-
International Microbiology : the... Nov 2022Acanthamoeba castellanii, known as the "Trojan horse of the microbial world," is known to host a variety of microorganisms including viruses, yeasts, protists, and...
Acanthamoeba castellanii, known as the "Trojan horse of the microbial world," is known to host a variety of microorganisms including viruses, yeasts, protists, and bacteria. Acanthamoeba can act as a vector and may aid in the transmission of various bacterial pathogens to potential hosts and are found in a variety of places, thus impacting the health of humans, animals, and the environment. These are interconnected in a system known as "one health." With the global threat of antibiotic resistance, bacteria may avoid harsh conditions, antibiotics, and disinfectants by sheltering within Acanthamoeba. In this study, Acanthamoeba castellanii interaction with Morganella morganii, a Gram-negative bacterium was studied. Escherichia coli K1 interaction with Acanthamoeba was carried out as a control. Association, invasion, and survival assays were accomplished. Morganella morganii was found to associate, invade, and survive within Acanthamoeba castellanii. Additionally, Escherichia coli K1 was also found to associate, invade, and survive within the Acanthamoeba at a higher number in comparison to Morganella morganii. For the first time, we have shown that Morganella morganii interact, invade, and survive within Acanthamoeba castellanii, suggesting that Acanthamoeba may be a potential vector in the transmission of Morganella morganii to susceptible hosts. Taking a one health approach to tackle and develop disinfectants to target Acanthamoeba is warranted, as the amoebae may be hosting various microbes such as multiple drug-resistant bacteria and even viruses such as the novel coronavirus.
Topics: Acanthamoeba castellanii; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; COVID-19; Disinfectants; Escherichia coli; Humans; Morganella morganii; One Health
PubMed: 35794501
DOI: 10.1007/s10123-022-00261-w -
PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases Jul 2023The world-famous markets of Marrakech, also known in Arabic as souks, harbor a vast diversity of reptiles that are sold for medicinal/magic/pet purposes or used for...
The world-famous markets of Marrakech, also known in Arabic as souks, harbor a vast diversity of reptiles that are sold for medicinal/magic/pet purposes or used for snake charming. This unique epidemiological context has never been studied considering the interactions of humans, reptiles, and zoonotic pathogens. Thus, the aim of this study was to identify the parasites and pathogens present in blood and feces associated with handled reptiles in the markets of Marrakech to assess the risk of zoonotic transmission within the reptile-human interface. Privately owned reptiles (n = 118), coming from vendors or snake charmers, were examined and blood and feces sampled. DNA was extracted and molecular screening (cPCR, nPCR, qPCR, dqPCR) was performed aiming to identify potentially zoonotic pathogens (i.e., Anaplasma/Ehrlichia spp., Rickettsia spp., Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Coxiella burnetii, Babesia/Theileria spp., Cryptosporidium spp., Giardia spp., Leishmania spp., Cestoda). Overall, 28.9% (34/118) of reptiles were positive for at least one pathogen. In blood, Anaplasma spp. were detected in four snakes, with two Montpellier snakes positive for Anaplasma phagocytophilum, while Rickettsia spp. were detected in one Mediterranean chameleon and four puff adders. Leishmania tarentolae was molecularly detected in a Mediterranean chameleon and a Montpellier snake. In feces, the cox1 gene generated a myriad of sequences for nematodes, cestodes, fungi and bacteria. Importantly, Proteus vulgaris was identified from a Mediterranean chameleon. Cryptosporidium spp. nPCR yielded a positive sample (i.e., Cryptosporidium sp. apodemus genotype I) from a Moroccan worm lizard, as well as for bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an Egyptian cobra, and Morganella morganii from a puff adder. Results from this study demonstrated the risk of zoonotic transmission of microorganisms and parasites present in blood and feces from reptiles that are brought to the souks in Marrakech, Morocco, to be sold for medicinal purposes or used for snake charming, being in direct and straight contact with humans.
Topics: Animals; Humans; Cryptosporidiosis; Morocco; Cryptosporidium; Rickettsia; Parasites; Anaplasma; Snakes; Reptiles
PubMed: 37467211
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0011431 -
Caspian Journal of Internal Medicine Mar 2021Peritoneal infection following pleural empyema is not a common occurrence. Concomitant pleural empyema and peritonitis have been described in the literature mostly in...
