Nocardiose: visão geral e relato de 28 casos em vacas e cães

Phenotypic characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility profile, and clinical-epidemiological features of 28 Nocardia strains isolated from 19 cases of bovine mastitis, eight cutaneous-subcutaneous lesions and one case of pneumonia in dogs were evaluated. Microbiological, biochemical, cytological and scanning electron microscopy methods were used in diagnosis. Nocardia asteroides type IV, Nocardia otitidiscaviarum,Nocardia nova (type III) and Nocardia farcinica (type V) were isolated from bovine milk, bronchial lavage and/or cutaneous-subcutaneous abscesses in dogs. Nocardial bovine mastitis was diagnosed predominantly in clinical cases, in dairy herds with poor environmental hygienic conditions between milking and inappropriate intramammary therapy. Canine nocardiosis was observed commonly in animals co-infected with distemper virus. Sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim (92.8%), amikacin (92.8%) and ceftiofur (92.8%) were the most effective drugs in 28 isolates. Multiple drug resistance to three or more and five or more antimicrobials was observed in ten (35.7%) and three (10.7%) strains, respectively, predominantly with use of cloxaxillin, cefoperazone and ampicillin. The species (type) classification, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, diagnosis, multiple-drug resistance and public health considerations in Nocardia strains isolated from cattle and dogs in Brazil are discussed, with special reference to report of bovine mastitis by N. otitidiscaviarum by first time in Brazil and the similarity between Nocardia species isolated from human and animal origin.A caracterização fenotípica, perfil de sensibilidade aos antimicrobianos e aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos foram avaliados em 28 linhagens de Nocardia isoladas de 19 casos de mastite, oito lesões tegumentares e um caso de pneumonia em cão. Foram utilizados no diagnóstico métodos microbiológicos, bioquímicos, citológicos e microscopia eletrônica de varredura. Nocardia asteroides tipo IV, N. otitidiscaviarum,N. nova (tipo III) e N. farcinica (tipo V) foram isoladas do leite de vacas com mastite, de material de lavado transtraqueal e de lesões cutâneas de cães. Nocardiose mamária bovina foi diagnosticada predominantemente sob a forma clínica, em propriedades com precárias condições de higiene na pré e pós-ordenha, e inadequado procedimento de terapia intramamária. Nocardiose canina foi diagnosticada comumente em animais co-infectados com o vírus da cinomose. Sulfametoxazole/trimetoprim (92,8%), amicacina (92,8%) e ceftiofur (92,8%) foram os antimicrobianos mais efetivos frente às linhagens de Nocardia. Resistência múltipla a três ou mais e cinco ou mais antimicrobianos foram observadas, respectivamente, em dez (35,7%) e três (10,7%) linhagens, notadamente frente à cloxacilina, cefoperazona e ampicilina. A caracterização de espécies (tipo), aspectos clínico-epidemiológicos, diagnóstico, resistência múltipla aos antimicrobianos e reflexos em saúde pública de linhagens de Nocardia isoladas de bovinos e cães no Brasil foram discutidos. Foi destacada a similaridade entre as espécies de Nocardia isoladas de animais e do homem, e a primeira descrição no Brasil de N. otitidiscaviarum na etiologia da mastite bovina

Genes de enterotoxinas, multirresistência a antimicrobianos e caracterização molecular de espécies de Staphylococcus spp. isoladas de leite bovino orgânico

