Prevalence and virulence gene profiles of Escherichia coli O157 from cattle slaughtered in Buea, Cameroon

Background Escherichia coli O157 is an emerging foodborne pathogen of great public health concern. It has been associated with bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Most human infections have been traced to cattle and the consumption of contaminated cattle products. In order to understand the risk associated with the consumption of cattle products, this study sought to investigate the prevalence and identify virulence genes in E. coli O157 from cattle in Cameroon. Method A total of 512 rectal samples were obtained and analysed using conventional bacteriological methods (enrichment on modified Tryptone Soy Broth and selective plating on Cefixime-Tellurite Sorbitol Mac-Conkey Agar) for the isolation of E. coli O157. Presumptive E. coli O157 isolates were confirmed serologically using E. COLIPROTM O157 latex agglutination test and molecularly using PCR targeting the rfb gene in the isolates. Characterisation of the confirmed E. coli O157 strains was done by amplification of stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA virulence genes using both singleplex and multiplex PCR. Results E. coli O157 was detected in 56 (10.9%) of the 512 samples examined. The presence of the virulence genes stx2, eaeA and hylA was demonstrated in 96.4% (54/56) of the isolates and stx1 in 40 (71.4%) of the 54. The isolates exhibited three genetic profiles (I-III) with I (stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA) being the most prevalent (40/56; 71.4%) while two isolates had none of the virulence genes tested. Conclusion A proportion of cattle slaughtered in abattoirs in Buea are infected with pathogenic E. coli O157 and could be a potential source of human infections. We recommend proper animal food processing measures and proper hygiene be prescribed and implemented to reduce the risk of beef contamination.

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Prevalence and Virulence Gene Profiles of Escherichia coli O157 from Cattle Slaughtered in Buea, Cameroon

10.1101/2020.06.19.161166 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Elvis Achondou Akomoneh ◽

Seraphine Nkie Esemu ◽

Achah Jerome Kfusi ◽

Roland N. Ndip ◽

Lucy M. Ndip

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Latex Agglutination ◽

Health Concern ◽

E Coli ◽

Uremic Syndrome ◽

Human Infections ◽

Pcr Targeting

ABSTRACTBackgroundEscherichia coli O157 is an emerging foodborne pathogen of great public health concern. It has been associated with bloody diarrhoea, haemorrhagic colitis and haemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Most human infections have been traced to cattle and the consumption of contaminated cattle products. In order to understand the risk associated with the consumption of cattle products, this study sought to investigate the prevalence and identify virulence genes in E. coli O157 from cattle in Cameroon.MethodA total of 512 rectal samples were obtained and analysed using conventional bacteriological methods (enrichment on modified Tryptone Soy Broth and selective plating on Cefixime-Tellurite Sorbitol Mac-Conkey Agar) for the isolation of E. coli O157. Presumptive E. coli O157 isolates were confirmed serologically using E. COLIPRO™ O157 latex agglutination test and molecularly using PCR targeting the rfb gene in the isolates. Characterisation of the confirmed E. coli O157 strains was done by amplification of stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA virulence genes using both singleplex and multiplex PCR.ResultsE. coli O157 was detected in 56 (10.9%) of the 512 samples examined. The presence of the virulence genes stx2, eaeA and hylA was demonstrated in 96.4% (54/56) of the isolates and stx1 in 40 (71.4%) of the 54. The isolates exhibited three genetic profiles (I-III) with I (stx1, stx2, eaeA and hlyA) being the most prevalent (40/56; 71.4%) while two isolates had none of the virulence genes tested.ConclusionA proportion of cattle slaughtered in abattoirs in Buea are infected with pathogenic E. coli O157 and could be a potential source of human infections. We recommend proper animal food processing measures and proper hygiene be prescribed and implemented to reduce the risk of beef contamination.

