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Shrestha S, Malla B, Haramoto E. High-throughput microfluidic quantitative PCR system for the simultaneous detection of antibiotic resistance genes and bacterial and viral pathogens in wastewater. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 255:119156. [PMID: 38759773 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 05/12/2024] [Accepted: 05/14/2024] [Indexed: 05/19/2024]
Abstract
Comprehensive data on bacterial and viral pathogens of diarrhea and studies applying culture-independent methods for examining antibiotic resistance in wastewater are lacking. This study aimed to simultaneously quantify antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), class 1 integron-integrase (int1), bacterial and viral pathogens of diarrhea, 16S rRNA, and other indicators using a high-throughput quantitative PCR (HT-qPCR) system. Thirty-six grab wastewater samples from a wastewater treatment plant in Japan, collected three times a month between August 2022 and July 2023, were centrifuged, followed by nucleic acid extraction, reverse transcription, and HT-qPCR. Fourteen targets were included, and HT-qPCR was performed on the Biomark X9™ System (Standard BioTools). For all qPCR assays, R2 was ≥0.978 and the efficiencies ranged from 90.5% to 117.7%, exhibiting high performance. Of the 36 samples, 20 (56%) were positive for Norovirus genogroup II (NoV-GII), whereas Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter jejuni were detected in 24 (67%) and Campylobacter coli in 13 (36%) samples, with mean concentrations ranging from 3.2 ± 0.8 to 4.7 ± 0.3 log10 copies/L. NoV-GII detection ratios and concentrations were higher in winter and spring. None of the pathogens of diarrhea correlated with acute gastroenteritis cases, except for NoV-GII, suggesting the need for data on specific bacterial infections to validate bacterial wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE). All samples tested positive for sul1, int1, and blaCTX-M, irrespective of season. The less explored blaNDM-1 showed a wide prevalence (>83%) and consistent abundance ranging from 4.3 ± 1.0 to 4.9 ± 0.2 log10 copies/L in all seasons. sul1 was the predominant ARG, whereas absolute abundances of 16S rRNA, int1, and blaCTX-M varied seasonally. int1 was significantly correlated with blaCTX-M in autumn and spring, whereas it showed no correlation with blaNDM-1, questioning the applicability of int1 as a sole indicator of overall resistance determinants. This study exhibited that the HT-qPCR system is pivotal for WBE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sadhana Shrestha
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
| | - Bikash Malla
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
| | - Eiji Haramoto
- Interdisciplinary Center for River Basin Environment, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, 400-8511, Japan.
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Shrestha A, Mehdizadeh Gohari I, Li J, Navarro M, Uzal FA, McClane BA. The biology and pathogenicity of Clostridium perfringens type F: a common human enteropathogen with a new(ish) name. Microbiol Mol Biol Rev 2024:e0014023. [PMID: 38864615 DOI: 10.1128/mmbr.00140-23] [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: 06/13/2024] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYIn the 2018-revised Clostridium perfringens typing classification system, isolates carrying the enterotoxin (cpe) and alpha toxin genes but no other typing toxin genes are now designated as type F. Type F isolates cause food poisoning and nonfoodborne human gastrointestinal (GI) diseases, which most commonly involve type F isolates carrying, respectivefooly, a chromosomal or plasmid-borne cpe gene. Compared to spores of other C. perfringens isolates, spores of type F chromosomal cpe isolates often exhibit greater resistance to food environment stresses, likely facilitating their survival in improperly prepared or stored foods. Multiple factors contribute to this spore resistance phenotype, including the production of a variant small acid-soluble protein-4. The pathogenicity of type F isolates involves sporulation-dependent C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) production. C. perfringens sporulation is initiated by orphan histidine kinases and sporulation-associated sigma factors that drive cpe transcription. CPE-induced cytotoxicity starts when CPE binds to claudin receptors to form a small complex (which also includes nonreceptor claudins). Approximately six small complexes oligomerize on the host cell plasma membrane surface to form a prepore. CPE molecules in that prepore apparently extend β-hairpin loops to form a β-barrel pore, allowing a Ca2+ influx that activates calpain. With low-dose CPE treatment, caspase-3-dependent apoptosis develops, while high-CPE dose treatment induces necroptosis. Those effects cause histologic damage along with fluid and electrolyte losses from the colon and small intestine. Sialidases likely contribute to type F disease by enhancing CPE action and, for NanI-producing nonfoodborne human GI disease isolates, increasing intestinal growth and colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Archana Shrestha
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Iman Mehdizadeh Gohari
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jihong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Mauricio Navarro
- Instituto de Patologia Animal, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Austral de Chile, Valdivia, Chile
| | - Francisco A Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory System, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California Davis, San Bernardino, California, USA
| | - Bruce A McClane
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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Ren Y, Lv X, Xu W, Li Y, Liu L, Kong X, Wang H. Characterization and multilocus sequence typing of Clostridium perfringens isolated from patients with diarrhoea and food poisoning in Tai'an region, China. J Glob Antimicrob Resist 2024; 36:160-166. [PMID: 38157936 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgar.2023.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Clostridium perfringens (C. perfringens) is a significant opportunistic pathogen. This study aims to examine the occurrence of C. perfringens in patients with diarrhoea and food poisoning and compare the genetic similarities with strains found in poultry retail markets and poultry farms in the same city (Tai'an, China). METHODS Clostridium perfringens was isolated from 30 human faecal samples and genotyped using multiplex PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility test was conducted using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Genetic relationships were analysed through Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) and Phylogenetic analysis. RESULTS The positive rate of C. perfringens was found to be 96.67%. Among the positive samples, 91.67% of the faecal samples from patients with food poisoning contained type F strains of C. perfringens, while only 16.67% of the samples from diarrhoea cases contained type F. The drug susceptibility test revealed that the majority of isolates displayed broad-spectrum antimicrobial resistance. Out of the 57 isolates tested for drug susceptibility, 89.47% demonstrated resistance to at least three antibiotics. The MLST results indicated that strains originating from the same host and environment tended to be more closely related. However, certain strains associated with food poisoning and diarrhoea in patients shared the same ST and CC as some strains found in the retail market. These strains were also found to be phylogenetically similar to some retail market strains, suggesting potential risks to human health. CONCLUSIONS Therefore, it is crucial to enhance the management of poultry retail markets in order to mitigate these associated risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanyan Ren
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China
| | - Xiaoyang Lv
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China
| | - Wenping Xu
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Taicang Guangdong Wen's Poultry Co., Ltd, Taicang, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yanyan Li
- Feicheng Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Feicheng, Shandong, China
| | - Lixue Liu
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Qilu Animal Health Co., Ltd, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Xinyue Kong
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China
| | - Hairong Wang
- Shandong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Animal Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China; Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology and Disease Control and Prevention, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, Shandong, China.
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Kakese Mukosa R, Thibodeau A, Morris Fairbrother J, Thériault W, Gaucher ML. Addressing Current Challenges in Poultry Meat Safety: Development of a Cultivation and Colony Hybridization Approach to Recover Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens from Broiler Chicken Carcasses. Pathogens 2023; 13:30. [PMID: 38251337 PMCID: PMC10820424 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens13010030] [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: 11/21/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/21/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens is one of the main causes of foodborne illness in Canada. The use of a conventional bacterial culture approach to isolate enterotoxigenic C. perfringens from poultry meat is common. This approach is based on the phenotype attributable to a double hemolysis phenomenon, whereas few enterotoxigenic strains of C. perfringens produce it, which further complicates the study of the reservoirs of this important pathogen. The objectives of the current study were to validate the ability of a digoxigenin-labeled probe to detect the C. perfringens cpe gene and to validate the use of either a filtration or a direct plating approach, combined with colony hybridization to detect enterotoxigenic C. perfringens. Pure DNA and pure colonies of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens and broiler chicken carcass rinsate samples were subjected to colony hybridization. The results showed that the synthesized DNA probe can detect the cpe gene from both DNA and pure colonies of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens, and from colonies grown from carcass rinsates artificially contaminated with enterotoxigenic C. perfringens. Our study suggests that this isolation method is a promising tool for a better understanding of the epidemiology of this zoonotic pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosette Kakese Mukosa
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - John Morris Fairbrother
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
- OIE Reference Laboratory for Escherichia coli, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 7C6, Canada
| | - William Thériault
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
| | - Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada; (R.K.M.); (A.T.); (W.T.)
