Hippurate Hydrolysis Test Research Articles

Microbiological monitoring of antibiotic resistance of strains of Streptococcus agalactiae among pregnant women

Group B Streptococcus (GBS) is the causative agent in 2–7% of all urinary tract infections (UTI), including asymptomatic bacteriuria (AB), cystitis, and pyelonephritis. We used the bacteriological quantitative method of sowing urine samples of pregnant women on Columbia agar with 5% lamb blood), Strepto B chromogenic agar and Todd Hewitt broth, identification of GBS strains with determination of sensitivity to bacitracin, hippurate hydrolysis test and CAMP test. Susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs was determined by the disk-diffusion method according to recommendations of the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing. For the period of 2021, out of 3,356 urine samples of pregnant women, there were 149 samples of the investigated biomaterial with a positive result for GBS (resultancy – 4.4%). It was established that among the studied contingent, 41 strains of GBS were isolated in the first trimester of pregnancy (27.5%), in the second trimester – 59 strains (39.5%), in the third trimester – 49 strains (33.0%). It is established that out of the 149 strains of GBS, 38 strains (25.0%) were resistant to norfloxacin, 45 strains (30.0%) to erythromycin, 41 strains (28.0%) to clindamycin,125 strains (84.0%) to tetracycline, 20 strains (13.0%) to levofloxacin, 3 strains (2.0%) to nitrofurantoin. All strains of Streptococcus agalactiae were found to be sensitive to benzylpenicillin. The number of resistant strains of SGB identified from the urine of pregnant women was 47 strains. All resistant strains were resistant to at least three groups of antibacterial drugs, except beta-lactams. The results of the scientific research will allow us to obtain dynamic data on the antibiotic resistance of GBS strains in order to study the rate of development of antibiotic sensitivity of this microorganism. In the future, the research data can be used by scientists when reviewing protocols for the treatment of urinary tract infections in pregnant women.

Prevalence, Resistance Profile and Virulence Genes of Streptococcus agalactiae Colonizing Near-term Pregnant Women Attending Ain Shams University Hospital

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is a common cause of infections in pregnant females and non-pregnant adults with chronic diseases (such as diabetes and cancer), also it is the main reason of septicaemia and meningitis in infants. The aim of this study was to figure out how common GBS is in pregnant women, the antimicrobial sensitivity pattern of the isolated GBS colonies and check the presence of scpB and rib virulence genes in these isolates. We screened 203 pregnant women attending the Maternity Hospital of Ain Shams University using vaginal sampling. Isolation was done on CHROMagarTM Strep B and sheep blood agar plates then identified via colony characters, Gram stain, test for catalase production, Christie–Atkins–Munch-Petersen (CAMP) test, test for hippurate hydrolysis and latex agglutination test. This was followed by an antibiotic susceptibility test. Finally, Detection of scpB and rib virulence genes by conventional PCR was done. Our study detected that the prevalence rate of GBS in involved pregnant women was 11.33%. A statistically significant association between colonization and history of spontaneous abortion and preterm labor was observed. CHROMagar™ StrepB showed the same sensitivity of sheep blood agar with extensive effort to isolate suspected GBS colonies from blood agar. GBS was 100% sensitive to levofloxacin, linezolid, cefepime, ceftaroline and ceftriaxone. Also, it was highly sensitive to vancomycin (91.3%). Sensitivity to clindamycin, azithromycin, penicillin and ampicillin was (21.70%, 21.70%,47.80%, 47.80%) respectively. The least sensitivity of GBS was to erythromycin ( 8.7%). All isolates possessed the scpB gene (100%) while only 18 isolates (78.26%) had the rib gene.

