Virulence and antimicrobial resistance of Klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from passerine and psittacine birds.

Klebsiella pneumoniae is considered one of the most important Gram-negative opportunistic pathogens. The contact between humans and birds poses health risks to both. The aim of this study was to investigate the resistance and virulence of K. pneumoniae isolates from psittacines and passerines, seized from illegal trade in Brazil. We analysed 32 strains isolated from birds of the orders Psittaciformes and Passeriformes by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for virulence factor genes. Antibiotic resistance was assessed by disk diffusion assay and PCR. The results indicated that fimH (100%), uge (96.8%), kfu (81.2%) and irp-2 (68.7%) were the most common virulence genes, followed by kpn (46.8%), K2 (43.7%), mrkD (34.3%) and iroN (15.6%). The combination of virulence genes resulted in a great diversity of genotypes and the heterogeneity of the strains is also confirmed in the analysis by amplified fragment length polymorphism. The susceptibility profiles of the K. pneumoniae showed 25% of multiple antibiotic resistance strains. We identified seven strains that presented non-extended spectrum beta lactamase blaSHV variants SHV-1 and SHV-11 and one strain positive to the blaTEM-1 gene. Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance was present in 10 strains (10/32). The data obtained in this study reveal the pathogenic potential of this pathogen and highlight the need for surveillance and monitoring.

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC): Zoonotic risks associated with psittacine pet birds in home environments.

Psittacidae are frequently bred as pets worldwide, but little is known about the zoonotic risks of these animals. The objective of this study was to investigate the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in the feces of psittacine birds housed as pets. A total of 171 fecal samples (67 cockatiels, 59 budgerigars, and 45 agapornis) were cultured. Forty-two (E. coli) strains were identified, and the presence of the eae, stx1, and stx2 genes was determined using PCR. The antimicrobial resistance profiles of the STEC strains were determined using the disk diffusion method and phylogenetic analysis according to the new Clermont phylotyping method. Using these methods, 19.4% (8/42) of the STEC strains were determined to be positive for the eae and stx2 genes. The results revealed a STEC frequency of 4.6% in the birds (8/171), with a percentage of 8.47% in budgerigars (5/59), 4.47% in cockatiels (3/67), and 0% in agapornis (0/45). None of the STEC isolates belonged to the O157 serogroup. Most of the strains were classified as sensitive to the 18 antibiotics tested. None of the strains exhibited a multiresistance profile. In the phylogenetic analysis, two strains were classified as non-typeable, three were classified as B2, two were classified as F, and one was classified as Clade I. Seven of the eight STEC strains showed a clonal profile using AFLP. E. coli strains that are stx2(+) plus eae(+) are usually associated with severe human diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome. The STEC-positive results indicate the zoonotic risk of breeding psittacidae in home environments.

Utilização do yacon ( Smallanthus sonchifolius ) na proteção contra colonização intestinal de frangos de corte infectados por Salmonella Enteritidis / Use of yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) protect against intestinal colonization of broilers infectes by Salmonella Enteritidis]

Os frutanos do tipo inulina são oligossacarídeos que favorecem a multiplicação de determinados gêneros bacterianos no intestino, promovendo um efeito prebiótico. Este trabalho avaliou o efeito da inulina extraída de raízes de yacon (Smallanthus sonchifolius) sobre a colonização intestinal de frangos de corte experimentalmente infectados por Salmonella Enteritidis. Sessenta frangos de corte com um dia de idade foram divididos em três grupos de tratamento, com duas repetições, criados até 21 dias. As aves do grupo yacon receberam 100mg de inulina/dia, via oral, por três dias consecutivos. No sétimo dia de vida, as aves tratadas e o controle positivo foram desafiados pela via oral com uma cultura de S. Enteritidis. Não foram observadas diferenças de desempenho zootécnico entre os grupos. O índice de infectividade das aves suplementadas com yacon foi menor até o sexto dia após o desafio, mas, ao término do experimento, foi superior ao controle positivo. Os dados deste trabalho demonstram que o uso da inulina nos três primeiros dias de vida promoveu uma redução da colonização intestinal dos frangos por Salmonella Enteritidis na primeira semana após o desafio. Novos estudos são necessários para determinar a dose e o tempo de tratamento ideal para um efeito protetor de maior duração.(AU)

The fructan inulin-type oligosaccharides favor the multiplication of some bacterial genera in the intestine, promoting a prebiotic effect. This study evaluated the effect of inulin extracted from yacon roots (Smallanthus sonchifolius) on intestinal colonization of broilers experimentally infected with Salmonella Enteritidis. Sixty-one day old chicks were grouped into three treatments, with two replicates, and reared until 21 days. Birds in the yacon group received 100mg of inulin/day orally for three consecutive days. On the seventh day of life the treated birds and the positive control were challenged orally with a culture of S. Enteritidis. There were no differences between groups in live performance. The infectivity index of the chicks supplemented with yacon was lower until the sixth day after the challenge, but at the end of the experiment it was higher than the positive control. Data from this study show that the use of inulin during the first 3 days of life caused a reduction of intestinal colonization of chickens by Salmonella Enteritidis in the first week after challenge. Further studies are needed to determine the dose and the ideal time of treatment necessary for a longer protective effect.(AU)

Avaliação da atividade anti-helmíntica de extratos brutos de plantas da Floresta Amazônica e Mata Atlântica brasileira sobre Haemonchus contortus / Evaluation of the anti-helminthic activity of crude extracts from the Brazilian Amazon and Mata Atlântica plants against Haemonchus contortus

No mundo todo, as verminoses são causa de considerável prejuízo econômico na criação de ovinos. As perdas estão relacionadas ao retardo na produção, custos com tratamentos profiláticos e, em casos extremos, à morte dos animais. O objetivo deste trabalho foi verificar a ação anti-helmíntica de extratos vegetais sobre nematoides como alternativa terapêutica no tratamento da verminose em ovinos. Extratos orgânicos e aquosos foram obtidos de plantas nativas da Floresta Amazônica e Mata Atlântica, e foram testados na concentração de 100µg/mL em ensaios de toxicidade in vitro contra ovos de Haemonchus contortus e de 200µg/mL contra suas larvas. Na concentração estabelecida, apresentaram significante atividade relacionada à inibição de eclosão de ovos; em particular, o extrato orgânico de folhas e frutos de Trichilia sp. e o extrato aquoso dos órgãos aéreos de Phyllanthus attenuatus. Os resultados in vitro sugerem que extratos aquosos e orgânicos dessas plantas podem oferecer novas alternativas de controle da verminose em ovinos a partir de produtos naturais...

Helminthosis play a crucial role in small ruminant production leading to enormous economic losses particularly in areas where extensive grazing is practiced. It causes a loss of production through mortality, weight loss, reduced milk and wool production. Haemonchus contortus is a highly pathogenic small ruminant helminthes parasite, which is capable of causing acute diseases and high mortality. Therefore, there is an urgent need to seek alternative or complementary solutions to the control of parasitic nematodes of ruminants. The tropical forests concentrate the highest biodiversity in the world, particularly those located in Brazil, whose species richness is estimated to account for 20% of the total world richness and little is known about the chemical and pharmacological potentialities of Brazilian tropical forests. In this work, organic and aqueous extracts were tested on eggs and in the larval development test on Haemonchus contortus. The organic extract obtained from leaves and fruits of Trichilia sp. and the aqueous extract obtained from the aerial organs of Phyllanthus attenuates showed significant activity related to the inhibition of H. contortus egg eclosion. In vitro results suggest that both extracts, as well as eleven other active extracts, can offer alternatives in sheep worm control...