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Cergole-Novella MC, Enne VI, Pignatari ACC, Carvalho E, Guth BEC. Acquisition of plasmids from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains had low or neutral fitness cost on commensal E. coli. Braz J Microbiol 2024:10.1007/s42770-024-01269-2. [PMID: 38396221 DOI: 10.1007/s42770-024-01269-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Although it has been hypothesized that the acquisition of plasmids-especially those bearing virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes-increases the energetic burden and reduces the fitness of a bacterium in general, some results have challenged this view, showing little or no effect on fitness after plasmid acquisition, which may lead to change in the view that there are evolutionary barriers for a wide spread of such plasmids among bacteria. Here, to evaluate the fitness impact of plasmid-encoded antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, plasmids from O26:H11, O111:H8, and O118:H16 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) human and bovine isolates were transferred to the non-virulent E. coli HS and K-12 MG1655 strains. Sequencing and PCR were used to characterize plasmids, and to identify the presence of antimicrobial resistance and/or virulence genes. The fitness impact of plasmids encoding virulence and antimicrobial resistance upon bacterial hosts was determined by pairwise growth competition. Plasmid profile analysis showed that STEC strains carried one or more high and low molecular weight plasmids belonging to the B/O, F, I, K, P, Q, and/or X incompatibility groups encoding virulence genes (SPATE-encoding genes) and/or antimicrobial resistance genes (aadA1, strAB, tetA, and/or tetB). Competition experiments demonstrated that the biological cost of carriage of these plasmids by the commensal E. coli strain HS or the laboratory strain E. coli K-12 MG1655 was low or non-existent, ranging from - 4.7 to 5.2% per generation. This suggests that there are few biological barriers-or, alternatively, it suggests that there are biological barriers that we were not able to measure in this competition model-against the spread of plasmid encoding virulence and resistance genes from STEC to other, less pathogenic E. coli strains. Thus, our results, in opposition to a common view, suggest that the acquisition of plasmids does not significantly affect the bacteria fitness and, therefore, the theorized plasmid burden would not be a significant barrier for plasmid spread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Cecilia Cergole-Novella
- Laboratorio Regional de Santo Andre, Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Santo Andre, SP, Brazil.
- Department of Microbiology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Immunology, Parasitology, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - Virve Irene Enne
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Eneas Carvalho
- Bacteriology Laboratory, Butantan Institute, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Beatriz Ernestina Cabilio Guth
- Department of Microbiology, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Immunology, Parasitology, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Gioia-Di Chiacchio RM, Cunha MPV, de Sá LRM, Davies YM, Pereira CBP, Martins FH, Munhoz DD, Abe CM, Franzolin MR, Dos Santos LF, Guth BEC, Elias WP, Piazza RMF, Knöbl T. Novel Hybrid of Typical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shiga-Toxin-Producing E. coli (tEPEC/STEC) Emerging From Pet Birds. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2975. [PMID: 30574131 PMCID: PMC6291465 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Exotic psittacine birds have been implicated as reservoir of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (E. coli), including enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC). Here, we present a genotypic and phenotypic characterization of typical EPEC/STEC hybrid strains isolated from exotic psittacine birds. The strains were positive for eae, bfpA, and stx2f genes, belong to serotype O137:H6 and ST2678. Two strains were subject to whole genome sequencing, confirming the presence of the virulence factors of both E. coli pathotypes. Phenotypical in vitro tests confirmed their ability to adhere to HeLa cells and cause cytotoxicity to Vero cells. The rabbit ileal loop assays showed the attaching and effacing lesion, in addition to inflammatory process and overproduction of intestinal mucus. This is the first report of hybrid typical EPEC/STEC (O137:H6/ST2678) strains isolated from companion psittacine birds and the results suggest zoonotic risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosely Martins Gioia-Di Chiacchio
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo, Brazil.,School of Veterinary Medicine, Paulista University, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Yamê Minieiro Davies
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo, Brazil
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- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, São Paulo, Brazil
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Gonzalez AGM, Cerqueira AMF, Guth BEC, Coutinho CA, Liberal MHT, Souza RM, Andrade JRC. Serotypes, virulence markers and cell invasion ability of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy dairy cattle. J Appl Microbiol 2016; 121:1130-43. [PMID: 27426967 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13230] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Revised: 06/10/2016] [Accepted: 06/20/2016] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