LuxS Gene and Biofilm Formation in Streptococcus uberis Isolated from Bovine Mastitis Cases

Background: Streptococcus uberis (S. uberis) is an environmental pathogen causing mastitis in Dairy cattle. It causes recurrent mastitis and reduction in milk production in livestock causing economic loss. The prevalence of S. uberis intramammary infections is due to ability of the organism to form biofilm in udder tissue. The present study is on in-vitro biofilm production, the correlation of luxS gene and the biofilm formation in S. uberis. Methods: A total of 91 mastitic milk samples were collected from cattle and buffaloes brought at Veterinary Hospitals and farms in Krishna, Guntur and West Godavari districts, Andhra Pradesh. The identification of the culture isolates was based on cultural and biochemical characteristics and confirmed by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). The Streptococcus species cultures showing greyish, pinpointed colonies and/or aesculin hydrolysis on Edwards medium were further identified by various biochemical tests viz., catalase test, ninhydrin test, sodium hippurate hydrolysis test and type of haemolysis on 7% sheep blood agar. Confirmation of the isolates by PCR was followed by detection of biofilm formation using qualitative Congo red agar (CRA) method, quantitative microtiter plate (MTP) assay and biofilm gene (luxS) was detected using PCR.Conclusion: From this study it is suggestable that for biofilm study both phenotypic and genotypic methods should be taken together which can be influenced by various other factors also. MTP assay was a good choice for quantitative biofilm determination, which was giving a more accurate and understandable results. The results express that any of the isolates without luxS didn’t produce a strong biofilm and it is concluded that there may be other genes for regulation of biofilm production and/or luxS gene has a regulatory role for one or more genes related to biofilm formation in S. uberis.

Multidrug-Resistant Campylobacer jejuni on Swine Processing at a Slaughterhouse in Eastern Spain.

Simple SummaryThis study was designed to assess the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter jejuni in swine processing at a slaughterhouse in the Valencia Region (Eastern Spain). The results showed that all batches arrived at the slaughterhouse shedding Campylobacter in faeces, and remained positive during processing, even just before delivery to the consumer. In addition, 96.3% of C. jejuni isolates, the main species involved in human infection from food origin, were multidrug-resistant strains.Campylobacteriosis is the most commonly reported gastrointestinal disease in humans in the EU, mainly from poultry meat consumption. C. jejuni is the main species involved in the human disease. However, little is known about the role of swine meat in its epidemiology. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of C. jejuni on swine processing at the slaughterhouse. To this end, a total of 21 pig herds were intensively sampled at the slaughterhouse. Campylobacter isolation was based on official method ISO 10272-1:2018, speciation was determined by the hippurate hydrolysis test, and antibiotic susceptibility was performed according to standard disc diffusion assay. The results showed that all batches shed Campylobacter in faeces upon arrival at the slaughterhouse and remained positive at the end of the slaughtering process (42.8%). Moreover, 41.5% of Campylobacter strains isolated were C. jejuni and all of them were resistant to at least one antibiotic, and 96.3% were multidrug-resistant strains. In conclusion, the high level of multidrug-resistant C. jejuni swine batch contamination at the slaughterhouse makes it necessary to include the swine sector in national control programmes to reduce the bacterium and its resistance.

Screening for group B streptococci in antenatal women: Isolation and its antibiogram

Screening for group B streptococci in antenatal women: Isolation and its antibiogram - IJMR- Print ISSN No: - 2394-546X Online ISSN No:- 2394-5478 Article DOI No:- 10.18231/2394-5478.2018.0031, Indian Journal of Microbiology Research-Indian J Microbiol Res

Molecular Typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli of Human Strains Isolated in Turkey Over an Eight-Year Period.

