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Smith TJ, Williamson CHD, Hill KK, Johnson SL, Xie G, Anniballi F, Auricchio B, Fernández RA, Caballero PA, Keim P, Sahl JW. The Distinctive Evolution of orfX Clostridium parabotulinum Strains and Their Botulinum Neurotoxin Type A and F Gene Clusters Is Influenced by Environmental Factors and Gene Interactions via Mobile Genetic Elements. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:566908. [PMID: 33716993 PMCID: PMC7952441 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.566908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Of the seven currently known botulinum neurotoxin-producing species of Clostridium, C. parabotulinum, or C. botulinum Group I, is the species associated with the majority of human botulism cases worldwide. Phylogenetic analysis of these bacteria reveals a diverse species with multiple genomic clades. The neurotoxins they produce are also diverse, with over 20 subtypes currently represented. The existence of different bont genes within very similar genomes and of the same bont genes/gene clusters within different bacterial variants/species indicates that they have evolved independently. The neurotoxin genes are associated with one of two toxin gene cluster types containing either hemagglutinin (ha) genes or orfX genes. These genes may be located within the chromosome or extrachromosomal elements such as large plasmids. Although BoNT-producing C parabotulinum bacteria are distributed globally, they are more ubiquitous in certain specific geographic regions. Notably, northern hemisphere strains primarily contain ha gene clusters while southern hemisphere strains have a preponderance of orfX gene clusters. OrfX C. parabotulinum strains constitute a subset of this species that contain highly conserved bont gene clusters having a diverse range of bont genes. While much has been written about strains with ha gene clusters, less attention has been devoted to those with orfX gene clusters. The recent sequencing of 28 orfX C. parabotulinum strains and the availability of an additional 91 strains for analysis provides an opportunity to compare genomic relationships and identify unique toxin gene cluster characteristics and locations within this species subset in depth. The mechanisms behind the independent processes of bacteria evolution and generation of toxin diversity are explored through the examination of bacterial relationships relating to source locations and evidence of horizontal transfer of genetic material among different bacterial variants, particularly concerning bont gene clusters. Analysis of the content and locations of the bont gene clusters offers insights into common mechanisms of genetic transfer, chromosomal integration, and development of diversity among these genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J Smith
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
| | - Charles H D Williamson
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
| | - Karen K Hill
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | | | - Gary Xie
- Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, United States
| | - Fabrizio Anniballi
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, National Reference Centre for Botulism, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Bruna Auricchio
- Department of Food Safety, Nutrition and Veterinary Public Health, National Reference Centre for Botulism, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Rafael A Fernández
- Área Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Patricia A Caballero
- Área Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
| | - Paul Keim
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
| | - Jason W Sahl
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, United States
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Smith TJ, Xie G, Williamson CHD, Hill KK, Fernández RA, Sahl JW, Keim P, Johnson SL. Genomic Characterization of Newly Completed Genomes of Botulinum Neurotoxin-Producing Species from Argentina, Australia, and Africa. Genome Biol Evol 2021; 12:229-242. [PMID: 32108238 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evaa043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Botulinum neurotoxin-producing clostridia are diverse in the types of toxins they produce as well as in their overall genomic composition. They are globally distributed, with prevalent species and toxin types found within distinct geographic regions, but related strains containing the same toxin types may also be located on distinct continents. The mechanisms behind the spread of these bacteria and the independent movements of their bont genes may be understood through examination of their genetic backgrounds. The generation of 15 complete genomic sequences from bacteria isolated in Argentina, Australia, and Africa allows for a thorough examination of genome features, including overall relationships, bont gene cluster locations and arrangements, and plasmid comparisons, in bacteria isolated from various areas in the southern hemisphere. Insights gained from these examinations provide an understanding of the mechanisms behind the independent movements of these elements among distinct species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Theresa J Smith
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University
| | - Gary Xie
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
| | | | - Karen K Hill
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory
| | | | - Jason W Sahl
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University
| | - Paul Keim
- Pathogen and Microbiome Institute, Northern Arizona University
