Distribution of antimicrobial resistance and virulence markers in chicken originated Proteus mirabilis isolates.

Proteus mirabilis is a common enteric bacterium in livestock and humans. The increase and spread of the antimicrobial resistant P. mirabilis is considered alarming worldwide. Transmission mainly occurs through consumption of contaminated poultry products. We investigated antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence markers in broiler chicken-originated P. mirabilis isolates from 380 fecal samples. Phenotypic AMR test was performed against seventeen different antimicrobials. Genotypic AMR test was performed to detect sixteen different AMR genes. The samples were also tested for the presence of eight different virulence genes and biofilm formation. P. mirabilis was isolated in 11% of the samples, with significantly high multidrug-resistant (MDR) prevalence (63%). All isolates were resistant to tetracycline (100%). The combined disc method indicated that all isolates were of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers, which was compatible with the high blaTEM prevalence (95%). This was associated with blaTEM being responsible for more than 80% of ampicillin resistance in enteric pathogens. The absence of phenotypically carbapenem-resistant isolates was compatible with the very low prevalences of blaOXA (2%) and blaNDM (0%). All isolates were positive for pmfA, atfA, hpmA, and zapA (100%) virulence genes, while biofilm formation rate (85%) indicated high adherence abilities of the isolates.

Should valgus-impacted proximal humerus fractures necessarily be operated on? Radiological versus functional results.

Background/aim: Impacted valgus proximal humerus fracture has been known to be challenging in terms of treatment and outcomes since it was defined. Moreover, it is a type of fracture that is difficult to treat. In addition, exact limits have not yet been determined regarding which parameters affect patients' functional and reported outcomes. The purpose of this study was to compare the radiological results of patients with impacted valgus proximal humerus fractures treated conservatively and surgically and to evaluate the effect of these radiological parameters on functional outcomes. Materials and methods: A total of 79 patients who were treated between 2015 and 2021 with a diagnosis of impacted valgus fracture were evaluated retrospectively. Patients treated conservatively (Group 1) and surgically (Group 2) were evaluated in terms of radiological measurements (tubercle displacement (TD), cephalodiaphyseal angle (CDA), medial hinge (MH), cephaloglenoid angle (CGA), medial hinge impaction (MHI), American Shoulder and Elbow Surgeons Shoulder Score (ASES), Constant Shoulder Score, and functional outcomes (range of motion). The effect of radiological parameters on clinical outcomes was analyzed by a correlation test. Results: In the postoperative period, the ASES and Constant scores of the patients in Group 2 were significantly higher than those of the patients in Group 1. Additionally, Group 2 had better results in terms of passive extension, active internal rotation, and active/passive external rotation. Patients in both groups exhibited improvements in radiological parameters, and the correlation test showed that MH and MHI were mostly related to ASES and Constant scores. Conclusion: The monitoring and treatment of impacted valgus proximal humerus fractures remain controversial. Although radiological parameters are a guide for orthopedic surgeons, the limits have not been clearly defined. In this study, in addition to all parameters, the effect of MH and MHI on functional results was emphasized.

Molecular analysis of virulence genes of Salmonella Infantis isolated from chickens and turkeys.

In this study, virulence genes of S. Infantis strains, which are commonly isolated from chickens and turkeys in Turkey, were analyzed, and the virulence genes of S. Infantis and other common serovars aside from S. Infantis were compared. In this study, 200 S. Infantis strains isolated from litter, powder, environmental sources, rodent samples and broiler chicken carcasses from a chicken slaughterhouse obtained from chickens (broiler chickens, breeders, laying hens) and 24 S. Infantis strains isolated and identified from litter, powder, environmental and rodent samples obtained from turkeys were analyzed. A total of 40 strains, comprising 10 strains from each Salmonella serovar (S. Typhimurium, S. Enteritidis, S. Kentucky and S. Hadar) (chicken-origin) were also selected from the collection of strains for comparison with S. Infantis strains. The virulence genes of 264, comprising 224 S. Infantis strains and 40 strains from common serovars other than S. Infantis were analyzed. A conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to analyze the 11 genes associated with the virulence (sipA, sipD, sopD, sopB, sopE, sopE2, sitC, ssaR, sifA, spvC and pefA) in these strains. SipA, ssaR and sopE genes were found in the 209 S. Infantis strains (93.3%), sipD in 208 (92.85%), sopB in 207 (92.41%), sitC in 206 (91.96%), sifA in 203 (90.62%), sopD in 198 (88.39%), sopE2 in 166 (74.1%), spvC in 20 (8.92%) and the pefA virulence gene in one strain (0.44%). It was found that 74.55% of S. Infantis strains were distributed in gene patterns 1 and 2. In this study, the sopE2 virulence gene in S. Infantis strains was analyzed for the first time. The involvement of the dominant gene patterns of the S. Infantis strains isolated from broiler chicken and broiler chicken carcasses, and the fact that none of S. Infantis strains belonging to the breeders and laying hens were included in these patterns, indicated that S. Infantis entered the broilers not through the breeders, but through environmental factors. The presence of sipA, sipD, sopD, ssaR, sopB, sopE, sifA and sitC virulence genes in S. Infantis strains were found to be similar, but remarkable differences were found compared to the S. Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis strains in the presence of sopE2, spvC and pefA virulence genes. This study examining the virulence genes of S. Infantis strains provides detailed information aimed at providing an understanding of the pathogenesis and epidemiology of Salmonella in poultry.

