Rare detection of bordetella pertussis pertactin-deficient strains in Argentina

Pertussis resurgence had been attributed to waning vaccine immunity and Bordetella pertussis adaptation to escape vaccine-induced immunity. Circulating bacteria differ genotypically from strains used in production of pertussis vaccine. Pertactin-deficient strains are highly prevalent in countries that use acellular vaccine (aP), suggesting strong aP-imposed selection of circulating bacteria. To corroborate this hypothesis, systematic studies on pertactin prevalence of infection in countries using whole-cell vaccine are needed. We provide pertussis epidemiologic data and molecular characterization of B. pertussis isolates from Buenos Aires, Argentina, during 2000-2017. This area used primary vaccination with whole-cell vaccine. Since 2002, pertussis case incidences increased at regular 4-year outbreaks; most cases were in infants <1 year of age. Of the B. pertussis isolates analyzed, 90.6% (317/350) contained the ptxP3-ptxA1-prn2-fim3-2 allelic profile. Immunoblotting and sequencing techniques detected only the 2 pertactin-deficient isolates. The low prevalence of pertactin-deficient strains in Argentina suggests that loss of pertactin gene expression might be driven by aP vaccine.Fil: Carriquiriborde, Francisco Pablo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Regidor, Victoria. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Aispuro, Pablo M.. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Gabrielli, Magali. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bartel, Erika Belén. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Bottero, Daniela. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Hozbor, Daniela Flavia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Salmonella enterica sv. Enterica and Salmonella enterica sv. Diarizonae isolated from ophidia at La Plata Zoological Park, Argentina

La salmonelosis es reconocida por ser una de las más importantes causas de problemas de Salud Pública a nivel mundial. En el presente estudio, Salmonella fue aislada de 12 de 30 (40%) muestras de hisopados cloacales de víboras. Se encontraron un total de ocho diferentes serovares de Salmonella. Los aislamientos correspondieron al género Salmonella, especie enterica, subespecie enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul y Carrau) y Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z. IIIb 38:z:- y IIIb 65:k:z). Todos los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a los antimicrobianos utilizados: ampicilina, cefalotina, cloranfenicol, gentamicina, estreptomicina, sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima, tetraciclina, ciprofloxacina, norfloxacina, nitrofurantoína, fosfomicina y polimixina. Las víboras pueden ser una fuente de salmonelosis para los humanos. Existen pocos estudios sobre Salmonella realizados en víboras en parques zoológicos en Latinoamérica. Este es el primer informe sobre este tipo de relevamiento realizado en víboras de zoológico en la República Argentina.Salmonellosis is known to be one of the most important causes of public health problems worldwide. In the present study, Salmonella was isolated from 12 of 30 (40%) fecal swabs of snakes. A total of eight different Salmonella serovars were found. The isolates belonged to genus Salmonella, species enterica, subspecies enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul and Carrau) and Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z, IIIb 65:-:-, IIIb 38:Z:- and IIIb 65:k:z). All isolates were sensitives to the antimicrobials tested: ampicillin, cefalotin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, streptomycin, trimethroprim-sulphamethoxazole, tetracycline, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin, nitrofurantoin, fosfomycin and polimixin. Snakes can be a source of human salmonellosis. There are few Salmonella studies from snakes performed in zoological parks in Latin America. This is the first report about this type of survey perfomed in snakes of a zoological garden in the Argentine Republic.Facultad de Ciencias Veterinaria

A Pertussis Outer Membrane Vesicle-Based Vaccine Induces Lung-Resident Memory CD4 T Cells and Protection Against Bordetella pertussis, Including Pertactin Deficient Strains

Pertussis is a respiratory infectious disease that has been resurged during the last decades. The change from the traditional multi-antigen whole-cell pertussis (wP) vaccines to acellular pertussis (aP) vaccines that consist of a few antigens formulated with alum, appears to be a key factor in the resurgence of pertussis in many countries. Though current aP vaccines have helped to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with pertussis, they do not provide durable immunity or adequate protection against the disease caused by the current circulating strains of Bordetella pertussis, which have evolved in the face of the selection pressure induced by the vaccines. Based on the hypothesis that a new vaccine containing multiple antigens could overcome deficiencies in the current aP vaccines, we have designed and characterized a vaccine candidate based on outer membrane vesicle (OMVs). Here we show that the OMVs vaccine, but not an aP vaccine, protected mice against lung infection with a circulating pertactin (PRN)-deficient isolate. Using isogenic bacteria that in principle only differ in PRN expression, we found that deficiency in PRN appears to be largely responsible for the failure of the aP vaccine to protect against this circulating clinical isolates. Regarding the durability of induced immunity, we have already reported that the OMV vaccine is able to induce long-lasting immune responses that effectively prevent infection with B. pertussis. Consistent with this, here we found that CD4 T cells with a tissue-resident memory (TRM) cell phenotype (CD44+CD62LlowCD69+ and/or CD103+) accumulated in the lungs of mice 14 days after immunization with 2 doses of the OMVs vaccine. CD4 TRM cells, which have previously been shown to play a critical role sustained protective immunity against B. pertussis, were also detected in mice immunized with wP vaccine, but not in the animals immunized with a commercial aP vaccine. The CD4 TRM cells secreted IFN-γ and IL-17 and were significantly expanded through local proliferation following respiratory challenge of mice with B. pertussis. Our findings that the OMVs vaccine induce respiratory CD4 TRM cells may explain the ability of this vaccine to induce long-term protection and is therefore an ideal candidate for a third generation vaccine against B. pertussis

