1
|
Orden JA, García-Meniño I, Flament-Simon SC, Blanco J, de la Fuente R, Martínez-Rodrigo A, Mas A, Carrión J, Sobrino F, Domínguez-Bernal G. Raccoons (Procyon lotor) in the Madrid region of Spain are carriers of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli and enteropathogenic E. coli. Zoonoses Public Health 2020; 68:69-78. [PMID: 33225569 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/31/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The role of wildlife in the epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance is unclear. Raccoons in North America can carry a variety of enteric bacteria, with associated antimicrobial resistance, that could infect humans and livestock. The potential for raccoons to carry these bacteria in Europe, where they are an invasive species, has not been explored. Our objectives were to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli with associated antimicrobial resistance in raccoons from the Madrid region of Spain and to determine whether they are carriers of potential human pathogens, including verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). In total, we tested 237 E. coli isolates from the faeces of 83 euthanized raccoons for susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents and the presence of VTEC and EPEC. Antimicrobial resistance to at least one antimicrobial was detected in the faeces of 51% (42/83; 95% CI, 40.1-61.1) of the raccoons tested. A high percentage of raccoons carried, in their faeces, E. coli isolates resistant to ampicillin (33%), streptomycin (33%), tetracycline (30%), sulphafurazole (31%) and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole (23%). We detected one isolate of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli from the faeces of one raccoon. We detected VTEC in the faeces of one raccoon, and EPEC in the faeces of 12% (10/83) of the raccoons. Of the raccoons that carried EPEC in their faeces, 60% (6/10) carried EPEC isolates that exhibited characteristics associated with pathogenicity in humans. Raccoons in Madrid can carry pathogenic and antimicrobial-resistant E. coli in their faeces and may be a risk to public health because of their potential to contaminate food and the environment with their faeces.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- José A Orden
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Isidro García-Meniño
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Saskia C Flament-Simon
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de Escherichia coli (LREC), Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - Ricardo de la Fuente
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Abel Martínez-Rodrigo
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alicia Mas
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Javier Carrión
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Sobrino
- Centro de Biología Molecular Severo Ochoa, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Gustavo Domínguez-Bernal
- INMIVET, Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez‐Ordóñez A, Bover‐Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Peixe L, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Jenkins C, Monteiro Pires S, Morabito S, Niskanen T, Scheutz F, da Silva Felício MT, Messens W, Bolton D. Pathogenicity assessment of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the public health risk posed by contamination of food with STEC. EFSA J 2020. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
|
3
|
Montso PK, Mlambo V, Ateba CN. The First Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Shiga Toxin-Producing Virulent Multi-Drug Resistant Atypical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O177 Serogroup From South African Cattle. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2019; 9:333. [PMID: 31608246 PMCID: PMC6769085 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2019.00333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) is a group of diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli with high diversity of serogroups, which lack the bundle-forming pili (BFP) and genes encoding for shiga toxins. The aim of this study was to isolate, identify and determine virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of aEPEC O177 strains from cattle feces. A total of 780 samples were collected from beef and dairy cattle and analyzed for the presence of E. coli O177. One thousand two hundred and seventy-two (1272) presumptive isolates were obtained and 915 were confirmed as E. coli species. Three hundred and seventy-six isolates were positively confirmed as E. coli O177 through amplification of rmlB and wzy gene sequences using multiplex PCR. None of these isolates harbored bfpA gene. A larger proportion (12.74%) of the isolates harbored hlyA gene while 11.20, 9.07, 7.25, 2.60, and 0.63% possessed stx2, stx1, eaeA, stx2a, and stx2d, respectively. Most of E. coli O177 isolates carried stx2/hlyA (9.74%). Furthermore, 7.40% of the isolates harbored stx1/stx2 while 7.09% possessed stx1/stx2/hlyA genes. Only one isolate harbored stx1/stx2/hly/eaeA/stx2a/stx2d while 5.11% of the isolates harbored all the four major virulence genes stx1/stx2/hlyA/eaeA, simultaneously. Further analysis revealed that the isolates displayed varied antimicrobial