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Carbapenem-resistant bacteria (CRB) present a significant global public health concern. Sub-Saharan Africa has borne a heavy burden of CRB with a reported prevalence of up to 60% in some patient populations. es in Africa focus on clinical CRB isolates, with limited data on their spread in the natural environment. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to report the recovery of CRB from Nairobi River surface waters and nearby anthropogenic and zoonotic sources in Nairobi County, Kenya. A total of 336 CRB were recovered from 336 (250 mL) samples, with 230 of the samples (68.5%) producing one or more CRB isolates. CRB were recovered most commonly from untreated sewage influent (100% of 36 samples; 79 total isolates), treated effluent (93% of 118 samples; 116 total isolates), Nairobi River surface waters upstream (100% of 36 samples; 57 total isolates), downstream (100% of 36 samples; 45 total isolates), and way downstream from the wastewater treatment plant (73% of 11 samples; 19 total isolates), slaughterhouse effluent discharges 1.5%, (5/336), animal contact areas 0.9%, (3/336), a manhole sewer from the affluent neighborhood of Karen at 2.7%, (9/336) respectively. The CRB included Escherichia coli (158, 47%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (74, 22%), and Enterobacter spp (43, 13%). Aeromonas spp (29, 9%) Acinetobacter baumannii (12, 3.6%), Citrobacter freundii (7, 2.1%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5, 1.5%) and other species (8, 2.4%). CRB genotypes included blaNDM (246, 73.2%), blaKPC (40, 12%), blaVIM (51, 15.2%), blaOXA-48-like (65, 19.3%), blaIMP (15, 4.5%), and blaGES (7, 2.1%). Sixty-nine of the CRB isolates (20.5%) harbored multiple carbapenemase-encoding genes. Our results indicate that clinically important CRB are commonly present in Nairobi River surface water and from nearby wastewater and livestock sources. These pose an important public health threat that requires urgent intervention strategies and additional investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concern about zoonoses and wildlife has increased. Few studies described the role of wild mammals and environments in the epidemiology of Salmonella. Antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem associated with Salmonella that threatens global health, food security, the economy, and development in the 21st century. The aim of this study is to estimate the prevalence and identify antibiotic susceptibility profiles and serotypes of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica recovered from non-human primate feces, feed offered, and surfaces in wildlife centers in Costa Rica. A total of 180 fecal samples, 133 environmental, and 43 feed samples from 10 wildlife centers were evaluated. We recovered Salmonella from 13.9% of feces samples, 11.3% of environmental, and 2.3% of feed samples. Non-susceptibility profiles included six isolates from feces (14.6%): four non-susceptible isolates (9.8%) to ciprofloxacin, one (2.4%) to nitrofurantoin, and one to both ciprofloxacin and nitrofurantoin (2.4%). Regarding the environmental samples, one profile was non-susceptible to ciprofloxacin (2.4%) and two to nitrofurantoin (4.8%). The serotypes identified included Typhimurium/I4,[5],12:i:-, S. Braenderup/Ohio, S. Newport, S. Anatum/Saintpaul, and S. Westhampton. The epidemiological surveillance of Salmonella and antimicrobial resistance can serve in the creation of strategies for the prevention of the disease and its dissemination throughout the One Health approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As safe agents of last resort, carbapenems are reserved for the treatment of infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms. The impact of β-lactam antibiotics, cefotaxime, and meropenem on the frequency and diversity of carbapenemase-producing organisms recovered from environmental samples has not been fully established. Therefore, this methodological study aimed at determining β-lactam drugs used in selective enrichment and their impact on the recovery of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) from untreated wastewater. We used a longitudinal study design where 1L wastewater samples were collected weekly from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) influent and quarterly from contributing sanitary sewers in Columbus, Ohio USA with 52 total samples collected. Aliquots of 500 mL were passed through membrane filters of decreasing pore sizes to enable all the water to pass through and capture bacteria. For each sample, the resulting filters were placed into two modified MacConkey (MAC) broths, one supplemented with 0.5 μg/mL of meropenem and 70 μg/mL of ZnSO4 and the other supplemented with 2 μg/mL cefotaxime. The inoculated broth was then incubated at 37° C overnight, after which they were streaked onto two types of correspondingly-modified MAC agar plates supplemented with 0.5 μg/mL and 1.0 μg/mL of meropenem and 70 μg/mL of ZnSO4 and incubated at 37°C overnight. The isolates were identified based on morphological and biochemical characteristics. Then, up to four distinct colonies of each isolate's pure culture per sample were tested for carbapenemase production using the Carba-NP test. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry (MS) MALDI-TOF MS was used to identify carbapenemase-producing organisms. In total 391 Carba-NP positive isolates were recovered from the 52 wastewater samples: 305 (78%) isolates had blaKPC, 73 (19%) carried blaNDM, and 14 (4%) harbored both blaKPC and blaNDM resistance genes. CPE genes of both blaKPC and blaNDM were recovered in both types of modified MAC broths, with 84 (21%) having a blaKPC gene, 22 (6%) carrying blaNDM and 9 (2%) harbored both a blaKPC and blaNDM of isolates recovered from MAC medium incorporated with 0.5ug/mL meropenem and 70ug/mL ZnSO4. The most prevalent isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, and Citrobacter spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) outside of the United States confirm the presence of a variety of zoonotic pathogens, but it is unknown whether these same pathogens occur in P. clarkii in the United States. The U.S. commercial crayfish industry generates $200 million yearly, underscoring the need to evaluate this consumer commodity. The study objectives were to evaluate specific zoonotic pathogens present on P. clarkii from Alabama and Louisiana, states in the southeastern United States, and to determine the effectiveness of traditional food preparation methods to reduce pathogens. Experiment A evaluated the presence of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and Vibrio spp. in crayfish and environmental samples over a 2-month collection period (May to June 2021). Crayfish sampling consisted of swabbing the cephalothorax region; 15 samples were tested for E. coli, Salmonella, and S. aureus, and an additional 15 samples for Vibrio spp. Additionally, crayfish shipping materials were sampled. In experiment B, 92 crayfish were evaluated for Paragonimus kellicotti. Experiment C compared live and boiled crayfish for the presence of Vibrio spp. In experiments A and B, all 60 (100%) crayfish samples and 13 (81.25%) of 16 environmental samples showed growth characteristic of Vibrio spp. Three (5%) of 60 samples showed E. coli growth, with no statistical difference (P = 0.5536) between farms. P. kellicotti, Salmonella, and S. aureus were not recovered from any samples. In experiment C, all 10 (100%) of the live preboiled crayfish samples showed characteristic growth, whereas 1 (10%) of 10 samples of crayfish boiled in unseasoned water showed Vibrio growth (P < 0.0001). These results confirm that Vibrio spp. and E. coli may be present on U.S. commercial crayfish and that care should be taken when handling any materials that come into contact with live crayfish because they can potentially be contaminated. 100% of live crayfish samples had growth characteristic of Vibrio spp. 5% of live crayfish samples showed E. coli growth. P. kellicotti, Salmonella, and S. aureus were not recovered. Boiling crayfish successfully reduces presence of Vibrio spp. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface waters, especially those receiving wastewater flows, can disseminate antimicrobial resistant bacteria (ARB), antimicrobial resistance genes (ARG), and antibiotics. In the Scioto River of central Ohio, United States, we evaluated fishes as potential sentinels of ARB and antimicrobial contamination and investigated the influence of antimicrobial exposure on the fish intestinal resistome. Seventy-seven fish were collected from river reaches receiving inputs from two wastewater treatment plants that serve the greater Columbus Metropolitan Area. Fish were screened for the presence of cephalosporin-resistant (CeRO) and carbapenem-resistant (CRO) organisms, epidemic carbapenemase genes, and antibiotic drugs and metabolites using culture methods, droplet digital PCR, and ultra-high performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectroscopy (UHPLC-MS/MS). Nearly 21% of fish harbored a CeRO in their resistome, with 19.4% exhibiting bacteria expressing an AmpC genotype encoded by blaCMY, and 7.7% with bacteria expressing an extended-spectrum β-lactamase phenotype encoded by blaCTX-M.blaKPC and blaNDM were present in 87.7% (57/65) and 80.4% (37/46) of the intestinal samples at an average abundance of 104 copies. Three antibiotics–lincomycin (19.5%), azithromycin (31.2%) and sulfamethoxazole (3.9%)–were found in hepatic samples at average concentrations between 25–31 ng/g. Fish harboring blaCTX-M and those exposed to azithromycin were at greater odds of being downstream of a wastewater treatment plant. Fish that bioconcentrated antibiotics in their liver were not at greater odds of harboring CeRO, CRO, or epidemic carbapenemase gene copies in their resistome. Our findings confirm that fishes can be effective bioindicators of surface waters contaminated with ARB, ARG, and antibiotics. Moreover, our findings highlight the varying importance of different mechanisms that facilitate establishment of ARB in aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biofilm formation enhances bacteria's ability to colonize unique niches while protecting themselves from environmental stressors. Escherichia coli that colonize the urinary tract can protect themselves from the harsh bladder environment by forming biofilms. These