Potential ecological footprints of active pharmaceutical ingredients: An examination of risk factors in low-, middle- and high-income countries

Active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can enter the natural environment during manufacture, use and/or disposal, and consequently public concern about their potential adverse impacts in the environment is growing. Despite the bulk of the human population living in Asia and Africa (mostly in low- or middle-income countries), limited work relating to research, development and regulations on APIs in the environment have so far been conducted in these regions. Also, the API manufacturing sector is gradually shifting to countries with lower production costs. This paper focuses mainly on APIs for human consumption and highlights key differences between the low-, middle- and high-income countries, covering factors such as population and demographics, manufacture, prescriptions, treatment, disposal and reuse of waste and wastewater. The striking differences in populations (both human and animal), urbanization, sewer connectivity and other factors have revealed that the environmental compartments receiving the bulk of API residues differ markedly between low- and high-income countries. High sewer connectivity in developed countries allows capture and treatment of the waste stream (point-source). However, in many low- or middle-income countries, sewerage connectivity is generally low and in some areas waste is collected predominantly in septic systems. Consequently, the diffuse-source impact, such as on groundwater from leaking septic systems or on land due to disposal of raw sewage or septage, may be of greater concern. A screening level assessment of potential burdens of APIs in urban and rural environments of countries representing low- and middle-income as well as high-income has been made. Implications for ecological risks of APIs used by humans in lower income countries are discussed.Facultad de Ciencias Exacta

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the environment: What are the big questions?

Background: Over the past 10-15 years, a substantial amount of work has been done by the scientific, regulatory, and business communities to elucidate the effects and risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment. Objective: This review was undertaken to identify key outstanding issues regarding the effects of PPCPs on human and ecological health in order to ensure that future resources will be focused on the most important areas. Data sources: To better understand and manage the risks of PPCPs in the environment, we used the "key question" approach to identify the principle issues that need to be addressed. Initially, questions were solicited from academic, government, and business communities around the world. A list of 101 questions was then discussed at an international expert workshop, and a top-20 list was developed. Following the workshop, workshop attendees ranked the 20 questions by importance. Data synthesis: The top 20 priority questions fell into seven categories: a) prioritization of substances for assessment, b) pathways of exposure, c) bioavailability and uptake, d) effects characterization, e) risk and relative risk, f) antibiotic resistance, and g) risk management. Conclusions: A large body of information is now available on PPCPs in the environment. This exercise prioritized the most critical questions to aid in development of future research programs on the topic.Centro de Investigaciones del Medioambient

Pharmaceutical pollution of the world's rivers

Environmental exposure to active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) can have negative effects on the health of ecosystems and humans. While numerous studies have monitored APIs in rivers, these employ different analytical methods, measure different APIs, and have ignored many of the countries of the world. This makes it difficult to quantify the scale of the problem from a global perspective. Furthermore, comparison of the existing data, generated for different studies/regions/continents, is challenging due to the vast differences between the analytical methodologies employed. Here, we present a global-scale study of API pollution in 258 of the world's rivers, representing the environmental influence of 471.4 million people across 137 geographic regions. Samples were obtained from 1,052 locations in 104 countries (representing all continents and 36 countries not previously studied for API contamination) and analyzed for 61 APIs. Highest cumulative API concentrations were observed in sub-Saharan Africa, south Asia, and South America. The most contaminated sites were in low- to middle-income countries and were associated with areas with poor wastewater and waste management infrastructure and pharmaceutical manufacturing. The most frequently detected APIs were carbamazepine, metformin, and caffeine (a compound also arising from lifestyle use), which were detected at over half of the sites monitored. Concentrations of at least one API at 25.7% of the sampling sites were greater than concentrations considered safe for aquatic organisms, or which are of concern in terms of selection for antimicrobial resistance. Therefore, pharmaceutical pollution poses a global threat to environmental and human health, as well as to delivery of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

