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ABSTRACT: Abstract The resistance of foodborne Staphylococcus aureus isolates to antimicrobial agents is an increasing problem. In this study, 154 S. aureus food isolates were examined on the basis of inducible clindamycin resistance and the presence of ermABC genes. Furthermore, the genetic relatedness of S. aureus strains having inducible and constitutive clindamycin resistance was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Inducible clindamycin resistance was determined in five strains using the D-test. Only S. aureus strain HE7A showed constitutive resistance. Polymerase chain reaction results demonstrated that all constitutive and inducible clindamycin resistant strains contained only the ermC gene. However, the presence of the ermC gene was also detected in three strains without inducible or constitutive resistance. Nucleotide variations on the sequences of ermC genes were also determined. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of two groups of S. aureus strains (S4BY, PY62A, PY38BY/S and S35A, S35B) with inducible resistance demonstrated 100% homology, but the other susceptible and ermC gene carrying S. aureus strains showed different band patterns with 44-88% homology. This is the first study reporting inducible clindamycin resistance in foodborne S. aureus isolates in Turkey.
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 04/2013; · 2.26 Impact Factor
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Boris A Hoffmann,
Meike Rybczynski,
Thomas Rostock,
Helge Servatius,
Imke Drewitz,
Daniel Steven, Ali Aydin,
Sara Sheikhzadeh,
Vivien Darko,
Yskert von Kodolitsch,
Stephan Willems
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a variable, autosomal-dominant disorder of the connective tissue. In MFS serious ventricular arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death (SCD) can occur. The aim of this prospective study was to reveal underlying risk factors and to prospectively investigate the association between MFS and SCD in a long-term follow-up. METHODS: 77 patients with MFS were included. At baseline serum N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), transthoracic echocardiogram, 12-lead resting ECG, signal-averaged ECG (SAECG) and a 24-h Holter ECG with time- and frequency domain analyses were performed. The primary composite endpoint was defined as SCD, ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation (VF) or arrhythmogenic syncope. RESULTS: The median follow-up (FU) time was 868days. Among all risk stratification parameters, NT-proBNP remained the exclusive predictor (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.34, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.1 to 4.62, p=0.01) for the composite endpoint. With an optimal cut-off point at 214.3pg/ml NT-proBNP predicted the composite primary endpoint accurately (AUC 0.936, p=0.00046, sensitivity 100%, specificity 79.0%). During FU, seven patients of Group 2 (NT-proBNP≥214.3pg/ml) reached the composite endpoint and 2 of these patients died due to SCD. In five patients, sustained VT was documented. All patients with a NT-proBNP<214.3pg/ml (Group 1) experienced no events. Group 2 patients had a significantly higher risk of experiencing the composite endpoint (logrank-test, p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: In contrast to non-invasive electrocardiographic parameter, NT-proBNP independently predicts adverse arrhythmogenic events in patients with MFS.
International journal of cardiology 06/2012; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus is a major foodborne pathogen and it has the ability to produce a number of extracellular toxins. We analyzed 1070 food samples obtained from retail markets and dairy farms in the Marmara Region of Turkey for the presence of S. aureus. Out of 147 isolates, 92 (62.6%) were enterotoxigenic. PCR was used to investigate the presence of staphylococcal enterotoxin genes (sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, sej, sek, sel, sem, sen, seo, sep, seq and seu), exfoliative toxin genes (eta and etb) and the toxic-shock syndrome toxin gene (tst). The PCR results showed that 53.3% of the isolates contained staphylococcal enterotoxin-like (SEl) toxin genes (seg, seh, sei, sej, sek, sel, sem, sen, seo, sep, seq and seu) which were more frequent than classical enterotoxin genes (sea to see). Furthermore, seo, sei, sem, seg, seu and sec were found in 37.0, 32.7, 30.4, 29.3, 29.3 and 27.2% of the isolates, respectively. The tst gene was detected and confirmed by DNA sequencing in 9 isolates. The presence of eta and etb were not found in the isolates. Enterotoxigenic capabilities of isolates with SEA-SEE were investigated by ELISA. Enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates produced one to three enterotoxins, with the most frequently produced types being enterotoxin A and C. There was a correlation of 72.1% between production of a specific toxin and the presence of the respective genes. PFGE analysis was used to identify genetic-relatedness of enterotoxigenic S. aureus isolates and the results revealed that 13 groups of isolates from different or the same origin that contained the same genes showed 100% homology with indistinguishable band patterns. The other enterotoxigenic isolates showed related band patterns with 72-86% homology in sea-, 61-90% homology in sec-, 80-96% homology in seh-, and 69-96% homology in sep-positive isolates. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine enterotoxins and related gene contents of S. aureus food isolates in the Marmara Region of Turkey.
