Herd prevalence of Salmonella enterica infections in Danish slaughter pigs determined by microbiological testing

As a part of a nationwide programme to survey and control salmonella in pig herds, a microbiological survey of 1363 pig herds was performed in Denmark. A total of 13 468 slaughter pigs were examined at slaughter by culture of 5 g of caecal contents. Overall, 30 different serotypes of Salmonella enterica were isolated from 832 pigs (6.2%). The predominant serotype was S. Typhimurium, comprising 536 (64.4%) of the isolates. Four hundred and forty-eight isolates of S. Typhimurium were examined by phage typing, resulting in detection of 17 different phage types (definitive types, DT) with DT12 being the most frequent (49.1%).

Salmonella enterica was found in 302 herds (22.2%), S. Typhimurium was found in 61.1% of these. 279 (23.1%) large herds (producing more than 2600 slaughter pigs per year) were found to be salmonella positive compared with 23 (14.7 %) small herds (annual production of 500 to 550 slaughter pigs). Practical constraints in the study design did not allow for a firm conclusion on the interplay among herd size, geographical location and occurrence of salmonella.

In 284 of 302 infected herds (94.0%) only one serotype was detected. Infections with two different serovars were seen in 18 herds (6.0%).     

Ovariectomy as treatment for ovarian bacterial granulomas in a Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii)

CASE HISTORY: An adult female Duvaucel's gecko (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) from a threatened species breeding programme presented due to a prolonged gestation period and distended abdomen.

CLINICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL FINDINGS: The gecko was in lean body condition with an irregularly shaped, firm mass in the coelomic cavity. Radiographically there was a diffuse radio-opacity within the coelomic cavity with cranial displacement of the right lung field. Ultrasonography revealed a round homogenous abdominal mass of medium echogenicity with an echogenic capsule. Haematology showed a leucocytosis with a moderate left shift in heterophils and toxic changes. Bilateral ovariectomy was performed to remove two ovarian granulomas and Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae (IV) was cultured from the ovarian tissue. The gecko recovered well from the surgery, regained weight and remained in good health 3 years following the surgery.

DIAGNOSIS: Pre-ovulatory stasis and ovarian granulomas associated with infection with Salmonella enterica subsp. houtenae.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The surgery described in this case resulted in recovery of the gecko, which despite its loss of reproductive capability is of value as an education animal. This is the first report of pre-ovulatory stasis and ovarian granulomas associated with infection with Salmonella enterica in a Duvaucel's gecko and is also the first reported case of pre-ovulatory stasis in a viviparous lizard species. The case adds to knowledge regarding potential reproductive pathology in lizards, which is particularly important information for managers of captive lizard breeding programmes.     

Salmonella enterica infections in Spanish swine fattening units

The present study is the first conducted in Spain to estimate the bacteriological herd prevalence of Salmonella enterica in fattening units and to describe the Salmonella serovar diversity on these farms using a sample representative of the entire swine population. For this purpose, 10 faecal samples were collected from 10 different pens containing pigs close to market weight in a total of 232 fattening units. Total sample size was proportionally distributed according to the fattener census in each of the regions of the country and all the samples were examined by culture of 25 g of faecal material. One hundred (43.1%) farms had at least one Salmonella-positive sample (95% CI: 37-49.1%). Salmonella enterica was detected in 290 (12.5%) pooled faecal floor samples (95% CI: 11.2-13.8%). The apparent herd prevalence of salmonellosis was similar among multi-site, finishing and farrow to finish farms. Overall, 24 different serovars were identified, with S. Typhimurium, S. Rissen and S. Derby being the most common both at herd and sample level. Results of phage typing were available for the 91 isolates of S. Typhimurium. A total number of 10 different phage types were identified, with DT 193 being the most frequent. Phage types DT 104, DT 104b and DT U302, which have been associated with several multi-resistant patterns, accounted for 23% and 29% of the Typhimurium total isolates or Typhimurium infected farms respectively.     

