Kamelia M. Osman

Comparative proteomic analysis on Salmonella Gallinarum and Salmonella Enteritidis exploring proteins that may incorporate host adaptation in poultry.

Comparative proteomics analysis of the cytosolic proteins of Salmonella Gallinarum (SG) and Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) isolated from poultry was performed. The constantly detected spots of serovar SG with concomitant absence in SE serovar as well as those markedly over expressed in serovar SE were selected for MALDI-TOF-MS identification. The NCBI-matched proteins that show overregulation were then further confirmed on the mRNA level by quantitative real time PCR. Identified proteins were representing diverse functional activities including energy production, metabolism, and nucleic acid synthesis. Interestingly, some recognized proteins have some relevance to bacterial virulence e.g. Salmonella pathogenicity island 1 effector protein, T-cell inhibitor protein, response regulator protein, paratose synthetase protein (RfbS) and heat shock protein 90. The study revealed the presence of some proteins of unknown function, which raise the speculation for their importance in either host adaptation or pathogenicity among SG serovars.

Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence-Associated Genes of Salmonella enterica Subsp. enterica Serotypes Muenster, Florian, Omuna, and Noya Strains Isolated from Clinically Diarrheic Humans in Egypt

Four serotypes recovered from clinically diarrheic human faecal samples (Salmonella Muenster, Salmonella Florian, Salmonella Omuna and Salmonella Noya) were investigated for the presence of 11 virulence genes (invA, avrA, ssaQ, mgtC, siiD, sopB, gipA, sodC1, sopE1, spvC, and bcfC) and their association with antibiotic resistance. The 4 Salmonella serotypes lacked virulence genes gipA and spvC. Resistance to 7 of the 14 antimicrobials was detected. The frequency of resistance, to lincomycin and streptomycin (100% of the Salmonella Muenster [2/5], Salmonella Florian [1/5], Salmonella Omuna [1/5], and Salmonella Noya [1/5] isolates), chloramphenicol (100% of the Salmonella Muenster [2/5] and Salmonella Florian [1/5] isolates) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (100% of the Salmonella Florian [1/5] and Salmonella Omuna [1/5] isolates) was an outstanding feature. With the rest of the antibiotics, the four Salmonella serotypes exhibited a great diversity in their resistance patterns. Overall, the four Salmonella serotypes were resistant to more than one antimicrobial. The antimicrobials to which the Salmonella Muenster, Salmonella Florian, and Salmonella Omuna isolates were resistant, contributed to five different antimicrobial resistance profiles. The virulence associated genes invA, ssaQ, siiD, sopB, and bcfC genes were 100% associated with certain antimicrobial resistance phenotypes (streptomycin and lincosamide) not recorded previously, and secondly, the presence of invA, avrA, ssaQ, mgtC, siiD, sopB, and bcfC was associated with resistance to chloramphenicol. The results of this study will help in understanding the spread of virulence genotypes and antibiotic resistance in Salmonella in the region of study.

Salmonella spp. Infection in Imported 1-Day-Old Chicks, Ducklings, and Turkey Poults: A Public Health Risk

The occurrence of Salmonella in 750 birds was assessed. The samples included the internal organs (caecal pouches, yolk sac, liver, and lung) of imported 1-day-old chicks (n = 150), grandparent chicks (n = 150), breeder chicks (n = 150), ducklings (n = 150), and turkey poults (n = 150), and paper-lined boxes (n = 250). Salmonellae isolated from the internal organs and paper-lined box of 1-day-old chicks, ducklings, and poults were mostly evident from the paper-lined box followed by caecal samples. Imported 1-day-old grandparent flocks were Salmonella free. Although 23.3% of the imported breeder flocks were positive for Salmonella, the imported duckling flocks and day-old turkey poults exhibited 19.3% and 12.6%, respectively. The widest diversity in isolated salmonellae was from the 1-day-old chicks where Salmonella Newport, Salmonella Kentucky, Salmonella Enteritidis, Salmonella Shubra, Salmonella Saintpaul, and Salmonella Agona were isolated. On the other hand, two Salmonella serovars were isolated from the imported breeders, Salmonella Shubra and Salmonella Shipley, and from the imported ducklings, Salmonella Shubra and Salmonella Saintpaul. The three Salmonella serovars isolated from the imported day-old turkey poults were Salmonella Shubra, Salmonella Newport, and Salmonella Saintpaul. The high percentage and diversity of Salmonella isolation from the imported birds cause concern because of the zoonotic potential of this agent and its economical importance to the local commercial poultry breeding industry. From 80 samples investigated for Salmonella, the positivity of the standard microbiological technique method was 17.5% and of the polymerase chain reaction method (Salmonella-specific invA gene) was 22.5%. The concordance between the two methods was 90% (k = 0.850). Our results indicated that the polymerase chain reaction approach is better than culturing for detecting Salmonella in poultry samples when using the preenriched medium combinations used in this study.

