Epidemiological studies have identified Staphylococcus aureus as the most common agent involved in food poisoning. However, current research highlights the importance of toxigenic coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from food. The aim of this study was to characterize Staphylococcus spp. isolated from cows with bovine subclinical mastitis regarding the presence of genes responsible for the production of staphylococcal enterotoxins and of the tst-1 gene encoding toxic shock syndrome toxin 1, and to determine the clonal profile of the isolates carrying any of the genes studied. A total of 181 strains isolated in different Brazilian states, including the South, Southeast, and Northeast regions, were analyzed. The sea gene was the most frequent, which was detected in 18.2% of the isolates, followed by seb in 7.7%, sec in 14.9%, sed in 0.5%, see in 8.2%, seg in 1.6%, seh in 25.4%, sei in 6.6%, and ser in 1.6%. The sej, ses, set, and tst-1 genes were not detected in any of the isolates. The typing of the isolates by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed important S. aureus and S. epidermidis clusters in different areas and the presence of enterotoxin genes in lineages isolated from animals that belong to herds located geographically close to each other.

Bovine mastitis is mainly caused by bacteria of the genus Staphylococcus spp., which possess different virulence factors, including the capacity for biofilm formation that provides enhanced protection against the action of immune system components and serves as a barrier against the penetration of antimicrobial agents. This study aimed to characterize 181 Staphylococcus spp. Strains—including Staphylococcusaureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) isolated from bovine subclinical mastitis in six Brazilian states—by molecular methods. RT-qPCR was used to verify the expression of genes of the ica operon—mainly responsible for biofilm formation—as well as bap and bhp. Chromosome similarity among the isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus sequence typing (MLST). The icaA gene was detected in 79 (43.6%) isolates, icaB in 24 (13.2%), icaC in 57 (31.4%), and icaD in 127 (70.1%). The bap gene was identified in 66 (36.4%) isolates, while the bhp gene was found in nine (4.9%). RT-qPCR confirmed the expression of the icaA gene in 60 (75.9%) isolates, of icaB in six (25%), of icaC in 26 (45.6%), and of icaD in 80 (63%). Clonal typing of the isolates by PFGE permitted the identification of eight Staphylococcusaureus clusters that simultaneously included ≥3 strains, with a similarity of ≥80%. Regarding the other species studied, three clusters were observed for Staphylococcuschromogenes and four clusters for Staphylococcusepidermidis. Only one cluster each was identified for Staphylococcussaprophyticus and Staphylococcussimulans, while the other species did not form any cluster. With respect to MLST, ST126 and ST1 were the prevalent sequence types in S. aureus, while in S.epidermidis all sequence types were different. These results reveal strains with the same evolutionary origin as other isolates, which might cause infections in humans and animals, suggesting their ability to spread between these species.

Background: The indiscriminate use of antibiotics has caused bacteria to develop mechanisms of resistance to antibacterial agents, limiting treatment options. Therefore, there is a great need for alternative methods to control infections, especially those related to skin. One of the alternative methods is the high frequency equipment (HFE), which is used on skin conditions as an analgesic, an anti-inflammatory, and mainly to accelerate cicatricial processes and have a bactericidal effect through the formation of ozone. This research investigated the antibacterial effect of HFE on standard cultures of bacteria. Materials and methods: Dilutions (10⁴ colony forming unit mL⁻¹) were performed for Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus with 24-hour growth bacteria. Then, 1 μL of each dilution was pipetted into suitable medium and the HFE flashing technique was used at intensities of 6, 8 and 10 mA for 30, 60, 90, 120 and 180 seconds. The control group received no treatment. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and then read. Results: The spark at intensity of 6 mA had no bactericidal effect on the E. aerogenes; however, a significant bacterial growth reduction occurred at intensity of 8 mA after 120 and 180 seconds, and at 10 mA, reduction in bacterial growth could already be verified at 30 seconds and total bacterial growth inhibition occurred in 180 seconds. For S. aureus, there was a strong bacterial growth inhibition at all intensities used; however, at 6 mA, absence of bacterium growth after 120 and 180 seconds was observed. By increasing the flashing intensity to 8 and 10 mA, it was observed that the bacterium growth was inhibited after only 30 seconds of irradiation. Conclusion: The HFE has time-dependent antibacterial effects against E. aerogenes and S. aureus bacteria that have several resistance mechanisms.

The functionality of nutraceutical foods is attributed to their bioactive compounds. These compounds are widely produced by plants, such as phenolic compounds, which have antioxidant activity and/or antimicrobial activity, acting against damage to macromolecules such as lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Secondary plant metabolites, including classes such as phenolic compounds, alkaloids, and terpenoids, have a wide variety of biological activities with medicinal potential. These secondary metabolites are considered bioactive compounds. The Zingiberaceae family received special attention for their large bioactive compound production. Such compounds are useful in foods as herbs, spices, flavorings, and seasonings and in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries as antioxidants and antimicrobials. Gingers are recognized as safe by the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA), resulting in no side effects when consumed in moderate amounts. Recent studies show that, in addition to rhizomes, the leaves and flowers of some ginger species have antioxidant activity and consequent medicinal potential. Studies have demonstrated that in vitro and in vivo research is needed to evaluate the efficacy of ginger extracts and understand their role in the modulation of biological and molecular pathways, thus enabling the development of new therapeutic strategies. Thereby, the present work aims to provide a bibliographic review on the antimicrobial activity of Zingiber officinale Roscoe and Alpinia purpurata (Vieill.) K. Schum. (Zingiberaceae), popularly known as ginger and red ginger respectively, and their potential use in the One Health initiative.

Populations of nonhuman primates are often considered to be a link in the chain of emerging infectious diseases, as they are reservoirs for different zoonotic pathogens. The objective of this study was to identify the presence of bacteria from the family Enterobacteriaceae in free-living nonhuman primates. The research was carried out in an urban park located in a city in the northern region of the State of Paraná, Brazil. The animals were captured in Tomahawk-type traps and chemically restrained, being oral and rectal samples collected with sterile swabs. For bacterial isolation, the samples were seeded on MacConkey agar plates and grown under anaerobic conditions. The subsequent identification was conducted using a commercial biochemical kit. Sixteen primates identified as black-capuchin-monkeys (Sapajus nigritus) were captured. Seven different enterobacterial species were identified from the oral cavity swabs: six Escherichia coli (42.9%), three Kluyvera species (21.40%), one Serratia rubidaea (7.14%), one Enterobacter aerogenes (7.14%), one Enterobacter cloacae (7.14%), one Hafnia alvei (7.14%), and one Erwinia herbicola (7.14%). Seven different species were identified from the rectal swabs: six Escherichia coli (40%), three Kluyvera species (20%), two Enterobacter aerogenes (13.32%), one Erwinia herbicola (6.67%), one Serratia rubidaea (6.67%), one Pragia fontium (6.67%), and one Edwardsiella tarda (6.67%). The results indicate that the isolated bacteria belong mainly to the human microbiota and had crossed the interspecific barrier, contaminating the nonhuman primates.