Antimicrobial susceptibility of Enterococcus strains isolated from poultry faeces.

We have investigated the resistance of Enterococcus isolated from poultry faeces to antibiotics commonly used as therapy of enterococcal infections. Identification was made by the method of Facklam and Collins. Minimal inhibitory concentrations of penicillin, ampicillin, vancomycin and teicoplanin were determined and high level aminoglycoside resistance was investigated. Genes codifying high level aminoglycoside resistance (HLAR) were determined by PCR. Fifty five Enterococcus strains were isolated (63.6% E. faecalis, 12.7% E. mundtii, 9.1% E. faecium, 7.3% E. casseliflavus, 3.7% E. durans and 3.6% E. hirae). None of the strains were resistant to VAN, TEC, P or AM. HLAR was found in 34.5% of strains for SM, 27.3% for KM and 7.3% for GM. The gene for the bifunctional enzyme was found only in one strain, that showed HLAR to GM and KM. Fourteen strains harboured the gene aph(3')-III, being 11 resistant to KM and STR, and three resistant to GM, KM and STR. The remaining six strains showed HLAR to STR, but were negative for the three genes tested by PCR. The gene ant(4'4") was not detected in any of the strains. No unexpected vancomycin resistance was detected. The resistance rates among poultry strains were lower than those found among human strains isolated from hospital patients in recent Canary studies.

[Intestinal parasitosis in the asymptomatic Subsaharian immigrant population. Gran Canaria 2000]. / Parasitosis intestinales en población inmigrante subsahariana asintomática. Gran Canaria 2000.

CONTEXT: A prospective study has been conducted in order to known the prevalence and the type of intestinal parasitoses in a cohort of healthy Subsaharian immigrants that reached Gran Canaria along the year 2000. METHODS: 348 fecal samples of 121 immigrants have been studied. In each patient a minimum of two samples and a maximum of three samples was studied. Each sample was evaluated through two techniques: visualization of a direct preparation dyed with Lugol and through the technique of concentration of Kato. RESULTS: 23.1% of the patients presented pathogenic parasites in feces, being observed 2 parasites in 5 of the patients (17.8%). The geohelminths (Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura and Strongyloides stercolaris) were the parasites more frequently found (87.9%). Specifically, the parasitosis found in the greatest number of participants was hookworm disease (44.8%). In this study the effectiveness of the evaluation of three feces samples is demonstrated in order to increase the percentage of diagnosed intestinal parasitoses. The visualization of a direct preparation dyed with Lugol permitted the diagnosis of 63.6% of the parasitoses, while the technique of Kato detected 56.6% of the helminth infections. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of geohelminths in the asymptomatic Subsaharian immigrant population is elevated. The complementary use of the microscopic study of a direct preparation dyed with Lugol and the technique of Kato increase the diagnostic performance.

Parasitosis intestinales en población inmigrante subsahariana asintomática. Gran Canaria 2000 / Intestinal parasitoses in the asymptomatic Subsaharian inmigrant population. Gran Canaria 2000

Fundamento. Realizamos un estudio prospectivo para conocer la prevalencia y el tipo de parasitosis intestinal en una cohorte de inmigrantes subsaharianos sanos llegados a Gran Canaria durante el año 2000.Métodos. Se han estudiado 348 muestras fecales de 121 inmigrantes. Se estudió un mínimo de dos y un máximo de tres muestras de cada paciente. Cada muestra fue estudiada mediante dos técnicas: visualización de una preparación directa teñida con lugol y mediante la técnica de concentración de Kato. Resultados. Un 23,1 por ciento de los pacientes presentaban parásitos patógenos en heces, observándose en 5 de ellos 2 parásitos (17,8 por ciento). Los geohelmintos (Ancylostoma duodenale/Necator americanus, Ascaris lumbricoides, Trichuris trichiura y Strongyloides stercoralis) fueron los parásitos más frecuentemente encontrados (87,9 por ciento). Específicamente la parasitosis encontrada en el mayor número de personas fue la uncinariasis (44,8 por ciento). En este estudio comprobamos la eficacia del empleo de tres muestras de heces para incrementar el porcentaje de parasitosis intestinales diagnosticadas. La visualización de una preparación directa teñida con lugol permitió el diagnóstico del 63,6 por ciento de las parasitosis, mientras que la técnica de Kato detectó el 56,6 por ciento de las helmintiasis. Conclusiones. La prevalencia de geohelmintos en la población inmigrante subsahariana asintomática es elevada. El uso complementario de la visión de una preparación directa teñida con lugol y la técnica de Kato incrementan el rendimiento diagnóstico (AU)