CPRMethicillin resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from South Korean ducks exhibiting tremor.

BACKGROUND: We describe coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolates collected from ducklings exhibiting tremor in South Korea over the period of 2010 to 2011. Screening of antimicrobial susceptibility and analysis of SCCmec elements of CoNS were also investigated. RESULTS: Staphylococcus cohnii was the most frequent staphylococcus (9 isolates) and S. sciuri (4 isolates), S. lentus (3 isolate), S. simulans (1 isolate) and S. epidermidis (1 isolate) were also detected. Among the 15 antimicrobials tested in this study, resistance against oxacillin (15 isolates, 83.3%) was most frequently observed, but only one isolate (SNUDS-1) possessed mecA. This isolate was shown to possess SCCmec type III; the type 3 ccr complex and the class A mec complex. CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results, isolate SNUDS-1 was shown to possess SCCmec type III; the type 3 ccr complex and the class A mec complex. Although the SCCmec type III is not predominant in human, MR-CoNS (Methicillin resistance Coagulase-negative staphylococci) in food animals should be monitored to prevent the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes and resistant pathogens to the community.

Sequence-based genotyping methods to assess the genetic diversity of Riemerella anatipestifer isolates from ducklings with tremor.

The aim of this study was to investigate sequence-based genotyping methods to distinguish 27 Riemerella anatipestifer isolates from ducklings in South Korea. The 16S rRNA sequences of the 27 R. anatipestifer isolates showed 99�100% similarities to each other and to reference sequences from Genbank (AY871822.2, AY871834.2, CP002562.1, EU715016.1, EU016548.1, EU715000.1, EU715008.1 and EU715011.1). In addition, the ompA gene sequences of 25 of the 27 R. anatipestifer isolates were 100% identical to each other, and these sequences were also 100% identical to reference sequences (CP002562.1, GQ415419.1, DQ059079, FJ765034.1, AY606207.1, AF104937.1, and FJ765033.1). Alternatively, four housekeeping genes (mdh, gdh, pgi, and rpoB) and three virulence-associated genes (prtC, hagA, and sspA) were used for a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and a single-locus sequence typing (SLST) among R. anatipestifer isolates. Compared to 16S rRNA and the ompA gene, seven genes showed higher genetic divergence patterns, and the isolates were separated into three distinct groups in phylogenetic trees.

Tremor, seizures and psychosis as presenting symptoms in a patient with chronic lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB).

Lyme borreliosis is a multisystem disorder caused by Borrelia burgdorferi (Bb). Neurological symptoms such as lymphocytic meningoradiculoneuritis (Bannwart's syndrome), cranial neuritis (II,III,IV,V,VI), encephalitis, transverse myelitis are found in about 10% of cases during the second phase of the disease. In the chronic stage, many months or years after the initial infection, other neurologic complications may occur, such as encephalomyelitis, epileptic crises, cognitive impairment, peripheral neuropathy and psychiatric disturbances such as depression, anxiety, panicc attacks, catatonia, psychosis etc. Some patient continue to experience symptoms of fatigue, insomnia or psychiatric disorder in the post borrelia syndrome. We describe here a patient with a triad of unusual symptoms in chronic LNB including tremor, seizures and psychosis. Standardized medical interview, neurologic examination, neuroimaging, serum and CSF serology as well as EEG and EMNG evaluation were performed. The patient was treated with intravenous ceftriaxone and doxycycline and responded with rapid clinical and functional improvement.Newertheless, he suffered from multiple systemic and neurologic sequelas that influenced his daily activities in post treatment period. Emphasis is placed on the atypical onset and evolution, the difficulties encountered in formulating diagnosis, early treatment and the uncertainties concerning the sequelae after treatment. In patients with non-specific long lasting symptoms in the absence of overt clinical signs suggesting CNS involvement, routine treatment with i.v. ceftriaxone is not to be encouraged.

Indole-diterpenes and ergot alkaloids in Cynodon dactylon (Bermuda grass) infected with Claviceps cynodontis from an outbreak of tremors in cattle.

