Dogs and Cats: Reservoirs for Highly Diverse Campylobacter jejuni and a Potential Source of Human Exposure

Assessing the carriage of Campylobacter in animal reservoirs is essential to better understand Campylobacter epidemiology. Here, we evaluated the prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in dogs and cats, hereafter defined as pets, and characterized Campylobacter jejuni (C. jejuni) isolates to assess their genetic diversity and their potential link with isolates from other animals or human cases. During a 6-month period, 304 feces samples were collected from pets. A significantly higher prevalence of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. was found in dogs compared with cats, as well as in dogs ≤ 1-year-old compared with older dogs. C. jejuni was the predominant species found in pets, and its genomic characterization revealed a high genetic diversity. Genotypes comparison with previously characterized isolates revealed a partial overlap between C. jejuni isolates from pets, chicken, cattle, and clinical cases. This overlap suggests the potential role of livestock and humans in pets’ exposure to Campylobacter, or vice versa. The isolation of pets’ specific profiles may suggest the existence of other sources of pet contamination or imply that pets may constitute a reservoir for Campylobacter. Because of the proximity between humans and pets, along with their frequent carriage of C. jejuni, human exposure to Campylobacter from pets can be more important than previously thought.

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Genetic Diversity of Leuconostoc mesenteroides Isolates from Traditional Montenegrin Brine Cheese

Microorganisms ◽

10.3390/microorganisms9081612 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. 1612

Author(s):

Werner Ruppitsch ◽

Andjela Nisic ◽

Patrick Hyden ◽

Adriana Cabal ◽

Jasmin Sucher ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Safety Evaluation ◽

Gene Clusters ◽

Northern Region ◽

Genomic Diversity ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Pathogenic Factors ◽

Flavor Development ◽

Genomic Characterization

In many dairy products, Leuconostoc spp. is a natural part of non-starter lactic acid bacteria (NSLAB) accounting for flavor development. However, data on the genomic diversity of Leuconostoc spp. isolates obtained from cheese are still scarce. The focus of this study was the genomic characterization of Leuconostoc spp. obtained from different traditional Montenegrin brine cheeses with the aim to explore their diversity and provide genetic information as a basis for the selection of strains for future cheese production. In 2019, sixteen Leuconostoc spp. isolates were obtained from white brine cheeses from nine different producers located in three municipalities in the northern region of Montenegro. All isolates were identified as Ln. mesenteroides. Classical multilocus sequence tying (MLST) and core genome (cg) MLST revealed a high diversity of the Montenegrin Ln. mesenteroides cheese isolates. All isolates carried genes of the bacteriocin biosynthetic gene clusters, eight out of 16 strains carried the citCDEFG operon, 14 carried butA, and all 16 isolates carried alsS and ilv, genes involved in forming important aromas and flavor compounds. Safety evaluation indicated that isolates carried no pathogenic factors and no virulence factors. In conclusion, Ln. mesenteroides isolates from Montenegrin traditional cheeses displayed a high genetic diversity and were unrelated to strains deposited in GenBank.

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Detection of Campylobacter jejuni and Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from Foods by Polymerase Chain Reaction

Food Microbiology Protocols ◽

10.1385/1-59259-029-2:95 ◽

2003 ◽

pp. 95-106 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Haiyan Wang ◽

Lai-King Ng ◽

Jeff M. Farber

Keyword(s):

Polymerase Chain Reaction ◽

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Thermophilic Campylobacter ◽

Polymerase Chain ◽

Campylobacter Spp

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Paenibacillus polymyxa Purified Bacteriocin To Control Campylobacter jejuni in Chickens

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-68.7.1450 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 68 (7) ◽

pp. 1450-1453 ◽

Cited By ~ 72

Author(s):

NORMAN J. STERN ◽

EDWARD A. SVETOCH ◽

BORIS V. ERUSLANOV ◽

YURI N. KOVALEV ◽

LARISA I. VOLODINA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Molecular Mass ◽

