The emergence of vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) represents a challenge for the treatment of staphylococcal infections in both human and animals worldwide. Although VRSA has been detected in several animal species worldwide, data on the bacterial prevalence in dromedary camels and workers in camel slaughterhouses are scarce. We investigated meat samples from 200 dromedary camel carcasses from three different abattoirs that were being prepared to be sent to the markets. Twenty hand swabs were voluntarily collected from the workers in the same abattoirs. Isolation and identification of the bacterial specimens from the samples were performed using conventional cultural techniques and biochemical identification and were confirmed by PCR amplification of the nuc gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility against nine antimicrobial agents commonly used in human and camels was tested using the disc diffusion method, and genetic analysis was performed by evaluating the mecA gene in phenotypically oxacillin (OXA)- and cefoxitin (FOX)-resistant isolates. The resistance of S. aureus to vancomycin (VAN) was tested by broth microdilution and confirmed by PCR targeting the vanA and vanB genes. The vanA and vanB genes were sequenced. S. aureus was detected in both camel meat (29/200, 14.5%) and in abattoir workers (11/20, 55%). Of the collected samples, 27% (8/29, camel) and 54% (6/11, human) were identified as VRSA. All VRSA isolates carried both the vanA and vanB genes. Additionally, all VRSA isolates were also classified as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The vanA amplicons of the isolates from human and camel meat were homologous and clustered with a Chinese reference isolate sequence. This study demonstrated that VRSA is present in camel abattoirs in Egypt. Zoonotic transmission between animals and human is probable and reflects both a public health threat and a food safety concern.

The rapid increase of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) producing bacteria are a potential health hazard. Development of antimicrobial resistance in animal pathogens has serious implications for human health, especially when such strains could be transmitted to human. In this study, the antimicrobial resistance due to ESBL producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the camel meat was investigated. In this study meat samples from 200 healthy camels at two major abattoirs in Egypt (Cairo and Giza) were collected. Following culture on cetrimide agar, suspected P. aeruginosa colonies were confirmed with a Vitek 2 system (bioMe´rieux). P. aeruginosa isolates were phenotypically identified as ESBL by double disk synergy test. Additionally antimicrobial susceptibility testing of ESBL producing P. aeruginosa isolates were done against 11 antimicrobial drugs and carried out by disk diffusion method. The ESBL genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction according to the presence of the bla PER-1, bla CTX-M, bla SHV, and bla TEM. Pseudomonas aeruginosa was isolated from 45 camel meat sample (22.5%). The total percentage of ESBL producing P. aeruginosa was 45% (21/45) from camel meat isolates. Antibiogram results revealed the highest resistance was for c, ceftriaxone and rifampicin followed by cefepime and aztreonam. The prevalence rates of β-lactamase genes were recorded (bla PER-1 28.5%, bla CTX-M 38%, bla SHV 33.3% and bla TEM 23.8%). This study illustrates the presence of high rates of ESBL-P. aeruginosa in camels that represents an increasing alarming for the risk of transmission to human and opens the door for current and future antibiotics therapy failure. Livestock associated ESBL-P. aeruginosa is a growing disaster, therefore, attention has to be fully given to livestock associated ESBL-bacteria which try to find its way to human beings.

