolated. In addition, large heterogeneity among the Arcobacter isolates was determined.Significance and Impact of the Study: Contamination of the poultry carcasses and minced beef meat, rectal and gall bladder samples of cattle with arcobacters poses a risk for both human and animal infections. Detection of several different Arcobacter strains may suggest multiple sources for contamination and infection