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Background Camels harbouring multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria are capable of transmitting various microorganisms to humans. This study aimed to determine the distribution of anti-microbial resistance among Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) isolated from the feces of apparently healthy camels in Egyptian abattoirs. Additionally, we sought to characterize Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains, assess their virulence potential, and investigate the possibility of camels spreading carbapenem- and colistin-resistant E. coli . Methods 121 fecal swaps were collected from camels in different abattoirs in Egypt. Isolation and identification of E. coli were performed using conventional culture techniques and biochemical identification. All isolates obtained from the examined samples underwent genotyping through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) of the Shiga toxin-encoding genes ( Stx1 and Stx2 ), the carbapenemase-encoding genes ( bla KPC , bla OXA−48 , bla NDM , and bla VIM ), and the mcr genes for mcr-1 to mcr-5 . Result Bacteriological examination revealed 75 E. coli isolates. PCR results revealed that one strain (1.3%) tested positive for Stx1 , and five (6.6%) were positive for Stx2 . Among the total 75 strains of E. coli , the overall prevalence of carbapenemase-producing E. coli was 27, with 7 carrying bla OXA48 , 14 carrying bla NDM , and 6 carrying bla VIM . Notably, no strains were positive for bla KPC but a high prevalence rate of mcr genes were detected. mcr-1, mcr-2, mcr-3, and mcr-4 genes were detected among 3, 2, 21, and 3 strains, respectively. Conclusion The results indicate that camels in Egypt may be a primary source of anti-microbial resistance (AMR) E. coli , which could potentially be transmitted directly to humans or through the food chain.

Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections cause significant losses in the poultry industry and pose zoonotic risks due to rising antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and virulence factors. This study investigates E. coli prevalence, AMR, and virulence genes ( papC , vgrG1 , iss ) in Egyptian chickens and farm workers. A total of 35 dead chickens from 14 flocks and 17 farm workers urine samples were examined bacteriologically to investigate E. coli presence followed by biochemical identification. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on 14 antibiotics using the disk diffusion method on Mueller–Hinton agar, following ‘Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) (2020) guidelines with Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) activity evaluated via the Double Disc Synergy Test (DDST) with ceftazidime, cefotaxime, and their clavulanate combinations following CLSI protocols. virulence genes were detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and phylogenetic analysis of the vgrG1 gene evaluated genetic relatedness between the chicken and human isolates. The study analysed 52 samples, identifying E. coli in 18 chicken organs (51.4%) and 11 human urine samples (64.7%), with no significant difference. various antimicrobic sensitivity profiles were identified phenotypically among all isolates in which 29 isolates, 58.6% were ESBL-producing, and 96.5% exhibited multidrug resistance (MDR), with chicken isolates showing higher resistance overall. virulence genes were detected in similar proportions across the isolates highlighting significant public health risks due to resistant and virulent E. coli . This study emphasized the public health risks of multidrug-resistant E. coli with virulence genes, highlighting potential zoonotic transmission and antibiotic use and food safety.

Cases of human gastric cancer due to Helicobacter pylori have been reported worldwide and animals might act as a reservoir of infection in certain circumstances. The recent few decades showed a rapid decline in the incidence of gastric cancer, which was mainly due to the decrease in H . pylori infection. The aims of the present study were to determine the prevalence of H . pylori among livestock and investigate whether the animal isolates can be transmitted through contaminated milk causing gastric infection. Feces and milk samples were collected from apparently healthy cows, buffaloes, and sheep, and were examined by nested PCR and genotyping. The PCR positive samples were further subjected to bacterial culture followed by partial 16s sequencing of the isolates. Twenty-nine percent of the animals showed the presence of H . pylori , mainly the virulent cagA + vacA + s1a m1 i1 genotype, which is known to be associated with serious diseases in humans. The spiral viable culturable form (SVCF) of this strain was inoculated into UHT (ultra-high temperature) milk and remained viable for up to 10 days at 4 °C. Increasing period of storage and or temperature led to a decrease in the number of the SVCF and occurrence of the coccoid viable non-culturable form (CVNCF). The infectivity of the survived forms was determined by feeding healthy groups of laboratory mice with the contaminated UHT milk containing SVCF or CVNCF for 40 days. The gastric mucosa of the two mice groups showed similar levels of H . pylori load. This highlights that H . pylori can persist in contaminated milk by entering a non-culturable state, which can induce gastric infection.

