Survey of community-associated-methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Slovenia: identification of community-associated and livestock-associated clones.

The epidemiology of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in Slovenia is poorly documented. The aim of this study was to investigate susceptibility patterns, virulence gene profile and clonality among MRSA isolates with positive screened resistance phenotype for CA-MRSA collected from patients in Slovenia, from January 2010 to December 2010. We included only MRSA isolates that were resistant to cefoxitin and oxacillin, and susceptible to at least two of the following four antibiotics: ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, clindamycin or gentamicin (presumptive CA-MRSA).

Campylobacter jejuni contamination of broiler carcasses: Population dynamics and genetic profiles at slaughterhouse level.

Six slaughter batches deriving from six typical industrial broiler flocks were examined for the presence, quantity and genetic characteristics of contaminating Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) during various stages of slaughtering and carcass processing. To assess the contamination dynamics of the carcasses, the analyses were always conducted on neck-skin samples from the same pre-selected and carefully marked carcasses in each batch.

Toll-like Receptor 10 in Helicobacter pylori Infection.

Innate immunity plays important roles in the primary defense against pathogens, and epidemiological studies have suggested a role for Toll-like receptor 1 (TLR1) in Helicobacter pylori susceptibility. Microarray analysis of gastric biopsy specimens from H. pylori-positive and uninfected subjects showed that TLR10 messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were upregulated approximately 15-fold in infected subjects; these findings were confirmed by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction analysis.

Human subcutaneous/ocular dirofilariasis in the Russian Federation and Belarus, 1997-2013.

Objectives: This study was performed to determine the yearly frequency, trends in spread, and clinical-epidemiological characteristics of human subcutaneous/ocular dirofilariasis (HSOD) in the Russian Federation and Belarus.

Methods: The surveillance data of HSOD cases occurring between January 1997 and June 2013, obtained from the regional health administrations of the Russian Federation and Belarus, were analyzed. The spatial distribution of cases was assessed using a GIS map, and the clinical-epidemiological characteristics were defined using 719 cases for which information on anatomical location, age, sex, and area of residence was available.

Genotypes of ESBL producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in relation to resistance to antimicrobial drugs.

Unlabelled: The aim of the study was to evaluate the association of drug resistance with β-lactamase gene types in ESBL positive E. coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae-Kp.

Material And Methods: A total of 251 ESBL-positive E.

Differences in interleukin 8 expression in Helicobacter pylori-infected gastric mucosa tissues from patients in Bhutan and the Dominican Republic.

The outcomes of Helicobacter pylori infection vary geographically. H pylori strains, disease presentation, and environments differ markedly in Bhutan and Dominican Republic. The aims were to compare the strains, histology, and expression of interleukin (IL) 8 and IL-10 from gastric mucosa from the 2 countries.

Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus carrying the mecC gene in human samples in Slovenia.

SUMMARY Following the recognition of a mecC MRSA isolate from a patient hospitalized in the northeastern region of Slovenia, a national collection of 395 community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) isolates from 2006 to 2013 was screened. An additional six mecC MRSA strains were found and characterized as spa types t843, t9397 and t10009, and multilocus sequence type ST130. The low oxacillin minimum inhibitory concentrations and absence of the mecA gene make recognition of these MRSA strains problematical for diagnostic laboratories.

Virulence genes of Helicobacter pylori in the Dominican Republic.

Although the incidence of gastric cancer in the Dominican Republic is not high, the disease remains a significant health problem. We first conducted a detailed analysis of Helicobacter pylori status in the Dominican Republic. In total, 158 patients (103 females and 55 males; mean age 47.

Dirofilaria repens in the Russian Federation: current epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment from a federal reference center perspective.

Background: Dirofilariasis is an emerging zoonotic infection in which the human serves as an accidental host. Russia has been one of the most important endemic regions worldwide for Dirofilaria repens, the most prevalent Dirofilaria species in Europe.

Methods: Based on a cohort of patients at the Rostov Medical University, we provide an epidemiological description of 236 human cases, reporting common clinical symptoms and treatment options for D.

The evidence for clonal spreading of quinolone resistance with a particular clonal complex of Campylobacter jejuni.

Campylobacter is the most prevalent cause of bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide and it represents a significant public health risk of increasing severity due to its escalating resistance to clinically important quinolone and macrolide antibiotics. As a zoonotic pathogen Campylobacter is transmitted along the food chain and naturally cycles from environmental waters, feedstuff, animals and food to humans. We determined antibiotic resistance profiles, as well as multilocus sequence types and flaA-SVR types for 52 C.

Vaccine-induced rabies in a red fox (Vulpes vulpes): isolation of vaccine virus in brain tissue and salivary glands.

