林麝源铜绿假单胞菌噬菌体vB＿PaeM＿PAMD02的生物学特性与全基因组序列分析

【背景】圈养林麝一半以上的死亡是由铜绿假单胞菌引起的化脓性疾病导致。另外,由于细菌的抗性增加,噬菌体是继抗生素后的另一抗菌选择。【目的】以分离自病死林麝肺脏的铜绿假单胞菌为宿主菌分离一株噬菌体,对其进行生物学特性、全基因组序列分析与体内抑菌试验。【方法】通过双层平板法分离纯化一株裂解性噬菌体,测定其裂解谱、最佳感染复数、一步生长曲线、热稳定性、最适生长pH等生物学特性,通过电镜观察其具体形态,进行全基因组测序与序列分析,并进行小鼠体内抑菌试验。【结果】分离到一株裂解性铜绿假单胞菌噬菌体并命名为vB＿PaeM＿PAMD02,该噬菌体具有透明且边缘清晰无晕环的噬菌斑,其裂解谱较窄,最佳感染复数为0.1,裂解潜伏期为40 min,裂解暴发量较高,热稳定性较高,可耐受弱碱环境。其全基因组大小为66 264 bp,GC含量为55.59%,序列注释结果显示该噬菌体具有92个开放阅读框,不含毒力与耐药基因,属于肌尾噬菌体科。小鼠体内抑菌试验结果显示了PAMD02对其宿主菌良好的抑菌效果。【结论】本研究分离的噬菌体PAMD02有较高的裂解效率,对不利环境有较好的耐受性,不含毒力基因与耐药基因,具有应用...     

铜绿假单胞菌对青霉素类抗生素异质性耐药研究

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌是临床上常见的条件致病菌,其异质性耐药的发生常导致临床治疗失败。【目的】研究铜绿假单胞菌对青霉素类抗生素的异质性耐药情况,为相关临床感染治疗提供一定的依据。【方法】收集临床分离的50株铜绿假单胞菌,采用纸片扩散法(diskdiffusion method)即Kirby-Bauer (K-B)法、菌落谱型分析(population analysis profile,PAP)法、生长实验以及传代稳定性实验探究铜绿假单胞菌的异质性耐药特征。【结果】K-B法初筛得到铜绿假单胞菌对哌拉西林(piperacillin,PIP)、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦(piperacillin/tazobactam,TZP)和替卡西林/克拉维酸(ticarcillin/clavulanic acid,TIM)的异质性耐药率分别为52%、52%和54%。PAP实验确认后有13株异质性耐药菌,其检出率占总实验菌株的26%。随机选取8株异质性耐药菌株,其耐药亚群的发生频率为7.3×10-7-1.2×10-5。通过无抗生素压力的生长实验发现,异质性耐药菌株PAS92、PAS57与其各自的3株最高PIP浓度平...     

儿童ICU与普通病房铜绿假单胞菌分布及耐药性分析

目的了解铜绿假单胞菌在儿童重症监护病房（ICU）与普通病房的分布及耐药性差异,为临床合理、有效的治疗提供依据。方法分析重庆医科大学附属儿童医院2013年1月至2013年12月ICU及普通病房铜绿假单胞菌培养阳性患儿的年龄分布、菌株来源、抗菌药物的耐药性。结果 ICU和普通病房分别分离出82株和429株铜绿假单胞菌,年龄均小于2岁（70.73%和69.23%）,以痰标本来源（80.49%和64.80%）为主。ICU分离的铜绿假单胞菌对氟喹诺酮类药物的耐药率低于普通病房,对其余测试药物的耐药率均高于普通病房。ICU分离的铜绿假单胞菌中多重耐药菌55株（67.07%）,泛耐药菌44株（53.66%）,均明显高于普通病房（26.81%,3.26%）（P〈0.05）。结论铜绿假单胞菌是ICU常见的病原菌,具有多重耐药特性,加强耐药性监测,控制医院内感染,对临床医生选用有效的抗生素具有十分重要的意义。     