Campylobacter spp. is one of the leading causes of bacterial foodborne infections worldwide. In this study, we aimed to investigate the genetic diversity of 341 Campylobacter strains isolated in Turkey. Campylobacter spp. was identified by phenotypical methods and PCR. Species level identification was carried out by the hippurate hydrolysis test and PCR. C. jejuni and C. coli strains were typed by using flaA-RFLP and PFGE. Of 341 strains, 300 (88%), 37 (10.8%), and four were identified as C. jejuni, C. coli, and non-jejuni/non-coli, respectively. The hippurate hydrolysis test misidentified 12% of 341 strains. The typeabilities of flaA-RFLP and PFGE were 100% for C. coli, whereas those of flaA-RFLP and PFGE for C. jejuni were 99.3% and 99%, respectively. The discriminatory power of the combination of PFGE and flaA-RFLP was determined to be higher than either method alone for both C. jejuni and C. coli. Both of the strains were so diverse that 80% and 64% of C. jejuni and C. coli genotypes included only one strain, respectively. In two patients, Campylobacter strains that were isolated from the first stool samples were C. jejuni where as those isolated from the second samples, collected eight and 20 days after the collection of the first samples, were C. coli. C. jejuni strains that were recovered from two different stool samples of two patients, collected 1 - 2 days apart, were found to be genetically different. Species identification of Campylobacter strains should be done using molecular methods. Combination of two methods is prerequisite for increasing the accuracy of molecular typing. Mixed or subsequent infection by different Campylobacter species and C. jejuni of different genotypes should not be underestimated.

Isolation, molecular identification and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Campylobacter species of dairy origin: first report from Bangladesh

This study was aimed for isolation, identification and characterization of Campylobacter species from Bangladesh Agricultural University (BAU) dairy farm during the period of January to May, 2016. A total of 80 samples (faecal samples of calves, heifers and cows; milk samples of cows) were collected from Bangladesh Agricultural University dairy farm for isolation and identification of Campylobacter species by using cultural, biochemical and molecular methods. Moreover, the isolated Campylobacter species were subjected for antimicrobial susceptibility test. Campylobacter like organisms were presumptively identified in 20 samples. Isolates were biochemically positive to catalase and oxidase tests and in hippurate hydrolysis test some of the isolates (n=6) shown negative that indicated the isolates were C. coli and some of the test isolates (n=14) shown positive that indicated the isolates were C. jejuni. Campylobacter specific 16S rRNA genes were amplified from the isolates. Out of 20 isolated Campylobacter 14 (17.5%) were detected as C. jejuni and the rest 6 (7.5%) were detected as C. coli by cdtC gene based multiplex PCR assay. C. jejuni were resistant to amoxicillin, erythromycin, azithromycin and susceptible to gentamicin, ciprofloxacin, norfloxacin and streptomycin. Furthermore, C. coli were resistant to amoxicillin and erythromycin and susceptible to gentamycin, ciproflaxacin. Out of 20 Campylobacter isolates, 57.14% C. jejuni and 33.33% C. coli were identified as multidrug resistant. To the best of our knowledge, this study has brought the first report on the occurrence of Campylobacter species with their antibiogram profiles in any dairy farm of Bangladesh.

Biochemical and serological characterisation of beta-haemolytic streptococci from various clinical samples in a tertiary care hospital, South India

Introduction: Beta-haemolytic streptococci (BHS) are one of the most frequent human pathogens capable of producing a variety of diseases ranging from pharyngitis, impetigo, to more severe and life-threatening diseases such as toxic shock syndrome, neonatal sepsis, pneumonia, meningitis and acute rheumatic fever. Methods: This was a hospital-based prospective study which was carried out on BHS isolated from various clinical specimens submitted in microbiology laboratory from inpatients and outpatients, and these isolates were studied biochemically by pyrrolidonyl arylamidase (PYR), hippurate hydrolysis and sugar fermentation tests. Differentiation of various serogroups was done with bacitracin (0.04 U), co-trimoxazole (sulphamethoxazole-trimethoprim [23.75/1.25 mcg]) and penicillin (10 units/disc) discs (n = 220). The isolates were identified serologically by Hi Strep™ Latex agglutination test Kit (Himedia). Results: The findings showed that the highest percentage of streptococci isolated was from throat swabs (35.5%), followed by sputum (15.9%), urine (14.1%), blood (10.5%), pus (8.6%), cerebrospinal fluid (6.4%), bronchoalveolar lavage (5.9%) and endotracheal tips (3.2%). The highest percentage of BHS belongs to Group C (74, 33.6%), followed by Group G (51, 23.2%), Group B (42, 19.1%), Group F (28, 12.7%), Group A (21, 9.5%) and Group D (4, 1.8%). Conclusions: Rapid identification and consequent prompt treatment of patients with BHS can reduce the risk of spread and aid in the prevention of infections and their serious complications, such as rheumatic fever/rheumatic heart disease, nephritis and local or systemic infections.

Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in poultry feces and carcasses in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso.

The importance of Salmonella and Campylobacter as foodborne pathogens is well recognized worldwide. Poultry and poultry products are commonly considered as the major vehicles of Salmonella and Campylobacter infection in humans. The aim of this study was to investigate the hygienic status of poultry facilities and determine the prevalence of Salmonella and Campylobacter in slaughtered poultry feces and carcasses in four different markets in Ouagadougou, capital city of Burkina Faso. A total of 103 poultry feces and 20 carcasses were analyzed using microbiological standard methods. Among the 103 fecal samples, 70 were positive for Campylobacter ssp (67.96%) and 54 for Salmonella ssp (52.42%). The hippurate hydrolysis test revealed that among the 70 Campylobacter strains isolated from feces, 49 were C. jejuni (70%) and 21 were C. coli (30%). From the 20 carcasses analyzed, 18 were contaminated with Salmonella (90%) and 10 with Campylobacter ssp (50%). Among the 10 Campylobacter ssp samples isolated from poultry carcasses, all were identified as C. jejuni using the API CAMPY system and the hippurate hydrolysis test. The assessment of markets hygienic practices for production, transportation, display, and vending of meat revealed unhygienic conditions. To complete the observation of unhygienic practices, we have sampled chicken‐washing solution from the study sites and microbiological analysis of these samples revealed the presence of Salmonella spp in 100% of the samples. This study highlighted that poultry products on sale in Ouagadougou are highly contaminated with Salmonella and Campylobacter. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing Campylobacter presence in the poultry industry of Burkina Faso. Our findings might help to better understand the epidemiology of Salmonella and Campylobacter.

Studies on Different Recent Techniques for Diagnosis of Campylobacter in Rabbit

Rabbits can breed for the production of meat and fur. Their meat is considered as a source of human campylobacteriosis; caused by Campylobacter organism's has been recognized as the main etiological agent of human bacterial gastrointestinal disease. Two hundred and thirty rabbit samples were collected including cloacal swabs from (130), liver (40), intestinal samples (40), water (10) and ration (10) from apparently healthy and diseased rabbits suffering from diarrhea in different farms. All rabbit samples were processed for isolation of Campylobacters. Each sample was homogenized in sterile Thioglycolate broth, incubated at 42 °C for 48 hrs under microaerophilic condition. All The isolates were subjected biochemical tests, such as catalase, oxidase, hippurate hydrolysis test, glycine, sodium chloride (NaCl) 3.5% tolerance test and susceptibility to cephalothin and nalidixic acid. Identified colonies were stored at -70 C in nutrient broths with 15% glycerol until subjected to molecular identification. The results of this study showed that overall Campylobacter isolates was 58 (25.22%) from the different sources sampled. The prevalence of C. jejuni was the most prevalent species 26 (11.30%) in samples taken from rabbits followed by C. coli was 15 (6.52%) then C. lari was 12 (5.22%) and C. hyointestinalis was 5(2.17%). The overall prevalence of C.jejuni and C.coli (74.3%) (25.70%); the difference was notably due to a positive hippurate test result for isolates identified as C.jejuni due to the absence of hippurate hydrolysis for C.coli. Multiplex PCR methods the genus specific (16S rRNA) revealed that 51 (22.17%) Campylobacter species isolates; 27 (52.94%) as C. jejuni specific at323 bp while, 17 (33.33%) produced the C. coli specific at 126 bp and 7 (13.73%) other Campylobacter species. We concluded that C. jejuni and C. coli are highly prevalent in rabbit farms in Egypt. Control measures for contamination of the rabbit supply should be identified to protect human exposure to Campylobacter spp. Further analysis of rabbit samples by using PCR assay are needed to evaluate the applicability of the method for detection of Campylobacter organisms exposed to an environment.

