Aims:  To detect the prevalence, the seasonal occurrence and distribution of Salmonella serotypes in poultry products and to determine the resistance profile of Salmonella isolates. Method and Results:  A total of 96 skin‐on chicken carcasses and 30 liver samples were analysed between May 2007 and May 2009 from twenty‐two different commercial farm brands found in retail market countrywide. Salmonella was isolated from 38 (39·5%) of 96 chicken carcasses and from 10 (33·3%) of 30 liver samples. Higher isolation rate (60·4%) was observed in carcasses detected during summer (May to October), and lower isolation rate (18·7%) was observed in carcasses detected during winter (November to April); in liver samples, the positive rates were 53·4 and 13·2%, respectively. Twelve serotypes were detected with the serotypes Hadar, Enteritidis and Blockley being the most prevalent at 29·2, 22·9 and 12·5%, respectively. Nine of 11 Salm. Enteritidis isolates occurred during summer. Of 48 isolates, 38 (79%) were resistant to one or more of the antimicrobial agents used. The highest resistance rates were found to the following antimicrobials: streptomycin (64·5%), tetracycline (56·2%), nalidixic acid (39·5%), ampicillin and rifampicin (33·3%). Conclusions:  The relatively high Salmonella spp. contamination rates of raw chicken meat and liver have been detected. Salm. Enteritidis isolates peaked in summer, increasing the risk to human health. Antibiotic resistance of Salmonella still remains a threat as resistance plasmids may be extensively shared between animal and humans. Significance and Impact of the Study:  The study enabled us to improve the data on the seasonal occurrence of Salmonella and to determine the antimicrobial pattern profile and trends in Salmonella strains isolated from poultry retail products in Greece.

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common mastitis-related pathogen in dairy cattle, goats, and sheep worldwide. However, the population structure and genomic characteristics of mastitis-associated S. aureus in small ruminants are limited. Furthermore, the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics involved in the pathogenicity of S. aureus have been thoroughly defined, yet their association with the severity of mastitis is not fully established. Here, we performed genotyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and spa analyses to assess the genetic diversity and relatedness of 162 S. aureus strains recovered from clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM) cases from goats, sheep, and bovines. PFGE analysis revealed 108 distinguishable pulsotypes and 3 main clusters that comprised isolates from the three host species, while according to spa typing, 32 different spa types were identified. Genotypic analysis revealed a spreading of genetically related or indistinguishable S. aureus strains among ovine, caprine, and bovine farms of distant geographical regions. In total, 28 different staphylococcal enterotoxin (SE) gene profiles were observed, revealing a diverse range of SE genes among isolates. By evaluating the antimicrobial resistance, we found low phenotypic antimicrobial resistance among all ruminant isolates. We also performed multiple correspondence analysis, which indicated that the presence of the sec gene, biofilm production, and high autoaggregation ability are associated with CM cases.

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Background: Natalizumab (NTZ) and fingolimod (FTY) are second-line disease modifying treatments (DMTs) approved for Relapsing – Remitting Multiple Sclerosis (RRMS). Few studies are available on a direct comparison between NTZ and FTY, based on post-marketing experience, with conflicting results and reporting relatively short follow-up period.Aim: We hereby report real-world experience of a MS Center with respect to NTZ vs. FTY comparison in terms of efficacy and safety, referencing long-term follow-up.Methods: We used retrospective data for all patients that received 2nd-line treatment NTZ (since May 2007) or FTY (since September 2011). Primary endpoints were, among others, annual EDSS score (mean change from baseline), time to disability worsening or improvement, Annualized Relapse Rate (ARR) after 12 and 24 months and upon total treatment duration, time to first relapse and time to radiological progression.Results: A total of 138 unmatched patients, 84 treated with NTZ and 54 treated with FTY were included. Following Propensity Score (PS) matching, 31 patients in each group were retained. Mean follow-up period for NTZ- and FTY-treated patients was 4.43 ± 0.29 and 3.59 ± 0.32 years (p = 0.057), respectively. In the matched analysis, time to disability improvement and time to disability worsening was comparable between groups. A higher proportion of patients remained free of relapse under NTZ, compared to FTY (Log Rank test p = 0.021, HR: 0.25, 95% CI: 0.08–0.8), as well as free of MRI activity (Log Rank test p = 0.006, HR: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.08–0.6). Treatment discontinuation due to MRI activity was significantly higher for FTY-treated patients compared to NTZ (Log Rank test p = 0.019, HR: 0.12, 95% CI: 0.05–0.76).Conclusion: Our results indicate toward NTZ superiority with respect to relapse and MRI activity outcomes. The fact that NTZ-treated patients may achieve long-standing clinical and radiological remission points toward the need for long follow-up data.

Aims The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity and resistance phenotypes of Listeria monocytogenes strains isolated from clinical encephalitis cases, and compare this population to isolates derived from tank milk of healthy animals. Methods and Results A total of 57 L. monocytogenes strains isolated from ruminant's listeriosis cases (n = 31) and from tank milk of healthy ruminants (n = 26) were characterized by species PCR, molecular serotyping, PCR detection of virulence genes, pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. All strains possessed inlA, inlC, inlJ, plcA, actA, hlyA and iap virulence‐associated genes while serotyping analysis revealed that they were mainly assigned into IVb group. Genotyping revealed 50 pulsotypes among the 57 strains assigned into seven clusters while indistinguishable pulsotypes between clinical and milk strains were not identified. Resistance of L. monocytogenes isolates to 14–16 antimicrobial agents tested was observed and 23 antimicrobial resistance profiles (ARPs) were defined while no apparent predominant ARP type was observed among isolates. Conclusions Small ruminants are exposed to a broad range of antimicrobial‐resistant as well as genetically diverse strains of L. monocytogenes carrying virulence‐associated genes but not all of them associated with the disease. Pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis analysis suggests that pulsotypes associated with encephalitis are found in farms only in association with listeriosis. Significance and Impact of the Study These findings are valuable in understanding the ecology of this important food‐borne pathogen and creating awareness for the emerging antimicrobial resistance.