AIM The occurrence of virulence markers, serotypes and invasive ability were investigated in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from faecal samples of healthy dairy cattle at Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS From 1562 stx-positive faecal samples, 105 STEC strains were isolated by immuno-magnetic separation (IMS) or plating onto MacConkey agar (MC) followed by colony hybridisation. Fifty (47·6%) strains belonged to nine serotypes (O8:H19, O22:H8, O22:H16, O74:H42, O113:H21, O141:H21, O157:H7, O171:H2 and ONT:H21). The prevalent serotypes were O157:H7 (12·4%), O113:H21 (6·7%) and O8:H19 (5·7%). Virulence genes were identified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E-hlyA (77·1%) was the more prevalent virulence marker, followed by espP (64·8%), saa (39%), eae (24·8%) and astA (21·9%). All O157:H7 strains carried the γ (gamma) variant of the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) genes and the stx2c gene, while the stx1/stx2 genotype prevailed among the eae-negative strains. None of the eae-positive STEC produced the localized adherence (LA) phenotype in HEp-2 or Caco-2 cells. However, intimate attachment (judged by the fluorescent actin staining test) was detected in some eae-positive strains, both in HEp-2 (23·1%) and in Caco-2 cells (11·5%). Most strains (87·5%) showed 'peripheral association' (PA) adherence phenotype to undifferentiated Caco-2 cells. Twenty-five (92·6%) of 27 strains invaded Caco-2 cells. The highest average value of invasion (9·6%) was observed among the eae-negative bovine strains from serotypes described in human disease. CONCLUSION Healthy dairy cattle is a reservoir of STEC carrying virulence genes and properties associated with human disease. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Although reports of human disease associated with STEC are scarce in Brazil, the colonization of the animal reservoir by potentially pathogenic strains offers a significant risk to our population.
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Affiliation(s)
- A G M Gonzalez
- Departamento de Bromatologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil.
| | - A M F Cerqueira
- Departamento de Microbiologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói, Brasil
| | - B E C Guth
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil
| | - C A Coutinho
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
| | - M H T Liberal
- Centro Estadual de Pesquisa em Sanidade Animal, Pesagro-Rio, Niterói, Brasil
| | - R M Souza
- Centro Estadual de Pesquisa em Sanidade Animal, Pesagro-Rio, Niterói, Brasil
| | - J R C Andrade
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Parasitologia, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil
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Lascowski KMS, Guth BEC, Martins FH, Rocha SPD, Irino K, Pelayo JS. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in drinking water supplies of north Paraná State, Brazil. J Appl Microbiol 2013; 114:1230-9. [PMID: 23279284 DOI: 10.1111/jam.12113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/18/2012] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM To determine the occurrence and characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in drinking water supplies treated and untreated. METHODS AND RESULTS Drinking water samples (n = 1850) were collected from 41 municipalities in the north of Paraná State between February 2005 and January 2006. Escherichia coli isolates (n = 300) were recovered from water and investigated for the presence of virulence markers related to STEC by PCR. STEC isolates recovered were then characterized for both phenotypic and genotypic traits. A total of 12 isolates (11 from untreated water and one from treated water) were positive for stx, including five positive for both stx1 and stx2, two positive for stx1 and five positive for stx2. None of the STEC isolates contained eae, but other virulence genes were observed such as ehxA (100%), saa (100%), lpfAO113 (75%), iha (42%), subAB (25%) and cdtV (8%). Multidrug resistance was identified in 25% of the STEC isolates. The 12 STEC isolates belonged to seven distinct serotypes and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing revealed the presence of two clusters and two clones in this region. CONCLUSION Drinking water, especially from untreated water supplies, can be source of STEC strains potentially pathogenic for humans. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY The investigation of the drinking water supplies for pathogenic E. coli, as STEC, may be useful to prevent waterborne outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M S Lascowski
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology - Escola Paulista de Medicina, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Borges CA, Beraldo LG, Maluta RP, Cardozo MV, Guth BEC, Rigobelo EC, de Ávila FA. Shiga toxigenic and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in the feces and carcasses of slaughtered pigs. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2012. [PMID: 23186549 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2012.1206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli is a pathogen of major importance in swine and public health. To determine the prevalence of Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), samples were collected from the feces and carcasses of swines. In total, 441 samples were collected in four samplings, of which 141 samples tested positive for either the stx1, stx2, and/or eae genes. From the positive samples, one STEC and 15 atypical EPEC (aEPEC) isolates were obtained, and all originated from the same sampling. In addition to eae, lpfA(O157/OI-141), ehxA, toxB, and lpfA(O113) were present in the aEPEC isolates. The only stx2-containing isolate carried stx2e and belonged to serotype O103:HNT. Resistance to four or more antimicrobials was found in almost half of the isolates, and some isolates shared the same fingerprint patterns by enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus-polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR). The presence of certain virulence genes and the high level of resistance to antimicrobials, as well as the possible fecal contamination of carcasses showed that some of the isolates are of public health concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Araújo Borges
- Departamento de Patologia Veterinária, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias de Jaboticabal, Universidade Estadual Paulista, São Paulo, Brasil.
