6 research outputs found

    Prevalence, species differentiation, haemolytic activity, and antibiotic susceptibility of aeromonads in untreated well water

    Get PDF
    The use of untreated water for drinking and other activities have been associated with intestinal and extraintestinal infections in humans due to Aeromonas species. In the present study aeromonads were isolated from 48.7% of 1,000 water samples obtained from wells and other miscellaneous sources. Aeromonas species were detected in 45% of samples tested in spring, 34.5% in summer, 48% in autumn and 60% of samples tested in winter. Speciation of 382 strains resulted in 225 (59%) being A. hydrophila, 103 (27%) A. caviae, 42 (11%) A. sobria and 11 (3%) atypical aeromonads. Of 171 Aeromonas strains tested for their haemolytic activity, 53%, 49%, 40% and 37% were positive in this assay using human, horse, sheep and camel erythrocytes respectively. The results obtained indicate that potentially enteropathogenic Aeromonas species are commonly present in untreated drinking water obtained from wells in Libya (this may also apply to other neighbouring countries) which may pose a health problem to users of such water supplies. In addition, ceftriaxone and ciprofloxacin are suitable drugs that can be used in the treatment of Aeromonas-associated infections, particularly, in the immunocompromised, resulting from contact with untreated sources of water

    Serotypes, virulence factors, antibiotic sensitivity, beta-lactamase activity and plasmid analysis of Salmonella from children with diarrhea in Tripoli (Libya)

    No full text
    A total of 21 Salmonella strains isolated in Libya (16 from children with diarrhea and 5 from healthy controls) were serotyped and studied for their cell invasive ability, production of cytotoxin, antibiotic susceptibility, β-lactamase activity and plasmid profiles. Eight different serotypes of Salmonella were identified: 6 S. saintpaul , 4 S. wien (1 from control), 2 S. newport , 2 S. muenchen (1 from contr ol), 2 S. typhimurium (1 from control) , 2 S. hadar (1 from control), 2 S. reading (1 from control), 1 S. kottbus . Twenty (95%) were positive in the invasiveness assay using HeLa cells, and all (100%) were negative for cytotoxin production in HT29 cells. More than 40% were resistant to ampicillin, cefalexin, cefam andole, cefoperazone, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, mezlocillin and trimethoprim- sulphamethoxazole and 100% were susceptible to the new quinolones. Most (67%) of the strains harbored plasmids and 43% produced β-lactamase. A strong association was observed between the presence of more than one plasmid, β-lactamase activity, and multiple-resistance to antimicrobial agents and serotypes S. saintpa ul and S. wien . Curing experiments with acridine orange showed that 2 plasmids (33 and 1.4 megadaltons ) might be responsible for the resistance to chloramphenicol and gentamicin. The present study demonstrated that multiple-resistant salmonellae are widesp read in Libya and the resistance is mainly plasmid mediated

    Enteric Pathogens Associated with Childhood Diarrhea in Tripoli-Libya

    No full text
    Stool samples from children < 5 years of age with diarrhea (N = 239) were examined for enteric pathogens using a combination of culture, enzyme-immunoassay, and polymerase chain reaction methods. Pathogens were detected in 122 (51%) stool samples; single pathogens were detected in 37.2% and co-pathogens in 13.8% of samples. Norovirus, rotavirus, and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) were the most frequently detected pathogens (15.5%, 13.4%, and 11.2%, respectively); Salmonella, adenovirus, and Aeromonas were detected less frequently (7.9%, 7.1%, and 4.2%). The most commonly detected DEC was enteroaggregative E. coli (5.4%). Resistance to ≥ 3 antimicrobials was observed in 60% (18/30) of the bacterial pathogens. Salmonella resistance to ciprofloxacin (63.1%) has become a concern. Enteric viral pathogens were the most significant causative agents of childhood diarrhea in Tripoli. Bacterial pathogens were also important contributors to pediatric diarrhea. The emergence of ciprofloxacin-resistant Salmonella represents a serious health problem that must be addressed by Libyan health authoritie
    corecore