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Serotypes and Virulence Gene Profiles of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Feces of Pasture-Fed and Lot-Fed Sheep

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.70.7.3910-3917.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 70 (7) ◽

pp. 3910-3917 ◽

Cited By ~ 36

Author(s):

Steven P. Djordjevic ◽

Vidiya Ramachandran ◽

Karl A. Bettelheim ◽

Barbara A. Vanselow ◽

Peter Holst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Human Consumption ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Healthy Sheep ◽

Uremic Syndrome ◽

Australian Sheep ◽

Cattle And Sheep

ABSTRACT Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains possessing genes for enterohemolysin (ehxA) and/or intimin (eae), referred to here as complex STEC (cSTEC), are more commonly recovered from the feces of humans with hemolytic uremic syndrome and hemorrhagic colitis than STEC strains that do not possess these accessory virulence genes. Ruminants, particularly cattle and sheep, are recognized reservoirs of STEC populations that may contaminate foods destined for human consumption. We isolated cSTEC strains from the feces of longitudinally sampled pasture-fed sheep, lot-fed sheep maintained on diets comprising various combinations of silage and grain, and sheep simultaneously grazing pastures with cattle to explore the diversity of cSTEC serotypes capable of colonizing healthy sheep. A total of 67 cSTEC serotypes were isolated, of which 21 (31.3%), mainly isolated from lambs, have not been reported. Of the total isolations, 58 (86.6%) were different from cSTEC serotypes isolated from a recent study of longitudinally sampled healthy Australian cattle (M. Hornitzky, B. A. Vanselow, K. Walker, K. A. Bettelheim, B. Corney, P. Gill, G. Bailey, and S. P. Djordjevic, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 68:6439-6445, 2002). Our data suggest that cSTEC serotypes O5:H−, O75:H8, O91:H−, O123:H−, and O128:H2 are well adapted to colonizing the ovine gastrointestinal tract, since they were the most prevalent serotypes isolated from both pasture-fed and lot-fed sheep. Collectively, our data show that Australian sheep are colonized by diverse cSTEC serotypes that are rarely isolated from healthy Australian cattle.

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Diverse Virulence Gene Content of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from Finishing Swine

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01761-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 80 (20) ◽

pp. 6395-6402 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Marion Tseng ◽

Pina M. Fratamico ◽

Lori Bagi ◽

Sabine Delannoy ◽

Patrick Fach ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Genetic Relatedness ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Health Concern ◽

Limited Information ◽

Content Type ◽

Genes Encoding ◽

Critical Public Health

ABSTRACTShiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) infections are a critical public health concern because they can cause severe clinical outcomes, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome, in humans. Determining the presence or absence of virulence genes is essential in assessing the potential pathogenicity of STEC strains. Currently, there is limited information about the virulence genes carried by swine STEC strains; therefore, this study was conducted to examine the presence and absence of 69 virulence genes in STEC strains recovered previously from finishing swine in a longitudinal study. A subset of STEC strains was analyzed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to examine their genetic relatedness. Swine STEC strains (n= 150) were analyzed by the use of a high-throughput real-time PCR array system, which included 69 virulence gene targets. Three major pathotypes consisted of 16 different combinations of virulence gene profiles, and serotypes were determined in the swine STEC strains. The majority of the swine STEC strains (n= 120) belonged to serotype O59:H21 and carried the same virulence gene profile, which consisted of 9 virulence genes:stx2e,iha,ecs1763,lpfAO113,estIa(STa),ehaA,paa,terE, andureD. Theeae,nleF, andnleH1-2genes were detected in one swine STEC strain (O49:H21). Other genes encoding adhesins, includingiha, were identified (n= 149). The PFGE results demonstrated that swine STEC strains from pigs raised in the same finishing barn were closely related. Our results revealed diverse virulence gene contents among the members of the swine STEC population and enhance understanding of the dynamics of transmission of STEC strains among pigs housed in the same barn.