- Research Group on Infectious Diseases in Animal Production, Department of Pathology and Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada;
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA-FRQNT), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, QC J2S 2M2, Canada
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Kawamura T, Prah I, Mahazu S, Ablordey A, Saito R. Types A and F Clostridium perfringens in healthcare wastewater from Ghana. Appl Environ Microbiol 2023; 89:e0161923. [PMID: 38051072 PMCID: PMC10734495 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01619-23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE Clostridium perfringens causes gas gangrene and food poisoning in humans, and monitoring this bacterium is important for public health. Although whole-genome sequencing is useful to comprehensively understand the virulence, resistome, and global genetic relatedness of bacteria, limited genomic data from environmental sources and developing countries hamper our understanding of the richness of the intrinsic genomic diversity of this pathogen. Here, we successfully accumulated the genetic data on C. perfringens strains isolated from hospital effluent and provided the first evidence that predicted pathogenic C. perfringens may be disseminated in the clinical environment in Ghana. Our findings suggest the importance of risk assessment in the environment as well as the clinical setting to mitigate the potential outbreak of C. perfringens food poisoning in Ghana.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taira Kawamura
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Isaac Prah
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Samiratu Mahazu
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Anthony Ablordey
- Department of Bacteriology, Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research, University of Ghana, Accra, Ghana
| | - Ryoichi Saito
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Graduate School of Medicine and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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6
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Hashimoto A, Suzuki H, Oonaka K. Prevalence of cpe-positive Clostridium perfringens in surface-attached soil of commercially available potatoes and its significance as a potential source of food poisoning. Anaerobe 2023; 79:102687. [PMID: 36549463 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2022.102687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE We aimed to examine the surface-attached soil of commercially available potatoes in Japan to determine the association between foodborne infection and the circulation of Clostridium perfringens through vegetables, soil, and environments. METHODS C. perfringens spores were isolated from 30 surface-attached soil samples of potatoes obtained from six regions in Japan. We performed multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and sequencing to detect the presence of six toxin and plasmid-related genes in the isolates. RESULTS Sulfite-reducing clostridial spores were detected in 28 (93%) of 30 potato samples, and toxin gene PCR was performed using 613 isolates. The C. perfringens α toxin gene (cpa) was detected in 288 isolates (288/613; 47%) from 25 potato samples (83%), and these isolates were presumed to be the strains of C. perfringens. The toxin types of C. perfringens were classified into type A, in which 73% of isolates had only cpa, followed by type F in 20%, type C in 6%, and type E in 0.003% (1 isolate). The enterotoxin gene (cpe) related to food poisoning was detected in 64 isolates from 9 potato samples (3%). Of these, 59 isolates had cpa and cpe, whereas five had cpa, C. perfringens β toxin gene, and cpe. All tested cpe-positive isolates had plasmid-type cpe. CONCLUSIONS The isolation of culturable cpe-positive C. perfringens from the surface-attached soil of commercially available potatoes indicates that potatoes are a potential source of foodborne transmission of C. perfringens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Atsushi Hashimoto
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Bioresource, Prefectural University of Hiroshima, 5562, Nanatsuka-cho, Shobara City, Hiroshima, 727-0023, Japan.
| | - Hiroyuki Suzuki
- Research and Development Center, Suzuken Co., Ltd., 5-28-1 Hongo, Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo, 113-0033, Japan.
| | - Kenji Oonaka
- Department of Food and Life Science, School of Life and Environmental Science, Azabu University, 1-17-71, Fuchinobe, Chuou-ku, Sagamihara City, Kanagawa, 252-5201, Japan.
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Friesema IHM, Slegers-Fitz-James IA, Wit B, Franz E. Surveillance and characteristics of food-borne outbreaks in the Netherlands, 2006 to 2019. Euro Surveill 2022; 27. [PMID: 35057901 PMCID: PMC8804662 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2022.27.3.2100071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
A wide variety of pathogens can cause disease in humans via consumption of contaminated food. Although food-borne outbreaks only account for a small part of the food-borne disease burden, outbreak surveillance can provide insights about the pathogens, food products implied as vehicle, points of contamination, and the settings in which transmission occurs.
Aim
To describe the characteristics of food-borne outbreaks registered between 2006 and 2019 in the Netherlands.
Methods
All reported outbreaks in which the first case occurred during 2006–19 were analysed. We examined the number of outbreaks, cases and setting by year, aetiology, type of evidence and food commodities.
Results
In total, 5,657 food-borne outbreaks with 27,711 cases were identified. The contaminated food product could be confirmed in 152 outbreaks (2.7%); in 514 outbreaks (9.1%), a pathogen was detected in cases and/or environmental swabs. Norovirus caused most outbreaks (205/666) and most related cases (4,436/9,532), followed by Salmonella spp. (188 outbreaks; 3,323 cases) and Campylobacter spp. (150 outbreaks; 601 cases). Bacillus cereus was most often found in outbreaks with a confirmed food vehicle (38/152). Additionally, a connection was seen between some pathogens and food commodities. Public eating places were most often mentioned as a setting where the food implicated in the outbreak was prepared.
Conclusion
Long-term analysis of food-borne outbreaks confirms a persistent occurrence. Control and elimination of food-borne illness is complicated since multiple pathogens can cause illness via a vast array of food products and, in the majority of the outbreaks, the pathogen remains unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid HM Friesema
- Epidemiology and Surveillance of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Ben Wit
- Dutch Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority (NVWA), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Eelco Franz
- Epidemiology and Surveillance of Infectious Diseases, Centre for Infectious Disease Control, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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Jaakkola K, Virtanen K, Lahti P, Keto-Timonen R, Lindström M, Korkeala H. Comparative Genome Analysis and Spore Heat Resistance Assay Reveal a New Component to Population Structure and Genome Epidemiology Within Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin-Carrying Isolates. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:717176. [PMID: 34566921 PMCID: PMC8456093 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.717176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens causes a variety of human and animal enteric diseases including food poisoning, antibiotic-associated diarrhea, and necrotic enteritis. Yet, the reservoirs of enteropathogenic enterotoxin-producing strains remain unknown. We conducted a genomic comparison of 290 strains and a heat resistance phenotyping of 30 C. perfringens strains to elucidate the population structure and ecology of this pathogen. C. perfringens genomes shared a conserved genetic backbone with more than half of the genes of an average genome conserved in >95% of strains. The cpe-carrying isolates were found to share genetic context: the cpe-carrying plasmids had different distribution patterns within the genetic lineages and the estimated pan genome of cpe-carrying isolates had a larger core genome and a smaller accessory genome compared to that of 290 strains. We characterize cpe-negative strains related to chromosomal cpe-carrying strains elucidating the origin of these strains and disclose two distinct groups of chromosomal cpe-carrying strains with different virulence characteristics, spore heat resistance properties, and, presumably, ecological niche. Finally, an antibiotic-associated diarrhea isolate carrying two copies of the enterotoxin cpe gene and the associated genetic lineage with the potential for the emergence of similar strains are outlined. With C. perfringens as an example, implications of input genome quality for pan genome analysis are discussed. Our study furthers the understanding of genome epidemiology and population structure of enteropathogenic C. perfringens and brings new insight into this important pathogen and its reservoirs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaisa Jaakkola
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Kira Virtanen
- Department of Bacteriology and Immunology, Human Microbiome Research Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.,Northern Finland Laboratory Centre NordLab, Oulu, Finland
| | - Päivi Lahti
- City of Helsinki, Unit of Environmental Services, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Riikka Keto-Timonen
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Miia Lindström
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Hannu Korkeala
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
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The Circulation of Type F Clostridium perfringens among Humans, Sewage, and Ruditapes philippinarum (Asari Clams). Pathogens 2020; 9:pathogens9080669. [PMID: 32824805 PMCID: PMC7459516 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens9080669] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 08/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an important pathogen that is responsible for gastroenteritis; the causative agent for the symptoms is C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), which is mainly produced by type F C. perfringens. Since shellfishes may gather C. perfringens in the water environment, this study estimated the potential circulation of type F C. perfringens among humans, sewage, and Ruditapes philippinarum (asari clams) as a result of sewage pollution. A comparison of the characteristics among the isolates from 86 sewage influents, 36 effluents, 76 asari clams, and 37 humans was conducted. Serotyping, cpe genotyping, and toxin genotyping showed that C. perfringens with a plasmid IS1151 sequence downstream of cpe was predominant among sewage influents, effluents, humans, and asari clams. Multilocus sequence typing suggested that some isolates from a human, sewage influents, effluents, and asari clams were linked to each other. These results demonstrated that asari clams are the necessary infection sources of C. perfringens responsible for carriers and foodborne diseases, and that these pathogens from humans infected by asari clams can pollute the water environment. It is useful to assess bacteria such as C. perfringens isolates from sewage to estimate the trend of those from the community.