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Williamson CHD, Sahl JW, Smith TJ, Xie G, Foley BT, Smith LA, Fernández RA, Lindström M, Korkeala H, Keim P, Foster J, Hill K. Comparative genomic analyses reveal broad diversity in botulinum-toxin-producing Clostridia. BMC Genomics 2016; 17:180. [PMID: 26939550 PMCID: PMC4778365 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-016-2502-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 02/18/2016] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium botulinum is a diverse group of bacteria characterized by the production of botulinum neurotoxin. Botulinum neurotoxins are classified into serotypes (BoNT/A–G), which are produced by six species/Groups of Clostridia, but the genetic background of the bacteria remains poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to use comparative genomics to provide insights into the genetic diversity and evolutionary history of bacteria that produce the potent botulinum neurotoxin. Results Comparative genomic analyses of over 170 Clostridia genomes, including our draft genome assemblies for 59 newly sequenced Clostridia strains from six continents and publicly available genomic data, provided in-depth insights into the diversity and distribution of BoNT-producing bacteria. These newly sequenced strains included Group I and II strains that express BoNT/A,/B,/E, or/F as well as bivalent strains. BoNT-producing Clostridia and closely related Clostridia species were delineated with a variety of methods including 16S rRNA gene, concatenated marker genes, core genome and concatenated multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) gene phylogenies that related whole genome sequenced strains to publicly available strains and sequence types. These analyses illustrated the phylogenetic diversity in each Group and the diversity of genomic backgrounds that express the same toxin type or subtype. Comparisons of the botulinum neurotoxin genes did not identify novel toxin types or variants. Conclusions This study represents one of the most comprehensive analyses of whole genome sequence data for Group I and II BoNT-producing strains. Read data and draft genome assemblies generated for 59 isolates will be a resource to the research community. Core genome phylogenies proved to be a powerful tool for differentiating BoNT-producing strains and can provide a framework for the study of these bacteria. Comparative genomic analyses of Clostridia species illustrate the diversity of botulinum-neurotoxin-producing strains and the plasticity of the genomic backgrounds in which bont genes are found. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-016-2502-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles H D Williamson
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA.
| | - Jason W Sahl
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA.
| | - Theresa J Smith
- Molecular and Translational Sciences Division, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, USA.
| | - Gary Xie
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
| | - Brian T Foley
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
| | - Leonard A Smith
- Medical Countermeasures Technology, United States Army Medical Research and Material Command, United States Army Medical Research Institute of Infectious Diseases, Fort Detrick, MD, 21702, USA.
| | - Rafael A Fernández
- Área Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, (5500), Mendoza, Argentina.
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
| | - Paul Keim
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA.
| | - Jeffrey Foster
- Center for Microbial Genetics and Genomics, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ, 86011, USA. .,Present Address: Department of Molecular, Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, University of New Hampshire, Durham, NH, 03824, USA.
| | - Karen Hill
- Bioscience Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA.
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Grases F, Costa-Bauzá A, Bonarriba CR, Pieras EC, Fernández RA, Rodríguez A. On the origin of calcium oxalate monohydrate papillary renal stones. Urolithiasis 2014; 43 Suppl 1:33-9. [PMID: 25086903 DOI: 10.1007/s00240-014-0697-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2013] [Accepted: 07/23/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Calcium oxalate monohydrate (COM) papillary calculi can be initiated by subepithelial calcification of the renal papillae. Hydroxyapatite disruption of the papillary epithelial layer can become the nidus of a COM papillary calculus. This study evaluated the causes of papillary tissue calcifications in 60 patients with calcium oxalate lithiasis, 30 with COM papillary and 30 with calcium oxalate dihydrate (COD) calculi. Urinary redox potential was higher in the COM than the COD group, suggesting that the former is more deficient in antioxidants due to increased oxidative stress. Urinary calcium was significantly higher in the COD group, whereas urinary oxalate was significantly higher in the COM group, suggesting a greater degree of oxidative injury of renal cells. Evaluations of their diets showed that both groups consumed low amounts of phytate-rich products. Of chronic diseases possibly associated with urolithiasis, only the prevalence of gastroduodenal ulcer differed significantly, being higher in the COM group and suggesting that epithelial lesions are common to gastroduodenal ulcers and COM papillary renal stones. Occupational exposure to cytotoxic products occurred in 47 % of the COM and 27 % of the COD group, but this difference was not statistically significant. These findings indicate that oxidative stress is associated with injury to papillary tissue and that this is the origin of intrapapillary calcifications. The continuation of this process is due to modulators and/or deficiencies in inhibitors of crystallization. Identifying and eliminating the causes of injury may prevent recurrent episodes in patients with papillary COM calculi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fèlix Grases