resistance to erythromycin (63.84%), ampicillin (21.54%), tetracycline (13.37%), streptomycin (17.01%), kanamycin (2.42%), chloramphenicol (1.97%), and norfloxacin (1.40%). Moreover, 20.7% of the isolates exhibited different phenotypic multi-drug resistance patterns. All 73 isolates harbored at least one antimicrobial resistance gene. The aadA, streA, streB, erm, and tetA resistance genes were detected separately and/or concurrently. In conclusion, our findings indicate that environmental isolates of aEPEC O177 strains obtained from cattle in South Africa harbored virulence and antimicrobial resistance gene determinants similar to those reported in other shiga-toxin producing E. coli strains and suggest that these determinants may contribute to the virulence of the isolates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter Kotsoana Montso
- Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| | - Victor Mlambo
- Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Sciences School of Agricultural Sciences, University of Mpumalanga, Nelspruit, South Africa
| | - Collins Njie Ateba
- Bacteriophage Therapy and Phage Bio-control Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, North-West University, Mmabatho, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hazard Identification and Characterization: Criteria for Categorizing Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli on a Risk Basis †. J Food Prot 2019; 82:7-21. [PMID: 30586326 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) comprise a large, highly diverse group of strains. Since the emergence of STEC serotype O157:H7 as an important foodborne pathogen, serotype data have been used for identifying STEC strains, and this use continued as other serotypes were implicated in human infections. An estimated 470 STEC serotypes have been identified, which can produce one or more of the 12 known Shiga toxin (Stx) subtypes. The number of STEC serotypes that cause human illness varies but is probably higher than 100. However, many STEC virulence genes are mobile and can be lost or transferred to other bacteria; therefore, STEC strains that have the same serotype may not carry the same virulence genes or pose the same risk. Although serotype information is useful in outbreak investigations and surveillance studies, it is not a reliable means of assessing the human health risk posed by a particular STEC serotype. To contribute to the development of a set of criteria that would more reliably support hazard identification, this review considered each of the factors contributing to a negative human health outcome: mild diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC pathogenesis involves entry into the human gut (often via ingestion), attachment to the intestinal epithelial cells, and elaboration of Stx. Production of Stx, which disrupts normal cellular functions and causes cell damage, alone without adherence of bacterial cells to gut epithelial cells is insufficient to cause severe illness. The principal adherence factor in STEC is the intimin protein coded by the eae gene. The aggregative adherence fimbriae adhesins regulated by the aggR gene of enteroaggregative E. coli strains are also effective adherence factors. The stx2a gene is most often present in locus of enterocyte effacement ( eae)-positive STEC strains and has consistently been associated with HUS. The stx2a gene has also been found in eae-negative, aggR-positive STEC that have caused HUS. HUS cases where other stx gene subtypes were identified indicate that other factors such as host susceptibility and the genetic cocktail of virulence genes in individual isolates may affect their association with severe diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
-
- The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) Secretariat, * Food Safety and Quality Unit, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Blanco Crivelli X, Bonino MP, Von Wernich Castillo P, Navarro A, Degregorio O, Bentancor A. Detection and Characterization of Enteropathogenic and Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains in Rattus spp. from Buenos Aires. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:199. [PMID: 29497406 PMCID: PMC5819574 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.00199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are pathovars of E. coli that impact human health by causing childhood diseases. In this work, 118 synanthropic rodents of the genus Rattus from Buenos Aires, Argentina were evaluated as EPEC and STEC carriers. Rectal swab samples from captured animals were evaluated by conventional PCR to detect the presence of the eae, stx1, stx2, and rfbO157 genes. Twenty-one isolates were obtained (17 EPEC isolates from seven animals and four STEC isolates from the same animal). All EPEC isolates tested negative for the presence of the bfpA gene. One EPEC isolate carried the iha gene, and five EPEC isolates carried the toxB gene. STEC isolates exhibited two different virulence profiles: stx1a/stx2a/stx2c/stx2d/saa/ehxA/subA (3/4) and stx1a/stx2a/saa/ehxA/subA (1/4). EPEC isolate serotypes included O109:H46 (7), O71:H40 (4), O71:NM (2), O138:H40 (1), O108:H21 (1), O88:H25 (1), and O76:NM (1), and STEC isolates belonged to the O108:H11 (4) serotype. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was carried out, and resistance to tetracycline was observed in one EPEC strain. Our results demonstrate that Rattus spp. may act as carriers of EPEC and STEC strains and may be involved in the epidemiology of diarrheal disease in infancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ximena Blanco Crivelli
- Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - María P Bonino
- Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Armando Navarro
- Departamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de México, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Osvaldo Degregorio
- Salud Pública, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Adriana Bentancor
- Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Martins FH, Guth BEC, Piazza RMF, Elias WP, Leão SC, Marzoa J, Dahbi G, Mora A, Blanco M, Blanco J, Pelayo JS. Lambs are an important source of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in southern Brazil. Vet Microbiol 2016; 196:72-77. [PMID: 27939159 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2016.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 07/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Food-producing animals can harbor Escherichia coli strains with potential to cause diseases in humans. In this study, the presence of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was investigated in fecal samples from 130 healthy sheep (92 lambs and 38 adults) raised for meat in southern Brazil. EPEC was detected in 19.2% of the sheep examined, but only lambs were found to be positive. A total of 25 isolates was characterized and designated atypical EPEC (aEPEC) as tested negative for bfpA gene and BFP production. The presence of virulence markers linked to human disease as ehxA, paa, and lpfAO113 was observed in 60%, 24%, and 88% of the isolates, respectively. Of the 11 serotypes identified, eight were described among human pathogenic strains, while three (O1:H8, O11:H21 and O125:H19) were not previously detected in aEPEC. Associations between intimin subtypes and phylogroups were observed, including eae-θ2/A, eae-β1/B1, eae-α2/B2 and eae-γ1/D. Although PFGE typing of 16 aEPEC isolates resulted in 14 unique pulsetypes suggesting a genetic diversity, specific clones were found to be distributed in some flocks. In conclusion, potentially pathogenic aEPEC strains are present in sheep raised for meat, particularly in lambs, which can better contribute to dissemination of these bacteria than adult animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fernando H Martins
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil
| | - Beatriz E C Guth
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Roxane M F Piazza
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Waldir P Elias
- Laboratório de Bacteriologia, Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Sylvia C Leão
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Juan Marzoa
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Ghizlane Dahbi
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Miguel Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli, Departamento de Microbioloxía e Parasitoloxía, Facultade de Veterinaria, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain
| | - Jacinta S Pelayo
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Universidade Estadual de Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Álvarez-Suárez ME, Otero A, García-López ML, Dahbi G, Blanco M, Mora A, Blanco J, Santos JA. Genetic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolates from goat's milk and goat farm environment. Int J Food Microbiol 2016; 236:148-54. [PMID: 27497630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize a collection of 44 Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolated from goat milk and goat farm environment. Of the 19 STEC isolates, five (26.3%) carried the stx1 gene, four (21.1%) the stx2 gene and 10 (52.6%) presented both stx genes. Six (31.6%) STEC strains were eae-positive and belonged to serotypes related to severe human disease (O157:H7 and O5:HNM). Another seven STEC strains were of serotype O146:H21 and three of serotype O166:H28, also linked to human disease. The STEC strains isolated from goat milk were of serotypes potentially pathogenic for humans. All the 25 EPEC isolates were considered atypical (aEPEC) and one aEPEC strain was of serotype O26:H11, a serotype frequently isolated in children with diarrhea. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was carried out with seven housekeeping genes and 23 sequence types (ST) were detected, 14 of them newly described. Twelve STs grouped STEC isolates and 11 STs grouped EPEC isolates. Genetic typing by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) resulted in 38 patterns which grouped in 10 clusters. Well-defined groups were also observed for strains of pathogenic serotypes. In conclusion, strains of STEC and aEPEC belonging to serotypes related to severe human disease have been detected in goat milk and the goat farm environment. Ruminants are an important reservoir of STEC strains and the role of these animals as carriers of other pathogenic types of E. coli seems to be an emerging concern.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrés Otero
- Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, Spain.
