Development of a multiplex PCR procedure for detection of Yersinia genus with identification of pathogenic species (Y. pestis, Y. pseudotuberculosis, and Y. enterocolitica)

Molecular detection of bacterial zoonotic abortive agents from ruminants in Turkey

Abortions in cattle and sheep are one of the major causes of economic losses worldwide. Brucella spp. are the most common infectious agent associated with these abortions. However, abortions caused by bacteria such as Listeria spp., Leptospira spp., Campylobacter spp. and Mycoplasma spp. are usually overlooked due to their sporadic nature and their status as non-priority abortion agents. In our study, we investigated the bacteria associated with abortion cases in cattle and sheep using PCR. For this purpose, we collected vaginal swab samples (n: 110) of aborted cattle and sheep, as well as stomach content samples (n: 69) of aborted calves and lambs from various cities in Turkey. The samples were analysed by bacteria-specific PCR to detect Campylobacter fetus, Leptospira spp., Listeria spp., Mycoplasma spp., and Yersinia spp. PCR analyses revealed that the investigated bacterial agents were present in 18.85% and 19.3% of the cattle and sheep samples, respectively, with an overall percentage of 18.99%. While the overall positivity rate for C. fetus, Leptospira spp., and Mycoplasma spp. was 2.79%, 10.06%, and 4.47%, respectively, the positivity rate for co-infection with Leptospira spp. and C. fetus was 1.68%. All samples were found to be negative for Yersinia spp. and Listeria spp. The high C. fetus positivity rate detected in sheep and in the stomach contents was statistically significant (p < 0.05). However, the difference in positivity rates between the cities, hosts, co-infections and causative agents was statistically insignificant (p > 0.05). This study provides preliminary data on the significant involvement of C. fetus, Leptospira spp. and Mycoplasma spp. in cattle and sheep abortions in Turkey indicating that they should not be overlooked in diagnosis. In addition, further research is needed to investigate the zoonotic potential of these pathogens for public health in Turkey.

Retrospective study on the prevalence of Yersinia enterocolitica in food collected in Umbria region (central Italy)

Yersinia enterocolitica represents one of the main foodborne pathogens in Europe and the evaluation of possible sources of contamination and its prevalence in food is of considerable interest for risk analysis approach. The results of the search for Yersinia enterocolitica in food samples taken in Umbria region (central Italy) were evaluated during the years 2015-2018. Different types of foods were considered, both ready-to-eat (meat products, dairy products, and raw vegetables) and meat preparations to be eaten after cooking. Samples were assayed by molecular screening for the species indicator gene ompF. Screening positives were subjected to isolation and characterization by searching for specific virulence marker genes, including the ail gene responsible for invasiveness and the ystB gene for the production of enterotoxin. The total prevalence of positive samples for Yersinia enterocolitica was 16.86% with a higher percentage of positive samples in meat preparations (19.35%), followed by ready-to-eat vegetables (11.76%). Poultry meat samples had a higher prevalence than pork and beef samples. Neither positive samples were found in meat products and dairy, nor seasonality in positivity was observed. All isolated strains of Yersinia enterocolitica were biotype 1A, with absence of the ail virulence gene but presence of ystB gene. Since the strains isolated from human patients appear to be primarily biotypes that possess the ail marker, future investigations would be needed regarding the real role of biotype 1A in human disease. In this context, attention should certainly be paid to ready-to-eat vegetables and to careful cooking of meat preparations.

Human Pathogenic Bacteria Detected in Rainwater: Risk Assessment and Correlation to Microbial Source Tracking Markers and Traditional Indicators