The multidrug resistant and the emergence of methicillin-resistant staphylococci isolated from animals, food, and humans are public health concern. These microorganisms produce different toxins related to food poisoning in humans. This study aimed to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from two organic milk farms in Brazil. A total of 259 milk samples were collected, from which 58 (22.4%) Staphylococcus spp. were isolated. The highest sensibility to ceftiofur and sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim was observed in 96.6% of Staphylococcus spp., and whereas 89% were resistant to penicillin G. The mecA gene was detected in 13.8% of the isolates. SEA and SEC were the most common enterotoxins detected. PFGE revealed genetic heterogeneity from S. intermedius and S. warneri analyzed, while S. aureus presented similar profiles among isolates from the two studied herds. To the best of our knowledge, the current study describes for the first time presence of enterotoxins, mecA gene, and genetic diversity of staphylococci isolated from organic dairy farms in Brazil.A emergência de estafilococos multirresistentes e resistentes à meticilina, isolados de animais, alimentos e humanos é uma preocupação em saúde pública. Esses micro-organismos produzem diferentes toxinas relacionadas à intoxicação alimentar em humanos. Este estudo caracterizou Staphylococcus spp. isolados em duas fazendas orgânicas no Brasil. Foram coletadas 259 amostras de leite em duas propriedades leiteiras orgânicas, nas quais 58 (22,4%) estirpes de Staphylococcus spp. foram isoladas. A maior sensibilidade dos isolados foi observada para ceftiofur e sulfametoxazol/trimetoprim em 96,6%. Em contraste, acima de 89% de resistência dos estafilicocos foi encontrada para penicilina G. O gene mecA foi identificado em 13,8% dos isolados. SEA e SEC foram as enterotoxinas mais comumente detectadas. PFGE revelou heterogeneidade genética entre S. intermedius e S. warneri, enquanto S. aureus demonstraram perfis semelhantes entre isolados dos dois rebanhos estudados. Relata-se pela primeira vez no Brasil a detecção de enterotoxinas, o gene mecA e diversidade genética em estafilococos isolados de vacas em produção orgânica

Safety issues of raw milk: evaluation of bacteriological and physicochemical characteristics of human milk from a bank in a teaching hospital, focusing on Staphylococcus species

Many infants are nurtured with milk supplied by human banks, whose bacteriological and physical-chemical profiles are a major issue. We investigated the bacteriological and physical-chemical characteristics, as well as genotypic and phenotypic and profiles of Staphylococcus species isolated from 240 samples of breast milk from a bank in a teaching hospital. Dornic acidity of milk revealed that 95.4% (229/240) had acceptable limits (< 8.0 oD). Caloric intake showed a wide variation in cream content (4%), fat (4%) and energy values (559.81 Kcal/L). Staphylococcus (105/186 or 56.5%) and Enterobacter (25/186 or 13.4%) were the most prevalent genera, although other microorganisms were identified, including Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (125/157 or 79.6%), vancomycin (115/157 or 73.2%), and cephalexin (112/157 or 71.3%) were the most effective antimicrobials. High resistance rates of isolates were found to penicillin G (141/157 or 89.8%), ampicillin (135/157 or 86%), and oxacillin (118/157 or 75.2%). Multidrug resistance to ≥ 3 antimicrobials occurred in 66.2% (123/186) of the isolates. Residues of microbial multiplication inhibitory substances were found in 85% (204/240) of samples. Among the coagulase-positive-CPS and negative-CoNS staphylococci, the mecA gene was detected in 53.3% (8/15) and 75% (30/40), respectively. Genes sea, seb and sec were detected in 20% (3/15) of CPS, while tsst-1 was detected in 13.34% (2/15). In addition, 13.3% (2/15) of S. aureus were toxin-producers. Genes sea, seb and sec were detected in 90% (36/40), 5% (2/40) and 15% (6/40) CoNS, respectively. Enterotoxin production was identified in 5% (2/40) of CoNS. The identification of multidrug-resistant bacteria, staphylococci species toxin-producers harboring methicillin-resistance genes, and residues of microbial multiplication inhibitory substances reinforce the need for a continuous vigilance of milk quality offered to infant consumption by human banks

AI is a viable alternative to high throughput screening: a 318-target study

: High throughput screening (HTS) is routinely used to identify bioactive small molecules. This requires physical compounds, which limits coverage of accessible chemical space. Computational approaches combined with vast on-demand chemical libraries can access far greater chemical space, provided that the predictive accuracy is sufficient to identify useful molecules. Through the largest and most diverse virtual HTS campaign reported to date, comprising 318 individual projects, we demonstrate that our AtomNet® convolutional neural network successfully finds novel hits across every major therapeutic area and protein class. We address historical limitations of computational screening by demonstrating success for target proteins without known binders, high-quality X-ray crystal structures, or manual cherry-picking of compounds. We show that the molecules selected by the AtomNet® model are novel drug-like scaffolds rather than minor modifications to known bioactive compounds. Our empirical results suggest that computational methods can substantially replace HTS as the first step of small-molecule drug discovery

Fatores de virulência em linhagens de Escherichia coli isoladas de infecção do trato urinário, piometra e fezes de cães

