Iranian Journal of Microbiology最新文献

{"title":"Multiplex qPCR for the early detection of sepsis pathogens and its impact on antimicrobial therapy in critically ill patients.","authors":"Pooja Pandey, Raunak Bir, Kuhu Chatterjee, Nikhil Verma, Yasha Mukim, Komal Grover, Shefali Sharma, Priya Sehgal, Swati Chamoli, Rajiv M Gupta, Anil K Pandey","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21654","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21654","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Sepsis is a life threatening condition caused by a dysregulated host response to infection and is associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide. Early bacterial detection and therapy with antibiotics improve outcomes. We compared multiplex quantitative PCR (qPCR) to traditional blood culture for early pathogen detection in critically ill patients with suspected sepsis.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This prospective observational study included 200 critically ill ICU patients with suspected sepsis. Multiplex qPCR using the TRUPCR® Sepsis Panel was compared with conventional blood culture for pathogen detection. To assess sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV, blood culture was used as the reference standard. Mortality, ICU stay, and antibiotic therapy time were studied. Multivariable logistic regression was adjusted for baseline severity (SOFA, APACHE II), septic shock, and antibiotic exposure.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Multiplex qPCR significantly reduced the time to initiation of appropriate antibiotic therapy (5.2 vs 8.3 hours, p<0.001). The assay demonstrated higher sensitivity compared with blood culture for pathogen detection. qPCR positivity was associated with shorter ICU stay and lower mortality; however, these associations were interpreted after adjustment for baseline illness severity. <i>Escherichia coli</i>, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i>, and <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> were the most frequently detected pathogens, and several antimicrobial resistance genes including <i>bla</i> _CTX-M, <i>bla</i> _NDM , and <i>mecA</i> were identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Multiplex qPCR can detect infections early and optimize antimicrobials for sepsis. These findings should be cautiously evaluated and corroborated in larger multicentre trials due to reduced specificity and observational nature.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"312-321"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13266043/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264411","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail in controlling <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis infection in broiler chickens.","authors":"Muhammad Zohaib Wasam, Ali Ahmad Sheikh, Aftab Ahmad Anjum, Muhammad Mubashar Beig, Sehrish Firyal, Aleena Kokab, Syed Bilal Tahir, Tauqeer Mahmood, Muhammad Shahzad","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21658","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21658","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong><i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis is widespread in the world and is known to be among the most common agents of zoonotic food-borne illnesses. This study evaluates the efficacy of a bacteriophage cocktail - comprising SEPL01 (Siphovirus) and SEPL13 and SEPL20 (Myoviruses) - in controlling <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis infection in poultry.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A total of 168 one-day-old desi chicks were procured and randomly divided into five different groups: negative control, positive control, prophylactic, 6 h and delayed post-challenge treatment group. Birds in the positive control and trial groups were orally infected with 10⁵ CFU/ml <i>S.</i> Enteritidis on the fourth day. The bacteriophage was given in 10⁷ PFU/ml through oral gavage, drinkers and aerosol spray. Bacterial enumeration was done using dilution plate counting on XLD agar and bacterial reduction was determined using log10 reduction.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the groups, the prophylactic group showed the highest log₁₀ bacterial reduction: 1.92 (Day 3), 1.79 (Day 7), and 1.23 (Day 14). Drinking water administration resulted in a log₁₀ reduction of 1.62, 1.44, and 0.91, respectively, while aerosol spray was the least effective with a log₁₀ reduction of 1.12, 0.85, and 0.52 across the same days. The treatment group receiving therapy 6 hours post-challenge exhibited a moderate level of reduction: 1.63, 1.37, and 1.22 via oral gavage; 1.43, 1.15, and 0.94 via drinkers; and 0.46, 0.15, and 0.12 via aerosol spray. The delayed post-challenge group showed smaller reductions: 1.56, 1.24, and 0.92 by oral gavage; 1.25, 0.99, and 0.79 by water; and 0.42, 0.13, and 0.10 by aerosol spray.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The bacteriophage therapy is highly effective in reducing <i>Salmonella</i> Enteritidis, demonstrating potential as an antibiotic alternative.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"338-344"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265928/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264325","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"<i>Lacticaseibacillus casei</i> and <i>Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus</i> cell-free supernatants induce apoptosis-related responses in PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cells.","authors":"Shadi Moradi, Reza Moradi-Hajidavaloo, Fatemeh Soleimanifar, Kiana Shahzamani, Mehdi Hajian, Hajar-Alsadat Mansouri-Tehrani","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21651","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21651","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>This study aimed to evaluate the anticancer potential of <i>Lacticaseibacillus casei</i> and <i>Lacticaseibacillus</i> rhamnosus cell-free supernatants (CFSs) against the PANC-1 human pancreatic cancer cell line, focusing on apoptosis, cell cycle modulation, and the expression of <i>BAX</i> and <i>BCL-XL</i> genes.