Molecular epidemiology,characterization of virulence factors and antibiotic resistance profile of Streptococcus agalactiae isolated from dairy farms in China and Pakistan

Streptococcus agalactiae is one of the most common pathogens that cause bovine mastitis worldwide. Identifying pathogen prevalence and virulence factors is critical for developing prevention and control approaches. Herein, 1 161 milk samples from various dairy farms in China (n=558) and Pakistan (n=603) were collected between 2019–2021 and were subjected to S. agalactiae isolation. Prevalence, serotyping, virulence genes, and antibiotic-resistant genes of S. agalactiae were evaluated by PCR assay. All isolates were characterized for haemolysis, biofilm production, cytotoxicity, adhesion, and invasion on bovine mammary epithelial cells. The prevalence of S. agalactiae-induced mastitis in cattle was found to be considerably higher in Pakistan than in China. Jiangsu and Sindh provinces had the highest area-wise prevalence in China and Pakistan, respectively. Serotypes Ia and II were prevalent in both countries, whereas serotype III was found only in Pakistan. Moreover, all isolates tested positive for PI-2b gene but negative for PI-1 and PI-2a genes. All isolates harboured cfb, cylE, hylB, and fbsB virulent genes, whereas many of them lacked bibA, rib and bca. However, the absence of bac and scp genes in Chinese isolates and cspA in Pakistani isolates was noted, while spb1 and lmb were not detected in isolates of both countries. Pakistani isolates, particularly serotype Ia-positive, had a considerably higher ability to produce biofilm, haemolysis, cytotoxicity, adhesion, and invasion than Chinese isolates. Most of the isolates were phenotypically resistant to tetracycline, erythromycin, and clindamycin and genotypic resistance was confirmed by the presence of ermA, ermB, tetM and tetO genes. Our study highlights the antimicrobial resistance profile and virulence-related factors contributing to the epidemiological spread of mastitis-causing S. agalactiae in China and Pakistan. The findings may facilitate future studies designed to develop improved treatment and control strategies against this pathogen.     

奶牛乳房炎的诊疗与防治

奶业是现代农业的重要组成部分,也是农业发展的一大支柱产业。奶牛乳房炎又名奶牛乳腺炎,特征为乳汁中白细胞增多以及乳腺组织发生变化。在我国,据报道,奶牛乳房炎的阳性率在46.6%?85.7%,乳房炎严重危害着奶牛的生产性能并导致了大量奶牛的淘汰,给奶牛业造成巨大的损失。随着我国奶牛产业的快速发展,奶牛乳房炎泛滥问题日益突出,所以有效的控制奶牛乳房炎对于我国奶牛业快速健康发展有着重要意义。     

奶牛牧场养殖环境中产ESBL耐药菌的流行特征

本研究旨在探索奶牛养殖环境中产超广谱β-内酰胺酶（extended-spectrum beta-lactamases，ESBL）耐药菌的流行特征。2020-2021年，采集6个内蒙古和宁夏牧场共160份牛奶、乳区皮肤拭子和环境来源的多种类型样本，分别进行了β-内酰胺酶检测、产ESBL耐药菌的分离鉴定、药敏试验以及菌株的全基因组测序。结果显示：24份奶样的检测结果显示，各牧场β-内酰胺酶阳性率为75%~100%。其中，5个牧场的153份样本共分离出6种产ESBL耐药菌，这些产ESBL耐药菌对阿莫西林（100%）、头孢噻肟（91.0%）和头孢他啶（78.2%）均具有较高耐药率；全基因组显示，14株产ESBL大肠杆菌携带多种耐药基因，以bla_CTX-M（100%）携带率最高。通过对内酰胺酶阳性奶样进行分析，发现造成牧场奶样β-内酰胺酶阳性的主要菌株是产ESBL鲍曼不动杆菌，并且该耐药菌携带有bla_CTX-M、bla_TEM、bla_OXA型β-内酰胺类耐药基因。本研究明确了内蒙古和宁夏牧场养殖环境中产ESBL耐药菌的流行特征，并对造成内蒙古1个牧场牛奶内酰胺酶阳性原因进行了追溯研究。     

茶多酚调控机制及其对奶牛乳房炎的干预作用

茶多酚（tea polyphenols,TP）是茶叶中的多酚类物质,属于稠环芳香烃,在抗氧化、抗肿瘤、抑菌、抗病毒、抗辐射、抗心血管疾病等方面均发挥生物学作用。介绍了茶多酚的组成成分和理化性质,综述了茶多酚发挥抗炎作用主要涉及的信号通路及其在奶牛乳腺上皮细胞（bovine mammary epithelial cells,BMEC）炎性反应中的作用研究进展,以期为探究茶多酚在预防和治疗奶牛乳房炎中的应用价值提供参考。