Roof-harvested rainwater (RHRW) was investigated for the presence of the human pathogenic bacteria Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tuberculosis), Yersinia spp. and Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes). While Yersinia spp. were detected in 92% (n = 25) of the RHRW samples, and L. monocytogenes and M. tuberculosis were detected in 100% (n = 25) of the samples, a significantly higher mean concentration (1.4 × 10³ cells/100 mL) was recorded for L. monocytogenes over the sampling period. As the identification of appropriate water quality indicators is crucial to ensure access to safe water sources, correlation of the pathogens to traditional indicator organisms [Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus spp.] and microbial source tracking (MST) markers (Bacteroides HF183, adenovirus and Lachnospiraceae) was conducted. A significant positive correlation was then recorded for E. coli versus L. monocytogenes (r = 0.6738; p = 0.000), and Enterococcus spp. versus the Bacteroides HF183 marker (r = 0.4071; p = 0.043), while a significant negative correlation was observed for M. tuberculosis versus the Bacteroides HF183 marker (r = −0.4558; p = 0.022). Quantitative microbial risk assessment indicated that the mean annual risk of infection posed by L. monocytogenes in the RHRW samples exceeded the annual infection risk benchmark limit (1 × 10^–4 infections per person per year) for intentional drinking (∼10^–4). In comparison, the mean annual risk of infection posed by E. coli was exceeded for intentional drinking (∼10^–1), accidental consumption (∼10^–3) and cleaning of the home (∼10^–3). However, while the risk posed by M. tuberculosis for the two relevant exposure scenarios [garden hosing (∼10^–5) and washing laundry by hand (∼10^–5)] was below the benchmark limit, the risk posed by adenovirus for garden hosing (∼10^–3) and washing laundry by hand (∼10^–3) exceeded the benchmark limit. Thus, while the correlation analysis confirms that traditional indicators and MST markers should be used in combination to accurately monitor the pathogen-associated risk linked to the utilisation of RHRW, the integration of QMRA offers a more site-specific approach to monitor and estimate the human health risks associated with the use of RHRW.

Outbreaks of diarrhoea ('winter scours') in weaned Merino sheep in south-eastern Australia

OBJECTIVE

Identify the cause of outbreaks of diarrhoea during winter that are not attributable to gastrointestinal nematodes in weaned Merino sheep in the high rainfall regions of south-eastern Australia and determine the efficacy of antimicrobials used to treat this syndrome.

METHODS

We investigated 45 outbreaks on 24 farms. Faecal samples from affected animals were cultured for Yersinia, Campylobacter and Salmonella spp. Risk factors, including rainfall, temperature and worm egg count (WEC), were assessed. Yersinia spp. were identified with molecular tests and susceptibility to four antimicrobials was determined.

RESULTS

Yersinia pseudotuberculosis serotype III and virulent Y. enterocolitica were most frequently isolated. The frequency and severity of disease varied between region, farm and year. Yersinia pseudotuberculosis was detected only during winter, but Y. enterocolitica was present in all seasons. Pathogenic Yersinia species were more often isolated when WECs exceeded 500 eggs/g. A high proportion of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis were resistant to sulfafurazole (64% and 86.9%, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS

A bacterial enteritis caused by pathogenic Yersinia was the cause of the winter scours syndrome in the 24 flocks investigated. The use of molecular testing increased the sensitivity of detection and identification of Yersinia spp. No clear association between weather, WEC and disease was established, suggesting complex interactions between risk factors are more important than any single factor. Sulfonamides should not be routinely used to treat this syndrome. Rather, during an outbreak the targeted use of an effective antimicrobial, such as oxytetracycline, should be integrated with grazing management strategies, including moving affected mobs onto lower risk pastures and decreasing the stocking rate.

Assessment of the efficacy of an autogenous vaccine against Yersinia pseudotuberculosis in young Merino sheep

AIMS To assess the efficacy of an autogenous vaccine against Yersinia pseudotuberculosis III in preventing clinical disease and deaths due to yersiniosis in young Merino sheep, and to determine the effect of vaccination on the prevalence of faecal shedding of pathogenic Yersinia spp., daily liveweight gain, and development of antibodies to Yersinia spp. following vaccination and natural exposure. METHODS In six groups (three groups each from two farms) of young Merino sheep, 148-150 animals were systematically allocated to be vaccinated twice with an autogenous, formalin- killed bacterin vaccine containing Y. pseudotuberculosis serotype III or to remain non-vaccinated. All vaccinated and non-vaccinated sheep were run together in their original groups throughout the trial. Faecal and blood samples were collected, and liveweight measured, at the time of vaccination and subsequently over a 6-month period to determine faecal shedding of Y. enterocolitica and Y. pseudotuberculosis, seroprevalence of antibodies to Yersinia outer membrane proteins (YOP) and changes in liveweight. RESULTS None of the six trial groups experienced an outbreak of clinical yersiniosis during the study period. On Farm A, the prevalence of shedding of either or both Yersinia spp. was <40% on all but one sampling occasions. On Farm B the prevalence of shedding of both Yersinia spp. peaked at 98%, 96 days after vaccination. Mean liveweight and daily liveweight gain at the end of the study were similar in vaccinated and non-vaccinated groups on both farms (p>0.1), as was the prevalence of faecal shedding of Yersinia spp. (p>0.2), and the proportion of animals that became seropositive for antibodies to YOP following vaccination (p>0.1). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE This vaccine had, at most, limited effects on seroconversion and, under the conditions of this study, had no demonstrable impact on liveweight, mean daily liveweight gain or faecal shedding of Yersinia spp. Further studies are needed to determine the efficacy of this vaccine during outbreaks of yersiniosis or following experimental challenge with pathogenic Yersinia spp..