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>PANC-1 cancer cells and adult human dermal fibroblast (HDFa) cells were treated with various concentrations of individual or combined CFSs. Cell viability was assessed using the MTT assay. Apoptosis was evaluated through Hoechst/PI staining and flow cytometry, while cell cycle distribution was analyzed via flow cytometry. Gene expression of <i>BAX</i> and <i>BCL-XL</i> was measured by quantitative real-time PCR.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>At 20% (v/v), all CFS treatments significantly reduced PANC-1 cell viability while showing minimal effects on HDFa cells. Flow cytometry confirmed apoptotic rates of 39.33%, 42%, and 40.33% for <i>L. casei</i>, <i>L. rhamnosus</i>, and their combination, respectively, alongside a notable increase in S-phase cell population. Gene expression analysis showed a pro-apoptotic shift, characterized by <i>BAX</i> upregulation and <i>BCL-XL</i> downregulation.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>CFSs from <i>L. casei</i> and <i>L. rhamnosus</i> showed anticancer effects on PANC-1 cells, inducing apoptosis, S-phase arrest, and a favorable shift in apoptosis-related gene expression. These findings highlight their potential as promising adjuvant candidates for pancreatic cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"295-305"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265972/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264363","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epidemiology and subtype analysis of respiratory syncytial virus among hospitalized children under five in Isfahan during early 2024.","authors":"Forough Tavakoli, Sharareh Moghim, Vahid Salimi, Mohammad Ali Pourmirzaiee","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21663","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21663","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Respiratory syncytial virus is the most common virus causing acute respiratory infections in children under 5 years old. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and circulating strains of RSV in hospitalized children in Isfahan.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Between January and May 2024, children under 5 years of age were enrolled in this study. Nasal swabs were collected from 100 children with acute respiratory infections admitted to the referral pediatric ward at Imam Hossein Children's Hospital in Isfahan, Iran. The prevalence of circulating RSV was investigated using the RSV qPCR detection kit. The virus type was identified by RT-PCR using type A- and B-specific primers.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 51 (51%) samples tested positive for RSV. Among them, typing was done in 33 specimens, of which 66.6% (22/33 cases) were assigned as subtype B and 33.3% (11/33 cases) as subtype A. Infants under 6 months were most severely affected by RSV (47.1%, 24/51). RSV-positive samples peaked in February (43.1%), followed by January (29.4%).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The results of the current study revealed a high prevalence of RSV and co-circulation of subtypes A and B, with subtype B more prevalent among children. This highlights the importance of ongoing surveillance of RSV.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"367-374"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13266040/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264373","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cellulase and β-glucosidase activity of crude enzyme extracted from fresh and expired soybean tempeh.","authors":"Yenni Karlina, Defri Rizaldy, Catur Riani, Fahrauk Faramayuda, Sukrasno Sukrasno","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21671","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21671","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Enzymes are protein biomolecules that act as catalysts, including cellulase and β-glucosidase with extensive applications. Thus, this work aimed to contrast the activity of both enzymes from tempeh fermented by <i>Rhizopus microsporus</i> at 2 and 7 days of incubation.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Incubated tempeh was tested for quality evaluation. The crude extracts of cellulase and β-glucosidase were obtained by extracting tempeh with a cold phosphate buffer solution. The presence of the <i>R. microsporus</i> was examined through microscopic identification, and molecular identification using PCR amplification. Cellulase activity was determined using 3.5-dinitrosalicylic acid (DNS) reagent, whereas β-glucosidase activity was evaluated by measuring the release of p-nitrophenol from p-nitrophenyl-β-D-glucopyranoside (p-NPG).</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The protein content and water content increase with the length of fermentation time. Microscopic identification and molecular identification confirmed the presence of <i>R. microsporus</i>. The highest cellulase activity was found in fresh tempeh (2-day incubation) at 0.0911 U/mL at pH 7, while the highest β-glucosidase activity was found in expired tempeh (7-day incubation) at 0.0042 U/mL at pH 5.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>These findings indicate that the standard quality contributed to the differences in the enzymatic profile of tempeh incubated for 2 and 7 days.