Risk factors and spatial distribution of extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing- Escherichia coli at retail poultry meat markets in Malaysia: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: The significant role of retail poultry meat as an important exposure pathway for the acquisition and transmission of extended spectrum ß-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli (ESBL-EC) into the human population warrants understanding concerning those operational practices associated with dissemination of ESBL-EC in poultry meat retailing. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the prevalence, spatial distribution and potential risk factors associated with the dissemination of ESBL-EC in poultry meat retail at wet-markets in Selangor, Malaysia. METHODS: Poultry meat (breast, wing, thigh, and keel) as well as the contact surfaces of weighing scales and cutting boards were sampled to detect ESBL-EC by using culture and disk combination methods and polymerase chain reaction assays. Besides, questionnaire was used to obtain data and information pertaining to those operational practices that may possibly explain the occurrence of ESBL-EC. The data were analysed using logistic regression analysis at 95 % CI. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of ESBL-EC was 48.8 % (95 % CI, 42 - 55 %). Among the risk factors that were explored, type of countertop, sanitation of the stall environment, source of cleaning water, and type of cutting board were found to be significantly associated with the presence of ESBL-EC. CONCLUSIONS: Thus, in order to prevent or reduce the presence of ESBL-EC and other contaminants at the retail-outlet, there is a need to design a process control system based on the current prevailing practices in order to reduce cross contamination, as well as to improve food safety and consumer health.

Occurrence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks and duck eggs in Selangor, Malaysia.

The importance of Campylobacter and Salmonella as foodborne pathogens is well recognised globally. A recent work in Penang found ducks in commercial farms were infected with these organisms. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks and Salmonella in duck eggs in farms in a small part of Selangor. Cloacal swabs were obtained from 75 ducks and 30 duck eggs from three farms. The isolation and identification of Campylobacter and Salmonella were done using conventional methods. Twelve percent of Campylobacter and 16.0% of Salmonella were isolated from the ducks sampled. Salmonella was absent on and in eggs. Campylobacter isolates consisted of 22% Campylobacter jejuni and the remaining was Campylobacter coli. Three Salmonella serovars identified were Salmonella Agona, S. Braenderup and S. Corvallis. The presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks may cause contamination of the meat during processing and handling which can constitute public health hazard. Moreover, the farm workers may be exposed to the organisms through contact with the infected animals.

Occurrence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks and duck eggs in Selangor, Malaysia

The importance of Campylobacter and Salmonella as foodborne pathogens is well recognised globally. A recent work in Penang found ducks in commercial farms were infected with these organisms. The aim of the study was to detect the presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks and Salmonella in duck eggs in farms in a small part of Selangor. Cloacal swabs were obtained from 75 ducks and 30 duck eggs from three farms. The isolation and identification of Campylobacter and Salmonella were done using conventional methods. Twelve percent of Campylobacter and 16.0% of Salmonella were isolated from the ducks sampled. Salmonella was absent on and in eggs. Campylobacter isolates consisted of 22% Campylobacter jejuni and the remaining was Campylobacter coli. Three Salmonella serovars identified were Salmonella Agona, S. Braenderup and S. Corvallis. The presence of Campylobacter and Salmonella in ducks may cause contamination of the meat during processing and handling which can constitute public health hazard. Moreover, the farm workers may be exposed to the organisms through contact with the infected animals.

Efficacy of a bacteriophage isolated from chickens as a therapeutic agent for colibacillosis in broiler chickens.

The efficacy of bacteriophage EC1, a lytic bacteriophage, against Escherichia coli O78:K80, which causes colibacillosis in poultry, was determined in the present study. A total of 480 one-day-old birds were randomly assigned to 4 treatments groups, each with 4 pens of 30 birds. Birds from the control groups (groups I and II) received PBS (pH 7.4) or 10(10) pfu of bacteriophage EC1, respectively. Group III consisted of birds challenged with 10(8) cfu of E. coli O78:K80 and treated with 10(10) pfu of bacteriophage EC1 at 2 h postinfection, whereas birds from group IV were challenged with 10(8) cfu of E. coli O78:K80 only. All the materials were introduced into the birds by intratracheal inoculation. Based on the results of the present study, the infection was found to be less severe in the treated E. coli-challenged group. Mean total viable cell counts of E. coli identified on eosin methylene blue agar (designated EMB + E. coli) in the lungs were significantly lower in treated, E. coli-challenged birds than in untreated, E. coli-challenged birds on d 1 and 2 postinfection. The EMB + E. coli isolation frequency was also lower in treated birds; no E. coli was detectable in blood samples on any sampling day, and E. coli were isolated only in the liver, heart, and spleen of treated chickens at a ratio of 2/6, 1/6, and 3/6, respectively, at d 1 postinfection. The BW of birds from the E. coli-challenged group treated with bacteriophage EC1 were not significantly different from those of birds from both control groups but were 15.4% higher than those of the untreated, E. coli-challenged group on d 21 postinfection. The total mortality rate of birds during the 3-wk experimental period decreased from 83.3% in the untreated, E. coli-challenged birds (group IV) to 13.3% in birds treated with bacteriophage EC1 (group III). These results suggest that bacteriophage EC1 is effective in vivo and could be used to treat colibacillosis in chickens.

Mineral and physichocemical characterization of cockle (Anadara granosa) shells as an alternative biomaterial for bone tissue engineering.