Prevalence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in minced meat, pig tongues and hearts at the retail level in the Czech Republic detected by real time PCR

Yersiniosis is the third most frequently reported zoonosis in the European Union and Yersinia enterocolitica is the most common species causing human infections. Pigs are assumed to be the main reservoir of human pathogenic Y. enterocolitica with the presence of bacteria mainly in the tonsils and intestinal content. Undercooked pork and pork products have been suggested as the primary source of human yersiniosis. Nevertheless, data on the prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in foodstuffs including pork products are very limited. A molecular based method (real time PCR) targeting the ompF gene (detection of Yersinia genus) and the ail gene (a chromosomally located virulence marker of Y. enterocolitica) was used to determine the prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in minced meat and edible pork offal at the retail level in the Czech Republic. A total of 50 pig tongues, 50 pig hearts, and 93 samples of minced meat containing pork were purchased at nine retail outlets in Brno. High detection rates of Yersinia spp. were found in all types of samples (pig tongues, 80.0%; pig hearts, 40.0%; and minced meat, 55.9%). The highest prevalence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica was found in pig tongues (40.0%), followed by pig hearts (18.0%) and minced meat samples (17.2%). Although from the point of view of food safety the merely molecular detection of DNA of the pathogenic bacteria could represent a false positive result, our results indicate the presence of pathogenic Y. enterocolitica in raw pork products at the retail level in the Czech Republic, which may pose a risk of consumer infection. Sufficient heat treatment and prevention of cross-contamination during preparation of food in the kitchen should be recommended.

Multiplex primer-extension assay for identification of Yersinia species

A multiplex primer-extension reaction (PER) assay, was specifically designed for the identification of ten Yersinia species. The assay, directed towards the tufA (elongation factor Tu) gene, was tested on a total of 42 samples representing Yersinia species and non-Yersinia species. The primers used in the preliminary PCR, designed in highly conserved regions upstream and downstream of the diagnosis sites, successfully amplified a 587 bp fragment. The diagnosis sites were simultaneously interrogated using a multiplex PER and the results were confirmed by fragment sequencing. The proposed test provides an appropriate tool to monitor the presence of Yersinia spp. in food samples and to evaluate the potential hazard for consumers.

Distribution of indigenous bacterial pathogens and potential pathogens associated with roof-harvested rainwater

The harvesting of rainwater is gaining acceptance among many governmental authorities in countries such as Australia, Germany, and South Africa, among others. However, conflicting reports on the microbial quality of harvested rainwater have been published. To monitor the presence of potential pathogenic bacteria during high-rainfall periods, rainwater from 29 rainwater tanks was sampled on four occasions (during June and August 2012) in a sustainable housing project in Kleinmond, South Africa. This resulted in the collection of 116 harvested rainwater samples in total throughout the sampling period. The identities of the dominant, indigenous, presumptive pathogenic isolates obtained from the rainwater samples throughout the sampling period were confirmed through universal 16S rRNA PCR, and the results revealed that Pseudomonas (19% of samples) was the dominant genus isolated, followed by Aeromonas (16%), Klebsiella (11%), and Enterobacter (9%). PCR assays employing genus-specific primers also confirmed the presence of Aeromonas spp. (16%), Klebsiella spp. (47%), Legionella spp. (73%), Pseudomonas spp. (13%), Salmonella spp. (6%), Shigella spp. (27%), and Yersinia spp. (28%) in the harvested rainwater samples. In addition, on one sampling occasion, Giardia spp. were detected in 25% of the eight tank water samples analyzed. This study highlights the diverse array of pathogenic bacteria that persist in harvested rainwater during high-rainfall periods. The consumption of untreated harvested rainwater could thus pose a potential significant health threat to consumers, especially children and immunocompromised individuals, and it is recommended that harvested rainwater be treated for safe usage as an alternative water source.