BACKGROUND
Peritoneal infection following pleural empyema is not a common occurrence. Concomitant pleural empyema and peritonitis have been described in the literature mostly in immunocompromised patients with different pathogenic mechanisms and a wide array of microorganisms. Here we report a case of concomitant pleural empyema and peritonitis with an unusual microorganism in an immunocompetent host.
CASE PRESENTATION
The patient is a 42-year-old man with a history of 2 weeks epigastric pain who had been referred for surgical consult after failure of outpatient medical therapy. Physical examination at emergency ward revealed generalized abdominal guarding, tenderness and rebound tenderness. On emergent laparotomy, the peritoneal cavity was full of malodor pus. All abdominal viscera were intact but there was a 2x2 centimeter defect in the top of left hemi-diaphragm. Pus originated from the left thoracic cavity and then drained to the peritoneal cavity. grew in the culture of aspirated pleural fluid. After abdominal lavage and chest tube drainage and receiving 14 days course of parenteral antibiotics, the patient experienced marked clinical improvement. Punctual history taking revealed a history of pneumonia before the beginning of abdominal symptoms.
CONCLUSION
In concomitant empyema and peritonitis in an immunocompetent patient, one should keep in mind the possibility of diaphragmatic defect and infection by unusual organisms like
PubMed: 34012544
DOI: 10.22088/cjim.12.2.232 -
Journal of Global Antimicrobial... Mar 2020A multidrug-resistant Morganella morganii strain (CQ-M7), isolated from the kidney of a diseased Chinese giant salamander in China, was examined with whole genome...
OBJECTIVES
A multidrug-resistant Morganella morganii strain (CQ-M7), isolated from the kidney of a diseased Chinese giant salamander in China, was examined with whole genome sequencing to better understand drug tolerance and its pathogenicity.
METHODS
The draft genome of the investigated strain was assembled using HGA assembler and annotated using Rapid Annotations Subsystems Technology (RAST) server. The contigs were annotated by the appropriate bioinformatics tools available on the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) website. Antibiotic resistance genes were detected by PCR. Pathogenicity of the isolate was performed on 30 healthy Chinese giant salamanders with different infection dosages.
RESULTS
The CQ-M7 strain showed resistance to multiple antimicrobials, especially to aminoglycoside and β-lactam antibiotics. Seventeen drug-resistance genes were detected, which were related to β-lactams, aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, tetracyclines, peptide antibiotic, and fosfomycin resistance. Sequence analysis showed the assembled genome size to be 4 966 326bp with 51.16% of GC content, containing 4587 protein-coding genes, 71 pseudogenes, five rRNAs, 80 tRNAs, and five noncoding RNAs. The genome sequence was deposited in GenBank under accession number RQIJ00000000. Artificial infection results indicated that the CQ-M7 strain was a low-virulence strain for the Chinese giant salamander.
CONCLUSION
It is believed that this is the first draft genome of Chinese giant salamander original Morganella morganii strain harbouring multiple antibiotic resistance genes in China. The reported genome sequence could provide insights into antibiotic resistance mechanisms and control strategies of Morganella morganii.
Topics: Aminoglycosides; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; China; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial; Enterobacteriaceae Infections; Genome Size; Genome, Bacterial; High-Throughput Nucleotide Sequencing; Kidney; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Molecular Sequence Annotation; Morganella morganii; Urodela; Virulence; Whole Genome Sequencing; beta-Lactams
PubMed: 31449965
DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2019.08.012 -
Infectious Diseases and Therapy Jul 2023Gram-negative resistance is a well-acknowledged public health threat. Surveillance data can be used to monitor resistance trends and identify strategies to mitigate...
INTRODUCTION
Gram-negative resistance is a well-acknowledged public health threat. Surveillance data can be used to monitor resistance trends and identify strategies to mitigate their threat. The objective of this study was to assess antibiotic resistance trends in Gram-negative bacteria.
