A One Health approach to prevention, treatment, and control of campylobacteriosis

Five centuries of genome evolution and multi-host adaptation of Campylobacter jejuni in Brazil

Consumption of raw, undercooked or contaminated animal food products is a frequent cause of Campylobacter jejuni infection. Brazil is the world's third largest producer and a major exporter of chicken meat, yet population-level genomic investigations of C. jejuni in the country remain scarce. Analysis of 221 C. jejuni genomes from Brazil shows that the overall core and accessory genomic features of C. jejuni are influenced by the identity of the human or animal source. Of the 60 sequence types detected, ST353 is the most prevalent and consists of samples from chicken and human sources. Notably, we identified the presence of diverse bla genes from the OXA-61 and OXA-184 families that confer beta-lactam resistance as well as the operon cmeABCR related to multidrug efflux pump, which contributes to resistance against tetracyclines, macrolides and quinolones. Based on limited data, we estimated the most recent common ancestor of ST353 to the late 1500s, coinciding with the time the Portuguese first arrived in Brazil and introduced domesticated chickens into the country. We identified at least two instances of ancestral chicken-to-human infections in ST353. The evolution of C. jejuni in Brazil was driven by the confluence of clinically relevant genetic elements, multi-host adaptation and clonal population growth that coincided with major socio-economic changes in poultry farming.

Comparative Molecular Virulence Typing and Antibiotic Resistance of Campylobacter Species at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface

This study holds significant importance due to its focus on Campylobacter, the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide, responsible for ∼96 million cases each year. By investigating the prevalence of both Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli in humans, animals, and the environment, this research sheds light on the broader impact of these pathogens, which can harm both human and animal populations. Traditional microbiological methods were implemented followed by optimized multiplex polymerase chain reaction targeting 16S rDNA and virulence gene markers by using specific primers. The findings revealed that a total of 219 Campylobacter isolates were recovered from 528 collected specimens from human, animal, and environmental sources. Campylobacter species showed a prevalence of 41.5%, with C. jejuni accounting for 53% and C. coli for 47%. Antimicrobial resistance rates were high, with tetracycline at 89%, ceftriaxone at 75%, cefotaxime at 70%, erythromycin at 69%, nalidixic acid at 54%, ciprofloxacin at 39%, and gentamicin at 23%. Commonly prevalent virulence-associated genes observed in the Campylobacter were cadF at 93%, flaA at 91%, cdtB at 88%, cheY at 86%, sodB at 78%, and iamA at 32%. The study confirmed multidrug-resistant Campylobacter prevalence at the human-animal-environment interface, harboring virulence-associated genes with potential harm to humans. Data analysis showed a nonsignificant (p ≥ 0.05) correlation between virulence genes and antibiotic susceptibility. To effectively manage Campylobacter infections, a multifaceted strategy incorporating preventative interventions at different levels is required. This strategy should take into account practicability, effectiveness, and sustainability while strengthening surveillance systems and addressing the economics of disease prevention.

Global Acetylomics of Campylobacter jejuni Shows Lysine Acetylation Regulates CadF Adhesin Processing and Human Fibronectin Binding

Lysine acetylation (KAc) is a reversible post-translational modification (PTM) that can alter protein structure and function; however, specific roles for KAc are largely undefined in bacteria. Acetyl-lysine immunoprecipitation and LC-MS/MS identified 5567 acetylated lysines on 1026 proteins from the gastrointestinal pathogen Campylobacter jejuni (∼63% of the predicted proteome). KAc was identified on proteins from all subcellular locations, including the outer membrane (OM) and extracellular proteins. Label-based LC-MS/MS identified proteins and KAc sites during growth in 0.1% sodium deoxycholate (DOC, a component of gut bile salts). 3410 acetylated peptides were quantified, and 784 (from 409 proteins) were differentially abundant in DOC growth. Changes in KAc involved multiple pathways, suggesting a dynamic role for this PTM in bile resistance. As observed elsewhere, we show KAc is primarily nonenzymatically mediated via acetyl-phosphate; however, the deacetylase CobB also contributes to a global elevation of this modification in DOC. We observed several multiply acetylated OM proteins and altered DOC abundance of acetylated peptides in the fibronectin (Fn)-binding adhesin CadF. We show KAc reduces CadF Fn binding and prevalence of lower mass variants. This study provides the first system-wide lysine acetylome of C. jejuni and contributes to our understanding of KAc as an emerging PTM in bacteria.