Background Clostridium perfringens , a common environmental bacterium, is responsible for a variety of serious illnesses including food poisoning, digestive disorders, and soft tissue infections. Mastitis in lactating cattle and sudden death losses in baby calves are major problems for producers raising calves on dairy farms. The pathogenicity of this bacterium is largely mediated by its production of various toxins. Results The study revealed that Among the examined lactating animals with a history of mastitis, diarrheal baby calves, and acute sudden death cases in calves, C. perfringens was isolated in 23.5% (93/395) of the total tested samples. Eighteen isolates were obtained from mastitic milk, 59 from rectal swabs, and 16 from the intestinal contents of dead calves. Most of the recovered C. perfringens isolates (95.6%) were identified as type A by molecular toxinotyping, except for four isolates from sudden death cases (type C). Notably, C. perfringens was recovered in 100% of sudden death cases compared with 32.9% of rectal swabs and 9% of milk samples. This study analyzed the phylogeny of C. perfringens using the plc region and identified the plc region in five Egyptian bovine isolates (milk and fecal origins). Importantly, this finding expands the known data on C. perfringens phospholipase C beyond reference strains in GenBank from various animal and environmental sources. Conclusion Phylogenetic analyses of nucleotide sequence data differentiated between strains of different origins. The plc sequences of Egyptian C. perfringens strains acquired in the present study differed from those reported globally and constituted a distinct genetic ancestor.

Background The emergence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) represents a challenge for the treatment of staphylococcal infections in both human and animals worldwide. Although VRSA has been detected in several animal species worldwide, data on the bacterial prevalence in dromedary camels and workers in camel slaughterhouses are scarce. Methods We investigated meat samples from 200 dromedary camel carcasses from three different abattoirs that were being prepared to be sent to the markets. Twenty hand swabs were voluntarily collected from the workers in the same abattoirs. Isolation and identification of the bacterial specimens from the samples were performed using conventional cultural techniques and biochemical identification and were confirmed by PCR amplification of the nuc gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility against nine antimicrobial agents commonly used in human and camels was tested using the disc diffusion method, and genetic analysis was performed by evaluating the mecA gene in phenotypically oxacillin (OXA)- and cefoxitin (FOX)-resistant isolates. The resistance of S. aureus to vancomycin (VAN) was tested by broth microdilution and confirmed by PCR targeting the vanA and vanB genes. The vanA and vanB genes were sequenced. Result S. aureus was detected in both camel meat (29/200, 14.5%) and in abattoir workers (11/20, 55%). Of the collected samples, 27% (8/29, camel) and 54% (6/11, human) were identified as VRSA. All VRSA isolates carried both the vanA and vanB genes. Additionally, all VRSA isolates were also classified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The vanA amplicons of the isolates from human and camel meat were homologous and clustered with a Chinese reference isolate sequence. Conclusion This study demonstrated that VRSA is present in camel abattoirs in Egypt. Zoonotic transmission between animals and human is probable and reflects both a public health threat and a food safety concern.