METHODS
The first cultures of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Citrobacter, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Morganella morganii, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia marcescens per hospitalized patient per month collected from 125 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) between 2011 to 2020 were included. Time trends of resistance phenotypes (carbapenem, fluoroquinolone, extended-spectrum cephalosporin, multi-drug, and difficult-to-treat) were analyzed with Joinpoint regression to estimate average annual percent changes (AAPC) with 95% confidence intervals and p values. A 2020 antibiogram of reported antibiotic percent susceptibilities was also created to evaluate resistance rates at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.
RESULTS
Among 40 antimicrobial resistance phenotype trends assessed in 494,593 Gram-negative isolates, there were no noted increases; significant decreases were observed in 87.5% (n = 35), including in all P. aeruginosa, Citrobacter, Klebsiella, M. morganii, and S. marcescens phenotypes (p < 0.05). The largest decreases were seen in carbapenem-resistant phenotypes of P. mirabilis, Klebsiella, and M. morganii (AAPCs: - 22.9%, - 20.7%, and - 20.6%, respectively). In 2020, percent susceptibility was over 80% for all organisms tested against aminoglycosides, cefepime, ertapenem, meropenem, ceftazidime-avibactam, ceftolozane-tazobactam, and meropenem-vaborbactam.
CONCLUSION
We observed significant decreases in antibiotic resistance for P. aeruginosa and Enterobacterales over the past decade. According to the 2020 antibiogram, in vitro antimicrobial activity was observed for most treatment options. These results may be related to the robust infection control and antimicrobial stewardship programs instituted nationally among VAMCs.
PubMed: 37326931
DOI: 10.1007/s40121-023-00827-9 -
The American Journal of Tropical... Oct 2022Snakebite is a common occurrence in Hangzhou, and identifying bacteria in wounds is very important for snakebite treatment. To define the pattern of wound bacterial... (Review)
Review
Snakebite is a common occurrence in Hangzhou, and identifying bacteria in wounds is very important for snakebite treatment. To define the pattern of wound bacterial flora of venomous snakebites and their susceptibility to common antibiotics, we reviewed the medical charts of patients admitted with snakebite at Hangzhou TCM Hospital from January 2019 to December 2020. A total of 311 patients were enrolled in this study. Among them, bacteria culture was positive in 40 patients, and 80 organisms were isolated. The most frequent pathogens were Morganella morganii and Staphylococcus aureus. According to the results of susceptibility testing, a majority of the isolates were resistant to some common first-line antibiotics, such as ampicillin, ampicillin/sulbactam, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, cefoxitin, and cephazolin. Quinolones, however, have shown a better antibacterial effect. In conclusion, snakebite wounds involve a wide range of bacteria. Fluoroquinolones, such as levofloxacin and ciprofloxacin, could be an alternative for empirical treatment in patients with snakebite when the effect of other antibiotics is poor.
Topics: Amoxicillin; Ampicillin; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bacteria; Cefazolin; Cefoxitin; Ciprofloxacin; Clavulanic Acid; Fluoroquinolones; Humans; Levofloxacin; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Snake Bites; Sulbactam; Venoms
PubMed: 36067984
DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.21-1314 -
Surgical Neurology International 2020is a species of Gram-negative enteric rod found in normal human gut flora. Pathologically, this most often presents as urinary tract infections, wound infections, and...
BACKGROUND
is a species of Gram-negative enteric rod found in normal human gut flora. Pathologically, this most often presents as urinary tract infections, wound infections, and bacteremia. It is highly uncommon for to be implicated in a central nervous system infection, with only 12 reported cases of parenchymal abscesses or meningitis.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A previously healthy 13-month-old female presented with fever of unknown origin and had a witnessed seizure during evaluation. A large left subdural fluid collection was identified, and the patient underwent emergent burr hole drainage and subdural drain placement. Cultures demonstrated empyema, and she subsequently completed a course of directed antibiotics. Six months following surgery, she has no further clinical or radiographic evidence of infection, seizures, or neurological sequelae.
CONCLUSION
We describe the first reported case of isolated subdural empyema caused by . The child was successfully treated with the evacuation of the empyema and direct antibiotics with no lasting neurological injury.
PubMed: 32874719
DOI: 10.25259/SNI_136_2020 -
The Identification of Ethidium Bromide-Degrading Bacteria from Laboratory Gel Electrophoresis Waste.Biotech (Basel (Switzerland)) Feb 2022Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is widely used in most laboratories to detect nucleic acids in gel electrophoresis applications. It is a well-known carcinogenic and mutagenic...
