Caseous Stomatitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Boa constrictor amarali

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that belongs to the microbiota of snakes, but it may also be an opportunistic pathogen and contaminate humans through fecal contact, bites, and injuries. In snakes, this microorganism may present high pathogenicity at certain conditions and have been associated with high morbidity and mortality. Reports of infection of Boa constrictor by this pathogen are rare. Thus, this study aimed to describe the P. aeruginosa oral infection in a snake specimen (Boa constrictor amarali), approaching the isolation and identification of the infectious agents involved, the antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance, and the therapeutic protocol adopted.Case: A free-living adult female specimen of Boa constrictor amarali (Amaral's boa), with no described previous history was rescued in an urban area by the Environmental Police. Clinical evaluations showed structures of caseous aspect in the oral cavity, with hyperemia spots in the mucosa. Samples of these lesions were sent for mycological examination, and fungal forms were not found. Samples were collected for isolation and culture. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated microorganisms was determined by the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. P. aeruginosa was isolated and showed susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin, and polymyxin-B; intermediate susceptibility to azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin; and resistance to cephalexin, ceftiofur, chloramphenicol, and enrofloxacin. The treatment consisted of cleaning of the oral cavity, local infiltration of lidocaine for debridement of the caseous area that were later cauterized with iodine. Systemic antibiotic therapy was used, with intramuscular administration of amikacin (5 mg/kg) for the first dose and (2.5 mg/kg) for the other doses with intervals of 72 h, and oral administration of metronidazole (20 mg/kg) with intervals of 48 h, both during 21 days. Daily subcutaneous fluid therapy was performed as support treatment, using Lactated Ringer's solution (25 mg/kg) and Vitamin C (10 mg/kg) with intervals of 24 h, being the cure observed at the end of treatment.Discussion: This paper presents the pathological findings of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa oral infection in a B. constrictor amarali. This bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen that is commonly found  in snakes, thus, humans in contact with these animals may be contaminated with this pathogen. However, oral cavity lesions associated with P. aeruginosa had not yet been related to Boa constrictor amarali, which is a non-venomous species. Few bacteria associated with reptile diseases are primary causative agents. Clinical bacterial infections generally tend to be secondary to viral infections. Predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in these reptiles include immunodepression, malnutrition, poor adaptation to captivity, and the maintenance of these animals at temperatures and humidities outside their thermal comfort range. In the present study, the P. aeruginosa behaved as an opportunistic pathogen, resulting in clinical manifestations with caseous lesions in the oral cavity, probably due to an imbalance of the microbiota caused by stress or immunodepression. The antibiogram allowed the adoption of a correct therapeutic protocol based on the susceptibility of the pathogen, resulting in remission of lesions and clinical signs after 21 days of treatment

Consumption of minas frescal cheese may be a source of human infection by Campylobacter jejuni

Campylobacter spp. is an emerging pathogen that causes gastroenteritis in humans and the consumption of dairy food can characterize sources of infection. We aimed to verify the viability and a presence of transcripts associated with characteristics of virulence and adaptation of C. jejuni isolated from Minas Frescal cheeses, produced with contaminated milk and stored under refrigeration for up to ten days. The samples were analyzed for bioindicators, Campylobacter spp., pH, acidity, moisture and sodium chloride. Campylobacter spp. recovered were evaluated for the production of transcripts of: ciaB, dnaJ, p19 and sodB. The results were correlated with the viability of C. jejuni and changes in their transcriptome. Storage at low temperatures reduced C. jejuni from the first to the fourth day. The variations in humidity, pH and acidity influenced the decreasing of C. jejuni. There was a reduction in transcripts' production of the four genes, more pronounced on the fourth day, indicating the inability of the microorganism to perform its metabolic activities, due to the conditions of injury. Despite the presence of mechanisms of virulence and adaptation, C. jejuni could not remain viable four days after production. However, consumption of fresh cheese contaminated with Campylobacter jejuni can be a source of infection when consumed up to four days after production

Virulence, antimicrobial resistance and spatial and seasonal distribution of Campylobacter coli isolated from chicken carcasses in Brazil

