Anaplasma marginale infection in cattle from south-western Amazonia / Infecção por Anaplasma marginale em bovinos na Amazônia Sul Ocidental, Brasil

The present study provides the first epidemiological data regarding infection by Anaplasma marginale in cattle reared in south-western Brazilian Amazonia. One simple procedure was adapted for the extraction of DNA from blood clots collected in seven microregions of Rondônia State and two mesoregions of Acre State. PCR method was used to asses the frequency of A. marginale infections in 4 to12-month-old cattle. The cattle infection was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the specific primer "msp5" for A. marginale. The DNA amplifications revealed that the mean frequency of A. marginale infection was 98.6 percent (1,627/1,650) in samples from Rondonia, and 92.87 percent (208/225) in samples from Acre. The high frequency of A. marginale infections in 4 to 12-month-old cattle indicate a situation of enzootic stability in the studied areas and are comparable to those detected by immunodiagnosis in different endemic regions in Brazil. The DNA extraction of clotted blood method described here can be used for epidemiological studies on anaplasmosis and other bovine hemoparasites.

O presente estudo fornece os primeiros dados epidemiológicos relativos a infecção por Anaplasma marginale em bovinos criados na Amazônia Sul Ocidental brasileira. Foi adaptado um procedimento simples para a extração de DNA a partir de coágulos sanguíneos coletados em sete microrregiões do estado de Rondônia e duas mesoregiões do estado do Acre. A técnica da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) foi aplicada para avaliar a freqüência da infecção por A. marginale em bovinos com idade entre 4 e 12 meses. Após a extração do DNA de cada amostra, a infecção nos bovinos foi investigada pela amplificação do gene "msp5" de A. marginale. As técnicas de amplificação do DNA revelaram que a freqüência de infecção por A. marginale foi de 98,6 por cento (1.627/1.650) nas amostras provenientes de Rondônia e de 92,87 por cento (208/225) nas amostras do Acre. A alta freqüência da infecção por A. marginale nos animais com idade entre 4 e 12 meses indica uma situação de estabilidade enzoótica nas regiões estudadas, as quais são comparáveis às detectadas por técnicas de imunodiagnóstico em outras regiões endêmicas no Brasil. A extração do DNA através do método aqui descrito pode ser utilizado em estudos epidemiológicos sobre a anaplasmose bovina e outros hemoparasitas.

Anaplasma marginale infection in cattle from south-western Amazonia / Infecção por Anaplasma marginale em bovinos na Amazônia Sul Ocidental, Brasil

The present study provides the first epidemiological data regarding infection by Anaplasma marginale in cattle reared in south-western Brazilian Amazonia. One simple procedure was adapted for the extraction of DNA from blood clots collected in seven microregions of Rondônia State and two mesoregions of Acre State. PCR method was used to asses the frequency of A. marginale infections in 4 to12-month-old cattle. The cattle infection was investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using the specific primer "msp5" for A. marginale. The DNA amplifications revealed that the mean frequency of A. marginale infection was 98.6 percent (1,627/1,650) in samples from Rondonia, and 92.87 percent (208/225) in samples from Acre. The high frequency of A. marginale infections in 4 to 12-month-old cattle indicate a situation of enzootic stability in the studied areas and are comparable to those detected by immunodiagnosis in different endemic regions in Brazil. The DNA extraction of clotted blood method described here can be used for epidemiological studies on anaplasmosis and other bovine hemoparasites.(AU)

O presente estudo fornece os primeiros dados epidemiológicos relativos a infecção por Anaplasma marginale em bovinos criados na Amazônia Sul Ocidental brasileira. Foi adaptado um procedimento simples para a extração de DNA a partir de coágulos sanguíneos coletados em sete microrregiões do estado de Rondônia e duas mesoregiões do estado do Acre. A técnica da reação em cadeia da polimerase (PCR) foi aplicada para avaliar a freqüência da infecção por A. marginale em bovinos com idade entre 4 e 12 meses. Após a extração do DNA de cada amostra, a infecção nos bovinos foi investigada pela amplificação do gene "msp5" de A. marginale. As técnicas de amplificação do DNA revelaram que a freqüência de infecção por A. marginale foi de 98,6 por cento (1.627/1.650) nas amostras provenientes de Rondônia e de 92,87 por cento (208/225) nas amostras do Acre. A alta freqüência da infecção por A. marginale nos animais com idade entre 4 e 12 meses indica uma situação de estabilidade enzoótica nas regiões estudadas, as quais são comparáveis às detectadas por técnicas de imunodiagnóstico em outras regiões endêmicas no Brasil. A extração do DNA através do método aqui descrito pode ser utilizado em estudos epidemiológicos sobre a anaplasmose bovina e outros hemoparasitas.(AU)

Tropical dermatology: bacterial tropical diseases / Tropical dermatology: bacterial tropical diseases

