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Toxicon : Official Journal of the... Sep 2021King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) bite is well-known for its potentially fatal neurotoxicity. However, fatalities still occur, despite specific antivenom and respiratory...
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) bite is well-known for its potentially fatal neurotoxicity. However, fatalities still occur, despite specific antivenom and respiratory support. Cardiovascular disturbances, which have attracted little attention in published reports of O. hannah envenoming, could contribute to fatality. We present two cases of confirmed O. hannah envenoming in Southern Vietnam in which there were cardiac abnormalities including arrhythmias and electrocardiographic changes, as well as elevated markers of myocardial damage. Cardiac pacing was required. One patient developed critical multi-organ dysfunctions partly explained by extensive necrotizing fasciitis/myositis originating from an Aeromonas sobria wound infection. This resulted in rhabdomyolysis, disseminated intravascular coagulation and acute kidney injury. Specific antivenom reversed neurotoxic effects of envenoming. Additional therapeutic interventions included antibiotics, surgical debridement, continuous renal replacement therapy and therapeutic plasma exchange. Both patients eventually made full recoveries. Apart from the critical problem of rapidly evolving and severe neurotoxicity, our case reports also emphasises the risk of cardiotoxic envenoming, and the complications of an overwhelming secondary bacterial wound infection. We suggest a practical approach to diagnosis and management.
Topics: Aeromonas; Animals; Elapid Venoms; Fasciitis, Necrotizing; Humans; Ophiophagus hannah; Vietnam
PubMed: 34302855
DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2021.07.007 -
Veterinary Medicine and Science May 2024Doxycycline (DO) has been used in fish for a long time, but there are some factors that have not yet been clarified regarding its pharmacokinetic (PK) and...
Pharmacokinetic behaviour and pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic integration of doxycycline in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) after intravascular, intramuscular and oral administrations.
OBJECTIVE
Doxycycline (DO) has been used in fish for a long time, but there are some factors that have not yet been clarified regarding its pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the PK and PK/PD targets of DO after 20 mg/kg intravascular (IV), intramuscular (IM) and oral (OR) gavage administration in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).
METHODS
Plasma samples were collected at specific time points and subsequently analysed by HPLC-ultraviolet. The PK/PD indices were calculated based on the MIC (Aeromonas hydrophila and Aeromonas sobria) values obtained for the respective bacteria and the PK parameters obtained for DO following both IM and OR administration.
RESULTS
After IV administration, the elimination half-life (t ), area under the concentration vs. time curve (AUC), apparent volume of distribution at steady-state and total body clearance of DO were 34.81 h, 723.82 h µg/mL, 1.24 L/kg and 0.03 L/kg/h, respectively. The t of the DO was found to be 37.39 and 39.78 h after IM, and OR administration, respectively. The bioavailability was calculated 57.02% and 32.29%, respectively, after IM and OR administration. The MIC of DO against A. hydrophila and A. sobria was 4 µg/mL. The PK/PD integration showed that DO (20 mg/kg dose) for A. hydrophila and A. sobria with MIC ≤4 µg/mL achieved target AUC/MIC value after IM administration.
CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that when rainbow trout was treated with 20 mg/kg IV and IM administered DO, therapeutically effective concentrations were reached in the control of infections caused by A. hydrophila and A. sobria.
Topics: Animals; Doxycycline; Oncorhynchus mykiss; Administration, Oral; Biological Availability
PubMed: 38520701
DOI: 10.1002/vms3.1419 -
Microorganisms Jul 2019subsp. is a Gram-negative bacterium causing furunculosis, an opportunistic infection of farmed salmonid fish. Current treatment methods against furunculosis rely...
subsp. is a Gram-negative bacterium causing furunculosis, an opportunistic infection of farmed salmonid fish. Current treatment methods against furunculosis rely heavily on antibiotherapy. However, strains of this opportunistic fish pathogen were found to possess genes that confer resistance to major antibiotics including those used to cure furunculosis. Therefore, dispensing bacterial symbionts as probiotics to susceptible hosts appears to be a promising alternative. Here, we present the genomic characterization and in vivo safety assessment of two brook charr () bacterial symbionts that inhibited subsp. growth in vitro ( ML11A and TM18) as well as a commercialized probiotic, MA18/5M (Bactocell). The genomic sequences of ML11A and TM18 obtained by whole-genome shotgun sequencing lack key virulence factor genes found in related pathogenic strains. Their genomic sequences are also devoid of genes involved in the inactivation (or target modification of) several key antimicrobial compounds used in salmonid aquaculture. Finally, when administered daily to live brook charr fingerlings, ML11A, TM18 and Bactocell helped improve several physiological condition metrics such as mean body weight, Fulton's condition factor and blood plasma lysozyme activity (an indicator for innate immune activity).
