The prevalence of Lawsonia intracellularis, Brachyspira hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. were investigated by multiplex PCR using fecal samples of pigs with diarrhea or a history of diarrhea. The overall herd prevalence of L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. were 46.5%, 37.2% and 51.1%, respectively. Also, the prevalence of L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. among all sampled pigs were 19.9%, 10.8% and 17.7%, respectively. Seventeen of 43 herds were positive with 2 enteric organisms, and 2 herds were positive with L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. simultaneously. It was notable that 11 of 12 herds with more than 2, 000 pigs were affected with Salmonella spp., and that only 2 of 12 the herds were affected with B. hyodysenteriae. This study suggested that herds positive for L. intracellularis, B. hyodysenteriae and Salmonella spp. were distributed throughout Korea, although the relationship among other pathogens such as viral or parasitic ones and/or with metabolic disorders was not determined.
Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/isolation&purification ; Desulfovibrionaceae Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Diarrhea/microbiology/veterinary ; Korea/epidemiology ; *Lawsonia Bacteria/isolation&purification ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Prevalence ; *Salmonella/isolation&purification ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*epidemiology/microbiology ; *Serpulina hyodysenteriae/isolation&purification ; Spirochaetales Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*epidemiology/microbiology

Infectious upper respiratory disease (IURD) of Thoroughbred racehorses has been a frequent problem (29.6% of incidence) at the Seoul Race Park (Korea). Risk factors for IURD include the season with a high transfer rate (summer and fall), the stabling period (< or = 3 months), and age (2 to 3 years old), suggesting that the movement and new environment may have depressed the immune system of the horses and decreased their ability to respond properly to pathogens. The bacterial strains (n = 98) isolated from IURD horses included Pseudomonas spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and zooepidemicus.
Animals ; Bacteria/*isolation & purification ; Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Horse Diseases/epidemiology/immunology/*microbiology ; Horses ; Incidence ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Respiratory Tract Infections/epidemiology/immunology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVEIn mid-July 2005, five patients presented with septic shock to a hospital in Ziyang city in Sichuan, China, to identify the etiology of the unknown reason disease, an epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory study were conducted.

METHODSAn enhanced surveillance program were established in Sichuan, the following activities were introduced: active case finding in Sichuan of (a) laboratory diagnosed Streptococcus suis infection and (b) clinically diagnosed probable cases with exposure history; supplemented by (c) monitoring reports on meningococcal meningitis. Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infection was confirmed by culture and biochemical reactions, followed by sequencing for specific genes for serotype and virulence factors.

RESULTSFrom June 10 to August 21, 2005, 68 laboratory confirmed cases of human Streptococcus suis infections were reported. All were villagers who gave a history of direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in their backyards where slaughtering was performed. Twenty six (38%) presented with toxic shock syndrome of which 15 (58%) died. Other presentations were septicaemia or meningitis. All isolates were tested positive for genes for tuf, species-specific 16S rRNA, cps2J, mrp, ef and sly. There were 136 clinically diagnosed probable cases with similar exposure history but incomplete laboratory investigations.

CONCLUSIONAn outbreak of human Streptococcus suis serotype 2 infections occurred in villagers after direct exposure to deceased or sick pigs in Sichuan. Prohibition of slaughtering in backyards brought the outbreak to a halt. A virulent strain of the bacteria is speculated to be in circulation, and is responsible for the unusual presentation of toxic shock syndrome with high case fatality.

Animals ; Bacteremia ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; China ; epidemiology ; Disease Outbreaks ; Humans ; Meningitis, Bacterial ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Shock, Septic ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; Streptococcal Infections ; epidemiology ; microbiology ; veterinary ; Streptococcus suis ; isolation & purification ; Swine ; Swine Diseases ; microbiology

An outbreak of footrot has occurred in Debrezeit swine farm that is located 44 km south east of the capital. Among 24 pigs, 75% showed lameness, hot, painful and swollen feet, hemorrhagic bruising of the coronary band, heel erosion, sole ulcers and separation of skin from hoof on hind limbs. Bacteriological examination of the specimen from the affected limbs has shown the involvement of Staphylococcus, Streptococcus and Dichelobacter nodosus. The overt clinical lameness and inability to stand or mount can cause reduced reproductive performance. This preliminary finding thus warrants further epidemiological investigation.
Animals ; Dichelobacter nodosus/isolation&purification ; Disease Outbreaks/*veterinary ; Ethiopia/epidemiology ; Foot Rot/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Housing, Animal ; Lameness, Animal/epidemiology/*microbiology ; Staphylococcus/isolation&purification ; Streptococcus/isolation&purification ; Swine