- Laboratory of Renal Lithiasis Research, Faculty of Sciences, University Institute of Health Sciences Research (IUNICS-IdISPa), University of Balearic Islands, 07122, Palma de Mallorca, Spain,
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Raphael BH, Lautenschlager M, Kalb SR, de Jong LIT, Frace M, Lúquez C, Barr JR, Fernández RA, Maslanka SE. Analysis of a unique Clostridium botulinum strain from the Southern hemisphere producing a novel type E botulinum neurotoxin subtype. BMC Microbiol 2012; 12:245. [PMID: 23113872 PMCID: PMC3558463 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-12-245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2012] [Accepted: 10/30/2012] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Clostridium botulinum strains that produce botulinum neurotoxin type E (BoNT/E) are most commonly isolated from botulism cases, marine environments, and animals in regions of high latitude in the Northern hemisphere. A strain of C. botulinum type E (CDC66177) was isolated from soil in Chubut, Argentina. Previous studies showed that the amino acid sequences of BoNT/E produced by various strains differ by < 6% and that the type E neurotoxin gene cluster inserts into the rarA operon. Results Genetic and mass spectral analysis demonstrated that the BoNT/E produced by CDC66177 is a novel toxin subtype (E9). Toxin gene sequencing indicated that BoNT/E9 differed by nearly 11% at the amino acid level compared to BoNT/E1. Mass spectrometric analysis of BoNT/E9 revealed that its endopeptidase substrate cleavage site was identical to other BoNT/E subtypes. Further analysis of this strain demonstrated that its 16S rRNA sequence clustered with other Group II C. botulinum (producing BoNT types B, E, and F) strains. Genomic DNA isolated from strain CDC66177 hybridized with fewer probes using a Group II C. botulinum subtyping microarray compared to other type E strains examined. Whole genome shotgun sequencing of strain CDC66177 revealed that while the toxin gene cluster inserted into the rarA operon similar to other type E strains, its overall genome content shared greater similarity with a Group II C. botulinum type B strain (17B). Conclusions These results expand our understanding of the global distribution of C. botulinum type E strains and suggest that the type E toxin gene cluster may be able to insert into C. botulinum strains with a more diverse genetic background than previously recognized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian H Raphael
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA.
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Bianco MI, Lúquez C, De Jong LIT, Fernández RA. Linden flower (Tilia spp.) as potential vehicle of Clostridium botulinum spores in the transmission of infant botulism. Rev Argent Microbiol 2009; 41:232-236. [PMID: 20085187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Infant botulism is an intestinal toxemia caused principally by Clostridium botulinum. Since the infection occurs in the intestinal tract, numerous food products have been investigated for the presence of C. botulinum and its neurotoxins. In many countries, people use linden flower (Tilia spp) tea as a household remedy and give it to infants as a sedative. Therefore, to help provide a clear picture of this disease transmission, we investigated the presence of botulinum spores in linden flowers. In this study, we analyzed 100 samples of unwrapped linden flowers and 100 samples of linden flowers in tea bags to determine the prevalence and spore-load of C. botulinum. Results were analyzed by the Fisher test. We detected a prevalence of 3% of botulinum spores in the unwrapped linden flowers analyzed and a spore load of 30 spores per 100 grams. None of the industrialized linden flowers analyzed were contaminated with botulinum spores. C. botulinum type A was identified in two samples and type B in one sample. Linden flowers must be considered a potential vehicle of C. botulinum, and the ingestion of linden flower tea can represent a risk factor for infant botulism.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Bianco
- Area Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, Parque General San Martín S/N, Mendoza, Argentina
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Sagua MD, Lúquez C, Barzola CP, Bianco MI, Fernández RA. Phenotypic characterization of Clostridium botulinum strains isolated from infant botulism cases in Argentina. Rev Argent Microbiol 2009; 41:141-147. [PMID: 19831311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Infant botulism is the most common form of human botulism; however, its transmission has not been completely explained yet. Some of the most recognized potential sources of Clostridium botulinum spores are the soil, dust, honey and medicinal herbs. In Argentina, 456 cases of infant botulism were reported between 1982 and 2007. C. botulinum type A was identified in 455 of these cases whereas type B was identified in just one case. However, in Argentina, types A, B, E, F, G, and Af have been isolated from environmental sources. It is not clearly known if strains isolated from infant botulism cases have different characteristics from strains isolated from other sources. During this study, 46 C. botulinum strains isolated from infant botulism cases and from environmental sources were typified according to phenotypic characteristics. Biochemical tests, antimicrobial activity, and haemagglutinin-negative botulinum neurotoxin production showed uniformity among all these strains. Despite the variability observed in the botulinum neurotoxin's binding to cellular receptors, no correlation was found between these patterns and the source of the botulinum neurotoxin. However, an apparent geographical clustering was observed, since strains isolated from Argentina had similar characteristics to those isolated from Italy and Japan, but different to those isolated from the United States.