International journal of food microbiology 08/2011; 148(2):99-106. · 3.01 Impact Factor
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Ali Aydin,
Nikolaus Desai,
Alexander M J Bernhardt,
Hendrik Treede,
Christian Detter,
Sara Sheikhzadeh,
Meike Rybczynski,
Mathias Hillebrand,
Victoria Lorenzen,
Kai Mortensen,
Peter N Robinson,
Jürgen Berger,
Hermann Reichenspurner,
Thomas Meinertz,
Stephan Willems,
Yskert von Kodolitsch
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ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: The relationship of aortic valve dysfunction and ascending aortic aneurysm is unclear in adults with bicuspid aortic valve disease. METHODS: We retrospectively studied 134 consecutive out-patients (98 men, 36 women aged 43±18years) with bicuspid aortic valve disease. To investigate the relationship of ascending aortic aneurysm and aortic valve dysfunction we exclusively considered severe pathologies that required treatment by surgical or percutaneous intervention. RESULTS: Of 134 patients, 39 had aortic valve dysfunction without concomitant ascending aortic aneurysm which had been treated previously with isolated valve surgery or percutaneous valvuloplasty comprising 25 patients with aortic stenosis (19%) and 14 patients with aortic regurgitation (10%). Conversely, 26 patients had ascending aortic aneurysm which had been treated previously with aortic surgery (19%). Of these, ascending aortic aneurysm was associated with severe aortic stenosis in 13 patients and with severe aortic regurgitation in 7 patients, whereas aneurysm was unrelated to severe aortic valve dysfunction in the remaining 6 patients including 2 without any degree of aortic valve dysfunction. The maximal aortic diameters were similar at the time of aortic surgery irrespective of presence of severe aortic valve dysfunction (P=.527). Other characteristics of patients with ascending aortic aneurysm were also similar irrespective of presence or type of aortic valve dysfunction. CONCLUSION: The majority of patients with bicuspid aortic valve disease exhibit ascending aortic aneurysm in conjunction with severe aortic valve dysfunction. However, in our study 6 of 134 (5%) of persons with bicuspid aortic valve disease developed ascending aortic aneurysm without aortic valve dysfunction.
International journal of cardiology 07/2011; · 7.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: One hundred unpackaged rice samples, each weighing 500 g, were randomly collected at retail stores and open markets in the largest rice growing area (Thrace) in Turkey and analysed for mould counts, predominant mould genera, moisture content and mycotoxin levels. Mould counts ranged from 1.0 × 10(1) to 1.5 × 10(4) cfu/g in 70 of 100 samples, and the correlation between moisture content and mould count was significant (p ≤ 0.05). Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp., potential mycotoxin producers, were the dominant moulds. In one area from which samples were collected, the mycotoxin content of rice was found to be positively correlated with moisture content; samples with higher moisture also contained higher numbers of moulds. The levels of total aflatoxins, aflatoxin B1 and ochratoxin A were higher than the maximum tolerable limits (4, 2 and 3 μg/kg, according to the EC Regulation and the Turkish Food Codex) for 32, 14 and 30 of 100 rice samples, respectively. This is the first comprehensive report of ochratoxin A levels in rice grown in Thrace, Turkey.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 07/2011; 178(1-4):271-80. · 1.40 Impact Factor
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Ali Aydin,
Kai Mortensen,
Meike Rybczynski,
Sara Sheikhzadeh,
Svenia Willmann,
Alexander M J Bernhardt,
Mathias Hillebrand,
Jan Stritzke,
Johannes Baulmann,
Heribert Schunkert,
Ulrich Keil,
Hans W Hense,
Christa Meisinger,
Peter N Robinson,
Jürgen Berger,
Stephan Willems,
Thomas Meinertz,
Yskert von Kodolitsch
International journal of cardiology 02/2011; 147(3):466-8. · 7.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Abstract In this study, 154 Staphylococcus aureus isolates were detected from 1070 food samples (14.4%) collected from seven cities in Turkey. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 21 antibiotics was performed by agar disk diffusion method, and those isolates resistant to any antibiotic were further analyzed to determine minimum inhibitory concentration by E-test and polymerase chain reaction analysis of vanA and mecA genes. According to disk diffusion test results, a total of 139 strains were resistant to at least one tested antibiotic, with 39 (25.3%) strains being multidrug resistant (MDR) and the other 15 strains being susceptible to all antibiotics. Penicillin G, linezolid, erythromycin, and tetracycline took up 71.4%, 23.4%, 18.2%, and 15.6% of the tested strains, respectively. In addition, all of the strains were susceptible to vancomycin, oxacillin, cefoxitin, and imipenem. Only one strain (S158B) was resistant to both teicoplanin and cefazolin. On the other hand, the presence of vanA and mecA genes was not detected in the strains. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis was used to identify genetic-relatedness of the MDR strains. It is noteworthy that some strains from different sources showed 100% homology; however, some of MDR strains were found unrelated with 60% or less homology. The high diversity observed in pulsed-field gel electrophoresis results indicated the possible contamination of S. aureus from different sources and routes.
