Characterization of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and necrotoxigenic E. coli (NTEC) isolated from diarrhoeic Mediterranean water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Consumption of raw/undercooked ground beef is the most common route of transmission of Shiga toxin-producingE. coli(STEC). The aim of the study was to determine the STEC contamination level of the ground beef samples collected in 36 markets of different socioeconomic strata in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and the characterization of the isolated strains. Ninety-one out of 252 (36.1%) samples werestx+. Fifty-seven STEC strains were recovered. Eleven STEC strains belonged to O157 serogroup, and 46 to non-O157 serogroups. Virulence markers of the 57 STEC werestx1, 5.3% (3/57);stx2, 86.0% (49/57);stx1/stx2, 8.8% (5/57);ehxA, 61.4% (35/57);eae, 26.3% (15/57);saa, 24.6% (14/57). Shiga toxin subtypes werestx2, 31.5% (17/54);stx2c-vhb, 24.1% (13/54);stx2c-vha, 20.4% (11/54);stx2/stx2c-vha, 14.8% (8/54);stx2/stx2c-vhb, 5.6% (3/54);stx2c-vha/vhb, 3.7% (2/54). Serotypes O178:H19 and O157:H7 were prevalent. Contamination rate of STEC in all strata was high, and the highest O157 contamination was observed at low strata at several sampling rounds. Persistence of STEC was not detected. Sixteen strains (28.1%) were resistant to ampicillin, streptomycin, amikacin, or tetracycline. The STEC contamination level of ground beef could vary according to the sociocultural characteristics of the population.

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Comparison of pharmacokinetics of marbofloxacin after subcutaneous administration of various multiple-dose regimens to water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

American Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.2460/ajvr.75.12.1049 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 75 (12) ◽

pp. 1049-1055

Author(s):

Eduardo E. Baroni ◽

Sonia Rubio ◽

José J. De Lucas ◽

María D. San Andrés ◽

Manuel I. San Andrés

Keyword(s):

Multiple Dose ◽

Water Buffalo ◽

Subcutaneous Administration ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Buffalo Calves

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Characterization of a Shiga Toxin-Encoding Temperate Bacteriophage of Shigella sonnei

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.69.12.7588-7595.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 69 (12) ◽

pp. 7588-7595 ◽

Cited By ~ 65

Author(s):

Eckhard Strauch ◽

Rudi Lurz ◽

Lothar Beutin

Keyword(s):

Shiga Toxin ◽

Regulatory Region ◽

Shigella Sonnei ◽

Shigella Dysenteriae ◽

Nucleotide Sequencing ◽

Temperate Bacteriophage ◽

Cross Hybridization ◽

E Coli ◽

K 12

ABSTRACT A Shiga toxin (Stx)-encoding temperate bacteriophage ofShigella sonnei strain CB7888 was investigated for its morphology, DNA similarity, host range, and lysogenization inShigella and Escherichia coli strains. Phage 7888 formed plaques on a broad spectrum of Shigella strains belonging to different species and serotypes, including Stx-producingShigella dysenteriae type 1. With E. coli, only strains with rough lipopolysaccharide were sensitive to this phage. The phage integrated into the genome of nontoxigenic S. sonneiand laboratory E. coli K-12 strains, which became Stx positive upon lysogenization. Moreover, phage 7888 is capable of transducing chromosomal genes in E. coli K-12. The relationships of phage 7888 with the E. coli Stx1-producing phage H-19B and the E. coli Stx2-producing phage 933W were investigated by DNA cross-hybridization of phage genomes and by nucleotide sequencing of an 8,053-bp DNA region of the phage 7888 genome flanking the stx genes. By these methods, a high similarity was found between phages 7888 and 933W. Much less similarity was found between phages H-19B and 7888. As in the other Stx phages, a regulatory region involved in Q-dependent expression is found upstream of stxA and stxB (stx gene) in phage 7888. The morphology of phage 7888 was similar to that of phage 933W, which shows a hexagonal head and a short tail. Our findings demonstrate that stx genes are naturally transferable and are expressed in strains of S. sonnei, which points to the continuous evolution of human-pathogenic Shigella by horizontal gene transfer.