Review of major meat-borne zoonotic bacterial pathogens

The importance of meat-borne pathogens to global disease transmission and food safety is significant for public health. These pathogens, which can cause a variety of diseases, include bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites. The consumption of pathogen-contaminated meat or meat products causes a variety of diseases, including gastrointestinal ailments. Humans are susceptible to several diseases caused by zoonotic bacterial pathogens transmitted through meat consumption, most of which damage the digestive system. These illnesses are widespread worldwide, with the majority of the burden borne by developing countries. Various production, processing, transportation, and food preparation stages can expose meat and meat products to bacterial infections and/or toxins. Worldwide, bacterial meat-borne diseases are caused by strains of Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Shigella, Campylobacter, Brucella, Mycobacterium bovis, and toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus, Clostridium species, and Bacillus cereus. Additionally, consuming contaminated meat or meat products with drug-resistant bacteria is a severe public health hazard. Controlling zoonotic bacterial pathogens demands intervention at the interface between humans, animals, and their environments. This review aimed to highlight the significance of meat-borne bacterial zoonotic pathogens while adhering to the One Health approach for creating efficient control measures.

Prevalence, Tetracycline Resistance and Tet(O) Gene Identification in Pathogenic Campylobacter Strains Isolated from Chickens in Retail Markets of Lima, Peru

Background: In this study, we aimed to estimate the prevalence, tetracycline resistance and presence of Tet(O) in Campylobacter strains isolated from chicken in markets of Lima, Peru. Methods: A total of 250 chicken samples were obtained from traditional markets (skin, n = 120) and supermarkets (meat, n = 130). Samples were subjected to microbiological assays for identification of Campylobacter spp. according to ISO 10272-2017, and the isolates were then submitted to species identification by PCR. Phenotypic resistance to tetracyclines was assessed by the Kirby−Bauer test, and the presence of the Tet(O) gene was determined by PCR. Results: A significantly higher prevalence (p < 0.0001) of Campylobacter coli in skin samples from traditional markets (97.5%) than in meat samples from supermarkets (36.2%) was observed. On the other hand, Campylobacter jejuni was confirmed only in 3.1% of meat samples. All Campylobacter species isolated from skin and meat samples were phenotypically resistant to tetracyclines; however, the presence of the Tet(O) gene in C. coli was identified in 76.9% and 66.0% of skin and meat samples, no significant statistical difference (p = 0.1488) was found between these prevalence. All C. jejuni isolated from chicken meat samples from supermarkets were positive for Tet(O) gene. Conclusions: This study confirms the high prevalence of C. coli isolated from chicken sold in traditional markets and supermarkets in Lima, Peru, and in more than 70% of these strains, phenotypic resistance to tetracyclines could be linked with expression of the Tet(O) gene. It is necessary to evaluate other genes involved in resistance to tetracyclines and other groups of antibiotics in campylobacter strains isolated from chicken meat.

High rates of macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance in human campylobacteriosis in the Middle East and North Africa

Campylobacter is one of the main causative agents of bacterial gastrointestinal infections. Recently, a rise in the incidence of campylobacteriosis has been reported worldwide. Despite the clinical importance of this zoonotic disease, its microbiological diagnosis is not systematically performed in clinical laboratories in developing countries such as the Middle East and North Africa region. Multidrug-resistant Campylobacter isolates, particularly against erythromycin and ciprofloxacin, have been highly reported. The findings of this study highlight the critical need to urge clinical laboratories in the Middle East and North Africa region to include screening for Campylobacter in the routine stool culture of diarrheal patients. Although there is a paucity of data regarding the epidemiology of human campylobacteriosis, alarming rates of infection prevalence and antimicrobial resistance were found in Egypt, Iran, Qatar and Lebanon.