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Affiliation(s)
- M D Sagua
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Centro Universitario, Parque General San Martin S/N (5500) Mendoza, Argentina.
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Bianco MI, Lúquez C, de Jong LIT, Fernández RA. Presence of Clostridium botulinum spores in Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile) and its relationship with infant botulism. Int J Food Microbiol 2007; 121:357-60. [PMID: 18068252 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2007.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2007] [Revised: 10/02/2007] [Accepted: 11/06/2007] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Nowadays, infant botulism is the most important form of human botulism in some countries. This illness affects infants younger than 52 weeks of age. The infection occurs in the intestinal tract; therefore, ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores with food is proposed. In some countries, people use chamomile tea as a household remedy for intestinal colics and given this tea to infants. Chamomile can be contaminated with C. botulinum and could be a vehicle of its spores. Our aim was to study the prevalence and spore-load of C. botulinum in chamomile. We analysed 200 samples; the 7.5% of them were contaminated with botulinum spores. However, prevalence of these spores was significantly higher in chamomile sold by weight in herbal stores (unwrapped chamomile) than prevalence in chamomile sold in tea bags (p=0.0055). The spore-load detected in all positive samples was 0.3-0.4 spores per gram of chamomile. We identified C. botulinum types A, B, and F in the 53.3%, 6.7%, and 13.3%, respectively. Chamomile (principally, unwrapped chamomile) is a potencial vehicle of C. botulinum spores, and ingestion of chamomile tea could represent a risk for infant botulism.
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Affiliation(s)
- María I Bianco
- Area Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, Parque General San Martín S/N, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina
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Lúquez C, Bianco MI, de Jong LIT, Sagua MD, Arenas GN, Ciccarelli AS, Fernández RA. Distribution of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia in soils of Argentina. Appl Environ Microbiol 2005; 71:4137-9. [PMID: 16000834 PMCID: PMC1168975 DOI: 10.1128/aem.71.7.4137-4139.2005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We studied the presence of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia in 2,009 soil samples from five geographical regions of Argentina. The prevalence was 23.5%, and the distribution was not homogeneous among the regions. We observed a great multiplicity of serological types and a higher prevalence in nonvirgin soils than in virgin soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Lúquez
- Area Microbiología, Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Centro Universitario, Parque General San Martín S/N, 5500, Mendoza, Argentina
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Lúquez C, Fernández RA, Bianco MI, de Jong LIT, Saldaño V, Ciccarelli AS. [Presence of botulinum-producing clostridia in the soils of Entre Ríos]. Rev Argent Microbiol 2003; 35:45-8. [PMID: 12833680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Botulism, well known for centuries, continues to preoccupy the Public Health authorities, food and agricultural industries. In its oldest form it results from ingestion of food containing botulinum toxin. To correctly evaluate the incidence of botulism it is fundamental to know the distribution of botulinum toxin-producing clostridia (Clostridium botulinum, C. baratii, C. butyricum and C. argentinense) in nature, specially in the soil, its main reservoir. In our country, this study has been carried out in a partial way. With the aim to contribute to such knowledge, 240 soil samples from Entre Ríos province were examined for C. botulinum and 35 (14.6%) samples resulted positive.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lúquez
- Departamento de Patología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Casilla de correo 33, Mendoza, Argentina
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Matheus MC, Sandoval Zárate J, Criales Cortés JL, Martínez-Guerra ML, Pulido T, Palomar Lever A, Gómez González A, Santos E, Barragán R, Fernández RA, Cardoso Ramón M. [Helical computerized tomography of the thorax in the diagnosis of unresolved chronic pulmonary thromboembolism]. Arch Inst Cardiol Mex 2000; 70:456-67. [PMID: 11534096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
