Colistin Resistance Profiles and Genotypes of Escherichia coli Isolates from Dogs and Cats

Background: Nowadays, antibiotic resistance has become an important problem, posing a serious threat to both human and animal medicine. Colistin is one of the last-resort drugs for the treatment of particularly caused by multidrug resistant bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance of Escherichia coli strains against colistin and the presence of colistin resistance genes (mcr1, mcr2 and mcr3) in them. Antibiotyping and genotyping of all strains was also aimed. Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 75 isolates of Escherichia coli from healthy animals (38 dogs and 37 cats) were screened for colistin resistance by cultivation in a screening agar and then microbroth dilution method was performed. Antibiotic susceptibilities of the isolates were determined by KBDDM. The presences of mcr1, mcr2 and mcr3 genes were investigated by PCR. The colistin resistant strains were genotyped by using RAPD-PCR, and antibiotyped based on resistance profiles. In the screening test, 1 strain in cats and 2 strains in dogs were colistin-resistant. However, 18.6% of strains (from 14 cats and 3 dogs) were found as colistin-resistant in the microdilution test. MDR status was 76.31% and 97.29% in dog and cat strains, respectively. The colistin-resistant strains showed 78-100% and 65-90% similarities with respect to their antibiotypes and genotypes, respectively. mcr1, mcr2 and mcr3 genes were not found in any of the strains. Discussion: There is an increase in infections brought on by Gram negative bacteria with various antibiotic resistances in addition to infections brought on by bacteria that are antibiotic-resistant. In order to cure illnesses caused by resistant bacteria, the repurposing of outdated antibiotics may be on the table. Colistin is a crucial antibiotic in veterinary medicine, according to a number of published perspectives, although it should only be administered with caution. However, the discovery of the plasmid-derived mcr1 gene and subsequent reports that this gene has propagated around the world. Escherichia coli strains isolated from companion animals have been found to carry the mcr1 (colistin resistance gene), and possible human-animal cross-contamination has been looked into. The findings demonstrated that mcr1-carrying E. coli might inhabit pets and spread between people and animals. The cat and dog strains used in this investigation had variable colistin resistance rates, which varied between trials. Although no isolates were found to be positive for the mcr1-3 genes in this study, it is believed that colistin resistance, which is determined phenotypically, should not be ignored in terms of spreading both in cat and dog populations as well as in terms of risk to human health, given the possibility that resistance could occur with other different mechanisms. Epidemiological research still uses in vitro antibacterial susceptibility patterns. Our antibiotyping method, which was based on an analysis of several antibiotic resistances, provided quantitative data. Commercial software was utilized to conduct the evaluation. There are no reports or publications that provide quantitative antibiotyping data for E. coli strains in the literature. A popular technique for genotyping different bacterial species is RAPD-PCR. By determining if certain specific genotypes are similar to those of other resistance strains, RAPD-PCR and other genotyping data can be compared with antibiotic resistance profiles to determine the specific risk of treatment resistance in infectious diseases. All organisms that were colistin resistant exhibited multiple antibiotic resistance, and these findings were also related to RAPD genotypes. The findings indicated that colistin-resistant E. coli bacteria could potentially represent a risk to human health and were thought to be transmitted from cats and dogs to humans and vice versa. Keywords: antibiotyping, cats, colistin resistance, dogs, Escherichia coli, genotyping

Development and evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of Flavobacterium psychrophilum, Yersinia ruckeri and Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida in culture fisheries

Bacterial cold water disease, enteric red mouth disease and frunculosis are the common bacterial diseases of fish worldwide. The etiologic agents of these diseases are Flavobacterium (F.) psychrophilum, Yersinia (Y.) ruckeri and Aeromonas (A.) salmonicida subsp. salmonicida, respectively. In this study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (m-PCR) method with YER8/10-Fer3/4-FP1/3 primer pairs which can identify these fish pathogens simultaneously was developed and optimized. In optimized conditions, neither false specific nor nonspecific amplification occurred. The detection limits of the m-PCR method using DNA extracts from dilutions of pure cultures of bacteria were 35 pg for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 70 pg for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. It was determined that 15 CFU Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 30 CFU A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida could be detected by m-PCR developed using genomic DNA extracted from dilutions of the suspensions. The detection limits in the presence of tissue debris were 125 CFU for Y. ruckeri and F. psychrophilum and 250 CFU for A. salmonicida subsp. salmonicida. In conclusion, we submit that the m-PCR method developed and optimized in this study can be used for accurate and rapid identification of these bacteria

Detection of methicillin resistance and slime factor production of Staphylococcus aureus in bovine mastitis

