Risk factors assessment and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates from apparently healthy and diarrheal dogs in Baghdad, Iraq

The dog was an essential source of Salmonella (S.) transmission. One hundred sixty-five rectal swabs were taken from apparently healthy dogs (90) and diarrheal dogs (75) in Baghdad province, Iraq. The Salmonella species was found using standard bacterial culture, biochemical tests, an analytical profile index (API-20), the VITEK2 compact system, and serotyping. Salmonella isolates were screened using the disc diffusion technique for susceptibility to ten antimicrobials. Findings indicated that the Salmonella species prevalence rate was 6.06% from dogs’ fecal samples, with three species identified; the most common serovar was S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, and S. Muenchen, which was isolated for the first time from dogs in Iraq. Statistically significant risk factors concerning the diarrheal state, breed, feeding, and body condition were found. High occurrences were in diarrheal dogs (10.66%) compared to non-diarrheic dogs (2.22%); the large dog breed had a higher isolate rate of Salmonella than the small breed. Thin body condition dogs were more at risk than fatty dogs, and the dogs consuming uncooked feed had a higher percentage of Salmonella isolates and were more at risk than those consuming mixed food. Non-significant differences were found according to the gender, age, and educational status of dog owners. Salmonella isolates exhibited high resistance to cefotaxime, ampicillin, azithromycin, gentamycin, and tetracycline but were sensitive to norfloxacin. All the isolates were multidrug-resistant (MDR) except S. Muenchen. In conclusion, diarrheal and apparently healthy dogs carry and shed resistant Salmonella spp., a potential public health risk

Protection of mice against experimental infection wild Brucella abortus strain by vaccination via oral and intraperitoneal routes with Brucella abortus RB51

The study was designed to detect the effect of an oral and intraperitoneal (I/P) immunization of mice with B. Abortus RB51 to protect mice against a wild strain of B. abortus I/P challenge infection. Three groups of mice were used in this study. The first group (1st G) immunized with 108 *2 CFU of B. Abortus RB51 intraperitoneally (I/P). The second group (2nd G) immunized orally with 108 *2 CFU dose (Ten minutes prior immunization, all mice were drenched with 0.2 ml of 10% sodium bicarbonate to neutralize gastric acidity). Whereas, the third group (3rdgroup) inoculated with 0.2 ml phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and acted as the control group. The results indicated that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) in antibody titer at 5th week in the I/P group and in the 3rd week in oral group, while there was no significance between the two route through all the periods. However, after the challenge, the antibody titer raised to 0.84±0.11 and 1.14±0.11 in the two route and control group in 3rd and 7th day post challenge respectively. The Ab titer reached 1.44±0.11 in the I/P route and remain at 1.14±0.11 in oral and control at 10th day/post-challenge. The oral inoculation gave a mild infection, which was cleared at 5th week after infection, and it induced a humoral response. However, I/P challenge gave moderate infection, which was cleared at 6th week after infection. Wild B. Abortus was isolated at a lowest level after the challenge from internal organs, in animals immunized I/P compared with the other two groups. In conclusion, I/P and oral immunization were able to give protection against the virulent wild strain B. abortus in mice. Besides, the probability of these mice in transmitting the vaccine to other animals was low and vaccine was safety in pregnant vaccinated mice

An outbreak of hemorrhagic septicemia in a vaccinated herd of domestic water buffalo in Thi Qar province, Iraq: Clinical and pathological observations

An outbreak of hemorrhagic septicemia (HS) with a 100% morbidity and 27.5% mortality was reported in a herd of domestic water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) at Qar / the south west of Iraq. This herd was vaccinated against the disease 45 days prior to transportation into Thi Qar province. The disease was diagnosed based on clinical signs (fever, nasal and ocular mucus discharges, profuse salivation, dyspnea, abnormal respiratory sounds “rales” and restlessness). Pasteurella multocida was isolated from the lungs of dead animals. The postmortem examination revealed edematous swelling of the neck, brisket and sub-mandibular regions; frothy exudate in congested trachea; widely distributed petechial hemorrhages; blood-tinged fluid in the thoracic and abdominal cavities, in addition, to enlargement and hyperemia of kidney. Histopathologically, there were distention of alveolar spaces and inter-alveolar connective tissue septa by inflammatory exudate consisting mainly of fibrin, edematous fluid, RBCs and inflammatory cells particularly polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). In addition, the bronchial and bronchiolar lumens were filled with mucinous exudate and inflammatory cells. Thickening of pleura was also observed due to the pleuritis as indicated by the presence of sub-mesothelial fibrinous exudate, inflammatory cells and blood vessels congestion

Detection of Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Susceptibility of Salmonella Spp Isolated From Diarrheal Human in Wasit Province, Iraq

This study aimed to isolate Salmonella species from diarrheal human and to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility and virulence-associated genes. A total of 145 human stool samples were from &nbsp;Wasit province, during the period from November 2018 to August 2019. The isolates were identified according to colony morphology, Gram stain, biochemical, Analytical profile index strip (Api-20E) and serotyping. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was done by utilizing the VITEK-2 Compact system and a disc diffusion method. Salmonella isolates were tested to detect six virulence genes, namely sefA, mgtC, sopB, spvR, Stn and invA by PCR technique. Results showed that Salmonella spp was isolated from 9 out of 145(6.2%), S. Typhimurium 55.55%, S. Typhi 33.33%, and S. Enteritidis 11%. The highest isolation rate of species was in the group aged between 3 to 15 years (10.34%). The gender distribution was 7.14% in males and 4.91% in females. August and March recorded the highest level of isolated Salmonella which was 11.76% and 10%, respectively. Multidrug Antibiotic Resistance Index (MARI) of S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, and S. Typhi were 0.4-0.86, 0.57, and 0.62-0.71, respectively.&nbsp