Cloning, expression and characterization of SeM protein of Streptococcus equi subsp. equi and evaluation of its use as antigen in an indirect ELISA

A adenite equina é uma enfermidade economicamente importante de equinos, causada por Streptococcus equi subsp. equi. Seu diagnóstico pode ser confirmado de forma direta, por meio de isolamento bacteriano e de PCR, ou de forma indireta, por meio de ELISA, método baseado na detecção de anticorpos séricos. O objetivo deste estudo foi clonar, expressar e caracterizar a proteína SeM de Streptococcus equi subsp. equi, avaliar sua utilização como antígeno em um ELISA indireto e determinar a capacidade do teste de distinguir soros de animais negativos, vacinados e positivos. Para tal, foi inicialmente realizada a clonagem do gene que codifica para a proteína SeM e sua expressão em Escherichia coli. Posteriormente, a proteína produzida foi caracterizada e utilizada como antígeno em um teste de ELISA indireto. Para avaliação do teste, foram utilizadas amostras de soro de 40 potros negativos, de 46 equinos vacinados com uma vacina comercial contra adenite equina e de 46 equinos com diagnóstico da doença. O teste demonstrou alta sensibilidade e especificidade, permitindo discriminar entre soros negativos e positivos, positivos e de animais vacinados, e negativos e de animais vacinados. Assim, conclui-se que a proteína rSeM produzida pode ser usada como antígeno para o diagnóstico da enfermidade e que o ELISA descrito pode ser útil para avaliar o estado imunológico do rebanho.

Prevalência de Streptococcus suis sorotipo 2: discussão da literatura brasileira

Streptococcus suis is considered worldwide as one of the pathogens of biggest health and economic impact in the swine industry. Among the serotypes described as zoonotic, serotype 2 is the most frequently isolated from diseased animals and humans in most countries. The study of the epidemiology of S. suis infections in Brazil is important and may help in the development of effective control measures. The aim of this study was to conduct a critical review of Brazilian literature, with support of the world literature, addressing the diagnosis of the agent and its prevalence in clinically ill animals and healthy carriers, especially regarding to the prevalence of the serotype 2 in the country.

Desempenho e hematologia de tilápias-do-nilo alimentadas com Saccharomyces cerevisiae e vacinadas contra Streptococcus agalactiae

The objective of this work was to evaluate the inter-relationship between dietary supplementation with Saccharomyces cerevisiae cell wall and vaccination against Streptococcus agalactiae, and its effect on the productive performance and hematological variables of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Eighty-four Nile tilapia were distributed in 12 fiber boxes (n=7), in a 2x2x3 factorial arrangement, corresponding to two levels of supplementation with yeast cell wall, two types of inoculation, and three evaluation times. Fish were fed during 77 days. Vaccination of fish was done 60 days after feeding started. Fifteen days after vaccination, all fish were subjected to challenge with live strain of S. agalactiae, and 6, 24, and 48 hours after the challenge, blood was collected from the caudal vein for evaluations. Fish fed with supplemented diets show greater weight gain and specific growth rate, and the interaction between the diet and vaccination effects results in higher hematocrit, hemoglobin, and leukocyte rates.

Resposta imune de tilápias do Nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) vacinadas contra Streptococcus agalactiae

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Antimicrobial susceptibility of streptococcus suis isolated from clinically healthy swine in Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Streptococcus agalactiae in Brazil: serotype distribution, virulence determinants and antimicrobial susceptibility

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Composition and Activity against Oral Pathogens of the Essential Oil of Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC.