We assessed the diagnostic usefulness of helical CT scan of the thorax in the setting of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension by prospectively comparing the results of helical CT scan to those of the pulmonary angiogram (gold standard). We studied 40 patients with diagnosis of pulmonary hypertension of diverse etiology (mean age: 40.7 +/- 12 y.o.; mean systolic pulmonary artery pressure: 91 +/- 33 mmHg)). Thirty of these patients fulfilled the diagnostic criteria of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension and the other ten were used as controls. Diagnosis in control patients included: primary pulmonary hypertension (4); patent ductus arteriosus (2); atrial septal defect (1); rheumatic valve disease (1); ischemic heart disease (1); and acute pulmonary embolism (1). Both helical CT scan and pulmonary angiogram were part of the routine diagnostic work up of these patients, and were, performed and interpreted almost simultaneously (within one week) by a different group of investigators in a blind manner. Only the diagnostic accuracy of the method regarding central (major arteries) vascular lesions was evaluated. Helical CT scan had an overall sensitivity of 100% (29/29), and a specificity of 91% (10/11). Positive predictive and negative predictive values were 96.6% (29/30) and 100% (10/10), respectively. Overall diagnostic accuracy was 97.5% (39/40). We conclude that helical CT scan of the thorax is an excellent alternative approach for the diagnosis of major arteries lesions in the setting of chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- M C Matheus
- Departamento de Cardioneumología, INCICH, Juan Badiano No. 1, Col. Sección XVI, 14080 México, D.F.
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Fernández RA, Ciccarelli AS, Arenas GN, Giménez DF. [Type D and A Clostridium botulinum in necropsy samples from bovines with "mal de Aguapey"]. Rev Argent Microbiol 1989; 21:47-53. [PMID: 2694218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacteriological studies were carried out on several necropsy samples from five animals whose deaths had been attributed to bovine botulism. This disease, regionally called Mal de Aguapey, enzootically affects animals from a wide area of the north-east of Argentina (Province of Corrientes) with a bovine population estimated at near to 2,500,000. Either C. botulinum type D, its toxin or both were identified in all animal samples, alternatively in contents of rumen, jejunum, ileum, caecum and in samples of spleen, liver and kidney (Table 1). C. botulinum type A was isolated respectively from the liver and the kidney of two animals. Cultures of 100 soil samples taken in the enzootic area were positive only for C. botulinum type A (3%). These results enlarge and confirm previous findings and lend support to the botulinic etiology of the Mal de Aguapey.
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Affiliation(s)
- R A Fernández
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Médicas, Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Mendoza, Argentina
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Curi de Montbrun SE, Ciccarelli AS, de Ampuero S, Fernández RA, Benito MA. [Infections due to several species of Salmonella in Mendoza, Argentina]. Rev Argent Microbiol 1981; 13:23-30. [PMID: 7346889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Fifty nine sporadic cases and forty five cases from six outbreaks of salmonellosis occurring in Mendoza, Argentina between 1972-76 are reported. All 104 patients were studied epidemiologically searching for the etiologic agent, implicated food and contacts. Stools of patients and contacts were examined. Other clinical specimens and the implicated foods were examined bacteriologically. The Salmonella isolates were classified in eleven serotypes with the following order of frequency: a) Outbreaks: S. typhimurium (50,0%), S. derby (16,7%), S. newport (16,7%), S. bredeney (16,7%), S. enteritidis (16,7%), S. cholerae-suis (16,7%) and S. oranienburg (16,7%). b) Sporadic cases; S. typhimurium (35,9%), S. newport (15,6%), S. anatum (7,8%), S. oranienburg (6,2%), S. derby (4,7%), S. java (3,1%), S. cholerae-suis (3,1%), S. bredeney (1,6%), S. enteritidis (1,6%), S. minnesota (1,6%), S. urbana (1,6%), and Salmonella spp (17,2%). These results are compared with those obtained in the same areas between 1962-71 and with the serotype frequencies from different sources of infection found in Mendoza and other regions.
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