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First Isolation and Molecular Characterization of blaCTX-M-121-Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 From Cattle in Xinjiang, China

Frontiers in Veterinary Science ◽

10.3389/fvets.2021.574801 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Zhanqiang Su ◽

Panpan Tong ◽

Ling Zhang ◽

Mengmeng Zhang ◽

Dong Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Bacterial Strains ◽

E Coli ◽

Uremic Syndrome ◽

Cattle Farms

The bovine Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a major foodborne pathogen causing severe bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Cattle are recognized major reservoir and source of E. coli O157:H7. We investigated the antibiotic resistance, molecular profiles, and intrinsic relationship between 21 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 from cattle farms and slaughtering houses in Xinjiang. Using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) molecular typing, two types of PFGE were revealed through cluster analysis, including clusters I and II, with 66 and 100% similarity of PFGE spectra between 21 isolates. We also detected that 18 isolates (86%) carried at least one virulence gene, 16 isolates (76%) carried the eae gene, and 7 (33%) carried the stx1 + stx2 + eae + hly + tccp genes. Eighteen isolates were susceptible to antibiotics. Three isolates were resistant to antibiotics, and two were multidrug resistant. One of the two multidrug-resistant isolates detectably carried the blaCTX−M−121 gene. This is the first finding of the blaCTX−M−121 gene detected in E. coli O157:H7 isolated from cattle in Xinjiang. The blaCTX−M−121 gene is transferable between the bacterial strains via plasmid transmission. The results indicated that E. coli O157:H7 may have undergone clonal propagation in cattle population and cross-regional transmission in Xinjiang, China.

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Phylogenetic group determination and plasmid virulence gene profiles of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli originated from the broiler meat supply chain in Bogor, Indonesia

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.1807-1814 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1807-1814

Author(s):

Irma Rahayuningtyas ◽

Agustin Indrawati ◽

I Wayan Teguh Wibawan ◽

Maria Fatima Palupi ◽

Istiyaningsih Istiyaningsih

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Supply Chain ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Phylogenetic Group ◽

Health Concern ◽

Small Scale ◽

Broiler Meat ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles

Background and Aim: Pathogenic Escherichia coli contamination along the broiler meat supply chain is a serious public health concern. This bacterial infection with multidrug-resistant can lead to treatment failure. Several studies have revealed that avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) showed a close genetic relationship and may share virulence genes. This study aimed to determine the phylogenetic group and virulence gene profiles in colistin-resistant E. coli obtained from the broiler meat supply chain in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight archive isolates originated from the cloacal swab, litter, drinking water, inside plucker swab, fresh meat at small scale poultry slaughterhouses, and traditional markets were used in this study. All the isolates were characterized by a polymerase chain reaction to determine the phylogenetic group (A, B1, B2, or D) and virulence gene profiles with APEC marker genes (iutA, hlyF, iss, iroN, and ompT). Results: Phylogenetic grouping revealed that the isolates belong to A group (34.48%), D group (34.48%), B1 group (17.24%), and B2 group (13.79%). The virulence gene prevalence was as follows: iutA (36%), hlyF (21%), ompT (21%), iroN (10%), and iss (9%). The B2 group presented with more virulence genes combinations. iroN, hlyF, and ompT genes were positively associated with the B2 group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Our results highlight the role of colistin-resistant E. coli originated from the broiler meat supply chain as a potential reservoir for human ExPEC virulence genes.

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Evidence for a Hybrid Genomic Island in Verocytotoxin-Producing Escherichia coli CL3 (Serotype O113:H21) Containing Segments of EDL933 (Serotype O157:H7) O Islands 122 and 48

Infection and Immunity ◽

10.1128/iai.72.3.1496-1503.2004 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 72 (3) ◽

pp. 1496-1503 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Songhai Shen ◽

Mariola Mascarenhas ◽

Kris Rahn ◽

James B. Kaper ◽

Mohamed A. Karmal

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Genomic Island ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Genomic Islands ◽