PubMed: 31284626
DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms7070193 -
Current Microbiology Apr 2021Candida famata has been associated with the identifiable Candida infections that takes place in human and the identification error of this species possibly will result...
Candida famata has been associated with the identifiable Candida infections that takes place in human and the identification error of this species possibly will result in misinterpretation of antifungal susceptibility and improper diagnosis; which will have a major effect on the prognosis and therapy of patients. Our objective is to correctly identify Candida spp. collected from patients at the intensive care units, New Cairo University teaching hospital in Cairo-Egypt using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). Hundred clinically isolated yeast strains were identified using API 20C AUX obtained from patients receiving care at intensive care units. ATB FUNGUS 3 strips were used to detect the minimum inhibitory concentration. Thirty-three non duplicate strains identified as C. famata were subjected to re-identification by MALDI-TOF MS. Our results revealed that isolates were initially identified as C. famata 33%, C. tropicalis 15%, C. albicans 12% and C. parapsillosis 10% using the phenotypic techniques. MALDI-TOF MS analyses results showed that the 33 C. famata isolates are C. tropicalis (n = 29), Trichosporon asahii (n = 2), C. parapsilosis (n = 1), and Aeromonas sobria (n = 1). Antifungal resistance was low in the Candida species, except for reduced susceptibility to itraconazole among C. krusei strains. This report shows that misidentification of C. famata is frequent when using conventional phenotypic methods of identification which result in challenges in treating fungal infections. MALDI-TOF MS is an accurate convenient substitute to classical approaches for fungal identification. In general, antifungal multidrug resistance is uncommon in our studied Candida species and yeast isolates.
Topics: Aeromonas; Basidiomycota; Candida; Egypt; Humans; Spectrometry, Mass, Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption-Ionization
PubMed: 33687510
DOI: 10.1007/s00284-021-02411-1 -
Skin Appendage Disorders Aug 2021Fish pedicures and/or fish manicures are treatments performed in spas involving the use of the living fish . In the last decade, the use of for cosmetic and therapeutic...
Fish pedicures and/or fish manicures are treatments performed in spas involving the use of the living fish . In the last decade, the use of for cosmetic and therapeutic reasons has become increasingly popular. The patients are placed into a bath to control psoriasis, eczema, or other skin conditions, but there is no scientific proof of their effectiveness. Most of the infections described in association with fish spas result from minor skin injury and contact with fish carrying such bacteria as , and Therefore, fish spas in general should not be recommended, particularly for diabetic patients, immunocompromised patients, or patients treated with biological agents.
PubMed: 34604330
DOI: 10.1159/000514853 -
Probiotics and Antimicrobial Proteins Dec 2023The study focuses on the isolation, characterization, and expression analysis of a lectin from the hepatopancreas of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The protein was isolated...
Characterization of a Lipopolysaccharide- and Beta-1,3-Glucan Binding Protein (LGBP) from the Hepatopancreas of Freshwater Prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii, Possessing Lectin-Like Activity.
