In Nicaragua, there are ideal environmental conditions for leptospirosis. The objective of this investigation was to detect pathogenic and saprophytic leptospires in water and soil samples from leptospirosis-endemic areas in Nicaragua. Seventy-eight water and 42 soil samples were collected from houses and rivers close to confirmed human cases. Leptospira spp was isolated in Ellinghausen–McCullough–Johnson–Harris (EMJH) culture medium with 5-fluororacil and positive samples were analyzed through PCR for the LipL32 gene, specific for pathogenic leptospires (P1 clade). There were 73 positive cultures from 120 samples, however only six of these (5% of all collected samples) were confirmed to be pathogenic, based on the presence of the LipL32 gene (P1 clade). Of these six pathogenic isolates, four were from Leon and two from Chinandega. Four pathogenic isolates were obtained from water and two from soil. This study proved the contamination of water and soil with pathogenic leptospires, which represents a potential risk for public health.

Background The black spiny‐tailed iguana (Ctenosaura similis) is an endemic animal in Mesoamerica, whose meat is consumed by the local population. Objectives Because the black spiny‐tailed iguana may be potential reservoirs of pathogens, this study aimed to isolate and characterise Salmonella spp. in their meat commercialised in markets of the city of León, Nicaragua. Methods Thirteen specimens were analysed for the isolation of Salmonella spp., as well as their antimicrobial resistance patterns, including the presence of genes encoding extended‐spectrum β‐lactamases. Results Salmonella spp. isolates were found in eight out of 13 samples, with S. enterica serovar Enteritidis being found in six out of eight samples. Moreover, eight Salmonella spp. isolates were resistant to amoxicillin plus clavulanic acid and cephalexin, but sensitive to other tested antibiotics. The blaSHV gene was detected in seven out of eight Salmonella spp. isolates, followed by the blaTEM (two out of eight) and blaCXT‐M (one out of eight) genes. Conclusions These findings represent an important contribution to the implementation of appropriate strategies to prevent foodborne diseases.

El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar bacterias patógenas en peces procedentes de 4 comunidades en la costa del Pacífico en el occidente de Nicaragua. Se recolectaron 62 peces para realizar el análisis microbiológico a partir de muestras de músculo, las cuales fueron inoculadas en agar tiosulfato citrato bilis sacarosa y agar tripticasa de soja. La identificación bacteriana se realizó mediante pruebas bioquímicas y de tolerancia a diferentes concentraciones de NaCl, y para determinar la resistencia bacteriana, se empleó el método Kirby-Bauer. Los resultados mostraron presencia de Vibrio metschnikovii en un 30.64% (IC 95%: 18.36–42.92) de las muestras de peces, mientras que Salinivibrio costicola fue detectada en un 22.58% (IC 95%: 11.37–33.79) de las muestras. Staphylococcus coagulasa negativa (SCN) fue detectada en un 82.30% (IC 95%: 71.94–92.57) de las muestras. Especies del género Vibrio fueron detectadas a una concentración de 3.9 × 103 UFC·g–1 en las muestras de peces de la comunidad Las Peñitas y de 2.52 × 103 UFC·g–1 en las de Poneloya, y estos valores fueron significativamente mayores (P = 0.003) que aquellos encontrados para las muestras de El Tránsito (5.25 × 102 UFC·g–1). Además, el 100% de las cepas de V. metschnikovii y S. costicola fueron resistentes a amoxicilina/ácido clavulánico y sensibles a ciprofloxacina. La carga bacteriana de S. costicola es propia de ambientes marinos y no representa riesgo sanitario. Sin embargo, V. metschnikovii puede estar presente en el pescado crudo y, por lo tanto, representa un peligro para la salud pública, así como también lo es SCN, que es un indicador de contaminación antropogénica.