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10
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Milton AAP, Sanjukta R, Gogoi AP, Momin KM, Priya GB, Das S, Ghatak S, Sen A, Kandpal BK. Prevalence, molecular typing and antibiotic resistance of Clostridium perfringens in free range ducks in Northeast India. Anaerobe 2020; 64:102242. [PMID: 32682908 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2020.102242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
This study reports faecal prevalence of Clostridium perfringens in free range ducks in North East India for the first time. We also report C. perfringens type A carrying cpb2 and cpe and type C carrying cpb2 and cpe strains in these ducks. Notably, a high prevalence (17.5%) of enterotoxin carrying C. perfringens strains and low antimicrobial resistance were observed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajkumari Sanjukta
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Akash Protim Gogoi
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Kasanchi M Momin
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Govindarajan Bhuvana Priya
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India; College of Agriculture, Central Agricultural University, Kyrdemkulai, Meghalaya, 793104, India
| | - Samir Das
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Sandeep Ghatak
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Arnab Sen
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
| | - Basant Kumar Kandpal
- Division of Animal Health, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Umiam, Meghalaya, 793103, India
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11
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Liu Y, Xiu L, Miao Z, Wang H. Occurrence and multilocus sequence typing of Clostridium perfringens isolated from retail duck products in Tai'an region, China. Anaerobe 2020; 62:102102. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2019.102102] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Revised: 08/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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12
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Villagrán-de la Mora Z, Nuño K, Vázquez-Paulino O, Avalos H, Castro-Rosas J, Gómez-Aldapa C, Angulo C, Ascencio F, Villarruel-López A. Effect of a Synbiotic Mix on Intestinal Structural Changes, and Salmonella Typhimurium and Clostridium Perfringens Colonization in Broiler Chickens. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9100777. [PMID: 31658619 PMCID: PMC6826705 DOI: 10.3390/ani9100777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Synbiotics can prevent gastrointestinal infections in broilers. This work studies the effect of a Synbiotic on broilers. One-day-old male broilers were divided into groups: Control; Synbiotic; Synbiotic + S. Typhimurium; Synbiotic + C. perfringens; Synbiotic + S. Typhimurium + C. perfringens; S. Typhimurium; C. perfringens; and S. Typhimurium + C. perfringens. Histopathological analysis revealed that the Synbiotic promoted longer villi, less deep crypts, and better villi-crypt ratio. Broilers treated with the Synbiotic, infected with pathogens or not, had healthier mucosa. In groups infected with pathogens, the frequency and intensity of histopathologic lesions were lessened often in groups treated with the Synbiotic. The Synbiotic group had higher lactic acid bacteria counts than the Control group on day 39, and the isolation frequency of S. Typhimurium was lower (p < 0.05) in the Synbiotic-treated groups. On day 18, mucosa, villi, villi-crypt ratio, crypt, and feed intake were influenced by Enterobacteriaceae. However, on day 39 (end of the trial), those parameters were influenced by lactic acid bacteria. The Synbiotic influenced morphological modifications in the duodenal mucosa, which in turn gave the broilers the ability to resist infections caused by S. Typhimurium and C. perfringens, by inhibiting their growth and decreasing the intensity and frequency of histopathological injuries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuamí Villagrán-de la Mora
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur 23096 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Centro Universitario de Los Altos, Universidad de Guadalajara, Av. Rafael Casillas Aceves 1200, Tepatitlán de Morelos 47620, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Karla Nuño
- Departamento de Ciencias Biomédicas, Centro Universitario de Tonalá, Universidad de Guadalajara, Nuevo Perif. Ote. 555, Ejido San José, Tateposco 45425 Tonalá, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Olga Vázquez-Paulino
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Gral. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Olímpica 44430, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Hugo Avalos
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Gral. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Olímpica 44430, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
| | - Javier Castro-Rosas
- Área Académica de Química, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Ciudad del Conocimiento, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Abasolo 600, Centro 42000, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico.
| | - Carlos Gómez-Aldapa
- Área Académica de Química, Instituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Ciudad del Conocimiento, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Abasolo 600, Centro 42000, Pachuca de Soto, Hidalgo, Mexico.
| | - Carlos Angulo
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur 23096 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
| | - Felipe Ascencio
- Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas del Noroeste (CIBNOR), Av. Instituto Politécnico Nacional 195, Playa Palo de Santa Rita Sur 23096 La Paz, BCS, Mexico.
| | - Angélica Villarruel-López
- Departamento de Farmacobiología, Centro Universitario de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierías, Universidad de Guadalajara, Blvd. Gral. Marcelino García Barragán 1421, Olímpica 44430, Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico.
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14
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Gaucher ML, Thibodeau A, Fravalo P, Archambault M, Arsenault J, Fournaise S, Letellier A, Quessy S. Broiler chicken carcasses and their associated abattoirs as a source of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens: Prevalence and critical steps for contamination. AIMS Microbiol 2018; 4:439-454. [PMID: 31294226 PMCID: PMC6604940 DOI: 10.3934/microbiol.2018.3.439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens ranks among the three most frequent bacterial pathogens causing human foodborne diseases in Canada, and poultry meat products are identified as a source of infection for humans. The objective of the current study was to estimate the proportion of broiler chicken flocks, carcasses and various environmental samples from critical locations of the slaughter plant positive for the presence of C. perfringens enterotoxin encoding gene (cpe). From the 16 visits conducted, 25% of the 79 flocks sampled, 10% of the 379 carcasses sampled and 5% of the 217 environmental samples collected were found positive for cpe. The proportion of cpe-positive carcasses was statistically different between surveyed plants, with 17.0% for one abattoir and 2.2% for the other. For the most contaminated plant, cpe-positive carcasses were identified at each step of the processing line, with prevalence varying between 10.0% and 25.0%, whereas this prevalence varied between 0% and 25.0% for the environmental surfaces sampled. Based on the results obtained, enterotoxigenic C. perfringens strains could potentially represent a risk for the consumer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Lou Gaucher
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Alexandre Thibodeau
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Philippe Fravalo
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Marie Archambault
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Julie Arsenault
- Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Fournaise
- Olymel S.E.C./L.P., Québec, Canada, 2200 Avenue Léon-Pratte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Ann Letellier
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada.,Swine and Poultry Infectious Diseases Research Centre (CRIPA), Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
| | - Sylvain Quessy
- Research Chair in Meat Safety, Département de Pathologie et Microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 Sicotte, St-Hyacinthe, Québec, Canada
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15
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Yibar A, Cetin E, Ata Z, Erkose E, Tayar M. Clostridium perfringens Contamination in Retail Meat and Meat-Based Products in Bursa, Turkey. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2018; 15:239-245. [PMID: 29315008 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2017.2350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examined the incidence of Clostridium perfringens in raw, ready-to-cook (RTC), and ready-to-eat (RTE) meat and meat-based products (N = 306) collected from restaurants, supermarkets, and butcher shops in Bursa, Turkey. In addition, we investigated the presence of the C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE), as well as cpe genes and their source (chromosomal or plasmid borne). In this study, tryptose sulfite cycloserine (TSC) agar for classic culture isolation and API and real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) techniques were used to identify C. perfringens and detect cpa and cpe genes from these products, respectively. Seventeen C. perfringens isolates (5.6%) were isolated and identified with API 20A. In addition, 42 of 81 suspicious isolates (51.9%) were identified as C. perfringens using RT-PCR. Of the 81 suspicious isolates tested by RT-PCR, 22 (27.2%) carried the cpe gene either on the plasmid or chromosome. Twenty-one isolates were positive for chromosomal cpe (C-cpe), and one was positive for plasmid-borne cpe (P-cpe). CPE was detected in 31.8% (7/22) of the cpe positive isolates by the PET-RPLA test. In conclusion, C. perfringens and their CPEs were present in raw, RTC, and RTE meat and meat-based foods in this study. It is emphasized that the presence of C. perfringens and the cpe gene in these foods may be a potential risk for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Artun Yibar
- 1 Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Uludag , Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ece Cetin
- 2 Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Namik Kemal University , Tekirdag, Turkey
| | - Zafer Ata
- 3 Military Veterinary School and Educational Central Commandership , Bursa, Turkey
| | - Evren Erkose
- 1 Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Uludag , Bursa, Turkey
| | - Mustafa Tayar
- 1 Department of Food Hygiene and Technology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Uludag , Bursa, Turkey
