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In light of the significant public health and food safety implications associated with Clostridium perfringens, this study aimed to isolate and characterize C. perfringens in samples obtained from broiler chicken retail points in Meghalaya, northeastern India. A total of 280 samples comprising meat, intestinal contents, water, and hand swabs were processed to detect contamination by C. perfringens. The isolates were subjected to toxinotyping, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and biofilm-forming ability test. The overall occurrence of C. perfringens was 22.5% (17.74–27.85, 95% CI) with the highest recovery from intestine samples (31%; 22.13–41.03, 95% CI), followed by meat (23%, 15.17–32.49, 95% CI) and water samples (18%, 8.58–31.44, 95% CI). Type A was the predominant toxinotype (71.43%, 58.65–82.11, 95% CI), followed by Type A with beta2 toxin (17.46%, 9.05–29.10, 95% CI), Type C (7.94%, 2.63–17.56, 95% CI), and Type C with beta2 toxin (3.17%, 0.39–11.0, 95% CI). Nearly all (95.24%) isolates were multidrug resistant and 68.25% were biofilm formers. The predominance of multidrug-resistant and virulent Type A and Type C C. perfringens in retail broiler meat and intestines in the tribal-dominated northeastern region of India is of great concern from food safety and public health perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Salmonella spp. is an evolving crisis exacerbated by antibiotic misuse. The present study was undertaken to delineate the temporal trends in the emergence of AMR among Salmonella enterica strains from India. Genome sequences and metadata of Salmonella enterica isolates were obtained from NCBI and were analyzed by the Resistance Gene Identifier tool (Comprehensive Antimicrobial Resistance Database), ABRicate (PlasmidFinderDB), BacAnt (IntegronDB, TransposonDB). Core-genome phylogeny was constructed with Roary and IQ-TREE. Antibiotics approval data were collected from the Central Drug Control Standards Organisation website and were analyzed with SPSS. Overall, AMR genes against 23 antibiotic classes were detected with cephalosporins and fluoroquinolones being at the top (17 genes each). For many antibiotics (monobactams, glycylcyclines, fosfomycins, elfamycins, edeine) occurrences of AMR genes preceded approval of the antibiotic for use. A statistically significant difference (p<0.05) was observed for resistance mechanisms, gene families, and SNP patterns, though no difference was noted for AMR gene carriage among salmonellae at decadal intervals. Our results deciphered the trends of AMR in Indian isolates of Salmonella enterica, highlighting occurrences of AMR genes and mechanisms before antibiotic approval and the usefulness of WGS-based AMR analysis for guiding future policy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CSF is enzootic in most of pig-producing states, particularly in the NorthEastern (NE) region of India. In this study, a total of 249 sera and 190 tissue samples were collected from different parts of Meghalaya. Samples were processed by ELISA and RT-PCR for serological and molecular diagnosis. Representative positive samples from the Khasi Hills region were selected for sequencing and "close grid" phylogenetic relationship using partial genomic regions of 5′UTR and E2. High seroprevalence (74.7%) of CSFV was recorded. Detection of the CSFV genome in serologically positive serum samples and tissue samples was 61.29% and 18.94%, respectively. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses indicate the clustering of all the field samples in subgroup 2.2, with high identity with EF014334 from China. Molecular structural modelling of the E2 partial sequence using representative sequences MG563797 from Meghalaya and EF014334 from China indicate potential changes in the protein motif and its conformation, which may explain the emergence of subgroup 2.2 CSFV replacing the predominant subgroup 1.1 viruses in NorthEast India. The epidemiological information presented in this study may be helpful for determination of disease incidence in this region, whereas the virus profile may be useful for framing disease control programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens), is a spore-forming and toxin-producing pathogenic Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium with immense public health/zoonotic concern. Rodents are well-known reservoirs and vectors for a large number of zoonoses and strong links have been recognized between synanthropic rodents and foodborne disease outbreaks throughout the world. To date, no study has been conducted for studying the prevalence of C. perfringens in rodents and shrews. In this study, we investigated faecal samples from free-living rodents and shrews trapped in Meghalaya, a North-eastern hill state of India for the presence of virulent and antimicrobial-resistant C. perfringens. A total of 122 animals comprising six species of rodents and one species of shrews were trapped: Mus musculus (n = 15), Mus booduga (n = 7), Rattus rattus (n = 9), Rattus norvegicus (n = 3), Bandicota indica (n = 30), Bandicota bengalensis (n = 32) and Suncus murinus (n = 26). The faecal swabs were collected and processed for the isolation of C. perfringens. Toxinotyping was done using PCR. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing and biofilm forming ability testing were done using Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method and crystal violet assay. C. perfringens was isolated from 27 of the 122 faecal swabs (22.1%), from six species of rodents and shrews. Five of the host species were rodents, Bandicota bengalensis (25%), Bandicota indica (16.7%), Rattus norvegicus (33.3%), Mus musculus (13.3%), Mus booduga (42.8%) and Suncus murinus (shrew) (29.6%). The common toxinotype was type A (59.2%) followed by Type A with beta2 toxin (33.3%), Type C (3.7%) and Type C with beta2 toxin (3.7%). None of the isolates harboured cpe, etx, iap, and NetB genes and therefore none was typed as either B, D, E, F, or G. Nine isolates (33.3%) turned out to be multi-drug resistant (MDR), displaying resistance to three or more categories of antibiotics tested. Twenty-three out of twenty-seven isolates (85.2%) were forming biofilms. Globally, this is the first study to report the prevalence of C. perfringens and its virulence profile and antimicrobial resistance in free-living rodents and shrews. The rodents and shrews can potentially contaminate the food and environment and can infect humans and livestock with multi-drug resistant/virulent Type A and Type C C. perfringens. [Display omitted] • Globally, first study to describe the faecal prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in free-living rodents and shrews. • C. perfringens is 22.1% prevalent in free-living rodents and shrews. • C. perfringens type A, type A cpb2 +, type C, and type C cpb2 + strains were detected. • Multi-drug resistance was displayed by 33.3% of isolates. • Biofilm formation was identified in 85.2% of isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study reports faecal prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in free range ducks in North East India for the first time. We also report C. perfringens type A carrying cpb2 and cpe and type C carrying cpb2 and cpe strains in these ducks. Notably, a high prevalence (17.5%) of enterotoxin carrying C. perfringens strains and low antimicrobial resistance were observed. • Prevalence of C. perfringens in free-range ducks was 33.33% with lower antimicrobial resistance rate. • For the first time, C. perfringens type A cpb 2+ cpe +, type A cpe + and type C cpb2 + cpe + positive strains in free range ducks were detected. • 17.5% of C. perfringens isolates were positive for CP enterotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB), a neglected zoonotic disease caused by Mycobacterium bovis is being reported worldwide. The present work was carried out from December 2020 to November 2021 to assess the prevalence and risk factors of bTB in peri-urban and urban dairy farms of Guwahati, Assam, India. A questionnaire was used to collect data on knowledge about bTB on 36 farms, and ten animals per farm were screened by single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test (SICCT) to determine the prevalence of bTB, giving a total of 360 animals. The demographic data of the farmers revealed that 61.1% respondents were illiterate, 66.7% had no awareness about bovine tuberculosis and 41.7% consumed unpasteurised milk and milk products. SICCT showed that 38 cattle from 18 of the farms were positive reactors for bTB, yielding an overall animal level prevalence of 10.55% (95% confidence interval (CI = 7.58-14.2%) and a 50% herd prevalence (95% CI 32.9-67.1%). Animals 5 years and above were found to be more likely to be positive for bTB (17.18%). The study highlighted the widespread prevalence of bovine tuberculosis in peri-urban and urban dairy farms of Guwahati which gives a picture also about other major cities of India. Hence, it is of utmost importance to undertake a comprehensive epidemiological study in such cities for effective control and prevention of bTB in a one health approach., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest Authors have no conflict of interest in this study., (Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Ltd.)