Investigation of dogs as a reservoir of Penicillium marneffei in northern Thailand

SummaryBackgroundPenicillium marneffei is a dimorphic pathogenic fungus endemic in Southeast Asia that usually causes disseminated disease, mainly in immunocompromised individuals, especially those with HIV infection. Untreated cases are usually fatal. The only known natural reservoir exists in bamboo rats and there is no firm evidence that these animals are involved in direct transmission to humans. The risk of infection is not restricted to those living in endemic areas; HIV-infected individuals who travel to Southeast Asia have also become infected by P. marneffei. Hence, there must exist sources to which even tourists are exposed on a short-term basis.Design and methodsPenicillium is known to infect dogs and this animal is common in the streets and temple areas of Chiang Mai, where there is one of the highest incidences of P. marneffei infection in the world. Dogs have not been well studied as a possible reservoir. To investigate this possibility, we took nasal swabs from 83 outdoor dogs and performed culture and nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect P. marneffei.ResultsWe found that approximately 13% of nasal swabs from dogs in Chiang Mai, Thailand were positive when tested by two different PCR methods, but culture results were negative. Sequencing the products from both PCR reactions showed 100% identity with P. marneffei, whereas no other known fungi shared both sequences.ConclusionsOur results suggest that dogs might be an animal reservoir for P. marneffei in northern Thailand. This observation should be confirmed by additional studies

Identification of Streptococcus suis carriage in healthy pigs in Chiang Mai, Thailand

Streptococcus suis (S. suis) belongs to the critical streptococcal swine pathogens affecting financial losses in pig production globally and being concerned as a zoonotic bacterial that causes a severe invasive disease emerging in pigs and humans. Serotype 2 is considered the major serotype and is the most pathogenic S. suis obtained from human cases, and the healthy pigs are known as the major reservoir of S. suis. In this cross-sectional study, S. suis prevalence was conducted in live pigs from 111 farms across Chiang Mai, Thailand. S. suis carriage rate and serotypes were determined from the bacteriological and multiplex PCR method from tonsil swab samples. We found that 18.2% (138/760) of tonsil swab samples and 54.1% (60/111) of pig farms were positive to S. suis, and only one (0.72%) from 138 isolates was identified as serotype 9. Meanwhile, all the remains were identified as non-serotype ½/1/2/7/9/14 strains. In addition, there was an independent relation between age-ranged, farm types, and production systems with S. suis-positive rates at the farm level. The results indicate that both intensive and smallholder production systems can generally be the source of S. suis carriage. Therefore, implementing good husbandry practices and S. suis-infection predisposing factors limiting that appropriate for each farm type is essential to minimize the opportunities of S. suis outbreak in humans

Perspectives on antimicrobial use in pig and layer farms in thailand: legislation, policy, regulations and potential

Irrational use of antimicrobials is a major problem worldwide. The comprehensiveness of the existing legislation and veterinary pharmaceutical regulatory system has been critically evaluated and its practical implementation was assessed in this study. A cross-sectional survey study, and an in-depth interview of key informants involving the layer and pig farm owners/managers of farms located in Chiang Mai, Lamphun and Chonburi Provinces were conducted. The Thai FDA is responsible for pre-marketing and authorizes relevant officials of DLD to enforce drug acts related to the post-marketing of veterinary drugs/biologics. These existing legislations and regulations were comprehensive enough to cover all areas of pharmaceutical activities developed to protect the health of the public and animals in the country; however, the enforcement of these rules may not be properly enforced or may be ineffectively executed. Rules regarding veterinary pharmaceuticals being distributed throughout the country have not been clearly stated. Farmers can easily access veterinary pharmaceuticals, and veterinarian prescriptions were not needed. Additionally, the relevant benefits were among the most important reasons for choosing to use antimicrobials on farms, along with a lack of availability of better alternative products for the treatment of infections. Intensive legislation and regulation enforcement were considered to be the most effective means of reducing antimicrobial usage and abuse in Thailand

Antimicrobial Resistance in ESBL-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Layer and Pig Farms in Thailand