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de Souza RL, Abreu Carvalhaes JT, Sanae Nishimura L, de Andrade MC, Cabilio Guth BE. Hemolytic uremic syndrome in pediatric intensive care units in são paulo, Brazil. Open Microbiol J 2011; 5:76-82. [PMID: 21804902 PMCID: PMC3143539 DOI: 10.2174/1874285801105010076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2011] [Revised: 05/12/2011] [Accepted: 05/12/2011] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is one of the most frequent causes of pediatric acute renal failure. The aim of this study was to report the clinic and microbiologic features associated with 13 post-diarrheal HUS cases identified in pediatric intensive care units in the city of São Paulo, Brazil, from January 2001 to August 2005. Epidemiologic, clinic, and laboratorial information, along with fecal and serum samples, were collected for identifying the genetic sequences of Stx and for studying antibodies directed against LPS O26, O111 and O157. STEC was isolated from three patients, and serotypes O26:H11, O157:H7 and O165:H- were identified. In nine patients, high levels of IgM against LPS O111 (n=2) and O157 (n=7) were detected. Dialysis was required in 76.9% of the patients; arterial hypertension was present in 61.5%, neurological complications were observed in 30.7%, and only one patient died. During a 5-year follow-up period, one patient developed chronic kidney disease. The combined use of microbiologic and serologic techniques provided evidence of STEC infection in 92.3% of the HUS cases studied, and the importance of O157 STEC as agents of HUS in São Paulo has not been previously highlighted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renato Lopes de Souza
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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Cergole-Novella MC, Pignatari ACC, Castanheira M, Guth BEC. Molecular typing of antimicrobial-resistant Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains (STEC) in Brazil. Res Microbiol 2010; 162:117-23. [PMID: 21126577 DOI: 10.1016/j.resmic.2010.09.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2010] [Accepted: 09/24/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance patterns and molecular characteristics were determined in thirty-two Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains previously identified in São Paulo State associated with human infections (n = 21) and in cattle feces (n = 11). The highest resistance rates were identified for tetracycline (100%), streptomycin (78%) and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (56%). Eleven STEC strains showed resistance to ampicillin and carried bla(TEM) that was confirmed as bla(TEM-1) in one representative isolate. The class 1 integrase gene (intI1) was detected in seven (22%) strains, and most of them belonged to the O111:H8 serotype. The class 1 integron was located on plasmids in five of the seven STEC strains, and conjugation assays confirmed the plasmid support of those resistant determinants. STEC strains were genetically classified into the B1 group, and PFGE analysis showed that most of the strains in each serogroup were grouped into the same cluster (80-97% similarity). The presence of a class 1 integron and bla(TEM-1) genes is described for the first time among STEC isolates in Brazil and clearly represents a public health concern.