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Eichner M, Augustin C, Fromm A, Piontek A, Walther W, Bücker R, Fromm M, Krause G, Schulzke JD, Günzel D, Piontek J. In Colon Epithelia, Clostridium perfringens Enterotoxin Causes Focal Leaks by Targeting Claudins Which are Apically Accessible Due to Tight Junction Derangement. J Infect Dis 2017; 217:147-157. [DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jix485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2017] [Accepted: 09/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Eichner
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Christian Augustin
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Fromm
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Piontek
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Roland Bücker
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Fromm
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Gerd Krause
- Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Dorothee Günzel
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
| | - Jörg Piontek
- Institute of Clinical Physiology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany
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17
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Wasimuddin, Menke S, Melzheimer J, Thalwitzer S, Heinrich S, Wachter B, Sommer S. Gut microbiomes of free-ranging and captive Namibian cheetahs: Diversity, putative functions and occurrence of potential pathogens. Mol Ecol 2017; 26:5515-5527. [PMID: 28782134 DOI: 10.1111/mec.14278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 07/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Although the significance of the gut microbiome for host health is well acknowledged, the impact of host traits and environmental factors on the interindividual variation of gut microbiomes of wildlife species is not well understood. Such information is essential; however, as changes in the composition of these microbial communities beyond the natural range might cause dysbiosis leading to increased susceptibility to infections. We examined the potential influence of sex, age, genetic relatedness, spatial tactics and the environment on the natural range of the gut microbiome diversity in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus). We further explored the impact of an altered diet and frequent contact with roaming dogs and cats on the occurrence of potential bacterial pathogens by comparing free-ranging and captive individuals living under the same climatic conditions. Abundance patterns of particular bacterial genera differed between the sexes, and bacterial diversity and richness were higher in older (>3.5 years) than in younger individuals. In contrast, male spatial tactics, which probably influence host exposure to environmental bacteria, had no discernible effect on the gut microbiome. The profound resemblance of the gut microbiome of kin in contrast to nonkin suggests a predominant role of genetics in shaping bacterial community characteristics and functional similarities. We also detected various Operational Taxonomic Units (OTUs) assigned to potential pathogenic bacteria known to cause diseases in humans and wildlife species, such as Helicobacter spp., and Clostridium perfringens. Captive individuals did not differ in their microbial alpha diversity but exhibited higher abundances of OTUs related to potential pathogenic bacteria and shifts in disease-associated functional pathways. Our study emphasizes the need to integrate ecological, genetic and pathogenic aspects to improve our comprehension of the main drivers of natural variation and shifts in gut microbial communities possibly affecting host health. This knowledge is essential for in situ and ex situ conservation management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasimuddin
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sebastian Menke
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jörg Melzheimer
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Sonja Heinrich
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Wachter
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | - Simone Sommer
- Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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Umeda K, Nakamura H, Yamamoto K, Nishina N, Yasufuku K, Hirai Y, Hirayama T, Goto K, Hase A, Ogasawara J. Molecular and epidemiological characterization of staphylococcal foodborne outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus harboring seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu genes without production of classical enterotoxins. Int J Food Microbiol 2017; 256:30-35. [PMID: 28582663 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2017.05.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2017] [Revised: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcal food poisoning is the result of consumption of food contaminated with staphylococcal enterotoxins (SEs) produced by Staphylococcus aureus. To date, 23 SEs and SE-like enterotoxins (SEls) have been described in the literature. They are divided into classical SEs (SEA-SEE) and new SE/SEls (SEG-SElX). Some have proved to be foodborne-inducible, but others remain unidentified. In May 2016, at an elderly group home in Osaka city, Japan, an outbreak from foodborne pathogens occurred among lunch party participants. Within 2h 30min to 4h 40min, 15 of 53 participants presented gastrointestinal symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, and nausea. A subsequent laboratory investigation detected S. aureus from most stool samples from patients, several left-over food items, a kitchen swab, and hand swabs from two food handlers. Classical SEs was not detected from S. aureus isolates or left-over food items. From examination for the presence of SE/SEl genes of 20 kinds by PCR, seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu genes were detected in almost all isolates. These isolates exhibited identical or closely related types by coagulase type (type VII), Sma I digested pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis and multi-locus sequence typing (MLST-CC45 lineage). These results suggest that the foodborne outbreak was caused by S. aureus harboring seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu genes without production of classical SEs. Additionally, some S. aureus isolates from human nasal swabs and healthy human feces harboring seg, sei, sem, sen, seo, and selu genes without production of classical SEs were classified into CC45 lineage using MLST. These findings suggest new SE/SEls as a potential cause of foodborne outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaoru Umeda
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan.
| | - Hiromi Nakamura
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Kaori Yamamoto
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Nobuko Nishina
- Osaka City Public Health Center, Southeast Living and Health Inspection Office, 1-2-7, Asahi-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-0051, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Yasufuku
- Osaka City Public Health Center, Southeast Living and Health Inspection Office, 1-2-7, Asahi-cho, Abeno-ku, Osaka 545-0051, Japan
| | - Yuki Hirai
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Teruo Hirayama
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Kaoru Goto
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Atsushi Hase
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
| | - Jun Ogasawara
- Division of Microbiology, Osaka Institute of Public Health, 8-34, Tojo-cho, Tennoji-ku, Osaka 543-0026, Japan
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Huang L, Vinyard BT. Direct Dynamic Kinetic Analysis and Computer Simulation of Growth ofClostridium perfringensin Cooked Turkey during Cooling. J Food Sci 2016; 81:M692-701. [DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 12/04/2015] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lihan Huang
- U.S. Dept. of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service, Eastern Regional Research Center 600 E. Mermaid Lane Wyndmoor Pa. 19038 U.S.A
| | - Bryan T. Vinyard
- U.S. Dept. of AgricultureAgricultural Research Service, Northeast Area 10300 Baltimore Avenue Beltsville Md. 20705–2350 U.S.A
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20
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Nagpal R, Ogata K, Tsuji H, Matsuda K, Takahashi T, Nomoto K, Suzuki Y, Kawashima K, Nagata S, Yamashiro Y. Sensitive quantification of Clostridium perfringens in human feces by quantitative real-time PCR targeting alpha-toxin and enterotoxin genes. BMC Microbiol 2015; 15:219. [PMID: 26482797 PMCID: PMC4615878 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-015-0561-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2015] [Accepted: 10/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Clostridium perfringens is a widespread pathogen, but the precise quantification of this subdominant gut microbe remains difficult due to its low fecal count (particularly in asymptomatic subjects) and also due to the presence of abundant polymerase-inhibitory substances in human feces. Also, information on the intestinal carriage of toxigenic C. perfringens strains in healthy subjects is sparse. Therefore, we developed a sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assays for quantification of C. perfringens in human feces by targeting its α-toxin and enterotoxin genes. To validate the assays, we finally observed the occurrence of α-toxigenic and enterotoxigenic C. perfringens in the fecal microbiota of healthy Japanese infants and young adults. METHODS The plc-specific qPCR assay was newly validated, while primers for 16S rRNA and cpe genes were retrieved from literature. The assays were validated for specificity and sensitivity in pre-inoculated fecal samples, and were finally applied to quantify C. perfringens in stool samples from apparently healthy infants (n 124) and young adults (n 221). RESULTS The qPCR assays were highly specific and sensitive, with a minimum detection limit of 10(3) bacterial cells/g feces. Alpha-toxigenic C. perfringens was detected in 36% infants and 33% adults, with counts ranging widely (10(3)-10(7) bacterial cells/g). Intriguingly, the mean count of α-toxigenic C. perfringens was significantly higher in infants (6.0±1.5 log10 bacterial cells/g), as compared to that in adults (4.8±1.2). Moreover, the prevalence of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens was also found to be significantly higher in infants, as compared to that in adults. The mean enterotoxigenic C. perfringens count was 5.9±1.9 and 4.8±0.8 log10 bacterial cells/g in infants and adults, respectively. CONCLUSIONS These data indicate that some healthy infants and young adults carry α-toxigenic and enterotoxigenic C. perfringens at significant levels, and may be predisposed to related diseases. Thus, high fecal carriage of toxigenic C. perfringens in healthy children warrants further investigation on its potential sources and clinical significance in these subjects. In summary, we present a novel qPCR assay for sensitive and accurate quantification of α-toxigenic and enterotoxigenic C. perfringens in human feces, which should facilitate prospective studies of the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravinder Nagpal
- Probiotics Research Laboratory, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
| | | | | | - Kazunori Matsuda
- Yakult Honsha European Research Center for Microbiology, Ghent-Zwijnaarde, Belgium.