Ethidium bromide (EtBr) is widely used in most laboratories to detect nucleic acids in gel electrophoresis applications. It is a well-known carcinogenic and mutagenic agent, which can affect biotic components of the place in which it is disposed. Usually the gel-waste is either buried in the ground or incinerated, whereas the liquid waste is disposed of down the sink following the recommended methods of treatment. The recommended methods do not involve biological potential, but rather make use of chemicals, which may further deteriorate soil and water quality. The present study identifies and characterizes the EtBr-degrading bacterial isolates BR3 and BR4. A bibliographic review of the risk status of using these isolates for the treatment of lab waste in laboratory settings is also presented. BR3 was identified as N5/687 (LN680103) and BR4 as subsp. ATCC 25830 (AJ301681) with 99.9% and 99.48% similarity, respectively, using an EzBioCloud microbial identifier. The literature revealed the bacterium as a non-pathogenic and natural microflora of humans, but as an opportunistic pathogen. These organisms belong to risk group II. Screening the sensitivity of these isolates to antibiotics revealed a sufficient number of antibiotics, which can be used to control them, if required. BR3 and BR4 exhibited resistance to individual antibiotics, ampicillin and vancomycin, whereas only BR3 was resistant to tetracycline. The current investigation, along with earlier reported work on these isolates, identifies BR3 as a useful isolate in the industrial application for the degradation of EtBr. Identical and related microorganisms, which are available in the culture collection repositories, can also be explored for such potential to formulate a microbial consortium for the bioremediation of ethidium bromide prior to its disposal.
PubMed: 35822812
DOI: 10.3390/biotech11010004 -
Surgical Neurology International 2024is a Gram-negative enteric rod found in the intestinal tracts of humans, mammals, and reptiles as normal flora. It is highly implicated in urinary tract infections,...
BACKGROUND
is a Gram-negative enteric rod found in the intestinal tracts of humans, mammals, and reptiles as normal flora. It is highly implicated in urinary tract infections, wound infections, and septicemia. The cerebral nervous system, especially brain abscess attributed to , remains extremely rare. To the best of the author's knowledge, only eight documented cerebral brain abscesses caused by have been reported in the literature.
CASE DESCRIPTION
A 48-year-old man presented with headache, fever, and irritability two months after endoscopic endonasal repair of the cranial base defect. Following imaging studies, a large left frontal abscess was found. The patient underwent a fine-needle aspiration through a burr hole following antimicrobial therapy.
CONCLUSION
We report this case to create awareness among neurosurgeons and microbiologists that , even though uncommon, is a cause of cerebral brain abscess. Prompt surgical management and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is the treatment of choice.
PubMed: 38344080
DOI: 10.25259/SNI_759_2023 -
Journal of Food Protection Dec 2001The objective of this study was to determine the effect of normal microflora and Morganella morganii on histamine formation and olfactory acceptability in raw bluefish...
The objective of this study was to determine the effect of normal microflora and Morganella morganii on histamine formation and olfactory acceptability in raw bluefish under controlled storage conditions. Fillets inoculated with and without M. morganii were stored at 5, 10, and 15 degrees C for 7 days. Microbial isolates from surface swabs were identified and screened for histidine decarboxylase activity. Olfactory acceptance was performed by an informal sensory panel. Histamine levels were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography and fluorescence detection. While olfactory acceptance decreased, histamine concentration and bacterial counts increased. Storage temperature had a significant effect on histamine levels, bacterial counts, and olfactory acceptance of the bluefish. Inoculation with M. morganii had a positive significant effect on histamine formation for bluefish held at 10 and 15 degrees C (P < 0.0001). The results of the study will serve in supporting U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations regarding guidance and hazard levels of histamine in fresh bluefish.
Topics: Animals; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colony Count, Microbial; Fishes; Fluorescence; Food Handling; Food Microbiology; Food Preservation; Histamine; Histidine Decarboxylase; Morganella morganii; Odorants; Quality Control; Safety; Temperature; Time Factors; United States; United States Food and Drug Administration
PubMed: 11770632
DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-64.12.2015