Monitoring the genetic variation of some Escherichia coli strains in wild birds and cattle.

To date, there is limited data about the genetic relationship of Escherichia coli between wild birds and cattle because these birds act as silent vectors for many zoonotic bacteria. This study aimed to elucidate the role of rooming wild birds in the vicinity of cattle farm in transmission of the same pathogenic E. coli variants, identifying their virulence, resistance traits and genetic similarities of fimH virulence gene. About 240 faecal/cloacal swabs were collected from both species and examined bacteriologically. Escherichia coli was yielded in 45.8% and 32.5%, respectively, of examined cattle and wild birds. The most prevalent detected E. coli serovar was O26. High tetracycline and chloramphenicol resistance were recorded; however, gentamycin and ciprofloxacin exhibited the highest sensitivity rates. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) conserved genotypic resistance (tetA and blaCTX-M) and virulence attributes (fimH, stx1, eaeA and ompA) of E. coli isolates were discussed in detail. The fimH gene revealed 100% sequence similarity when comparing with different E. coli isolates globally and locally. Finally, a close genetic association of E. coli with both wild birds and cattle was detected, thus strengthening its role in the dissemination of the infection via environment. Prevention and conservative policy should be carried as E. coli constitute enormous significant zoonotic risks to livestock and animal workers. Also, further studies to the whole genome sequencing of fimH, other virulence and resistance genes of E. coli are recommended trying to limit the possibilities of co-infection and transfer among different species.Contribution: The current study recorded updated data about the critical infectious role of wild birds to livestock, including cattle farms in Egypt. It also delivered some recommendations for good hygienic practices in cattle farms which must be implemented for handling animal manure.

Prevalence, antibiotic profile, virulence determinants, ESBLs, and non-ß-lactam encoding genes of MDR Proteus spp. isolated from infected dogs.

This study investigated the prevalence, antibiogram, virulence, extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs), and non-ß-lactam encoding genes of Proteus species isolated from infected dogs in Ismailia province, Egypt. The study was conducted on 70 fecal swabs collected from dogs with diarrhea for bacteriological identification of Proteus spp. The positive isolates were evaluated for antibiotic susceptibility, molecular tests of virulence, ESBLs, and non-ß-lactam encoding genes. Prevalence of Proteus spp. was 35.7% (25/70), including Proteus mirabilis (n = 23) and Proteus vulgaris (n = 2). The Proteus spp. prevalence revealed diversity, higher in males than females, in ages < 12 weeks. Investigation of antimicrobial resistance was found against penicillin and amoxicillin (100%), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (32%), cephalosporins: cefotaxime and ceftazidime (36%), and monobactam: aztreonam (28%) as ESBLs, in addition to tetracycline (32%) and trimethoprim sulfamethoxazole (100%). The strains retrieved by PCR revealed ureC, zapA, and rsbA virulence genes with variant prevalence as 92%, 60%, and 52%, respectively. In addition, the recovered strains contained ESBL genes with a dramatic variable prevalence of 100%, 92%, 36%, and 32%, to bla TEM, bla SHV, bla CTX-M, and bla OXA-1, respectively, and non ß-lactam encoding genes with a prevalence of 100%, 48%, 44%, 20%, and 12%, to sul1, tetA, intI1, qnrA, and aadA1. Moreover, 28% (7/25) of recovering strains were MDR (multidrug-resistant) up to four classes of antimicrobials, and 48% (12/25) of the examined strains were MDR up to three antimicrobial classes. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, our study could be the first report recording MDR Proteus spp. in dogs in Egypt.

Lumpy skin disease outbreaks investigation in Egyptian cattle and buffaloes: Serological evidence and molecular characterization of genome termini.

Lumpy skin disease (LSD) is an endemic highly infectious viral disease affecting cattle in Egypt. This study aimed to identify and characterize the LSD virus (LSDV) outbreaks in Egypt between 2016 and 2018 and to determine the role of Egyptian buffaloes in the epidemiology of LSD. A total of 44 skin biopsies (41 from cattle and 3 from buffaloes) and 31 blood samples from asymptomatic buffaloes in contact with clinically infected cattle were collected from 7 Egyptian governorates and tested by real-time (rt)-PCR. The positive samples were further isolated, and the isolates were analyzed by conventional PCR to amplify the LSDV001 and LSDV002 genes; three isolates were sequenced, and the phylogenetic tree was constructed. In addition, 198 serum samples (102 from cattle and 96 from contact buffaloes) were examined using ELISA. Out of 44 skin nodules analyzed by rt-PCR, 31 (70.45 %) were positive while, non of the buffalo samples were positive. Out of 31 positive rt-PCR samples, LSDV was isolated on CAM (n=19; 61.29%) and MDBK cell culture. The virus isolates were confirmed by conventional PCR where 1237 bp product size was successfully amplified. The phylogenetic analysis of LSDV002 gene revealed that three sequenced LSDV isolates were identical to each other and to LSDV isolates from different countries in Africa, Asia, and Europe with 99-100 % identity. ELISA analyses showed seroreactivity of LSDV in Egyptian cattle and buffaloes. In conclusion, the Egyptian water buffalo serves as an accidental non-adapted host for the disease and this point requires more deep investigation. In addition, the current vaccine strategy should be re-evaluated for more coverage and effectiveness.