| | | | - Ghizlane Dahbi
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Miguel Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Jesús A Santos
- Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, Spain.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Identification of two allelic variants of toxB gene and investigation of their distribution among Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. Int J Med Microbiol 2014; 304:730-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2014.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/21/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
|
9
|
Pacheco VCR, Yamamoto D, Abe CM, Hernandes RT, Mora A, Blanco J, Gomes TAT. Invasion of differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells is a sporadic property among atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains carrying common intimin subtypes. Pathog Dis 2013; 70:167-75. [PMID: 24339197 DOI: 10.1111/2049-632x.12112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2013] [Revised: 09/27/2013] [Accepted: 10/31/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains produce attaching-effacing (AE) lesions on enterocytes due to the interaction of the adhesin intimin with its translocated receptor. aEPEC strain 1551-2 was previously shown to invade HeLa and T84 cells by means of the uncommon intimin subtype omicron. Other aEPEC strains carrying uncommon intimin subtypes have also been shown to invade differentiated T84 intestinal cells. In this study, seven aEPEC strains carrying the most common EPEC intimin subtypes (alpha, beta, and gamma) were evaluated regarding the ability to invade differentiated intestinal Caco-2 cells. Although all strains adhered to and promoted AE lesions, the numbers of cell-associated bacteria varied significantly between the different strains regardless of the intimin subtype (P < 0.05). Gentamicin protection assay and transmission electron microscopy analyses showed that in comparison with the invasive strain 1551-2, only one strain (aEPEC EC423/03, intimin beta) was invasive (P = 0.05). Although both strains persisted intracellularly until 48 h, the number of viable bacteria of EC423/03 decreased, whereas that of 1551-2 increased significantly up to 24 h and then decreased. In conclusion, invasiveness is a sporadic property among aEPEC strains carrying some common intimin subtypes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica C R Pacheco
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Imunologia, Escola Paulista de Medicina (UNIFESP - EPM), Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bolton DJ, Ennis C, McDowell D. Occurrence, virulence genes and antibiotic resistance of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) from twelve bovine farms in the north-east of Ireland. Zoonoses Public Health 2013; 61:149-56. [PMID: 23782867 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Cattle faecal samples (n = 480) were collected from a cluster of 12 farms, and PCR screened for the presence of the intimin gene (eae). Positive samples were cultured, and colonies were examined for the presence of eae and verocytotoxin (vtx) genes. Colonies which were positive for the intimin gene and negative for the verocytotoxin genes were further screened using PCR for a range of virulence factors including bfpA, espA, espB, tir ehxA, toxB, etpD, katP, saa, iha, lpfAO157/OI-141 and lpfAO157/OI-154. Of the 480 faecal samples, 5.8% (28/480) were PCR positive, and one isolate was obtained from each. All 28 isolates obtained were bfpA negative and therefore atypical EPEC (aEPEC). The serotypes detected included O2:H27, O8:H36, O15:H2, O49:H+, O84:H28, O105:H7 and O132:H34 but half of the isolates could not be serogrouped using currently available antisera. Twenty-two (79%) of the isolates carried the tir gene but only 25% were espB positive, and all other virulence genes tested for were scarce or absent. Several isolates showed intermediate resistance to ciprofloxacin, kanamycin, nalidixic acid, minocycline and tetracycline; full resistance to nalidixic acid or tetracycline with one isolate (O-:H8) displaying resistance to aminoglycosides (kanamycin and streptomycin), quinolones (nalidixic acid) and sulphonamides. This study provides further evidence that cattle are a potential source of aEPEC and add to the very limited data currently available on virulence genes and antibiotic resistance in this pathogenic E. coli group in animals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D J Bolton
