Gram-negative bacterial diversity and evidence of international clones of multidrug-resistant strains in zoo animals.

Enterobacterales and Pseudomonas aeruginosa have been colonizing or infecting wild hosts and antimicrobial-resistant strains are present in mammals and birds. Furthermore, international high-risk clones of multidrug-resistant Escherichia coli are identified and the implications of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in zoo animals are discussed.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Belonging to Novel Sequence Types ST473 and ST474 in Wild Birds Inhabiting the Brazilian Amazonia.

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an opportunistic human pathogen associated with nosocomial and community-acquired infections. We have conducted a microbiological and genomic surveillance study of broad-spectrum cephalosporin- and carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria colonizing wild birds inhabiting the Brazilian Amazonia. Strikingly, two S. maltophilia strains (SM79 and SM115) were identified in Plain-throated antwren (Isleria hauxwelli) passerines affected by Amazonian fragmentation and degradation. Noteworthy, SM79 and SM115 strains belonged to new sequence types (STs) ST474 and ST473, respectively, displaying resistance to broad-spectrum ß-lactams, aminoglycosides and/or fluoroquinolones. In this regard, resistome analysis confirmed efflux pumps (smeABC, smeDEF, emrAB-tolC and macB), blaL1 and blaL2, aph(3')-IIc and aac(6')-Iak, and Smqnr resistance genes. Comparative phylogenomic analysis with publicly available S. maltophilia genomes clustered ST473 and ST474 with human strains, whereas the ST474 was also grouped with S. maltophilia strains isolated from water and poultry samples. In summary, we report two novel sequence types of S. maltophilia colonizing wild Amazonian birds. The presence of opportunistic multidrug-resistant pathogens in wild birds, from remotes areas, could represent an ecological problem since these animals could easily promote long-distance dispersal of medically important antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Therefore, while our results could provide a baseline for future epidemiological genomic studies, considering the limited information regarding S. maltophilia circulating among wild animals, additional studies are necessary to evaluate the clinical impact and degree of pathogenicity of this human opportunistic pathogen in wild birds.

Strengthening collaborations at the Biology-Physics interface: trends in antimicrobial photodynamic therapy.

The unbridled use of antimicrobial drugs over the last decades contributed to the global dissemination of drug-resistant pathogens and increasing rates of life-threatening infections for which limited therapeutic options are available. Currently, the search for safe, fast, and effective therapeutic strategies to combat infectious diseases is a worldwide demand. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) rises as a promising therapeutic approach against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms. APDT combines light, a photosensitizing drug (PS), and oxygen to kill microorganisms by oxidative stress. Since the APDT field involves branches of biology and physics, the strengthening of interdisciplinary collaborations under the aegis of biophysics is welcome. Given this scenario, Brazil is one of the global leaders in the production of APDT science. In this review, we provide detailed reports of APDT studies published by the Laboratory of Optical Therapy (IPEN-CNEN), Group of Biomedical Nanotechnology (UFPE), and collaborators over the last 10 years. We present an integrated perspective of APDT from basic research to clinical practice and highlight its promising use, encouraging its adoption as an effective and safe technology to tackle important pathogens. We cover the use of methylene blue (MB) or Zn(II) porphyrins as PSs to kill bacteria, fungi, parasites, and pathogenic algae in laboratory assays. We describe the impact of MB-APDT in Dentistry and Veterinary Medicine to treat different infectious diseases. We also point out future directions combining APDT and nanotechnology. We hope this review motivates further APDT studies providing intuitive, vivid, and insightful information for the readers.

One Health Spread of 16S Ribosomal RNA Methyltransferase-Harboring Gram-Negative Bacterial Genomes: An Overview of the Americas.

