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A total of 648 diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) were isolated from calves ( n  = 219), lambs ( n  = 87), kids ( n  = 103), human ( n  = 193), and water ( n  = 46) samples. The presence of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), and shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) was confirmed by PCR-based detection of the Shiga toxin, intimin, hemolysin, and enterotoxin genes. All the isolates were tested for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) by disc diffusion assay. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL), carbapenemase, and metallo-beta-lactamase production were determined by double-disk synergy test, modified Hodge test, and combined disk test assays. AMR genes ( bla TEM , bla SHV , bla CTX-M , bla CMY-2 , bla NDM , bla KPC , bla VIM , and bla IMP ) were detected by PCR using specific primers. Majority of the isolates from human and water exhibited resistance (>80%) against amoxicillin, ampicillin, aztreonam, cefotaxime, cefixime, gentamicin, ceftazidime, and cefalexin, and against imipenem (70.98%), doripenem (70.47%), and ertapenem (60.62%). Bovine isolates were sensitive to carbapenems. Many isolates (5.75-24.35%) from human, water, calves, kids, and lambs were multidrug resistant (MDR), with resistance against three or more classes of antimicrobials. A total of 170/648 (26.23%) isolates were classified as STEC (9.88%), EPEC (4.32%), and ETEC (12.04%). The AMR genes, including bla TEM , bla CMY2 , bla CTX-M , and bla SHV were detected in the E. coli from all sources. but bla NDM and bla KPC were detected only in the isolates from human and water. Three STEC isolates from human origin possessed multiple ESBLs, carbapenemase and metallo-beta-lactamase genes reported for the first time. ESBLs producing EPEC and ETEC in lambs and kids are also reported under this study. Presence of MDR-DEC in domestic animals and common potable water poses public health concern in this region.

Exudative epidermatitis or greasy pig disease (GPD) is a contagious disease of pig and endemic worldwide caused by toxigenic strains under genus Staphylococcus. The present study reported an outbreak of GPD in Champhai district of Mizoram adjoining to the southern border of Myanmar. A total of 60 samples were collected from 22 clinically affected animals and processed for isolation and identification of Staphylococcus spp. All the isolates were subjected to antimicrobial sensitivity assay, biofilm production assay and detection of virulence genes, biofilm genes and mec genes followed by cloning and sequencing for phylogenetic analysis. A total of 44 staphylococci belonged to four species (S. sciuri, S. aureus,S. lentus, and S. hyicus) were isolated. Majority of the isolates were multidrug resistant with maximum resistance against ampicillin, penicillin including vancomycin. None of the S. hyicus isolates was methicillin resistant (MRSH) but 66·67% isolates were MRSA. By PCR, mecA gene was detected in S. aureus (n = 2), S. sciuri (n = 4) and S. lentus (n = 3). Biofilm associated gene icaD was detected in S. aureus (n = 3), S. sciuri (n = 5), S. hyicus (n = 4) and S. lentus (n = 6). The exfoliative toxin genes (ehxB, shetA and tsst1) were detected in S. hyicus (n = 3) and S. aureus (n = 1) isolates. All the isolates were closely related with the isolates from pigs of China, Germany, Japan and USA. The pathogens might be transmitted through illegal migration of pigs from Myanmar to India., (© 2021 The Society for Applied Microbiology.)

Salmonellosis is a public health concern worldwide and also causes huge losses to the piggery industry. A total of 457 fecal samples were collected from organized and unorganized farms including indigenous and crossbreed piglets of North East India. Salmonella isolates were serotyped, screened for their virulence genes, characterized for drug resistance pattern and representative isolates were cloned and sequenced for their partial length enterotoxin (stn) gene. A total of 8.31% Salmonella were identified with higher prevalence observed in unorganized compared to organized farms and higher detection level in cross breed compared to indigenous piglets. Salmonella typhimurium (65.78%) was found to be the predominant serovar and irrespective of serovars high number of isolates (68.4%) harboured enterotoxin gene. The isolates were multidrug resistant showing highest resistance against cefalexin (77.31%). Sequence analysis of stn gene showed two isolates having diverse sequence compared to other isolates. Our study revealed the significance of Salmonella as important pathogen with zoonotic potential between porcine and human populations. This is probably the first systematic study of Salmonella species associated with piglet diarrhea in India., (Copyright© by the Polish Academy of Sciences.)

Goatpox virus (GTPV) belongs to the genus Capripoxvirus associated with characteristic clinical lesions in fully susceptible breeds of sheep and goats. To date, there is no report of outbreaks of GTPV infection in any wild animals. This study reports the outbreak of GTPV infection in wild Red Serow (Capricornis rubidus.) in Mizoram, India. A total of 113 wild Serow carcasses were recovered from seven districts of Mizoram between May 2015 to October 2016. A postmortem revealed presumptive pox-like lesions. Clinical specimens (lung, skin, and trachea) were examined for the aetiological agents. GTPV could be isolated in PLT cells and confirmed in PCR assays by targeting RPO30 and P32 genes. The genetic and phylogenetic analysis reveled that over 99.8% sequence identity with GTPV from India and other parts of the world. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of GTPV infection in wild ruminants., (© 2018 Blackwell Verlag GmbH.)