Campylobacter is one of the four most isolated foodborne diarrheal disease pathogens in the world, and C. coli is the second most closely related species to human campylobacteriosis. The pathogen is often isolated from chicken carcasses. Brazil is the largest exporter of chicken meat in the world, which places the country in a prominent position, and makes the characterization of C. coli in the country's slaughterhouses extremely important for the establishment of control measures. The dissertation was divided into two chapters, and the first chapter brings a bibliographical research to contextualize the reader about the subject, which will be addressed in the later chapter. The second chapter presents an epidemiological study of 83 strains of C. coli isolated from chicken carcasses slaughtered in establishments under Federal Inspection in three Brazilian states.The strains were isolated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply, through the ISO 10272:2017 methodology, and later, they were discriminated by species through mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). At the Molecular Epidemiology Laboratory of the Federal University of Uberlândia, the isolates were subjected to conventional PCR for 14 genes related to virulence, which were divided into five categories: biofilm formation (flaA, luxS), secretion system (cdtABC, hcp), invasion and colonization (cadF, ciaB, pldA), stress adaptation (dnaJ, htrA, cbrA), and Guillain-Barré syndrome induction (neuA, cstII). With the results, through the virulence profiles, indices of variability, virulence and multivirulence were determined. The strains were also submitted to the minimum inhibitory concentration test, to assess the phenotypic sensitivity to ciprofloxacin and erythromycin. In the end, a dendrogram of the isolates was generated from the spectra generated in the MALDI-TOF, in order to assess the distribution of the strains. C. coli isolates showed high virulence and specialization in invasion and colonization. The isolates showed 89.2% (76/83) resistance to ciprofloxacin and 55.4% (46/83) to erythromycin. Widespread genetic diversity was observed in state I, and states II and III showed local specificity. Our results suggest high virulence potential, resistance to the recommended antimicrobials in the treatment of campylobacteriosis, evidence of cross contamination and maintenance of virulent genotypes, emphasizing the need to adopt control measures in Brazilian slaughterhouses.CAPES - Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível SuperiorDissertação (Mestrado)Campylobacter é um dos quatro patógenos mais isolados de doenças diarreicas de origem alimentar no mundo, e C. coli é a segunda espécie mais relacionada a campilobacteriose humana. O patógeno é frequentemente isolado de carcaças de frango. O Brasil é o maior exportador de carne de frango no mundo, o que coloca o país em posição de destaque, e torna a caracterização de C. coli nos abatedouros do país, de suma importância para estabelecimento de medidas de controle. A dissertação foi dividida em dois capítulos, e o primeiro capítulo traz um levantamento bibliográfico para contextualizar o leitor acerca do assunto, que será abordado no capítulo posterior. O segundo capítulo traz um estudo epidemiológico de 83 cepas de C. coli isoladas de carcaças de frangos abatidas em estabelecimentos sob Inspeção Federal em três estados brasileiros. As cepas foram isoladas pelo Ministério da Agricultura, Pecuária e Abastecimento, através da metodologia ISO 10272:2017, e posteriormente, foram discriminadas por espécie utilizando espectrometria de massa (MALDI-TOF). No Laboratório de Epidemiologia Molecular da Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, os isolados foram submetidos a PCR convencional para determinar a presença de 14 genes relacionados à virulência, que foram divididos em cinco categorias: formação de biofilme (flaA, luxS), sistema de secreção (cdtABC, hcp), invasão e colonização (cadF, ciaB, pldA), adaptação a estresse (dnaJ, htrA, cbrA), e indução a Síndrome de Guillain-Barré (neuA, cstII). Foram construídos perfis de virulência e determinados os índices de variabilidade, virulência e multivirulência. As cepas foram submetidas ao teste de concentração inibitória mínima para avaliar a sensibilidade fenotípica a ciprofloxacina e eritromicina. No fim, foi gerado um dendrograma dos isolados a partir dos espectros gerados no MALDI-TOF, visando avaliar a disseminação das cepas. Os isolados de C. coli demonstraram elevado potencial virulento, e especialização em invasão e colonização. Os isolados apresentaram 89,2% (74/83) de resistência a ciprofloxacina e 55,4% (46/83) a eritromicina. Foi observada diversidade genética disseminada no estado I, e os estados II e III apresentaram especificidade local. Nossos resultados sugerem elevado potencial virulento, resistência aos antimicrobianos preconizados no tratamento de campilobacteriose, indícios de contaminação cruzada e manutenção de genótipos virulentos, enfatizando e a necessidade de adoção de medidas de controle em abatedouros brasileiros

Sanitary assessment of Blue and Yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna) in rehabilitation