下呼吸道感染耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌的分布与耐药性

目的了解耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌的流行情况,分析耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性,比较耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌与环丙沙星敏感铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性差异。方法选择贵阳医学院第三附属医院2011年6月至2014年11月下呼吸道感染标本中分离出的231株耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌与环丙沙星敏感铜绿假单胞菌,按照《全国临床检验操作规程》进行微生物病原菌鉴定。采用Kirby-Bauer琼脂扩散法进行药敏试验,结果使用SPSS 17.0软件进行统计分析。结果下呼吸道感染标本中共分离出铜绿假单胞菌231株,其中耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌检出率25.54%。从科室分布看,神经外科分离率最高,占47.46%,其次ICU、呼吸内科与消化内科分别占18.64%、13.56%、10.17%;下呼吸道感染耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌菌株与环丙沙星敏感铜绿假单胞菌菌株对头孢曲松、阿米卡星、亚胺培南、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、头孢哌酮/舒巴坦等19种抗菌药物的耐药率分别为95.65%,71.83%;42.86%,7.69%;17.39%,2.70%;33.33%,11.02%;22.22%,8.00%。下呼吸道感染耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌菌株耐药率明显高于环丙沙星敏感铜绿假单胞菌菌株,差异具有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论耐环丙沙星铜绿假单胞菌表现为多重耐药性,给临床治疗带来很大的困难。因此严格掌握抗菌药物的选用是延缓病原菌对抗菌药物耐药的有效方法。     

新生儿病房铜绿假单胞菌感染状况及耐药性的5年监测

目的监测2005年至2009年间铜绿假单胞菌在新生儿病房的分离情况及其耐药趋势,为临床感染的预防和治疗提供实验室依据。方法回顾分析2005年至2009年间新生儿病房所有标本中铜绿假单胞菌的分离率,菌株在标本中的分布以及对常见的13种抗菌药物的耐药性。结果铜绿假单胞菌的分离率有逐年升高的趋势,从2005年的1.19%增至2009年的5.16%;其在呼吸道标本中的分离率最高(86.3%),在其他标本中的检出率都相对较低。铜绿假单胞菌的耐药株也有逐年增多的趋势,特别是对复方新诺明的耐药性已发展成为全部耐药。结论铜绿假单胞菌在新生儿病房的分离率在不断地增加,其对多种抗菌药物有较高的耐药性,加之新生儿免疫系统发育不完善,应引起临床医师的高度重视。     

铜绿假单胞菌氨基糖苷16SrRNA甲基化酶基因分析

目的调查215株湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素的耐药性和16S rRNA甲基化酶基因分布情况。方法收集2011年1月至2012年12月湖州地区临床分离铜绿假单胞菌215株,琼脂稀释法测定5种氨基糖苷类抗菌药物（庆大霉素、阿米卡星、妥布霉素、伊帕米星、奈替米星）的MIC值;PCR检测armA、rmtA、rmtB、rmtC、rmtD和npmA六种氨基糖苷类16S rRN甲基化酶基因,序列分析明确基因型。测定产16S rRNA甲基化酶菌株对常见抗菌的敏感性,并检测碳青霉烯耐药株产碳青霉烯酶情况。结果铜绿假单胞菌对异帕米星敏感率最高为81.4%,对5种氨基糖苷类抗生素全部耐药的22株菌株中,17株检出armA基因;未发现其他16S rRNA甲基化酶基因阳性菌株。17株armA阳性菌株对碳青霉烯类抗生素耐药5株（耐药率为29.4%）,对头孢他啶、头孢吡肟、哌拉西林/他唑巴坦、环丙沙星耐药率均超过40%。5株碳青霉烯耐药菌株中检测到2株产VIM-2型金属碳青霉烯酶。结论铜绿假单胞菌对氨基糖苷类抗生素耐药率高,检测到16S rRNA甲基化酶基因armA。产16S rRNA甲基化酶铜绿假单胞菌耐药性强,部分菌株同时产金属碳青霉烯酶,给临床抗感染治疗及院内感染控制带来挑战。     

