Antibiotic susceptibility and high prevalence of extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Escherichia coli in iranian broilers

Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Escherichia coli have rapidly spread worldwide and cause serious threats for public health. The study was conducted to determine the antibiotic resistance and characterization of ESBL producing E. coli strains isolated from broilers in Northern Iran. Antibiotic susceptibility test was done for a total of 100 isolates of E. coli, recovered from 240 broiler fecal samples at the slaughterhouse stage. ESBL production was screened using double-disc synergy test (DDST) and presence of four ESBL genes including blaPER, blaVEB, blaTEM and blaCTX-M was tested using PCR. Among 100 strains isolated from broilers, 53 were identified as ESBL-producing E. coli. All (100) ESBL positive isolates were typed according to the presence of one or two ESBL-associated genes. The most prevalent gene among ESBLs was CTX-M (60.3) and the PER gene was not present among isolates. All isolates in this study were resistant to colistin and nalidixic acid but were 100 sensitive to cefalexin and furazolidone. The results demonstrated the high prevalence of antibiotic resistant and ESBL producing E. coli among broilers which representing the risk of increasing these strains in human infections associated with food animals

Occurrence of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter in pet birds of northern Iran

ΔΕΝ ΔΙΑΤΙΘΕΤΑΙ ΠΕΡΙΛΗΨΗPet birds can harbor human pathogens and contribute to the transmission of infectious agents to human. Since many people are interested in keeping pet birds, this study was conducted in pet birds from Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Totally, 174 fecal samples of pet birds (cockatiel, canary, lovebird, parrot, mynah, goldfinch, budgerigar, macaw, dove, pigeon, and bulbul) were collected with sterile cotton swabs and submitted to Faculty ofVeterinary Medicine, Department of Pathobiology (Amol, Iran). After extraction of total DNA, the samples subjected to molecular detection of the Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter using polymerase chain reaction. A total of 114 (65.5%), 28 (16%), and 86 (49.4%) samples were found positive for Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter, respectively. Furthermore, some birds showed contamination with two or all three of these bacteria. Results showed that mentioned bacteria can be detected from the apparently healthy pet birds. Therefore pet birds can be considered as potential carriers of these enteropathogens

Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of emergent Arcobacter spp. isolated from cattle and sheep in Iran

This study is conducted to determine the occurrence and antimicrobial resistance of Arcobacter spp. isolated from clinically healthy food animals. A total of 308 samples from cattle (200) and sheep (108) were collected from Shiraz slaughterhouse, southern Iran to investigate the presence of the important Arcobacter spp. using cultivation and Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility of Arcobacter isolates was determined for 18 antibiotics using disk diffusion method. Among 308 samples, 27 (8.7) and 44 (14.28) were positive for the presence of Arcobacter species with cultivation and PCR procedures, respectively. The predominant species was A. butzleri in both cattle (58.33) and sheep (55). In addition, concurrent incidence of the species was observed in 25 of the positive samples. All Arcobacter isolates were resistant to rifampicin, vancomycin, ceftriaxone, trimethoprim and cephalothin. The isolates showed high susceptibility to tetracycline, oxytetracycline, erythromycin, ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, amikacin, gentamicin and enrofloxacin. No significant difference among cattle and sheep isolates in resistance pattern was observed. The results indicate that cattle and sheep are significant intestinal carriers for Arcobacter spp. Moreover, tetracycline and aminoglycosides showed great effects on Arcobacter species in antibiogram test and can be used for treatment of human Arcobacter infections. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd

Hygrothermal durability of bond in FRP-strengthened masonry

Fiber reinforced polymers (FRPs) are accepted as an efficient material for external strengthening of masonry structures. Previous researches have shown that the bond between FRP and the substrate plays an important role in the effectiveness of this strengthening technique. Extensive investigations have been devoted to the characterization of the short-term bond behavior, while its durability and long-term performance requires further studies. In this regard, a full experimental program for investigating the environmental durability of bond in FRP-strengthened masonry is crucial for understanding the degrading mechanisms. This paper presents the results of an experimental program aimed at investigating the hygrothermal durability of bond in FRP-strengthened bricks. Accelerated ageing tests were performed on the FRP-strengthened brick elements and the bond degradation was periodically investigated by visual inspection and by conventional single-lap shear bond tests. The changes in the properties of material constituents have also been monitored. The obtained results are presented and critically discussed.This work was developed within the framework of the RILEM Technical Committee "223-MSC: Masonry Strengthening with Composite Materials". The financial support from the project FP7-ENV-2009-1-244123-NIKER of the 7th Framework Program of the European Commission is gratefully acknowledged. The first author also acknowledges the financial support of the Portuguese Science Foundation (Fundacao de Ciencia e Tecnologia, FCT), through grant SFRH/BD/80697/2011

Maslow in the Mud: Contrast between qualitative and quantitative assessment of thermal performance in historic buildings.

