Yersinia enterocolitica in Italy. A case of septicemia and abdominal aortic aneurysm infection

We report a case of Yersinia enterocolitica septicemia in a 63-year-old patient admitted to the Vascular Surgery Department of Umberto I Hospital (Rome, Italy) for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. The microorganism, recovered from both peripheral blood cultures and aneurysmatic aortic wall specimens, was identified as Y. enterocolitica using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight analysis (MALDI-TOF MS) and 16S rDNA gene sequencing. The isolate responsible for septicemia belonged to the O:9 serotype (biogroup 2). A genetic screening of the isolate made it possible to detect the presence of both the yst and ail genes, encoding a heat-stable enterotoxin and a protein involved in invasion/adherence and serum resistance, respectively. Our case contributes in enriching epidemiological data concerning Y. enterocolitica infections, which might represent severe complications in patients suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, this study, together with the others, should be regarded as valuable and useful tools for monitoring the rate of infections worldwide

Emergence of a Clonal Lineage of Multidrug-Resistant ESBL-Producing Salmonella Infantis Transmitted from Broilers and Broiler Meat to Humans in Italy between 2011 and 2014

We report the spread of a clone of multidrug-resistant (MDR), ESBL-producing (blaCTX-M-1) Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Infantis, in the Italian broiler chicken industry and along the food-chain. This was first detected in Italy in 2011 and led to human infection in Italy in 2013-2014.A set (n = 49) of extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)-resistant (R) isolates of S. Infantis (2011-2014) from humans, food-producing animals and meat thereof, were studied along with a selected set of earlier and more recent ESC-susceptible (ESC-S) isolates (n = 42, 2001-2014). They were characterized by macrorestriction-PFGE analysis and genetic environment of ESC-resistance. Isolates representative of PFGE-patterns and origin were submitted to Whole Genome Sequencing. The emerging ESC-R clone, detected mainly from broiler chickens, broiler meat and humans, showed a minimum pattern of clinical resistance to cefotaxime, tetracycline, sulfonamides, and trimethoprim, beside ciprofloxacin microbiological resistance (MIC 0.25 mg/L). All isolates of this clone harbored a conjugative megaplasmid (~ 280-320 Kb), similar to that described in ESC-susceptible S. Infantis in Israel (pESI-like) in 2014. This megaplasmid carried the ESBL gene blaCTX-M-1, and additional genes [tet(A), sul1, dfrA1 and dfrA14] mediating cefotaxime, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and trimethoprim resistance. It also contained genes conferring enhanced colonization capability, virulence (fimbriae, yersiniabactin), resistance and fitness (qacE1, mer) in the intensive-farming environment. This emerging clone of S. Infantis has been causing infections in humans, most likely through the broiler industry. Since S. Infantis is among major serovars causing human infections in Europe and is an emerging non-typhoidal Salmonella globally, further spread of this lineage in primary productions deserves quick and thorough risk-management strategies

Two episodes of listeriosis in pregnancy and newborns: investigation, problems and considerations

In January 2013, 3 strains of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> isolated from one mother and her newborn and a second infant arrived at the Institute for Experimental Veterinary Medicine of Latium and Tuscany. At the same time the Local Health Unit Rome B sampled at retail a smoked salmon that was suspected to be involved in the transmission of the disease. The sample was tested for the presence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> (UNI EN ISO 11290: 2005 part 1 and 2). Laboratory investigations have shown that all 3 strains isolated from patients belonged to serotype 4b of two different clusters (cluster B for the isolates from mother and child and cluster A to that obtained from another baby), so no epidemiological link was demonstrated in the human cases. The tests conducted on smoked salmon have shown the presence of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> serotype 1/2a. Therefore, no correlation has been demonstrated between the reported cases of listeriosis and the food analyzed

Contaminated commercial dehydrated food as source of multiple Salmonella serotypes outbreak in a municipal kennel in Tuscany

The authors describe a large outbreak of canine salmonellosis in a municipal kennel in Tuscany. During the outbreak, 174 samples of ‘diarrhetic’ and ‘normal’ faeces and two batches of commercial dehydrated dog food were cultured for pathogenic bacteria. The results of 25, out of a total of 41 dogs (60.9%) revealed at least one faecal sample as being positive for Salmonella; incidence per sampling ranged from 12.5% to 34%. Nine of 10 samples of dehydrated food were positive. Ten totally different serotypes were isolated from dry food and faeces: the results of the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis referred to similarity between the Salmonella Montevideo, Muenster and Worthington isolates recovered from both the food and canine faecal samples