| | | | | | - Yoshio Suzuki
- Department of Sports Science, Juntendo University School of Health and Sports Sciences, Chiba, Japan.
| | | | - Satoru Nagata
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - Yuichiro Yamashiro
- Probiotics Research Laboratory, Juntendo University Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
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21
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The potential of clostridial spores as therapeutic delivery vehicles in tumour therapy. Res Microbiol 2015; 166:244-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2014.12.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2014] [Revised: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 12/15/2014] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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22
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Al-Qadiri H, Sablani SS, Ovissipour M, Al-Alami N, Govindan B, Rasco B. Effect of oxygen stress on growth and survival of Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes under different storage conditions. J Food Prot 2015; 78:691-7. [PMID: 25836393 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-14-427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the growth and survival of three foodborne pathogens (Clostridium perfringens, Campylobacter jejuni, and Listeria monocytogenes) in beef (7% fat) and nutrient broth under different oxygen levels. Samples were tested under anoxic (<0.5%), microoxic (6 to 8%), and oxic (20%) conditions during storage at 7 °C for 14 days and at 22 °C for 5 days. Two initial inoculum concentrations were used (1 and 2 log CFU per g of beef or per ml of broth). The results show that C. perfringens could grow in beef at 22 °C, with an increase of approximately 5 log under anoxic conditions and a 1-log increase under microoxic conditions. However, C. perfringens could not survive in beef held at 7 °C under microoxic and oxic storage conditions after 14 days. In an anoxic environment, C. perfringens survived in beef samples held at 7 °C, with a 1-log reduction. A cell decline was observed at 2 log under these conditions, with no surviving cells at the 1-log level. However, the results show that C. jejuni under microoxic conditions survived with declining cell numbers. Significant increases in L. monocytogenes (5 to 7 log) were observed in beef held at 22 °C for 5 days, with the lowest levels recovered under anoxic conditions. L. monocytogenes in refrigerated storage increased by a factor of 2 to 4 log. It showed the greatest growth under oxic conditions, with significant growth under anoxic conditions. These findings can be used to enhance food safety in vacuum-packed and modified atmosphere-packaged food products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hamzah Al-Qadiri
- Department of Nutrition and Food Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Shyam S Sablani
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA.
| | | | - Nivin Al-Alami
- Water, Energy and Environment Center, The University of Jordan, Amman 11942, Jordan
| | - Byju Govindan
- Department of Biological Systems Engineering, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
| | - Barbara Rasco
- School of Food Science, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA
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23
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A 71-year-old woman with recurrent falls and confusion. CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY 2015; 25:321-2. [PMID: 25587294 PMCID: PMC4277160 DOI: 10.1155/2014/786547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Fafangel M, Učakar V, Vudrag M, Berce I, Kraigher A. A Five Site Clostridium Perfringens Food-Borne Outbreak: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Zdr Varst 2014; 54:51-7. [PMID: 27646622 PMCID: PMC4820149 DOI: 10.1515/sjph-2015-0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In May of 2012, we investigated a food-borne Clostridium perfringens outbreak in Slovenia involving a single kitchen and five venues, with 477 exposed persons. Methods In order to identify the causative agent, vehicle of infection and source of contamination, we conducted microbiological and environmental investigations and an analytical cohort study (n = 138). Results The case definition in the outbreak was met by 104 persons. Predominant symptoms were diarrhoea, nausea and abdominal cramps. Median incubation time and duration of illness were 12 and 22.5 hours respectively. Stool samples were collected from 18 persons and in 13 C. perfringens spores were present; enterotoxin was detected in 9 persons. PCR and PFGE analysis of isolates from a cook with earlier onset time, who did not consume the implicated food, and cases from four venues showed the same strain of C. perfringens type A (with cpe-gene), indistinguishable by PFGE analysis. No food samples could be obtained. An analytical study showed that one food item (French salad) was the most likely vehicle of infection (RR: 6.35; 95% CI: 1.62–24.90). Conclusions This was the largest C. perfringens outbreak in Slovenia to date. Proper analytical study in combination with detailed laboratory investigation with genotypisation enabled us to identify a causative agent, vehicle of infection and possible source of contamination. Fast response and interdisciplinary collaboration led to timely implementation of control measures. These have led to the kitchen acquiring new equipment and improving staff knowledge of risks and processes, thus reducing the likelihood of future reoccurrences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fafangel
- National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Nova Gorica, Vipavska cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Veronika Učakar
- National Institute of Public Health, Communicable Diseases Centre, Zaloška 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marko Vudrag
- National Institute of Public Health, Regional Unit Nova Gorica, Vipavska cesta 13, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenia
| | - Ingrid Berce
- National Laboratory for Health, Environment and Food, Prvomajska 1, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Alenka Kraigher
- National Institute of Public Health, Communicable Diseases Centre, Zaloška 29, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Abstract
In both humans and animals, Clostridium perfringens is an important cause of histotoxic infections and diseases originating in the intestines, such as enteritis and enterotoxemia. The virulence of this Gram-positive, anaerobic bacterium is heavily dependent upon its prolific toxin-producing ability. Many of the ∼16 toxins produced by C. perfringens are encoded by large plasmids that range in size from ∼45 kb to ∼140 kb. These plasmid-encoded toxins are often closely associated with mobile elements. A C. perfringens strain can carry up to three different toxin plasmids, with a single plasmid carrying up to three distinct toxin genes. Molecular Koch's postulate analyses have established the importance of several plasmid-encoded toxins when C. perfringens disease strains cause enteritis or enterotoxemias. Many toxin plasmids are closely related, suggesting a common evolutionary origin. In particular, most toxin plasmids and some antibiotic resistance plasmids of C. perfringens share an ∼35-kb region containing a Tn916-related conjugation locus named tcp (transfer of clostridial plasmids). This tcp locus can mediate highly efficient conjugative transfer of these toxin or resistance plasmids. For example, conjugative transfer of a toxin plasmid from an infecting strain to C. perfringens normal intestinal flora strains may help to amplify and prolong an infection. Therefore, the presence of toxin genes on conjugative plasmids, particularly in association with insertion sequences that may mobilize these toxin genes, likely provides C. perfringens with considerable virulence plasticity and adaptability when it causes diseases originating in the gastrointestinal tract.
