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Jian J, Wang Z, Chen C, Workman CT, Fang X, Larsen TO, Guo J, Sonnenschein EC. Two high-quality Prototheca zopfii genomes provide new insights into their evolution as obligate algal heterotrophs and their pathogenicity. Microbiol Spectr 2024; 12:e0414823. [PMID: 38940543 PMCID: PMC11302234 DOI: 10.1128/spectrum.04148-23] [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: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
The majority of the nearly 10,000 described species of green algae are photoautotrophs; however, some species have lost their ability to photosynthesize and become obligate heterotrophs that rely on parasitism for survival. Two high-quality genomes of the heterotrophic algae Prototheca zopfii Pz20 and Pz23 were obtained using short- and long-read genomic as well as transcriptomic data. The genome sizes were 31.2 Mb and 31.3 Mb, respectively, and contig N50 values of 1.99 Mb and 1.26 Mb. Although P. zopfii maintained its plastid genome, the transition to heterotrophy led to a reduction in both plastid and nuclear genome size, including the loss of photosynthesis-related genes from both the nuclear and plastid genomes and the elimination of genes encoding for carotenoid oxygenase and pheophorbide an oxygenase. The loss of genes, including basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) transcription factors, flavin adenine dinucleotide-linked oxidase, and helicase, could have played a role in the transmission of autotrophy to heterotrophs and in the processes of abiotic stress resistance and pathogenicity. A total of 66 (1.37%) and 73 (1.49%) genes were identified as potential horizontal gene transfer events in the two P. zopfii genomes, respectively. Genes for malate synthase and isocitrate lyase, which are horizontally transferred from bacteria, may play a pivotal role in carbon and nitrogen metabolism as well as the pathogenicity of Prototheca and non-photosynthetic organisms. The two high-quality P. zopfii genomes provide new insights into their evolution as obligate heterotrophs and pathogenicity. IMPORTANCE The genus Prototheca, characterized by its heterotrophic nature and pathogenicity, serves as an exemplary model for investigating pathobiology. The limited understanding of the protothecosis infectious disease is attributed to the lack of genomic resources. Using HiFi long-read sequencing, both nuclear and plastid genomes were generated for two strains of P. zopfii. The findings revealed a concurrent reduction in both plastid and nuclear genome size, accompanied by the loss of genes associated with photosynthesis, carotenoid oxygenase, basic leucine-zipper (bZIP) transcription factors, and others. The analysis of horizontal gene transfer revealed the presence of 1.37% and 1.49% bacterial genes, including malate synthase and isocitrate lyase, which play crucial roles in carbon and nitrogen metabolism, as well as pathogenicity and obligate heterotrophy. The two high-quality P. zopfii genomes represent valuable resources for investigating their adaptation and evolution as obligate heterotrophs, as well as for developing future prevention and treatment strategies against protothecosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianbo Jian
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- BGI Genomics, Shenzhen, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Marine Biotechnology, Shantou University, Shantou, China
| | | | | | - Christopher T. Workman
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Ostenfeld Larsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jian Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Eva C. Sonnenschein
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Biosciences, Swansea University, Swansea, United Kingdom
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Giannuzzi D, Capra E, Bisutti V, Vanzin A, Marsan PA, Cecchinato A, Pegolo S. Methylome-wide analysis of milk somatic cells upon subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. J Dairy Sci 2024; 107:1805-1820. [PMID: 37939836 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2023-23821] [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: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/18/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind bovine mastitis is fundamental for improving the management of this disease, which continues to be of major concern for the dairy industry, especially in its subclinical form. Disease severity and progression depend on numerous aspects, such as livestock genetics, and the interaction between the causative agent, the host, and the environment. In this context, epigenetic mechanisms have proven to have a role in controlling the response of the animal to inflammation. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore genome-wide DNA methylation of milk somatic cells (SC) in healthy cows (n = 15) and cows affected by naturally occurring subclinical mastitis by Streptococcus agalactiae (n = 12) and Prototheca spp. (n = 11), to better understand the role of SC methylome in the host response to disease. Differentially methylated regions (DMR) were evaluated comparing: (1) Strep. agalactiae-infected versus healthy; (2) Prototheca-infected versus healthy, and (3) mastitis versus healthy and (4) Strep. agalactiae-infected versus Prototheca-infected. The functional analysis was performed at 2 levels. To begin with, we extracted differentially methylated genes (DMG) from promoter DMR, which were analyzed using the Cytoscape ClueGO plug-in. Coupled with this DMG-driven approach, all the genes associated with promoter-methylated regions were fed to the Pathifier algorithm. From the DMR analysis, we identified 1,081 hypermethylated and 361 hypomethylated promoter regions in Strep. agalactiae-infected animals, while 1,514 hypermethylated and 358 hypomethylated promoter regions were identified in Prototheca-infected animals, when compared with the healthy controls. When considering infected animals as a whole group (regardless of the pathogen), we found 1,576 hypermethylated and 460 hypomethylated promoter regions. Both pathogens were associated with methylation differences in genes involved in pathways related to meiosis, reproduction and tissue remodeling. Exploring the whole methylome, in subclinically infected cows we observed a strong deregulation of immune-related pathways, such as nuclear factor kB and toll-like receptors signaling pathways, and of energy-related pathways such as the tricarboxylic acid cycle and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis. In conclusion, no evident pathogen-specific SC methylome signature was detected in the present study. Overall, we observed a clear regulation of host immune response driven by DNA methylation upon subclinical mastitis. Further studies on a larger cohort of animals are needed to validate our results and to possibly identify a unique SC methylome that signifies pathogen-specific alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Giannuzzi
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - E Capra
- Institute of Agricultural Biology and Biotechnology, National Research Council (IBBA CNR), 26900, Lodi, Italy
| | - V Bisutti
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy.
| | - A Vanzin
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - P Ajmone Marsan
- Department of Animal Science, Food and Nutrition (DIANA), Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122, Piacenza, Italy
| | - A Cecchinato
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
| | - S Pegolo
- Department of Agronomy, Food, Natural Resources, Animals and Environment (DAFNAE), University of Padova, 35020, Legnaro, Italy
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Rifatbegović M, Nicholas RAJ, Mutevelić T, Hadžiomerović M, Maksimović Z. Pathogens Associated with Bovine Mastitis: The Experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Vet Sci 2024; 11:63. [PMID: 38393081 PMCID: PMC10891550 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11020063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Revised: 01/19/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
To obtain improved insights into the complex microbial aetiology of bovine mastitis, this study investigated the pathogens involved in cattle mastitis in Bosnia and Herzegovina. A total of 179 milk samples from cows with clinical mastitis (CM) and subclinical mastitis (SCM), as well as eight bulk tank milk (BTM) samples from 48 dairy farms, were analysed by standard bacteriological and mycological methods. Mycoplasma detection and identification were performed using culture techniques and real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 88 (49.2%) mastitis samples were positive for known mastitis pathogens at 32 of 47 farms (68.1%). Mycoplasma bovis was a predominant pathogen (25/187; 13.4%) in the majority of herds (14/48; 29.2%) and accounted for 48.9% of positive CM samples. Escherichia coli was the second most dominant CM pathogen (34%), followed by Streptococcus agalactiae (10.6%), whereas Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase-negative staphylococci were the most common in SCM samples (17.1%). Other mastitis pathogens included Candida spp. and Prototheca zopfii. Two BTM samples were positive for M. bovis only, and one was positive for a mixed culture of S. aureus and Streptococcus uberis. The finding of various causative agents of bovine mastitis, with M. bovis emerging as the main pathogen, emphasizes the significance of comprehensive testing that includes not only common mastitis pathogens but also mycoplasmas, fungi, and algae.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maid Rifatbegović
- Department of Pathobiology and Epidemiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (M.R.); (Z.M.)
| | | | - Tarik Mutevelić
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Mithat Hadžiomerović
- Cantonal Administration of Civil Protection of Bosnian-Podrinje Canton, 1. Slavne Višegradske Brigade 2a, 73000 Goražde, Bosnia and Herzegovina;
| | - Zinka Maksimović
- Department of Pathobiology and Epidemiology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Sarajevo, Zmaja od Bosne 90, 71000 Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina; (M.R.); (Z.M.)