Foodborne Pathogens and Disease 11/2010; 8(1):63-9. · 2.26 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: In this study, three Panton-Valentine Leukocidin gene carrying methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) strains (M1-AAG42B, PY30C-b and YF1B-b) were isolated from different food samples in Kesan-Edirne, Turkey. These strains were characterized on the basis of MLST type, spa type, virulence factor gene contents, antibiotic susceptibilities against 21 antibiotics and biofilm formation. The genetic relatedness of the strains was determined by PFGE. In addition, the complete gene sequences of lukS-PV and lukF-PV were also investigated. All strains were found to be susceptible to tested antibiotics and they were mecA negative. Three strains showed the same PFGE band pattern, ST152 clonal type and t355 spa type. In the detection of virulence factor genes, sea, seb, sec, sed, see, seg, seh, sei, sej, sek, sel, sem, sen, seo, sep, seq, seu, eta, etb, set1, geh and tst genes were not detected. All strains showed the positive results for alpha- and beta-haemolysin genes (hla and hlb), protease encoding genes (sspA, sspB and aur), lukE and lukD leukocidin genes (lukED). The strains were found to be non-biofilm formers. By this study, the virulence properties of the strains were described and this is one of the first reports regarding PVL-positive MSSA strains from food.
International journal of food microbiology 01/2010; 138(3):287-91. · 3.01 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: ABSTRACTA total of 100 fresh-cheese-based desserts (Hosmerim and Cheese helva) from nine different production areas in Marmara Region of Turkey were studied. There were no statistically significant differences in microbiological composition between Hosmerim and Cheese helva. Mean values of APC, Staphylococcus aureus, molds, yeasts, osmophilic yeasts for Hosmerim were 5.7 × 104, 8.0 × 102, 1.8 × 103, 2.8 × 103, 1.6 × 103 cfu/g, respectively, while coliform bacteria, Escherichia coli and Bacillus cereus were <10 cfu/g. Results for Cheese helva were slightly higher. Salmonella spp. and staphylococcal enterotoxin were not detected in 25 g of any sample.Cheese helva, however, had a significantly lower pH and significantly higher contents of protein, fat and carbohydrates, and thus, also a higher content of dry matter.Within each product category, a large variation was observed for both microbiological counts as well as for the chemical composition. This indicates a lack of standardization in the manufacturing process and prompts for the establishment of appropriate process control measures.PRACTICAL APPLICATIONSThe aim of this study was to determine the chemical and hygienic quality traits of traditional cheese desserts, namely Cheese helva and Hosmerim. For this purpose, 50 Cheese helva and 50 Hosmerim samples obtained from different regions in Turkey were analyzed on account of their microbiological, physico-chemical and toxicological properties. The presence of some pathogens in the samples and the variable chemical composition indicate that the production process should be defined in “Codes of Good Manufacturing Practice” and the product characteristics should be codified in order to achieve a product with a defined level of microbiological safety.