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"439-447"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265974/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rotavirus-associated acute gastroenteritis in children under five years: a cross-sectional study from southern Iran.","authors":"Marjan Tariverdi, Mohammad Tamaddondar, Dariush Hooshyar, Mahsa Fallahi, Mohammad Bagher Rahmati, Maryam Mohammadian Hakami, Ali Asgari, Hossein Abdollahi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21664","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21664","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Rotavirus is a major cause of acute gastroenteritis in children. This study assessed the frequency and clinical characteristics of rotavirus infection in children under five years old.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2020 on children with acute gastroenteritis. Clinical and demographic data were collected, dehydration severity was assessed by a pediatrician, and stool samples obtained within 48 hours of admission were tested for rotavirus antigen using ELISA.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 301 children with acute gastroenteritis were included. Rotavirus antigen was detected in 34.6% of cases. Vomiting (81.2%) and diarrhea (96.1%) were significantly common among rotavirus-positive children (p = 0.01). Severe dehydration (>10%) and the need for parenteral rehydration were observed more frequently among rotavirus-positive children compared with rotavirus-negative cases (20.9% vs. 9.2%, p = 0.02 and 91.1% vs. 78.1%, p = 0.01, respectively). However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously, as clinical severity may also have been influenced by other demographic and clinical factors.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Rotavirus was detected in a considerable proportion of children with acute gastroenteritis in southern Iran. Rotavirus-positive cases showed more frequent severe dehydration, although this finding should be interpreted cautiously. Early assessment and supportive care remain important.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"375-381"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13266036/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264326","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluation of susceptibility to colistin, fosfomycin and mecillinam in carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales isolated in Marrakech in 2023.","authors":"Wissal Nordine, Ayoub El Ame, Taoufik Benhoumich, Asmaa Lamrani Hanchi, Nabila Soraa","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21657","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i3.21657","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) constitute a critical public health concern due to multidrug resistance and limited available treatment options. This study aimed to assess the in vitro susceptibility of CPE isolates to colistin, fosfomycin, and mecillinam.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>Prospective study was conducted in 2023 at Mohammed VI University Hospital, Marrakech. A total sample of 180 non-duplicate CPE isolates were collected and identified by standard microbiological methods. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed following recommended guidelines.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Among the isolates, <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> (60%) and <i>Escherichia coli</i> (14%) predominated. The most common carbapenemase was NDM (62%), followed by OXA-48 (26%) and co-producers (11%). Most isolates were obtained from intensive care (32%), plastic surgery (13%), and neonatology (12%) units. Skin and soft tissue (43%) and bloodstream (21%) were the predominant infected sites. Resistance rates were 25% for colistin, 48% for fosfomycin, and 64% for mecillinam, with frequent co-resistance to fluoroquinolones, aminoglycosides, and cotrimoxazole.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The high prevalence of NDM-producing <i>Klebsiella pneumoniae</i> and significant resistance to last-line agents suggest the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship, optimized therapeutic strategies, and strengthened regional surveillance.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 3","pages":"332-337"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13265930/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148264334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contamination and antibiotic resistance profile of <i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> isolated from raw milk and infant formula.","authors":"Zahra Taji, Mojtaba Bonyadian, Hamdallah Moshtaghi","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21305","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21305","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong><i>Cronobacter sakazakii</i> is an opportunistic pathogen associated with severe fatal infections. This study aimed to investigate the contamination of raw milk delivered to a powdered milk factory and the produced powdered milk, with <i>C. sakazakii</i>, and also the antibiotic resistance patterns of the isolates.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>During 2024, 120 raw milk and 60 powdered milk samples were collected from one of the milk powder processing plants in Shahrekord city. A peptone water medium supplemented with nutrients, followed by Cronobacter Selective Broth, was used as the enrichment medium. Chromogenic Cronobacter Isolation (CCI) agar was used to isolate the suspicious colonies. Biochemical tests were performed on the isolates. The PCR test was performed to confirm the molecular identity of the isolates. The antibiogram test was performed using the disk diffusion method on Mueller-Hinton agar.