Contribution of Capsule to Virulence and Antibiotic Sensitivity of Klebsiella ozaenae Identified by Phenotypic and Molecular Methods

The respiratory colonizer K. ozaenae can cause a broad spectrum of infections, and it always misdiagnoses by phenotypic procedures. The role of capsule has not been proved in K. ozaenae yet. One hundred (100) clinical specimens were taken from patients suffering different infections. After phenotypic identification by cultural, microscopic, and biochemical tests, the suspected K. ozaenae isolates subjected to molecular identification using 16S rRNA gene. The non-capsulated K. ozaenae isolate was prepared from higher muco-viscous capsulated K. ozaenae isolate. Mice were injected intraperitoneally by capsulated and non-capsulated K. ozaenae, then bacterial burden in the spleen, liver, and blood was compared and histopathological lesions were detected in liver. Susceptibility of K. ozaenae with and without capsule to different antibiotics concentrations was tested at 600nm wavelength. Phenotypically, 3 (3%) isolates of K. ozaenae were identified, while results of 16S rRNA gene were concordant in 2/3 (2%) isolates and discordant in 1/3 (1%) isolate. Significant differences were showed between the increased log number of capsulated K. ozaenae isolate and decreased log number of non-capsulated K. ozaenae isolate that recovered from mice spleen, liver, and blood. Severe pathological lesions were observed in mice liver infected by capsulated K. ozaenae compared with non-capsulated K. ozaenae isolate. No-significant differences were found between the growth of capsulated and non-capsulated K. ozaenae isolate treated with the same antibiotic concentration. 16S rRNA are useful molecular tool to avoid misidentification of K. ozaenae. Removal of capsule decreases virulence of K. ozaenae, but not affect its sensitivity to antibiotics

Occupational leptospirosis as an underreported disease in high-risk groups: implications for prevention and control measures

Leptospirosis is a neglected zoonotic disease with no particular or verified symptoms, which has been underreported as an occupational infection.Leptospirainterrogans serovar Icterohaemorrhagiae andL. interrogansserovarGrippotyphosaare the two major pathogenic serovars. Professionals who are in constant contact with animals and their residues, in water supply, rice mill, slaughtering houses, hospital sanitary places, strawberry picking, construction works, agriculture working, forest working and food industry are at highest risk. Factors related to occupational, environmental, and recreational aspects and the presence of wild reservoirs of leptospirosis will be discussed in this concise review. Noticeably, lack of early identification, international travelling, skin wounds, sanitary and washing habitations after contact with animals, delay in treatment, and unhealthy behaviors of adolescents contribute to the disease. Hence, public education for people's awareness is essential. For instance, farmers, students, forest keepers, veterinary surgeons or veterinarians, and abattoir workers should take care by wearing cloth, such as long trousers and a long-sleeved shirt, and simple gloves to hinder the infection acquisition through skin. For people engaged in water sports, covering skin abrasions with waterproof dressings and wearing protective clothing can prevent disease transmission. However, there is no same control strategy applicable to all epidemiological wards universally. Furthermore, ecoepidemiological and cultural characteristics should be well recognized. Copyright (C) 2020 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved. Keywords:leptospirosis; occupational diseases; risk factors; zoonose