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Kromann S, Baig S, Olsen RH, Edslev SM, Thøfner I, Bojesen AM, Jensen HE, Stegger M. Dramatic increase in slaughter condemnations due to Escherichia coli ST23 and ST101 within the Danish broiler production. Vet Microbiol 2023; 280:109696. [PMID: 36893553 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2023.109696] [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: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/21/2023]
Abstract
Escherichia coli constitutes a major challenge to poultry even when the prevalence of colibacillosis is low. Additionally, specific E. coli strains can severely enhance the detrimental effects on productivity, animal welfare and antimicrobial use. In 2019-2020, a dramatic increase in colibacillosis occurred among Danish broilers causing late-onset mortality and high slaughter condemnations. In the present study, the pathology and causative E. coli-types were characterised. Furthermore, the outbreak-related strains were compared to isolates from concurrent "background" colibacillosis. During the study, 1039 birds were subjected to a comprehensive post-mortem examination, and a total of 349 E. coli isolates were sequenced and characterised by multi-locus sequence typing, virulence and resistance gene presence, plasmid replicon content and phylogenetic analysis. Productivity data from outbreak flocks revealed a mortality of 6.34% ± 3.74 and a condemnation of 5.04% ± 3.67. Contrary, the numbers were 3.18% ± 1.57% and 1.02% ± 0.4 among non-outbreak flocks, respectively. Major lesions were cellulitis (46.82%), airsacculitis (67.63%), pericarditis (55.49%), perihepatitis (41.04%) and femoral head necrosis with physeal/metaphyseal involvement (44.51%). Among non-outbreak broilers, the prevalence was 4.46%, 7.64%, 7.01%, 3.82% and 8.28%, respectively. ST23 and ST101 dominated heavily in outbreak flocks, whereas non-outbreak related isolates consisted of various other STs. A low level of resistance markers was evident, except in few multidrug-resistant isolates. Within ST23 and ST101, 13 and 12 virulence genes were significantly over-represented compared to non-outbreak isolates. In conclusion, clonal lineages were documented as the cause of a devastating outbreak of colibacillosis with great prospects for future interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie Kromann
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark; DanHatch Denmark A/S, Rugerivej 26, 9760 Vrå, Denmark.
| | - Sharmin Baig
- Statens Serum Institut, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Rikke Heidemann Olsen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Sofie Marie Edslev
- Statens Serum Institut, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ida Thøfner
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Anders Miki Bojesen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Henrik Elvang Jensen
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, 1870 Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - Marc Stegger
- Statens Serum Institut, Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Artillerivej 5, 2300 Copenhagen, Denmark
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Awawdeh L, Turni C, Mollinger JL, Henning J, Cobbold RN, Trott DJ, Gibson JS. Antimicrobial susceptibility, plasmid replicon typing, phylogenetic grouping, and virulence potential of avian pathogenic and faecal Escherichia coli isolated from meat chickens in Australia. Avian Pathol 2022; 51:349-360. [PMID: 35417283 DOI: 10.1080/03079457.2022.2065969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Globally, avian colibacillosis is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in poultry, associated with economic losses and welfare problems. Here, clinical avian pathogenic E. coli isolates (CEC; n=50) and faecal E. coli isolates from healthy (FEC; n=187) Australian meat chickens collected between 2006 and 2014 were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing, phylogenetic grouping, plasmid replicon (PR) typing, multilocus sequence typing, and virulence gene (VG) profiling. Extended-spectrum cephalosporin (ESC)- and fluoroquinolone (FQ)-resistant E. coli isolates underwent further genetic characterisation. Significant proportions of CEC and FEC were respectively susceptible (13/50 [26%]; 48/187 [26%],) or MDR (9/50 [18%]; 26/187 [14%]) to 20 tested antimicrobials. Phylogenetic groups A and C, and PR types IncFIB and IncFrep were most commonly represented. Five tested CEC-associated VGs were more prevalent in CEC (≥90%) compared to FEC isolates (≤58%). Some isolates (CEC n=3; FEC n=7) were resistant to ESCs and/or FQs and possessed signature mutations in chromosomal FQ target genes and plasmid-mediated qnrS, blaCMY-2, and blaDHA-1 genes. Sequence type 354 (n=4), associated with extraintestinal infections in a broad range of hosts, was prevalent among the ESC- and/or FQ-resistant FEC.This study confirmed the existence of a small reservoir of ESC- and FQ-resistant E. coli in Australian commercial meat chickens despite the absence of use in the industry of these drug classes. Otherwise, a diversity of VGs and PR types in both faecal and clinical E. coli populations were identified. It's hypothesised that the source of ESC- and FQ-resistant E. coli may be external to poultry production facilities.Highlights1. Low-level resistance to older and newer generation antimicrobial drugs detected2. The most common sequence type (ST) associated with FQ resistance was ST354 (4/10)3. A small proportion of CEC (n=3) and FEC (n=7) were resistant to ESCs and/or FQs.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Awawdeh