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Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli O26 in Raw Water Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Milk Products in Italy

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-72.8.1705 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 72 (8) ◽

pp. 1705-1708 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

VANESSA LORUSSO ◽

ANGELA DAMBROSIO ◽

NICOLETTA CRISTIANA QUAGLIA ◽

ANTONIO PARISI ◽

GIOVANNA LA SALANDRA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome ◽

Dairy Products ◽

Water Buffalo ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Buffalo Milk ◽

Raw Water ◽

E Coli ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Uremic Syndrome

Escherichia coli O26 is known as a verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) organism that causes severe foodborne diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although cattle are the most important reservoir of VTEC, only a few reports on the role of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a reservoir of VTEC and on the presence of these organisms in their milk are available. However, in Southern Italy, where water buffalo are intensively reared, an outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome due to E. coli O26 has recently been reported, in which the consumption of typical dairy products was considered to be a common risk factor. The aims of this work were to assess the prevalence of E. coli O26 in raw water buffalo milk, to characterize the virulence gene profiles of the isolates, and to evaluate their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance pattern. Of 160 analyzed samples, 1 (0.6%) tested positive for E. coli O26, and the isolate showed the stx1+/stx2+/eae−/hlyA+ genotypic profile. The strain showed resistance against glycopeptides, macrolides, and penicillins. The presence of VTEC organisms in raw water buffalo milk could be considered to be a potential threat to consumers; however, the strict adherence to the processes used in the preparation of the most common buffalo dairy products could strongly mitigate the foodborne risk. To our knowledge, this article reports the first isolation and characterization of E. coli O26 VTEC in raw water buffalo milk.

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Hematological and biochemical changes in water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis) infected with Trypanosoma evansi

Veterinary Parasitology ◽

10.1016/j.vetpar.2006.02.013 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 139 (1-3) ◽

pp. 237-243 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

M. Hilali ◽

A. Abdel-Gawad ◽

A. Nassar ◽

A. Abdel-Wahab

Keyword(s):

Water Buffalo ◽

Bubalus Bubalis ◽

Trypanosoma Evansi ◽

Biochemical Changes ◽

Buffalo Calves

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Prevalence and molecular characterization of Shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli isolates from human and sheep in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah

Infectio ◽

10.22354/in.v21i2.651 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 21 (2) ◽

Author(s):

Eman Fathi Sharafa ◽

Iman I. Shabanaa

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Foodborne Pathogens ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Genetic Relatedness ◽

Control Measures ◽

Health Concern ◽

Global Public Health ◽

E Coli ◽

Life Threatening

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains have emerged as important foodborne pathogens of global public health concern, causing life-threatening diseases. Sheep and their products have been documented as important reservoirs for STECs, especially E. coli O157. The aim of this study was to investigate STECs from diarrheal human and sheep in Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah, Saudi Arabia. Fecal samples were collected between June and August, 2015 from diarrheal humans (n = 134) and sheep (n = 87). Presumptive E. coli human-and sheep-isolated strains were identified for their serotypes, the associated virulence genes (Shiga toxin [stx1 , stx2 ], haemolysin [ehxA] and intimin [eae]) by polymerase chain reaction and their susceptibility to antibiotics. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used to demonstrate the genetic relatedness between Serotype O157:H7 human- and sheep-isolated strains. Forty eight (48/221; 21.7%) STECs were recovered from both human and sheep, their serotypes were as follows: O157:H7, O26:H11, O157:HNM, O26:HNM, O128:H2, O48:HNM, O111:HNM and OUT:HUT. Various virulence profiles and multiple antibiotic resistance were observed among the isolates. Twenty eight O157:H7 serotypes (17 human isolates and 11 sheep isolates) were identified in 13 PFGE pulsotypes, where human and sheep isolates were highly related. PFGE banding profiles together with serotypes and genotypes afford proof that human and sheep can be colonized and infected with similar E. coli O157:H7 strains. Our findings highlight the importance of epidemiological and microbiological surveillance of STECs; as well as the development of control measures to decrease risks associated with zoonotic O157:H7.

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