The Other ◽

Middle Portion ◽

Uremic Syndrome ◽

The Right ◽

Vtec Strain

ABSTRACT Genomic O island 122 (OI-122) of the verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) strain EDL933 contains four putative virulence genes, Z4321, Z4326, Z4332, and Z4333. However, strain CL3 (serotype O113:H21) contains only Z4321, not the other three genes. To determine whether Z4321 is part of a different genomic island in CL3, a region of 27,293 bp up- and downstream of Z4321 was sequenced and found to contain elements of two different EDL933 genomic islands (OI-48 and OI-122) and a Yersinia pestis-like hemolysin/adhesin gene cluster. The region contained OI-48 genes Z1635, Z1636, and Z1637 at the left terminus and Z1641, Z1642, Z1643, and Z1644 at the right. The middle portion consisted of OI-48 gene Z1640, which was separated into three fragments by genomic segments including the Y. pestis cluster and EDL933 OI-122 genes Z4322, Z4321, and Z4318. In a PCR investigation of 36 VTEC strains of different serotypes, intact Z1640 was present in strains of serotypes O157:H7, O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:NM, and O145:NM, which are associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome and outbreaks. In contrast, fragmented Z1640 was seen in strains of nonepidemic serotypes, such as O91:H21 and O113:H21, and in animal serotypes that have not been associated with human disease, indicating that Z1640 might be a virulence gene.

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Genomic Characterization of New Variant of Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S)-Producing Escherichia coli with Multidrug Resistance Properties Carrying the mcr-1 Gene in China

Antibiotics ◽

10.3390/antibiotics9020080 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 80 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Silpak Biswas ◽

Mohammed Elbediwi ◽

Guimin Gu ◽

Min Yue

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Hydrogen Sulfide ◽

Multidrug Resistance ◽

Bacterial Infections ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Health Concern ◽

Colistin Resistance ◽

New Variant ◽

Genomic Characterization ◽

Human Infections

Colistin is considered to be a ‘last-resort’ antimicrobial for the treatment of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Identification of Enterobacteriaceae, carrying the transferable colistin resistance gene mcr-1, has recently provoked a global health concern. This report presents the first detection of a hydrogen sulfide (H2S)-producing Escherichia coli variant isolated from a human in China, with multidrug resistance (MDR) properties, including colistin resistance by the mcr-1 gene, which could have great implications for the treatment of human infections.

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Serological diversity, molecular characterisation and antimicrobial sensitivity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in Kashmir, India

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an17065 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 59 (2) ◽

pp. 338

Author(s):

S. N. Magray ◽

S. A. Wani ◽

Z. A. Kashoo ◽

M. A. Bhat ◽

S. Adil ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Broiler Chickens ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Gene Profile ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Virulence Gene Profile

The present study has determined the serological diversity, virulence-gene profile and in vitro antibiogram of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in India suspected to have died of colibacillosis. The virulence-gene profile of APEC was compared with that of the Escherichia coli isolates from faeces of apparently healthy chickens, called avian faecal E. coli (AFEC). In total, 90 representative isolates of APEC and 63 isolates of AFEC were investigated in the present study. The APEC were typed into 19 serogroups, while some isolates were rough and could not be typed. Most prevalent serogroup was O2 (24.44%). Among the eight virulence genes studied, the prevalence of seven genes (iss, iucD, tsh, cva/cvi, irp2, papC and vat) was significantly higher in APEC than in AFEC isolates. However, there was no significant difference between APEC and AFEC isolates for possession of astA gene. The most frequent gene detected among the two groups of organisms was iss, which was present in 98.88% and 44.44% of APEC and AFEC isolates respectively. The in vitro antibiogram showed that the majority (96.6%) of APEC isolates were resistant to tetracycline, while 82.2% were resistant to cephalexin, 78.8% to cotrimoxazole, 68.8% to streptomycin and 63.3% to ampicillin. However, most of them (84.45%) were sensitive to gentamicin. Thus, it is concluded that APEC from the broiler chickens carried putative virulence genes that attributed to their pathogenicity. Furthermore, the majority of APEC isolates were found to be multi-drug resistant, which, in addition to leading treatment failures in poultry, poses a public health threat.

