This research evaluated the effluent proportion of E. coli and ETEC in RTE meat products, characterized the isolated strains' clonal relatedness, and determined their antibiotic resistance. 130 RTE products were gathered from various restaurants and street fast food vendors in Duhok and Zakho Province. The Isolates of E. coli identified by culture methods were confirmed as ETEC by multiplex PCR of the identified virulence genes. ERIC-PCR was applied to establish the clonal relationships between strains. The disk diffusion method performed the susceptibility of antibiotics on the isolated ETEC. Out of 130 examined samples, 39 (30%) isolates of E. coli and 16 (12.3%) ETEC were detected. Pan-fried burgers were revealed to be the most frequent contaminated sample type, with both E. coli and ETEC 50% and 23.3%, respectively (P≤0.05). A high clonal dispersion (12 genotypes) was observed among the isolated ETEC strains. A strong genetic linkage was discovered between a few isolates retrieved from the same sample type and within the strains from the same geographic source area. A high antibiotic resistance rate was observed with total resistance to Amoxicillin/clavulanate, Clarithromycin, Doxycycline, Erythromycin, and Clindamycin. Isolates from burger samples showed a higher resistance rate when compared with the other sample types (P≤0.05). Multi-drug resistance was noticed in all ETEC isolates. RTE meat products sold in our area have a high rate of clonally heterogeneous carrying multi-drug resistant ETEC and may constitute a significant public health risk.

The significance of Aeromonas hydrophila concerning hemorrhagic septicemia in aquaculture farms production in Duhok province, Iraq was investigated. Antibiotic-resistant profiles of isolates were also investigated with 8 antibiotics. Bacterial isolates were identified by using morphological and biochemical tests and confirmed molecularly by amplification of gcat gene. Out of 25 examined fish, only 19 fish were harbored A. hydrophila. Twenty-four A. hydrophila strains were isolates from 100 organ samples. Ninety-six percentages of the isolates were resistant to each of the imipenem and gentamicin, followed by doxycycline 92%, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprimsulfamethoxazole 88%, norfloxacin 58% and ceftriaxone 33%. None were resistant to levofloxacin. Eighty-eight percentages were multiple antibiotics resistant. The high isolation rate of A. hydrophila in our study indicates that this species was the major cause of the outbreak in hemorrhagic septicemia's cases in our area affecting carp farms and the high rate of resistance should be considered as these isolate can serve as a resistance source for human being during food series and make great challenge for their therapeutic opportunity.

Caseous lymphadenitis is a chronic infection caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis that affects the lymphatic system, resulting in abscesses in the lymph nodes and internal organs. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence rate of caseous lymphadenitis among slaughtered sheep in Duhok abattoirs, Duhok, Iraq and to investigate to what extend rabbits can develop caseous lymphadenitis just like that in sheep. A total of 1052 carcasses of sheep were randomly selected (939 males and 113 females) and carefully inspected for detection any suspected caseous lymph adenitis. The isolated Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis from lymph nodes of sheep carcasses were identified by PCR before used in in vivo infection in rabbits. Data revealed that the prevalence rate of caseous lymphadenitis was at 1.9% among the slaughtered sheep and the prevalence rates were higher in females and older ages than that of males and younger ages, respectively. Experimentally infected rabbits developed various clinical signs were ranging from in inappetence to sudden death, mainly during first week of infection. Histopathologically, the infected rabbits developed caseous lymphadenitis and pyogranuloma after a time point of 10 days post-infection. Liver, spleen and lymph nodes of infected rabbits showed caseonecrotic foci with multiple micro-granulomas with presence of thick pyogenic membrane infiltrated with leukocytic cells; these findings are strictly resemblance to that reported in sheep. The obtained preliminary data of using rabbits as an animal model is promising which will enhance a better understanding the pathogenesis of caseous lymphadenitis in animals.

The objective of this study was to determine molecular typing and comparison analysis of 24 Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from the diseased fish with hemorrhagic septicemia in freshwater ponds and cage in Mosul and Duhok cities, Iraq. A total of 24 A. hydrophila isolates that were collected from various fish ponds and cage, were used in this study. Identification of isolates was made by the standard microbiological and molecular methods. ERIC-PCR was done with different primers to establish the genetic relationship between strains. ERIC-PCR typing showed that 24 strains of A. hydrophila were classified into 11 ERIC types (genotypes). Genotypes 9 and 7 represented the most prevalent clone. All A. hydrophila strains that were isolated from the same fish were genetically diverse. There was minimal genetic similarity between some strains which were retrieved from the same geographical source area. Also, some isolates from different geographic source area were showed a 100% genetically similar. Aeromonas hydrophila was genotypically heterogeneous and clonally dispersed among different fish ponds and cage in Mosul and Duhok cities, Iraq. Besides, one fish can be infected with more than one strains of A. hydrophila.

Background. The secondary infection of multi and extensively drug-resistant “Acinetobacter baumannii” in severely ill COVID-19 individuals is usually associated with extended hospitalisation and a high mortality rate. The current study aimed to assess the exact incidence rate of A. baumannii coinfection in severely ill COVID-19 patients admitted to intensive care unit (ICUs), to identify the possible mechanism of A. baumannii transfer to COVID-19 patients and to find out their resistance rate against different antibiotics. Methods. Fifty severely ill “COVID-19” individuals on respiratory support were selected with samples being collected from the pharynx. In addition, another 60 samples were collected from the surrounding environment. Bacterial isolates were diagnosed by microbiological cultures and confirmed by “Vitek 2 system” and real-time PCR. The “Vitek 2 Compact system” was used to evaluate these isolates for antimicrobial susceptibility. The recovered isolates’ DNA fingerprints and genetic similarities were performed using ERIC-PCR. Results.Twenty-six samples were tested positive for A. baumannii (20 out of 50 samples taken from patients, 40%; 6 out of 60 swabs from a nosocomial setting, 10%). All A. baumannii strains isolated from the nosocomial sites were clonally related (have the same genetic lineage) to some strains isolated from patients. However, the majority of the patients’ strains were categorised as belonging to the same genetic lineage. Furthermore, “the multi and extensively drug” resistance patterns were seen in all isolates. In addition, total isolates showed resistance to the most commonly tested antibiotics, while none of them was found to be resistant to tigecycline. Conclusion. Secondary “A. baumannii” infection in severely ill “COVID-19” patients is a serious matter, especially when it has one spot of transmission in the ICU as well as when it is extensively drug-resistant, necessitating an immediate and tactical response to secure the issue.