- Department of Food Safety, Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
11
|
Weiss A, Brockmeyer J. Prevalence, biogenesis, and functionality of the serine protease autotransporter EspP. Toxins (Basel) 2012; 5:25-48. [PMID: 23274272 PMCID: PMC3564066 DOI: 10.3390/toxins5010025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2012] [Revised: 12/18/2012] [Accepted: 12/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) causes severe diseases in humans worldwide. One of its virulence factors is EspP, which belongs to the serine protease autotransporters of Enterobacteriaceae (SPATE) family. In this review we recapitulate the current data on prevalence, biogenesis, structural properties and functionality. EspP has been used to investigate mechanistic details of autotransport, and recent studies indicate that this transport mechanism is not autonomous but rather dependent on additional factors. Currently, five subtypes have been identified (EspPα-EspPε), with EspPα being associated with highly virulent EHEC serotypes and isolates from patients with severe disease. EspPα has been shown to degrade major proteins of the complement cascade, namely C3 and C5 and probably interferes with hemostasis by cleavage of coagulation factor V. Furthermore, EspPα is believed to contribute to biofilm formation perhaps by polymerization to rope-like structures. Together with the proteolytic activity, EspPα might ameliorate host colonization and interfere with host response.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- André Weiss
- Institute of Food Chemistry, Corrensstraße 45, Münster 48149, Germany.
| | | |
Collapse
|
12
|
Seropathotypes, Phylogroups, Stx subtypes, and intimin types of wildlife-carried, shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli strains with the same characteristics as human-pathogenic isolates. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:2578-85. [PMID: 22307301 DOI: 10.1128/aem.07520-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The objectives of this study were to investigate the presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains in wildlife that have spread in Europe, living near human settlements; to analyze their epidemiological role in maintenance and transmission to domestic livestock; and to assess the potential health risk of wildlife-carried strains. STEC strains were recovered from 53% of roe deer, 8.4% of wild boars, and 1.9% of foxes sampled in the northwest of Spain (Galicia). Of the 40 serotypes identified, 21 were classified as seropathotypes associated with human disease, accounting for 81.5% of the wildlife-carried STEC strains, including the enterohemorrhagic serotypes O157:H7-D-eae-γ1, O26:[H11]-B1-eae-β1, O121:H19-B1-eae-ε1, and O145:[H28]-D-eae-γ1. None of the wildlife-carried strains belonged to the highly pathogenic serotype O104:H4-B1 from the recent Germany outbreak. Forty percent of wildlife-carried STEC strains shared serotypes, phylogroups, intimin types, and Stx profiles with isolates from human patients from the same geographic area. Furthermore, wildlife-carried strains belonging to serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, O76:H19-B1, O145:[H28]-D, O146:H21-B1, and O157:H7-D showed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles with >85% similarity to human-pathogenic STEC strains. We also found a high level of similarity among STEC strains of serotypes O5:HNM-A, O26:[H11]-B1, and O145:HNM-D of bovine (feces and beef) and wildlife origins. Interestingly, O146:H21-B1, the second most frequently detected serotype in this study, is commonly associated with human diarrhea and isolated from beef and vegetables sold in Galicia. Importantly, at least 3 STEC isolates from foxes (O5:HNM-A-eae-β1, O98:[H21]-B1-eae-ζ1, and O146:[H21]-B1) showed characteristics similar to those of human STEC strains. In conclusion, roe deer, wild boar, and fox in Galicia are confirmed to be carriers of STEC strains potentially pathogenic for humans and seem to play an important role in the maintenance of STEC.
Collapse
|