Aminoglycoside antimicrobials remain valuable therapeutic options, but their effectiveness has been threatened by the production of bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA methyltransferases (16S-RMTases). In this study, we evaluated the genomic epidemiology of 16S-RMTase genes among Gram-negative bacteria circulating in the American continent. A total of 4877 16S-RMTase sequences were identified mainly in Enterobacterales and nonfermenting Gram-negative bacilli isolated from humans, animals, foods, and the environment during 1931-2023. Most of the sequences identified were found in the United States, Brazil, Canada, and Mexico, and the prevalence of 16S-RMTase genes have increased in the last five years (2018-2022). The three species most frequently carrying 16S-RMTase genes were Acinetobacter baummannii, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli. The armA gene was the most prevalent, but other 16S-RMTase genes (e.g., rmtB, rmtE, and rmtF) could be emerging backstage. More than 90% of 16S-RMTase sequences in the Americas were found in North American countries, and although the 16S-RMTase genes were less prevalent in Central and South American countries, these findings may be underestimations due to limited genomic data. Therefore, whole-genome sequence-based studies focusing on aminoglycoside resistance using a One Health approach in low- and middle-income countries should be encouraged.

Serological survey of Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in shelter-housed cats infected with feline immunodeficiency virus, Brazil / Inquérito sorológico para Neospora caninum e Toxoplasma gondii em um abrigo de gatos infectados com o vírus da imunodeficiência felina, Brasil

Felines play a leading role in the epidemiology of Toxoplasma gondii infection, but there is scarce information about the epidemiology of Neospora caninum, particularly in feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV)-infected cats. Cats seropositive to T. gondii do not usually show symptoms unless they are immunosuppressed, such as FIV-infected cats. The same relationship remains poorly known for N. caninum, although it has been associated with neurological disorders in HIV-infected people. Since FIV-infected cats are prone to develop encephalitis of unknown etiology, this study aimed to evaluate the presence of specific antibodies to T. gondii and N. caninum in a shelter for stray cats naturally infected with FIV. A total of 104 serum samples from cats living in a shelter, located in São Paulo city (Brazil), was assessed for T. gondii and N. caninum specific antibody by indirect fluorescent-antibody test (IFAT). Of the 104 cats, 25 (24%) were infected with FIV and, aside from these, 8 (32%) had antibodies against T. gondii (titers from 16 to 128). Only 1 (4%) of the FIV-infected cats had antibodies against N. caninum, which was the first record of coinfection. Among the FIV-naïve cats, 11 (14%) were positive for T. gondii(titers from 16 to 256) and only 1 (1.2%) had antibodies against N. caninum. Serologically positive reactions to T. gondii and N. caninum were not correlated with age or sex (p>0.05), and there was no correlation between FIV and the occurrence of anti-T. gondii or anti-N. caninum antibodies (p>0.05). Further studies encompassing larger cat populations from different origins and locations are essential to clarify the prevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum antibodies in FIV-positive cats.(AU)

Os felinos têm um papel importante na epidemiologia da infecção por Toxoplasma gondii, mas pouco se sabe sobre a epidemiologia da infecção por Neospora caninum em gatos, particularmente em gatos infectados com o vírus da imunodeficiência felina (FIV). Gatos soropositivos para Toxoplasma gondii geralmente não apresentam sintomas a não ser que estejam imunossuprimidos, como gatos infectados com FIV. A mesma relação ainda é pouco conhecida para N. caninum, embora tenha sido associada a distúrbios neurológicos em pessoas infectadas pelo HIV. Considerando que gatos infectados com FIV são propensos a desenvolver encefalite de etiologia desconhecida, o presente estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a presença de anticorpos específicos para T. gondii e N. caninum em gatos infectados com FIV. Um total de 104 amostras de soro de gatos residentes em um abrigo na cidade de São Paulo, Brasil, foram avaliadas para a presença de anticorpos contra T. gondii e N. caninum pelo teste de imunofluorescência indireta (RIFI). Dos 104 gatos, 25 (24%) estavam infectados com FIV e destes 8, (32%) tinham anticorpos contra T. gondii (titulação entre 16 e 128). Apenas 1 (4%) dos gatos infectados com FIV apresentava anticorpos contra N. caninum, sendo este o primeiro registro dessa coinfecção. Entre os gatos não infectados com FIV, 11 (14%) foram positivos para T. gondii (titulação entre 16 e 256) e apenas 1 (1,2%) tinha anticorpos contra N. caninum. A reação sorologicamente positiva para T. gondii e N. caninum não foi correlacionada com a idade ou sexo (p> 0,05), nem houve correlação entre FIV e ocorrência de anticorpos para T. gondii ou N. caninum(p> 0,05). Estudos subsequentes abrangendo populações maiores de gatos de diferentes origens e locais são essenciais para esclarecer a prevalência de anticorpos contra T. gondii e N. caninum em animais acometidos por FIV.(AU)