The chemical composition of the essential oil isolated from the aerial parts of Melampodium divaricatum (Rich.) DC. (Asteraceae) was characterized by GC-FID and GC/MS analyses. (E)-Caryophyllene (56.0%), germacrene D (12.7%), and bicyclogermacrene (9.2%) were identified as the major oil components. The antimicrobial activity of the oil against seven standard strains of oral pathogens from the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) was evaluated by determining minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) using the microdilution method. MIC Values below 100 mu g/ml were obtained against Streptococcus sobrinus (90 mu g/ml), Lactobacillus casei (30 mu g/ml), S. mutans (20 mu g/ml), and S. mitis (18 mu g/ml). In contrast, the MIC values of the major oil compound (E)-caryophyllene were higher than 400 mu g/ml against all pathogens, suggesting that the activity of the oil might depend on minor oil components and/or on synergistic effects. The M. divaricatum essential oil is a promising agent to include in anticariogenic oral rinse formulations for the control of oral pathogens.

Comparação do efeito do bochecho de triclosan + copolímero + fluor, com a clorexidina, sobre a taxa de formação da placa dentária, retenção de antimicrobiano na placa dentária e na saliva e redução de estreptococos do grupo mutans na saliva: estudo clínico randomizado, cruzado, duplo-cego controlado

Pós-graduação em Ciências Odontológicas - FOAR

Incidência de colonização retovaginal por Streptococcus agalactiae em gestantes e avaliação de cultura de swabs combinados

A identificação de fatores de risco para colonização vaginal materna por Streptococcus agalactiae tem sido objeto de estudo na literatura mundial pois essa colonização frequentemente é assintomática e pode causar bacteremia nos recémnascidos, com significante morbidade e mortalidade, especialmente em prematuros. O objetivo do estudo foi associar a colonização por S. agalactiae com o padrão da microbiota vaginal das gestantes e avaliar a eficácia de swabs combinados na detecção de S. agalactiae. Foram incluídas no estudo 405 gestantes em idade gestacional entre 35 e 37 semanas, atendidas no Pré-Natal do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Botucatu, UNESP. Utilizando-se swabs estéreis foram obtidas amostras da região anorretal, do intróito vaginal e do terço distal da parede vaginal. O material coletado foi cultivado em caldo Todd Hewit suplementado com colistina (10g/mL) e ácido nalidíxico (15g/mL), por 18 a 24 horas à 37oC, em seguida, realizada subcultura em ágar-sangue a 5% sob as mesmas condições. As colônias sugestivas de S. agalactiae foram submetidas a coloração de Gram e ao teste da catalase e ao CAMP test. O padrão de microbiota vaginal foi avaliado empregandose a técnica de coloração de Gram. Os dados sócio-demográficos e obstétricos foram obtidos por formulário próprio. Considerando como variável resposta a colonização materna ou não por S. agalactiae, foi ajustado um modelo de regressão logística adotando o método stepwise, considerando as variáveis explanatórias quantitativas e qualitativas. Para positividade de cultura em swabs combinados e isolados foi empregado o teste de Tukey. colonização materna por S. agalactiae foi de 25,4%. Em relação à microbiota vaginal, as alterações mais freqüentes foram vaginose citolítica (11,3%) seguido de vaginose bacteriana (10,9%), candidíase (8,2%) e Flora II ...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo)

Leucograma e perfil bioquímico sérico de cabras com mastite experimental causada por Staphylococcus aureus e Streptococcus agalactiae

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Ocorrência, sorotipagem e rsistência antimicrobiana de Streptococcus suis em funcionários e ambente de abatedouro de sínos

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The effect of chlorhexidine on plaque index and mutans streptococci in orthodontic patients: A pilot study

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess chlorhexidine effects on plaque index and salivary levels of mutans streptococci (MS) when used as the immersion solution for removable orthodontic appliances and added to their acrylic resin composition. Methods: Forty-five patients (6 to 12 years old) were randomly assigned into three groups with 15 patients each. Group I (control)—without orthodontic appliances disinfection; Group II—removable orthodontic appliances which had been immersed in 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate overnight (8 hours), and Group III—orthodontic appliances in which 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate solution had been incorporated into their resin composition. Saliva was collected for quantification of MS and evaluation of plaque index was performed before and after installation of orthodontic appliance at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 weeks. Data were analyzed by using analysis of variance. Results: Number of MS colonies in saliva and plaque index showed no statistically differences among groups at the different periods (p > 0.05). Conclusions: It could be concluded that chlorhexidine incorporation into the acrylic resin of removable orthodontic appliances at 0.12% concentration and immersion of the appliance into 0.12% chlorhexidine solution were not effective in reducing plaque index and the number of MS in saliva.