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dos Santos LF, Irino K, Vaz TMI, Guth BEC. Set of virulence genes and genetic relatedness of O113 : H21 Escherichia coli strains isolated from the animal reservoir and human infections in Brazil. J Med Microbiol 2010; 59:634-640. [DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.015263-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli strains of serotype O113 : H21 are commonly described as belonging to a Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing E. coli (STEC) pathotype worldwide. Albeit this STEC serotype is frequently identified among cattle and other domestic animals, to the best of our knowledge no human infections associated with STEC O113 : H21 have been registered in Brazil to date. Here, we report the virulence profile and genetic relatedness of a collection of O113 : H21 E. coli strains mainly isolated from the animal reservoir aimed at determining their potential as human pathogens. The strains from the animal reservoir (n=34) were all classified as STEC, whereas the few isolates recovered so far from human diarrhoea (n=3) lacked stx genes. Among the STEC, the stx
2d-activatable gene was identified in 85 % of the strains that also carried lpfA
O113, iha, saa, ehxA, subAB, astA, cdt-V, espP, espI and epeA; the human strains harboured only lpfA
O113, iha and astA. All the strains except one, isolated from cattle, were genetically classified as phylogenetic group B1. High mass plasmids were observed in 25 isolates, but only in the STEC group were these plasmids confirmed as the STEC O113 megaplasmid (pO113). Many closely related subgroups (more than 80 % similarity) were identified by PFGE, with human isolates clustering in a subgroup separate from most of the animal isolates. In conclusion, potentially pathogenic O113 : H21 STEC isolates carrying virulence markers in common with O113 : H21 clones associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome cases in other regions were demonstrated to occur in the natural reservoir in our settings, and therefore the risk represented by them to public health should be carefully monitored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Fernando dos Santos
- Departament of Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Kinue Irino
- Section of Bacteriology, Adolfo Lutz Institute, São Paulo, Brazil
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Vettorato MP, de Castro AFP, Cergole-Novella MC, Camargo FLL, Irino K, Guth BEC. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy sheep of different populations in São Paulo, Brazil. Lett Appl Microbiol 2009; 49:53-9. [PMID: 19413771 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2009.02617.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Sheep are important carriers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in several countries. However, there are a few reports about ovine STEC in American continent. METHODS AND RESULTS About 86 E. coli strains previously isolated from 172 healthy sheep from different farms were studied. PCR was used for detection of stx(1), stx(2), eae, ehxA and saa genes and for the identification of intimin subtypes. Restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP)-PCR was performed to investigate the variants of stx(1) and stx(2), and the flagellar antigen (fliC) genes in nonmotile isolates. Five isolates were eae(+) and stx(-), and belonged to serotypes O128:H2/beta-intimin (2), O145:H2/gamma, O153:H7/beta and O178:H7/epsilon. Eighty-one STEC isolates were recovered, and the stx genotypes identified were stx(1c)stx(2d-O118) (46.9%), stx(1c) (27.2%), stx(2d-O118) (23.4%), and stx(1c)stx(2dOX3a) (2.5%). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) revealed 27 profiles among 53 STEC and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolates. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrated that healthy sheep in São Paulo, Brazil, can be carriers of potential human pathogenic STEC and atypical EPEC. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY As some of the STEC serotypes presently found have been involved with haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in other countries, the important role of sheep as sources of STEC infection in our settings should not be disregarded.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Vettorato
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-II, Universidade de São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Bergamini AMM, Simões M, Irino K, Gomes TAT, Guth BEC. Prevalence and characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains in ground beef in São Paulo, Brazil. Braz J Microbiol 2007. [DOI: 10.1590/s1517-83822007000300032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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dos Santos LF, Gonçalves EM, Vaz TMI, Irino K, Guth BEC. Distinct pathotypes of O113 Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans and animals in Brazil. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:2028-30. [PMID: 17446328 PMCID: PMC1933057 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00340-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2007] [Revised: 03/21/2007] [Accepted: 04/04/2007] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Two distinct diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes, enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, were observed in association with O113 strains isolated from human and nonhuman sources in Brazil, respectively. The O113 strains from human diarrhea belonged to a diversity of serotypes, and nine (53%) of them harbored virulence traits of typical EAEC.
