Bacterial Shrimp Disease in Iraqi Marine Waters

A sample of 116 shrimps Metapenaeus affinis (H. Milne-Edwards, 1837) were collected from local fish markets in Basrah Province, Southern Iraq. Height, weight, and pathological signs of the shrimps were recorded. Both morphological and biochemical examination by VITEK identification system were undertaken. Pathological infections were seen on the cuticle of abdominal segments in addition to a severe infection in uropod (tail segment), rostrum and pleopods (walking legs). Results of biochemical identification showed the presence of Aeromonas sobria and A. salmonicida from the infected organs and this study is considered as the first record of this bacterial infection in shrimps in Iraq.

Isolation and Identification of Listeria Monocytogenes in Bangalore City from Various Food Samples

The current research emphasis on the isolation and differentiation of Listeria monocytogenes from different food samples most frequently infected with Listeriosis outbreaks. Crude chicken meat, raw milk, pasteurized cheese, ice cream and raw fish are samples from the city of Bangalore. The selective medium mainly used for the isolation of Listeria is oxford agar. Using isolated L. monocytogenes from food samples, morphologic and biochemical identification was carried out. 2 samples (fresh milk and Ice cream) were positive out of 5 samples; 3 samples (raw chicken meat, raw fish, and pasteurized cheese) were negative. The results conferred during this study indicate the contamination of Ice- cream and Raw Milk samples with L. monocytogenes.

Secretin stimulation test and early diagnosis of gastrinoma in MEN1 syndrome: Survey on the MEN1 Florentine database

Context Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is a rare inherited endocrine cancer syndrome. Multiple gastro-entero-pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) affect 30-80% of MEN1 patients, with the most common functioning GEP-NET being gastrinoma. Biochemical identification of hypergastrinemia may help to recognize the presence of gastrinomas before they are detectable by instrumental screening, enabling early diagnosis and start of therapy, preferably before tumor progression and metastases occurrence. Objective Evaluate the effectiveness of secretin stimulation test to precociously diagnose the presence of gastrin-secreting tumors. Design Results of secretin stimulation tests, performed between 1991 and February 2020, were retrospectively analyzed, as aggregate, in a cohort of MEN1 patients with GEP-NETs. Setting Data were extracted from the MEN1 Florentine database. Patients The study included 72 MEN1 patients with GEP-NETs who underwent a secretin stimulation test for the evaluation of gastrin secretion. Outcomes A positive secretin stimulation test was assumed with a difference between basal fasting serum gastrin (FSG) and the maximum stimulated value of gastrin over 120 pg/ml. Results The secretin stimulation test showed a secretin-induced hypergastrinemia in 27.8% (20/72) of patients with GEP-NETs, and a positive test in 18 cases. The test allowed the identification of a positively stimulated hypergastrinemia in 75.0% (3/4) of patients who presented a basal FSG within the normal range. Conclusions Diagnosis of gastrinoma is complex, difficult and controversial. Results of this study confirm that a positive secretin stimulation test allows early diagnosis of gastrinomas, even in the presence of borderline or normal levels of non-stimulated FSG.

Observation of Bothrops atrox Snake Envenoming Blister Formation from Five Patients: Pathophysiological Insights

In the Brazilian Amazon, Bothrops atrox snakebites are frequent, and patients develop tissue damage with blisters sometimes observed in the proximity of the wound. Antivenoms do not seem to impact blister formation, raising questions regarding the mechanisms underlying blister formation. Here, we launched a clinical and laboratory-based study including five patients who followed and were treated by the standard clinical protocols. Blister fluids were collected for proteomic analyses and molecular assessment of the presence of venom and antivenom. Although this was a small patient sample, there appeared to be a correlation between the time of blister appearance (shorter) and the amount of venom present in the serum (higher). Of particular interest was the biochemical identification of both venom and antivenom in all blister fluids. From the proteomic analysis of the blister fluids, all were observed to be a rich source of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), immunomodulators, and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), suggesting that the mechanisms by which blisters are formed includes the toxins very early in envenomation and continue even after antivenom treatment, due to the pro-inflammatory molecules generated by the toxins in the first moments after envenomings, indicating the need for local treatments with anti-inflammatory drugs plus toxin inhibitors to prevent the severity of the wounds.

Antimicrobial chemotherapy of patients with lymphadenitis and adenophlegmon of the maxillofacial region

Relevance. Patients with maxillofacial lymphadenitis account for 3.09 % of the total number of hospitalized in specialized departments of maxillofacial surgery, and 5.7% of the number of patients with various inflammatory processes of the maxillofacial region.Aim. Microbiological substantiation of the algorithm of antimicrobial chemotherapy for lymphadenitis and adenophlegmon of the maxillofacial region.Materials and methods. The analysis of the results of microbiological studies and determination of the sensitivity of isolated microorganisms to antibiotics of the material from inflammatory foci in lymphadenitis and adenophlegmon of the maxillofacial region was carried out using a standard protocol of laboratory microbiological studies. Anaerobic bacteria were cultured in the HiAnaerobic System Mark III anaerostat, identification was carried out using Biochemical Identification Test Kits (Himedia Labs).Results. The results of determining the sensitivity of the main pathogens of limphadenitis and adenophlegmon to the most commonly used antibiotics: groups of beta- lactam drugs, macrolides, lincosamides, imidazoles, teracyclines and fluoroquinolones are presented. The priorities of prescribing different treatment regimens are determined, taking into account the international classification of antibiotics AWaRe, adopted by WHO in 2018.Conclusions. Recommended drugs of choice for various forms of lymphadenitis and adenoflegmon include combinations of amoxicillin with clavulanic acid, lincosamides (preferably clindamycin) and fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin), which should be combined with imidazoles in odontogenic limphadenitis and adenophlegmon (for example, tinidazole as part of the complex drug Tsifran ST).