This study examined the occurrence of Anaplasma spp. and hemoplasma infection in leopard cats, Prionailurus bengalensis euptilurus, in Korea. Twenty-nine biological samples were tested by molecular analysis. Two (6.9%) and eight (27.6%) tested specimens were positive for Anaplasma bovis and hemoplasma infection, respectively. Based on our results, Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma are regularly infecting leopard cat populations of Korea. Considering their endangered status, regular monitoring of infection by arthropod-borne pathogens known to cause clinical symptoms in feline hosts such as Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp. and hemoplasma would be crucial as part of ongoing conservation efforts.
Anaplasma/*isolation & purification ; Anaplasmosis/*epidemiology/microbiology ; Animals ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; *Felidae ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Mycoplasma/*isolation & purification ; Mycoplasma Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Phylogeny ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/genetics ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Sequence Analysis, DNA/veterinary

Discovery of Helicobacter (H.) pylori has led to a fundamental change in our understanding of gastric diseases in humans. Previous studies have found various Helicobacter spp. in dogs and cats, and pets have been questioned as a zoonotic carrier. The present study surveyed the Helicobacter infections and investigated the presence of H. felis and H. pylori infections in domestic and feral cats in Korea. Sixty-four domestic cats and 101 feral cats were selected from an animal shelter. Saliva and feces were evaluated by Helicobacter genus-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Genus-specific PCR positive samples were further evaluated for H. felis and H. pylori using specific primer pairs. Thirty-six of 64 (56.3%) samples from domestic cats and 92 of 101 (91.1%) samples from feral cats were PCR positive; the positive rate of feces samples was higher than that of saliva samples in both groups. H. felis and H. pylori species-specific PCR was uniformly negative. The prevalence of Helicobacter spp. in feral cats was approximately two-fold higher than that of domestic cats. The fecal-oral route may be more a common transmission route not only between cats but also in humans.
Animals ; Cat Diseases/*epidemiology ; Cats ; DNA, Bacterial/genetics ; Feces/microbiology ; Helicobacter Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Helicobacter felis/genetics/isolation & purification ; Helicobacter pylori/genetics/isolation & purification ; Korea/epidemiology ; Polymerase Chain Reaction/veterinary ; Saliva/microbiology ; Species Specificity

This study was conducted to analyze the prevalence and quantitative loads of Salmonella spp. on pig farms in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Thailand to assess loading levels before slaughtering. The serotype diversity, antimicrobial-resistance pattern and pulse-field type of Salmonella spp. were also characterized to assess the dynamic propagation of the pathogen. The Salmonella-positive prevalence was 246/805 (30.56%), and the quantitative loads varied from 1.48~4.04 Log10MPN/g, with a mean +/- standard deviation of 2.11 +/- 0.57. AMP/S/TE (ampicillin/streptomycin/tetracycline) was the highest frequency antimicrobial resistance pattern found in this study. In addition, Salmonella Rissen was the primary serotype in this region. PFGE results indicated the occurrence of infection by cross contamination among pig farms. Our study showed that pork is easily contaminated with this pathogen. Farm control programs must be based on strict biosecurity and hygienic measures, which could further reduce the contamination pressure at slaughterhouses or retail shops.
Abattoirs ; Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Load/veterinary ; Colony Count, Microbial/veterinary ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field/veterinary ; Feces/microbiology ; Female ; Male ; Prevalence ; Salmonella/classification/*drug effects/*genetics/isolation & purification ; Salmonella Infections, Animal/*epidemiology/microbiology/transmission ; Serotyping/veterinary ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*epidemiology/microbiology/transmission ; Thailand/epidemiology