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Chen J, Hu X, Li G, Wan P, Shao Z, Jin E, Liu X, Yang Q, Long A, Qian Y. Investigation of Prototheca bovis Infection and Its Correlation with Dairy Herd Improvement Data from a Dairy Farm in Central China. Vet Sci 2024; 11:37. [PMID: 38250943 PMCID: PMC10820511 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci11010037] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Prototheca bovis (P. bovis), an alga that has attracted considerable attention over the years as a causative microorganism of mastitis in dairy cows, exhibits limited susceptibility to specific aminoglycosides and antifungal agents, and no effective clinical treatment is currently available, thereby posing challenges for both prevention and treatment. To investigate the infection of P. bovis mastitis and its impact on raw milk production, a total of 348 raw milk samples were collected from August to December 2022 from a dairy farm in central China. P. bovis and other bacteria were detected, and the average infection rate of P. bovis in raw milk was 60.34% (210/348). The total number of colonies and the somatic cell count (SCC) of P. bovis positive samples were significantly higher than those of P. bovis negative samples (p < 0.01). The daily milk yield, 305-day milk yield, peak milk yield, and days to peak milk yield of the P. bovis positive samples were significantly lower than those of P. bovis negative samples (p < 0.01). A correlation analysis showed that P. bovis infection was negatively correlated with daily milk yield, 305-day milk yield, peak milk yield, and days to peak milk yield (p < 0.0001), while being positively correlated with the total number of colonies, SCC, milk loss, and protein percentage (p < 0.0001). These findings may help practitioners in comprehending the occurrence of Prototheca mastitis and developing more effective strategies for the prevention of P. bovis infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Chen
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
| | - Xiuxiu Hu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
- College of Animal Science, Yangtze University, Jingzhou 434025, China
| | - Guohong Li
- Wuhan Keqian Biology Co., Ltd., Wuhan 430206, China;
| | - Pingmin Wan
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
| | - Zhiyong Shao
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
| | - Erguang Jin
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
| | - Xiaohua Liu
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
| | - Qian Yang
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Anying Long
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan 430070, China
| | - Yunguo Qian
- Institute of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Science, Wuhan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Wuhan 430208, China; (J.C.); (X.H.); (P.W.); (Z.S.); (E.J.); (X.L.); (Q.Y.); (A.L.)
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Price P, Klobukowska HJ, Castillo-Alcala F, Foxwell JA, Orbell G, Brown S, Irving AC. Protothecosis in four dogs in New Zealand. N Z Vet J 2023; 71:321-328. [PMID: 37584100 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2023.2248066] [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: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 08/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
CASE HISTORIES Medical records of four dogs diagnosed with protothecosis in New Zealand were reviewed. The dogs were aged between 4 and 9 years and three of the four dogs were female. Breeds were one Labrador, one Miniature Schnauzer and two crossbreeds. The reasons for initial veterinary evaluation were a cough and opaque appearance of the right eye (Case 1), diarrhoea (Cases 2 and 3), and cutaneous disease (Case 4). CLINICAL FINDINGS The ocular signs were characterised by panuveitis, retinal detachment and secondary glaucoma. Gastrointestinal signs included chronic haemorrhagic diarrhoea due to colitis. Three cases had disseminated infection and developed both bilateral, blinding, ocular disease and chronic gastrointestinal disease. Cutaneous signs consisted of draining fistulae over the olecranon, multifocal cutaneous nodules, and ulceration and tracts of the foot pads. Disseminated protothecosis was confirmed by histopathology of biopsied ocular tissues in Cases 1 and 2 and by gastrointestinal biopsies in Case 3. Prototheca spp. were also identified in cytological specimens from Cases 1 and 4 and recovered by culture in Cases 2 and 4. Cutaneous protothecosis was diagnosed in Case 4 initially by cytology and histopathology of skin lesions, and Prototheca zopfii was confirmed by PCR of cultured organisms. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Prior to diagnosis of protothecosis, a variety of treatments were prescribed to treat the gastrointestinal and ocular signs. After diagnosis, only Cases 2 and 4 received medication aimed at treating the protothecal infection, which was itraconazole in both cases. Following the progression of clinical signs and concerns about quality of life, all four dogs were euthanised. DIAGNOSIS Disseminated protothecosis in three dogs, cutaneous protothecosis in one dog. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Canine protothecosis is rarely reported, despite the ubiquity of the causal algae, and the disease usually carries an extremely grave prognosis when infection is generalised. In New Zealand, protothecosis should be considered as a differential diagnosis in dogs with panuveitis, chorioretinitis or retinal detachment, colitis, or nodular, ulcerative or fistulating cutaneous lesions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Psa Price
- Eyevet Services Ltd., Feilding, New Zealand
| | - H J Klobukowska
- New Zealand Veterinary Pathology, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - F Castillo-Alcala
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - J A Foxwell
- Animal Health Laboratory, Ministry for Primary Industries, Upper Hutt, New Zealand
| | - Gmb Orbell
- New Zealand Veterinary Pathology, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - S Brown
- Tāwharau Ora - School of Veterinary Science, Massey University, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - A C Irving
- Eyevet Services Ltd., Feilding, New Zealand
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Arabe Filho MF, Jagielski T, Proskurnicka A, dos Santos MV, Fidelis CE, Guimarães FF, Guerra ST, Joaquim SF, Mioni MDSR, Pantoja JCDF, Langoni H, Sanchez LFG, Ribeiro MG. In Vitro Activity of Quaternary Ammonium in Prototheca Isolated from Clinical Bovine Mastitis Identified by Mass Spectrometry and PCR Sequencing of the cytb Gene Marker. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3286. [PMID: 37894008 PMCID: PMC10603881 DOI: 10.3390/ani13203286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The in vitro algaecide activity of quaternary ammonium (QA) against Prototheca isolated from bovine clinical mastitis was investigated, in which the clinical severity was scored, milk samples were subjected to microbiological culture, and algal species were identified by molecular typing. A total of 4275 milk clinical samples of different cows from ten large dairy farms were used. Forty-four (1%) samples of cows from three dairy farms yielded growth of Prototheca, of which 88.6% (39/44) were identified as Prototheca bovis and 11.3% (5/44) as Prototheca sp. by MALDI-TOF MS, whereas 100% of the isolates were identified as P. bovis using PCR sequencing of the cytb gene. Among cows for which clinical severity scoring was available, 78.8% (26/33) and 21.2% (7/33) had mild and moderate infections, respectively, whereas no animal showed severe clinical signs. The algaecide activity of QA in Prototheca was observed in low concentrations among all isolates, in 20.4% (9/44) at 35 ppm, 36.4% (16/44) at 17 ppm, and 43.2% (19/44) at an 8 ppm, in addition to activity on three reference Prototheca strains. Overall, the study highlights the predominance of P. bovis as the causative agent of algal mastitis in bovines. Prototheca induced abnormalities preponderantly in the milk and mammary gland tissue of cows, and to our knowledge, our study is the first to apply clinical severity scoring in protothecal mastitis. In addition, the study underlines the activity of QA in low concentrations against Prototheca, indicating its potential use as an antiseptic/disinfectant in milking facilities and dairy environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Fagali Arabe Filho
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Tomasz Jagielski
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 00-927 Warsaw, Poland; (T.J.); (A.P.)
| | - Angelika Proskurnicka
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 00-927 Warsaw, Poland; (T.J.); (A.P.)
| | - Marcos Veiga dos Santos
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo—USP, Pirassununga 05508-220, SP, Brazil; (M.V.d.S.); (C.E.F.)
