Behsan Hemmatinezhad

Bio: Behsan Hemmatinezhad is an academic researcher from Islamic Azad University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Chlamydophila & CagA. The author has an hindex of 5, co-authored 7 publications receiving 112 citations.

Microbiological Investigation of O‐Serogroups, Virulence Factors and Antimicrobial Resistance Properties of Shiga Toxin‐Producing Escherichia Coli Isolated from Ostrich, Turkey and Quail Meats

Abstract: From clinical and microbiological perspectives, it is important to know which serogroups, virulence, and antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistance patterns are present in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains in poultry meats from turkey, quail and ostrich that have recently been added to the cart households. These were investigated in the present study. Five-hundred poultry meat samples were collected from the supermarkets of Isfahan province, Iran. Samples were cultured immediately and those that were E. coli-positive were analyzed for the presence of serogroups, antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial virulence factors. Antimicrobial susceptibility was performed using disk diffusion method. The prevalence rates of E. coli in ostrich, turkey and quail meat samples were 9.33, 23.52 and 27.77%, respectively. All of the enterohemorrhagic E. coli subtypes were positive for stx1, eae and ehly genes. The prevalence rate of stx1 gene in all attaching and effacing E. coli isolates was 100%. A significant difference was found between the frequency of AEEC (enteroadherent E. coli) and EHEC (enterohemorrhagic E. coli) subtypes (P < 0.05). Among all serogroups studied, O26 and O157 had the highest prevalence. The most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes in various poultry meat samples were tetA, CITM and aac(3)-IV. The highest level of antibiotic resistance was observed against tetracycline, ampicillin and gentamicin. Resistance against sulfamethoxazole and enrofloxacin was intermediate. Our findings should raise awareness about antibiotic resistance in poultry meats in Iran. It seems that sanitary conditions were not observed in Iranian poultry farms, slaughterhouses and supermarkets. Practical Applications Recognition of the new epidemiological aspects of Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli helps us to know the exact routes of transmission and decisive origin of this bacterium. Consumption of ostrich, quail and turkey meats is popular among Iranian people, but there is no accurate inspection on their meats and carcasses. Quail and turkey meat samples were the most commonly contaminated, suggesting that they may be the reservoir of E. coli. High prevalence of virulence factors, antibiotic resistance genes and antibiotic resistance has also been reported. Due to the lower levels of antibiotic resistance, prescription of streptomycin, cephalothin and trimethoprim has been suggested for the treatment of food poisoning due to the Shiga toxigenic E. coli strains of bird meat.

VacA, cagA, iceA and oipA genotypes status and antimicrobial resistance properties of Helicobacter pylori isolated from various types of ready to eat foods.

Abstract: Background Despite the high clinical standing of Helicobacter pylori, its exact routes of transmission and origin have not been determined. Based on the contentious hypothesis, foods play an important roles in the transmission of H. pylori to humans. The present study was carried out to investigate the vacA, cagA, oipA and iceA genotypes status of H. pylori isolated from the various types of ready to eat foods.

Molecular detection and antimicrobial resistance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from houseflies ( Musca domestica ) in Iran

Abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a common bacterium that can cause disease in humans and other animals. This study was conducted to screen for molecular detection and antimicrobial-resistant P. aeruginosa in Musca domestica in different locations in the Iranian provinces of Shahrekord and Isfahan. Musca domestica were captured by both manual and sticky trap methods, during the daytime, from household kitchens, cattle farms, animal hospitals, human hospitals, slaughterhouses and chicken farms at random locations in Shahrekord and Isfahan provinces of Iran, and subsequently transported to the laboratory for detection of P. aeruginosa. In the laboratory, flies were identified and killed by refrigeration in a cold chamber at −20 °C, then placed in 5 mL peptone water and left at room temperature for five hours before being processed. Pseudomonas isolates were preliminarily identified to genus level based on colony morphology and gram staining, and their identity was further confirmed by polymerase chain reaction. Overall blaTEM gene was recovered from 8.8 % (53/600) of the P. aeruginosa isolated from houseflies collected from the two provinces. A slightly higher prevalence (10.7 %; 32/300) was recorded in Shahrekord province than Isfahan province (7.0 %; 21/300). The locations did not differ statistically (p < 0.05) in bacterial prevalence in flies. Seasonal prevalence showed a significantly lower infection frequency during autumn. Houseflies are important in the epidemiology of P. aeruginosa infections.