Prevalence and Distribution of Campylobacter jejuni in Small-Scale Broiler Operations

Campylobacter jejuni has been recognized as one of the most prevalent causes of foodborne bacterial illnesses in humans. Previous studies have focused on the transmission routes of C. jejuni from commercial flock farms to the final retail product. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of C. jejuni and Campylobacter spp. in eggshells, live birds, feed, drinking water, and the rearing environment in a small-scale broiler operation. Broilers were raised under two different production systems: (i) environmentally controlled housing and (ii) open-air housing with two replications. Each week, samples were collected from eggshells, bird feces, feed, drinking water, enclosures (vertical walls of bird housing), and feed troughs for enumeration and isolation testing. All samples were plated on modified charcoal-cefoperazone-deoxycholate agar to determine the log CFU per gram and percent prevalence of Campylobacter spp. Isolation of C. jejuni was verified with latex agglutination and hippurate hydrolysis tests. The results from this study suggest that vertical transmission of these bacteria from egg surfaces to newly hatched chicks is not a significant risk factor. The results also suggest that the prevalence of C. jejuni at time of harvest (week 6) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in the open-air housing broilers than in those in the environmentally controlled housing. Elevated levels of cross-contaminants, especially water and feed, may have played a role in this outcome.

The Effects of Sulfadimethoxine Administered to Control Campylobacter jejuni in Small-Scale Broiler Operations

Campylobacter jejuni causes human foodborne gastroenteritis known as campylobacteriosis. Antimicrobial therapy could be a potentially important tool in reducing the prevalence of C. jejuni in poultry. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of sulfadimethoxine antibiotic on the prevalence of C. jejuni in growing broilers. Day-old broilers (n= 600) were allotted to two treatments 1) control (drinking water only) and 2) antibiotic (drinking water + 0.05% (wt/vol) sulfadimethoxine) with two replications. Each week, fecal samples were collected from individual chickens (n=300). All samples were plated on modified charcoal-cefoperazone-deoxycholate agar (mCCDA) to determine the log CFU/g and prevalence (%) of Campylobacter spp. Isolation of C. jejuni was verified with latex agglutination and hippurate hydrolysis test. Over the six week period, the bacterial counts of Campylobacter spp. in the antibiotic treatment (5.12 log CFU/broiler) were significantly lower (P<0.05) than in the control treatment (6.05 log CFU/broiler). Additionally, the prevalence of C. jejuni in the antibiotic treatment (50.0%) was significantly lower (P<0.05) than in the control treatment (56.0%). Our findings suggest that the antibiotic sulfadimethoxine may aid in reducing Campylobacter spp. and the prevalence on both Campylobacter spp. and C. jejuni in growing broilers.

Occurrence of Arcobacter in dogs and cats in Selangor,Malaysia, and associated risk factors

Arcobacter is widely regarded as an emerging foodborne pathogen because of its increasing occurrence in food production causing gastroenteritis in humans. In addition, it is also reported as a potential zoonosis. The objectives of this study were to determine the occurrence of Arcobacter in dogs and cats and the associated risk factors. Rectal and buccal cavity swab samples were taken from dogs (n = 40) and cats (n = 40) owned by individuals who brought the animals to a university teaching hospital and stray dogs (n = 61) and cats (n = 46). Suspected colonies of Arcobacter were subjected to biochemical tests (catalase, oxidase, and hippurate hydrolysis and indoxyl acetate hydrolysis tests). Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) was employed for the confirmation and differentiation of the isolates. Results showed that the rates of Arcobacter carriage were 34.8% and 45.0% in stray and pet cats, respectively, while in stray and pet dogs the occurrences were detected at 50.8% and 60.0%, respectively. Arcobacter butzleri was the only species identified. The risk factors for Arcobacter infections in dogs and cats were determined through a questionnaire and analyzed statistically. The factors that were found to significantly increase the risk of Arcobacter infection were households with multiple pets and the source of drinking water.