biofilms promote persistence that can lead to chronic and recurrent urinary tract infections (UTI). While biofilm formation is frequently studied among urinary E. coli, its association with other pathogenic mechanisms and adaptations in certain host populations remains poorly understood. Here we utilized whole genome sequencing and retrospective medical record analysis to investigate associations between the population structure, phenotypic resistance, resistome, virulome, and patient demographic and clinical findings of 104 unique urinary E. coli and their capacity to form biofilms. We show that population structure including multilocus sequence typing and Clermont phylogrouping had no association with biofilm capacity. Among clinical factors, exposure to multiple antibiotics within that past 30 days and a clinical history of recurrent UTIs were positively associated with biofilm formation. In contrast, phenotypic antimicrobial reduced susceptibility and corresponding acquired resistance genes were negatively associated with biofilm formation. While biofilm formation was associated with increased virulence genes within the cumulative virulome, individual virulence genes did not influence biofilm capacity. We identified unique virulotypes among different strata of biofilm formation and associated the presence of the tosA/R-ibeA gene combination with moderate to strong biofilm formation. Our findings suggest that E. coli causing UTI in dogs utilize a heterogenous mixture of virulence genes to reach a biofilm phenotype, some of which may promote robust biofilm capacity. Antimicrobial use may select for two populations, non-biofilm formers that maintain an arsenal of antimicrobial resistance genes to nullify treatment and a second that forms durable biofilms to avoid therapeutic insults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agricultural fairs exhibiting livestock are increasingly implicated in human Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coil O157:H7 (STEC O157:H7) outbreaks. To estimate livestock STEC O157:H7 prevalence at US fairs, we collected 2,919 fecal specimens [...]

Background: Leptospirosis is a zoonotic disease of concern and an investigation of recent spatio‐temporal trends of leptospirosis in dogs in the United States is needed. Leptospira PCR testing has become increasingly used in veterinary clinical medicine and these data might provide information on recent trends of disease occurrence. Objectives: To identify and describe clusters of PCR‐positive Leptospira test results in dogs in the United States. Animals Leptospira real‐time PCR test results from dogs (n = 40 118) in the United States from IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., between 2009 and 2016 were included in the analysis. Methods: In this retrospective study, spatio‐temporal clusters for a real‐time PCR‐positive test were identified using the space‐time permutation scan statistic and the centroid of the zip code reported for each test. A maximum spatial window of 20% of the population at risk, and a maximum temporal window of 6 months were used. Results: Seven statistically significant space‐time clusters of Leptospira real‐time PCR‐positive test results were identified across the United States: 1 each located within the states of Arizona (2016), California (2014‐2015), Florida (2010), South Carolina (2015), and 1 each located within the south‐central region (2015), midwest region (2014), and northeast region (2011). Clusters ranged from 3 to 108 dogs and were identified during all years under study, except 2009, 2012, and 2013. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The spatial and temporal components of leptospirosis in dogs in this study are similar to those in previous work. However, clusters were identified in new areas, demonstrating the complex epidemiology of this disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Though carbapenems are not licensed for use in food animals in the U.S., carbapenem resistance among Enterobacteriaceae has been identified in farm animals and their environments. The objective of our study was to determine the extent to which older-generation β-lactam antibiotics approved for use in food animals in the U.S. might differentially select for resistance to antibiotics of critical importance to human health, such as carbapenems. Escherichia coli (E. coli) strains from humans, food animals, or the environment bearing a single β-lactamase gene (n = 20 each) for blaTEM-1, blaCMY-2, and blaCTX-M-* or else blaKPC/IMP/NDM (due to limited availability, often in combination with other bla genes), were identified, along with 20 E. coli strains lacking any known beta-lactamase genes. Baseline estimates of intrinsic bacterial fitness were derived from the population growth curves. Effects of ampicillin (32 μg/mL), ceftriaxone (4 μg/mL) and meropenem (4 μg/mL) on each strain and resistance-group also were assessed. Further, in vitro batch cultures were prepared by mixing equal concentrations of 10 representative E. coli strains (two from each resistance gene group), and each mixture was incubated at 37°C for 24 hours in non-antibiotic cation-adjusted Mueller-Hinton II (CAMH-2) broth, ampicillin + CAMH-2 broth (at 2, 4, 8, 16, and 