Towards effective cutaneous leishmaniasis treatment with light-based technologies. A systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies.

Cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) is a neglected disease that represents a serious global public health concern. We performed a systematic review with meta-analysis targeting the use of light-based therapies on CL in preclinical studies since they are essential to identify the benefits, challenges, and limitations of proposing new technologies to fight CL. We searched Pubmed and Web of Science to include original preclinical researches in English that used light-based technologies to fight CL. Inclusion criteria encompassed any animal model for CL induction, an untreated infected group as the comparator, reliable and consistent methodology to develop and treat CL, focus on an antimicrobial therapeutic approach, and data for lesion size and/or parasite load in the infection site. We identified eight eligible articles, and all of them used photodynamic therapy (PDT). For the meta-analysis, three studies were included regarding the parasite load in the infection site and four comprised the lesion size. No overall statistically significant differences were observed between untreated control and PDT groups for parasite load. Differently, PDT significantly reduced the lesion size regardless of the protocol used to treat CL (in mm, SMD: -1.90; 95% CI: -3.74 to -0.07, p = 0.04). This finding is particularly encouraging since CL promotes disfiguring lesions that profoundly affect the quality of life of patients. We conclude that PDT is a new promising technology able to be topically used against CL if applied in more than one session, making it a promising ally for the management of CL.

Report of Dirofilaria immitis infection with acute cardiopulmonary complications in a cat from Northeastern Brazil / Relato de infecção por Dirofilaria immitis com complicações cardiopulmonares agudas em um gato no Nordeste do Brasil

Dirofilariasis is a zoonotic disease caused by Dirofilaria immitis, a nematode found mainly in the pulmonary artery and right chambers of the heart, lungs, and large vessels of dogs. This parasitism also occasionally occurs in cats, causing an amicrofilaremic and asymptomatic infection, resulting in severe illness and rapid death. In this case report, it was described acute clinical signs and histopathological alterations in a domestic cat with heartworm disease from the city of Mossoró, the Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. The nematode species, D. immitis, was confirmed by morphological and molecular analyses. This is the first documented and full report of feline heartworm disease in northeastern Brazil.(AU)

A dirofilariose é uma doença zoonótica causada por Dirofilaria immitis, um nematódeo que parasita cães, principalmente a artéria pulmonar e as câmaras direitas do coração, pulmões e grandes vasos. Este parasita também ocorre ocasionalmente em gatos, geralmente causando uma infecção amicrofilarêmica e assintomática, que pode resultar em doença grave e morte rápida. Neste relato de caso, são apresentados os sinais clínicos agudos e alterações histopatológicas em um gato doméstico do município de Mossoró, Rio Grande do Norte, Brasil, com dirofilariose. A espécie de nematóide, D. immitis, foi confirmada por análises morfológicas e moleculares. Este é o primeiro relato documentado e completo de dirofilariose felina no Nordeste do Brasil.(AU)

Global priority multidrug-resistant pathogens do not resist photodynamic therapy.