| | - Carlos Eduardo Fidelis
- Department of Animal Nutrition and Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of Sao Paulo—USP, Pirassununga 05508-220, SP, Brazil; (M.V.d.S.); (C.E.F.)
| | - Felipe Freitas Guimarães
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Simony Trevizan Guerra
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Sâmea Fernandes Joaquim
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Mateus de Souza Ribeiro Mioni
- Department of Pathology, Reproduction and One Health, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil;
| | - José Carlos de Figueiredo Pantoja
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Helio Langoni
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Luísa Fernanda García Sanchez
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
| | - Marcio Garcia Ribeiro
- Department of Animal Production and Preventive Veterinary Medicine, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Sao Paulo State University—UNESP, Botucatu 19806-900, SP, Brazil; (M.F.A.F.); (F.F.G.); (S.T.G.); (S.F.J.); (J.C.d.F.P.); (H.L.); (L.F.G.S.)
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Vasco-Julio D, Huilca-Ibarra M, Ledesma Y, Echeverria G, Guerrero-Freire S, Jagielski T, Bastidas-Caldes C, de Waard JH. The Development of a Multiplex PCR Assay for Fast and Cost-Effective Identification of the Five Most Significant Pathogenic Prototheca Species. Pathogens 2023; 12:1018. [PMID: 37623978 PMCID: PMC10459208 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
A multiplex PCR system (m-PCR) has been developed to accurately differentiate the five most important pathogenic Prototheca species, including the three species associated with infection in dairy cattle (P. ciferrii, P. blaschkeae, and P. bovis) and the two species associated with human infections (P. wickerhamii and P. cutis). The method is low-cost since it employs a simple "heat-shock" method in a TE buffer for DNA extraction. Furthermore, it requires only primers, a Taq polymerase, an agarose gel, and a molecular weight marker for identification. The method was based on published Prototheca cytochrome B sequences and was evaluated using reference strains from each of the five Prototheca species. The validity of the method was confirmed by identifying 50 strains isolated from milk samples. The specificity was tested in silico and with experimental PCR trials, showing no cross-reactions with other Prototheca species, as well as with bacteria, fungi, cows, algae, animals, or humans. The method could detect mixed infections involving two or three Prototheca species, providing a rapid test that delivers results within three hours.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Vasco-Julio
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170530, Ecuador; (D.V.-J.); (M.H.-I.); (Y.L.); (C.B.-C.)
- Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Unidad de Posgrado, Edificio D, Circuito de Posgrados, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán C.P. 04510, Mexico
- Centro de Investigación Sobre Enfermedades Infecciosas, Instituto Nacional de Salud Pública, Cuernavaca C.P. 62050, Mexico
| | - María Huilca-Ibarra
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170530, Ecuador; (D.V.-J.); (M.H.-I.); (Y.L.); (C.B.-C.)
| | - Yanua Ledesma
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170530, Ecuador; (D.V.-J.); (M.H.-I.); (Y.L.); (C.B.-C.)
| | - Gustavo Echeverria
- Instituto de Investigación en Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170518, Ecuador;
- División Investigación y Desarrollo, BioGENA, Quito 170509, Ecuador
- Programa de Doctorado, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina;
| | - Salome Guerrero-Freire
- Programa de Doctorado, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires C1063ACV, Argentina;
- Group of Emerging and Neglected Diseases, Ecoepidemiology and Biodiversity, Health Sciences Faculty, Universidad Internacional SEK, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Tomasz Jagielski
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Institute of Microbiology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, 02-096 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Carlos Bastidas-Caldes
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170530, Ecuador; (D.V.-J.); (M.H.-I.); (Y.L.); (C.B.-C.)
- INABIO—Instituto Nacional de Biodiversidad, Parque La Carolina, Quito 170135, Ecuador
| | - Jacobus H. de Waard
- One Health Research Group, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170530, Ecuador; (D.V.-J.); (M.H.-I.); (Y.L.); (C.B.-C.)
