An epidemiological investigation was carried out on common blood parasites (protozoa and rickettsia) in clinically suspected (febrile, anorectic, non responsive to antibiotics therapy) cattle attended at District veterinary hospital of Sirajgong. Total 60 cattle were examined for blood parasite (protozoa and rickettsia) infection. Giemsa's stained were used on peripheral blood smears of suspected cattle. These slides were examined microscopically during September to October, 2004, of which 42 cattle (70 % of the total examined cattle) had Anaplasma infection (either Anaplasma marginale or Anaplasma centrale or both) and 2 cattle (3.3% of the total cattle) had Babesia infection but negative for other blood protozoal infection.

This study was undertaken to detect the occurrence of beta‐lactamase and biofilm producing Enterobacteriaceae in healthy ducks. A total 202 cloacal swabs were collected from ducks kept in organized (n = 92) and backyard (n = 110) farms in West Bengal (India). The ducks had no history of antibiotic intake. Among the 87 phenotypically beta‐lactamase producing Escherichia coli, 19 (17·43%), 6 (5·05%) and 15 (13·76%) isolates possessed blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX‐M respectively. Whereas, 5 (38·46%) Salmonella isolates were found to harbour blaCTX‐M. In K. pneumoniae 10 (33·33%), 3 (13·33%), 4 (13·33%) isolates possessed blaTEM, blaSHV and blaCTX‐M respectively. The sequences of selected PCR products were found 98% cognate with blaCTX‐M‐9, blaSHV‐12 and blaTEM‐1. Beta‐lactamase producing E. coli isolates belonged to 14 different serogroups such as O1, O2, O3, O5, O7, O8, O35, O83, O84, O88, O119, O128, O145 and O157. Moreover, 87 E. coli (79·82%), six Samonella (46·15%) and 13 K. pneumoniae (43·33%) isolates were detected as AmpC producers possessing blaAmpC. Majority of E. coli (46·79%), Salmonella (46·15%) and K. pneumoniae (70%) isolates were detected as biofilm producers and possessed the associated genes (csgA, sdiA, rcsA, rpoS). Significantly higher occurrence of beta‐lactamase and biofilm producing Enterobacteriaceae isolates was detected in backyard ducks than organized farms. Significance and Impact of the Study Consumption of antibiotic through feed or during therapy is considered as potential reason for generation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in birds. This study provides valuable evidence that exposure to contaminated environment may be an additional source for generation of antimicrobial resistant bacteria in backyard ducks. The backyard ducks are reared by marginal farmers in India who cannot offer antibiotics to them either through feed or during therapy due to high cost. The study also reveals a significant correlation between biofilm formation and possession of antimicrobial resistance genes in the bacterial isolates from the ducks.

Colistin (polymyxin E) is widely used in animal and human medicine and is increasingly used as one of the last-resort antibiotics against Gram-negative bacilli. Due to the increased use of colistin in treating infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, resistance to this antibiotic ought to be monitored. The study was undertaken to elucidate the molecular mechanisms, genetic relationships and phenotype correlations of colistin-resistant isolates. Here, we report the detection of the mcr-1 gene in chicken-associated Salmonella isolates in Bangladesh and its in-silico functional analysis. Out of 100 samples, 82 Salmonella spp. were isolated from chicken specimens (liver, intestine). Phenotypic disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) assay using different antimicrobial agents were performed. Salmonella isolates were characterized using PCR methods targeting genus-specific invA and mcr-1 genes with validation for the functional analysis. The majority of the tested Salmonella isolates were found resistant to colistin (92.68%), ciprofloxacin (73.17%), tigecycline (62.20%) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (60.98%). When screened using PCR, five out of ten Salmonella isolates were found to carry the mcr-1 gene. One isolate was confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Enteritidis, and other four isolates were confirmed for Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium. Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis revealed a divergent evolutionary relationship between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, rendering them resistant to colistin. Three-dimensional homology structural analysis of MCR-1 proteins and molecular docking interactions suggested that MCR-1 and LptA share a similar substrate binding cavity, which could be validated for the functional analysis. The comprehensive molecular and in-silico analyses of the colistin resistance mcr-1 gene of Salmonella spp. of chicken origin in the present study highlight the importance of continued monitoring and surveillance for antimicrobial resistance among pathogens in food chain animals.

(1) Background: A significant proportion of child laborers are compelled to work in exploitative environments, and experience both deteriorating health and financial loss. The present study sought to determine the factors affecting child labor and the characteristics of their working environment. (2) Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 80 child laborers aged 5 to 17 years. Alongside descriptive statistics, a newly devised technique known as the Influencing Causes Index (ICI) was administered and tested. (3) Results: The demographic findings reveal that most child laborers are young children (12–14 years) and 32.5% of child laborers have never attended school. The thorough assessment of determinants reflects that not only poverty but schooling expenses and a lack of access to opportunities in primary schools are also the top-ranked push factors to trigger children towards labor. Around 72.5% of children work for over 8 h a day. A significant proportion of participants received no leave, training, or access to hygiene facilities. The existing pattern of employment and working conditions resulted in musculoskeletal pain and dermatological infections among child laborers (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: This research suggests that income measures for households and an education program for both children and parents would expedite the abolition of child labor.

Zoonotic and antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli (hereafter, E. coli) is a global public health threat which can lead to detrimental effects on human health. Here, we aim to investigate the antimicrobial resistance and the presence of mcr-1 gene in E. coli isolated from chicken feces. Ninety-four E. coli isolates were obtained from samples collected from different locations in Bangladesh, and the isolates were identified using conventional microbiological tests. Phenotypic disk diffusion tests using 20 antimicrobial agents were performed according to CLSI-EUCAST guidelines, and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for a subset of samples. E. coli isolates showed high resistance to colistin (88.30%), ciprofloxacin (77.66%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (76.60%), tigecycline (75.53%), and enrofloxacin (71.28%). Additionally, the pathotype eaeA gene was confirmed in ten randomly selected E. coli isolates using primer-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The presence of mcr-1 gene was confirmed using PCR and sequencing analysis in six out of ten E. coli isolates. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a similarity between the catalytic domain of Neisseria meningitidis lipooligosaccharide phosphoethanolamine transferase A (LptA) and MCR proteins, indicating that the six tested isolates were colistin resistant. Finally, the findings of the present study showed that E. coli isolated from chicken harbored mcr-1 gene, and multidrug and colistin resistance. These findings accentuate the need to implement strict measures to limit the imprudent use of antibiotics, particularly colistin, in agriculture and poultry farms.