Prevalence, pathogenic capability, virulence genes, biofilm formation, and antibiotic resistance of Listeria in goat and sheep milk confirms need of hygienic milking conditions

Abstract Goat and sheep milk is consumed by human populations throughout the world; as a result, it has been proposed as an alternative, nutrient-rich milk to feed infants allergic to cow’s milk. Unfortunately, potentially harmful bacteria have not been thoroughly tested in goat or sheep milk. Listeria monocytogenes is a harmful bacterium that causes adverse health effects if ingested by humans. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence and characterize the phenotype, genotype, virulence factors, biofilm formation, and antibiopotential of Listeria isolated from the milk of goat and sheep. Udder milk samples were collected from 107 goats and 102 sheep and screened for mastitis using the California mastitis test (CMT). Samples were then examined for the presence of pathogenic Listeria spp; if detected, the isolation of pathogenic Listeria (L. monocytogenes and Listeria ivanovii) was completed using isolation and identification techniques recommended by the International Organization for Standards (ISO 11290-1, 1996), in addition to serological, in vitro and in vivo pathogenicity tests. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for virulence associated genes (hlyA, plcA, actA, and iap). Pathogenic Listeria spp. were isolated from 5·6% of goat and 3·9% sheep milk samples, with 33·3 and 25% of these selected samples respectively containing L. monocytogenes. The results of this study provide evidence of the low-likelihood of contamination leading to the presence of L. monocytogenes in raw goat and sheep milk; however, this study also confirmed a strong in vitro ability for biofilm formation and pathogenic capability of L. monocytogenes if discovered in the milk. L. monocytogenes may be present in goat and sheep milk and in order to reduce the exposure, hygienic milking conditions must be employed for the milk to be considered a safe alternative for human consumption.

Molecular detection of the Aeromonas virulence aerolysin gene in retail meats from different animal sources in Egypt.

Meat commonly contain the same Aeromonas spp. which occur in human diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal faecal samples. Motile Aeromonas were isolated from 5.6% of total 302 samples. The distribution of the isolates were 5.9 and 5.2% in fresh and frozen samples, respectively. Of the 302 samples taken of the four animal meat species investigated, the genus Aeromonas were isolated in 12.3% of the fresh samples collected from buffalo meat, in 6.5% of the samples collected from sheep meat and 14.0% from the samples collected from the cattle frozen meat samples. The camel meat did not reveal any Aeromonas isolates. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated as the most prevalent species with 6.8%, followed by Aeromonas caviae with 2.7% and Aeromonas sobria with 2.1% from the total meat samples. Aerolysin toxin gene (aerA) was detected in 3/17 isolates of A. hydrophila isolated from contaminated meat. Infection due to bacterial pathogen with such virulent factor through contact with contaminated meat while handling them, poses health hazards to humans.

Identification of serotypes and virulence markers of Escherichia coli isolated from human stool and urine samples in Egypt

PURPOSE Haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic-uremic syndrome are associated with Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). There are others DEC (Diarrhoeagenic E. coli) pathotypes responsible for outbreaks and others toxins associated to these. Most clinical signs of disease arise as a consequence of the production of Shiga toxin 1 (Stx1), Stx2 or combinations of these toxins. Other major virulence factors include E. coli haemolysin (hlyA), and intimin, the product of the eaeA gene that is involved in the attaching and effacing adherence phenotype. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this study, the PCR assay was used to detect 12 E. coli genes associated with virulence (stx1, stx2, hylA, Flic h7 , stb, F41, K99, sta, F17, LT-I, LT-II and eaeA). RESULTS A total of 108 E. coli strains were serotyped into 64 typable strains. The investigated strains from the stool, 8/80 (10%) strains were O 164:K, while the 56/110 strains isolated from the urine were O126:K71 (44/110, 40%) and O 86:K 61 (12/110, 11%). The distribution pattern of the detected virulence genes was observed to be in the following order: F17 (10% from the stool and 44% from the urine), Sta (10% from the stool), hylA (10% from the stool and 44% from the urine), Stb (44% from the urine) and stx1 (27% from the urine). The 8 faecal strains encoded a combination of the F17, Sta and hylA genes, while the 56 urine strains encoded a combination of the F17 0+ Stb + hylA (44/110, 40%) and Stx1 only (12/60, 20%). CONCLUSION This is the first report on the molecular characterization of E. coli diarrhoeagenic strains in Egypt and the first report on the potential role of E. coli in diarrhoea and urinary tract infections in a localized geographic area where the people engage in various occupational activities.

The impact of staphylococcal mastitis on the level of milk IL-6, lysozyme and nitric oxide.

Mammary gland secretions derived from secretory cows infected with coagulase +ve Staphylococcus spp. was examined for the expression of IL-6, production of lysozyme and NO(x). The examined cows reflected 25 cases of subclinical mastitis and 15 cases of clinically mastitic animals. The IL-6 concentration in the subclinical animals was significantly higher (30.8 ng/ml) than the clinically manifested animals (18.0 ng/ml) and the normal cows (5.2n g/ml). On the other hand the level of lysozyme although significantly higher than the normal cows (6.9 microg/ml) yet its level in the subclinical animals (11.2 microg/ml) was lower than that estimated in the clinical animals (15.6 microg/ml). Similarly, the level of NO(x) in the normal animals was found to be 5.6 microM/ml to increase to 6.2 microM/ml in the subclinical mastitic animals and to significantly increase further to 11.5 microM/ml in the clinically affected cows. These results suggest the promising use of whey IL-6, lysozyme or/and NO concentration variabilities as prognostic parameters on the degree of the commencement of mastitis in cows.