Incidence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Campylobacter and Salmonella from Houseflies (Musca Domestica) in Kitchens, Farms, Hospitals and Slaughter Houses

Abstract: Carriage status of Campylobacter and Salmonella was investigated in houseflies in Shahrekord and Isfahan provinces of Iran. This was a longitudinal study conducted from June 2013 to May 2014. Flies were collected from household kitchens, animal farms, slaughter houses and hospitals and put in sample bottles filled with peptone water. Bacteria were isolated and DNA was extracted from bacterial isolates using a commercial kit. Confirmation of the organisms was carried out by polymerase chain reaction using primer sets for detection of these pathogens. Out of 600 houseflies 19.5 % (117/600) were positive for Campylobacter and 15.8 % (95/600) were positive for Salmonella organisms. The recovery frequencies of the two organisms in different locations were similar. Higher proportions of infected flies were obtained during summer whereas low proportions were obtained during winter of all the organisms (P < 0.05). The organisms had low to moderate resistance to different antimicrobial agents. It is concluded that houseflies do harbor antimicrobial resistant diarrheagenic pathogens including Campylobacter and Salmonella, more so during summer. The data support the importance of taking into account the houseflies in future plans aimed at stemming infections caused by these organisms.

Molecular detection and prevalence of Chlamydophila psittaci in the blood, liver and muscle tissue of urban pigeons (Columba livia domestica) in Iran.

Abstract: Chlamydophila psittaci (C. psittaci) is a widespread pathogenic bacterium in pigeons. These animals are mostly infected without any clinical signs. Pigeons are probably the most commonly reported chlamydia-infected avian species. Shedding of Chlamydia from infected birds has been widely reported. This study was conducted to detect and to determine the prevalence of C. psittaci in the blood, liver and muscle tissue of urban pigeons in Iran using conventional polymerase chain reaction. In this study, authors used 90 pigeons from different retail shops across Iran. The study was including 26 female and 64 male pigeons with suspected Chlamydiosis based on clinical signs. During examination of the corpses we took 270 samples in total, including blood, liver and muscle tissue from each animal. C. psittaci was detected in 16 (17.78%) blood samples, 14 (15.56%) liver samples and 5 (5.56%) samples of muscle tissue. This study supports the fact that pigeons serve as carriers of C. psittaci. Therefore, continuous surveillance of this bacterium will go along way in understanding the distribution and risks associated with Chlamydia infected pigeons. This will be beneficial in prevention and control risks of infection in humans.

A review of Salmonella enterica with particular focus on the pathogenicity and virulence factors, host specificity and antimicrobial resistance including multidrug resistance.

Abstract: Salmonella genus represents the most common foodborne pathogens frequently isolated from food-producing animals that is responsible for zoonotic infections in humans and animal species including birds. Thus, Salmonella infections represent a major concern to public health, animals, and food industry worldwide. Salmonella enterica represents the most pathogenic specie and includes > 2600 serovars characterized thus far. Salmonella can be transmitted to humans along the farm-to-fork continuum, commonly through contaminated foods of animal origin, namely poultry and poultry-related products (eggs), pork, fish etc. Some Salmonella serovars are restricted to one specific host commonly referred to as "host-restricted" whereas others have broad host spectrum known as "host-adapted" serovars. For Salmonella to colonize its hosts through invading, attaching, and bypassing the host's intestinal defense mechanisms such as the gastric acid, many virulence markers and determinants have been demonstrated to play crucial role in its pathogenesis; and these factors included flagella, capsule, plasmids, adhesion systems, and type 3 secretion systems encoded on the Salmonella pathogenicity island (SPI)-1 and SPI-2, and other SPIs. The epidemiologically important non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) serovars linked with a high burden of foodborne Salmonella outbreaks in humans worldwide included Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Heidelberg, and Newport. The increased number of NTS cases reported through surveillance in recent years from the United States, Europe and low- and middle-income countries of the world suggested that the control programs targeted at reducing the contamination of food animals along the food chain have largely not been successful. Furthermore, the emergence of several clones of Salmonella resistant to multiple antimicrobials worldwide underscores a significant food safety hazard. In this review, we discussed on the historical background, nomenclature and taxonomy, morphological features, physical and biochemical characteristics of NTS with a particular focus on the pathogenicity and virulence factors, host specificity, transmission, and antimicrobial resistance including multidrug resistance and its surveillance.

A systematic review of human pathogens carried by the housefly ( Musca domestica L.)

Abstract: The synanthropic house fly, Musca domestica (Diptera: Muscidae), is a mechanical vector of pathogens (bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites), some of which cause serious diseases in humans and domestic animals. In the present study, a systematic review was done on the types and prevalence of human pathogens carried by the house fly. Major health-related electronic databases including PubMed, PubMed Central, Google Scholar, and Science Direct were searched (Last update 31/11/2017) for relevant literature on pathogens that have been isolated from the house fly. Of the 1718 titles produced by bibliographic search, 99 were included in the review. Among the titles included, 69, 15, 3, 4, 1 and 7 described bacterial, fungi, bacteria+fungi, parasites, parasite+bacteria, and viral pathogens, respectively. Most of the house flies were captured in/around human habitation and animal farms. Pathogens were frequently isolated from body surfaces of the flies. Over 130 pathogens, predominantly bacteria (including some serious and life-threatening species) were identified from the house flies. Numerous publications also reported antimicrobial resistant bacteria and fungi isolated from house flies. This review showed that house flies carry a large number of pathogens which can cause serious infections in humans and animals. More studies are needed to identify new pathogens carried by the house fly.