Background: Borrelia burgdorferi is the spirochete that causes Lyme Borreliosis (LB), which is a zoonotic tick-borne disease of humans and domestic animals. Hard ticks are obligate haematophagous ectoparasites that serve as vectors of Borrelia burgdorferi. Studies on the presence of Lyme borreliosis in Egyptian animals and associated ticks are scarce. Methods: This study was conducted to detect B. burgdorferi in different tick vectors and animal hosts. Three hundred animals (dogs=100, cattle=100, and camels=100) were inspected for tick infestation. Blood samples from 160 tick-infested animals and their associated ticks (n=1025) were collected and examined for the infection with B. burgdorferi by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene. The identified tick species were characterized molecularly by PCR and sequencing of the ITS2 region. Results: The overall tick infestation rate among examined animals was 78.33% (235/300). The rate of infestation was significantly higher in camels (90%), followed by cattle (76%) and dogs (69%); (P = 0.001). Rhipicephalus sanguineus, Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) annulatus, and both Hyalomma dromedarii and Amblyomma variegatum, were morphologically identified from infested dogs, cattle, and camels; respectively. Molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region confirmed the morphological identification, as well as displayed high similarities of R. sanguineus, H. dromedarii, and A. Variegatu with ticks identified in Egypt and various continents worldwide. Just one dog (1.67%) and its associated tick pool of R. sanguineus were positive for B. burgdorferi infection. The 16S rRNA gene sequence for B. burgdorferi in dog and R. sanguineus tick pool showed a 100% homology. Conclusion: Analyzed data revealed a relatively low rate of B. burgdorferi infection, but a significantly high prevalence of tick infestation among domesticated animals in Egypt, which possesses a potential animal and public health risk. Additionally, molecular characterization of ticks using the ITS2 region was a reliable tool to discriminate species of ticks and confirmed the morphological identification.

The current study investigated the emergence of multidrug-resistance (MDR), extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Salmonella enterica serovar Heidelberg in broiler chickens and workers in poultry farms. A total of 33 S. Heidelberg isolates were recovered; 24 from the broiler cloacal swabs and 9 from the farm workers. All the S. Heidelberg isolates were tested for susceptibility to 11 antimicrobial agents and for the presence of resistance and virulence genes. MDR strains were found in 95.8% (23/24) and 88.8% (8/9) of the broiler and human isolates, respectively. Among the MDR strains, 66.6% of the broiler isolates and 55.5% of the human isolates were ESBL producing. The majority of broiler isolates showed resistance to ampicillin (100%) and ceftriaxone (91.6%), followed by ceftazidime and imipenem, (87.5%) and (75%). The resistance rate of the human isolates to those antibiotics were lower than the broiler isolates; ampicillin (88.8%), ceftriaxone (66.6%), ceftazidime (77.7%), and imipenem (66.6%). The resistance determinant genes found among the isolated strains was bla_SHV-1, bla_TEM-1, bla_CMY-2, bla_OXA-1, bla_CMY-M2, bla_PSE-1, and ampC. The most detected ESBL genes for broiler and human isolates were ampC (63.7%) and bla_SHV-1 (56.6%), followed by bla_CMY-M2 (48.5%), bla_TEM-1 (39.4%), and bla_OXA-1 (27.3%); whereas bla_CMY-2 and bla_PSE-1 were not detected. The finding of chromosomal and plasmid virulence genes revealed that the invA (100%), stn, sipC, and rck (72.8%), spvC (66.7%), ssr (63.6%), sopB (54.6%), and hilA and sipA (3.0%), while pefA and ssaR were absent. An elevated rate of MDR Salmonella Heidelberg in chickens is of potential great health risk. This signifies the role of the food of animal origin as a reservoir of MDR Salmonella that can affect the human health.

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is one of the most common bacterial infections among humans worldwide. Although many records imply its interfamilial acquisition, the role of animals remains poorly understood. This study was undertaken to investigate the seroprevalence of H. pylori in animals and their human contacts in Cairo and Giza governorates, Egypt. Methodology: Commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits were used to detect IgG antibodies to H. pylori in dogs, cattle, and humans. Results: Seropositive dogs (35/94; 37.2%), cattle (24/80; 30%) and humans (40/90; 44.4%) were found. Seroprevalence in animals significantly varied in different areas of sample collection, but there was no association with sex or age. Human seropositivity rates were associated with increasing age; moreover, seropositive dog owners (51.7%; 15/29), had seropositive dogs. However, infection was not associated with subject's sex, occupation, or history of animal contact. Conclusions: Our findings indicate H. pylori is widely distributed in cattle and dogs and their human contacts in Cairo and Giza, Egypt. Further studies to determine infection in other occupational groups are needed. This study provides baseline information on the seroprevalence of H. pylori, which may be required to begin prevention control programs in our area.