Detection of Arcobacter spp in poultry, pigs, their meat and environment samples by conventional and PCR assays

Samples (300) comprising poultry and pig faeces, meat, poultry intestinal contents and environmental samples were investigated bacteriologically for the presence of Arcobacter spp. On the basis of morphology and biochemical tests, 34 (11.33%) of the isolates were identified as Arcobacter. The isolates grew at 28°C aerobically but failed to grow at 42°C. Arcobacters were differentiated from closely related campylobacters by their ability to grow in aerobic condition and negative for hippurate hydrolysis test. The genus specific amplification of 16S rRNA gene by PCR gave an amplification product of 1223 bp in all 34 presumptive Arcobacter isolates. The highest rate of Arcobacter isolation was from poultry meat samples (18%) followed by poultry environmental samples (16%), poultry intestinal contents (13.33%), poultry faecal (10%), pork (10%) and pig faecal (8%) and no arcobacters could be isolated from the pig environments. Multiplex PCR (m-PCR) targeting for 16S r RNA and 23S rRNA genes detected A. butzleri (12), A. skirrowii (6) and A. cryaerophilus (4). However, some of isolates showed mixed culture of both A. butzleri and A. skkirrowii (5), A. skkirrowii and A. cryaerophilus (4) and A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus (3).

Bacteriological and Molecular Identification of Campylobacter Species in Chickens and Humans, at Zagazig City, Egypt

The genus Campylobacter is of great importance to public health because it includes several species thatmay cause diarrhea. Poultry and poultry products are known as important sources of humancampylobacteriosis. A total of 533 samples from broiler chickens ;131 cloacal swabs, 39 chicken skin,39 chicken cecal parts and 78 chicken meat thigh and breast meat (39 of each) were obtained from retailoutlets, as well as, 246 stool swabs from persons attending the outpatient clinic of Al-Ahrar publichospital were examined. The isolation rate of Campylobacter species from chicken skin, thigh meat,breast meat, cecal parts, cloacal swabs and human stool samples were 30.8%, 38.5%, 30.8%, 41%,35.1% and 5.3%, respectively. The conventional biochemical tests were used for discrimination betweenC. jejuni and other Campylobacter species based on standardized hippurate hydrolysis test. C. jejuni wasisolated from cloacal swabs, skin, thigh meat, breast meat, cecal parts and human stool samples with theisolation rate of 45.7%, 50%, 46.7%, 41.7%, 81.3% and 76.9%, respectively. Real-Time PCR targetinghipO gene specific for C. jejuni was used for the confirmation of phenotypically identified 31 C. jejuniisolates. The results showed that the conventional culture methods and biochemical reactions were 100%in accordance with the results of PCR for identification and differentiation of C. jejuni.

Prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli among broilers in Bareilly region

Aim: To determine the prevalence of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli among broilers at the time of slaughter in and around Bareilly, India. Materials and Methods: A total of 100 chicken caecal samples were screened by conventional plating in modified charcoal cefoperazone deoxycholate agar with incubation at 42°C for 48 h under microaerophilic conditions. The characteristic colonies were confirmed by morphological and biochemical characteristics and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) assay targeting lpxA gene. Results: Out of 100 chicken caecal samples, 32 yielded isolates with typical phenotypic of Campylobacter species. The hippurate hydrolysis test found to be positive for 2 isolates, categorized as C. jejuni and negative for 30 isolates. The mPCR assay targeting lpxA gene also confirmed 2 (6.25%) isolates as C. jejuni, and 30 (93.75%) isolates as C. coli. Conclusion: The present study showed broilers to an important source of Campylobacter in the region with predominance of C. coli than C. jejuni indicating a shift in the prevalence of important species of Campylobacter. To understand the variation in pattern of occurrence of species with high prevalence of organisms, detail studies on the ecology of campylobacteriosis are suggested.