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Guo J, Chen J, Li T, Gao L, Jiang C, Wu W. Integration of transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics data for the detection of the human pathogenic Prototheca wickerhamii from a One Health perspective. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2023; 13:1152198. [PMID: 37216181 PMCID: PMC10196235 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1152198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Prototheca species are the only microalgae known to cause opportunistic infections in vertebrates and humans. Most cases of protothecosis in humans are caused by Prototheca wickerhamii, but knowledge of the pathogenicity and biology of Prototheca is limited. Globally, the diagnostic rate of Prototheca species infection is much lower than the actual rate of P. wickerhamii. The precise mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Prototheca infections remain unclear. In this study, we identified a strain of P. wickerhamii with atypical colony morphology. To reveal the morphological differences between P. wickerhamii S1 (mucous) and the molecular basis of its pathogenicity, the transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics of two pathogenic P. wickerhamii strains and one environmental strain were analysed. Interestingly, mannan endo-1,4-β-mannosidase was significantly downregulated in P. wickerhamii S1, which contributes to a thinner cell wall in S1 compared to strains with typical colony morphology, and the toxicity of macrophages is reduced. Metabolite analysis revealed that the mucoid appearance of P. wickerhamii S1 may have been caused by an increase in linoleic acid, glycerol, and other metabolites. There is still a need to better understand the ecology, aetiology, and pathogenesis of P. wickerhamii, and in particular, its transmission between humans, animals, and the environment, from a One Health perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Guo
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Juan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Teng Li
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lei Gao
- Microscopy Core Facility, Biomedical Research Core Facilities, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cizhong Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Spine and Spinal Cord Injury Repair and Regeneration of Ministry of Education, Orthopaedic Department of Tongji Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Wenjuan Wu
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
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Fidelis CE, de Freitas Leite R, Garcia BLN, Gonçalves JL, Good L, Dos Santos MV. Antimicrobial activities of polyhexamethylene biguanide against biofilm-producing Prototheca bovis causing bovine mastitis. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:1383-1393. [PMID: 36526458 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22468] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Prototheca spp. is a frequent cause of bovine mastitis and is highly resistant to commonly used disinfectants. This study aimed to: (1) evaluate the antimicrobial activity of polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) against mastitis-causing Prototheca spp., and (2) evaluate the biofilm production ability of Prototheca spp. A total of 85 Prototheca bovis and 2 Prototheca blaschkeae isolates from bovine mastitis cases were submitted to biofilm production assays and antimicrobial susceptibility tests against PHMB and disinfectants commonly used in dairy herds (chlorhexidine digluconate, povidone-iodine, sodium dichloroisocyanurate, and sodium hypochlorite). The minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal algicidal concentration (MAC) were determined by microdilution assays. We observed that PHMB (MIC90: ≥2 µg/mL and MAC90: ≥4 µg/mL) and chlorhexidine gluconate (MIC90 and MAC90: ≥2 µg/mL) presented the highest antimicrobial activity against P. bovis isolates, followed by sodium dichloroisocyanurate (MIC90 and MAC90: ≥1,400 µg/mL), sodium hypochlorite (MIC90 and MAC90: ≥2,800 µg/mL), and povidone-iodine (MIC90 and MAC90: ≥3,200 µg/mL). Concerning P. blaschkeae isolates, PHMB (MIC and MAC ≥1 µg/mL) and chlorhexidine gluconate (MIC and MAC ≥1 µg/mL) were the disinfectants that presented the lowest concentration values required to inhibit the isolates. Regarding biofilms formation, 63.5% (n = 54/85) of the P. bovis isolates were classified as strong, 28.3% (n = 24/85) moderate, and 8.2% (n = 7/85) weak biofilm producers. In contrast, the P. blaschkeae isolates were classified as weak and moderate biofilm producers. These findings suggest that PHMB has the potential to be used for teat and milking-equipment disinfection for the prevention of mastitis-causing Prototheca spp. in dairy herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Eduardo Fidelis
- Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil 13635
| | - Renata de Freitas Leite
- Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil 13635
| | - Breno Luis Nery Garcia
- Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil 13635
| | - Juliano Leonel Gonçalves
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824-1046
| | - Liam Good
- Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, NW1 0TU, United Kingdom
| | - Marcos Veiga Dos Santos
- Department of Nutrition and Animal Production, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo, Pirassununga, SP, Brazil 13635.