The emergence of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae poses a significant threat to the public health of both cats and their owners. Therefore, conducting molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of K. pneumoniae strains in both cats and humans in Egypt is crucial. 108 feline and 101 human urine samples were collected and subjected to routine microbiological isolation and molecular identification of K. pneumoniae . Subsequently, phenotypic antimicrobial sensitivity patterns and molecular identification of classical virulence, hypervirulence, and carbapenem resistance genes were examined. A total of 46 K. pneumoniae isolates were recovered, comprising 43.4% (23 out of 53) from diseased humans, 4.17% (2 out of 48) from healthy humans, 22.95% (14 out of 61) from diseased felines, and 14.89% (7 out of 47) from healthy felines. The detection rates for narrow drug-resistant (NDR), multidrug-resistant (MDR), extensively drug-resistant (XDR), and pan drug-resistant (PDR) strains were 41.30%, 54.35%, 2.17%, and 2.17%, respectively. The distribution rates for mrKD , entB , K2 , Kfu , and MagA genes were 76.1%, 82.6%, 8.7%, 13.0%, and 0%, respectively. In addition, the distribution of hypervirulence genes was 41.3%, 36.9%, 13.0%, 10.9%, and 17.4% for iucA , iroB , Peg344 , rmPA , and rmPA2 , respectively, and 43.5%, 30.4%, 19.6%, and 52.2% for NDM , OXA-48 , VIM , and KPC resistance genes, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis of the entB gene from four recovered strains revealed a relationship between feline strains and other human strains. In conclusion, this study focused on the molecular characterization and phylogenetic analysis of hypervirulent and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae in companion cats and humans in Egypt.

Background Epidemiological studies suggested that determinants for antibiotic resistance have originated in aquaculture. Recently, the integrated agriculture-aquaculture system has been implemented, where fish are raised in ponds that receive agriculture drainage water. The present study aims to investigate the occurrence of β-lactamase and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in the integrated agriculture-aquaculture and the consequent public health implication. Methods Samples were collected from fish, fishpond water inlets, tap water, outlet water, and workers at sites of integrated agriculture-aquacultures. Samples were also taken from inhabitants of the aquaculture surrounding areas. All samples were cultured on MacConkey agar, the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were tested for susceptibility to cephalosporins and carbapenems, and screened for bla CTX-M-15 , bla SHV , bla OXA-1 , bla TEM , bla PER-1 , bla KPC , bla OXA-48 , and bla NDM . Strains having similar resistance phenotype and genotype were examined for the presence of Incompatible (Inc) plasmids. Results A major proportion of the Enterobacteriaceae isolates were resistant to cephalosporins and carbapenems. Among the 66 isolates from fish, 34 were resistant to both cephalosporin and carbapenem groups, 26 to carbapenems alone, and 4 to cephalosporins alone. Of the 15 isolates from fishpond water inlets, 8 showed resistance to both groups, 1 to carbapenems alone, and 5 to cephalosporins alone. Out of the 33 isolates from tap water, 17 were resistant to both groups, and 16 to cephalosporins alone. Similarly, of the 16 outlet water isolates, 10 were resistant to both groups, and 6 to cephalosporins alone. Furthermore, of the 30 examined workers, 15 carried Enterobacteriaceae resistant strains, 10 to both groups, and 5 to cephalosporins alone. Similar strains were isolated from the inhabitants of the aquaculture surrounding areas. Irrespective of source of samples, strains resistant to all examined antibiotics, carried predominantly the carbapenemase gene bla KPC either alone or with the β-lactamase genes ( bla CTX-M-15 , bla SHV , bla TEM , and bla PER-1 ). The isolates from fish, water, and workers harboured a wide-range of multi-drug-resistance Inc. plasmids, which were similar among all isolates. Conclusion The present findings suggest transmission of the resistance genes among Enterobacteriaceae strains from different sources. This reiterates the need for control strategies that focus on humans, animals, water, and sewage systems to solve the antibiotic resistance problem.