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 14 suspected <i>C. sakazakii</i> colonies were isolated from the raw milk. However, the PCR test confirmed that only 2 isolates (1.67%) were <i>C. sakazakii</i>. Also, the results revealed that none of the powdered milk samples were contaminated with <i>C. sakazakii.</i> The antibiogram test showed that the isolated <i>C. sakazakii</i> were resistant to erythromycin, ampicillin, amoxicillin, cephalexin, and tetracycline antibiotics.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>According to the results, some raw milk is contaminated with <i>C. sakazakii</i>, which is resistant to certain common antibiotics. However, contamination with this bacterium was not observed in the powdered milk samples. Given the importance of <i>C. sakazakii</i> in infant health, further studies should be conducted on other powdered milk and infant food supplements produced in Iran to ensure their safety.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 2","pages":"279-284"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13196792/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015507","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microbiome and thyroid diseases: future precision studies of the gut-thyroid axis to facilitate the adjuvant treatment.","authors":"Arman Karimi Behnagh, Mahsa Bourbour, Sakineh Moghaddam Shiri, Omolbanin Asadi, Maryam Honardoost","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21297","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21297","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>The gut microbiome is a key determinant of overall health, impacting numerous bodily functions, such as those of the endocrine glands. The effect of the microbiota on thyroid function has become a matter of interest, more so since the revelation of the possible link between intestinal disease and autoimmune thyroid disorders (AITDs). This review aims to provide an in-depth insight into the possible link between gut microbiota and thyroid diseases and metabolism of thyroid hormones.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>A set of online sources including, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar and CENTRAL were comprehensively searched to find the studies relevant to the topic of the review. Only reports in English were included in this review.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>It has been proposed that damage to the intestinal barrier is a key element in the passage of antigens from the lumen into the bloodstream and their subsequent contact with the immune system. In addition to AITDs, dysbiosis has been shown to be linked with thyroid cancers, in which higher counts of certain bacteria associated with inflammation and carcinogenesis have been identified.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>The majority of the available literature is focused on the differences in the microbial strain composition in individuals with thyroid disorders compared to that of healthy controls. Nonetheless, the current body of evidence has implied on possible role gut microbiome in the development of thyroid diseases.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 2","pages":"172-185"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13196793/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015550","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular profiling of methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> isolated from healthy pet dogs and their owners in western Iran.","authors":"Amir Mohammad Korani, Elham Ahmadi, Safoura Derakhshan","doi":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21302","DOIUrl":"10.18502/ijm.v18i2.21302","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background and objectives: </strong>Growing apprehension surrounds methicillin-resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (MRSA) strains. The objective of this investigation was to molecularly profile MRSA strains recovered from asymptomatic companion dogs and their human caretakers in Kermanshah, located in western Iran, marking the inaugural research of its kind within the country.</p><p><strong>Materials and methods: </strong>During a six-month period, specimens were obtained from the oral cavities and nasal passages of 200 clinically normal pet dogs, as well as their owners. MRSA isolates were identified, DNA was extracted, and characterized via staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (<i>SCCmec</i>), accessory gene regulator (<i>agr</i>), and staphylococcal protein A (<i>spa</i>) typing, plus detection of <i>mecA</i> and Panton-Valentine leukocidin (<i>PVL</i>) genes.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Eighteen MRSA isolates were identified (12 from dogs, six from owners). All carried <i>mecA</i>. Most had <i>SCCmec</i> type III. Human isolates included one <i>agr</i> II and two <i>agr</i> IV; no dog isolates were <i>agr</i>-positive. Isolates belonged to four <i>spa</i> types: t690 (dogs) and t325, t037, t030 (owners). <i>PVL</i> genes were absent. Isolates from dogs and owners showed type diversity.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study reveals MRSA epidemiology in healthy dogs and owners in Iran, with low colonization rates. Continuous monitoring is essential to track MRSA circulation, as colonization raises infection risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":14633,"journal":{"name":"Iranian Journal of Microbiology","volume":"18 2","pages":"251-261"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13196818/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148015488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}