四环素耐药基因在鸡源沙门氏菌中的分布和传播

试验分析了84株鸡源沙门氏菌分离株的四环素耐药性,用PCR方法检测四环素耐药基因在分离株中的分布情况。结果显示,四环素耐药率为49%(41/84),鸡白痢和鸡伤寒沙门氏菌仅携带tet(A)基因(23/23),肠炎沙门氏菌和德尔卑沙门氏菌携带tet(A)(8/18)、tet(B)(17/18)或tet(G)(10/18)三种基因,tetC基因在这些沙门氏菌中都没有检测到。该类基因多数位于结合性质粒上,但是不在整合子范围内。     

肠炎沙门菌icdA基因缺失株的构建及重要特性分析

为研究肠炎沙门菌异柠檬酸脱氢酶(IDH)的功能,本研究利用λ-Red重组技术构建了肠炎沙门菌IDH编码基因icdA缺失突变株c50336ΔicdA,对其进行生长和生化特性检测,并通过体外模拟应激试验、药敏试验、生物被膜检测、抗蛋清杀伤、胞内存活和动物感染实验,分析icdA基因在肠炎沙门菌致病机制中的重要作用。研究结果显示,icdA基因缺失不影响肠炎沙门菌的生长特性和生化特性,在热应激(42℃)、酸应激(pH3.5)和高渗应激(NaCl2.4mol/L)条件下其存活率也未出现显著变化,但icdA基因缺失能够显著降低肠炎沙门菌对碱、低渗透压和过氧化氢应激的抵御能力,降低肠炎沙门菌对多粘菌素B的耐药性和生物被膜的形成能力;同时,该基因缺失能够降低肠炎沙门菌对蛋清杀伤的防御能力、在巨噬细胞内的存活能力和其对小鼠的毒力。研究结果表明icdA基因参与肠炎沙门菌的抗应激能力、耐药性、生物被膜形成和抗蛋清杀伤能力,从而影响细菌的毒力。本研究为肠炎沙门菌疫苗的研究奠定了重要基础。     

The effects of the supplementation of multi‐strain probiotics on intestinal microbiota,metabolites and inflammation of young SPF chickens challenged with Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica

This study assessed the effect of probiotics on cecal microbiota, cecal short‐chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and the gene expression of cytokines in young specific‐pathogen‐free (SPF) chickens infected with S. enterica subsp. enterica. One‐day‐old SPF chickens (n = 105) were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups: control (Cont) group, Salmonella‐infected (Sal) group, and a Salmonella‐infected group treated with multi‐strain probiotics (ProSal group). All chickens except those in the Cont group were challenged orally with 1 × 10⁸ cfu/ml of Salmonella 4 days after hatching. Chickens in the Sal group exhibited more abundance of Proteobacteria than those in the Cont and ProSal groups. At the genus level, chickens in ProSal group exhibited increased numbers of Lactobacillus and Oscillospira compared with those in the other groups. Chickens in the ProSal group exhibited a significant increase of cecal SCFAs compared with chickens in the Sal group. Chickens in the ProSal group exhibited increased gene expression of anti‐inflammatory cytokines, IL‐10 and TGF‐β4, and decreased expression of the proinflammatory cytokine, IFN‐γ, in the cecal tonsil compared with those in the Sal group. The results of this study indicated that the administration of probiotics can modulate microbiota, SCFAs, and immunomodulatory activity in SPF chickens.     

Detection and Molecular Characterization of Salmonella enterica Serovar Eppendorf Circulating in Chicken Farms in Tunisia