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Human Exposure ◽

Paenibacillus Polymyxa ◽

Foodborne Diseases ◽

Ad Libitum ◽

Isolation Facilities ◽

On Farm ◽

Campylobacter Spp ◽

Chemical Disinfection

Campylobacter spp. cause numerous foodborne diseases. Poultry is thought to be a significant source of this zoonosis. Although many interventions designed to control this agent have been researched, none have succeeded. We evaluated a bacteriocin-based treatment to reduce Campylobacter jejuni colonization in poultry. A previously described purified bacteriocin (class IIa; molecular mass, 3,864 Da), secreted by Paenibacillus polymyxa NRRL-B-30509, was microencapsulated in polyvinylpyrrolidone, and 0.25 g of the purified bacteriocin was incorporated into 1 kg of chicken feed. One-day-old chickens were orally challenged and colonized with one of four isolates of C. jejuni, then reared in isolation facilities. Birds were provided ad libitum access to standard broiler starter feed and water for 7 days until 3 days before sampling, when only the treated groups of birds were provided the bacteriocin-emended feed described. In each of the eight (four by two replicates) trials, significant reductions in colonization by C. jejuni were observed (P ≤ 0.05). As an example of this highly consistent data, in the first trial, 10 untreated 10-day-old chickens were colonized at a mean log 7.2 + 0.3 CFU/g of feces, whereas none of the 10 bacteriocin-treated 10-day-old chickens were colonized with detectable numbers of C. jejuni. Bacteriocin treatment dramatically reduced both intestinal levels and frequency of chicken colonization by C. jejuni. Feeding bacteriocins before poultry slaughter appears to provide control of C. jejuni to effectively reduce human exposure. This advance is directed toward on-farm control of pathogens, as opposed to the currently used chemical disinfection of contaminated carcasses.

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A Longitudinal Study on Thermophilic Campylobacter spp. in Commercial Turkey Flocks in Northern Italy: Occurrence and Genetic Diversity

Avian Diseases ◽

10.1637/10141-032312-reg.1 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 56 (4) ◽

pp. 693-700 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

Martina Giacomelli ◽

Christian Andrighetto ◽

Angiolella Lombardi ◽

Marco Martini ◽

Alessandra Piccirillo

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Longitudinal Study ◽

Northern Italy ◽

Thermophilic Campylobacter ◽

Commercial Turkey ◽

Campylobacter Spp

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Genomic analysis of the diversity, antimicrobial resistance and virulence potential of clinical Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains from Chile

PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases ◽

10.1371/journal.pntd.0009207 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 15 (2) ◽

pp. e0009207

Author(s):

Veronica Bravo ◽

Assaf Katz ◽

Lorena Porte ◽

Thomas Weitzel ◽

Carmen Varela ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Epidemiological Data ◽

Diagnostic Methods ◽

Campylobacter Coli ◽

South American ◽

Differential Distribution ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

A Genome

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are the leading cause of human gastroenteritis in the industrialized world and an emerging threat in developing countries. The incidence of campylobacteriosis in South America is greatly underestimated, mostly due to the lack of adequate diagnostic methods. Accordingly, there is limited genomic and epidemiological data from this region. In the present study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the genetic diversity, virulence, and antimicrobial resistance of the largest collection of clinical C. jejuni and C. coli strains from Chile available to date (n = 81), collected in 2017–2019 in Santiago, Chile. This culture collection accounts for more than one third of the available genome sequences from South American clinical strains. cgMLST analysis identified high genetic diversity as well as 13 novel STs and alleles in both C. jejuni and C. coli. Pangenome and virulome analyses showed a differential distribution of virulence factors, including both plasmid and chromosomally encoded T6SSs and T4SSs. Resistome analysis predicted widespread resistance to fluoroquinolones, but low rates of erythromycin resistance. This study provides valuable genomic and epidemiological data and highlights the need for further genomic epidemiology studies in Chile and other South American countries to better understand molecular epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of this emerging intestinal pathogen.

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Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. from humans, pigs, cattle, and broilers in Denmark.

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.41.10.2244 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 41 (10) ◽

pp. 2244-2250 ◽

Cited By ~ 130

Author(s):

F M Aarestrup ◽

E M Nielsen ◽

M Madsen ◽

J Engberg

Keyword(s):

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Campylobacter Coli ◽

Low Frequencies ◽

Thermophilic Campylobacter ◽

Campylobacter Lari ◽

High Level ◽

Different Origins ◽

Susceptibility Patterns ◽

Campylobacter Spp

The MICs of 16 antimicrobial agents were determined for 202 Campylobacter jejuni isolates, 123 Campylobacter coli isolates, and 6 Campylobacter lari isolates from humans and food animals in Denmark. The C. jejuni isolates originated from humans (75), broilers (95), cattle (29), and pigs (3); the C. coli isolates originated from humans (7), broilers (17), and pigs (99); and the C. lari isolates originated from broilers (5) and cattle (1). All isolates were susceptible to apramycin, neomycin, and gentamicin. Only a few C. jejuni isolates were resistant to one or more antimicrobial agents. Resistance to tetracycline was more common among C. jejuni isolates from humans (11%) than among C. jejuni isolates from animals (0 to 2%). More resistance to streptomycin was found among C. jejuni isolates from cattle (10%) than among those from humans (4%) or broilers (1%). A greater proportion of C. coli than of C. jejuni isolates were resistant to the other antimicrobial agents tested. Isolates were in most cases either coresistant to tylosin, spiramycin, and erythromycin or susceptible to all three antibiotics. More macrolide-resistant isolates were observed among C. coli isolates from swine (79%) than among C. coli isolates from broilers (18%) and humans (14%). Twenty-four percent of C. coli isolates from pigs were resistant to enrofloxacin, whereas 29% of C. coli isolates from humans and none from broilers were resistant. More resistance to streptomycin was observed among C. coli isolates from swine (48%) than among C. coli isolates from broilers (6%) or humans (0%). The six C. lari isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobial agents except ampicillin and nalidixic acid. This study showed that antimicrobial resistance was found only at relatively low frequencies among C. jejuni and C. lari isolates. Among C. coli isolates, especially from swine, there was a high level of resistance to macrolides and streptomycin. Furthermore, this study showed differences in the resistance to antimicrobial agents among Campylobacter isolates of different origins.