32 μg/mL) and ceftiofur + CAMH-2 broth (at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 8μg/mL). Relative and absolute abundance of resistance-groups were estimated phenotypically. Line plots of the raw data were generated, and non-linear Gompertz models and multilevel mixed-effect linear regression models were fitted to the data. The observed strain growth rate distributions were significantly different across the groups. AmpC strains (i.e., blaCMY-2) had distinctly less robust (p < 0.05) growth in ceftriaxone (4 μg/mL) compared to extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producers harboring blaCTX-M-*variants. With increasing beta-lactam antibiotic concentrations, relative proportions of ESBLs and CREs were over-represented in the mixed bacterial communities; importantly, this was more pronounced with ceftiofur than with ampicillin. These results indicate that aminopenicillins and extended-spectrum cephalosporins would be expected to propagate carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in food animals if and when Enterobacteriaceae from human health care settings enter the food animal environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of alfaxalone was performed in mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) after single bolus injections of 10 mg/kg administered intramuscularly (IM; n = 10) or intravenously (IV; n = 10), in a randomized cross‐over design with a washout period between doses. Mean (±SD) Cmax following IM injection was 1.6 (±0.8) µg/ml with Tmax at 15.0 (±10.5) min. Area under the curve (AUC) was 84.66 and 104.58 min*mg/ml following IV and IM administration, respectively. Volume of distribution (VD) after IV dose was 3.0 L/kg. The mean plasma clearance after 10 mg/kg IV was 139.5 (±67.9) ml min−1 kg−1. Elimination half‐lives (mean [±SD]) were 15.0 and 16.1 (±3.0) min following IV and IM administration, respectively. Mean bioavailability at 10 mg/kg IM was 108.6%. None of the ducks achieved a sufficient anesthetic depth for invasive procedures, such as surgery, to be performed. Heart and respiratory rates measured after administration remained stable, but many ducks were hyperexcitable during recovery. Based on sedation levels and duration, alfaxalone administered at dosages of 10 mg/kg IV or IM in mallard ducks does not induce clinically acceptable anesthesia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbapenemase-producing bacteria (CPB) are rare, multidrug resistant organisms most commonly associated with hospitalized patients. Metropolitan wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) treat wastewater from large geographic areas which include hospitals and may serve as epidemiologic reservoirs for the maintenance or expansion of CPB that originate from hospitals and are ultimately discharged in treated effluent. However, little is known about the potential impact of these WWTP CPB on the local surface water and their risk to the public health. In addition, CPB that are present in surface water may ultimately disseminate to intensively-managed animal agriculture facilities where there is potential for amplification by extended-spectrum cephalosporins. To better understand the role of WWTPs in the dissemination of CPB in surface waters, we obtained samples of treated effluent, and both upstream and downstream nearby surface water from 50 WWTPs throughout the US. A total of 30 CPB with clinically-relevant genotypes were recovered from 15 WWTPs (30%) of which 13 (50%) serviced large metropolitan areas and 2 (8.3%) represented small rural populations (P < 0.05). Recovery of CPB was lowest among WWTPs that utilized ultraviolet radiation for primary disinfection (12%), and higher (P = 0.11) for WWTPs that used chlorination (42%) or that did not utilize disinfection (50%). We did not detect a difference in CPB recovery by sampling site, although fewer CPB were detected in upstream (8%) compared to effluent (20%) and downstream (18%) samples. Our results indicate that WWTP effluent and nearby surface waters in the US are routinely contaminated with CPB with clinically important genotypes including those producing Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) and New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM). This is a concern for both public health and animal agriculture because introduction of CPB into intensively managed livestock populations could lead to their amplification and foodborne dissemination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally, increasing acquired antimicrobial resistance among pathogenic bacteria presents an urgent challenge to human and animal health. As a result, significant efforts, such as the One Health Initiative, are underway to curtail and optimize the use of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine in all applications, including food animal production. This review discusses the rationale behind multiple and competing "critically important antimicrobial" lists and their contexts as created by international, regional, and national organizations; identifies discrepancies among these lists; and describes issues surrounding risk management recommendations that have been made by regulatory organizations on the use of antibiotics