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia.,Eastern Institute of Technology, Hawke's Bay, 501 Gloucester Street, Taradale, Napier 4112, New Zealand
| | - C Turni
- Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation, The University of Queensland, Dutton Park, Queensland 4102, Austalia
| | - J L Mollinger
- Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, Health & Food Science Precinct, Coopers Plains, Queensland 4108, Australia
| | - J Henning
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - R N Cobbold
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
| | - D J Trott
- Australian Centre for Antimicrobial Resistance Ecology, The University of Adelaide, Roseworthy Campus, Mudla Wirra Rd, Roseworthy, 5371, Australia
| | - J S Gibson
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland 4343, Australia
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Occurrence of genes associated with virulence in Escherichia coli isolates from chicken carcasses at different stages of processing at a slaughterhouse. Braz J Microbiol 2021; 52:2413-2420. [PMID: 34467469 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-021-00549-5] [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: 12/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/21/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a bacterium frequently found in chicken carcasses, causing carcass condemnation with losses to the industry and when present in food, it carries a risk to public health as there is evidence that some strains pathogenic to birds (APEC - Avian Pathogenic E. coli) have zoonotic potential. Carcass contamination can occur at the slaughterhouse, but the influence of the different stages of processing in the selection of potential extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli strains is unknown. This study aimed to analyze the influence of the processing steps in the slaughterhouse on the detection of E. coli isolates carrying APEC predictor's virulence-associated genes (VAGs), and to relate their presence with post-mortem condemnation. A sample consisted of four pooled carcasses collected at seven different stages of slaughter (before scalding, after scalding, after plucking, before evisceration/after shower wash, after evisceration, after pre-coolers, and after packing) from 15 batches of broilers. The total samples obtained was 105 pools with four carcasses each, totaling 420 carcasses analyzed. Enterobacteriaceae were counted from each pool and E. coli were subsequently selected, which were submitted to pentaplex PCR to identify the five VAG APEC predictor's: iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, and iutA. The Enterobacteriaceae count demonstrated a reduction of 4.25 log CFU per gram of carcass from the first to the last stage analyzed, with scalding and pre-cooling by immersion being the procedures that contributed most to this reduction. The presence of VAGs and potential APEC (presence of two or more of these gene predictors) was observed at all points evaluated in the slaughterhouse, which suggested that bacteria carrying these genes could reach the consumer.
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Bose T, Venkatesh KV, Mande SS. Investigating host-bacterial interactions among enteric pathogens. BMC Genomics 2019; 20:1022. [PMID: 31881845 PMCID: PMC6935094 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-019-6398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In 2017, World Health Organization (WHO) published a catalogue of 12 families of antibiotic-resistant “priority pathogens” that are posing the greatest threats to human health. Six of these dreaded pathogens are known to infect the human gastrointestinal system. In addition to causing gastrointestinal and systemic infections, these pathogens can also affect the composition of other microbes constituting the healthy gut microbiome. Such aberrations in gut microbiome can significantly affect human physiology and immunity. Identifying the virulence mechanisms of these enteric pathogens are likely to help in developing newer therapeutic strategies to counter them. Results Using our previously published in silico approach, we have evaluated (and compared) Host-Pathogen Protein-Protein Interaction (HPI) profiles of four groups of enteric pathogens, namely, different species of Escherichia, Shigella, Salmonella and Vibrio. Results indicate that in spite of genus/ species specific variations, most enteric pathogens possess a common repertoire of HPIs. This core set of HPIs are probably responsible for the survival of these pathogen in the harsh nutrient-limiting environment within the gut. Certain genus/ species specific HPIs were also observed. Conslusions The identified bacterial proteins involved in the core set of HPIs are expected to be helpful in understanding the pathogenesis of these dreaded gut pathogens in greater detail. Possible role of genus/ species specific variations in the HPI profiles in the virulence of these pathogens are also discussed. The obtained results are likely to provide an opportunity for development of novel therapeutic strategies against the most dreaded gut pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tungadri Bose
- Bio-Sciences R&D Division, TCS Innovation Labs, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Pune, India.,Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - K V Venkatesh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, India
| | - Sharmila S Mande
- Bio-Sciences R&D Division, TCS Innovation Labs, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, Pune, India.
