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Listorti V, Guardone L, Piccinini C, Martini I, Ferraris C, Ligotti C, Cristina ML, Pussini N, Pitti M, Razzuoli E. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Wild Ruminants in Liguria, North-West Italy. Pathogens 2024; 13:576. [PMID: 39057803 PMCID: PMC11279605 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13070576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/03/2024] [Accepted: 07/08/2024] [Indexed: 07/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Wildlife may represent an important source of infectious diseases for humans and other wild and domestic animals. Wild ruminants can harbour and transmit Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) to humans, and some strains even carry important antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 289 livers of wild roe deer, fallow deer, red deer and chamois collected in Liguria, north-west Italy, from 2019 to 2023 were analysed. Overall, 44 STEC strains were isolated from 28 samples. The characterisation of serogroups showed the presence of O104, O113, O145 and O146 serogroups, although for 28 colonies, the serogroup could not be determined. The most prevalent Shiga toxin gene in isolated strains was Stx2, and more specifically the subtype Stx2b. The other retrieved subtypes were Stx1a, Stx1c, Stx1d and Stx2g. The isolated strains generally proved to be susceptible to the tested antimicrobials. However, multi-drug resistances against highly critical antimicrobials were found in one strain isolated from a roe deer. This study highlights the importance of wildlife monitoring in the context of a "One Health" approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valeria Listorti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Lisa Guardone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Pisa, Viale Delle Piagge 2, 56124 Pisa, Italy
| | - Carolina Piccinini
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.P.); (M.L.C.)
| | - Isabella Martini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Carla Ferraris
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Carmela Ligotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Maria Luisa Cristina
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Genova, 16132 Genova, Italy; (C.P.); (M.L.C.)
- Hospital Hygiene, E. O. Galliera Hospital, 16128 Genova, Italy
| | - Nicola Pussini
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Monica Pitti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
| | - Elisabetta Razzuoli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale of Piemonte, Liguria and Valle d’Aosta, Via Bologna 148, 10154 Turin, Italy; (I.M.); (C.F.); (C.L.); (N.P.); (M.P.); (E.R.)
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Bucur IM, Moza AC, Pop M, Nichita I, Gaspar CM, Cojocaru R, Gros RV, Boldea MV, Tirziu A, Tirziu E. Hunting Dynamics and Identification of Potentially Pathogenic Bacteria in European Fallow Deer ( Dama dama) across Three Hunting Reserves in Western Romania. Microorganisms 2024; 12:1236. [PMID: 38930618 PMCID: PMC11205381 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12061236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2024] [Revised: 06/07/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The study focused on the hunting practices and potentially pathogenic bacterial species among European fallow deer (Dama dama). Within a five-year period, three hunting grounds from Western Romania were examined. During this period, a total of 1881 deer were hunted, and 240 samples were collected by rectal and nasal swabbing from 120 carcasses. Bacterial strains were identified utilizing bacteriological assays and the Vitek® 2 Compact system. Notably, the Socodor hunting ground exhibited a significant difference in harvesting quotas between the bucks (Group M) and does/yearlings (Group F), favoring the latter. In the Chișineu Criș-Sălișteanca hunting ground, a likely correlation in harvesting quotas between the two groups was observed. The identified potentially pathogenic bacteria were Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes and Enterococcus faecium. These results highlight the importance of effectively managing the deer population and recognize the potential for Dama dama to spread zoonotic pathogens, emphasizing the necessity of adopting a One Health approach and maintaining ongoing surveillance of this game species' population dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia-Maria Bucur
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Alex Cristian Moza
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Mirel Pop
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Ileana Nichita
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Cristina Mirabela Gaspar
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Răzvan Cojocaru
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Radu-Valentin Gros
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Marius Valentin Boldea
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Andreea Tirziu
- Faculty of Medicine, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Piata Eftimie Murgu 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Emil Tirziu
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Life Sciences “King Mihai I” from Timisoara, Calea Aradului 119, 300645 Timisoara, Romania; (I.-M.B.); (M.P.); (I.N.); (C.M.G.); (R.C.); (R.-V.G.); (M.V.B.); (E.T.)