Study of the biochemical properties of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus and their identification

This article discusses the current data on the biochemical properties of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus and their use in industry, particularly in dairy production and biotechnology. Microorganisms of the genus Lactobacillus have antagonistic activity against pathogenic microorganisms and perform an immunomodulatory function. The positive effect of lactobacilli on human health explains their active use in probiotics. The positive effects of normal intestinal microflora and probiotics are mainly due to bifidobacteria and lactobacilli. In probiotic therapy, various types of bacteria of the genus Lactobacillus are used, such as: L. acidophilus, L. rhamnosus, L. plantarum, L. fermentum, L. delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus, L. casei, L. paracasei. In recent years, the biotechnology of probiotics has been intensively developing - drugs used for the correction and prevention of microecological disorders in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. An urgent issue is obtaining new data on the biological properties of lactobacilli, creating new probiotic preparations based on them using modified approaches to cultivation. The results of determining the species L. acidophilus L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei, obtained by the classical biochemical identification method based on saccharolytic activity, complicating species identification, are comparable to the molecular genetic method. In the case of L. casei, L. rhamnosus, L. paracasei, it is necessary to carry out modern identification methods based on the polymerase chain reaction, since their biochemical properties are similar, which makes it difficult to carry out species identification. The molecular genetic method is a valuable addition to the intergeneric and species identification of lactobacilli, given the variability of the classical biochemical method. Key words: Lactobacillus, biochemical identification, probiotics, bacteria.

Isolation of Bacillus From the Gut of Bombus terrestris and Its Correlation in Queen Mating

The gut of bumblebees harbors bacteria that play a crucial role in physiology, nutrition, and health. The mating rate is important for the reproductive activity of a colony; however, few studies have investigated the relationship between mating and gut bacteria. In this study, bacterial functions were identified in the intestinal tract of bumblebees, and biochemical identification and screening were performed using genetic detection technology. By isolating and identifying bacteria, we obtained a single strain and fed it to queens. The results indicated that Bacillus cereus and Bacillus pumilus are present in the gut. The queen mating rates were 48.89% at the period of 4 days and higher than 28.89% mating rates of the control group (P < 0.05), and the latency time were 16.90 min (from entering the mating cage to mating success) and decreased than control (P < 0.05) which was 28.20 min. This finding confirmed that Bacillus was important in Bombus terrestris mating.

Detection of multidrug-resistant Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi isolated from Iraqi subjects

Background and Aim: Enteric fever initiated by Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is among the most consistent disease worldwide, particularly in developing countries. The present study aimed to isolate and identify S. Typhi from typhoid suspected patients and determine their antibacterial susceptibility testing. Materials and Methods: Thirty blood samples were collected from typhoid suspected patients in Baghdad, Iraq. The samples were cultured on SS agar and XLD agar for screening of S. Typhi. The suspected colonies were picked up and subjected to Vitek 2 compact for biochemical identification and antibacterial susceptibility testing of the organisms. Molecular identification of the isolates was performed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Black colonies were observed on cultured plates. Out of 30 samples, 27 and 29 isolates were identified as S. Typhi using Vitek 2 compact and RT-PCR, respectively. The data of the present study revealed that the strains of S. Typhi were showing multidrug resistance. All S. Typhi strains exhibited resistance to penicillins (ticarcillin and piperacillin), cephalosporins 4th G (cefepime), and monobactam (aztreonam). However, all the strains showed susceptibility against carbapenems (imipenem and meropenem) and tetracycline (minocycline). Conclusion: RT-PCR and Vitek 2 compact showed a high level of accuracy in the detection of S. Typhi. Multidrug resistance was observed, which is an alert for the reduction of antibiotic consumption.

Validation of a Commercial Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)-Based Kit for the Detection of Salmonella spp. According to ISO 16140:2016

The traditional cultural method (PCR and Real-Time PCR) for Salmonella spp. detection and identification is laborious and time-consuming. A qualitative LAMP method detecting Salmonella spp. was validated in compliance with ISO 16140:2016. The results show a relative accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity of 100% in comparison with the reference method ISO 6579-1:2017; the LOD50 was set as 0.4 CFU/g. Additionally, a field study was carried out comparing the LAMP kit, a commercially available Real-Time PCR kit (FoodProof Salmonella, Biotecon Diagnostics), and the reference cultural method. The Salmonella spp. LAMP kit was suitable for reliable detection of Salmonella spp., simplifying and reducing the extent and the steps of the analytical process. A total of 105 samples of raw poultry meat were screened for the presence of Salmonella spp. according to three methods: the LAMP kit Salmonella spp. (Enbiotech), the Real-Time PCR kit FoodProof Salmonella (Biotecon), and the reference cultural method. Using these three methods, only one sample out of the 105 (0.95%) tested was positive for Salmonella spp. This sample was further investigated using the reference method described in ISO 6579-3:2014, in order to characterise the Salmonella strain. Following this further biochemical identification and serological typing, the isolate was characterised as Salmonella Infantis.