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Affiliation(s)
- L F dos Santos
- Disciplina de Microbiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Escola Paulista de Medicina, Rua Botucatu 862/3 andar, CEP 04023-062, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Timm CD, Irino K, Gomes TAT, Vieira MM, Guth BEC, Vaz TMI, Moreira CN, Aleixo JAG. Virulence markers and serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, isolated from cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Lett Appl Microbiol 2007; 44:419-25. [PMID: 17397481 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2006.02085.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and serotypes and virulence markers of the STEC isolates from beef and dairy cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. METHODS AND RESULTS Faecal samples from beef cattle were collected at slaughterhouses. The isolates were submitted to colony hybridization assay with specific DNA probes for stx1, stx2 and eae genes, and serotyped for the identification of O and H antigens. Thirty-nine per cent of beef cattle surveyed harboured at least one STEC strain. Among the distinct serotypes identified, 10 were shared by both beef and dairy cattle. Most of the strains isolated harboured stx2. Genotypic and phenotypic profiles allowed the identification of 34 and 31 STEC strains, isolated from beef and dairy cattle, respectively. Serotypes O10:H14, O15:H21, O96:H21, O119:H4, O124:H11, O128:H21, O137:H-, O141:H19, O159:H42, O160:H2 and O177:H11, identified in this study, have not been previously reported as STEC isolated from cattle. CONCLUSIONS Cattle are an important reservoir of STEC strains associated with human diseases in South America. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Determining the prevalence, genotypic profile and serotypes of STEC strains isolated from cattle enables the prediction of possible risk for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- C D Timm
- Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Agroindustrial, UFPel, Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Ramos Moreno AC, Cabilio Guth BE, Baquerizo Martinez M. Can the fliC PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism technique replace classic serotyping methods for characterizing the H antigen of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains? J Clin Microbiol 2006; 44:1453-8. [PMID: 16597876 PMCID: PMC1448681 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.44.4.1453-1458.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we performed fliC PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) to investigate whether this technique would be better than classic serotyping for the characterization of the H antigen in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains. We showed that the fliC genes from ETEC strains can be characterized by restriction analysis of their polymorphism. Only one allele of the fliC gene from ETEC strains was found for each flagellar antigen, with the exception of H21. Nonmotile strains could also be characterized using this molecular technique. Moreover, determination of the somatic antigen was guided by the identification of the flagellar antigen from previously unknown serotypes of ETEC strains by PCR-RFLP, thus reducing the number of anti-antigen O sera used. The PCR-RFLP technique proved to be faster than classic serotyping for the characterization of the E. coli H antigen, taking 2 days to complete instead of the 7 or more days using classic serotyping. In conclusion, the H molecular typing for Enterobacteriaceae members may become an important epidemiological tool for the characterization of the H antigen of E. coli pathotypes. The PCR-RFLP technique is capable of guiding the determination of the H antigen and could partially replace seroagglutination. With the determination of the molecular profiles of alleles from strains obtained in epidemiological studies, new patterns will be described for ETEC strains or other E. coli pathotypes, thus permitting widespread use of this technique to characterize fliC genes and determine the H antigen of E. coli strains.
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Corrêa S, Palmeira P, Carneiro-Sampaio MMS, Sanae Nishimura L, Guth BEC. Human colostrum contains IgA antibodies reactive to colonization factors I and II of enterotoxigenicEscherichia coli. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2006; 47:199-206. [PMID: 16831206 DOI: 10.1111/j.1574-695x.2006.00082.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Diarrhea is an important cause of morbidity and mortality amongst infants of low socio-economic levels in developing countries and in travelers who visit such areas. Enterotoxigenic E. coli strains express two sets of virulence-associated factors: enterotoxins (heat-stable toxins or heat-labile toxins) and colonization factors. Studies have shown that breast-feeding protects infants against infectious diseases, such as diarrhea, as it presents a great variety of immunological components. The aim of this study was to analyze the reactivity of immunoglobulin A from human colostrum to colonization factor antigens I and II. The colostrum ability in preventing enterotoxigenic E. coli adhesion to Caco-2 cells was also evaluated. Colostrum samples were collected from 32 healthy women, and a human colostrum pool was prepared. Enterotoxigenic E. coli strains expressing colonization factor antigens I and II were utilized. The colostrum pool and individual samples showed variable antienterotoxigenic E. coli immunoglobulin A titers, that were reactive with colonization factor antigen I and CS1/CS3 (colonization factor antigen II). The human colostrum pool and individual samples inhibited enterotoxigenic E. coli colonization factor antigen I and II adhesion to Caco-2 cells, at variable levels, and this ability was a result of immunoglobulin A antibodies reactive to these colonization factors. The immunoglobulin A-depleted pool lost this inhibitory ability. As bacterial adhesion is the initial mechanism of enterotoxigenic E. coli infection, breast-feeding could protect the offspring against diarrhea caused by this agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Corrêa
