Context: Staphylococcus aureus is spread via direct contact with persons and indirect contact via environmental surfaces such as weight benches. Athletes participating in direct-contact sports have an increased risk of acquiring S aureus infections. Objective: To determine (1) potential environmental reservoirs of S aureus in football and wrestling locker rooms and weight rooms, (2) environmental bacterial status after employing more stringent cleaning methods, (3) differences in colonization rates between athletes and nonathletes, (4) exposed body locations where Staphylococcus was recovered more frequently, and (5) personal hygiene practices of athletes and nonathletes. Design: Cross-sectional study. Setting: Locker room and strengthening and conditioning facilities at a National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II university. Patients or Other Participants: Collegiate football players and wrestlers, with nonathlete campus residents serving as the control group. Intervention(s): Infection control methods, education of the custodial staff, and education of the athletes regarding the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines for infection prevention. Main Outcome Measure(s): Cultures were taken from the participants' noses, fingertips, knuckles, forearms, and shoes and from the environment. Results: Before the intervention, from the 108 environmental samples taken from the football locker room and weight room, 26 (24%) contained methicillin-susceptible S aureus (MSSA) and 33 (31%) contained methicillin-resistant S aureus (MRSA). From the 39 environmental samples taken from the wrestling locker room and pit areas, 1 (3%) contained MSSA and 4 (10%) contained MRSA. The MRSA rates were different between the 2 locations according to a χ2 test (P  =  .01). Seven MRSA isolates were recovered from football players and 1 from a wrestler; no MRSA isolates were recovered from the control group. The fingertip location of S aureus recovery from football players was significant when compared with both other locations in football players and fingertips in wrestlers and the control group (P < .05). Football players and wrestlers shared more personal items than the control group (P < .05). After the intervention, the football locker room and weight room samples were negative for S aureus. Conclusions: Intact strengthening and conditioning equipment, proper hygiene, and proper disinfection methods lowered both environmental and human S aureus recovery at 1 university.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus is an emerging pathogen afflicting healthy individuals without known risk factors, and methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus has been shown to colonize multiple family members sharing households. Because household items such as towels are often shared by family members, this study investigated whether cotton towel absorbency or washing conditions affect Staphylococcus aureus cell viability or cell retention, and whether the levels may be sufficient for person-to-person transmission. Methodology: Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 was added to a 48 mm 2 template area on three cotton towel types (terry, pima, and Egyptian), and subjected to hand washing, without manual wringing, in three conditions (water only, bleach addition, or liquid detergent addition). Serial dilutions plated onto mannitol salt plates quantified bacteria for inoculations, pre-and post-wash water samples, towel surfaces, and hand transfer. Hand transfer of bacteria was determined on towels immediately, one, 24, and 48 hours post inoculation. Results: Bleach (p ≤ .05) was the most effective at reducing bacterial viability on all towel types compared to detergent and water. Although not statistically significant, more Staphylococcus colonies were recovered from higher absorbency towels and from inside directly inoculated template areas. A paired t-test showed a difference between immediate and one-hour CFUs versus 24-and 48-hour recoveries (0.0002) for hand transfers. Conclusions: Cell viability decreased for over 48 hours on towels, but sufficient quantities may remain for colonization. More absorbent towels may harbor more Staphylococci than less absorbent ones, and may serve as a transmission mechanism for the bacterium.

The scimitar-horned oryx, Oryx dammah, an endangered species extinct in the wild, is managed in various captive management programs and is the focus of reintroduction efforts. Management variability can contribute to substantial parasite load differences, which can affect deworming programs and potentially transfer parasites to different regions with translocations. Parasite studies in O. dammah are lacking. In this study, we determined fecal egg/oocyst counts of O. dammah in two captive herds, Fossil Rim Wildlife Center (FRWC) and Kansas City Zoo (KCZ). Fecal egg counts (FEC) were performed on O. dammah feces collected seasonally using the modified McMaster method, and microscopy provided additional identification of parasite genera ova and oocysts. To identify parasites to species level, homogenized fecals provided DNA subjected to the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using genus specific primers. Microscopy and sequencing results indicated the presence of Strongylus (Strongylus vulgaris, Angiostrongylus cantonensis), Trichostrongylus (Haemonchus contortus, Camelostrongylus mentulatus), Trichuris (T. leporis, T. ovis, and T. discolor), Isospora (Isospora gryphoni) and Eimeria (E. zuernii and E. bovis), with Strongylus being the most common. Nematodirus was identified through microscopy at FRWC. Fecal egg counts were significantly higher in (FRWC) than in (KCZ) in all samplings (P = <0.001). No significant difference was seen between parasite load and seasons (P = 0.103), nor site and season (P = 0.51). Both study sites maintained most animals within commonly accepted FEC levels found in domestic livestock. Individuals with high numbers of EPG or OPG were subordinate males, pregnant females, or neonates. Several significant interactions were found between genera of parasites, age, sex, season, and pregnancy status in the FRWC herd. Sampling limitations prevented further analysis of the KCZ herd. Understanding interactions between parasite loads and physiological, environmental, and regional differences can help determine inter-specific transfer of parasites, and establish appropriate anthelmintic programs for O. dammah herds.

Many saprophytic bacteria have LuxR-I-type acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) quorum-sensing systems that may be important for competing with other bacteria in complex soil communities. LuxR AHL receptors specifically interact with cognate AHLs to cause changes in expression of target genes. Some LuxR-type AHL receptors have relaxed specificity and are responsive to non-cognate AHLs. These promiscuous receptors might be used to sense and respond to AHLs produced by other bacteria by eavesdropping. We are interested in understanding the role of eavesdropping during interspecies competition. The soil saprophyte Chromobacterium subtsugae has a single AHL circuit, CviR-I, which produces and responds to N-hexanoyl-HSL (C6-HSL). The AHL receptor CviR can respond to a variety of AHLs in addition to C6-HSL. In prior studies we have utilized a coculture model with C. subtsugae and another soil saprophyte, Burkholderia thailandensis . Using this model, we previously showed that promiscuous activation of CviR by B. thailandensis AHLs provides a competitive advantage to C. subtsugae . Here, we show that B. thailandensis AHLs activate transcription of dozens of genes in C. subtsugae, including the hcnABC genes coding for production of hydrogen cyanide. We show that hydrogen cyanide production is population density-dependent and demonstrate that the cross-induction of hydrogen cyanide by B. thailandensis AHLs provides a competitive advantage to C. subtsugae . Our results provide new information on C. subtsugae quorum sensing and are the basis for future studies aimed at understanding the role of eavesdropping in interspecies competition.

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