Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) is an emerging nosocomial pathogen in humans. The use of antibiotics in human therapy and in the production of food animals has been incriminated in the emergence of this organism. The present study describes the distribution of VRE species, the vancomycin-resistant genes detected, the vancomycin resistance pattern observed, and the genetic diversity of the isolates found in live broiler chickens in Malaysia. Overall 140 VRE were isolated with species comprising Enterococcus faecalis (48%), Enterococcus faecium (25.7%), Enterococcus gallinarum (12.1%), Enterococcus casseliflavus (1.4%) and other Enterococcus species (12.8%). Vancomycin resistance gene vanA and intrinsic genes vanC1 and vanC2/3 were detected in the study population. VanA was detected in 15 (63.9%) of E. faecium, 23 (22.4%) of E. faecalis and in 3 (17.6%) E. gallinarum isolates. E-test was conducted on randomly selected 41 of the isolates and the minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) of vancomycin for five (11.9%) of tested isolates is more than 256mug/ml. Genotypic analysis using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) showed genetic diversity within the Enterococcus species.

Toxoplasmosis is considered as an important risk factor for bad obstetric history (BOH) and one of the major causes of congenitally acquired infections. The present study aimed to estimate the seropositivity of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among the attendees of high risk pregnancy and low risk antenatal care clinic of Minia Maternity and Pediatric University Hospital, Minia, Egypt. The study was carried out from April 2013 to April 2014 through 2 phases, the first phase was case-control study, and the second phase was follow-up with intervention. A total of 120 high risk pregnant and 120 normal pregnant females were submitted to clinical examinations, serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA, and an interview questionnaire. Seropositive cases were subjected to spiramycin course treatment. The results showed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in high-risk pregnancy group was 50.8%, which was significantly different from that of normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). Analysis of seropositive women in relation to BOH showed that abortion was the commonest form of the pregnancy wastage (56.5%). The high prevalence of T. gondii seropositive cases was observed in the age group of 21-30 years. Post-delivery adverse outcome was observed in 80.3% of high-risk pregnancy group compared to 20% of normal pregnancy group. There was a statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and living in rural area, low socioeconomic level, and undercooked meat consumption (P<0.05). Serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies should be routine tests especially among high-risk pregnant women.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Case-Control Studies ; Egypt ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Feeding Behavior ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G/blood ; Immunoglobulin M/blood ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications, Infectious/*epidemiology ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Toxoplasma/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology ; Young Adult

Flood is a potential driver in spreading waterborne diseases including leptospirosis, which is a zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic bacteria of the genus Leptospira. In the case of leptospirosis, cattle and goats can be incidental hosts and potential carriers of leptospirosis. Traditionally, serology such as microscopic agglutination test (MAT) and isolation of the organisms have been commonly used as the diagnostic approaches in diagnosing leptospirosis. However, nowadays, various molecular techniques have been developed for specific detection of Leptospira sp. such as, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), which is sensitive, specific and rapid in detecting the species. This study detected Leptospira sp. directly from the blood and urine of the animals such as, cattle, goats and sheep in Kelantan after a massive flood by using multiplex PCR (mPCR). From the results collected in the study, four blood samples (0.63%; 4/635) were found to be positive with Leptospira sp. and one urine sample (3.23%; 1/31) was detected as positive with Leptospira sp. The blood and urine samples that were detected to be positive with Leptospira sp. were collected from cattle and goats exposed to the flood. However, no Leptospira sp. was detected from the sheep in this study. Multiplex PCR (mPCR) was successfully used to detect the presence of Leptospira sp. in animals. Apart from that, it is also suggested that flood has a significant role in transmitting the disease to animals.

The microbiological quality of thirty ready-to-eat (RTE) keropok lekor (a sausage shape Malaysian fish product) was evaluated in comparison to microbiological guidelines for ready to eat foods. The two E. coli isolates were subjected to DNA sequencing, identified and tested for their resistance towards fifteen different antibiotics. The survival and growth of the isolated E. coli strains inoculated in keropok lekor at atmospheric air and vacuum packaging were also evaluated. Results revealed that four samples (13.33%) contained Enterobacteriaceae counts that exceeded the recommended allowable counts of 4.0 log10 CFU/g. Unsatisfactory level of coliforms (> 1.7 log10 CFU/g) was also observed in ten of the samples; two of which contained E. coli (2.1 ± 0.17 and 3.7 ± 0.02 log10 CFU/g), suggesting of poor hygiene and sanitation practices. While the ‘Possible E10’ E. coli strain was observably resistant towards Nalidixic acid (30µg) alone, B10 E. coli isolate was worryingly resistant towards Ampicillin (10µg), Ceftazidime (30µg), Ciprofloxacin (5µg), Ceftriaxone (30µg), Nalidixic acid (30µg) and Tetracycline (30µg). This study also revealed that the growth and survival of the ‘Possible E10’ and B10 E. coli strains were not significantly affected by vacuum packaging when stored at both 4°C and 28°C. Therefore, intervention programmes to alert and educate smallmedium enterprisers (SMEs) of keropok lekor producers on food safety as well as potential health risks that can be associated due to inappropriate handling procedures of such product, merits consideration.

COVID-19/virology* ; Cities ; Environmental Monitoring ; Genome, Viral ; Humans ; Infection Control/methods* ; Pakistan ; RNA, Viral/genetics* ; SARS-CoV-2/genetics* ; Sewage/virology*