in food animal production. A more harmonized approach to defining criticality in its various contexts (e.g., for human versus animal health, enteric diseases versus other systemic infections, and direct versus indirect selection of resistance) is needed in order to identify shared contextual features, aid in their translation into risk management, and identify the best ways to maintain the health of food animals, all while keeping in mind the wider risks of antimicrobial resistance, environmental impacts, and animal welfare considerations. Most of the antibiotics sold for animal use in the US are either not considered medically important by the FDA (e.g., ionophores) or else are not included in the list of critically important antimicrobials for human medicine by the WHO (e.g., tetracyclines). Most of the highest priority critically important antimicrobials (HPCIA) have relatively low sales volumes (e.g., fluoroquinolones and cephalosporins), the exception to this being the macrolide class. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to both human and animal health. The spread of AMR bacteria and genes across systems can occur through a myriad of pathways, both related and unrelated to agriculture, including via wastewater, soils, manure applications, direct exchange between humans and animals, and food exposure. Tracing origins and drivers of AMR bacteria and genes is challenging due to the array of contexts and the complexity of interactions overlapping health practice, microbiology, genetics, applied science and engineering, as well as social and human factors. Critically assessing the diverse and sometimes contradictory AMR literature is a valuable step in identifying tractable mitigation options to stem AMR spread. In this article we review research on the nonfoodborne spread of AMR, with a focus on domesticated animals and the environment and possible exposures to humans. Attention is especially placed on delineating possible sources and causes of AMR bacterial phenotypes, including underpinning the genetics important to human and animal health. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant threat to both human and animal health. Our article reviews research on the nonfoodborne spread of AMR with a focus on domesticated animals and the environment, and possible exposure risks to humans. Attention is especially placed on delineating possible sources and causes of AMR bacterial phenotypes, including underpinning genetics important to human and animal health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dissemination of Enterobacteriaceae expressing resistance to clinically important antibiotics such as extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC), carbapenems, and fluoroquinolones is of critical concern to both human and veterinary medicine. In healthcare facilities, the movement of patients, personnel, and equipment provides an opportunity for Enterobacteriaceae carrying antibiotic resistance genes to disseminate in the hospital environment where they pose a threat to patients, staff, and hospital visitors. We collected environmental samples using electrostatic cloths to estimate the frequency of resistant Enterobacteriaceae contamination on human and veterinary hospital surfaces. Samples were enriched in nutrient broth modified with antibiotics to provide specific selection pressure to select for bacteria expressing AmpC β-lactamase (blaCMY), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL, blaCTX-M), carbapenemase, quinolone, and fluoroquinolone-resistant phenotypes. A total of 31 contact surfaces were sampled at each of five visits to two human hospitals. In addition, 34 surfaces were sampled at each of three visits to a veterinary hospital serving both farm animal and companion animal patients. Isolates expressing the blaCMY phenotype were recovered from 0.6%, 100%, and 18.2% of human hospitals, veterinary farm animal, and veterinary companion animal hospital surfaces, respectively. Isolates expressing the blaCTX-M phenotype were recovered from 0.6%, 55%, and 16.7% of human hospitals, farm animal, and companion animal veterinary hospital surfaces, respectively. Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) were detected from 1.3% of human hospital surfaces, but none were recovered from the veterinary hospital. Fluoroquinolone resistance was detected in 0.6%, 5.0%, and 37.9% of human hospitals, farm animal, and companion animal veterinary hospital surfaces, respectively. Our results indicate that ESC and fluoroquinolone-resistant Enterobacteriaceae can contaminate surfaces in both human and veterinary medical settings, with higher prevalence observed in veterinary hospitals, although the recovery of CPE from human hospital environments is concerning. Hospital medical trolleys or carts may serve as fomites for the dissemination of clinically relevant resistant bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The provincial wildlife management agency, British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development, performed a translocation to control the urban mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; uMD) overpopulation and supplement the declining non-urban mule deer (nuMD) population in the Kootenay region, British Columbia, Canada. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to evaluate the health of the urban and nuMD populations by comparing pathogen exposure, body condition scores (BCS) and pregnancy rates, to characterize the health risks associated with the translocation and to investigate the role of infectious diseases in the decline of the nuMD deer population. Methods: Two hundred free-ranging mule deer were captured in urban and nonurban environments in the Kootenay region from 2014 to 2017. BCS and morphometric examinations were performed for each deer. Blood samples collected from each deer were tested for exposure to selected pathogens and pregnancy status. Results: Body condition scores averaged 3.4 on a five-point scale, was greater in nuMD, and significantly differed between years. Antibodies were detected for adenovirus hemorrhagic disease virus (38.4% (uMD 43.7%, nuMD 33.3%)), bluetongue virus (0.6% (uMD 1.2%, nuMD 0%)), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (8.4% (uMD 4.6%, nuMD 12.1%)), bovine viral diarrhea virus (1.1% (uMD 0%, nuMD 2.2%)), bovine parainfluenza-3 virus (27.0% (uMD 27.6%, nuMD 26.4%)), Neospora caninum (22.1% (uMD 24.4%, nuMD 19.7%)) and Toxoplasma gondii (8.2% (uMD 12.3%, nuMD 3.9%)). No antibodies against epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus were detected. Pregnancy rates did not differ between the two deer populations (90.7% (uMD 90.6%, nuMD 90.9%)). Exposure to N. caninum was associated with a reduced probability of being pregnant. uMD were more likely to be exposed to T. gondii than nuMD. Discussion: Comparison of BCS, pregnancy rates and pathogen exposure of uMD and nuMD showed that the health of the two populations did not significantly differ, suggesting uMD translocations do not pose a severe risk of pathogen transmission between mule deer populations and that these selected pathogens do not factor in the decline of the nuMD population. However, inclusion of additional health indicators and creation of a robust predictive disease model are warranted to further characterize the health of mule deer and the health risks associated with uMD translocations. These results should be considered as part of a formal risk assessment for future uMD translocations in southeastern British Columbia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested 772 cloacal swabs from wild ducks to estimate the prevalence of enteric bacteria resistant to extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC). We found a low prevalence of the important ESC resistance genotypes, blaCMY (5.7%) and blaCTX-M (0.3%). This suggests a minor role for wild ducks in the movement of resistant bacteria in the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of bacterial resistance to carbapenem antibiotics is an urgent public health threat. Carbapenem drugs are a last resort treatment option for life-threatening infections. The frequent use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to treat hospitalized patients provides significant selection pressure favoring the emergence and dissemination of resistant organisms, including carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE). CREs have been reported in animal populations, but only rarely in horses. Our objective was to determine the prevalence of CRE in the environment of a referral equine specialty hospital. Environmental samples were collected on seven different sampling dates. Four clonal carbapenemase-producing Aeromonas veronii were recovered from 315 sampled surfaces (1.3%). All four isolates harbored the carbapenemase-producing, metallo-β-lactamase gene blacphA, although corresponding minimum inhibitory concentrations were within the susceptible range for imipenem and meropenem. All had an identical multilocus sequence type with a previously unreported allelic profile and contained multiple plasmids. To our knowledge, this recovery of blacphA-harboring A. veronii is the first report of carbapenemase-producing bacteria in the environment of an equine veterinary hospital. However, the low recovery rate suggests that environmental contamination is uncommon. Appropriate hospital cleaning and disinfection protocols are necessary to maintain a low risk of contamination for patients and personnel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) confer bacterial resistance to critically important antimicrobials, including extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESCs). Livestock are important reservoirs for the zoonotic food-borne transmission of ESC-resistant enteric bacteria. Our aim is to describe the potential role of migratory and resident wild birds in the epidemiology of ESBL-mediated bacterial resistance on dairy farms. Using mist nets, we sampled wild migratory and resident birds either immediately adjacent to or 600 ft away from free-stall barns on three Ohio dairy farms during the 2014 and 2015 spring migrations. Individual swabs were used to obtain both a cloacal and external surface swab from each bird. Samples were inoculated into MacConkey broth containing cefotaxime then inoculated onto MacConkey agar with cefoxitin, cefepime, or meropenem to identify the blaCMY, blaCTX-M, and carbapenemase