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Detection of virulence genes of APEC (avian pathogenic Escherichia coli) isolated from poultry in Noakhali, Bangladesh

Bioresearch Communications ◽

10.3329/brc.v7i1.54253 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 967-972

Author(s):

Farzana Ehetasum Hossain ◽

Saiful Islam ◽

Md Aminul Islam ◽

Shariful Islam ◽

Firoz Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Point Of View ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Wide Range

Avian colibacillosis, caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), is one of the major infectious diseases of poultry that bring about great economic loss for the Bangladesh poultry industry. The present study aimed to determine the virulence genes of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) from cases of colibacillosis in poultry at the Noakhali district of Bangladesh. Currently, virulence-associated gene profiles of APEC isolates were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 24 (twenty-four) Escherichia coli isolates were collected and presumptively identified from 8 (eight) colibacillosis cases from 4 commercial broiler poultry farms (2 broilers per farm) in Noakhali, Bangladesh. The pathogenesis of Escherichia coli involves a wide range of different virulence genes. At this point, four virulence genes, iutA, hlyF, iroN, and iss were detected by PCR analysis. It has been observed that iutA, iss, hlyF, and iroN genes were found in 7(29.16%), 20(83.33%), 22(91.66%), and 24(100%) APEC isolates respectively. Furthermore, out of the twenty-four APEC isolates, six (25%) isolates had four virulence genes, fourteen (58.33%) isolates carried at least three virulence genes, three (12.5%) isolates carried two genes and one (4.16%) isolates had one virulence gene. Most importantly. six types of virulence gene profiles existed within the APEC isolates from which profile number 3 (hlyF, iroN, iss) having 13 (54.16%) isolates were predominant. The occurrence of APEC isolates of this region which is responsible for avian colibacillosis cases can be a matter of concern from the public health point of view. Future investigations will be able to utilize these virulence genes to identify APEC in Bangladesh helping in the diagnosis and prevention of colibacillosis in poultry. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 967-972, 2021 (January)

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Interaction of Escherichia coli O157:H7 with Leafy Green Produce

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-72.7.1531 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 72 (7) ◽

pp. 1531-1537 ◽

Cited By ~ 75

Author(s):

JUAN XICOHTENCATL-CORTES ◽

ETHEL SÁNCHEZ CHACÓN ◽

ZEUS SALDAÑA ◽

ENRIQUE FREER ◽

JORGE A. GIRÓN

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Diarrheal Disease ◽

Foodborne Pathogen ◽

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli ◽

Animal Products ◽

Atpase Gene ◽

Type 3 Secretion System ◽

Human Infections ◽

Type 3

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is a foodborne pathogen responsible for human diarrheal disease. EHEC lives in the intestinal tract of cattle and other farm and wild animals, which may be the source of environmental contamination particularly of agricultural fields. Human infections are associated with consumption of tainted animal products and fresh produce. How the bacteria interact with the plant phyllosphere and withstand industrial decontamination remain to be elucidated. The goals of the present study were to investigate the environmental conditions and surface structures that influence the interaction of EHEC O157:H7 with baby spinach and lettuce leaves in vitro. Independently of the production of Shiga toxin, EHEC O157:H7 colonizes the leaf surface via flagella and the type 3 secretion system (T3SS). Ultrastructural analysis of EHEC-infected leafy greens revealed the presence of flagellated bacteria, and mutation of the fliC flagellin gene in EHEC EDL933 rendered the bacteria significantly less adherent, suggesting the involvement of flagella in the bacteria-leaf interaction. EDL933 mutated in the escN (ATPase) gene associated with the function of the T3SS but not in the eae (intimin adhesin) gene required for adherence to host intestinal cells had significantly reduced adherence compared with that of the parental strain. The data suggest a compelling role of flagella and the T3SS in colonization of leafy green produce. Colonization of salad leaves by EHEC strains may be a strategy that ensures survival of these bacteria in the environment and allows transmission to the human host.

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