Prevalence of the Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Coagulase-Positive-and Negative-Staphylococcus in Chicken Meat Retailed to Consumers

The use of antibiotics in farm management (growing crops and raising animals) has become a major area of concern. Its implications is the consequent emergence of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and accordingly their access into the human food chain with passage of antibiotic resistance genes (ARG) to the normal human intestinal microbiota and hence to other pathogenic bacteria causative human disease. Therefore, we pursued in this study to unravel the frequency and the quinolone resistance determining region, mecA and cfr genes of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) and methicillin-susceptible coagulase-negative staphylococci (MSCNS) isolated from the retail trade of ready-to-eat raw chicken meat samples collected during 1 year and sold across the Great Cairo area. The 50 Staphylococcus isolated from retail raw chicken meat were analyzed for their antibiotic resistance phenotypic profile on 12 antibiotics (penicillin, oxacillin, methicillin, ampicillin-sulbactam, erythromycin, tetracycline, clindamycin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, sulfamethoxazole-trimethoprim, and vancomycin) and their endorsement of the quinolone resistance determining region, mecA and cfr genes. The isolation results revealed 50 isolates, CPS (14) and CNS (36), representing ten species (S. aureus, S. hyicus, S. epidermedius, S. lugdunensis, S. haemolyticus, S. hominus, S. schleiferi, S. cohnii, S. intermedius, and S. lentus). Twenty seven isolates were methicillin-resistant. Out of the characterized 50 staphylococcal isolates, three were MRSA but only 2/3 carried the mecA gene. The ARG that bestows resistance to quinolones, β-lactams, macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B [MLS(B)] in MRSA and MR-CNS were perceived. According to the available literature, the present investigation was a unique endeavor into the identification of the quinolone-resistance-determining-regions, the identification of MRSA and MR-CNS from retail chicken meat in Egypt. In addition, these isolates might indicate the promulgation of methicillin, oxacillin and vancomycin resistance in the community and imply food safety hazards.

Confirmed low prevalence of Listeria mastitis in she-camel milk delivers a safe, alternative milk for human consumption

She-camel milk is an alternative solution for people allergic to milk; unfortunately, potential harmful bacteria have not been tested in she-camel milk. Listeria monocytogenes is one harmful bacterium that causes adverse health effects if chronically or acutely ingested by humans. The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence, characterize the phenotypic, genetic characterization, virulence factors, and antibiopotential harmful bacteria resistance profile of Listeria isolated from the milk of she-camel. Udder milk samples were collected from 100 she-camels and screened for mastitis using the California mastitis test (46 healthy female camels, 24 subclinical mastitic animals and 30 clinical mastitic animals). Samples were then examined for the presence of pathogenic Listeria spp; if located, the isolation of Listeria was completed using the International Organization for Standards technique to test for pathogenicity. The isolates were subjected to PCR assay for virulence-associated genes. Listeria spp. were isolated from 4% of samples and only 1.0% was confirmed as L. monocytogenes. The results of this study provide evidence for the low prevalence of intramammary Listeria infection; additionally, this study concludes she-camel milk in healthy camels milked and harvested in proper hygienic conditions may be used as alternative milk for human consumption.

Serotypes, Virulence Genes, and Intimin Types of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated from Mastitic Milk Relevant to Human Health in Egypt

Some foodborne pathogens can cause mastitis, in which the organism is directly excreted into milk. Therefore, we undertook the steps to determine the prevalence and molecular characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from bovine mastitic milk in Egypt. Forty milk samples from dairy cattle showing mastitis were collected and examined for the presence of E. coli. Following enrichment and plating on selective agar, confirmation of the isolates was based on biochemical tests and the isolates were determined at the species level using cytochrome oxidase, triple sugar iron agar, urea, and indole tests as putatively E. coli. About 77.4% of the isolates belonged to four different O serogroups (O26, O86, O111, and O127). The multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) found that the seven isolates revealed positive amplification of the Eagg gene from the extracted DNA of the E. coli isolates in an incidence of 100%. Also, the selected isolates were subjected to a simple PCR for the detection of 12 of the most important E. coli genes associated with virulence. Those genes detected were stx1, stx2, hylA, Flic(h7), stb, F41, K99, sta, F17, LT-I, LT-II, and eaeA. A total of seven E. coli isolates that were non-O157 isolates were investigated. Among the seven isolates, none was stx positive, and all seven lacked F41, K99, LT-I, LT-II, and Flic(h7). Of these seven isolates, three (42.85%) were enterohemorrhagic E. coli hlyA positive and two (28.57%) were eaeA positive. STEC isolates were not found in bovine mastitic milk in Egypt. Isolates from mastitic milk were potentially pathogenic for human in that they belonged to serogroups associated with diarrhea and hemolytic-uremic syndrome, and some of them were hylA, stb, sta, F17, and eaeA positive.