Tracking melioidosis in Iran: Utilizing abattoir-based surveillance as a One Health approach.

BACKGROUND: Burkholderia pseudomallei, an environmental saprophyte bacterium, causes melioidosis in humans and animals. It was first discovered in Iran between 1967 and 1976 in small ruminants, equines, environments and humans. No subsequent studies have been conducted to determine the existence and prevalence of this pathogen in the country. OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to monitor the presence of B. pseudomallei in the ruminant population of the Golestan province of Iran, which largely depends on pastures. The ruminants can serve as sentinels to indicate the presence of the bacteria in the environment and its potential impact on human health in the One Health triad. METHODS: Liver and lung abscesses from domestic sheep, cattle and goats in three industrial and three conventional slaughterhouses were sampled and analysed using 23S ribosomal DNA polymerase chain reaction (rDNA PCR) with primers CVMP 23-1 and CVP-23-2 for B. pseudomallei, Burkholderia cepacia and Burkholderia vietnamiensis, as well as B. pseudomallei-specific TTS1 real-time PCR, along with microbiological and biochemical assays. RESULTS: Out of the 97 animals sampled, only 14 (15%) tested positive for 23S rDNA PCR. However, the follow-up evaluation using TTS1 real-time PCR and microbiological and biochemical assays did not confirm the presence of B. pseudomallei in the samples. CONCLUSIONS: Although B. pseudomallei was not detected in the current survey, conducting abattoir-based surveillance of ruminants is a cost-effective One Health approach to monitor pathogenic Burkholderia. Developing standards of clinical and laboratory good practices for Burkholderia infections is crucial for One Health surveillance.

Toxicity effects of AgZnO nanoparticles and rifampicin on Mycobacterium tuberculosis into the macrophage.

The World Health Organization acknowledges tuberculosis as a global threat. Tuberculosis infection is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Nanotechnology and microbiology researchers are looking for new and safe nano drugs for eliminating Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the causative agent of tuberculosis. In this study, AgZnO nano-crystals (AgZnONCs) is synthesized via the decomposition of the precursor of oxalate method. Characterization of AgZnONCs were evaluated. Next, various concentrations of AgZnONCs, as well AgZnONCs+Rifampicin, were prepared. The MTT assay was employed to study the viability of human macrophage cell lines (THP-1) exposed to AgZnONCs. The bactericidal effects of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were studied by Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC) test. Subsequently, THP-1 were infected by H37 Rv strain of M. tuberculosis (H37 RvMtb). Also, bactericidal effects of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were compared with ex-vivo conditions. The MBC of AgZnONCs and AgZnONCs+Rifampicin were ratios of 1:4 and 1:32 respectively (p-value <0.05). Also, more than 50% and 80% of THP-1 were alive in ratios of 1:4 and 1:32 in the presence of AgZnONCs, respectively. All phagocytic H37 RvMtb were killed in the presence of AgZnONCs+Rifampicin (p-value <0.05), while AgZnONCs were not able to kill all the H37 RvMtb (p-value >0.05). This study showed that, AgZnONCs+Rifampicin has the most anti-tubercular behavior with respect to the macrophages.

Identification and comparison of genetic pattern of human and cattle M.bovis isolates from Zanjan province, by restriction fragment length polymorphism and DNA hybridization.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVE: Mycobacterium bovis, responsible for bovine tuberculosis is a member of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. This bacterium is responsible for infection in wide range of hosts. Bovine tuberculosis is well known as Zoonotic tuberculosis in human and is transmitted via consumption of unpasteurized milk, contaminated meat products and also by ingestion of Mycobacteria from the environment. The objectives of the present study was to compare the genomic pattern of M. bovis obtained from human subjects in Zanjan province, with those of atypic cattle in Iran by Restriction fragment length polymerization and DNA hybridization methods. METHODS: DNA was isolated from 2M. bovis strains isolated from suspected patients by van Sooligen method. Finger printing methods using RFLP and DNA hybridization with probes DR and PGRS was performed. The obtained patterns were compared with the genomic pattern of 161M. bovis strains isolated from infected cattle lymph nodes, present in the Tuberculin reference Laboratory at Razi vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Karaj. RESULTS: Comparisons of the genetic pattern of the 2M. bovis strains from Zanjan province with 16 distinct patterns obtained with PGRS probe and 20 patterns with DR probes from 161M. bovis isolates indicated no correlation of the patterns of Zanjan isolates with those present at Razi Tuberculin Reference Laboratory. CONCLUSION: With respect to the age of patients, absence of epidemic and lack of cluster in the mentioned province and other provinces, our results indicate recurrence of the infection due to M. bovis isolates which were present in Zanjan province in previous years. These isolates had no association with the bovine tuberculosis isolates present in Razi Tuberculin Reference laboratory.