phenotypes, respectively. Six hundred twenty-three birds were sampled, 19 (3.0%) of which harbored bacteria with blaCMY and 32 (5.1%) harbored bacteria with blaCTX-M from either their cloacal sample or from their external swab. There was no difference in the prevalence of either gene between migratory and resident birds. Prevalence of blaCMY and blaCTX-M was higher among birds sampled immediately outside the barns compared with those sampled 600 ft away. Our results suggest that wild birds can serve as mechanical and/or biological vectors for Enterobacteriaceae with resistance to ESCs. Birds live in close contact with dairy cows and their feed, therefore, transmission locally between farms is possible. Finding a similar prevalence in migratory and nonmigratory birds suggests the potential for regional and intercontinental movement of these resistance genes via birds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study comparing tibial plateau angles (TPA) in small and large breed dogs. It measured the TPA of small breed dogs and compared it with that of large breed dogs. It concludes with differences in tibial morphology between large and small breed dogs and fails to signify the impact of TPA on cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease in small breed dogs.

We report the detection of Salmonella carrying blaCTX-M in U.S. livestock populations. We identified 12 of 2,034 (0.6%) Salmonella isolates originating from turkeys, horses, and pigs from at least 6 U.S. states, all carrying blaCTX-M-1, many on a pandemic sequence type I IncN plasmid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the use of ecological treatment systems which use plant-based methods to reduce coliforms bacteria in dairy wastewater treatment. According to the authors, an ecological treatment system consisting of a series of anaerobic, aerobic, and clarifier reactors before passing through a wetlands cell was effective in significantly reducing E. coli coliforms. They argue that even though EPA discharge requirements were not always met, ecological treatment systems have the potential to meet those requirements.

Today there are recognized global "hot spots" that are areas in which nontyphoid Salmonella serotypes have been reported to have a high prevalence of quinolone resistance. There is concern that resistant strains can be disseminated from these localized geographical areas by travelers or via commercial food products. The objective of this article is to report a high frequency of reduced susceptibility to first- and second-generation quinolones among nontyphoid Salmonella isolates from poultry at slaughter in two processing plants belonging to the largest poultry integration companies in Zulia State, Venezuela. Nearly all (74 of 77; 96.1%) of the isolated strains were resistant to nalidixic acid, and 3.7% were resistant to ciprofloxacin; most (45 of 77; 58%) exhibited reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin (15 of 77; 19.5%). In contrast, all of the isolates were susceptible to β-lactamic antimicrobial drugs. Ninety-three percent (72 of 77) of the isolates were either Salmonella Parathyphi B or Salmonella Heidelberg, which have been reported as invasive Salmonella. The predominant serotypes in each slaughter plant showed different antimicrobial susceptibilities, only having in common their high resistance to nalidixic acid, suggesting that different clones disseminated in each commercial integration. The detection of high frequency of reduced susceptibility to first- and second-generation quinolones among nontyphoid Salmonella isolates from fresh poultry during processing is noteworthy. Resistance to quinolone drugs will not only make antimicrobial therapy more complicated if foodborne disease results, but also these quinolone-resistant strains can disseminate from this local hot spot to other geographical areas, spreading the resistance against this important antimicrobial drug. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective—To characterize the process by which people who find lost pets search for the owners. Design—Cross-sectional study. Sample Population—188 individuals who found a lost pet in Dayton, Ohio, between March 1 and June 30, 2006. Procedures—Potential participants were identified as a result of contact with a local animal agency or placement of an advertisement in the local newspaper. A telephone survey was conducted to identify methods participants used to find the pets owners. Results—156 of 188 (83%) individuals completed the survey. Fifty-nine of the 156 (38%) pets were reunited with their owners; median time to reunification was 2 days (range, 0.5 to 45 days). Only 1 (3%) cat owner was found, compared with 58 (46%) dog owners. Pet owners were found as a result of information provided by an animal agency (25%), placement of a newspaper advertisement (24%), walking the neighborhood (19%), signs in the neighborhood (15%), information on a pet tag (10%), and other methods (7%). Most finders (87%) considered it extremely important to find the owner, yet only 13 (8%) initially surrendered the found pet to an animal agency. The primary reason people did not surrender found pets was fear of euthanasia (57%). Only 97 (62%) individuals were aware they could run a found-pet advertisement in the newspaper at no charge, and only 1 person who was unaware of the no-charge policy placed an advertisement. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Veterinarians and shelters can help educate people who find lost pets about methods to search for the pets' owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective—To characterize the process by which owners search for lost dogs and identify factors associated with time to recovery. Design—Cross-sectional study. Sample Population—Owners of 187 dogs lost in Montgomery County, Ohio, between June 1 and September 30, 2005. Procedures—A telephone survey was conducted. Results—132 of the 187 (71%) dogs were recovered; median time to recovery was 2 days (range, 0.5 to 21 days). Dogs were recovered primarily through a call or visit to an animal agency (46 [34.8%)), a dog license tag (24 [18.2%]), and posting of neighborhood signs (20 [15.2%]). Eighty-nine (48%) dogs had some type of identification at the time they were lost (ie, identification tag, dog license tag, rabies tag, or microchip). Owners had a higher likelihood of recovery when they called an animal agency (hazard ratio, 2.1), visited an animal agency (1.81, and posted neighborhood signs. Dogs that were wearing a dog license tag also had a higher likelihood of recovery (hazard ratio, 1.6). Owners were less likely to recover their dogs if they believed their dogs were stolen (hazard ratio, 0.3). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Results suggest that various factors are associated with the likelihood that owners will recover a lost dog. Both animal agencies and veterinarians can play a role in educating dog owners on the importance of identification tags, licensing, and microchips and can help to emphasize the importance of having a search plan in case a dog is lost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Swine have been identified as the primary reservoir of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica (YE), but little research has focused on the epidemiology of YE at the farm level. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of YE in different production phases on swine farms. In this cross-sectional study, individual pigs on eight swine operations were sampled for the presence of YE. On each farm, both feces and oral-pharyngeal swabs were collected from pigs in five different production phases: gestating, farrowing, suckling, nursery, and finishing. A pig was considered positive if either sample tested positive. Samples were cultured with cold enrichment followed by isolation on selective media plates. Presumptive isolates were confirmed as YE and assayed for the presence of ail with a multiplex PCR. Of the 2,349 pigs sampled, 120 (5.1%) tested positive, and of those, 51 were ail positive (42.5% of YE isolates). On all farms, there was a trend of increasing prevalence as pigs mature. Less than 1% of suckling piglets tested positive for YE. Only 1.4% (44.4% of which were ail positive) of nursery pigs tested positive, but 10.7% (48.1% of which were ail positive) of finishing pigs harbored YE. Interestingly, gestating sows had the second highest prevalence of YE at 9.1% (26.7% of which were ail positive), yet YE was never detected from the farrowing sows. These results represent the first on-farm description of YE in U.S. herds and provide the initial step for designing future studies of YE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective--To estimate the association between ceftiofur use and the isolation of Escherichia coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility from fecal samples of dairy cow populations. Animals--1,266 dairy cows on 18 farms in Ohio. Procedures--Individual fecal samples from all cows in the study herds were tested for Escherichia coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility. Herd antimicrobial use policy and antimicrobial treatment records were also obtained. Plasmid DNA from these isolates was tested for the presence of the AmpC β-lactamase gene (blaCMY-2). Minimum inhibitory concentrations to a standard panel of 16 antimicrobial drugs were determined by use of a broth microdilution system. Results--Herds for which ceftiofur use was reported were more likely to have cows from which reduced-susceptibility E coli was isolated than herds that did not report ceftiofur use (odds ratio, 25.0). However, at the individual cow level, no association was found between recent ceftiofur treatment and isolation of reduced-susceptibility E coli (adjusted odds ratio, 1.01). No observed linear relationship was found between the percentage of cows from which E coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility was isolated and the percentage of cows in the herd recently treat ed with ceftiofur. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance--Our observation of a herd-level but not an individual cow-level association between ceftiofur use and isolation of E coli with reduced ceftriaxone susceptibility from fecal samples suggests that interventions to reduce the spread of antimicrobial resistance genes in agricultural animals will be most effective at the herd level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]