Shiga (Vero)-toxin producing Escherichia coli isolated from the hospital foods; virulence factors, o-serogroups and antimicrobial resistance properties.

Abstract: According to the presence of the weak, diabetic and immunosuppressive patients in hospitals, hospital foods should have a high quality and safety. Cooking a lot of foods higher than daily requirement, storage of cooked foods in an inappropriate condition and presence of nurses and servants in distribution of food to patients are the main reasons caused contamination of hospital foods. Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli is one of the common cause of food poisoning in hospitals. The present research was carried out to study the distribution of virulence factors, O-serogroups and antibiotic resistance properties in STEC strains recovered from Iranian hospital food samples. Five-hundred and eighty raw and cooked food samples were collected and immediately transferred to the laboratory. E. coli-positive strains were subjected to PCR and disk diffusion method. Thirty-nine out of 580 (6.72%) hospital food samples were contaminated with E. coli. Raw (20%) and cooked meat (6%) were the most commonly contaminated samples. Raw samples had the higher prevalence of E. coli (P <0.01). Samples which were collected in the summer season had the highest prevalence of bacteria (64.10%). Significant difference was seen between the prevalence of EHEC and AEEC subtypes (P <0.01). The most commonly detected virulence factors in both EHEC and AEEC subtypes were stx1 and eae. The most commonly detected serogroups were O26 (43.75%) and O157 (25%) and there were no positive results for O103, O145, O91, O113 and O128 serogroups. Aac (3)-IV (100%), CITM (100%) and tetA (62.50%) were the most commonly detected antibiotic resistance genes. STEC strains harbored the highest levels of resistance against ampicillin (93.75%), gentamycin (93.75%), tetracycline (87.50%) and ciprofloxacin (81.25%). All of the STEC strains were resistant to at least 3 antibiotics, while the prevalence of resistance against more than 12 antibiotics were 12.50%. High presence of O157 serogroups, EHEC strains and animal-based antibiotics in cooked foods showed insufficiency of cooking time and temperature in the kitchens of hospitals. Judicious prescription of antibiotics and attentions to the principles of food safety can reduce the risk of resistant and virulent strains of STEC in hospital foods.

World Gastroenterology Organisation Global Guideline Helicobacter pylori in Developing Countries

Abstract: In developing countries, H. pylori infection is a public health issue. The high prevalence of the infection means that public health interventions may be required. Therapeutic vaccination is probably the only strategy that would make a decisive difference in the prevalence and incidence of H. pylori throughout the world. The short-term approach, however—provided that resources allow for this—would be a test-and-treat strategy for those who are at risk for PUD or gastric cancer and for those with troublesome dyspepsia.

Unraveling the Role of Vegetables in Spreading Antimicrobial-Resistant Bacteria: A Need for Quantitative Risk Assessment.

Abstract: In recent years, vegetables gain consumer attraction due to their reputation of being healthy in combination with low energy density. However, since fresh produce is often eaten raw, it may also be a source for foodborne illness. The presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria might pose a particular risk to the consumer. Therefore, this review aims to present the current state of knowledge concerning the exposure of humans to antibiotic-resistant bacteria via food of plant origin for quantitative risk assessment purposes. The review provides a critical overview of available information on hazard identification and characterization, exposure assessment, and risk prevention with special respect to potential sources of contamination and infection chains. Several comprehensive studies are accessible regarding major antimicrobial-resistant foodborne pathogens (e.g., Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Bacillus cereus, Campylobacter spp., Escherichia coli) and other bacteria (e.g., further Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas spp., Gram-positive cocci). These studies revealed vegetables to be a potential-although rare-vector for extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, mcr1-positive E. coli, colistin- and carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, linezolid-resistant enterococci and staphylococci, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci. Even if this provides first clues for assessing the risk related to vegetable-borne antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, the literature research reveals important knowledge gaps affecting almost every part of risk assessment and management. Especially, the need for (comparable) quantitative data as well as data on possible contamination sources other than irrigation water, organic fertilizer, and soil becomes obvious. Most crucially, dose-response studies would be needed to convert a theoretical "risk" (e.g., related to antimicrobial-resistant commensals and opportunistic pathogens) into a quantitative risk estimate.