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Ely VL, Felipetto Cargnelutti J, Segabinazzi Ries A, Gressler LT, Costa S, Braz PH, Pötter L, Matiuzzi da Costa M, Gomes da Silva Júnior F, Pequeno de Oliveira H, Sangioni LA, Brayer Pereira DI, de Avila Botton S. Prototheca bovis in goats: Experimental mastitis and treatment with polypyrrole. Microb Pathog 2023; 174:105950. [PMID: 36528325 DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2022.105950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Prototheca bovis has been associated with several cases of mastitis in cattle but no record of intramammary infections has been reported in goats. This infection does not respond to available treatments and the disposal recommendation of affected animals cause great damage to the dairy industry. Alternatives for dealing with infections caused by Prototheca spp. are required worldwide. In vitro results suggest polypyrrole as promising molecule for combating this alga, because an algaecide effect was observed on tested Prototheca spp. isolates. Thus, this study evaluated goats as an experimental model for intramammary infection by P. bovis and a protocol for treating these animals with an intramammary polypyrrole solution. The possibility of P. bovis promoting an intramammary infection in goats was experimentally proven, demonstrating this species as an important model for studies involving algae mastitis. Furthermore, polypyrrole reduced the counts of Prototheca sp. in the analyzed samples, showing potential to fight this microorganism also in vivo. The results obtained in this study demonstrate the ability of P. bovis to colonize breast tissue in lactating goats and the highly soluble molecule of polypyrrole has potential use for the treatment of protothecosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valessa Lunkes Ely
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Juliana Felipetto Cargnelutti
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Ananda Segabinazzi Ries
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Letícia Trevisan Gressler
- Instituto Federal Farroupilha, Campus Frederico Westphalen, Linha 7 de Setembro, BR 386 - KM 40 s/n, Frederico Westphalen, RS, 98400-000, Brazil
| | - Samay Costa
- Instituto Federal Farroupilha, Campus Frederico Westphalen, Linha 7 de Setembro, BR 386 - KM 40 s/n, Frederico Westphalen, RS, 98400-000, Brazil
| | - Paulo Henrique Braz
- Instituto Federal Farroupilha, Campus Frederico Westphalen, Linha 7 de Setembro, BR 386 - KM 40 s/n, Frederico Westphalen, RS, 98400-000, Brazil
| | - Luciana Pötter
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Zootecnia, Departamento de Zootecnia, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Mateus Matiuzzi da Costa
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Rodovia BR 407 - Km 12, Lote 543, Projeto Irrigação Senador Nilo Coelho s/nº, Petrolina, CEP 56300-990, Brazil
| | - Fernando Gomes da Silva Júnior
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Rodovia BR 407 - Km 12, Lote 543, Projeto Irrigação Senador Nilo Coelho s/nº, Petrolina, CEP 56300-990, Brazil
| | - Helinando Pequeno de Oliveira
- Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Rodovia BR 407 - Km 12, Lote 543, Projeto Irrigação Senador Nilo Coelho s/nº, Petrolina, CEP 56300-990, Brazil
| | - Luis Antonio Sangioni
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil
| | - Daniela Isabel Brayer Pereira
- Universidade Federal de Pelotas (UFPel), Instituto de Biologia, Campus Capão do Leão s/n, Capão do Leão, RS, 96160-000, Brazil
| | - Sônia de Avila Botton
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária Preventiva, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Av. Roraima, 1000, Prédio 44 (CCRII), Sala 5132, Bairro Camobi, Santa Maria, RS, 97105-900, Brazil.