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Zakariazadeh N, Shayegh J, Ghorbani A. Phylogenetic typing and virulence gene profile of pathogenic and commensal avian Escherichia coli in Iran: a notable finding. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s00580-019-02921-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
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Magray SN, Wani SA, Kashoo ZA, Bhat MA, Adil S, Farooq S, Rather MA, Kabli ZA, Banday MT, Nishikawa Y. Serological diversity, molecular characterisation and antimicrobial sensitivity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in Kashmir, India. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/an17065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The present study has determined the serological diversity, virulence-gene profile and in vitro antibiogram of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in India suspected to have died of colibacillosis. The virulence-gene profile of APEC was compared with that of the Escherichia coli isolates from faeces of apparently healthy chickens, called avian faecal E. coli (AFEC). In total, 90 representative isolates of APEC and 63 isolates of AFEC were investigated in the present study. The APEC were typed into 19 serogroups, while some isolates were rough and could not be typed. Most prevalent serogroup was O2 (24.44%). Among the eight virulence genes studied, the prevalence of seven genes (iss, iucD, tsh, cva/cvi, irp2, papC and vat) was significantly higher in APEC than in AFEC isolates. However, there was no significant difference between APEC and AFEC isolates for possession of astA gene. The most frequent gene detected among the two groups of organisms was iss, which was present in 98.88% and 44.44% of APEC and AFEC isolates respectively. The in vitro antibiogram showed that the majority (96.6%) of APEC isolates were resistant to tetracycline, while 82.2% were resistant to cephalexin, 78.8% to cotrimoxazole, 68.8% to streptomycin and 63.3% to ampicillin. However, most of them (84.45%) were sensitive to gentamicin. Thus, it is concluded that APEC from the broiler chickens carried putative virulence genes that attributed to their pathogenicity. Furthermore, the majority of APEC isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant, which, in addition to leading treatment failures in poultry, poses a public health threat.
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Diversity of Multi-Drug Resistant Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Causing Outbreaks of Colibacillosis in Broilers during 2012 in Spain. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143191. [PMID: 26600205 PMCID: PMC4657910 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2015] [Accepted: 11/01/2015] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) are the major cause of colibacillosis in poultry production. In this study, a total of 22 E. coli isolated from colibacillosis field cases and 10 avian faecal E. coli (AFEC) were analysed. All strains were characterised phenotypically by susceptibility testing and molecular typing methods such as pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST). The presence of 29 virulence genes associated to APEC and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) was also evaluated. For cephalosporin resistant isolates, cephalosporin resistance genes, plasmid location and replicon typing was assessed. Avian isolates belonged to 26 O:H serotypes and 24 sequence types. Out of 22 APEC isolates, 91% contained the virulence genes predictors of APEC; iutA, hlyF, iss, iroN and ompT. Of all strains, 34% were considered ExPEC. PFGE analysis demonstrated a high degree of genetic polymorphism. All strains were multi-resistant, including those isolated from healthy animals. Eleven strains were resistant to cephalosporins; six contained blaCTX-M-14, two blaSHV-12, two blaCMY-2 and one blaSHV-2. Two strains harboured qnrA, and two qnrA together with aac(6’)-Ib-cr. Additionally, the emergent clone O25b:H4-B2-ST131 was isolated from a healthy animal which harboured blaCMY-2 and qnrS genes. Cephalosporin resistant genes were mainly associated to the presence of IncK replicons. This study demonstrates a very diverse population of multi-drug resistant E. coli containing a high number of virulent genes. The E. coli population among broilers is a reservoir of resistance and virulence-associated genes that could be transmitted into the community through the food chain. More epidemiological studies are necessary to identify clonal groups and resistance mechanisms with potential relevance to public health.