- Department of Immunology, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Vicente ACP, Teixeira LFM, Iniguez-Rojas L, Luna MG, Silva L, Andrade JRC, Guth BEC. Outbreaks of cholera-like diarrhoea caused by enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg 2005; 99:669-74. [PMID: 15975612 DOI: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2005.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2004] [Revised: 12/21/2004] [Accepted: 03/24/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The relationship between enteropathogens and severe diarrhoea in the Brazilian Amazon is poorly understood. In 1998, outbreaks of acute diarrhoea clinically diagnosed as cholera occurred in two small villages localized far from the main cholera route in the Brazilian rainforest. PCR was performed on some enteropathogens and heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (STh) toxin genes, the virulence determinants of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), were detected. Further characterization of ETEC isolates revealed the presence of two clones, one from each outbreak. One presenting serotype O167:H5 harboured LT-I and STh toxin genes and expressed the CS5CS6 colonization factor. The other, a non-typeable serotype, was positive for the LT-I gene and expressed the CS7 colonization factor. The current study demonstrates the importance of molecular diagnosis in regions such as the Amazon basin, where the enormous distances and local support conditions make standard laboratory diagnosis difficult. Here we also show that the mis-identified cholera cases were in fact associated with ETEC strains. This is the first report of ETEC, molecularly characterized as the aetiological agent of severe diarrhoea in children and adults in the Brazilian Amazon Rainforest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana C P Vicente
- Department of Genetics, Oswaldo Cruz Institute, Avenida Brasil 4365, Rio de Janeiro, CEP: 21045-900, Brazil.
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16
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Irino K, Kato MAMF, Vaz TMI, Ramos II, Souza MAC, Cruz AS, Gomes TAT, Vieira MAM, Guth BEC. Serotypes and virulence markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from dairy cattle in São Paulo State, Brazil. Vet Microbiol 2005; 105:29-36. [PMID: 15607081 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2004.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2004] [Revised: 08/17/2004] [Accepted: 08/24/2004] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In order to determine the occurrence, serotypes and virulence markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, 153 fecal samples of cattle randomly selected from six dairy farms in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, were examined for Shiga toxin (Stx) production by the Vero cell assay. Feces were directly streaked onto MacConkey Sorbitol Agar and incubated at 37 degrees C overnight. Sorbitol-negative colonies (maximum 20) and up to 10 sorbitol-positive colonies from each plate were subcultured onto presumptive diagnostic medium IAL. Sorbitol-negative isolates were screened with O157 antiserum for identification of O157:H7 E. coli. Isolates presenting cytotoxic activity were submitted to colony hybridization assays with specific DNA probes for stx1, stx2, eae, Ehly and astA genes. The isolation rate of STEC ranged from 3.8 to 84.6% depending on the farm analysed. STEC was identified in 25.5% of the animals, and most of them (64.1%) carried a single STEC serotype. A total of 202 STEC isolates were recovered from the animals, and except for the 2 O157:H7 isolates all the others expressed cytotoxic activity. The great majority of the STEC isolates carried both stx1 and stx2 genes (114/202, 56.4%) or stx2 (82/202, 40.6%); and whereas the Ehly sequence occurred in most of them (88%) eae was only observed in O157:H7 and O111:HNM isolates. Serotypes O113:H21, O178:H19 and O79:H14 were the most frequent STEC serotypes identified and widely distributed among animals from different farms, while others such as O77:H18, O88:H25 and O98:H17 occurred only in particular farms. This is the first report on the occurrence of STEC in dairy cattle in Sao Paulo State, and the results point to substantial differences in rate of isolation, serotypes and genetic profile of STEC that has been previously described among beef cattle in our community. Moreover, to our knowledge O79:H14 and O98:H17 represent new STEC serotypes, while O178:H19 has only been recently reported in Spain.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Irino
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Av. Dr. Arnaldo, 351 Cerqueira César, CEP 01246-902, São Paulo, Brazil.
