Isolation and characterization of Yersinia intermedia strains from pig tonsils in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

A total of 150 samples of pig tonsils were collected from slaughterhouse in Abidjan; the pigs were from pig farms located in different areas of Côte d’Ivoire. Samples were examined for the presence of Yersinia intermedia. Optimal recovery of Y. intermedia was achieved using two step enrichment procedures based on pre-enrichment in trypticase soya broth at 28 °C for 24 h, followed by cold enrichment method at 4 °C for 21 days in phosphate buffered saline broth. Then, Aulisio’s alkali treatment method was performed before streaking onto MacConkey agar. Six strains of Yersinia intermedia were isolated and tested for the following characteristics associated to the virulence in Y. enterocolitica such as pyrazinamidase activity and autoagglutinability. All the six strains were all positive for the pyrazinamidase test and four of them were autoagglutinable. Four strains were biotype 4/autoagglutinable and two were biotype 5/O:7,8-8-8,19. All the six strains of Yersinia intermedia were rhamnose negative and not motile at 25 °C. The results of antimicrobial resistance showed that all the strains presented multiple antibiotic resistance. The results indicate that 4% of pig tonsils from different farms collected at the slaughterhouse were contaminated with Yersinia intermedia. This study is the first which shows the presence of Yersinia intermedia in pigs in Côte d’Ivoire.Keywords: Yersinia intermedia, pig tonsils, prevalence, biotype, antibiotic resistance, Côte d’Ivoir

Prevalence of Salmonella and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in the District of Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire

A study was conducted to estimate the prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility and distribution of Salmonella strains in raw chicken gizzards in 11 municipalities (Abobo, Adjame, Anyama, Attecoube, Bingerville, Cocody, Koumassi, Marcory, Port-Bouet, Treichville and Yopougon) in the District of Abidjan. Sixty six (66) samples of chicken gizzards were collected between April and September 2012. From the total of 66 samples tested,  Salmonella was isolated in 77.27% (51/66). One hundred and four strains (104) were isolated and fifteen distinct serotypes identified: Derby (18.9 %), Budapest (17%), Essen and S. Kentucky (11.3%), Hadar (9.4%), Agona (7.5%), Chester, Ruiru, Schwarzengrund (3.8%), Aoto, Bargny, Elisabethville, Fortune, Poeslderf and Santiago (1.9%). Serogroup O:4 was the most prevalent (67.3 %). Prevalence of other serogroups were 18.3% for O:8, 10.6% for O:3,10, 1.9% for O:21, 1% for O:1,3,19 and O:13. Antibiotic profiles of Salmonella spp. showed 93.37 % of resistance to cotrimoxazole, 73.08% to tetracycline, 46.15% to ticarcilline, 35.58% to nalidixic acid and resistance rates . 30% to chloramphenicol and  ciprofloxacin. Strains were found susceptible to cefoxitim (100%),  cefotaxim (99.04 %), cephalotin (90.38%), amoxicillin and  amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (92.31%) and gentamycin (89.42%).Keywords: Salmonella, raw chicken gizzards, serogroups, antibiotic susceptibility, Cote dfIvoire

Children With Persistent Feeding Difficulties: An Observational Analysis of the Feeding Interactions of Problem and Non-Problem Eaters

This study examined the relationship between parent's feeding practices and the feeding behavior of toddlers and preschool-age children with (n = 19) or without (n = 26) persistent feeding difficulties. Specifically, patterns of parent-child interaction were assessed during standardized family mealtime observations in the clinic. Parents also kept observational records of their children's mealtime behavior at home and rated the degree of difficulty they experienced in feeding their child during each meal on a daily basis. Observational results showed that feeding-disordered children engaged in higher levels of disruptive mealtime behavior (food refusal, noncompliance, complaining, oppositional behavior, and playing with food) and lower levels of chewing during mealtime. There were several significant age effects, with younger children (under age 3) engaging in more vomiting and less aversive demanding and verbalizations. Parents of feeding-disordered children were more negative and coercive in their feeding practices and engaged in higher levels of aversive instruction giving, aversive prompting, and negative eating-related comments. There were several significant associations between coercive parental behaviors and children's food refusal and noncompliance in the sample as a whole. Measures of children's disruptiveness at mealtimes in the clinic were significantly correlated with measures of mealtime behavior in the home