Occurrence and Multidrug Resistance of Campylobacter in Chicken Meat from Different Production Systems

Campylobacter is the leading bacterial cause of diarrheal disease worldwide and poultry remains the primary vehicle of its transmission to humans. Due to the rapid increase in antibiotic resistance among Campylobacter strains, the World Health Organization (WHO) added Campylobacter fluoroquinolone resistance to the WHO list of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens”. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter spp. in meat samples from chickens reared in different production systems: (a) conventional, (b) free-range and (c) backyard farming. Campylobacter spp. was detected in all samples from conventionally reared and free-range broilers and in 72.7% of backyard chicken samples. Levels of contamination were on average 2.7 × 10³ colony forming units (CFU)/g, 4.4 × 10² CFU/g and 4.2 × 10⁴ CFU/g in conventionally reared, free-range and backyard chickens, respectively. Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli were the only species isolated. Distribution of these species does not seem to be affected by the production system. The overall prevalence of Campylobacter isolates exhibiting resistance to at least one antimicrobial was 98.4%. All the C. coli isolates showed resistance to ciprofloxacin and to nalidixic acid, and 79.5 and 97.4% to ampicillin and tetracycline, respectively. In total, 96.2% of C. jejuni isolates displayed a resistant phenotype to ciprofloxacin and to nalidixic acid, and 92.3% to ampicillin and tetracycline. Of the 130 Campylobacter isolates tested, 97.7% were classified as multidrug resistant (MDR).

Renal Abscess and Recurrent Bacteremia Caused by Campylobacter Infection in an Adult With Common Variable Immunodeficiency

Campylobacter bacteremia and extraintestinal manifestations are extremely rare, occurring more frequently in immunocompromised patients. We report a rare clinical case of a 46-year-old female with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) presenting with a previously undescribed extraintestinal complication - renal abscess - and recurrent bacteremia caused by Campylobacter, which was a therapeutic challenge and required the use of secondary prophylactic antibiotic treatment to prevent recurrence.

Antimicrobial resistance in Campylobacter coli and Campylobacter jejuni from human campylobacteriosis in Taiwan, 2016-2019

Campylobacter coli and C. jejuni are highly resistant to most therapeutic antimicrobials in Taiwan, rapid diagnostics of resistance in bacterial isolates is crucial for the treatment of campylobacteriosis. We characterized 219 (40 C. coli and 179 C. jejuni) isolates recovered from humans between 2016 and 2019 using whole-genome sequencing to investigate the genetic diversity among isolates and the genetic resistance determinants associated with antimicrobial resistance. Susceptibility testing with 8 antimicrobials was conducted to assess the concordance between phenotypic resistance and genetic determinants. The conventional and core genome multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed diverse clonality among the isolates. Mutations in gyrA (T86I, D90N), rpsL (K43R, K88R), and 23S rRNA (A2075G) were found in 91.8%, 3.2%, and 6.4% of the isolates, respectively. Horizontally transferable resistance genes ant(6)-I, aad9, aph(3')-IIIa, aph(2"), blaOXA, catA/fexA, cfr(C), erm(B), lnu, sat4, and tet were identified in 24.2%, 21.5%, 33.3%, 11.9%, 96.3%, 10.0%, 0.9%, 6.8%, 3.2%, 13.2%, and 96.3%, respectively. High-level resistance to 8 antimicrobials in isolates was 100% predictable by the known resistance determinants, whereas low-level resistance to azithromycin, clindamycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, and florfenicol in isolates was associated with sequence variations in CmeA and CmeB of the CmeABC efflux pump. Resistance-enhancing CmeB variants were identified in 62.1% (136/219) of isolates. In conclusion, an extremely high proportion of C. coli (100%) and C. jejuni (88.3%) were multidrug-resistant and a high proportion (62.5%) of C. coli isolates had been resistant to azithromycin, erythromycin, and clindamycin that would complicate the treatment of invasive campylobacteriosis in this country.

