Occurrence of antimicrobial-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a Brazilian veterinary hospital environment.

Antimicrobial resistance is a threat to public health. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant Staphylococcus aureus represents a priority for the implementation of preventive measures. The objective was to isolate S. aureus in humans, animals, and animal health care environment, and to characterize the genotypic and phenotypic profile of antimicrobial resistance in these isolates. We isolated S. aureus from staff, animals, and environment of a veterinary hospital, and identified their antimicrobial resistance profiles. Samples were collected from 20 humans, 13 animals, 14 surfaces, 8 mobile phones, and 7 veterinarians' stethoscopes by using sterile swabs. S. aureus was isolated by culturing on mannitol salt agar and preliminary identification was done by Gram staining and catalase test. Subsequently, a polymerase chain reaction was performed for species confirmation and investigating their antimicrobial-resistant genotypic profiles. Phenotypic profiles of resistant isolates were determined using the disk-diffusion technique. Ten S. aureus isolates were recovered from 5/20 humans (25%), it was also recovered from 2/13 animals (15.38%), including 1 dog and 1 cat, and from 1/14 of surfaces (7.14%). The oxacillin-susceptible mecA-positive Staphylococcus aureus phenotype was identified in a feline. Most of the isolates carried at least two resistance genes of different antimicrobial classes, with 90% (9/10) presenting the gene blaZ, with 10% (1/10) presenting the gene mecA, 20% (2/10) presenting tet38, 10% (1/10) presenting tetM, 90% (9/10) presenting norA, 50% (5/10) presenting norC, 10% (1/10) presenting ermA, and 60% (6/10) presenting ermB. In antibiograms, resistance to penicillin was identified in all the isolates, resistance to erythromycin was identified in 80% (8/10), and all the isolate's resistance to erythromycin presented erythromycin-induced resistance to clindamycin. Antimicrobial resistance in the veterinary hospital requires attention due to the risk of interspecies transmission, gene transfer between bacteria that colonize companion animals and humans and, can make antimicrobial therapy difficult.

Antimicrobial resistance profile of non-aureus Staphylococci isolates from buffalo, goat and sheep mastitis in the Northeast region of Brazil.

The study described in this Research Communication investigated the genotypic and phenotypic profiles of resistance to beta-lactams and other antimicrobials in non-aureus Staphylococci (NAS) isolated from buffalo, goat and sheep mastitis in the Northeast region of Brazil. A total of 190 isolates were analyzed and 42.3, 43.9 and 23.6% of them were positive for blaZ gene in buffalo, goat and sheep, respectively. Regarding the animal groups, in goats, amoxicillin was the antimicrobial with highest resistance index (72.7%), followed by penicillin G in buffaloes (51.9%) and ampicillin in sheep (43.1%). With regard to multiple antimicrobial resistance, 30.8% of NAS isolates from buffalo milk samples, 25.8% from goats and 25.0% from sheep presented multidrug-resistance. In the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) technique, amoxicillin MIC50 and MIC90 were 64 and 128 µg/ml, respectively, among isolates of the three animal species. In conclusion, high rates of resistance to beta-lactams are presented among NAS isolated from mastitis cases in buffaloes, goats and sheep in Northeast region of Brazil. These results provide an alert to animal and human health researchers, suggesting that the frequency of NAS needs to be reduced because they carry resistance genes which might increase the existing levels of antimicrobial resistance.

Catarrhal mastitis by Staphylococcus simulans in a nulliparous goat / Mastite catarral causada por Staphylococcus simulans em uma cabra nulipara

The present paper is a case report of a one-year old nulliparous Alpine Goat belonging to a dairy goat farm in semi-arid region of Brazil. Both glands were naturally infected by α-hemolytic Staphylococcus simulans and evolved similar clinical signs. The mammary glands presented an acute catarrhal mastitis with systemic clinical signs that responded positively to treatment with gentamicin associated with amoxicillin. The present report suggests the importance of the pathogenic potential of non-aureus Staphylococci strains (NAS) as a cause of clinical mastitis also in nulliparous animals. The isolate showed resistance to tetracycline and contained staphylococcal toxin production genes (sec, sec and TSST-1). Moreover, it has been reported that Staphylococcus simulans is an emerging pathogen in humans causing cutaneous and osteoarticular infections, mainly in those in close contact with farm animals. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a clinical mastitis in a nulliparous goat caused by Staphylococcus simulans(AU)

