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Aims This study aimed to determine the toxin genotypes, virulence determinants and antibiogram of Clostridium perfringens isolated from poultry, animals and humans. Biofilm formation and the efficacy of disinfectants on C. perfringens biofilms were studied. Methods and Results Thirty C. perfringens isolates (20 clinical and 10 from chicken carcasses) were genotyped by PCR and all isolates were genotype A (cpa+). The overall prevalence of cpe, cpb2, netB and tpeL virulence genes was 6·7, 56·7, 56·7 and 36·7% respectively. Twenty‐one isolates (70%) were multidrug‐resistant, 8 (26·7%) were extensive drug‐resistant and one isolate (3·3%) was pan drug‐resistant. The average multiple antibiotic resistance index was 0·7. Biofilms were produced by 63·3% of C. perfringens isolates and categorized as weak (36·7%), moderate (16·7%) and strong (10%). Sodium hypochlorite caused significant reduction in C. perfringens biofilms (P < 0·0001). Conclusions All C. perfringens strains in this study were type A, resistant to multiple antibiotics and most of them were biofilm producers. Sodium hypochlorite showed higher efficacy in reducing C. perfringens biofilms. Significance and Impact of the Study This study reported the efficacy of disinfectants in reducing C. perfringens biofilms of economic and public health concern and recommends application on surfaces in farms, food processing plants and slaughterhouses.

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Aims: This work aimed to determine the occurrence, virulence, antibiogram, carbapenem resistance genes and susceptibility to disinfectants of Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from animals, environment and workers in intensive farms. Methods and Results: A total of 610 samples from intensive beef cattle and sheep farms in Kafr El Sheikh Governorate, Egypt were screened for the presence of P. aeruginosa using bacteriological assays. The isolates were characterized by PCR and tested for susceptibility to antibiotics using disk diffusion method and disinfectants by quantitative suspension test. In all, 60 P. aeruginosa isolates were recovered in this study and all isolates harboured at least one of the virulence genes tested. Human P. aeruginosa isolates were highly resistant to cephalosporins, fluroquinolones, aminoglycosides, carbapenems and penicillins+β-lactamase inhibitors than non-human isolates. Colistin resistance was higher in non-human than human P. aeruginosa isolates, whereas low resistance to aztreonam was observed in non-human and human isolates. Carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa (CRPA) strains were recovered from workers (56.5%), sheep (8.3%) and cattle (8.3%). All CRPA harboured at least one of the carbapenem resistance genes tested and most of them showed multidrug resistance (MDR) or extensive drug resistance (XDR) phenotypes. Glutaraldehyde 1% and hydrogen peroxide 3% eliminated P. aeruginosa completely in the absence and presence of organic matter within short contact time compared with other disinfectants. Conclusions: This study reported the occurrence of CRPA in animals and workers in intensive farms. Glutaraldehyde and hydrogen peroxide were the most effective disinfectants against P. aeruginosa. Significance and Impact of the Study: The occurrence of CRPA in intensive livestock farms is a serious challenge that threatens animal and human health and increases the risk of P. aeruginosa infection in the community. Therefore, it is vital to control the spread of CRPA by banning or restricting the use of antibiotics and applying proper cleaning and disinfection protocols in livestock farms.

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Background and study aim: Hepatitis C virus infection represents a potential public health problem worldwide. Many studies have shown markedly higher prevalence of insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection compared to healthy subjects. Fetuin-A is one of the principal hepatokines regulating the human metabolism. This study aimed to estimate the level of Fetuin-A in HCV patients with concomitant T2DM, and its relation to insulin resistance. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted on 115 subjects, 87 patients had chronic HCV infection with and without T2DM, diabetic patients without HCV infection and 28 healthy control, they were subjected to full history taking thorough clinical examination, abdominal ultrasonography, routine laboratory investigation including fasting and post prandial blood glucose level and assessment of HOMA-IR, viral markers and serum Fetuin-A level by ELISA. Results: There was high statistically significant increase of serum Fetuin-A level among HCV with DM patient group followed by HCV group when compared to DM and control groups. Serum Fetuin-A level was higher in HCV patients than non HCV subjects with statistically significant difference.Also,it was higher among diabetic patients than non diabetic subjects with statistically significant difference.Serum Fetuin-A level was positively correlated with glucose homeostasis parameters in both HCV and HCV&D.M patients with high statistically significant difference. At Cutoff value of serum Fetuin-A >5.2 mg/mL, Sensitivity was 54.84, Specificity was 96.30, positive PV 94.4 and negative PV was 65.0 for prediction of IR in HCV patients. While, at Cutoff value of serum Fetuin-A >4.9 mg/mL, sensitivity was 72.41, specificity was 79.31, positive PV was 77.8 and negative PV was 74.2 for prediction of DM in HCV patients. Conclusion : Fetuin-A may have role as a mediator in IR of either HCV or diabetes. However, Fetuin-A is more specific for evaluation of IR than DM in HCV patients as other factors may be incriminated in the pathogenesis of DM in HCV patients other than serum Fetuin-A level alone.

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