Tremorgenic syndromes in mammals are commonly associated with indole-diterpenoid alkaloids of fungal origin. Cattle are sometimes affected by tremors (also called "staggers") when they graze on toxic grass pastures, and Bermuda grass ( Cynodon dactylon , kweek) has been known to be associated with tremors for several decades. This study reports the identification of paspalitrems and paspaline-like indole-diterpenes in the seedheads of Claviceps cynodontis -infected Bermuda grass collected from a pasture that had caused a staggers syndrome in cattle in South Africa and thereby links the condition to specific mycotoxins. The highest concentration (about 150 mg/kg) was found for paspalitrem B. Ergonovine and ergine (lysergic acid amide), together with their C-8 epimers, were found to co-occur with the indole-diterpenes at concentrations of about 10 microg/kg. The indole-diterpene profile of the extract from the ergotized Bermuda grass was similar to that of Claviceps paspali sclerotia. However, the C. paspali sclerotia contained in addition agroclavine and elymoclavine. This is the first study linking tremors associated with grazing of Bermuda grass to specific tremorgenic indole-diterpenoid mycotoxins.

Morphology of spiroplasmas in the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensis associated with tremor disease.

The structure of spiroplasmas in the Chinese mitten crab associated with tremor disease was studied by transmission electron microscopy techniques, including both negative staining and ultrasectioning. A spiral structure, which is a typical form of spiroplasmas, could be detected and the observations showed for the first time the presence of spiroplasmas in the cells of the crab. Propagation of spiroplasmas within the cells presented various forms that could be sorted into three morphological types: rounded, regular helical, and pleiomorphic or intermediate forms. The spiroplasmas appeared as round bodies during the fallow stage of development or under poor conditions. They showed various shapes such as helices, saccate, branched, tadpole-like and tortoise-like structures while growing, and became long and congregated in late stages of development. When spiroplasmas were isolated from chicken eggs and cultured in M1D medium they appeared to undergo similar morphological changes to those in the crab. The spiroplasmas contained chromatin filaments and peripheral ribosome-like granules and were delimited by distinct unitary membranes. Average diameters were calculated at 0.1 to 0.35 microm for rounded forms and 0.1-0.2 microm for helical or long forms, and they varied in length from 3-12 microm.

Study on experimental infections of Spiroplasma from the Chinese mitten crab in crayfish, mice and embryonated chickens.

Tremor disease (TD) of the Chinese mitten crab Eriocheir sinensi has become a serious disease in the Chinese freshwater culture industry in recent years. The agent, belonging to Spiroplasma, was purified from yolk and allantoic fluids of chicken embryos and was then inoculated into the body of crayfish, the abdominal cavity of ICR mice and the allantoid of chicken embryos, respectively. Thirty-eight days after the inoculation, the mice and crayfish were dissected and their tissues sampled and observed with both the light and electron microscope. No infection was detected in mouse or crawfish tissue. But when the different tissues from the inoculated embryonated chickens were tested, the agent was detected only in the brain of embryonated chickens. This indicated that the agent represented a neurotropic characteristic in embryonated chickens, just as it had in the crab. This infective characteristic may be due to the development and maturation of host immunity.

Holmes' tremor following midbrain Toxoplasma abscess: clinical features and treatment of a case.

The label Holmes' tremor defines a rare symptomatic movement disorder frequently occurring with midbrain damage. It appears at rest and worsens adopting a posture and on attempting movements. We describe the case of a patient with Holmes' tremor due to a presumed Toxoplasma abscess of the midbrain. The positive response to a combined therapy with levodopa and isoniazid is also reported.

Congenital tremor in pigs farrowed from sows given hog cholera virus during pregnancy.

At different stages of gestation, 3 groups of pregnant sows were inoculated with a strain of hog cholera virus (HCV). After the infection, clinical signs of hog cholera were not observed in the sows. Pigs from the sows infected on day 22 or 43 of gestation showed varying degrees of muscular tremor, ataxia, splayleg, and suckling inability. Of the pigs with tremor, 83% had cerebellar hypoplasia. Surviving pigs demonstrated persistent viral infection and continued to shed HCV, but did not have antibodies to HCV. Sows infected at 72 days of gestation farrowed numerous mummified and stillborn pigs. Signs of tremor were not seen in any pigs from these sows.