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Eppendorf, with antigenic formula 1,4,12,[27]:d:1,5, is an infrequent serovar. However, 14% (20 of 142) of the isolates recovered during June–July 2012 in chicken farms in Tunisia belonged to S. Eppendorf. These isolates were analysed for resistance and virulence profiles. None of them were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested, while 70%, 60%, 50%, 50%, 20% and 5% were resistant to sulphonamides (sul1, sul2 and sul3), streptomycin (aadA1‐like), trimethoprim (dfrA1‐like), nalidixic acid (GyrA Asp₈₇→Asn and not identified), gentamicin (not identified) and ampicillin (bla_TEM‐1‐like). About 30% of the isolates showed decreased susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and carried the qnrB gene; 65% of the isolates were multidrug resistant and contained class 1 integrons with sul1 or sul3 in the 3′ conserved segment. The orgA, ssaQ, mgtC, siiD and sopB virulence genes located on SPI1 to SPI5 and the fimbrial bcfC gene were present in all isolates; the sopE1 and sodC1 carried by prophages were variably detected; however, the prophage gipA gene and the spvC gene of serovar‐specific virulence plasmids were absent. Altogether, ten resistance and three virulence profiles were identified. Typing of the isolates with XbaI‐ and BlnI‐PFGE supports a close relationship, although they appear to be evolving under selective pressure probably caused by antimicrobial use in chicken husbandry. As far as we know, this is the first study investigating the molecular bases of antimicrobial drug resistance, the virulence gene content and the PFGE profiles of S. Eppendorf. The epidemiological surveillance of this serovar would be necessary to evaluate its possible impact on human health, particularly in Tunisia and other African countries where it was already reported.     

CpxR对鼠伤寒沙门菌的黏菌素耐药相关基因pmrB和phoQ调控作用的研究

为了探索 cpxR 对鼠伤寒沙门菌的黏菌素耐药相关基因 pmrB 和 phoQ 的调控作用,用overlapping PCR扩增得到 cpxR 、 pmrB 和 cpxR 、 phoQ 共表达基因 cpxR - pmrB 、 cpxR - phoQ ,用2倍微量肉汤稀释法对构建的 pmrB 、 phoQ 单基因过表达菌株JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /p pmrB (JSΔΔ/p B )、JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /p phoQ (JSΔΔ/p Q )和 cpxR - pmrB 、 cpxR - phoQ 共表达菌株JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /p cpxR - pmrB (JSΔΔ/p RB )、JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /p cpxR - phoQ (JSΔΔ/p RQ )进行黏菌素最小抑菌浓度(MICs)的测定,同时以各菌株在LB中的OD 600 nm 值绘制生长曲线,以各菌株在不同浓度的黏菌素中的存活率绘制杀菌曲线。结果:成功构建的鼠伤寒沙门菌 pmrB 、 phoQ 的单基因过表达菌株JSΔΔ/p B 、JSΔΔ/p Q 和 cpxR - pmrB 、 cpxR - phoQ 共表达菌株JSΔΔ/p RB 、JSΔΔ/p RQ 的MIC结果显示,JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /p cpxR (JSΔΔ/p R )的MIC值较JS下降93.75%,与本实验室前期研究结果一致。JSΔΔ/p B 、JSΔΔ/p Q 的MIC值较JS均上升3倍,而JSΔΔ/p RB 、JSΔΔ/p RQ 的MIC值较JS分别降低50%和75%。生长曲线结果显示JSΔΔ/p R 的生长活性最低,JSΔΔ/p B 、JSΔΔ/p Q 、JSΔΔ/p RB 和JSΔΔ/p RQ 的生长活性均低于JSΔ acrB Δ cpxR :: kan /pHisA(JSΔΔ/pHisA)。黏菌素的杀菌曲线结果显示JSΔΔ/p B 和JSΔΔ/p Q 在不同浓度的黏菌素中的存活率显著高于黏菌素较敏感的JSΔΔ/p RB 和JSΔΔ/p RQ 。上述结果表明:CpxR能够通过PmrB和PhoQ调控鼠伤寒沙门菌对黏菌素的敏感性。     

Salmonella level of Danish swine herds based on serological examination of meat-juice samples and salmonella occurrence measured by bacteriological follow-up

Analyses of data collected in the Danish Salmonella Control Program in swine herds were conducted to assess the association between bacteriological and serological findings (including the degree to which changing serological status over time modulated the relationship) and to assess the degree to which type of swine operation and age group affected the relationship between bacteriological and serological findings. Although serological status was significantly associated with bacteriological prevalence of salmonella enterica in swine herds, the association was clarified by adding information on the change in serological status over time and the age group being tested. salmonella infection assessed by serological tests at a single time-point and data on age group tested would allow better targeting and managing control programs.