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Wang X, Yu D, Chui L, Zhou T, Feng Y, Cao Y, Zhi S. A Comprehensive Review on Shiga Toxin Subtypes and Their Niche-Related Distribution Characteristics in Shiga-Toxin-Producing E. coli and Other Bacterial Hosts. Microorganisms 2024; 12:687. [PMID: 38674631 PMCID: PMC11052178 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms12040687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2024] [Revised: 03/25/2024] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx), the main virulence factor of Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), was first discovered in Shigella dysenteriae strains. While several other bacterial species have since been reported to produce Stx, STEC poses the most significant risk to human health due to its widespread prevalence across various animal hosts that have close contact with human populations. Based on its biochemical and molecular characteristics, Shiga toxin can be grouped into two types, Stx1 and Stx2, among which a variety of variants and subtypes have been identified in various bacteria and host species. Interestingly, the different Stx subtypes appear to vary in their host distribution characteristics and in the severity of diseases that they are associated with. As such, this review provides a comprehensive overview on the bacterial species that have been recorded to possess stx genes to date, with a specific focus on the various Stx subtype variants discovered in STEC, their prevalence in certain host species, and their disease-related characteristics. This review provides a better understanding of the Stx subtypes and highlights the need for rapid and accurate approaches to toxin subtyping for the proper evaluation of the health risks associated with Shiga-toxin-related bacterial food contamination and human infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Wang
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Daniel Yu
- School of Public Health, Univeristy of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2R3, Canada;
| | - Linda Chui
- Alberta Precision Laboratories-ProvLab, Edmonton, AB T6G 2J2, Canada;
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7, Canada
| | - Tiantian Zhou
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yu Feng
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
| | - Yuhao Cao
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China;
| | - Shuai Zhi
- School of Public Health, Ningbo University, Ningbo 315000, China; (X.W.); (T.Z.); (Y.F.)
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Fitzgerald SF, Mitchell MC, Holmes A, Allison L, Chase-Topping M, Lupolova N, Wells B, Gally DL, McNeilly TN. Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2795. [PMID: 37685059 PMCID: PMC10486872 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many 'spillover' species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumption of venison meat products, highlighted several knowledge gaps, including the prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer and the potential risk to humans from wild deer isolates. In this study, we undertook a nationwide survey of wild deer in Scotland and determined that the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low 0.28% (95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.80). Despite the low prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer, identified isolates were present in deer faeces at high levels (>104 colony forming units/g faeces) and had high human pathogenic potential based on whole genome sequencing and virulence gene profiling. A retrospective epidemiological investigation also identified one wild deer isolate from this study as a possible source of a Scottish human outbreak in 2017. These results emphasise the importance of food hygiene practices during the processing of wild deer carcasses for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Fitzgerald
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - Mairi C. Mitchell
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Anne Holmes
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Lesley Allison
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Margo Chase-Topping
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Nadejda Lupolova
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Beth Wells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - David L. Gally
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Tom N. McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
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Szczerba-Turek A, Chierchia F, Socha P, Szweda W. Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Faecal Samples from Wild Ruminants. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:ani13050901. [PMID: 36899758 PMCID: PMC10000188 DOI: 10.3390/ani13050901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildlife can harbour Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In the present study, STEC in faecal samples from red deer (n = 106) and roe deer (n = 95) were characterised. All isolates were non-O157 strains. In red deer, STEC were detected in 17.9% (n = 19) of the isolates, and the eae/stx2b virulence profile was detected in two isolates (10.5%). One STEC strain harboured stx1a (5.3%) and eighteen STEC strains harboured stx2 (94.7%). The most prevalent stx2 subtypes were stx2b (n = 12; 66.7%), stx2a (n = 3; 16.7%), and stx2g (n = 2; 11.1%). One isolate could not be subtyped (NS) with the applied primers (5.6%). The most widely identified serotypes were O146:H28 (n = 4; 21%), O146:HNM (n = 2; 10.5%), O103:H7 (n = 1; 5.3%), O103:H21 (n = 1; 5.3%), and O45:HNM (n = 1; 5.3%). In roe deer, STEC were detected in 16.8% (n = 16) of the isolates, and the eae/stx2b virulence profile was detected in one isolate (6.3%). Two STEC strains harboured stx1a (12.5%), one strain harboured stx1NS/stx2b (6.3%), and thirteen strains harboured stx2 (81.3%). The most common subtypes were stx2b (n = 8; 61.5%), stx2g (n = 2; 15.4%), non-typeable subtypes (NS) (n = 2; 15.4%), and stx2a (n = 1; 7.7%). Serotype O146:H28 (n = 5; 31.3%) was identified. The study demonstrated that the zoonotic potential of STEC strains isolated from wildlife faeces should be monitored in the context of the 'One Health' approach which links human health with animal and environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Szczerba-Turek
- Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-604-591-361
| | - Filomena Chierchia
- Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Piotr Socha
- Department of Animal Reproduction with a Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 14, 10-719 Olsztyn, Poland
| | - Wojciech Szweda
- Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland
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Korkmaz B, Reich F, Alter T, Steinhoff-Wagner J, Maaz D, Gremse C, Haase A, Mader A, Schafft H, Bandick N, Nöckler K, Lahrssen-Wiederholt M. Microbial load of rinsed and unrinsed body cavities of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) on the killing day and after cold storage: A preliminary investigation. Food Control 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Virulence Genes of Pathogenic Escherichia coli in Wild Red Foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12151959. [PMID: 35953948 PMCID: PMC9367424 DOI: 10.3390/ani12151959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 07/28/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Escherichia coli is a commensal of the intestinal tract of humans and animals, but some pathotypes can cause severe infections. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) are the pathotypes most frequently involved in enteric disorders observed in people and domestic animals. Wildlife may harbor and excrete these pathotypes too, therefore, they may be source of infections for humans and domestic animals. Vulpes vulpes seem to be involved in the epidemiology of pathogenic E. coli strains, and thus they could be a relevant threat mainly when they invade human settlements in rural and urban areas. Abstract Different pathotypes of Escherichia coli can cause severe diseases in animals and humans. Wildlife may contribute to the circulation of pathogenic pathotypes, including enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). This study analyzed 109 DNA samples previously extracted from fecal specimens collected from red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) to detect E. coli virulence genes eaeA, hlyA, stx1, and stx2, that characterize the EPEC, STEC, and EHEC strains. Thirty-one (28.4%) samples were positive for at least one investigated virulence gene: eaeA gene was detected in 21 (19.2%) samples, hlyA in 10 (9.1%), stx1 in 6 (5.5%), and stx2 in 4 (3.6%). Nine DNA samples resulted positive for two or three virulence genes: five (4.6%) samples were positive for eaeA and hlyA genes, two (1.8%) for eaeA and stx1, one (0.9%) for hlyA and stx1, one (0.9%) for eaeA, hlyA and stx2. Red foxes seem to be involved in the epidemiology of these infections and their role could be relevant because they may be source of pathogenic E. coli for other wild animals, as well as domestic animals and humans.