Bacterial infections are common in tropical parts of the world and can include those species also seen regularly in temperate climates. Many tropical bacterial infections, however, are rarely diagnosed in temperate parts of the world and include bartonellosis, tropical ulcer, tropical pyomyositis, granuloma inguinale, lymphogranuloma venereum, yaws, pinta, melioidosis, and glanders. Some tropical bacterial diseases, eg, plague and anthrax, are associated with high mortality rates and are of potential use in bioterrorism. Some tropical bacterial diseases are closely associated with specific activities such as hunting (ie, tularemia) or eating raw seafood (Vibrio vulnificus infection). The bacterial diseases having the most severe medical impact in the tropics are those caused by members of the Mycobacterium genus. Millions of persons throughout the world suffer from tuberculosis and leprosy; Buruli ulcers are common causes of morbidity in many tropical countries. Because of the increasing frequency of travel to tropical parts of the world for tourism and work as well as the increasing number of immigrants and adoptees from these areas, it is imperative that physicians practicing in temperate climates be able to recognize the signs and symptoms of tropical bacterial diseases, carry out the proper diagnostic tests, and initiate appropriate therapy and prevention. LEARNING OBJECTIVE: At the completion of this learning activity, participants should be familiar with the clinical presentations, epidemiologies, diagnoses, therapies, and preventions of bacterial tropical diseases...

[Microbiological profiling of isolates from the neonatal unit of a third-level hospital in Bogotá, Colombia]. / Perfil microbiológico de aislamientos en unidades neonatales en un hospital de tercer nivel de Bogotá, Colombia.

OBJECTIVES: Investigating the prevalence and sensitivity of germs isolated from newborn in a referral hospital in Bogotá. Suggesting an empirical antibiotic treatment for neonatal infection. METHODS: Cultures taken between February and December 2002 were analysed. Blood cultures were processed using BacT/ALERT (Durham, NC), urine cultures by UROCULT (Bio-Bacter) and catheter tips in thioglycollate. BBL CRYSTAL identification system (BD, Sparks, MD) was used for identifying germs. Antibiotic sensitivity was determined by disk diffusion. RESULTS: There were 1,097 positive aerobic and facultative aerobic germ cultures; 64.3% were Gram-positive, 30.6% Gram-negative and 4.9% were yeasts. Gram-positive germs consisted of coagulase-negative staphylococci (64.2%), enterococcus (13.8%) and coagulase-positive staphylococci (13.3%). The most frequent Gram-negatives were Klebsiella (45.2%), Eschericha coli (30.9%) and Serratia (10.1%). Staphylococcus epidermidis accounted for 64% of the coagulase-negative staphylococci. S. epidermidis susceptibility to vancomycin was 100%. Coagulase-negative staphylococci susceptibility to rifampin and amikacin was 59% and 67.4% (respectively). Coagulase-negative staphylococci resistance to beta-lactams was 86.4% (95% CI: 82.3-89.9). Coagulase-positive staphylococci sensitivity to vancomycin was 100%. Gram-negative susceptibility to imipenem was 98.1% (95% CI: 89.9-99.9), 78.1% to gentamicin (95% CI: 64.9-88.2) and 46.6% to amikacin (95% CI: 28.3-65.7). CONCLUSIONS: There was high coagulase-negative staphylococci prevalence in neonatal infection (particularly S. epidermidis). All S. epidermidis and coagulase-positive staphylococci were sensitive to vancomycin. There was increasing coagulase-negative staphylococci and Gram-negative resistance to oxacillin and amikacin, respectively.

Perfil microbiológico de aislamientos en unidades neonatales en un hospital de tercer nivel de Bogotá, Colombia / Microbiological profiling of isolates from the neonatal unit of a third-level hospital in Bogotá, Colombia

OBJETIVOS: Investigar la prevalencia y sensibilidad de gérmenes aislados en recién nacidos hospitalizados en un hospital de referencia de Bogotá. Proponer un esquema antibiótico inicial en infecciones neonatales. MÉTODOS: Se analizaron los cultivos para aerobios y aerobios facultativos practicados entre febrero y diciembre del 2002. Los hemocultivos se procesaron en BacT/ALERT (Dirham, NC); los urocultivos en UROCULT (Bio-Bacter) y las puntas de catéter en Tioglicolato. La identificación se hizo con BBL CRYSTAL (BD, Sparks, MD). La sensibilidad se determinó por difusión de disco. RESULTADOS: Fueron positivos 1 097 de 3 710 cultivos; se aislaron 64,3 % Gram-positivos, 30,6% Gram-negativos y 4,9% Candidas. Los Gram-positivos aislados fueron: estafilococos coagulasa negativa (64,2%); Enterococcus (13,8 %) y estafilococos coagulasa positiva (13,3%). Los Gram-negativos mas frecuentes fueron Klebsielas (45,2%); Escherichia coli (30,9%) y Serratias (10,1 %). El 64% de los estafilococos coagulasa negativos fueron Stafilococcus epidermidis. La sensibilidad del S. epidermidis y los estafilococos coagulasa positivos a la vancomicina fue del 100%. Hubo 86,4% (IC95%: 82,3–89,9) de resistencia de los estafilococos coagulasa negativos a los beta-lactámicos. La sensibilidad de los Gram-negativos fue del 98,1% (IC95%: 89,9-99,9) a imipenem, 78,1% (IC95%: 64,9-88,2) a gentamicina y 46,6% (IC95%: 28,3-65,7) a amikacina. CONCLUSIONES: Se encontró una alta prevalencia de estafilococos coagulasa negativos particularmente de S. epidermidis. No se observó resistencia de S. epidermidis ni estafilococos coagulasa positivos a vancomicina. Se observa resistencia creciente de los estafilcocos coagulasa negativos a oxacilina y de los Gram-negativos a amikacina.