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Banaszkiewicz A, Kądzielska J, Gawrońska A, Pituch H, Obuch-Woszczatyński P, Albrecht P, Młynarczyk G, Radzikowski A. Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens infection and pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease. J Crohns Colitis 2014; 8:276-81. [PMID: 24060617 DOI: 10.1016/j.crohns.2013.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2013] [Revised: 08/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Clostridium difficile is the major cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea and is the most well known bacterial pathogen associated with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens has also been detected in up to 15% of antibiotic-associated diarrhea cases, and it has not been found in healthy people. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of C. perfringens infection in pediatric patients with IBD. METHODS This was a prospective, controlled study evaluating pediatric IBD patients in the Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition in Warsaw, Poland. All of the patients were diagnosed according to the Porto criteria. There were two control groups: (1) non-IBD patients that were suspected for bacterial diarrhea and (2) healthy children. Stool samples were collected on the day of admission. C. perfringens infection diagnosis was based on a positive stool enzyme immunoassay (C. perfringens enterotoxin test kit TechLab). RESULTS 91 fecal specimens from patients with IBD were collected. The average patient age was 11.7 years in IBD group, 7.4 years in non-IBD patients with diarrhea, and 7.4 years in healthy children. The prevalence of C. perfringens infection was 9% (8/91; CI 95% 4.6-16.4). There were more Crohn's patients (6/8) in the C. perfringens positive group. There was no C. perfringens infection in the two control groups. CONCLUSION Our pilot data add evidence to the hypothesis that Clostridia other than C. difficile may play a significant role in the clinical course of IBD. However, further studies are needed to confirm this.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joanna Kądzielska
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Gawrońska
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Hanna Pituch
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - Piotr Albrecht
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Grażyna Młynarczyk
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Radzikowski
- Department of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
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Onori M, Coltella L, Mancinelli L, Argentieri M, Menichella D, Villani A, Grandin A, Valentini D, Raponi M, Russo C. Evaluation of a multiplex PCR assay for simultaneous detection of bacterial and viral enteropathogens in stool samples of paediatric patients. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis 2014; 79:149-54. [PMID: 24656922 DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2013] [Revised: 02/04/2014] [Accepted: 02/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
We evaluated a multiplex PCR assay, the Seeplex Diarrhoea ACE detection, that simultaneously detects 15 enteric pathogens, including Salmonella spp., Shigella spp., Vibrio spp., toxin B producer Clostridium difficile, Campylobacter spp., Clostridium perfringens, Yersinia enterocolitica, Aeromonas spp., Escherichia coli O157:H7, verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli, adenovirus, Group A rotavirus, norovirus GI and GII, and astrovirus. We compared this assay with clinical methods routinely used in our laboratory, for detecting enteropathogens in stool samples collected from 245 paediatric patients with suspected infectious gastroenteritis. We recovered 61 bacterial pathogens and 121 enteric viruses with our laboratory assays, while we detected 78 bacteria and 167 viruses with the molecular assay. We calculated specificity and sensitivity for both methods after analysis of discordant results and demonstrated greater sensitivity for multiplex PCR than for our routine methods, with the exception of Salmonella spp. and toxigenic C. difficile detection. The multiplex PCR assay proved to be a reliable tool to directly detect the most common enteropathogens in stool samples but with some limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Onori
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Virology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Luana Coltella
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Virology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Livia Mancinelli
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Virology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Argentieri
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bacteriology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Donato Menichella
- Medical Direction, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Villani
- Paediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Annalisa Grandin
- Paediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Diletta Valentini
- Paediatric and Infectious Disease Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Cristina Russo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Virology Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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Aytac SA, Taban BM. Food-Borne Microbial Diseases and Control: Food-Borne Infections and Intoxications. FOOD ENGINEERING SERIES 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-1378-7_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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Prevost S, Cayol JL, Zuber F, Tholozan JL, Remize F. Characterization of clostridial species and sulfite-reducing anaerobes isolated from foie gras with respect to microbial quality and safety. Food Control 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2012.11.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Guran HS, Oksuztepe G. Detection and typing of Clostridium perfringens
from retail chicken meat parts. Lett Appl Microbiol 2013; 57:77-82. [DOI: 10.1111/lam.12088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 04/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- H. S. Guran
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Dicle University; Diyarbakir Turkey
| | - G. Oksuztepe
- Department of Food Hygiene and Technology; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; Firat University; Elazig Turkey
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Lahti P, Lindström M, Somervuo P, Heikinheimo A, Korkeala H. Comparative genomic hybridization analysis shows different epidemiology of chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-carrying Clostridium perfringens type A. PLoS One 2012; 7:e46162. [PMID: 23094024 PMCID: PMC3477167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0046162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2012] [Accepted: 08/30/2012] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens, one of the most common causes of food poisonings, can carry the enterotoxin gene, cpe, in its chromosome or on a plasmid. C. perfringens food poisonings are more frequently caused by the chromosomal cpe-carrying strains, while the plasmid-borne cpe-positive genotypes are more commonly found in the human feces and environmental samples. Different tolerance to food processing conditions by the plasmid-borne and chromosomal cpe-carrying strains has been reported, but the reservoirs and contamination routes of enterotoxin-producing C. perfringens remain unknown. A comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) analysis with a DNA microarray based on three C. perfringens type A genomes was conducted to shed light on the epidemiology of C. perfringens food poisonings caused by plasmid-borne and chromosomal cpe-carrying strains by comparing chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-positive and cpe-negative C. perfringens isolates from human, animal, environmental, and food samples. The chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-positive C. perfringens genotypes formed two distinct clusters. Variable genes were involved with myo-inositol, ethanolamine and cellobiose metabolism, suggesting a new epidemiological model for C. perfringens food poisonings. The CGH results were complemented with growth studies, which demonstrated different myo-inositol, ethanolamine, and cellobiose metabolism between the chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-carrying strains. These findings support a ubiquitous occurrence of the plasmid-borne cpe-positive strains and their adaptation to the mammalian intestine, whereas the chromosomal cpe-positive strains appear to have a narrow niche in environments containing degrading plant material. Thus the epidemiology of the food poisonings caused by two populations appears different, the plasmid-borne cpe-positive strains probably contaminating foods via humans and the chromosomal strains being connected to plant material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Päivi Lahti
- Department of Food Hygiene and Environmental Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
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A wide variety of Clostridium perfringens type A food-borne isolates that carry a chromosomal cpe gene belong to one multilocus sequence typing cluster. Appl Environ Microbiol 2012; 78:7060-8. [PMID: 22865060 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01486-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Of 98 suspected food-borne Clostridium perfringens isolates obtained from a nationwide survey by the Food and Consumer Product Safety Authority in The Netherlands, 59 strains were identified as C. perfringens type A. Using PCR-based techniques, the cpe gene encoding enterotoxin was detected in eight isolates, showing a chromosomal location for seven isolates and a plasmid location for one isolate. Further characterization of these strains by using (GTG)(5) fingerprint repetitive sequence-based PCR analysis distinguished C. perfringens from other sulfite-reducing clostridia but did not allow for differentiation between various types of C. perfringens strains. To characterize the C. perfringens strains further, multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis was performed on eight housekeeping genes of both enterotoxic and non-cpe isolates, and the data were combined with a previous global survey covering strains associated with food poisoning, gas gangrene, and isolates from food or healthy individuals. This revealed that the chromosomal cpe strains (food strains and isolates from food poisoning cases) belong to a distinct cluster that is significantly distant from all the other cpe plasmid-carrying and cpe-negative strains. These results suggest that different groups of C. perfringens have undergone niche specialization and that a distinct group of food isolates has specific core genome sequences. Such findings have epidemiological and evolutionary significance. Better understanding of the origin and reservoir of enterotoxic C. perfringens may allow for improved control of this organism in foods.