临床分离铜绿假单胞菌对氟喹诺酮类抗菌药物的耐药性检测

目的了解临床分离铜绿假单胞菌对喹诺酮类等抗菌药物的耐药性。方法琼脂稀释法测定86株铜绿假单胞菌对5种氟喹诺酮类抗菌药物以及头孢吡肟、美罗培南的耐药性。结果铜绿假单胞菌对诺氟沙星、氧氟沙星、左氧氟沙星、环丙沙星、加替沙星的耐药率分别为50%、61.6%、51.2%、48.8%、51.2%;对头孢吡肟和美罗培南的耐药率分别为30.2%、23.2%。结论铜绿假单胞菌对氟喹诺酮类抗菌药物耐药显著,临床应加强检测和监测。     

涿州市中医医院2012-2013年医院感染铜绿假单胞菌耐药率的分析

目的调查铜绿假单胞菌的药物敏感性,为临床合理选择抗菌药物提供依据。方法应用药敏试纸条对2012年1月至2013年12月底涿州市中医医院感染患者临床标本中分离的144株铜绿假单胞菌进行药敏试验。结果所分离的铜绿假单胞菌标本中痰占80.8%,该菌对氨苄西林/舒巴坦、复方新诺明100%耐药,对多粘菌素耐药率最低(0%)。结论所分离的铜绿假单胞菌对抗菌药的耐药性普遍存在,在临床中合理使用抗菌药物是十分重要的。     

126株铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布及耐药性分析

目的调查分析象山县中医医院铜绿假单胞菌的临床分布及药敏情况,为临床合理选用抗生素提供可靠的依据。方法采集疑似患者的标本,进行分离、培养与鉴定。采用自动微生物鉴定／药敏分析仪进行鉴定及药敏试验,对2012年7月至2013年10月分离出的126株铜绿假单胞菌（包括21株黏液型铜绿假单胞菌）的分布及耐药性进行回顾性分析。结果126株铜绿假单胞菌临床主要分布情况：痰占80．2％,尿液占11．1％,脓液占7．1％,以呼吸道感染为主。对铜绿假单胞菌保持活性较强同时耐药率〈20％的抗生素有阿米卡星、妥布霉素、亚胺培南、哌拉西林／他唑巴坦,其中碳青霉烯类耐药率升至5％,原来被认为抗铜绿假单胞菌较为有效的喹诺酮类抗生素的耐药率也有了很大提升,左氧氟沙星耐药率升至33％。黏液型铜绿假单胞菌的体外抗菌药物敏感试验耐药性较弱,且明显弱于非黏液型铜绿假单胞菌的耐药性。结论铜绿假单胞菌为医院呼吸道感染的常见致病菌,对多种抗菌药物呈不同程度耐药。加强动态监测,合理使用抗菌药物,对铜绿假单胞菌感染的预防和药物治疗具有重要指导意义。     

铜绿假单胞菌PAO1 ku基因缺失菌株的构建及其对生物被膜耐药性的影响

【背景】铜绿假单胞菌是常见的条件致病菌,易形成生物被膜,具有基因突变率高、耐药性强的特点。非同源末端连接是DNA双链断裂的主要修复途径之一,修复过程会导致DNA突变产生。【目的】研究非同源末端连接对生物被膜中的铜绿假单胞菌基因突变率和耐药性的影响。【方法】通过基因无痕敲除的方法构建PAO1菌株的ku基因缺失突变株Δku并构建其回补株。对比研究突变株和野生菌株生物被膜形成能力、生物被膜状态下各菌的基因突变率以及对抗生素的耐受性。通过荧光定量PCR检测生物被膜中PAO1菌株ku基因的表达水平。【结果】各突变株生物被膜形成能力无显著差异;与野生菌株相比,突变株Δku在生物被膜中的基因突变率以及对环丙沙星和庆大霉素的最低抑菌浓度(minimum inhibitory concentration,MIC)下降。荧光定量PCR结果表明,ku基因在生物被膜形成早期转录水平有明显上调。【结论】非同源末端连接修复途径对生物被膜中的铜绿假单胞菌基因突变率以及耐药性的提高有一定的作用。本研究将为后续进一步阐释铜绿假单胞菌耐药产生机制提供一定的理论依据。     

Identification and genetic characterization of metallo-beta-lactamase-producing strains of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Tehran, Iran

Metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) are being reported with increasing frequency worldwide. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of blalMP-1, blaVIM-1,2 and blaSPM-1 genes encoding metallo-beta-lactamases (MBLs) among a collection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains isolated from patients at different hospitals in Tehran and to trace the disseminated clones at these hospitals by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Susceptibility of 610 P aeruginosa to 14 different antibiotics was determined using disc diffusion method. Isolates showing resistance to imipenem and ceftazidime were subjected to micro broth dilution assay to determine their MIC values. The blaIMP-1, blaVIM-1, blaVIM-2, and blaSPM-1, genes were amplified by PCR. Isolates containing blaVIM-1 were analyzed by PFGE. Sixty-eight isolates were resistant to imipenem (MIC > or = 4 microg/ml) of which 16 isolates carried blaVIM-1 gene using PCR assay. No other MBL genes were detected in this study. Three different unrelated patterns were found for isolates containing blaVIM-1 gene by PFGE of which pattern A was predominant. All isolates were susceptible to colistin and polymixin B. blaVIM-1 was the main gene encoding MBL among the isolates of P aeruginosa in our study. Clonal spread of isolates containing blaVIM-1 had occurred at Tehran hospitals. However, heterogeneous clones also were involved in the outbreaks.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and clonal relatedness between community- and hospital-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from blood cultures

We compared the antimicrobial resistance and clonal relationships among the community-acquired (CA) and hospital-acquired (HA) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains that were isolated from blood cultures in a university hospital over a 4-year period. A total of 131 MRSA isolates, including 28 CA-MRSA and 103 HA-MRSA strains, were identified; antimicrobial susceptibility testing indicated that the CA-MRSA isolates were more susceptible to erythromycin (21% vs 6%; P=0.02), clindamycin (46% vs 12%; P=0.01), ciprofloxacin (43% vs 11%; P=0.01), and gentamicin (43% vs 6%; P=0.01) than were the HA-MRSA isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing and antimicrobial resistance profiles separated the 20 CA-MRSA isolates into 14 and 10 different patterns, respectively, and the 53 HA-MRSA isolates were separated into 24 and 7 different patterns, respectively. Twenty-one (40%) of the 53 HA-MRSA isolates belonged to two predominant PFGE types, and most of them showed multi-drug resistant patterns. Four (20%) of the 20 CA-MRSA and 10 (19%) of the 53 HA-MRSA isolates fell into two common PFGE patterns, and each of them showed the same multi-drug resistant pattern. This study suggests that, although the CA-MRSA blood isolates showed diverse PFGE and antimicrobial resistance patterns, some of these isolates may have originated from the HA-MRSA strains.     

2012–2015年江淮地区猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型、spaA基因遗传进化及PFGE基因型分析

【目的】了解2012–2015年江淮地区猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型分布、spaA基因遗传进化关系和基因分型特征。【方法】收集临床分离鉴定的42株猪丹毒杆菌,应用琼脂扩散沉淀实验、PCR扩增和序列分析技术、脉冲场凝胶电泳分型技术(PFGE)分别测定分离株的血清型、spaA基因遗传变异性及PFGE基因型。【结果】42株猪丹毒杆菌分离株血清型均为1a型;spaA基因与猪丹毒杆菌国内外参考株核苷酸序列相似性为98.5%–100%,分离株在第609 bp处出现T突变为G、769 bp处C突变为A,对应的氨基酸第203位Ile突变为Met、第257位Leu突变为Ile,为Met-203、Ile-257型;分离株形成8个PFGE基因型,相似度达88.8%–100%,优势基因型为ER2 (54.8%),弱毒疫苗G4T10和GC42株独立为同一个基因型。【结论】江淮地区致病猪丹毒杆菌流行血清型为1a型,spaA基因相似性高,分离株变异小、源于同一克隆系,Met-203、Ile-257型菌株致病力强,是江淮地区猪丹毒发生与流行的主要致病菌型。     