Comparative macrolide use in humans and animals: should macrolides be moved off the World Health Organisation's critically important antimicrobial list?

Macrolide antibiotics are categorized by the WHO as Highest Priority, Critically Important Antimicrobials due to their recommendation as treatment for severe cases of campylobacteriosis in humans; a self-limiting, rarely life-threatening, zoonotic foodborne infection. Low rates of macrolide resistance in Campylobacter jejuni and the availability of alternative treatments have prompted some regulatory schemes to assign macrolides to a lower importance category. Apart from rare, specific infections, macrolides largely play a supportive role to other drug classes in human medicine. By contrast, although the advent of alternative control methods has seen significant reductions in macrolide use in intensive livestock, they still have a crucial role in the treatment/control of respiratory infections and liver abscesses in cattle. Whilst acknowledging that ongoing surveillance is required to reduce the spread of recently emerged, transferable macrolide resistance among Campylobacter, this article recommends that macrolides should be moved to the WHO Highly Important category.

Intensive animal farming operations and outbreaks of zoonotic bacterial diseases in Ukraine

In Ukraine zoonoses are a permanent threat to human health, some of them are bacterial diseases associated with farm animals. Complete avoidance of outbreaks of bacterial zoonoses is not possible but it is appropriate to study them to reduce the risks of transmission of zoonosis pathogens from industrial farms to the human population and the environment. The article highlights the results of a literature review on the potential role of industrial livestock farms in the spread of major bacterial zoonoses in Ukraine. About half of all of the country’s farmed animals are kept on farms using industrial technology; more than half of the establishments are classified as medium and large. The technology of keeping animals on such farms contributes to the development of diseases of obligate hosts caused by fecal bacteria. The systematic search and selection of literary sources, which are relevant to the topic of the study were carried out. The vast majority of analyzed publications are published in Ukrainian in local peer-reviewed scientific journals. An analysis of open-access official statistics from the state authorities of Ukraine was also conducted. The authors analyzed statistics and scientific papers published over the last 10–15 years discussing the outbreaks of food-borne zoonoses among humans and the studying their pathogens (Campylobacter spp., Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli (STEC strains), Listeria spp.) on industrial livestock farms. The main source of Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. distribution are industrial poultry, including broilers and chickens, respectively. The STEC strains E. coli carriers are various types of farm animals, including cattle and pigs. The majority of infections documented in Ukraine are cases of salmonellosis in humans and animals. Despite reports of a significant prevalence of campylobacteriosis, colibacillosis and listeriosis in livestock farms, their association with outbreaks of food-borne zoonoses in humans remains poorly understood. The concept of an industrial livestock farm involves a permanent presence of a risk of outbreaks of bacterial zoonoses and their rapid spreading to the human population. This is due to concentrated maintenance of animals, standardized feeding, the priority of achieving the highest productivity of animals and economic indicators. Under such conditions, disturbance of hygienic norms and technologies significantly increases the risk of bacterial zoonoses on industrial farms. It is important to enforce the continuous control of the level of microbial pollution of farms, animal health, hygiene of milk production and processing, meat, eggs, etc. Farms have a negative impact on the ecological welfare of the surrounding territories. The problem of spread of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacterial zoonoses is a very serious one. Efforts for the formation of a national system of epidemiological supervision over bacterial zoonoses, comprising epidemiological, epizootological, ecological, microbiological, serological and molecular genetic monitoring, as well as the development on this basis of effective prophylactic and anti-epidemic measures are relevant and necessary.