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Miyamoto K, Li J, McClane BA. Enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens: detection and identification. Microbes Environ 2012; 27:343-9. [PMID: 22504431 PMCID: PMC4103540 DOI: 10.1264/jsme2.me12002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in understanding the genetics of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens, including whole genome sequencing of a chromosomal cpe strain and sequencing of several cpe-carrying large plasmids, have led to the development of molecular approaches to more precisely investigate isolates involved in human gastrointestinal diseases and isolates present in the environment. Sequence-based PCR genotyping of the cpe locus (cpe genotyping PCR assays) has provided new information about cpe-positive type A C. perfringens including: 1) Foodborne C. perfringens outbreaks can be caused not only by chromosomal cpe type A strains with extremely heat-resistant spores, but also less commonly by less heat-resistant spore-forming plasmid cpe type A strains; 2) Both chromosomal cpe and plasmid cpe C. perfringens type A strains can be found in retail foods, healthy human feces and the environment, such as in sewage; 3) Most environmental cpe-positive C. perfringens type A strains carry their cpe gene on plasmids. Moreover, recent studies indicated that the cpe loci of type C, D, and E strains differ from the cpe loci of type A strains and from the cpe loci of each other, indicating that the cpe loci of C. perfringens have remarkable diversity. Multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) indicated that the chromosomal cpe strains responsible for most food poisoning cases have distinct genetic characteristics that provide unique biological properties, such as the formation of highly heat-resistant spores. These and future advances should help elucidate the epidemiology of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens and also contribute to the prevention of C. perfringens food poisoning outbreaks and other CPE-associated human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Miyamoto
- Department of Microbiology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, 811–1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641–0012, Japan.
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Detection of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens in meat samples by using molecular methods. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:7526-32. [PMID: 21890671 DOI: 10.1128/aem.06216-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
To prevent food-borne bacterial diseases and to trace bacterial contamination events to foods, microbial source tracking (MST) methods provide important epidemiological information. To apply molecular methods to MST, it is necessary not only to amplify bacterial cells to detection limit levels but also to prepare DNA with reduced inhibitory compounds and contamination. Isolates carrying the Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin gene (cpe) on the chromosome or a plasmid rank among the most important food-borne pathogens. Previous surveys indicated that cpe-positive C. perfringens isolates are present in only ∼5% of nonoutbreak food samples and then only at low numbers, usually less than 3 cells/g. In this study, four molecular assays for the detection of cpe-positive C. perfringens isolates, i.e., ordinary PCR, nested PCR, real-time PCR, and loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), were developed and evaluated for their reliability using purified DNA. For use in the artificial contamination of meat samples, DNA templates were prepared by three different commercial DNA preparation kits. The four molecular assays always detected cpe when >10³ cells/g of cpe-positive C. perfringens were present, using any kit. Of three tested commercial DNA preparation kits, the InstaGene matrix kit appeared to be most suitable for the testing of a large number of samples. By using the InstaGene matrix kit, the four molecular assays efficiently detected cpe using DNA prepared from enrichment culture specimens of meat samples contaminated with low numbers of cpe-positive C. perfringens vegetative cells or spores. Overall, the current study developed molecular assay protocols for MST to detect the contamination of foods with low numbers of cells, and at a low frequency, of cpe-positive C. perfringens isolates.
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Identification of novel Clostridium perfringens type E strains that carry an iota toxin plasmid with a functional enterotoxin gene. PLoS One 2011; 6:e20376. [PMID: 21655254 PMCID: PMC3105049 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0020376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2011] [Accepted: 04/18/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) is a major virulence factor for human gastrointestinal diseases, such as food poisoning and antibiotic associated diarrhea. The CPE-encoding gene (cpe) can be chromosomal or plasmid-borne. Recent development of conventional PCR cpe-genotyping assays makes it possible to identify cpe location (chromosomal or plasmid) in type A isolates. Initial studies for developing cpe genotyping assays indicated that all cpe-positive strains isolated from sickened patients were typable by cpe-genotypes, but surveys of C. perfringens environmental strains or strains from feces of healthy people suggested that this assay might not be useful for some cpe-carrying type A isolates. In the current study, a pulsed-field gel electrophoresis Southern blot assay showed that four cpe-genotype untypable isolates carried their cpe gene on a plasmid of ∼65 kb. Complete sequence analysis of the ∼65 kb variant cpe-carrying plasmid revealed no intact IS elements and a disrupted cytosine methyltransferase (dcm) gene. More importantly, this plasmid contains a conjugative transfer region, a variant cpe gene and variant iota toxin genes. The toxin genes encoded by this plasmid are expressed based upon the results of RT-PCR assays. The ∼65 kb plasmid is closely related to the pCPF4969 cpe plasmid of type A isolates. MLST analyses indicated these isolates belong to a unique cluster of C. perfringens. Overall, these isolates carrying a variant functional cpe gene and iota toxin genes represent unique type E strains.
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Lebrun M, Mainil JG, Linden A. Cattle enterotoxaemia and Clostridium perfringens
: description, diagnosis and prophylaxis. Vet Rec 2010; 167:13-22. [DOI: 10.1136/vr.167.1.12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Lebrun
- Association de Santé et d'Identification Animale; Allée des Artisans 2 5590 Ciney Belgium
| | - J. G. Mainil
- Bacteriology Section; Department of Infectious Diseases; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Liège; B43A Boulevard de Colonster 20 4000 Liège Belgium
| | - A. Linden
- Bacteriology Section; Department of Infectious Diseases; Faculty of Veterinary Medicine; University of Liège; B43A Boulevard de Colonster 20 4000 Liège Belgium
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Freshwater suspended sediments and sewage are reservoirs for enterotoxin-positive Clostridium perfringens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 76:5556-62. [PMID: 20581181 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01702-09] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The release of fecal pollution into surface waters may create environmental reservoirs of feces-derived microorganisms, including pathogens. Clostridium perfringens is a commonly used fecal indicator that represents a human pathogen. The pathogenicity of this bacterium is associated with its expression of multiple toxins; however, the prevalence of C. perfringens with various toxin genes in aquatic environments is not well characterized. In this study, C. perfringens spores were used to measure the distribution of fecal pollution associated with suspended sediments in the nearshore waters of Lake Michigan. Particle-associated C. perfringens levels were greatest adjacent to the Milwaukee harbor and diminished in the nearshore waters. Species-specific PCR and toxin gene profiles identified 174 isolates collected from the suspended sediments, surface water, and sewage influent as C. perfringens type A. Regardless of the isolation source, the beta2 and enterotoxin genes were common among isolates. The suspended sediments yielded the highest frequency of cpe-carrying C. perfringens (61%) compared to sewage (38%). Gene arrangement of enterotoxin was investigated using PCR to target known insertion sequences associated with this gene. Amplification products were detected in only 9 of 90 strains, which suggests there is greater variability in cpe gene arrangement than previously described. This work presents evidence that freshwater suspended sediments and sewage influent are reservoirs for potentially pathogenic cpe-carrying C. perfringens spores.
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Li J, Miyamoto K, Sayeed S, McClane BA. Organization of the cpe locus in CPE-positive clostridium perfringens type C and D isolates. PLoS One 2010; 5:e10932. [PMID: 20532170 PMCID: PMC2880595 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0010932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Accepted: 05/07/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (encoded by the cpe gene) contributes to several important human, and possibly veterinary, enteric diseases. The current study investigated whether cpe locus organization in type C or D isolates resembles one of the three (one chromosomal and two plasmid-borne) cpe loci commonly found amongst type A isolates. Multiplex PCR assays capable of detecting sequences in those type A cpe loci failed to amplify products from cpe-positive type C and D isolates, indicating these isolates possess different cpe locus arrangements. Therefore, restriction fragments containing the cpe gene were cloned and sequenced from two type C isolates and one type D isolate. The obtained cpe locus sequences were then used to construct an overlapping PCR assay to assess cpe locus diversity amongst other cpe-positive type C and D isolates. All seven surveyed cpe-positive type C isolates had a plasmid-borne cpe locus partially resembling the cpe locus of type A isolates carrying a chromosomal cpe gene. In contrast, all eight type D isolates shared the same plasmid-borne cpe locus, which differed substantially from the cpe locus present in other C. perfringens by containing two copies of an ORF with 67% identity to a transposase gene (COG4644) found in Tn1546, but not previously associated with the cpe gene. These results identify greater diversity amongst cpe locus organization than previously appreciated, providing new insights into cpe locus evolution. Finally, evidence for cpe gene mobilization was found for both type C and D isolates, which could explain their cpe plasmid diversity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihong Li
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Kazuaki Miyamoto
- Department of Microbiology, Wakayama Medical University School of Medicine, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Sameera Sayeed
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
| | - Bruce A. McClane
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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Novel insights into the epidemiology of Clostridium perfringens type A food poisoning. Food Microbiol 2010; 28:192-8. [PMID: 21315973 DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2010.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2010] [Revised: 03/28/2010] [Accepted: 03/29/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens food poisoning ranks among the most common gastrointestinal diseases in developed countries. The disease is caused by C. perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) encoded by cpe and produced by less than 5% of C. perfringens type A strains. Molecular epidemiological research in the past 15 years has focused on the reservoirs and routes of cpe-positive C. perfringens aiming to clarify the role and epidemiology of chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-carrying strains. This literature review highlights novel aspects in the epidemiology of CPE-mediated diseases. We suggest that (1) chromosomal and plasmid-borne cpe-carrying C. perfringens strains are genetically and epidemiologically distinct and have adapted to different environments; (2) not only chromosomal but also plasmid-borne cpe-carrying C. perfringens strains cause food poisonings; (3) other CPE-mediated diseases, such as antibiotic-associated and sporadic diarrhea, associated with plasmid-borne cpe-positive strains, may be food-related; (4) the role of animals as the main reservoir of cpe-positive C. perfringens needs to be reconsidered; (5) humans serve as an important reservoir of cpe-positive C. perfringens, introducing a contamination risk into foods through handling; and (6) the current standard procedures to diagnose C. perfringens food poisoning fail to detect and isolate many C. perfringens strains, distorting the epidemiological understanding of C. perfringens food poisoning.