The study focuses on the isolation, characterization, and expression analysis of a lectin from the hepatopancreas of Macrobrachium rosenbergii. The protein was isolated by affinity chromatography on a melibiose-agarose column. The molecular weight of the native protein was found to be ~120 kDa which consists of a single polypeptide of ~39.5 kDa. On mass spectrometric analysis, the protein was identified as lipopolysaccharide- and beta-1,3-glucan binding protein (LGBP). LGBP showed hemagglutination with rabbit RBC like a lectin and its carbohydrate-binding specificity was determined by the hemagglutination inhibition test. The protein also showed antibacterial activity against two Gram-negative bacteria Vibrio harveyi and Aeromonas sobria, and one Gram positive bacteria Bacillus cereus in the disc diffusion test. Rabbit antiserum was raised against the purified LGBP and used to develop a sandwich ELISA system for quantitation of the protein in hepatopancreas and serum samples of M. rosenbergii. The expression of the LGBP transcripts in muscle, hepatopancreas, and gill tissues from M. rosenbergii juveniles at 72 h post-challenge of V. harveyi was not modulated as noticed in qPCR analysis. However, significant increases in the concentrations of LGBP protein in hepatopancreas (5.23 ± 0.45 against 3.43 ± 0.43 mg/g tissue in control) and serum (1.08 ± 0.14 against 0.61 ± 0.08 µg/ml in control) were observed in the challenged group of prawns in ELISA suggesting its putative role against bacterial infections. The study for the first time characterized the native LGBP of M. rosenbergii showing a multifunctional role in immunity.
Topics: Animals; Rabbits; Palaemonidae; Lipopolysaccharides; Hepatopancreas; Lectins
PubMed: 36593373
DOI: 10.1007/s12602-022-10021-x -
BMC Microbiology Nov 2019In light of rampant childhood diarrhoea, this study investigated bacterial pathogens from human and non-human sources in an urban informal settlement. Meat from informal...
Prevalence and antibiotic susceptibility patterns of enteric bacterial pathogens in human and non-human sources in an urban informal settlement in Cape Town, South Africa.
BACKGROUND
In light of rampant childhood diarrhoea, this study investigated bacterial pathogens from human and non-human sources in an urban informal settlement. Meat from informal abattoirs (n = 85), river water (n = 64), and diarrheic stool (n = 66) were collected between September 2015 and May 2016. A duplex real-time PCR, gel-based PCR, and CHROMagar™STEC were used to screen Tryptic Soy Broth (TSB) for diarrheic E. coli. Standard methods were used to screen for other selected food and waterborne bacterial pathogens.
RESULTS
Pathogens isolated from stool, meat, and surface water included Salmonella enterica (6, 5, 0%), Plesiomonas shigelloides (9, 0, 17%), Aeromonas sobria (3, 3, 0%), Campylobacter jejuni (5, 5, 0%), Shigella flexneri (17, 5, 0%), Vibrio vulnificus (0, 0, 9%), and diarrheic E. coli (21, 3, 7%) respectively. All the isolates were resistant to trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole.
CONCLUSIONS
There was a high burden of drug resistant diarrheal pathogens in the stool, surface water and meat from informal slaughter. Integrated control measures are needed to ensure food safety and to prevent the spread of drug resistant pathogens in similar settings.
Topics: Bacteria; Bacterial Infections; Child, Preschool; Diarrhea; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Feces; Female; Food Microbiology; Humans; Infant; Male; Meat; Population Surveillance; Prevalence; Rivers; South Africa; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination; Urban Renewal
PubMed: 31694551
DOI: 10.1186/s12866-019-1620-6 -
Food Microbiology Oct 2020In this study, we evaluated the contributions of three bacteria (Pseudomonas versuta, Shewanella putrefaciens, and Aeromonas sobria) to the proteolysis, biogenic amines...
Assessment of bacterial contributions to the biochemical changes of chill-stored blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) fillets: Protein degradation and volatile organic compounds accumulation.
In this study, we evaluated the contributions of three bacteria (Pseudomonas versuta, Shewanella putrefaciens, and Aeromonas sobria) to the proteolysis, biogenic amines formation, volatile organic compounds accumulation, lipid oxidation, nucleotide catabolism, discoloration, and water migration of bream flesh during chilled storage. The results showed that P. versuta exhibited hydrolyzing activity against sarcoplasmic proteins, and all three strains could degrade myofibrillar proteins, specifically actin. The highest producer of putrescine was S. putrefaciens, which reached a maximum level 5.05 mg/kg after 14 days. Compared with the A. sobria group, hypoxanthine riboside degraded faster in samples inoculated with P. versuta or S. putrefaciens, A. sobria, P. versuta, and S. putrefaciens were responsible for the production of alcohol and aldehydes, whereas only S. putrefaciens produced thiophene and partial esters. Fish flesh inoculated with P. versuta, S. putrefaciens, and A. sobria presented slight green, yellow, and pink discoloration, respectively.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Biogenic Amines; Colony Count, Microbial; Cypriniformes; Food Microbiology; Food Storage; Pigmentation; Proteolysis; Seafood; Volatile Organic Compounds; Water
PubMed: 32539953
DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2020.103495 -
Biochimie Jun 2024A lectin was isolated from the hepatopancreas of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii by affinity chromatography using mucin-sepharose matrix. The purity of the...