This study was conducted based on the hypothesis that mineral and physicochemical properties of cockle shells similarly resemble the properties of corals (Porites sp.). Hence, the mineral and physicochemical evaluations of cockle shells were conducted to support the aforementioned hypothesis. The results indicated that cockle shells and coral exoskeleton shared similar mineral and physicochemical properties.

Mineral and physichocemical characterization of cockle (Anadara granosa) shells as an alternative biomaterial for bone tissue engineering

This study was conducted based on the hypothesis that mineral and physicochemical properties of cockle shells similarly resemble the properties of corals (Porites sp.). Hence, the mineral and physicochemical evaluations of cockle shells were conducted to support the aforementioned hypothesis. The results indicated that cockle shells and coral exoskeleton shared similar mineral and physicochemical properties.

The effect of chicken, pigeon, and turkey demineralized bone matrix (DBM) implanted in ulnar defects fixed with the intramedullary-external skeletal fixator (IM-ESF) tie-in in pigeons (Columba livia): histological evaluations.

Avian demineralized bone matrix (ADBM) powder prepared from chicken, pigeon, and turkey sources induced bone formation via endochondral and intramembranous processes, as in mammalian studies. There were no significant differences in percentage of new bone, percentage of cartilage, surface-forming osteoblast area, or osteoclast count between gaps treated with chicken, pigeon, and turkey DBM. However, there was a significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of inflammatory area in gaps treated with chicken DBM than in gaps treated with pigeon DBM.

Coccidial infections of goats in Selangor, peninsular Malaysia.

Coccidial infections were studied in goats in the state of Selangor (peninsular Malaysia) during a 12-month period. The study included 10 smallholder farms on which kids were monitored for faecal oocyst counts from birth until 1-year old. Eimeria oocysts were found in 725 (89%) of 815 faecal samples examined. Nine species of Eimeria were identified. The most prevalent were E. arloingi, found in 71% of the samples, E. ninakohlyakimovae (67%), E. christenseni (63%) and E. alijevi (61%). The other species found were, E. hirci, E. jolchijevi, E. caprovina, E. caprina and E. pallida, present in 34, 22, 12, 9 and 4% of the samples, respectively. Oocyst counts were significantly higher in animals of less than 4-months old (P < 0.05). High oocyst counts were mainly caused by non-pathogenic species. Poor hygienic conditions were found to be associated with a higher intensity of coccidial infections. Mortality rates in kids could not be related to the intensity of coccidial infections.

Strongyle infections in sheep and goats under the traditional husbandry system in peninsular Malaysia.

Faecal egg counts were used to study patterns of trichostrongyle infections in sheep and goats according to season, age, pregnancy and lactation on traditional farms in west Malaysia. Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus spp. were the most important strongyles in sheep and in goats, H. contortus, Trichostrongylus spp. and Oesophagostomum spp. were most prevalent. The faecal egg counts of sheep and goats were apparently not influenced by the small seasonal climatic variations. Strongyle infections were acquired at an earlier age in sheep than in goats. Mean faecal egg counts decreased from the age of 8 months onwards in sheep while in goats this occurred from 12-18 months onwards. A periparturient rise in strongyle egg counts was observed in both animal species. Haemonchus contortus was mainly responsible for this rise in faecal egg counts. The results are discussed with reference to control of gastrointestinal strongyle infections in sheep and goats.

Anthelmintic resistance in goats in peninsular Malaysia.

Ninety-six randomly selected farms, located throughout peninsular Malaysia, were surveyed for goat nematodes resistant to benzimidazoles (BZ). On 33 farms BZ resistance was demonstrated by means of an egg hatch assay. Haemonchus contortus was found to be the main species involved in anthelmintic resistance. There was a positive association between the frequency of anthelmintic treatments on a farm and the presence of benzimidazole resistance. To assess the value of the egg hatch assay, faecal egg count reduction (FECR) tests were also performed on 20 farms. On six farms the LD50 of thiabendazole (TBZ) was less than 0.10 micrograms ml-1 and the FECR higher than 95% and on ten farms with an LD50 TBZ of over 0.10 micrograms ml-1 a FECR of less than 95% was measured. On four farms the FECR was less than 95%, although the egg hatch assay showed LD50 TBZ values of less than 0.10 micrograms ml-1 and on two of these three farms a controlled efficacy test confirmed the presence of BZ resistant H. contortus. From these results it can be concluded that the egg hatch assay underestimated the true incidence of benzimidazole resistance. Levamisole resistance was detected with a FECR test on two of ten farms investigated.

Control of haemonchosis in Malaysian goats with closantel.

The therapeutic and prophylactic effects of closantel on natural infections with Haemonchus contortus were studied in goats in Peninsular Malaysia. Closantel was highly effective against H. contortus, either at a subcutaneous (s.c.) injection of 5.0 mg kg-1 body weight (100%), or in an oral drench mixture with mebendazole at a dose of 10.0 mg kg-1 (99.2%), as indicated by faecal egg counts. H. contortus larvae were absent from faecal cultures for 5, 6 and 7 weeks following treatment with s.c. injections of closantel at doses of 2.5 mg kg-1, 5.0 mg kg-1 and 10.0 mg kg-1 respectively, and for 6 weeks after treatment with closantel at 10.0 mg kg-1, given orally. Through its sustained activity, closantel not only prevented reinfection with H. contortus but also caused a dramatic reduction in pasture contamination. The potential utility of closantel in the strategic control of haemonchosis in goats, and as an alternative treatment for benzimidazoles and levamisole resistant H. contortus strains, is discussed.