The present study determined the genetic relationships between 41 Staphyloccocus (S.) aureus isolates from bovines, humans, and food using a single enzyme amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) technique. We evaluated the prevalence of staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) genes and other virulence gene determinants by PCR. The identification of S. aureus was based on culturing and biochemical tests, and by amplifying a specific section of the 23S rRNA gene. PCR amplification of the SE genes (sea, seb, sec, see, seg, seh, and sei) singly or in combination was observed. Most isolates of bovine origin harbored hla (84%) and cap5 (74%), while most isolates from humans harbored hla (73%), cap8 (91%), and fnbA (100%). Strains from food sources were positive for hla (100%), cap5 (100%), and cap8 (64%) unlike isolates from humans or bovines. A single enzyme AFLP analysis revealed a correlation between AFLP clusters of some strains and the source of the isolates The genotypic results of the present study might help to better understand the distribution of prevalent S. aureus clones among humans, bovines, and food and will help control S. aureus infections in Indonesia.
Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism Analysis ; Animals ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics/metabolism ; Cattle ; Female ; *Food Microbiology ; Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial ; Humans ; Indonesia/epidemiology ; Mastitis, Bovine/epidemiology/microbiology ; Phylogeny ; Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Staphylococcus aureus/*genetics

The sequences of the ccrAB genes from bovine-, canine- and chicken-originating methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) epidermidis (MRSE) and bovine methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (S.) aureus (MRSA) were compared to investigate the frequency of intra-species horizontal transfer of the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) complex. Nineteen MRSE strains were isolated from bovine milk, chickens, and dogs, and their genetic characteristics were investigated by multilocus sequence typing and SCCmec typing. Among the animal MRSE strains, the most frequent SCCmec type was type IV, which consisted of the type B mec complex and ccrAB type 2. The ccrA2 and ccrB2 genes were sequenced from the bovine, chicken and canine MRSE strains and compared with those of the bovine MRSA strains. The sequences generally clustered as MRSA and MRSE groups, regardless of the animal source. Additionally, no bovine MRSE sequence was associated with the bovine MRSA groups. Although most of the bovine MRSE and MRSA isolates possessed SCCmec type IV sequences, our results suggest that the intra-species gene transfer of the SCCmec complex between bovine S. aureus and bovine S. epidermidis strains is not a frequent event.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Bacterial Typing Techniques/veterinary ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/epidemiology/metabolism ; Chickens ; Dog Diseases/epidemiology/metabolism ; Dogs ; *Drug Resistance, Bacterial ; *Gene Transfer, Horizontal ; Methicillin/*pharmacology ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/genetics/isolation & purification ; Milk/microbiology ; Multilocus Sequence Typing/veterinary ; Poultry Diseases/epidemiology/metabolism ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Staphylococcal Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Staphylococcus epidermidis/genetics/isolation & purification

A total of 156 Shiga-like toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were isolated from fecal samples of Korean native (100/568, 18%) and Holstein dairy cattle (56/524, 11%) in Korea between September 2010 and July 2011. Fifty-two STEC isolates (33%) harbored both of shiga toxin1 (stx1) and shiga toxin2 (stx2) genes encoding enterohemolysin (EhxA) and autoagglutinating adhesion (Saa) were detected by PCR in 83 (53%) and 65 (42%) isolates, respectively. By serotyping, six STEC from native cattle and four STEC from dairy cattle were identified as O-serotypes (O26, O111, O104, and O157) that can cause human disease. Multilocus sequence typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns highlighted the genetic diversity of the STEC strains and difference between strains collected during different years. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests showed that the multidrug resistance rate increased from 12% in 2010 to 42% in 2011. Differences between isolates collected in 2010 and 2011 may have resulted from seasonal variations or large-scale slaughtering in Korea performed to control a foot and mouth disease outbreak that occurred in early 2011. However, continuous epidemiologic studies will be needed to understand mechanisms. More public health efforts are required to minimize STEC infection transmitted via dairy products and the prevalence of these bacteria in dairy cattle.
Animals ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Cattle/microbiology ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field/veterinary ; Escherichia coli Infections/epidemiology/microbiology/*veterinary ; Female ; Genes, Bacterial/genetics ; Latex Fixation Tests/veterinary ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests/veterinary ; Multilocus Sequence Typing/veterinary ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Shiga Toxin 1/genetics ; Shiga Toxin 2/genetics ; *Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli/drug effects/genetics