Epidemiological Significance of the Colonization of &lt;i&gt;Streptococcus Agalactiae&lt;/i&gt; in the Anorectum and Endocervix of Non-Parturients in Jos, Nigeria

Knowledge of Group B Streptococcus (GBS) carriage and infections in Africa is very scanty but few cases have been reported in Nigeria in particular. Streptococcus agalactiae has been reported to cause infections and diseases in non-parturients and adults ranging from bacteremia, osteomylitis, arthritis, and endocarditis to breast abscess among others, hence the necessity for this study. Fifty six non-pregnant women of different age groups and social status were screened for GBS in Plateau State Specialist Hospital using the Christie, Atkins and Munch-Petersen (CAMP) and hippurate hydrolysis tests. Two (3.6 %) of the 56 women were positive for GBS. The 2 isolates were all from the anorectum. The endocervix yielded no culture. The antibiogram showed that ampicillin is the drug of choice with all isolates (100%) sensitive to the drug. No statistically significant relationship was observed between the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the patients and GBS carriage (P>0.05). This survey shows a much lower carriage proportion than that reported in Ibadan, Nigeria from non-parturients. Key words: Streptococcus agalactiae , epidemiology, anorectum, endocervix, non-parturients

Determination of Bacterial Cell Number to Differentiate Campylobacter jejuni from C. coli by the Simple Hippurate Hydrolysis Test

Determination of Bacterial Cell Number to Differentiate Campylobacter jejuni from C. coli by the Simple Hippurate Hydrolysis Test

Isolation and identification of Campylobacter jejuni from poultry carcasses using conventional culture methods and multiplex PCR assay

Campylobacter jejuni is a major cause of food-borne diarrhea in many countries. Poultry and poultry products are known as important sources of human campylobacteriosis. In this study, conventional culture and multiplex PCR methods were compared for the detection of C. jejuni isolated from poultry carcasses. A total of 100 samples, representing 20 broiler flocks, were collected from poultry carcasses after the evisceration stage in the processing line at a commercial broiler slaughtering facility in Mashhad, Iran. In the conventional culture method, samples were processed by enrichment followed by selective plating, and then suspected colonies were isolated on sheep blood agar and tested for morphology, motility, Gram staining, biochemical properties and hippurate hydrolysis activity. For the identification of the Campylobacter genus and its jejuni serovar by molecular methods, a multiplex PCR assay (m-PCR) with two sets of specific primers was used. In the hippurate hydrolysis test of suspected colonies, 76% of the samples were determined as positive, while in the m-PCR assay 28% of cultures harvested were identified as C. jejuni. Two percent of hippurate hydrolyze negative colonies were found positive in the m-PCR test. It appears that the conventional method, based on the hippurate hydrolysis test for detection of C. jejuni, is a less reliable test. The use of the m-PCR method, based on amplification from conserved genes, allows reliable detection and identification of C. jejuni.

Heppurate hydrolysis and Christie, Atkins, Munch-Peterson tests epidemiological diagnostic tools for &lt;i&gt; Streptococcus Agalactiae&lt;/i&gt; carriage in pregnancy

To evaluate the Christie, Atkins, Munch-Peterson (CAMP) and hippurate hydrolysis reactions as diagnostic tools for Streptococcus agalactiae carriage in pregnancy. Observational, analytical case-control study. Hospital-based study in a primary and a tertiary health care institution. One hundred and six pregnant and 56 non-pregnant (controls) women were included in the study. The participants were of different socio-economic status. A volunteer sample was used. About 800 subjects were contacted and 162 participated in the study. The sensitivity of the screening test varied from 25% for the CAMP test to 77.78% for the hippurate hydrolysis reaction. The specificity was the same for both tests at (50%). A significant difference in positivity between the CAMP and hippurate hydrolysis reactions (95% confidence limit, P < 0.05) was observed. The predictive values of the positive test were 66.6% (CAMP) and 87.55% (hippurate hydrolysis) while the negative test were 14.29% (CAMP) and 33.30% (hippurate hydrolysis). Pregnant women had 0.33 chances of being GBS carriers with the CAMP compared to 3.5 with the hippurate hydrolysis. The hippurate hydrolysis test is highly recommended since the reagents are easily available and the organism was easily isolated using this method. The presence of GBS in the anorectum and endocervix is likely to induce systemic and local immunity in the female genital tract. This can contribute to the development of a mucosal vaccine for GBS diseases.