Browsing by Author "Torres, C."
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- Acquired antibiotic resistance among wild animals: the case of Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus)Publication . Sousa, M.; Gonçalves, A.; Silva, N.; Serra, R.; Alcaide, E.; Zorrilla, I.; Torres, C.; Caniça, Manuela; IgrejaS, G.; Poeta, P.The selective pressure generated by the clinical misuse of antibiotics has been the major driving force leading to the emergence of antibiotic resistance among bacteria. Antibiotics or even resistant bacteria are released into the environment and contaminate the surrounding areas. Human and animal populations in contact with these sources are able to become reservoirs of these resistant organisms. Then, due to the convergence between habitats, the contact of wild animals with other animals, humans, or human sources is now more common and this leads to an increase in the exchange of resistance determinants between their microbiota. Indeed, it seems that wildlife populations living in closer proximity to humans have higher levels of antibiotic resistance. Now, the Iberian Lynx (Lynx pardinus) is a part of this issue, being suggested as natural reservoir of acquired resistant bacteria. The emerging public health concern regarding microbial resistance to antibiotics is becoming true: the bacteria are evolving and are now affecting unintentional hosts.
- First report on MRSA CC398 recovered from wild boars in the north of PortugalPublication . Sousa, M.; Silva, N.; Manageiro, V.; Ramos, S.; Coelho, A.; Gonçalves, D.; Caniça, M.; Torres, C.; Igrejas, G.; Poeta, P.More than 47% of the Portuguese hospital S. aureus isolates are methicillin-resistant (MRSA): one of the highest rates in Europe [1]. Anyhow, MRSA are becoming increasingly prevalent in community-acquired infections and, in recent years, new genetic lineages of MRSA were associated to livestock animals (LA-MRSA) [2, 3]. Nevertheless, less information do exists about the prevalence of MRSA in wild animals but, since 2013, these animals are pointed as natural hosts of MRSA strains [4]. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial resistance in Staphylococcus aureus recovered from wild boars, to analyze their genetic lineages, and to investigate the susceptibility to oxacillin. Samples from mouth and nose of 45 wild boars (Sus scrofa) were collected during hunt activity from November 2012 to January 2013 in the North of Portugal. S. aureus isolates were recovered from 30 of these samples (33%); one isolate/sample was further studied. The susceptibility of the isolates was tested by disk-diffusion test against 14 antimicrobial agents and minimal inhibitory concentration was used to test oxacillin according to EUCAST 2014 guidelines. The genetic lineages of S. aureus were characterized by agr-typing, spa-typing and MLST. From the 30 isolates, 18 S. aureus were susceptible to all antibiotics tested and 7 presented resistance to one or more of the following antibiotics: penicillin (n=3), oxacillin (n=4), cefoxitin (n=1), clindamycin (n=2), gentamicin (n=1), fusidic acid (n=1), ciprofloxacin (n=2), tetracycline (n=1) and linezolid (n=1). One MRSA CC398 (spa-type t899) isolate was detected (oxacillin MIC=32mg/L and mecApositive), which presented resistance to penicillin, tetracycline, and ciprofloxacin and contained the genes of immune evasion cluster (IEC) system (type B). The 29 methicillin-susceptible isolates were typed as ST1 (t1533), ST133 (t3583), ST1643 (t10712), ST2328 (t3750) and the new STs (3220, 3222, 3223, 3224) associated to new spa-types t14311 and t14312. The agr types I, II, III and IV were identified. It is a matter of concern when MRSA and some specific lineages of S. aureus are taken as commensal habitants of the skin and nose of wild animals and are characterized with resistance to various antimicrobial agents in clinical use.
- A importância dos artrópodes ixodídeos para a Saúde Pública na Região de Saúde do CentroPublication . Torres, C.; Santos, A.S.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Gomes, F.; Serrada, E.; Gonçalo, J.; Codeiro, E.; Menezes de Almeida, L.; Tavares, A.; Santos Silva, M.; Núncio, M.S.; Pimentel, J.P.As doenças transmitidas por vetores têm reemergido → alterações climáticas, demográficas, genéticas nos agentes patogénicos, resistências a inseticidas e mobilidade de populações e bens. Os ixodídeos são um dos vetores com mais impacto na Saúde Pública. Este estudo pretende caracterizar a distribuição de ixodídeos por critérios temporo-espaciais, ambientais e parasitismo, no âmbito da Rede de Vigilância de Vetores (REVIVE), da Administração Regional de Saúde do Centro (ARSC) de 2015 a 2019.
- A Multidisciplinary Approach to the First Autochthonous Case of Tularemia Reported in PortugalPublication . Cunha, F.; Lopes de Carvalho, I.; Torres, C.; Gonçalves, R.Francisella tularensis, a Gram-negative coccobacillus, is a highly virulent pathogen responsible for several zoonotic outbreaks in Europe in the last few decades. The authors report the case of a 46-year-old male who developed fever, myalgias and headache a week after having contact with animal feed contaminated by rodents. Serological tests were positive for Francisella tularensis. This first case of autochthonous tularemia in Portugal led to an intensive investigation involving several healthcare services and national governmental authorities. The authors address the possible underdiagnosis of this infection in the country.
- Staphylococci among Wild European Rabbits from the Azores: A Potential Zoonotic Issue?Publication . Sousa, M.; Silva, V.; Silva, A.; Silva, N.; Ribeiro, J.; Tejedor-Junco, M.T.; Capita, R.; Chenouf, N.S.; Alonso-Calleja, C.; Rodrigues, T.M.; Leitão, M.; Gonçalves, D.; Caniça, M.; Torres, C.; Igrejas, G.; Poeta, P.The prevalence and diversity of Staphylococcus species from wild European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in the Azores were investigated, and the antibiotic resistance phenotype and genotype of the isolates were determined. Nasal samples from 77 wild European rabbits from São Jorge and São Miguel islands in Azores were examined. Antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method, and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors was determined by PCR. The genetic lineages of S. aureus isolates were characterized by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. A total of 49 staphylococci were obtained from 35 of the 77 wild rabbits. Both coagulase-positive (8.2%) and coagulase-negative (91.8%) staphylococci were detected: 4 S. aureus, 17 S. fleurettii, 13 S. sciuri, 7 S. xylosus, 4 S. epidermidis, and 1 each of S. simulans, S. saprophyticus, S. succinus, and S. equorum. The four S. aureus isolates showed methicillin susceptibility and were characterized as spa type t272/CC121, Panton-Valentine leukocidin negative, and hlB positive. Most of the coagulase-negative staphylococci showed resistance to fusidic acid and beta-lactams, and multidrug resistance was identified especially among S. epidermidis isolates. The mecA gene was detected in 20 isolates of the species S. fleurettii and S. epidermidis, associated with the blaZ gene in one S. epidermidis isolate. Five antimicrobial resistance genes were detected in one S. epidermidis isolate (mecA,dfrA,dfrG,aac6'-aph2'', and ant4). Our results highlight that wild rabbits are reservoirs or "temporary hosts" of Staphylococcus species with zoonotic potential, some of them carrying relevant antimicrobial resistances.