This paper argues that the notion of comfort is first and foremost re-lated to subjective choices and individual value systems. The article presents re-sults from research on the perception and measurements of the thermal qualities of heritage buildings in Lincolnshire, UK. The qualitative and quantitative re-sults identified a strong contrast between different methodologies. Inhabitants describe as comfortable houses which would not be considered comfortable if a standard positivist approach was used. The conflict presented will be dis-cussed in the context of sustainable strategies in architecture

The Relationship between the Rate of the Use of Computer Games and Academic Procrastination: The Mediatory Role of Goal Orientation in Elementary School Students

This study intended to investigate the relationship between the rate of the use of computer games and elementary school students’ academic procrastination considering the mediatory role of goal orientation. To this end, using a multi-stage cluster sampling procedure, 213 male and female elementary school students (112 female and 101 male students) were selected from the two educational districts of Shiraz. The instruments used in the study included a questionnaire on Academic Procrastination (Savari, 2011), one on Goal Orientation (Elliott, 1999 and McGregor, 2001) and a researcher-made questionnaire on the time spent using computer games daily. Regarding the first two questionnaires, Cronbach's alpha method was used to estimate the reliability and validity of the correlations of the items with the dimensions and the correlation of the dimensions with the total score was also used. The obtained results confirmed the acceptable validity and reliability of the questionnaires. To evaluate the model, path analysis was utilized using SPSS 21 software. Results indicated that there was a negative and significant relationship between academic procrastination, mastery-oriented goal orientation and the rate of the use of computer games. Furthermore, the mastery-avoidance goal orientation was a positive and significant predictor of academic procrastination. However, there was not any statistically significant difference between male and female students in terms of the relationship between goal orientation (performance-oriented, performance-avoidance, mastery-oriented, and mastery-avoidance) and the rate of the use of computer games. Findings of the research indicated that there was a negative and significant relationship between academic proclivity and goal orientation-dominant and tenderness-performance. Also, the use of computer games predicted a positive and significant predictive of academic achievement and predicted a negative and significant predictive the mastery-avoidance goal orientation. Also, there was no significant difference between male and female students in terms of academic procrastination and goal orientation

Prevalence and antibiotic resistance pattern of bacteria isolated from urinary tract infections in Northern Iran

Background: This study aimed to investigate the bacteria associated with urinary tract infection (UTI) and antibiotic susceptibility pattern of the isolates during 2013-2015 in Northern Iran. Materials and Methods: Overall 3798 patients with clinical symptoms of UTI were subjected as samples, and they were cultured and pure isolated bacteria were identified using biochemical tests and subjected to antibiogram assessment using disc diffusion method. Results: Totally, 568 (14.96) from 3798 patients had positive UTI. Four hundred and ninety-seven (87.5) from 568 isolated bacteria were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., and Pseudomonas spp. were the most prevalent bacteria. Isolated bacteria indicated the highest antibiotic resistance to methicillin (76.06) and ampicillin (89.29) and also revealed the most sensitivity to imipenem (99.1) and amikacin (91.57). Statistical analysis of the resistance pattern trend during 3 years indicated the insignificant increase (P > 0.05) in antibiotic resistance of the isolates. Conclusion: The results of this study revealed a great concern for emerging UTI-related multidrug-resistant strains of bacteria causing UTI in Iran. © 2017 Journal of Research in Medical Sciences

Molecular Identification of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Salmonella in Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica) Reared in Farms of Northern Iran

Background: Food animals such as different rearing birds can transmit zoonotic enteropathogenic bacteria, which exist in their intestinal microbiota. This research was designed in order to molecular identification of Campylobacter, Arcobacter, as well as Salmonella in Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) reared in farms of Northern Iran. Methods: Total of 100 cloacal samples were collected from 20 different quail farms. After extraction of total DNA, the samples subjected to molecular detection of the Campylobacter, Arcobacter, and Salmonella using polymerase chain reaction. By Chi-squared, all statistical analyses were performed by SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL (v. 18.0). Results: Totally, the prevalence rates of Campylobacter, Salmonella, and Arcobacter in samples were 95, 65, and 0%, respectively. The prevalence of Salmonella spp. in rural farms was significantly (p<0.05) higher than semi-industrial farms. Conclusion: High occurrence of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. were found in rearing quail populations of Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. These enteropathogens can contaminate food products obtained from the birds indicating their public health importance

Occurrence of virulence genes and strain diversity of thermophilic campylobacters isolated from cattle and sheep faecal samples

Summary The objective of this study was to investigate the genotypic characteristics of Campylobacter isolates in Shiraz, Iran. A total of 40 Campylobacter isolates including 20 C. jejuni and 20 C. coli were recovered from both cattle and sheep faeces by cultivation methods. The isolates were identified on the basis of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) detection of 16SrRNA and multiplex PCR to determine two species. For confirmed isolates, PCR was carried out for the presence of virulence genes using specific primers. Other than verifying the genetic diversity of thermophilic Campylobacter isolates, flaA PCR-RFLP was performed. Results showed the high prevalence (100%) of the cadF gene and three genes associated with cytolethal distending toxin (CDT). Plasmid virB11 gene was not found in any Campylobacter isolate, and dissimilarities and discrepancies occurred in pldA, iamA, wlaN, waaC and cgtB genes. Among the 40 Campylobacter isolates studied, nine different types were defined by flaA-typing. Results indicated genetic diversity among Campylobacter isolates recovered from cattle and sheep faecal samples. Findings showed the potential ability of C. jejuni and C. coli with cattle and sheep origins to cause infection in humans