杭州地区多重耐药沙门氏菌的耐药特征

【背景】沙门氏菌是重要的食源性致病菌,其多重耐药现象不容忽视。【目的】分析杭州地区临床来源多重耐药沙门氏菌的耐药特征和感染状况。【方法】利用微量肉汤稀释法对339株沙门氏菌进行14类28种药物的最低抑菌浓度(Minimum Inhibitory Concentration,MIC)测定,对同时耐3类或3类以上药物的多种耐药株进行耐药特征、血清型分布等分析,并对其进行Xba I酶切及脉冲场凝胶电泳(Pulse Field Gel Electrophoresis,PFGE)。【结果】从339株沙门氏菌中检出234株多重耐药株,多重耐药率达69.03%,近3年数据比较结果显示差异无统计学意义(χ²=0.117,P=0.943);以同时耐4-8类药物的菌株多见,合计占总菌株数的56.93%(193/339);大部分多重耐药沙门氏菌(199/234,85.04%)同时耐5-13种药物;菌株的耐药模式较为分散,相对优势的耐药谱为AMP-AMS-NAl-STR-SUL(10株,4.27%)和AMP-STR-TET-MIN-DOX-SUL(7株,2.99%);鼠伤寒单相变种和德尔卑血清型的多重耐药现象较为突出,其多重耐药率分别为97.06%(66/68)和100%(11/11);234株多重耐药沙门氏菌分为162个PFGE带型,相似度为44.2%-100%,其带型呈散在多态性;PFGE带型相同的菌株,其耐药类别和耐药谱不一定相同,PFGE带型不同的菌株,其耐药类别和耐药谱也可能相同。【结论】杭州地区临床来源沙门氏菌多重耐药现象普遍,但耐药谱分散,耐药表型呈多样性,而且PFGE带型呈散在多态性,与耐药表型也不存在对应关系。其基因组特征和主要食物来源有待于进一步研究。     

Heterogeneity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from hemolytic-uremic syndrome patients, cattle, and food samples in central France

A detailed analysis of the molecular epidemiology of non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was performed by using isolates from sporadic cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), animal reservoirs, and food products. The isolates belonged to the O91 and OX3 serogroups and were collected in the same geographical area over a short period of time. Five typing methods were used; some of these were used to explore potentially mobile elements like the stx genes or the plasmids (stx(2)-restriction fragment length polymorphism [RFLP], stx(2) gene variant, and plasmid analyses), and others were used to study the whole genome (ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis [PFGE]). The techniques revealed that there was great diversity among the O91 and OX3 STEC strains isolated in central France. A close relationship between strains of the same serotype having the same virulence factor pattern was first suggested by ribotyping. However, stx(2)-RFLP and stx(2) variant analyses differentiated all but 5 of 21 isolates, and plasmid analysis revealed further heterogeneity; a unique combination of characteristics was obtained for all strains except two O91:H21 isolates from beef. The latter strains were shown by PFGE to be the most closely related isolates, with >96% homology, and hence may be subtypes of the same strain. Overall, our results indicate that the combination of stx(2)-RFLP, stx(2) variant, and plasmid profile analyses is as powerful as PFGE for molecular investigation of STEC diversity. Finally, the non-O157:H7 STEC strains isolated from HUS patients were related to but not identical to those isolated from cattle and food samples in the same geographical area. The possibility that there are distinct lineages of non-O157:H7 STEC, some of which are more virulent for humans, should be investigated further.     

Incidence and molecular epidemiology of Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteremias in patients with acute leukemia: analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis

The incidence and molecular epidemiology of P. aeruginosa bacteremias, were monitored in patients with acute leukemia to define mechanisms of possible nosocomial transmission. From September 1997 to March 2001 febrile episodes were examined and blood isolates of P. aeruginosa were studied employing Pulsed-Field gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Evaluation of DNA correlation was performed according to Tenover criteria. A total of 309 febrile episodes occurred in 187 patients. Of 139 organisms isolated in 116 bacteremias, 48% were gram negative bacilli (GNB); P. aeruginosa bacteremias were recorded in 34 (51%) of GNB sepsis. Evaluation of DNA correlation showed 2 related in 1997, 7 related in 1998, 10 related in 1999, 6 related in 2000-2001 (mainly closely and possibly related); therefore isolates closely related among themselves were also possibly related with other strains. About 60% of patients with related strains were hospitalized in the same room or in different rooms but became infected in the same period. Our data suggest a horizontal spread among the patients even if other sources were possible. The study assessed the usefulness of PFGE in bacteriological epidemiology.     