Salmonella enterica enterica y Salmonella enterica diarizonae aisladas de ofidios en el Parque Zoológico de La Plata, Argentina

Fil: Vigo, Germán B. Cátedra de Microbiología; Argentina.Fil: Caffer, María Inés. ANLIS Dr.C.G.Malbrán. Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Infecciosas. Departamento de Bacteriología. Servicio Enterobacterias; Argentina.Fil: Origlia, Javier A. Cátedra de Patología Aviar y Pilíferos; Argentina.Fil: Carriquiriborde, M. Cátedra de Animales de Laboratorio; Argentina.Fil: Leotta, G. A. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina.La salmonelosis es reconocida por ser una de las más importantes causas de problemas de Salud Pública a nivel mundial. En el presente estudio, Salmonella fue aislada de 12 de 30 (40%) muestras de hisopados cloacales de víboras. Se encontraron un total de ocho diferentes serovares de Salmonella. Los aislamientos correspondieron al género Salmonella, especie enterica, subespecie enterica (42%, Salmonella Newport, Saintpaul y Carrau) y Salmonella enterica diarizonae (58%, IIIb 17:-:-, IIIb 48:i:z. IIIb 38:z:- y IIIb 65:k:z). Todos los aislamientos fueron susceptibles a los antimicrobianos utilizados: ampicilina, cefalotina, cloranfenicol, entamicina, estreptomicina, sulfametoxazol-trimetoprima, tetraciclina, ciprofloxacina, norfloxacina, nitrofurantoína, fosfomicina y polimixina. Las víboras pueden ser una fuente de salmonelosis para los humanos. Existen pocos estudios sobre Salmonella realizados en víboras en parques zoológicos en Latinoamérica. Este es el primer informe sobre este tipo de relevamiento realizado en víboras de zoológico en la República Argentina

Accumulation of human pharmaceuticals and biotransformation enzymes in fish from two areas of the lower Rio de la Plata Basin

The accumulation of four human pharmaceuticals active compounds (HPhAC) in the muscle of four fish species of the Rio de la Plata Basin were assessed regarding the compound logP and pKa, and fish trophic levels. For Prochilodus lineatus, accumulation was compared to hepatic biotransformation enzymes and fish from two sampling areas with different urbanization degree. Species were the detritivore Prochilodus lineatus, the omnivores Megaleporinus obtusidens and Pimelodus maculatus, and the piscivorous Salminus brasiliensis. Sampling areas were the Inner Rio de la Plata Estuary (RLP), in front of the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, and at the Lower Uruguay River (URU), a relatively unpopulated area. Carbamazepine, atenolol, enalapril, and sildenafil concentrations in fish muscle were analyzed by HPLC-MS. EROD, BROD, and GST activities were measured in P. lineatus liver. Average (maximum) concentrations and detection frequency were: Atenolol 24.4 (69.4) μg kg-1, 60%; carbamazepine 5.5 (45.8) μg kg-1, 19%; enalapril 7.0 (56.9) μg kg-1, 28%; sildenafil 17.1 (71.6) μg kg-1, 56%. Enalapril and sildenafil detection in fish was first-time reported. Atenolol and carbamazepine concentrations were positively correlated. No correlation was observed between HPhAC accumulation and logP or pKa. A potential biomagnification trend was observed for atenolol, showing higher accumulation in S. brasiliensis. HPhACs accumulation was higher for P. lineatus collected at URU, but GST and BROD were significantly higher for individuals sampled at RLP and were positively correlated. A significant negative correlation was observed for enalapril and BROD. The study contributes to the knowledge of the accumulation of HPhACs in fish.Fil: Rojo, M. Universidad Nacional de La Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones Del Medioambiente (CIM). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; Argentina.Fil: Cristos, Diego Sebastian. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Tecnología de Alimentos; Argentina.Fil: González, P. Universidad Nacional de La Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones Del Medioambiente (CIM). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; Argentina.Fil: López-Aca, V. Universidad Nacional de La Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones Del Medioambiente (CIM). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; Argentina.Fil: Dománico, A. Subsecretaría de Pesca y Acuicultura de La Nación. Dirección de Pesca Continental; Argentina. Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de La Provincia de Buenos Aires; Argentina. Comisión Administradora Del Río Uruguay; Argentina.Fil: Carriquiriborde, Pedro. Universidad Nacional de La Plata - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro de Investigaciones Del Medioambiente (CIM). Facultad de Ciencias Exactas; Argentina. Comisión Administradora Del Río Uruguay; Argentina