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Huilca-Ibarra MP, Vasco-Julio D, Ledesma Y, Guerrero-Freire S, Zurita J, Castillejo P, Barceló Blasco F, Yanez L, Changoluisa D, Echeverría G, Bastidas-Caldes C, de Waard JH. High Prevalence of Prototheca bovis Infection in Dairy Cattle with Chronic Mastitis in Ecuador. Vet Sci 2022; 9:vetsci9120659. [PMID: 36548820 PMCID: PMC9784310 DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9120659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The genus Prototheca, a unicellular, non-photosynthetic, yeast-like microalgae, is a pathogen of concern for the dairy industry. It causes bovine mastitis that currently cannot be cured, and hence generates significant economic losses in milk production. In this study, for the first time in Ecuador, we identify Prototheca bovis as the etiologic agent of chronic mastitis in dairy cattle. Milk samples (n = 458) of cows with chronic mastitis were cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Microscopy and cytB gene sequencing were used to identify Prototheca, whereby Prototheca bovis was isolated from 15.1% (n = 69) of the milk samples, one of the highest infection rates that can be found in the literature in a "non-outbreak" situation. No other Prototheca species were found. We were unable to isolate the alga from environmental samples. We showed that P. bovis was relatively resistant to disinfectants used to sterilize milking equipment on the cattle farms where it was isolated. We discuss how to avoid future infection and also hypothesize that the real prevalence of Prototheca infection in bovine mastitis is probably much higher than what was detected. We recommend a protocol to increase the diagnostic yield in the bacteriology laboratory.
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Affiliation(s)
- María P. Huilca-Ibarra
- Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - David Vasco-Julio
- Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Yanua Ledesma
- Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Salome Guerrero-Freire
- Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Jeannete Zurita
- Unidad de Investigación en Biomedicina, Zurita & Zurita Laboratorios, Quito 170104, Ecuador
| | - Pablo Castillejo
- Grupo de Investigación en Biodiversidad, Medio Ambiente y Salud (BIOMAS), Universidad de las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Francisco Barceló Blasco
- Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Lisseth Yanez
- Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Darwin Changoluisa
- Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Gustavo Echeverría
- Instituto de Investigación en Salud Pública y Zoonosis-CIZ, Universidad Central del Ecuador, Quito 170521, Ecuador
| | - Carlos Bastidas-Caldes
- Facultad de Ingenierías y Ciencias Aplicadas, Ingeniería en Biotecnología, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
- Programa de Doctorado en Salud Pública y Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, 10003 Cáceres, Spain
- One Health Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
| | - Jacobus H. de Waard
- One Health Research Group, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Las Américas, Quito 170124, Ecuador
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +593-4168052488
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12
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Detection of Acquired Antibiotic Resistance Genes in Domestic Pig (Sus scrofa) and Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio) Intestinal Samples by Metagenomics Analyses in Hungary. Antibiotics (Basel) 2022; 11:antibiotics11101441. [PMID: 36290099 PMCID: PMC9598914 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics11101441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was metagenomics analyses of acquired antibiotic-resistance genes (ARGs) in the intestinal microbiome of two important food-animal species in Hungary from a One Health perspective. Intestinal content samples were collected from 12 domestic pigs (Sus scrofa) and from a common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Shotgun metagenomic sequencing of DNA purified from the intestinal samples was performed on the Illumina platform. The ResFinder database was applied for detecting acquired ARGs in the assembled metagenomic contigs. Altogether, 59 acquired ARG types were identified, 51 genes from domestic pig and 12 genes from the carp intestinal microbiome. ARG types belonged to the antibiotic classes aminoglycosides (27.1%), tetracyclines (25.4%), β-lactams (16.9%), and others. Of the identified ARGs, tet(E), a blaOXA-48-like β-lactamase gene, as well as cphA4, ampS, aadA2, qnrS2, and sul1, were identified only in carp but not in swine samples. Several of the detected acquired ARGs have not yet been described from food animals in Hungary. The tet(Q), tet(W), tet(O), and mef(A) genes detected in the intestinal microbiome of domestic pigs had also been identified from free-living wild boars in Hungary, suggesting a possible relationship between the occurrence of acquired ARGs in domestic and wild animal populations.
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