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Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are extensively used in the food industry for fermentation processes. However, it is possible that these bacteria may serve as a reservoir for antibiotic resistance genes that can be transferred to pathogens, giving rise to public health concerns. Animal operations that use antimicrobials as growth promotants have been linked to the origin of resistance due to the selective effect of low levels of antimicrobial used in this management strategy. The objective of this study was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibilities and mechanisms of resistance for 30 isolates of meat starter cultures commonly used in dry sausage fermentations to 20 antimicrobial agents. Susceptibility tests were performed by broth microdilution using Iso-Sensitest broth (90%, vol/vol) and de Man Rogosa Sharpe (MRS) broth (10%, vol/vol). The results showed that all 30 isolates exhibited resistance to at least three antimicrobials regardless of antimicrobial class while 17 or 30% of strains were resistant to antibiotics in three or six different classes, respectively. The incidence of antimicrobial resistance was higher among Pediococcus pentosaceus and lower for Staphylococcus carnosus strains. Genetic determinants for the lincosamide, macrolide, and tetracycline antimicrobials were not found using PCR. Phenotypic resistance in the absence of known resistance genes found here suggests that other mechanisms or genes might have contributed to the negative results. Further studies are needed to explore the genetic mechanisms underlying the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in Pediococcus species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coccidioidomycosis is a deep infection caused by two dimorphic fungi, Coccidioides immitis and Coccidioides posadasii. Diagnosis of the disease requires culture of suspicious clinical samples on mycological media. However, as these species are virulent pathogens, handling of their cultures is a high-risk activity, and is limited to Biosafety Level 3 laboratories. This study describes the direct detection of C. posadasii DNA in an inappropriate sputum sample by PCR amplification of the highly specific Ag2/PRA antigen gene. The results obtained suggest that direct detection of the Ag2/PRA sequence in sputum is an excellent method for rapid and specific diagnosis of coccidioidomycosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim Individuals with metabolic syndrome (MetS) might present low muscle performance resulting in a decrease of the functional capacity interfering in the gait time. Whole body vibration exercise (WBVe) has been considered in the management of MetS individuals promoting a better functional performance. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of WBVe on the gait time of the MetS individuals. Methods CAAE 19826413.8.0000.5259. UTN: U1111-1181-1177; Brazilian Registry of Clinical Trials- ReBEC RBR - 2bghmh. A pseudo randomized controlled trial study with thirty-nine individuals with MetS (according International Diabetes Federation) was performed. The side-to-side alternating oscillating/vibratory platform was used. The individuals were allocated in WBVe group (WBVeG = 22) and in control group (CG = 17). The WBVeG was in squat static position for 1 minute of intervention and 1 minute of rest in 3 different peak-to-peak displacements (2.5, 5.0 and 7.5 mm) 3 times. In the first session was used 5 Hz and increasing 1 Hz in each session up to 14 Hz in the tenth session. In the CG was used the same position and time but the platform was turned off. Before the first and after the tenth session were collected the data about the gait time of 3 meters (in seconds). The statistical analysis was performed using the Graph Pad Prism 5.01 Program ( P ≤0.05). Results The gait time (Mean ± SD) showed a significant difference intergroups. Conclusion WBVe is a modality of physical activity that can improve the functional capacity of the MetS individuals, at least, considering the time of the gait. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An increasing incidence of nosocomial infections caused by non-multiresistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (nMMRSA) has been reported worldwide. The present study genotyped nMMRSA isolates obtained from hospitals in two cities in Brazil. The hospital isolates displayed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns that were similar to those of the USA100 (ST5-SCC mecII) and USA 800 (ST5-SCC mecIV) strains, which are related to the New York/Japan and paediatric clones, respectively. Carriage of SCC mecIV and the classification by multilocus sequence typing (MLST) of a representative of this PFGE pattern in clonal complex 5 (CC5) confirmed the genetic relationship of the Brazilian isolates with USA800. The USA800-related Brazilian isolates were responsible for severe nosocomial infections in compromised adults and elderly patients in Brazil. A higher growth rate, an ability to form biofilm on inert polystyrene surfaces and the presence of the egc locus may have contributed, at least in part, to the fitness of these organisms as global nosocomial pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate the role of Malassezia pachydermatis as a pathogenic agent in canine otitis, a comparative analysis of isolates from normal and diseased external ear canals in dogs was undertaken. Specimens were collected from the ears of dogs with unilateral or bilateral otitis and from healthy dogs. Mycological analysis was by direct microscopy and fungal culture on Sabouraud's dextrose agar and Dixon's agar. Of the otitis specimens, 63.7% showed typical Malassezia cells on cytological examination. In samples taken from the healthy ears of dogs with unilateral otitis, only 21.43% (P < 0.05) showed evidence of Malassezia. M. pachydermatis was identified cytologically and culturally in 57.53% (P < 0.05), 14.29% and 30.0% of samples from the ears of dogs with otitis, from the healthy ears of dogs with unilateral otitis and from the ears of healthy dogs with no otitis. In the group with otitis associated with M. pachydermatis, the poodle was the most common breed (39.29%; P < 0.05), whereas in the group without otitis, the German Shepherd breed was prominent (although this observation was not statistically significant). In both groups, the majority of dogs with M. pachydermatis were aged between 1 and 3 years (P < 0.05). The higher incidence of M. pachydermatis isolated from the ears of dogs with otitis externa suggests a putative pathogenic role of this yeast in this condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with fish oil on fatty acid (FA) composition of milk fat from grazing dairy cows with particular emphasis on omega-3 and conjugated linoleic acid. Twelve dairy cows in mid-lactation were blocked by live weight, days in lactation and milk production and randomly assigned to the experimental groups corresponding to 3 different feeding regimens which were applied 3 times with 28-day duration according to a Latin square design. Cows were stocked at 2.5 heads per hectare and supplemented with 4 kg concentrate/cow/day (C), concentrate mixed with 160 g sardine oil (LFO) and concentrate mixed with 320 g sardine oil (HFO). Supplementation with fish oil (FO) resulted in a significant (P&#60;0.05) decrease in milk production and milk fat content and production. Supplementation with 320 g FO decreased (P&#60;0.05) milk protein content and production. The ratio protein/fat in milk increased with the level of FO supplemented (P&#60;0.05). Significant correlations were detected between some FA in milk fat and milk fat content. FO supplementation had no effect on concentration of medium chain FA but originated a decrease (P&#60;0.05) in concentration of short and long chain FA in milk fat. The sum of saturated FA decreased (P&#60;0.05) with the inclusion of FO in diet while the sum of unsaturated FA remains unchanged. Proportions of stearic and oleic FA in milk fat decreased and trans-vaccenic FA increase with FO supplementation (P&#60;0.05). Milk fat concentration of polyunsaturated n-3 FA was higher in treatment HFO. Concentration of very long chain omega FA in milk fat (i.e. C20:5-EPA e C22:6-DHA) increased by 2.7-fold with 160 g FO and by 5- to 7-fold with 320 g FO. However, the level of transfer efficiency of these FA from FO to milk fat was only 3.3% in treatment LFO and 4.0% in treatment HFO. CLA concentrations in milk fat were particularly high in this experiment and increased with the level of FO supplementation (P&#60;0.05). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Melioidosis, a severe infectious disease caused by Burkholderia pseudomallei that is prevalent in Southeast Asia and Northern Australia, has been sporadically reported in Brazil since 2003. We report a case of aortic aneurysm with blood culture positive for B. pseudomallei. The phylogenetic analysis of 16S ribosomal DNA showed this isolate to be evolutionarily grouped with the MSHR346 strains from Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]