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Dias D, Costa S, Fonseca C, Baraúna R, Caetano T, Mendo S. Pathogenicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from wildlife: Should we care? THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 812:152324. [PMID: 34915011 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2021] [Revised: 12/07/2021] [Accepted: 12/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most frequent bacterial agents associated with food-borne outbreaks in Europe. In humans, the infection can lead to life-threatening diseases. Domestic and wild animals can harbor STEC, and ruminants are the main STEC reservoirs, although asymptomatic. In the present study we have characterized STEC from wildlife (wild boar (n = 56), red deer (n = 101), red fox (n = 37) and otter (n = 92)). Cultivable STEC (n = 52) were isolated from 17% (n = 49) of the faecal samples. All the isolates were non-O157 STEC encoding stx1 (n = 2; 4%) and/or stx2 genes (n = 51; 98%). Only one strain (2%) isolated from red fox had an antibiotic resistant phenotype. However, when the normalized resistance interpretation of epidemiological cutoffs (NRI ECOFFs) were used, 23% (n = 12) of the strains were non-wildtype to at least one of the antibiotics tested. After analysis by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), 20 strains were selected for whole genome sequencing and belonged to the following serotypes: O27:H30 (n = 15), O146:H28 (n = 2), O146:H21 (n = 1), O178:H19 (n = 1), and O103:H2 (n = 1). In addition to stx, all strains encode several virulence factors such as toxins, adhesins, fimbriae and secretion systems, among others. All sequenced genomes carried several mobile genetic elements (MGEs), such as prophages and/or plasmids. The core genome and the phylogenetic analysis showed close evolutionary relationships between some of the STEC recovered from wildlife and strains of clinical origin, highlighting their pathogenic potential. Overall, our results show the zoonotic potential of STEC strains originating from wildlife, highlighting the importance of monitoring their genomic characteristics following a One Health perspective, in which the health of humans is related to the health of animals, and the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diana Dias
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sávio Costa
- Centro de Genômica e Biologia de Sistemas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Carlos Fonseca
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; ForestWISE - Collaborative Laboratory for Integrated Forest & Fire Management, Quinta de Prados, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal
| | - Rafael Baraúna
- Centro de Genômica e Biologia de Sistemas, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Tânia Caetano
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Sónia Mendo
- CESAM and Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, Campus de Santiago, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Szczerba-Turek A, Kordas B. Fallow Deer ( Dama dama) as a Reservoir of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Animals (Basel) 2020; 10:E881. [PMID: 32438625 PMCID: PMC7278374 DOI: 10.3390/ani10050881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Revised: 05/18/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia (E.) coli (STEC) are responsible for the outbreaks of serious diseases in humans. Only a few reports on fallow deer as a reservoir of foodborne pathogens have been published to date. The purpose of this study was to determine the occurrence of STEC strains in the fallow deer population in Poland. In all, 94 fallow deer swabs were tested. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was performed to detect the virulence profile of stx1, stx2 and eae or aggR genes, to identify the subtypes of stx1 and stx2 genes and to perform O and H serotyping. STEC and attaching and effacing (AE)-STEC were identified in 13 isolates (13.83%). The most hazardous virulence profile was detected in three strains, namely stx2d serotype O103:HNM, eae/stx1a serotype O26:HNM and eae/stx1a serotype O157:H7. The predominant stx gene was stx2, which was identified in 76.92% of isolates. E. coli O157 was detected in 4/94 (4.26%). Other E. coli serogroups, O26, O103, O111 and O145, were identified in 14/94 fallow deer (14.89%). The present findings suggest that fallow deer are carriers of STEC/AE-STEC that are potentially pathogenic to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Szczerba-Turek
- Department of Epizootiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Oczapowskiego 13, 10-718 Olsztyn, Poland;
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