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De Carli S, Ikuta N, Lehmann FKM, da Silveira VP, de Melo Predebon G, Fonseca ASK, Lunge VR. Virulence gene content in Escherichia coli isolates from poultry flocks with clinical signs of colibacillosis in Brazil. Poult Sci 2015; 94:2635-40. [PMID: 26371329 DOI: 10.3382/ps/pev256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 07/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a commensal bacterium of the bird's intestinal tract, but it can invade different tissues resulting in systemic symptoms (colibacillosis). This disease occurs only when the E. coli infecting strain presents virulence factors (encoded by specific genes) that enable the adhesion and proliferation in the host organism. Thus, it is important to differentiate pathogenic (APEC, avian pathogenic E. coli) and non-pathogenic or fecal (AFEC, avian fecal E. coli) isolates. Previous studies analyzed the occurrence of virulence factors in E. coli strains isolated from birds with colibacillosis, demonstrating a high frequency of the bacterial genes cvaC, iroN, iss, iutA, sitA, tsh, fyuA, irp-2, ompT and hlyF in pathogenic strains. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the occurrence and frequency of these virulence genes in E. coli isolated from poultry flocks in Brazil. A total of 138 isolates of E. coli was obtained from samples of different tissues and/or organs (spleen, liver, kidney, trachea, lungs, skin, ovary, oviduct, intestine, cloaca) and environmental swabs collected from chicken and turkey flocks suspected to have colibacillosis in farms from the main Brazilian producing regions. Total DNA was extracted and the 10 virulence genes were detected by traditional and/or real-time PCR. At least 11 samples of each gene were sequenced and compared to reference strains. All 10 virulence factors were detected in Brazilian E. coli isolates, with frequencies ranging from 39.9% (irp-2) to 68.8% (hlyF and sitA). Moreover, a high nucleotide similarity (over 99%) was observed between gene sequences of Brazilian isolates and reference strains. Seventy-nine isolates were defined as pathogenic (APEC) and 59 as fecal (AFEC) based on previously described criteria. In conclusion, the main virulence genes of the reference E. coli strains are also present in isolates associated with colibacillosis in Brazil. The analysis of this set of virulence factors can be used to differentiate between APEC and AFEC isolates in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia De Carli
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Nilo Ikuta
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil Simbios Biotecnologia, Rua Cai, 541, Vila Princesa Izabel, CEP 94940-030, Cachoeirinha, RS, Brazil
| | - Fernanda Kieling Moreira Lehmann
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Vinicius Proença da Silveira
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | - Gabriela de Melo Predebon
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Vagner Ricardo Lunge
- Laboratório de Diagnóstico Molecular, Universidade Luterana do Brasil (ULBRA), Av. Farroupilha, 8001, Prédio 22, Sala 312, Bairro São José, CEP 92425-900, Canoas, RS, Brazil Simbios Biotecnologia, Rua Cai, 541, Vila Princesa Izabel, CEP 94940-030, Cachoeirinha, RS, Brazil
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Houseflies (Musca domestica) as Vectors for Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli on Spanish Broiler Farms. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:3604-11. [PMID: 25795670 DOI: 10.1128/aem.04252-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 03/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Flies may act as potential vectors for the spread of resistant bacteria to different environments. This study was intended to evaluate the presence of Escherichia coli strains resistant to cephalosporins in flies captured in the areas surrounding five broiler farms. Phenotypic and molecular characterization of the resistant population was performed by different methods: MIC determination, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), multilocus sequence typing (MLST), and phylotyping. The presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) genes, their plasmid location, and the mobile genetic elements involved in their mobilization were studied. Additionally, the presence of 35 genes associated with virulence was evaluated. Out of 682 flies captured, 42 yielded ESBL-producing E. coli. Of these isolates, 23 contained bla(CTX-M-1), 18 contained bla(CTX-M-14), and 1 contained bla(CTX-M-9). ESBL genes were associated mainly with the presence of the IncI1 and IncFIB replicons. Additionally, all the strains were multiresistant, and five of them also harbored qnrS. Identical PFGE profiles were found for E. coli isolates obtained from flies at different sampling times, indicating a persistence of the same clones in the farm environment over months. According to their virulence genes, 81% of the isolates were considered avian-pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and 29% were considered extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). The entrance of flies into broiler houses constitutes a considerable risk for colonization of broilers with multidrug-resistant E. coli. ESBLs in flies reflect the contamination status of the farm environment. Additionally, this study demonstrates the potential contribution of flies to the dissemination of virulence and resistance genes into different ecological niches.
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