A fauna silvestre brasileira é constantemente alvo de agressões, como exemplo do tráfico de animais, e entre as espécies alvo para o tráfico, estão as araras Canindé (Ara ararauna). Estas, quando recolhidas do tráfico pelas autoridades ambientais, são entregues aos Centro de Triagem de Animais Silvestres (CETAS) para que seja dado um destino. Através do Projeto Áreas de Soltura de Animais Silvestres (ASAS), é realizada a soltura de animais apreendidos por órgãos ambientais de volta na natureza. Desta maneira, uma avaliação do estado de saúde dos animais torna-se necessária, para evitar a introdução de doenças em áreas de soltura. Avaliou-se dez araras Canindé em reabilitação para soltura no município de Araguari, Minas Gerais, Brasil, através do projeto ASAS, com relação a hematologia, exames coproparasitológicos, soroaglutinação rápida para Salmonella Pullorum e Gallinarum e Mycoplasma synoviae e Mycoplasma gallisepticum e, por fim, PCR para Chlamydophila psittaci. Os animais apresentaram ovos de Capillaria sp. nas fezes, policitemia e eosinofilia nas análises sanguíneas. Não foram encontrados hemoparasitas. O exames sorológicos para Salmonella spp, Mycoplasma spp. foram negativos, assim como o PCR para Chlamydophila psittaci, também. Após recomendada a vermifugação, os animais foram considerados aptos para soltura

Caseous Stomatitis Caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Boa constrictor amarali

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a bacterium that belongs to the microbiota of snakes, but it may also be an opportunistic pathogen and contaminate humans through fecal contact, bites, and injuries. In snakes, this microorganism may present high pathogenicity at certain conditions and have been associated with high morbidity and mortality. Reports of infection of Boa constrictor by this pathogen are rare. Thus, this study aimed to describe the P. aeruginosa oral infection in a snake specimen (Boa constrictor amarali), approaching the isolation and identification of the infectious agents involved, the antimicrobial sensitivity and resistance, and the therapeutic protocol adopted.Case: A free-living adult female specimen of Boa constrictor amarali (Amaral's boa), with no described previous history was rescued in an urban area by the Environmental Police. Clinical evaluations showed structures of caseous aspect in the oral cavity, with hyperemia spots in the mucosa. Samples of these lesions were sent for mycological examination, and fungal forms were not found. Samples were collected for isolation and culture. The antimicrobial susceptibility of the isolated microorganisms was determined by the modified Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. P. aeruginosa was isolated and showed susceptibility to amikacin, gentamicin, and polymyxin-B; intermediate susceptibility to azithromycin, and ciprofloxacin; and resistance to cephalexin, ceftiofur, chloramphenicol, and enrofloxacin. The treatment consisted of cleaning of the oral cavity, local infiltration of lidocaine for debridement of the caseous area that were later cauterized with iodine. Systemic antibiotic therapy was used, with intramuscular administration of amikacin (5 mg/kg) for the first dose and (2.5 mg/kg) for the other doses with intervals of 72 h, and oral administration of metronidazole (20 mg/kg) with intervals of 48 h, both during 21 days. Daily subcutaneous fluid therapy was performed as support treatment, using Lactated Ringer's solution (25 mg/kg) and Vitamin C (10 mg/kg) with intervals of 24 h, being the cure observed at the end of treatment.Discussion: This paper presents the pathological findings of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa oral infection in a B. constrictor amarali. This bacterium is an opportunistic pathogen that is commonly found  in snakes, thus, humans in contact with these animals may be contaminated with this pathogen. However, oral cavity lesions associated with P. aeruginosa had not yet been related to Boa constrictor amarali, which is a non-venomous species. Few bacteria associated with reptile diseases are primary causative agents. Clinical bacterial infections generally tend to be secondary to viral infections. Predisposing factors for the development of bacterial diseases in these reptiles include immunodepression, malnutrition, poor adaptation to captivity, and the maintenance of these animals at temperatures and humidities outside their thermal comfort range. In the present study, the P. aeruginosa behaved as an opportunistic pathogen, resulting in clinical manifestations with caseous lesions in the oral cavity, probably due to an imbalance of the microbiota caused by stress or immunodepression. The antibiogram allowed the adoption of a correct therapeutic protocol based on the susceptibility of the pathogen, resulting in remission of lesions and clinical signs after 21 days of treatment