KPC-2-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from wild animals in Brazil

Pseudomonas aeruginosa an opportunistic pathogen that causes infections in hospitals and has high morbidity and mortality rates. In addition, it is a widely distributed environmental bacterium that can colonise a variety of habitats. Although wild animals do not have access to antibiotics, antibacterial resistance in these animals has increasingly been reported worldwide. Although the presence of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is uncommon in P. aeruginosa, it has been increasingly reported. This study examined KPC-2-producing P. aeruginosa in wild animals. A total of 27 P. aeruginosa isolates were obtained from clinical cases treated at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Veterinary Hospital of UFMT, Brazil. P. aeruginosa and blaKPC-2 carbapenemase resistance genes were identified using PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility of KPC-producing P. aeruginosa was evaluated using the disk diffusion method. The blaKPC-2 gene was detected in 40.7% of the isolates (11/27). The rates of antimicrobial resistance and intermediate sensitivity were as follows: piperacillin/tazobactam (44.4%), imipenem (29.6%), meropenem (51.8%), amikacin (77.8%), cefepime (85.2%), and ciprofloxacin (70.4%). Twelve isolates were classified as Multidrug-resistant (MDR). This study presents the first report of P. aeruginosa with the blaKPC-2 gene in wild animals in Brazil, highlighting the importance of molecular research on resistance genes in P. aeruginosa from a One-Health perspective.

Molecular detection and genetic characterization of Ehrlichia canis and Ehrlichia sp. in neotropical primates from Brazil

The Anaplasmataceae family includes obligate, arthropod-transmitted intracellular bacteria that can be zoonotic and potentially fatal. Studies focusing on the interaction between neotropical primates and the agents of this family are scarce. The present study aimed to identify agents of the Anaplasmataceae family in the whole blood of free-living and captive neotropical primates in the State of Mato Grosso, Central-West Brazil. Thirty-eight samples of six nonhuman primate (NHP) species were collected in seven municipalities and analysed through polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nucleotide sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis of the dsb, groEL, 16S rRNA, and gltA genes. DNA fragments similar to those of Ehrlichia canis were detected in Sapajus apella and Ehrlichia chaffeensis from Mico melanurus. The sequences generated in this study and homologous sequences retrieved from GenBank® were used for phylogenetic analyses to characterize the Ehrlichial agents detected in NHPs. The agents were then grouped into clades corresponding to different isolates from the NHP species. In addition, an Anaplasma sp. closely related to Anaplasma marginale was identified in two S. apella individuals. These findings shed light on the susceptibility of neotropical NHPs to Anaplasmataceae agents. These bacteria are known to be transmitted by ticks, which can also serve as possible sources of infection for other animals, including humans.

Genotyping of rabies positive samples isolated from animals in Mato Grosso and Rondônia - Brazil

Lyssavirus is a genus that causes infectious disease transmit by bats transmit, which results in economic losses in livestock and public health problems. From 2005 to 2019, more than 49 thousand cases of the disease were registered in animals in Brazil, with 3418 registered in Mato Grosso (MT). The lack of information on the genetic diversity and distribution of the rabies virus in MT was the motivation for carrying out this study. A total of 117 samples of brain tissue from cattle, horses, donkeys, mules and sheep from 29 municipalities in the state of MT and one municipality in Rondônia were used. Direct immunofluorescence and/or biological tests performed from 2014 to 2021 indicated that all samples were positive for the disease. RNA was extracted and molecular analysis was performed using RT-PCR for the N gene. Of the 117 samples analyzed, 50 were amplified by RT-PCR, purified and sequenced. The samples showed 93.13%-100% identity with the rabies virus. The sequences were submitted to phylogenetic analysis that resulted in a tree of four clades; these were genetically grouped into distinct regions within the Desmodus rotundus lineage. The results of the geolocation of clades will be useful to guide monitoring, control and health surveillance programs in MT.

Molecular detection of trypanosomatids in neotropical primates in the state of Mato Grosso, Midwest, Brazil

Trypanosomatids are uniflagellate protozoa belonging to the Trypanosomatidae family. The genera Trypanosoma and Leishmania are of paramount importance as they contain species that cause serious diseases, such as Chagas disease and Leishmaniasis, respectively. The objective of the present study was to identify trypanosomatids present in the whole blood of free-living and captive neotropical primates in Mato Grosso State, Midwest Brazil. Between 2017 and 2019, 38 blood samples were collected from seven different neotropical primate species in seven cities in the state. Through molecular techniques, including polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to amplify a fragment of the kinetoplast DNA (kDNA) and 18S ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) gene, sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis, nine Leishmania spp. [seven L. infantum and two L. (Leishmania) amazonensis] and two Trypanosoma spp. (T. minasense and T. rangeli) were identified. This study contributes to understanding the occurrence and epidemiology of trypanosomatids in Mato Grosso State and the importance of neotropical primates as trypanosome hosts and possible infection sources for other animals and humans. Future identification of other blood pathogens in neotropical primates will assist in disease control and prevention strategies.

Susceptibility profile of Candida rugosa (Diutina rugosa) against antifungals and compounds of essential oils

Candida rugosa (recently reclassified Diutina rugosa) is an emerging pathogen affecting humans and animals. Candida resistance to existing drugs is an important factor to be monitored, as well as the need of researching alternatives to conventional antifungals. Here, we evaluated the in vitro effects of some antifungals and major components of essential oils by the broth microdilution method (CLSI M27-A3) against fifteen C. rugosa strains from animals isolated and molecular identificated. The results showed MIC₉₀ of: 0.125μg/mL to ketoconazole and voriconazole, 0.25μg/mL to micafungin, 0.5μg/mL to anidulafungin, 1μg/mL to caspofungin, 2μg/mL to amphotericin B, itraconazole and flucytosin, 8μg/mL to fluconazole, 16μg/mL to nystatin and >128μg/mL to terbinafine. The compounds carvacrol (MIC₉₀ 320μg/mL), thimol (MIC₉₀ 320μg/mL) and cinnamaldehyde (MIC₉₀ 160μg/mL) demonstrated antifungal activity against the samples tested.