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17
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Vaz TMI, Irino K, Kato MAMF, Dias AMG, Gomes TAT, Medeiros MIC, Rocha MMM, Guth BEC. Virulence properties and characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1976 through 1999. J Clin Microbiol 2004; 42:903-5. [PMID: 14766885 PMCID: PMC344473 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.42.2.903-905.2004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2003] [Revised: 09/22/2003] [Accepted: 11/04/2003] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Twenty-nine Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains were identified in a collection of 2,607 isolates from patients with diarrhea in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1976 to 1999. The STEC strains belonged mainly to serotypes O111:HNM (HNM, nonmotile) (13 of 29 [44.8%]), O111:H8 (7 of 29 [24%]), and O26:H11 (4 of 29 [13.8%]); stx(1) eae (26 of 29 [89.6%]), in combination with either enterohemorrhagic E. coli hlyA (11 of 26 [42%]) or astA (24 of 26 [92.3%]), prevailed. The O111 STEC strains were distinguished by their inability to decarboxylate lysine. The predominance of STEC O111 and O26 since the late 1970s and the identification of STEC serotypes O55:H19, O93:H19, and O118:H16 in association with human infections in Brazil are described for the first time.
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Affiliation(s)
- T M I Vaz
- Instituto Adolfo Lutz. Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina, São Paulo Instituto Adolfo Lutz, Ribeirão Preto
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18
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Leomil L, Aidar-Ugrinovich L, Guth BEC, Irino K, Vettorato MP, Onuma DL, de Castro AFP. Frequency of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates among diarrheic and non-diarrheic calves in Brazil. Vet Microbiol 2003; 97:103-9. [PMID: 14637042 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2003.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The occurrence of Shiga toxin (Stx) gene sequences was examined in 344 fecal samples from diarrheic (n=139) and non-diarrheic (n=205) calves from 12 beef farms in São Paulo State, Brazil to study the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains. Forty-four (12.7%) animals were found to be positive for stx. The frequency of carriage of stx was higher in diarrheic calves (28/139, 20%) than in non-diarrheic animals (16/205, 7.8%) (P<0.001). Among the 24 STEC strains recovered from the animals, 12 isolates carried stx1, four stx2, and 8 carried both stx1 and stx2 genes. The eae and the enterohaemolysin (Ehly) gene sequences occurred at high frequencies in these STEC strains (41.6 and 50.0%, respectively). A total of 16 serotypes were identified. The serotypes O111:NM (four isolates), O111:H8 (two) and O118:H16 (one), currently described as enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), were isolated from cattle in Brazil for the first time. These findings reinforce the importance of cattle as a reservoir of EHEC strains in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Leomil
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas II, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900 Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Vettorato MP, Leomil L, Guth BEC, Irino K, Pestana de Castro AF. Properties of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from sheep in the State of São Paulo, Brazil. Vet Microbiol 2003; 95:103-9. [PMID: 12860080 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1135(03)00153-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Fecal samples from 48 sheep from two farms in São Paulo, SP, Brazil, were examined to determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Forty-two STEC strains were isolated from 25 (52.1%) of 48 sheep feces, and were examined for the presence of genes encoding STEC-related virulence factors. Twenty-one (50.0%) of the 42 STEC isolates were positive for stx(1) and stx(2), 16 isolates (38.1%) were stx(1), and five (11.9%) were stx(2). Expression of Shiga toxins was demonstrated by the Vero cell toxicity test for all the strains carrying stx. Fourteen of the STEC strains (33.3%) carried the enterohemolysin gene (ehly) and presented the enterohemolytic phenotype, and five (11.9%) were positive for the plasmid encoded katP gene. The eae gene was not present in any of the isolates. STEC strains presenting stx(1), stx(2) and ehly were most commonly (23.8%) recovered from these sheep. The predominant STEC serotype found was ONT:H8, and others included O5:H-, O16:H-, O75:H-, O75:H8, O87:H16, O91:H-, O146:H21, O172:H-, OR:H-, ONT:H- and ONT:H16. This is the first report on ovine STEC in South America, and identifies a number of ovine non-O157 STEC that belong to serotypes implicated in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Vettorato
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biomédicas-II, Universidade de São Paulo, 05508-900 São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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