Background The rapid increase of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria are a potential health hazard. Development of antimicrobial resistance in animal pathogens has serious implications for human health, especially when such strains could be transmitted to human. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance due to ESBL producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the camel meat was investigated. Methods In this study meat samples from 200 healthy camels at two major abattoirs in Egypt (Cairo and Giza) were collected. Following culture on cetrimide agar, suspected P. aeruginosa colonies were confirmed with a Vitek 2 system (bioMe´rieux). P. aeruginosa isolates were phenotypically identified as ESBL by double disk synergy test. Additionally antimicrobial susceptibility testing of ESBL producing P . aeruginosa isolates were done against 11 antimicrobial drugs and carried out by disk diffusion method. The ESBL genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction according to the presence of the bla PER-1 , bla CTX-M , bla SHV , and bla TEM . Results Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 45 camel meat sample (22.5%). The total percentage of ESBL producing P. aeruginosa was 45% (21/45) from camel meat isolates. Antibiogram results revealed the highest resistance was for c, ceftriaxone and rifampicin followed by cefepime and aztreonam. The prevalence rates of β-lactamase genes were recorded ( bla PER-1 28.5%, bla CTX-M 38%, bla SHV 33.3% and bla TEM 23.8%). Conclusions This study illustrates the presence of high rates of ESBL- P. aeruginosa in camels that represents an increasing alarming for the risk of transmission to human and opens the door for current and future antibiotics therapy failure. Livestock associated ESBL- P. aeruginosa is a growing disaster, therefore, attention has to be fully given to livestock associated ESBL-bacteria which try to find its way to human beings.

Background and Aim: Q fever is considered a neglected zoonotic disease and is caused by Coxiella burnetii. Very little information is available on C. burnetii infections in cattle, sheep, and goat populations in Egypt. The aim of this study was to identify the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in humans and livestock and to test for the presence of C. burnetii DNA in sera from seropositive animals and humans. Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from 160 apparently healthy farm animals and 120 patients from three hospitals of the Assiut Governorate throughout 2017/2018. These populations were tested for antibodies against C. burnetii phase II antigen by immunofluorescence assay [IFA]) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Seropositive samples were subjected to real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Results: The results of the IFA revealed C. burnetii seroprevalence rates of 45.3%, 56.0%, 45.7%, and 53.3% in cattle, sheep, goats, and humans, respectively. In humans, the seroprevalence rates were 52.1%, 30.4%, 37.5%, 74.1%, and 62.5% in patients with fever of unknown origin, influenza, kidney dialysis, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, respectively. Likewise, by ELISA, the seroprevalence in bovine was 50.7%; sheep, 60.0%; goats, 51.4%; and humans, 55.0% (54.3%, 30.4%, 37.5%, 77.8%, and 62.5% in patients with fever of unknown origin, influenza, kidney dialysis, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus, respectively). RT-qPCR targeting the repetitive element IS1111 confirmed the presence of C. burnetii DNA. Conclusion: These results proved that apparently healthy cattle, sheep, and goats may be very important reservoirs of C. burnetii infection. In light of these data, the effect of Q fever on the replication of hepatitis virus remains unclear. Although hepatitis is one of the main aspects of acute Q fever, the influence of hepatitis on Q fever remains to be investigated. Q fever is not a reportable disease in Egypt, and clinical cases may rarely be recognized by the health-care system. Additional information on the epidemiology of C. burnetii in Egypt is warranted, including other associated problems such as the distribution of infections, pathologic hallmarks, and molecular typing.

In Egypt, the River Red Gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) is a well-known tree and is highly appreciated by the rural and urban dwellers. The role of Eucalyptus trees in the ecology of Cryptococcus neoformans is documented worldwide. The aim of this survey was to show the prevalence of C. neoformans during the flowering season of E. camaldulensis at the Delta region in Egypt. Three hundred and eleven samples out of two hundred Eucalyptus trees, including leaves, flowers, and woody trunks, were collected from four governorates in the Delta region. Thirteen isolates of C. neoformans were recovered from Eucalyptus tree samples (4.2%). Molecular identification of C. neoformans was done by capsular gene specific primer CAP64 and serotype identification was done depending on LAC1 gene. This study represents an update on the ecology of C. neoformans associated with Eucalyptus tree in Egyptian environment.