Isolamento de Streptococcus agalactiae em diferentes órgãos de tilápias do nilo (Oreochromis niloticus) criadas em tanques-rede

Streptococcosis is one of the major causes of mortality in tilapia's creation in Brazil, inducing great economic losses. As soon, the study objectived to determinate the frequency of isolation and identification the Streptococcus agalactiae in organs different of Oreochromis niloticus naturally infected, derived from eight fish farms in the northern region of the state of Parana, that presented clinical signs characteristics of streptococcal disease. However, blood samples and fragments (kidney, liver, spleen, heart and brain) were collected. These all samples were plated on solid medium of brain and heart infusion (BHI) added 5% ovine blood and incubated at 29 degrees C for 7 days in aerophilic conditions. Behind, the bacterial growth and from the macro and microscopic features, colonies compatibles with Streptococcus sp. gender, were selected. The species were identified by PCR reaction and confirmed by sequencing of 16S rDNA gene. The results exhibited that in tilapia of Nile infected with S. agalactiae the isolation is more common in brain, kidney and liver in descending order.

Antiseptic mouthwashes: in vitro antibacterial activity

Mouthwashes are used as an adjunct to tooth brushing for improving breath and preventing oral diseases. The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro Maximum Inhibitory Dilution (MID) of 3 mouthwashes with different active ingredients against mutans streptococci (MS). The products analyzed were PeriogardR, CepacolR and PlaxR Fresh Mint. Their antibacterial activity was assessed in duplicate in 96-well microtiter plates against 36 clinical isolates of MS. Each mouthwash was submitted to a serial two-fold dilution (1/2.5 to 1/5120) using double concentration of Tryptose Soy Broth with 1.0% yeast extract. The final volume in each well was 100 mL plus 5 mL of a bacterial suspension, equivalent to 107 CFU/mL. They were incubated microaerobically at 37oC for 48 hours and the MIDs determined. MID was 1/320 for PeriogardR and CepacolR, and 1/20 for PlaxR. Statistical analysis revealed that the MID of PeriogardR MID did not differ from that of CepacolR (p>0.05), and was higher than that of PlaxR (p<0.05). In conclusion, the antiseptic mouthwashes containing chlorhexidine (PeriogardR) and cetylpyridinium chloride (CepacolR) had higher in vitroantibacterial activity (MID) against MS than the antiseptic mouthwash containing triclosan (PlaxR), according to microbiological method employed.

Uncaria tomentosa increases growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus challenged with Streptococcus agalactiae

Cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa) is an Amazon herb using in native cultures in Peru. In mammals, it has been described several effects of this herb. However, this is the first report of its use on the diet of fish. The aim of this study was to determinate the effect of this plant on the growth and immune activity in Oreochromis niloticus. Nile tilapia (81.3 ± 4.5 g) were distributed into 5 groups and supplemented with 0 (non-supplement fish), 75, 150, 300, and 450 mg of U. tomentosa.kg(-1) of diet for a period of 28 days. Fish were inoculated in the swim bladder with inactivated Streptococcus agalactiae and samples were taken at 6, 24, and 48 h post inoculation (HPI). Dose dependent increases were noted in some of the evaluated times of thrombocytes and white blood cells counts (WBC) in blood and exudate, burst respiratory activity, lysozyme activity, melanomacrophage centers count (MMCs), villi length, IgM by immunohistochemistry in splenic tissue, and unexpectedly on growth parameters. However, dietary supplementation of this herb did not affect red blood cells count (RBC), hemoglobin, and there were no observed histological lesions in gills, intestine, spleen, and liver. The current results demonstrate for the first time that U. tomentosa can stimulate fish immunity and improve growth performance in Nile tilapia.