Active cargo transport with Janus colloidal shuttles using electric and magnetic fields.

Active colloids show non-equilibrium behavior that departs from classical Brownian motion, thus providing a platform for novel fundamental phenomena and for enticing possible applications ranging from water treatment to medicine and microrobotics. Although the physics, motion mechanisms and guidance have been extensively investigated, active colloids are rarely exploited to simultaneously guide and transport micron-sized objects in a controllable and reversible manner. Here, we use autonomous active Janus particles as colloidal shuttles to controllably transport cargo at the microscale using external electric and magnetic fields. The active motion arises from the metallodielectric characteristics of the Janus particles, which allows them to also trap, transport and release cargo particles through dielectrophoretic interactions induced by an AC electric field. The ferromagnetic nature of the nickel layer that forms the metallic hemisphere of the Janus colloids provides an additional mechanism to direct the motion of the shuttle using an external magnetic field. With this highly programmable colloidal system, we are able to harness active colloid motion and use it to transport cargo particles to specific destinations through a pre-defined route. A simple analytical model is derived to successfully describe the motion of the shuttle-cargo assembly in response to the applied electrical field. The high level of control on cargo pick-up, transport and release leads to a powerful delivery tool, which could eventually be used in microactuators, microfluidics or for controlled delivery within organ-on-a-chip devices.

Evaluation of PCR methods for detection of Brucella strains from culture and tissues.

The genus Brucella causes significant economic losses due to infertility, abortion, stillbirth or weak calves, and neonatal mortality in livestock. Brucellosis is still a zoonosis of public health importance worldwide. The study was aimed to optimize and evaluate PCR assays used for the diagnosis of Brucella infections. For this aim, several primers and PCR protocols were performed and compared with Brucella cultures and biological material inoculated with Brucella. In PCR assays, genus- or species-specific oligonucleotide primers derived from 16S rRNA sequences (F4/R2, Ba148/928, IS711, BruP6-P7) and OMPs (JPF/JPR, 31ter/sd) of Brucella were used. All primers except for BruP6-P7 detected the DNA from reference Brucella strains and field isolates. In spiked blood, milk, and semen samples, F4-R2 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. In spiked serum and fetal stomach content, Ba148/928 primer-oriented PCR assays detected minimal numbers of Brucella. Field samples collected from sheep and cattle were examined by bacteriological methods and optimized PCR assays. Overall, sensitivity of PCR assays was found superior to conventional bacteriological isolation. Brucella DNA was detected in 35.1, 1.1, 24.8, 5.0, and 8.0% of aborted fetus, blood, milk, semen, and serum samples by PCR assays, respectively. In conclusion, PCR assay in optimized conditions was found to be valuable in sensitive and specific detection of Brucella infections of animals.

A case of aspergillosis in a broiler breeder flock.

A case of aspergillosis in a broiler breeder flock having respiratory and nervous system problems caused by Aspergillus fumigatus and Aspergillus niger is documented. Dyspnea, hyperpnea, blindness, torticollis, lack of equilibrium, and stunting were observed clinically. On postmortem examination of the affected birds, white to yellow caseous nodules were observed on lungs, thoracic air sacs, eyes, and cerebellum. Histopathologic examination of lungs and cerebellum revealed classic granulomatous inflammation and cerebellar lesions, necrotic meningoencephalitis, respectively. No lesions were noted in the cerebrum histopathologically. Aspergillus hyphae were observed in stained sections prepared from lesioned organs. Fungal spores and branched septate hyphae were observed in direct microscopy. Aspergillus fumigatus and A. niger were isolated from the inoculations prepared from the suspensions of organs showing lesions.