Background: Study of drug resistance of commensal bacteria in both humans and animals can determine the scale of the drug resistance problem. Usage of antimicrobials to treat infections in humans and animals has generated extensive antimicrobial pressure not only on targeted pathogens but also on commensal bacteria. Commensal Escherichia coli appears to be the major reservoir for resistant genes implicated in the transmission of genetic traits from one bacterium to another. Antimicrobial resistance in Enterobacteriaceae has increased dramatically worldwide in the last decade. An increasing number of community-onset extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacterial infections, especially those caused by ESBL-producing E. coli, have been reported in many countries, including Thailand. Moreover, ESBL-producing E. coli have been widely detected in food-producing animals and the environment. The increased use of ESBLs in food animals is a serious public health problem. The objective of the study was to determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of ESBL-producing E. coli isolated from pigs, layers, farm workers and stagnant water, in order to increase awareness about antimicrobial usage on farms and to minimize the expansion of the antimicrobial resistance phenomenon in farm settings.Materials, Methods & Results: A total of 588 samples were collected from 107 pig farms and 89 layer farms in Chiang Mai–Lamphun and Chon Buri provinces during May 2015-April 2016. Double-disk diffusion method according to EUCAST (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) guidelines was used for detection. The results demonstrated that 36.7% (216/588) of samples were ESBL-producing E. coli-positive, including rectal swabs 74.8% (80/107), pig farm worker stool swabs 57.0% (61/107), stagnant water on pig farms 21.5% (23/107), healthy layer rectal swabs 6.7% (6/89) and layer farm worker stool swabs 51.7% (46/89). Most of the isolates were resistant against ampicillin (99.5%), followed by erythromycin (98.6%) and ceftriaxone (96.3%). All of them were classified as multidrug-resistant strains. Moreover, AMP-CRO-E-TE-C-SXT-CN was the most frequent phenotype pattern detected in animals, humans and the environment, followed by AMP-CRO-E-TE-C-SXT-NA-CN.Discussion: The present study offers clear evidence that the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in healthy pigs is higher than in layers. One possible explanation is that a large amount and variety of antimicrobials are used on pig farms, resulting in a common and significant source of drug-resistant ESBL-producing E. coli. The lower incidence of ESBL-producing E. coli in samples from a pig farm environment than in samples of animal origin indicate that pigs are a reservoir of a reservoir for resistant bacteria and a source of environmental contamination. Antimicrobial resistance patterns of ESBLproducing E. coli detected in all sample types and study locations were quite similar. In almost all ESBL-producing E. coli isolates, resistance was shown against ampicillin, erythromycin, ceftriaxone, tetracycline and chloramphenicol. Moreover, multidrug resistance was found in all isolates of ESBL-producing E. coli. The differences in antimicrobial agent resistance patterns can be used to differentiate sources by employing analytical tools such as discriminant function analysis. A molecular typing protocol is recommended for use in a discriminant function analysis for pattern determination of pathogen spreading. However, genetic fingerprinting techniques for microbial source tracking are more expensive, and facilities with appropriate equipment and expertise are required

Gender, season and management affect fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations in captive goral (Naemorhedus griseus) in Thailand.

Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) are a threatened species in Thailand and the focus of captive breeding for possible reintroduction. However, little is known of their biology or what factors in the captive environment affect welfare. Our objective was to determine the impact of gender, season, and management on goral adrenal activity. We hypothesized that differences in fecal glucocorticoid concentrations would be related to animal density. Fecal samples were collected 3 days/week for 1 year from 63 individuals (n = 32 males, 31 females) at two facilities that house the majority of goral in Thailand: Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary (Omkoi), an off-exhibit breeding center that houses goral in individual pens (16 pens; n = 8 males, 8 females) and in small family groups (8 pens; n = 8 males, 8 females); and the Chiang Mai Night Safari (NS), a zoo that maintains 31 goral (n = 17 males, 14 females) in one large pen. Glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations were higher in male than female goral at Omkoi throughout the year, and there was a seasonal effect on adrenal activity (p<0.05). Goral at Omkoi and NS were used to test the effect of animal density on fecal glucocorticoid excretion of goral housed in similar-sized enclosures. Overall, the highest levels were found at NS (n = 31 adults/pen; 27 m2 per animal) compared to Omkoi (n = 2 adults/pen; 400 m2 per animal) (p<0.05). Overall findings support our hypothesis that animal density and aspects of the captive environment impact adrenal steroid activity in captive goral. In addition, gender and season also had significant effects on glucocorticoid metabolite production. Potential stressors pertaining to the welfare of this species were identified, which will guide future efforts to improve management and create self-sustaining and healthy populations of this threatened species

Facility effect on mean (± SEM) fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations (ng/g) in goral housed in large (30 m×40 m, area 400 m² per animal) enclosures at Omkoi Wildlife Sanctuary, and one large enclosure (35 m×24 m, area 27 m² per animal) at Night Safari across the three seasons in Thailand.

a,b<p>Values differ among enclosure sizes, different letters indicate differences (<i>p</i><0.05).</p>1,2<p>Values differ among seasons, different numbers indicate differences within the same enclosure sizes (<i>p</i><0.05).</p

Seasonal pattern of fecal glucocorticoids.

<p>Longitudinal mean (± SEM) fecal glucocorticoid metabolite concentrations for male and female gorals were determined by a cortisol EIA. Fecal samples were collected from February 2010 through February 2011, representing the summer (February 16 – May 15), rainy (May 16 – October 15) and winter (October 16 – February 15) seasons.</p