Abstract Candida spp. is one of the main pathogens associated with nosocomial infection in Brazil and worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the distribution of Candida yeasts in the ICU and their susceptibility to the antifungal agents terbinafine and fluconazole. The samples were collected by swabbing nine surfaces in the ICU of a hospital located in Pelotas, RS. These isolates were genetically characterized by sequencing the internal transcript spacer (ITS) using the primers ITS1 and ITS4. The test against antifungals was performed by Microdilution in Broth (CLSI-M27-A4). 64 yeasts identified as Candida parapsilosis (45.31%; n = 29), Meyerozyma (Pichia) guilliermondii (28.12%; n = 18), Claviceps lusitaneae (25%; n = 16) and Candida tropicalis (1, 56%; n = 1) mostly at the counter used for handling medicines and food distribution (68.75%; n = 44). Susceptibility to antifungals varied between species. These results describe potentially pathogenic Candida species as contaminants in the ICU environment. The study environment is a potential source of exogenous infection for hospitalized patients.

Escherichia coli enterohemorrágica (EHEC) sorotipo O157:H7 representa as principais cepas de E. coli produtoras de toxina Shiga (STEC) relatadas em grandes surtos e doenças graves, tais como colite hemorrágica (CH) e síndrome hemolítica urêmica (SHU), potencialmente letais. O objetivo deste estudo foi reportar a ocorrência e caracterização molecular de STEC 0157:H7 isoladas por swab retal de 52 bovinos saudáveis pertencentes a 21 rebanhos leiteiros do Centro-Oeste do Brasil. A detecção dos genes 16SrRNA, stx1, stx2, rfbO157, fliCh7, eae, ehxA, saa, cnf1, chuA, yjaA e TSPE4.C2 foi realizada por PCR. Os isolados foram ainda caracterizados por sorotipagem. Dos 260 isolados de E. coli obtidos, 126 foram caracterizados como STEC. Dois deles, oriundos do mesmo animal, foram caracterizados como pertencentes ao sorotipo O157:H7. Ambos apresentaram os genes de virulência stx2, eae, ehxA, saa e cnf1 e na caracterização filogenética, o gene chuA (grupo patogênico D), sugerindo que eles foram clones. A prevalência de O157:H7 foi de 1,92% (1/52 animais), demonstrando que os bovinos leiteiros saudáveis de fazendas do Centro-Oeste do Brasil são importantes reservatórios de E. coli O157:H7 altamente patogênicas.

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serotype O157:H7 represents the major Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strain related to large outbreaks and severe diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and the potentially lethal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The aim of this study was to report the occurrence and molecular characterization of O157:H7 isolates obtained by rectal swab from 52 healthy dairy cattle belonging to 21 farms in Mid-West of Brazil. Detection of 16SrRNA, stx1, stx2, rfbO157, fliCh7, eae, ehxA, saa, cnf1, chuA, yjaA and TSPE4.C2 genes was performed by PCR. The isolates were further characterized by serotyping. Two hundred and sixty E. coli isolates were obtained, of which 126 were characterized as STEC. Two isolates from the same cow were identified as serotype O157:H7. Both isolates presented the stx2, eae, ehxA, saa and cnf1 virulence factor genes and the chuA gene in the phylogenetic classification (virulent group D), suggesting that they were clones. The prevalence of O157:H7 was found to be 1.92% (1/52 animals), demonstrating that healthy dairy cattle from farms in the Mid-West of Brazil are an important reservoir for highly pathogenic E. coli O157:H7.

A piroplasmose equina causada por Theileria equi é uma das mais importantes doenças parasitárias de equídeos, causando danos a saúde animal e perdas econômicas. Em T. equi, 2 proteínas de superfície de merozoítos, equi merozoite antigen EMA-1 e EMA-2, têm sido identificadas como antígenos imunodominantes. Sugerindo que estes antígenos possam ser usados como produtos imunobiológicos. O gene EMA-1 de T. equi foi clonado e expressado na levedura Pichia pastoris. As leveduras transformadas foram cultivadas a altas densidades celulares expressando 389 mg.L-1 de proteína recombinante. A proteína foi concentrada e detectada em Dot blot. O produto recombinante foi antigenicamente similar à proteína nativa quando determinado usando anticorpo monoclonal e anticorpos policlonais obtidos de equinos naturalmente infectados com T. equi. A imunogenicidade da proteína rEMA-1 foi demonstrada por RIFI utilizando soro de camundongos imunizados com proteína recombinante usando hidróxido de alumínio como adjuvante. Todos os animais vacinados com rEMA-1 desenvolveram uma alta resposta específica de anticorpos. Esses resultados sugerem que rEMA-1 expressa em P. pastoris possa ser um candidato para ser usado como antígeno para diagnóstico imunológico bem como antígeno para vacinas.

The equine piroplasmosis caused by Theileria equi is one of the most important parasitic diseases of the equine, causing damage to animal health and economic losses. In T. equi, 2 merozoite surface proteins, equi merozoite antigen EMA-1 and EMA-2, have been identified as the most immunodominant antigens. This suggests that these antigens might be used as immunobiological tools. The EMA-1 of Theileria equi was cloned and expressed in the yeast Pichia pastoris. The transformed yeast was grown at high cell density, expressing up to 389 mg.L-1 of recombinant protein. The protein was concentrated and detected in Dot blot. The recombinant product was antigenically similar to the native protein as determined using monoclonal antibodies, and polyclonal antibodies obtained from equines naturally infected with T. equi. The immunogenicity of rEMA-1 protein was demonstrated by IFAT using sera from recombinant-protein-immunized mice using aluminum hydroxide as adjuvant. All animals vaccinated with rEMA-1 developed a high specific antibody response. This results suggest that rEMA-1expressed in P. pastoris might be a strong candidate to be used as an antigen for immune diagnostics as well as a vaccine antigen.