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Grant KA, Kenyon S, Nwafor I, Plowman J, Ohai C, Halford-Maw R, Peck MW, McLauchlin J. The identification and characterization of Clostridium perfringens by real-time PCR, location of enterotoxin gene, and heat resistance. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2008; 5:629-39. [PMID: 18681798 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2007.0066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens carrying the enterotoxin gene is an important cause of both foodborne and non-foodborne diarrheal disease. Rapid identification of isolates carrying the enterotoxin gene is invaluable for outbreak investigation whilst information on the genomic location of the enterotoxin (cpe) gene can improve our understanding of disease transmission. This paper describes the validation of a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the identification of C. perfringens and assessment of the potential to cause diarrhea, together with an investigation into the genomic location of the cpe genes in isolates from confirmed incidents of C. perfringens diarrhea. The real-time assay was shown to be specific for the identification of 253 C. perfringens cultures and gave results concordant with those from motility nitrate and lactose gelatine media, the Nagler reaction, and a conventional block-based PCR assay. The cpe gene was detected in 223 of 253 C. perfringens cultures isolated in association with human gastrointestinal disease. A subset of cpe-positive C. perfringens isolates associated with separate incidents of diarrheal disease were investigated further for plasmid or chromosomal location of the cpe gene using a multiplex PCR assay. The cpe gene was plasmid encoded in two isolates from cases of sporadic diarrhea and six isolates from cases of food poisoning. The cpe gene from the remaining 11 isolates from different food poisoning outbreaks was found to be chromosomally encoded. One of the C. perfringens strains with a plasmid encoded cpe gene formed spores of high heat resistance and five formed spores that were sensitive to heating. Eight of the isolates with a chromosomal cpe gene formed heat-resistant spores, and two formed spores with an intermediate heat resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathie A Grant
- Health Protection Agency, Centre for Infections, London, United Kingdom.
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Miki Y, Miyamoto K, Kaneko-Hirano I, Fujiuchi K, Akimoto S. Prevalence and characterization of enterotoxin gene-carrying Clostridium perfringens isolates from retail meat products in Japan. Appl Environ Microbiol 2008; 74:5366-72. [PMID: 18606797 PMCID: PMC2546627 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00783-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2008] [Accepted: 06/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridium perfringens is an important anaerobic pathogen causing food-borne gastrointestinal (GI) diseases in humans and animals. It is thought that C. perfringens food poisoning isolates typically carry the enterotoxin gene (cpe) on their chromosome, while isolates from other GI diseases, such as antibiotic-associated diarrhea, carry cpe on a transferable plasmid. However, food-borne GI disease outbreaks associated with C. perfringens isolates carrying plasmid-borne cpe (plasmid cpe isolates) were recently reported in Japan and Europe. To investigate whether retail food can be a reservoir for food poisoning generally, we evaluated Japanese retail meat products for the presence of two genotypes of enterotoxigenic C. perfringens. Our results demonstrated that approximately 70% of the Japanese retail raw meat samples tested were contaminated with low numbers of C. perfringens bacteria and 4% were contaminated with cpe-positive C. perfringens. Most of the cpe-positive C. perfringens isolates obtained from Japanese retail meat carried cpe on a plasmid. The plasmid cpe isolates exhibited lower spore heat resistance than did chromosomal cpe isolates. Collectively, these plasmid cpe isolates might be causative agents of food poisoning when foods are contaminated with these isolates from equipment and/or the environment after cooking, or they may survive in food that has not been cooked at a high enough temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasuhiro Miki
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, 811-1 Kimiidera, Wakayama 641-0012, Japan
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Carman RJ, Sayeed S, Li J, Genheimer CW, Hiltonsmith MF, Wilkins TD, McClane BA. Clostridium perfringens toxin genotypes in the feces of healthy North Americans. Anaerobe 2008; 14:102-8. [PMID: 18353695 DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2008.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2007] [Revised: 01/23/2008] [Accepted: 01/30/2008] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
We investigated the frequency of Clostridium perfringens in the normal fecal flora of healthy North Americans. About half of 43 subjects were colonized with C. perfringens at levels of approximately 10(6)cfu/g feces. Only type A strains were recovered. Spores sometimes outnumbered vegetative cells. Several genotypes were found. Some donors carried two genotypes, some only one. We found no alpha, beta2 or enterotoxin in the stools of any donors. Though some isolates carried toxin genes (e.g. cpe and cpb2) on plasmids, we saw no indication that healthy humans are the reservoir for the chromosomally-borne cpe recovered from cases of C. perfringens food poisoning.
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Clostridium perfringens type A strains carrying a plasmid-borne enterotoxin gene (genotype IS1151-cpe or IS1470-like-cpe) as a common cause of food poisoning. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 46:371-3. [PMID: 18003798 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01650-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalences of various genotypes of enterotoxin gene-carrying (cpe-positive) Clostridium perfringens type A in 24 different food poisoning outbreaks were 75% (chromosomal IS1470-cpe), 21% (plasmid-borne IS1470-like-cpe), and 4% (plasmid-borne IS1151-cpe). These results show that C. perfringens type A carrying the plasmid-borne cpe is a common cause of food poisoning.
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Li J, Sayeed S, McClane BA. Prevalence of enterotoxigenic Clostridium perfringens Isolates in Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania) area soils and home kitchens. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73:7218-24. [PMID: 17905877 PMCID: PMC2168196 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01075-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the United States and Europe, food poisoning due to Clostridium perfringens type A is predominantly caused by C. perfringens isolates carrying a chromosomal enterotoxin gene (cpe). Neither the reservoir for these isolates nor the point in the food chain where these bacteria contaminate foods is currently understood. Therefore, the current study investigated whether type A isolates carrying a chromosomal cpe gene are present in two potential reservoirs, i.e., soil and home kitchen surfaces. No C. perfringens isolates were recovered from home kitchen surfaces, but most surveyed soil samples contained C. perfringens. The recovered soil isolates were predominantly type A, but some type C, D, and E soil isolates were also identified. All cpe-positive isolates recovered from soil were genotyped as type A, with their cpe genes on cpe plasmids rather than the chromosome. However, two cpe-positive soil isolates did not carry a classical cpe plasmid. Both of those atypical cpe-positive soil isolates were sporulation capable yet failed to produce C. perfringens enterotoxin, possibly because of differences in their upstream promoter regions. Collectively these results suggest that neither soil nor home kitchen surfaces represent major reservoirs for type A isolates with chromosomal cpe that cause food poisoning, although soil does appear to be a reservoir for cpe-positive isolates causing non-food-borne gastrointestinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jihong Li
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15261, USA
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