Journal of Food Quality 09/2009; 32(5):590 - 606. · 0.54 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: We investigated the prevalence of contamination of retail-level beef, mutton, and broiler carcasses in Istanbul, Turkey, by thermophilic Campylobacter spp. (TCS) and determined antimicrobial susceptibilities of the TCS strains isolated from these carcasses. From November 2005 to October 2006, 198 beef and 120 mutton carcass excision samples, and 232 chicken carcasses (whole and pieces) were randomly collected from different retail stores and meat-processing plants in Istanbul. TCS were isolated from 11.1%, 21.6%, and 50.4% of beef, mutton, and chicken samples tested, respectively. There was no significant seasonal variation in the prevalence of TCS. A total of 292 Campylobacter isolates were obtained from the samples (56.5% C. jejuni, 33.9% C. Coli, and 9.6% C. lari). C. jejuni was the species most commonly isolated from chicken meat (56.5%<65.9 from table 2>), while C. coli was the most common in beef (63.3%) and mutton (63.9%) carcasses. Susceptibilities of 246 strains for eight antimicrobial drugs were determined using disk diffusion assay. Campylobacter isolates were most often resistant to tetracycline (69.1%), followed by trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (64.2%), nalidixic acid (58.1%), erythromycin (56.9%), enrofloxacin (48.8%), ciprofloxacin (42.7%), chloramphenicol (36.2%), and gentamicin (26.0%). The results of this study suggest that a high proportion of meat samples, particularly chicken carcasses, are contaminated by TCS, most of which are antimicrobial-resistant strains. Since campylobacteriosis is transmitted primarily through food of animal origin, the presence of antimicrobial-resistant strains in meat has important implications for public health and food safety.
Microbial drug resistance (Larchmont, N.Y.) 05/2009; 15(2):143-9. · 1.99 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study was designed to assess the total aflatoxin (total AF), aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) levels in 100 samples of wheat flour obtained from 7 different producing regions of Thrace by the microtitre plate enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). According to the EC Regulation and the Turkish Food Codex, the total AF, AFB 1 , and OTA levels were between minimum detection limit (0.05, <1.0, 0.025 µg/kg) and the maximum tolerable limit (4, 2, 3 µg/kg) in 43, 18 and 53 samples, respec-tively. Whilst 2, 2 and 28 samples had unacceptable contamination levels higher than the maximum tolerable limits, respectively. This is the first study in Thrace, Turkey on account of OTA, and the presence of OTA in 81% of analysed samples and taking part in South-Eastern Europe of sampling area would be indirectly related to Balkan Endemic Nephropathy and also be of risk to public healthy.
Journal of Food and Drug Analysis 01/2008; 16:48-53. · 0.64 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This study was carried out to investigate the antimicrobial effects of chopped garlic in ground beef and raw meatball (çig köfte), which is a traditional food product eaten raw. Fresh minced ground beef and raw meatball batter prepared with traditional methods were separated into groups. Chopped and crushed garlic was added to each batch in order to reach various concentrations from 0% to 10%. The ground beef samples were stored at refrigerator and ambient temperatures. The raw meatball samples were only stored at room temperature. All samples were analyzed in order to determine the microbial counts at the 2(nd), 6(th), 12(th), and 24(th) hours of storage. Garlic addition decreased the microbial growth in some ground beef samples kept either at room temperature or in the refrigerator. However, microbial growth increased in some ground beef samples kept in similar conditions. The difference was found in samples kept in the refrigerator for 24 hours in terms of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and coliform bacteria when garlic used at 10%. The effects of garlic on the microbial growth of both coliforms and Staphylococcus/Micrococcus in the samples kept at room temperature were increased. The yeast and mold counts in ground beef samples kept in any condition were not affected by garlic addition. However, the addition of garlic to the raw meatball mix decreased the microbial count, in terms of total aerobic mesophilic bacteria and yeast and mold counts, when the garlic was added at 5% or 10% (P < .05). The addition of 10% garlic to raw meatball caused a permanent decrease in yeast and mold count, unlike in ground beef. The results of this study indicate that the chopped garlic has a slowing-down effect on microbiological growth in ground meat depending on the garlic concentration, but this effect was not at an expected level even at the highest concentration, because potential antimicrobial agents in chopped garlic were probably insufficiently extracted.
Journal of Medicinal Food 04/2007; 10(1):203-7. · 1.41 Impact Factor
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BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 02/2003; 326(7379):21.
