Search

Aims: Toxoplasmosis is one of the most common food‐borne parasitic zoonosis, caused by Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular protozoan parasite. A cross‐sectional study was carried out to determine the seroprevalence of T. gondii and associated risk factors in pigs in Haryana, India. Methods and Results: Serum samples were collected from 429 pigs from three agroclimatic zones (I–III) of Haryana and analysed for the presence of antibodies against T. gondii using a commercial indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Anti‐T. gondii antibodies were detected in 106 animals (24.7%), with the highest seropositivity in zone II (31.3%) followed by zone III (24.4%) and zone I (18.3%). Risk factors associated with higher seropositivity in pigs were farm size (higher in large‐sized farms), age (higher in pigs >1 year of age), sex (higher in males), type of feeding (higher in combination of homemade and hotel waste) and housing (higher in free‐ranging pigs). Conclusions: The findings of the study testify to the exposure of pigs (of all agro‐climatic zones) to T. gondii. Hence, the observations are of significant medical and veterinary importance for devising and implementing control measures to check the dissemination of toxoplasmosis to pigs and eventually to humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has been identified as a global threat. E. coli is known to carry different AMR genes and responsible for huge economic loss owing to AMR. In the present study 14 previously confirmed E. coli isolates associated with piglet diarrhea were analyzed for pathogenicity and hemolysin production traits, molecular detection of AMR genes, screening for extended-spectrum ß-lactamases (ESBLs) by phenotypic and molecular methods. These isolates were previously identified as E. coli by Vitek 2 Compact system and revealed antimicrobial resistance using the disc diffusion method. After re-confirmation using PCR amplification of uspA (universal stress protein) gene, these isolates were characterized for pathogenic traits. AMR genes for penicillins, cephalosporins, tetracyclines, and sulfonamide drugs were probed in 14 isolates. Phenotypic ESBL detection method revealed 5/14 (37.5%) of the isolates as ESBL positive. Molecular methods using ESBL genes found 6/14 (42.8%) isolates as ESBL positive. We also investigated the presence of sulfa and tetracyclines AMR genes in these isolates. Out of 14 isolates, the sul2 gene in five isolates, sul1 gene in seven isolates and tetB gene in two isolates, was detected out of 14 isolates. None of the isolates were found to carry tetA, tetM, and dfrA1 genes. The present study finds swine E. coli isolates carrying blaTEM, blaSHV, and blaCTX-M genes along with other antimicrobial resistance genes viz., sul1, sul2, and tetB. Thus, this study suggests further surveillance for the detection of resistance genes among E. coli isolates of swine-origin as these genes can be transferred to human E. coli isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensification of the animal husbandry sector in India has coincided with increased administration of antibiotics in food-producing animals for the treatment and prevention of diseases or to promote growth and enhance productivity. Antibiotics are an important tool for the livestock sector to meet the increased domestic demand of food for the burgeoning human population. The irrational use of antibiotics in food-producing animals has resulted in the occurrence of the residues in milk, meat, eggs, etc., and may lead to adverse health effects in consumers. Also there is growing concern that nonprudent use of antibiotics is linked with the escalating emergence of human infections with antibiotic-resistant pathogens of zoonotic importance. Regulations controlling the use of antibiotics in human and animal medicine in India are very weak and in its initial phases. The aim of this review is to investigate the Indian scenario with regards to the occurrence of antibiotics residues and emergence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens from foods of animal origin. Studies conducted in various parts of the country revealed varying concentrations of antibiotic residues and varying occurrence of antibiotic-resistant pathogens in animal-originated foods highlighting the need of effective control strategies for combating this potentially serious problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]