Mangime commerciale disidratato all’origine di un focolaio di salmonellosi sostenuto da diversi sierotipi in un canile municipale in Toscana

Il lavoro descrive un importante focolaio di salmonellosi in cani ospitati in un canile municipale. Durante il focolaio, 174 campioni di feci “diarroiche” e “normali” e due lotti di mangime in uso al canile, sono stati sottoposti ad analisi per la ricerca di Salmonella. Venticinque cani su 41 (60,9%), sono risultati positivi ad almeno una coprocoltura, con una incidenza per campionamento compresa tra il 12,5 ed il 34%. Nove campioni di mangime su 10 sono risultati positivi. In totale, nei campioni di feci e di mangime, sono stati isolati 10 differenti sierotipi di Salmonella: l’identificazione mediante pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), ha riportato un’elevata similarità nell’ambito del sierotipo, tra gli isolati da feci e mangime di Salmonella Montevideo, Muenster e Worthington

Monitoring of foodborne pathogens in raw cow milk in Tuscany

Raw milk consumption in Italy has increased over the last few years and although raw milk is characterised by cold chain, short shelf-life and the duty of boiling before domestic consumption, it is still considered a hazard. From 2010 to 2013 a monitoring survey of raw milk sold through vending machines was carried out to investigate the occurrence of several foodborne pathogens stipulated in the national legal requirements, <em>i.e.</em> <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em>, <em>Campylobacter</em> spp., Salmonella spp., <em>Escherichia coli</em> O:157 and coagulase-positive <em>Staphylococci</em>. A total of 127 raw milk samples were collected from 19 dairy herds in Tuscany Region, Italy. In addition, the milk samples were tested for the presence and count of Yersinia genus. Results shown that only one sample was positive for non verocytotoxin- producing <em>E. coli</em> O:157, whereas a total of 38 samples (29.9%) were postive for <em>Yersinia</em> genus; of the total 39 isolated bacteria, 23.6% were <em>Y. enterocolitica</em>, 2.4% <em>Y. kristenseni</em> and 4.7% <em>Y. frederiksenii</em>. None isolate was enteropathogenic; serotypes O:5 and O:8 were found in 16.6 and 13.3% of the isolates respectively, whereas none of the serotypes tested was detected in 70% of the isolates. The most probable number method revealed a count value between 0.03 and 24 MPN/mL. Based on these data a general assurance on health safety of raw milk produced and sold in Tuscany could be assessed

Case of contamination by Listeria monocytogenes in mozzarella cheese

Following a <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> detection in a mozzarella cheese sampled at a dairy plant in Lazio Region, further investigations have been conducted both by the competent Authority and the food business operatordairy factory (as a part of dairy factory HACCP control). In total, 90 dairy products, 7 brine and 64 environmental samples have been tested. The prevalence of <em>Listeria monocytogenes</em> was 24.4% in mozzarella cheese, and 9.4% in environmental samples, while brines were all negatives. Forty-seven strains of <em>L. monocytogenes</em> have been isolated, all belonging to 4b/4e serotype. In 12 of these, the macrorestriction profile has been determined by means of pulsed field gel electrophoresis. The profiles obtained with AscI enzyme showed a 100% similarity while those obtained with ApaI a 96.78% similarity. These characteristics of the isolated strains jointly with the production process of mozzarella cheese has allowed to hypothesise an environmental contamination

Microbiological assessment of freshly-shot wild boars meat in Lazio Region, Viterbo territory: a preliminary study

During the wild boars hunting season (2012-2013), 6508 adults were shot in Lazio Region, Viterbo territory. Out of the 6508, 393 subjects were sampled to be tested for the detection of <em>Salmonella</em> spp., <em>Yersinia enterocolitica</em>, <em>E. coli</em> VTEC and <em>Trichinella</em> spp. For this purpose, diaphragm and skeletal muscles samples were collected after the shooting, and tested at the Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale Lazio and Toscana laboratories, Rome, Italy. Samples were tested respectively by polymerase chain reaction, enzyme linked immunofluorescent assay, microbiological and parasitological assays. The positivity percentages are 3.6% for <em>Salmonella</em> spp., 14.8% (out of 230 samples tested) for <em>Yersinia enterocolitica</em>, 4.6% for <em>E.coli</em> VTEC (vtx 1 and 2 genes). Each positive sample for vtx 1 and 2 was tested to isolate Verotoxigenic <em>E.coli</em> strains; none of them was positive for the same virulence genes. All diaphragm samples were negative to the trichinoscopic test. Every bacterial strain was identified serologically by seroagglutination test