Antibiotic susceptibility and genotype patterns of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urinary tract infected patients

Thirty nine isolates of Escherichia coli, twenty two isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae and sixteen isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from urinary tract infected patients were analyzed by antimicrobial susceptibility typing and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was carried out by microdilution and E Test methods. From the antibiotic susceptibility, ten patterns were recorded (four for E. coli, three for K. pneumoniae and three for P. aeruginosa respectively). Furthermore, genotyping showed seventeen RAPD patterns (seven for E. coli, five for K. pneumoniae and five for P. aeruginosa respectively). In this study, differentiation of strains of E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa from nosocomial infection was possible with the use of RAPD.     

Effect of a controlled abacterial environment on the Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection of suppurative wounds

The present work deals with the data on the isolation rate of P. aeruginosa from suppurative wounds of different origin during their treatment by the commonly used methods under dressings and by the open method under the conditions of controlled germ-free environment. The results of the immunotyping of P. aeruginosa strains isolated from patients treated by different methods are presented. The dynamics of changes in the isolation rate of P. aeruginosa at different periods of treatment, both by the open method and with the use of dressings, is shown. Among P. aeruginosa strains isolated from suppurative wounds, those belonging to immunotypes 6, 7 and 2, as well as nontyping strains, occurred most frequently. Treatment in the controlled germ-free environment permits the protection of the wound surface from hospital infection. During treatment with the use of dressings the cases of hospital infection were revealed (31.3%). Such infection occurred, as a rule, at a later period of treatment.     

Seropathotypes, Phylogroups, Stx subtypes, and intimin types of wildlife-carried, shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains with the same characteristics as human-pathogenic isolates

The objectives of this study were to investigate the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains in wildlife that have spread in Europe, living near human settlements; to analyze their epidemiological role in maintenance and transmission to domestic livestock; and to assess the potential health risk of wildlife-carried strains. STEC strains were recovered from 53% of roe deer, 8.4% of wild boars, and 1.9% of foxes sampled in the northwest of Spain (Galicia). Of the 40 serotypes identified, 21 were classified as seropathotypes associated with human disease, accounting for 81.5% of the wildlife-carried STEC strains, including the enterohemorrhagic serotypes O157:H7-D-eae-γ1, O26:[H11]-B1-eae-β1, O121:H19-B1-eae-ε1, and O145:[H28]-D-eae-γ1. None of the wildlife-carried strains belonged to the highly pathogenic serotype O104:H4-B1 from the recent Germany outbreak. Forty percent of wildlife-carried STEC strains shared serotypes, phylogroups, intimin types, and Stx profiles with isolates from human patients from the same geographic area. Furthermore, wildlife-carried strains belonging to serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, O76:H19-B1, O145:[H28]-D, O146:H21-B1, and O157:H7-D showed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles with >85% similarity to human-pathogenic STEC strains. We also found a high level of similarity among STEC strains of serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, and O145:HNM-D of bovine (feces and beef) and wildlife origins. Interestingly, O146:H21-B1, the second most frequently detected serotype in this study, is commonly associated with human diarrhea and isolated from beef and vegetables sold in Galicia. Importantly, at least 3 STEC isolates from foxes (O5:HNM-A-eae-β1, O98:[H21]-B1-eae-ζ1, and O146:[H21]-B1) showed characteristics similar to those of human STEC strains. In conclusion, roe deer, wild boar, and fox in Galicia are confirmed to be carriers of STEC strains potentially pathogenic for humans and seem to play an important role in the maintenance of STEC.     

Long-term prevalence of antimicrobial-resistant Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica Serovar infantis in the broiler chicken industry in Japan

Eleven broiler isolates of Salmonella Infantis obtained between 1989 and 1998 were examined for antimicrobial susceptibility and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles. Seven strains of S. Infantis isolated after 1993 harbored similar antimicrobial susceptibilities to the recent isolates between 2001 and 2003. In comparison of PFGE profile with 22 isolates obtained from 22 apparently healthy broiler chickens between 2001 and 2003, the predominant cluster included the seven strains isolated after 1993. We could not clarify the reasons why the serovar has been prevalent in the broiler industry for a long time, but current antimicrobial usage is not always linked to its prevalence.