O presente trabalho é o relato do caso de uma cabra nulípara da raça Parda Alpina, de um ano de idade, pertencente ao Setor de Caprinocultura da Universidade Federal da Paraíba ­ Bananeiras - Brasil. Ambas as glândulas foram naturalmente infectadas por Staphylococcus simulans α-hemolítico. As glândulas mamárias apresentaram mastite aguda catarral com envolvimento sistêmico, respondendo positivamente ao tratamento sistêmico com gentamicina associada a amoxicilina. O presente relato sugere a importância do potencial patogênico de Staphylococcus não-aureus (SNA) como causador de mastite clínica também em animais nulíparos. O isolado mostrou resistência a tetraciclina e continha genes de produção de toxinas estafilocócicas (sec, seg e TSST-1). Além disso, tem sido relatado que Staphylococcus simulans é um patógeno emergente em seres humanos causando infecções cutâneas e osteoarticulares, principalmente naqueles que têm contato íntimo com animais de fazenda. Até onde sabemos, este é o primeiro relato de uma mastite clínica em uma cabra nulípara causada por Staphylococcus simulans.(AU)

Epidemiology of Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides cluster in flocks of northeastern Brazil / Epidemiologia de Mycoplasma agalactiae e Mycoplasma mycoides cluster em rebanhos do nordeste do Brasil

ABSTRACT: The present study aimed to investigate contagious agalactia (CA) in flocks from Pernambuco State. The study involved 225 goats and 63 ewes; 288 milk samples and 100 vaginal swabs were collected in total. The PCR assays were carried out using specific primers to Mycoplasma agalactiae and the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Among the goat's milk samples,12.0% (27/225) were positive for Mycoplasma agalactiae DNA, while 5.3% (12/225) contained the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Of the vaginal swabs taken from goats, 15.4% (12/78) were positive for Mycoplasma agalactiae DNA and 3.8% (3/78) contained the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. In the case of ewes, 4.3% (1/23) of the milk samples contained Mycoplasma agalactiae DNA, and 7.5% (3/40) were positive for the Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Vaginal swabs taken from sheep´s were negative. Analysis of risk factors for mycoplasmosis, showed that goats and sheep flocks on the extensive breeding system are more likely to have mycoplasmosis than those on the intensive breeding system (odds ratio (OR) 6.2; p=0.004); meat goat and sheep flocks are more likely to have infection compared to dairy flocks (OR 4.8; p=0.011); unclean animal housing increases the chances of infection (OR 5.0; p=0.031) and not performing quarantine increases the chances of mycoplasmosis (OR 4.6; p=0.042). Based on these findings we conclude that CA syndrome in the semiarid region of Pernambuco state can be associated with Mycoplasma agalactiae and Mycoplasma mycoides cluster.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a Agalaxia contagiosa em rebanhos do estado de Pernambuco. Foram examinadas 225 cabras e 63 ovelhas, das quais foram colhidas 288 amostras de leite e 100 suabes vaginais. Foram realizadas reações da PCR com iniciadores específicos para Mycoplasma agalactiae e Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. A frequência total de Mycoplasma agalactiae em amostras de leite caprino foi de 12,0% (27/225) e de 5,3% (12/225) para Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Dos suabes vaginais de cabras as frequências detectadas na PCR foram de 15,4% (12/78) para Mycoplasma agalactiaee 3,8% (3/78) para Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Em leite de ovelhas a frequência de Ma foi de 4.3% (1/23) e de 7,5% (3/40) para Mycoplasma mycoides cluster. Na análise dos fatores de risco para micoplasmoses verificou-se que rebanhos de caprinos e ovinos mantidos no sistema extensivo são mais prováveis de adquirir micoplasmose quando comparados com o sistema intensivo (odds ratio (OR) 6,2; p=0,004); rebanhos de caprinos e ovinos de corte são mais prováveis de adquirir micoplamsose do que rebanhos de leite (OR 4,8; p=0,011); não realizar limpeza das instalações aumenta as chances de infecção (OR 5,0; p=0,031); não realizar quarentena aumenta as chances das micoplasmoses estudadas (OR 4,6; p=0,042). Conclui-se que M. agalactiae e Mycoplasma mycoides cluster estão envolvidos na síndrome de CA em rebanhos de caprinos e ovinos do semiárido pernambucano.