This study aimed to detect methicillin resistant and slime producing Staphylococcus aureus in cases of bovine mastitis. A triplex PCR was optimized targetting 16S rRNA, nuc and mecA genes for detection of Staphylococcus species, S. aureus and methicillin resistance, respectively. Furthermore, for detection of slime producing strains, a PCR assay targetting icaA and icaD genes was performed. In this study, 59 strains were detected as S. aureus by both conventional tests and PCR, and 13 of them were found to be methicillin resistant and 4 (30.7%) were positive for mecA gene. Although 22 of 59 (37.2%) S. aureus isolates were slime-producing in Congo Red Agar, in PCR analysis only 15 were positive for both icaA and icaD genes. Sixteen and 38 out of 59 strains were positive for icaA and icaD gene, respectively. Only 2 of 59 strains were positive for both methicillin resistance and slime producing, phenotypically, suggesting lack of correlation between methicillin resistance and slime production in these isolates. In conclusion, the optimized triplex PCR in this study was useful for rapid and reliable detection of methicillin resistant S. aureus. Furthermore, only PCR targetting icaA and icaD may not sufficient to detect slime production and further studies targetting other ica genes should be conducted for accurate evaluation of slime production characters of S. aureus strains

HIGH RISK OF INTERNET ADDICTION AND ITS RELATIONSHIP WITH LIFETIME SUBSTANCE USE, PSYCHOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL PROBLEMS AMONG 10th GRADE ADOLESCENTS

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship of higher risk of Internet addiction (HRIA) with lifetime substance use, psychological and behavioral factors among Turkish 10th grade students. Subjects and methods: Cross-sectional online self-report survey conducted in 45 schools from the 15 districts in Istanbul, Turkey. A representative sample of 4957 10th grade students was studied between October 2012 and December 2012. Other than sociodemographic variables the survey included the Addiction Profile Index Internet Addiction Form-Screening Version (BAPINTSV) and the Psychological Screening Test for Adolescents (PSTA). Results: The participants were classified into two groups as those with HRIA (15.96%) and those with lower risk of Internet addiction. The rate of HRIA was higher in the males. The findings indicated that HRIA is related with negative consequences in school, lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol and/or drug, suicidal thoughts, self-harming and delinquent behaviors. Conclusions: Male gender, lifetime use of tobacco, alcohol and/or drug, depression, attention deficit and hyperactivity symptoms and lack of assertiveness predicted the HRIA in Turkish 10th grade students. Being aware of those with HRIA is important in prevention and management of Internet addiction as well as other important problems among students, such as substance use

Differences in the perception of social support and traumatic experiences in adolescents with substance use disorder and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

Objective: This study aims to examine the relationship between partner focused and romantic relationship obsessive compulsive with ruminative thinking style, body image, social appearance anxiety. The second aim of the study is to examine the sociodemographic variables thought to be related to relationship centered and partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms. Method: The data has been collected via internet from 689 individuals who were in a romantic relationship between the ages of 18-30. For the aim of collecting information, demographic information form, Partner Related Obsessive Compulsive Scale, Relationship Obsessive Compulsive Inventory, Ruminative Thought Style Questionnaire, Social Appearance Anxiety Scale and Body-Cathexis Scale have been used. Results: According to the performed structural equation modelling, it has been observed that ruminative thinking style predicts the relationship centered and partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms and sub-dimensions positively. Body image and social appearance anxiety positively predict the partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms and its sub-dimensions. Furthermore, it was found that partner focused obsessive compulsive symptoms positively predict relationship centered obsessive compulsive symptoms. Discussion: In this study, it was concluded that the model created with ruminative thinking style, body image and social appearance anxiety, which is thought to be effective in revealing partner focused and romantic relationship obsessive compulsive symptoms is an acceptable model. It is thought that investigating the structures that may be effective in revealing the symptoms will serve to better understand this obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) subtype and overall OCD and contribute to the diagnosis / treatment of this area

Gender differences according to psychological and behavioral variables among 10th grade students in Istanbul

Objective: Aim of this study was to determine the gender differences according to psychological and behavioral variables among 10th grade students in Istanbul/Turkey. Methods: Cross-sectional online self-report survey conducted in 45 schools from the 15 districts in Istanbul. The questionnaire included sections about demographic data and school life. Also depression, anxiety, anger, sensation seeking, assertivity and impulsivity subscales of Psychological Screening Test for Adolescents (PSTA) were used. The analyses were conducted based on the 4957 subjects. Results: Rate of males was 52.7% (n=2614). Mean age, sensation seeking and impulsivity scores were higher in males, whereas depression, anxiety, anger and lack of assertivity scores were higher in females. Rates of poor school success, disciplinary punishment, absenteeism, truancy before age of 13, physical harm from a friend, physical fight in last year, to bear arms and problem with the law were higher in males, whereas having suicidal ideation or attempt were higher in females. In logistic regression model, school related problems (poor school success, absenteeism and truancy before age of 13), delinquent behavior (physical fight in last year, to bear arms and physical harm from a friend), sensation seeking, and lower depression, anxiety, anger, impulsivity, lack of assertivity, and suicidal ideation differentiated males from females. Discussion: The findings suggest that females have higher psychological problems such as anger, depression and anxiety, which may also be related with suicidal thoughts, whereas males have higher school related and behavioral problems