Escherichia coli e considerado o principal agente causal de infeccao de trato urinario (ITU) e piometra em caes. A patogenicidade das linhagens esta relacionada a presenca de adesinas e diferentes fatores de virulencia. Foram avaliadas alteracoes hematologicas e diferentes fatores de virulencia em 51 linhagens de E. coli isoladas de ITU, 52 de piometra e 55 de fezes de caes sem sinais entericos. A producao de ¿-hemolisina foi verificada em 26 (51,0%) das estirpes de ITU e em 20 (38,5%) de piometra. Exames hematologicos revelaram principalmente anemia, trombocitopenia e leucocitose por neutrofilia e monocitose nos caes com ITU e piometra. Os maiores indices de sensibilidade nas 158 estirpes foram observados para norfloxacina, ciprofloxacina e enrofloxacina em mais de 60% dos isolados. Os maiores indices de resistencia foram encontrados em 60% ou mais das estirpes com o uso de sulfametoxazole/trimetoprim. Linhagens resistentes a tres ou mais antimicrobianos foram constatadas em 24 (47,1%) de ITU, 7 (13,5%) de piometra e 4 (7,3%) das fezes, das quais respectivamente, 17 (33,3%), 1 (1,9%) e 3 (5,5%), com resistencia multipla a cinco ou mais drogas. fimH foi observado em mais de 90% dos isolados. papC foi detectado em 12 (23,5%) linhagens de ITU, 19 (36,5%) de piometra e 10 (18,2%) das fezes. papGI nao foi detectado, enquanto papGII foi observado em 3 (5,8%) isolados de piometra. papGIII foi expressado em 10 (19,6%) linhagens de ITU, 15 (28,8%) de piometra e 9 (16,4%) das fezes. sfaS foi encontrado em 22 (43,1%) de ITU, 24 (46,1%) de piometra e 19 (34,5%) das fezes. afa foi detectado em 1 (1,9%) linhagem de ITU e de piometra...Escherichia coli is considered the more important microrganism in urinary tract infection (UTI) and pyometra in dogs. The pathogenicity of strains is associated with different adhesins and virulence factors. Haematological exams and different virulence factors was evaluated in 51 E. coli strains isolated from UTI, 52 from pyometra and 55 from feces of dogs without enteric signs. Alpha-haemolysin was verified in 26 (51.0%) strains from UTI and 20 (38.5%) from pyometra. Haematological exams revealed mainly anaemia, thrombocytopenia and leucocytosis by neutrophilia and monocitosis in dogs with UTI and pyometra. Norfloxacin, ciprofloxacin and enrofloxacin were the most-effective drugs (>60%) for 158 E. coli strains. High rates of E. coli resistance to antimicrobials were observed in 60% or more of strains using sulfametoxazole/trimetoprim. Multiple drug resistance for three or more antimicrobials was observed in 2 (47.1%) strains isolated from UTI, 7 (13.5%) from pyometra and 4 (7.3%) from feces. From these, 17 (33.3%), 1 (1.9%) and 3 (5.5%), respectively, showed multiple resistance to five or more drugs. fimH was observed in 90% or more of 158 isolates. papC was detected in 12 (23.5%) strains isolated from UTI, 19 (36.5%) from pyometra and 10 (18.2%) from feces. None strain expressed papGI, while papGII was observed in 3 (5.8%) strains of pyometra. papGIII was detected in 10(19.6%) strains of UTI, 15 (28.8%) from pyometra and 9 (16.4%) from feces. sfaS was observed in 22 (43.1%) strains of UTI, 24 (46.1%) of pyometra and 19 (34.5%) of feces. afa was identified in 1 (1.9%) strains isolated from UTI and pyometra...(Complete abstract, click electronic address below)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES

Prototecose em animais de companhia e aspectos da doença no homem

Foram revisados dados de etiologia, epidemiologia, patogenia, sinais clínicos, procedimentos diagnósticos, conduta terapêutica e ações de controle e profilaxia da prototecose em cães e gatos, além de aspectos da doença no homem e em bovinos.Etiology, epidemiology, pathogeny, clinical signs, diagnosis, therapeutic, control and preventive measures in protothecosis in dogs and cats were reviewed, besides aspects of disease in human and bovines