A lectin was isolated from the hepatopancreas of freshwater prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii by affinity chromatography using mucin-sepharose matrix. The purity of the isolated lectin was confirmed in native gradient PAGE that showed a single protein band of ∼37.9 kDa. In SDS-PAGE also one band of ∼43.3 kDa molecular weight was observed that indicated the protein to be a monomer. The band from the SDS-PAGE gel was identified through mass spectrometry as chitinase 1. The purified chitinase (50 μg/ml) hemagglutinated rabbit RBCs and, mucin and glucose inhibited hemagglutination with minimum concentrations of 0.1 mg/ml and 100 mM, respectively. Bacterial agglutination with Gram -ve Vibrio harveyi, Aeromonas sobria and Escherichia coli was also observed by this protein. Thus, chitinase 1 showed lectin-like properties besides its chitin hydrolytic activity. In western blot with hepatopancreas sample, rabbit antiserum against chitinase 1 cross-reacted to two additional proteins namely, chitinase 1C and obstructor E (a chitin-binding protein, CBP), besides its specific reactivity. An indirect ELISA was developed with the antiserum to quantify chitinases/CBP in hepatopancreas and serum samples of M. rosenbergii. The assay was used in samples from juvenile prawns following V. harveyi challenge. At 72 h post-challenge, significantly higher levels of chitinases/CBP were quantified in the hepatopancreas of the challenged group (1.8 ± 0.2 mg/g tissue) compared to the control (1.2 ± 0.1 mg/g tissue). This study suggests that the chitinase 1 protein with lectin-like properties is possibly induced at the protein level and can be putatively involved in the innate immune response of M. rosenbergii.
Topics: Animals; Chitinases; Hepatopancreas; Palaemonidae; Lectins; Rabbits; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
PubMed: 37769935
DOI: 10.1016/j.biochi.2023.09.025 -
Access Microbiology 2021is an intestinal nematode that is endemic in tropical countries. It can have a variable presentation ranging from asymptomatic eosinophilia in immunocompetent hosts to...
INTRODUCTION
is an intestinal nematode that is endemic in tropical countries. It can have a variable presentation ranging from asymptomatic eosinophilia in immunocompetent hosts to disseminated disease with sepsis in immunocompromised hosts.
CASE REPORT
We report a case of chronic diarrhoea and decreased appetite in a 53-year-old man. He was a chronic alcoholic with diabetes, hypertension and dyslipidaemia and had earlier been treated for pulmonary tuberculosis. He was treated symptomatically for loose stools at a primary health care facility without relief. Following referral to our tertiary care centre, microscopic examination of the stool showed numerous larvae and a few eggs of . Additionally, was isolated from stool culture. The patient was discharged following improvement with a combination therapy of ivermectin, albendazole and ciprofloxacin. However, within 3 days, he was readmitted and succumbed to sepsis.
CONCLUSION
Strongyloidiasis can be diagnosed easily using a very simple but often neglected investigation, namely stool microscopy. This provides an early diagnosis, based on which prompt treatment with the appropriate antihelminthics can be started, thereby reducing the probability of disseminated infection. Disseminated strongyloidiasis is a medical emergency with a poor prognosis, especially in an immunocompromised state. Such patients should be treated aggressively with antihelminthics. They must be monitored for sufficient duration in the hospital for early signs of complication. Their discharge from hospital should be planned based on a negative stool microscopy report in addition to clinical improvement, so as to decrease the mortality reported for both untreated and treated individuals.
PubMed: 34595397
DOI: 10.1099/acmi.0.000246