The results of this study provide a guideline for implementation of different vector control measures. Furthermore, guidelines are needed for monitoring and evaluation of insecticide susceptibility tests against sand flies.

Objective: Coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) are as considered opportunistic pathogens which capable of producing several toxins, enzymes and resistance genes. The current study aimed to determine the occurrence of different hemolysins genes and patterns of antibiotic resistance among CoNS species. Results:The highest frequency of antibiotic resistance was observed against cefoxitin in 49 isolates (53.8%), and the lowest resistance was against novobiocin in 5 isolates (5.5%). None of the isolates was resistant to vancomycin. The prevalence of hla, hla_yidD, hld, and hlb genes was: 87.9%, 62.6%, 56%, and 47.3%, respectively. The hla/yidD and hld genes were detected in 69.4% of S. epidermidis and the hla gene in 94.6% of S. haemolyticus isolates; the hlb gene was detected in 53.1% of the S. epidermidis isolates. The mecA gene was identified in 50 (55%) of the CoNS isolates. In conclusion, the results of statistical analysis showed that the hld gene had a significant association with resistance to levofloxacin and erythromycin antibiotics, the hlb with clindamycin resistance and the hla/yidD with rifampicin and novobiocin resistance. The results of this study showed that there is a significant relationship between hemolysin encoding genes and antibiotic resistance patterns; therefore, detection of virulence factors associated with antibiotic resistance has become a significant issue of concern.

Background Coagulase-negative staphylococcus (CoNS) is considered to be the major reservoirs for genes facilitating the evolution of S. aureus as a successful pathogen. The present study aimed to determine the occurrence of genes conferring resistance to fluoroquinolone, determining of the prevalence of insertion sequence elements IS256, IS257 and different superantigens (SAgs) among CoNS isolates obtained from various clinical sources. Materials and methods The current study conducted on a total of the 91 CoNS species recovered from clinical specimens in Hamadan hospitals in western Iran in 2017–2019. The antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed using disk diffusion method and the presence of the IS256 and IS257, genes conferring resistance to fluoroquinolone and enterotoxins/enterotoxin-like encoding genes were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. Results Among genes encoding classic enterotoxins, sec was the most frequent which was carried by 48.4% of the 91 isolates, followed by seb in 27.5% of the isolates. None of the CoNS isolates was found to be positive to enterotoxin-like encoding genes. In 11(12%) of all isolates that were phenotypically resistant to levofloxacin, 9 isolates (81.8%) were positive for gyrB, 8 isolates (72.7%) were positive for gyrA, 8 isolates (72.7%) harbored grlB and 7 isolates (63.6%) were found to carry grlA. The IS256 and IS257 were identified in 31.8% and 74.7% of the isolates, respectively. The results of statistical analysis showed a significant association between the occurrence of staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) encoding genes and antimicrobial resistance. Conclusion Antimicrobial resistant determinants and SEs are co-present in clinical CoNS isolates that confer selective advantage for colonization and survival in hospital settings. The coexistence of insertion elements and antibiotic resistance indicate their role in pathogenesis and infectious diseases.

BackgroundSand fly saliva has been shown to help parasite establishment and to induce immune responses in vertebrate hosts. In the current study, we investigated the pattern of expression of two Phlebotomus papatasi salivary transcripts in specific physiological and seasonal conditions at a hyperendemic area of zoonotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ZCL) in Iran.MethodsSand flies were collected during 2012–2013, and grouped according to physiological stages such as unfed, fed, semi-gravid, gravid, parous, nulliparous, infected or non-infected with Leishmania major and also based on the season in which they were collected. Quantitative Real-Time PCR was applied for assessment of the expression of two relevant salivary transcripts, PpSP15 and PpSP44, associated to protection from and exacerbation of ZCL, respectively.ResultsThe expression of PpSP15 and PpSP44 transcripts was significantly up-regulated (1.74 and 1.4 folds, respectively) in blood fed compared to unfed flies. Among four groups of fed, unfed, semi-gravid and gravid flies, the lowest levels of PpSP15 and PpSP44 expression were observed in gravid flies. Additionally, the expression levels of both PpSP15 and PpSP44 transcripts in P. papatasi collected during summer were significantly up-regulated (3.7 and 4.4 folds, respectively) compared to spring collections. In addition, the PpSP15 transcript exhibited a significant up-regulation (P < 0.05) in non-infected flies compared to those infected with L. major.ConclusionsThis study contributes to our knowledge of the differential expression of salivary genes among different groups within a P. papatasi population under natural field conditions. Cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis are of public health importance in many parts of Iran and neighbouring countries where P. papatasi is the proven and dominant sand fly vector for ZCL, the most prevalent and endemic form of the disease in Iran. Therefore, the current study could be helpful in understanding the influence of salivary genes on Leishmania transmission by phlebotomine sand flies. Our findings demonstrate the differential expression of salivary transcripts under various physiological conditions potentially influencing the sand fly capacity for parasite transmission as well as the outcome of disease.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-016-1633-z) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

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