Oral vaccination campaigns to eliminate fox rabies were initiated in Slovenia in 1995. In May 2012, a young fox (Vulpes vulpes) with typical rabies signs was captured. Its brain and salivary gland tissues were found to contain vaccine strain SAD B19.

Report on overcoming the poor quality of Apai pulsotypes with a short review on PFGE for listeria monocytogenes.

Since listeriosis, caused by Listeria monocytogenes, is one of the important concerns of public health in Europe related to foodborne zoonoses, an efficient protocol for isolate typing is necessary when performing epidemiological studies. Three standardized PFGE protocols available for L. monocytogenes were briefly reviewed.

Genetic diversity of acute bee paralysis virus in Slovenian honeybee samples.

The genetic diversity of acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) in honeybees was studied in Slovenia. A total of 248 honeybee samples obtained from 134 different apiaries in Slovenia were tested for the presence of ABPV by RT-PCR. Specific 398-base pair (bp) products were generated with primers amplifying the ORF2 region and 452-base pair (bp) products with primers amplifying the ORF1 region of the viral genome.

Development of a real-time RT-PCR assay with TaqMan probe for specific detection of acute bee paralysis virus.

Real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR) is an accurate, rapid and reliable method that can be used for the detection and also for the quantitation of specific DNA molecules. It can be non-specific, with intercalating dyes (SYBR Green I dye) able to bind to any dsDNA, or specific with a probe (TaqMan), whereby the probe is designed to bind within the amplified PCR fragment. A new real-time reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (real time RT-PCR) assay with TaqMan probe for specific detection of acute bee paralysis virus was designed.

Evaluation of combined high-efficiency DNA extraction and real-time PCR for detection of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis in subclinically infected dairy cattle: comparison with faecal culture, milk real-time PCR and milk ELISA.

Background: Johne's disease is caused by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) and it is one of the most important diseases in cattle worldwide. Several laboratory tests for Map detection are available; however, these are limited by inadequate sensitivity and specificity when used in subclinically infected populations.

Phenotypic and genetic relationship of Acinetobacter Baumannii isolates.

Unlabelled: The interest in Acinetobacter continues to rise. One of the main reasons is the emergence of multi-resistant strains, which cause outbreaks of infection involving several patients in a ward, in the intensive care unit and in different areas of the hospital. Many outbreaks of its infection or colonization in surgical, neonatal and burn intensive care units have been reported, but the epidemiology of these infections remains unclear.

Prevalence and molecular characterization of Extended Spectrum Beta-Lactamases (ESBLs) producing Escherichia Coli and Klebsiella Pneumoniae.

Unlabelled: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae as well as genes encoding ESBLs.

Material And Methods: A total of 1207 non-repeat isolates of E. coli and K.

Chlamydia pneumoniae and helicobacter pylori serology - importance in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Chronic infections in CHD are due to one or both of the organisms Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori.

Aim: To examine the association between serum markers of Chlamydia pneumoniae and Helicobacter pylori infection and markers of myocardial damage. in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS), with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) and in-control group.

Identification of a genetically diverse sequence of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus in Slovenia and the impact on the sensitivity of four molecular tests.

A total 91 serum samples and 51 pig tissue samples were collected between October 2009 and June 2010 from 30 herds, where a clinical picture of infection or/and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) antibody-positive pigs were detected. Of the 142 samples tested, 65 (45.8%) were identified as porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) positive by a one-step reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Molecular epidemiology of the rabies virus in Slovenia 1994-2010.

A molecular epidemiology study was performed on a selection of 30 rabies-positive brain samples collected between 1994 and 2010 in Slovenia and originating from the red fox (n=19), badger (n=3), cattle (n=3), dog (n=2), cat (n=1), marten (n=1) and horse (n=1). Based on the comparison of 1092 and 672 nucleotide sequences of nucleoprotein (N) and partial glycoprotein (G) gene regions, a low genetic diversity of the circulating strains was detected, but both phylogenetic trees were consistent with the topology where partial nucleoprotein or glycoprotein genes were used. A high sequence identity in the N and G gene to rabies virus isolates from neighbouring countries was found.

First isolation and genotyping of viruses from recent outbreaks of viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) in Slovenia.

In November and December 2007, the virus causing viral haemorrhagic septicaemia (VHS) was detected in rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss from 2 fish farms in Slovenia. During 2008 and 2009 the infection spread only among rainbow trout farms and 4 new outbreaks were confirmed. High mortality and clinical signs of VHS were observed among the diseased fish.

Risk factors for Toxoplasma infection in pregnant women in FYR of Macedonia.

The aim of the study was to identify risk factors for Toxoplasma gondii infection in pregnant women in FYR of Macedonia. Retrospective analysis of serological and epidemiological data in a series of 235 pregnant women from Macedonia, tested for Toxoplasma infection between January 2004 and December 2005, showed an overall prevalence of infection of 20.4%.