Microbial drug-resistance demands immediate implementation of novel therapeutic strategies. Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (aPDT) combines the administration of a photosensitizer (PS) compound with low-irradiance light to induce photochemical reactions that yield reactive oxygen species (ROS). Since ROS react with nearly all biomolecules, aPDT offers a powerful multitarget method to avoid selection of drug-resistant strains. In this study, we assayed photodynamic inactivation under a standardized method, combining methylene blue (MB) as PS and red light, against global priority pathogens. The species tested include Acinetobacter baumannii, Klebsiella aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans. Our strain collection presents resistance to all tested antimicrobials (>50). All drug-resistant strains were compared to their drug-sensitive counterparts. Regardless of resistance phenotype, MB-aPDT presented species-specific dose-response kinetics. More than 5log10 reduction was observed within less than 75 s of illumination for A. baumannii, E. coli, E. faecium, E. faecalis and S. aureus and within less than 7 min for K. aerogenes, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, C. albicans and C. neoformans. No signs of correlations in between drug-resistance profiles and aPDT sensitivity were observed. Therefore, MB-aPDT can provide effective therapeutic protocols for a very broad spectrum of pathogens. Hence, we believe that this study represents a very important step to bring aPDT closer to implementation into mainstream medical practices.

Algicidal effect of blue light on pathogenic Prototheca species.

Prototheca spp. are pathogenic algae with important zoonotic potential. Most importantly, these algae often infect dairy cattle. Since there is no effective therapy against the algae, the standard recommendation is the disposal or culling of infected cows to avoid outbreaks. This study investigated the ability of blue light to inactivate pathogenic Prototheca species. Blue LED light (λ = 410 nm) was used to inactivate in vitro suspensions of P. zopfii genotypes 1 and 2, and P. blaschkeae. Our results showed that blue light irradiation induced a strain-specific dose-dependent algicidal effect against all tested strains. P. zopfii genotype 1, was more sensitive than genotype 2 and P. blaschkeae was the most tolerant. Even though we observed different inactivation kinetics, all strains presented significant photoinactivation levels within feasible procedure periods. Therefore, we conclude that blue light irradiation offers promising potential for the development of novel technologies that control contaminations and infections caused by Prototheca spp.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for infectious stomatitis in snakes: Clinical views and microbiological findings.

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has been broadly investigated as an alternative to treat localized infections, without leading to the selection of resistant microorganisms. Infectious stomatitis is a multifactorial disease frequently reported in captive snakes characterized by infection of the oral mucosa and surrounding tissues. In this study, we investigated methylene blue (MB)-mediated APDT to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes and verified the resistance phenotype and genotype before and after APDT. METHODS: Three Boid snakes presented petechiae, edema and caseous material in their oral cavities. MB (0.01%) was applied on the lesions and after 5min they were irradiated using a red laser (λ=660nm), fluence of 280J/cm2, 8J and 80s per point, 100mW, spot size 0.028cm2 and fluence rate of 3.5W/cm2. APDT was repeated once a week during 3 months. Samples of the lesions were collected to identify bacteria and antibiotic resistance profiles. To analyze the clonality of bacterial isolates before and after APDT, isolates were subjected to ERIC PCR analysis. RESULTS: Snakes presented clinical improvement such as reduction of inflammatory signs and caseous material. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were present in all snakes; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Morganella morganii were also identified in some animals. We also observed that the oral microbiota was completely replaced following APDT. However, K. pneumoniae isolates before and after APDT were a single clone with 100% of genetic similarity that lost resistance phenotype for seven antibiotics of four classes. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that APDT can be used to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes.

Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy for infectious stomatitis in snakes: clinical views and microbiological findings

Background Antimicrobial photodynamic therapy (APDT) has been broadly investigated as an alternative to treat localized infections, without leading to the selection of resistant microorganisms. Infectious stomatitis is a multifactorial disease frequently reported in captive snakes characterized by infection of the oral mucosa and surrounding tissues. In this study, we investigated methylene blue (MB)-mediated APDT to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes and verified the resistance phenotype and genotype before and after APDT. Methods Three Boid snakes presented petechiae, edema and caseous material in their oral cavities. MB (0.01%) was applied on the lesions and after 5 min they were irradiated using a red laser (Lambda = 660 nm), fluence of 280 J/cm2, 8 J and 80 s per point, 100 mW, spot size 0.028 cm2 and fluence rate of 3.5 W/cm2. APDT was repeated once a week during 3 months. Samples of the lesions were collected to identify bacteria and antibiotic resistance profiles. To analyze the clonality of bacterial isolates before and after APDT, isolates were subjected to ERIC PCR analysis. Results Snakes presented clinical improvement such as reduction of inflammatory signs and caseous material. Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli were present in all snakes; Klebsiella pneumoniae and Morganella morganii were also identified in some animals. We also observed that the oral microbiota was completely replaced following APDT. However, K. pneumoniae isolates before and after APDT were a single clone with 100% of genetic similarity that lost resistance phenotype for seven antibiotics of four classes. Conclusions These results show that APDT can be used to treat infectious stomatitis in snakes.

In vitro photoinactivation of bovine mastitis related pathogens.

BACKGROUND: Bovine mastitis is considered the most important disease of worldwide dairy industry. Treatment of this disease is based on the application intramammary antibiotic, which favors an increase in the number of resistant bacteria in the last decade. Photodynamic inactivation (PDI) has been investigated in different areas of Health Sciences, and has shown great potential for inactivating different pathogens, without any selection of resistant microorganisms. The objective of this study was to investigate the efficacy of PDI in the inactivation of pathogens associated with bovine mastitis. METHODS: We tested the effectiveness of PDI against antibiotic resistant strains, isolated from bovine mastitis, from the following species: Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus dysgalactiae, Corynebacterium bovis, and the alga Prototheca zopfii. Nine experimental groups were evaluated: control, no treatment; light only, irradiation of a red light-emitting diode (λ=662 (20) nm) for 180 s; exposure to 50 µM methylene blue alone for 5 min; and PDI for 5, 10, 30, 60, 120 and 180 s. RESULTS: S. dysgalactiae, S. aureus, and C. bovis were inactivated after 30s of irradiation, whereas S. agalactiae was inactivated after 120 s and P. zopfii at 180 s of irradiation. CONCLUSION: These results show that PDI can be an interesting tool for inactivating pathogens for bovine mastitis.

Comparative study between photodynamic and antibiotic therapies for treatment of footpad dermatitis (bumblefoot) in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus).

BACKGROUND: Bumblefoot, referring to bed-sore-like foot lesions, is one of the most important clinical complications in captive birds and has a multifactorial etiology. Photodynamic therapy has been proposed as an alternative treatment for localized infections in response to the escalating problem of antibiotic resistance. The aim of this study was to compare outcomes in a group of captive Spheniscus magellanicus with bumblefoot lesions treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT) or antibiotics (ATB). METHODS: Ten captive Magellanic penguins with preexisting stage III bumblefoot lesions were selected and randomly divided into one PDT and one ATB group, each including 11 pelvic-limb lesions. All animals underwent surgical debridement of lesions. In the ATB group, antibiotic ointment was applied topically three times a week, and systemic antibiotic and anti-inflammatory drugs were administered daily. In the PDT group, photodynamic therapy was applied three times a week without the use of topical or systemic medication. Lesion areas were photographed, and swabs were collected for culture and sensitivity, on the first day and every 14 days for a total of 84 days. The four species of bacteria showing the most resistance to the antibiotics screened on the antibiogram were used to determine resistance to PDT with an in vitro test. RESULTS: There were significant differences in healing rate and average healing time between the PDT and ATB groups (63.62% vs. 9.09% and 42 vs. 70 days, respectively). CONCLUSION: The findings of this study attest to the effectiveness of photodynamic therapy for the treatment of stage III bumblefoot in Spheniscus magellanicus.