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High genetic diversity, distant phylogenetic relationships and intraspecies recombination events among natural populations of Yam mosaic virus: a contribution to understanding potyvirus evolution

Microbiology ◽

10.1099/0022-1317-81-1-243 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 81 (1) ◽

pp. 243-255 ◽

Cited By ~ 76

Author(s):

M. Bousalem ◽

E. J. P. Douzery ◽

D. Fargette

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Mosaic Virus ◽

Statistical Tests ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Natural Populations ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Single Clade ◽

Cultivated Species ◽

Selection Of

To evaluate the genetic diversity and understand the evolution of Yam mosaic virus (YMV), a highly destructive pathogen of yam (Dioscorea sp.), sequencing was carried out of the C-terminal part of the replicase (NIb), the coat protein (CP) and the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of 27 YMV isolates collected from the three main cultivated species (Dioscorea alata, the complex Dioscorea cayenensis–Dioscorea rotundata and Dioscorea trifida). YMV showed the most variable CP relative to eight other potyviruses. This high variability was structured into nine distant molecular groups, as revealed by phylogenetic analyses and validated by assessment of the molecular evolutionary noise. No correlation was observed between the CP and 3′-UTR diversities and phylogenies. The most diversified and divergent groups included isolates from Africa. The remaining groups clustered in a single clade and a geographical distinction between isolates from the Caribbean, South America and Africa was observed. The role of the host in the selection of particular isolates was illustrated by the case of a divergent cultivar from Burkina Faso. Phylogenetic topological incongruence and complementary statistical tests highlighted the fact that recombination events, with single and multiple crossover sites, largely contributed to the evolution of YMV. We hypothesise an African origin of YMV from the yam complex D. cayenensis–D. rotundata, followed by independent transfers to D. alata and D. trifida during virus evolution.

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Genetics of Host Protection against Helicobacter pylori Infections

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22063192 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (6) ◽

pp. 3192 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Rosanna Capparelli ◽

Domenico Iannelli

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Helicobacter Pylori ◽

T Regulatory Cells ◽

Protective Role ◽

Disease Genes ◽

Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽

High Genetic Diversity ◽

Host Protection ◽

High Level

This narrative review discusses the genetics of protection against Helicobacter pylori (Hp) infection. After a brief overview of the importance of studying infectious disease genes, we provide a detailed account of the properties of Hp, with a view to those relevant for our topic. Hp displays a very high level of genetic diversity, detectable even between single colonies from the same patient. The high genetic diversity of Hp can be evaded by stratifying patients according to the infecting Hp strain. This approach enhances the power and replication of the study. Scanning for single nucleotide polymorphisms is generally not successful since genes rarely work alone. We suggest selecting genes to study from among members of the same family, which are therefore inclined to cooperate. Further, extending the analysis to the metabolism would significantly enhance the power of the study. This combined approach displays the protective role of MyD88, TIRAP, and IL1RL1 against Hp infection. Finally, several studies in humans have demonstrated that the blood T cell levels are under the genetic control of the CD39+ T regulatory cells (TREGS).

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Antimicrobial susceptibility in thermophilic Campylobacter species isolated from pigs and chickens in South Africa

Journal of the South African Veterinary Association ◽

10.4102/jsava.v81i4.153 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 81 (4) ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

A. Jonker ◽

J.A. Picard

Keyword(s):

Campylobacter Jejuni ◽

Antimicrobial Susceptibility ◽

Intestinal Tract ◽

Inhibitory Concentration ◽

Bacterial Disease ◽

Western Cape ◽

Oral Antibiotics ◽

Food Borne ◽

Thermophilic Campylobacter ◽

Campylobacter Spp

Campylobacter jejuni is one of the leading causes of sporadic food-borne bacterial disease in humans. In intensive poultry and pig rearing systems the use of oral antibiotics is essential to maintain health. Consequently, there is a high risk for the thermophilic Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli resident in the intestinal tract of food animals to develop resistance to commonly used antibiotics. Contamination of meat or eggs with pathogenic strains of resistant Campylobacter could, therefore, result in a form of campylobacteriosis in humans that is difficult to treat. The aim of this investigation was to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of thermophilic Campylobacter spp. isolated from pigs and poultry by the broth microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test. A total of 482 samples from the Western Cape and Gauteng provinces was collected and analysed. Thirty-eight Campylobacter isolates were obtained. Analysis of data revealed that C. jejuni strains mainly of poultry origin were more resistant to the fluoroquinolones, macrolides and tetracyclines and the C. coli strains were more resistant to the macrolides and lincosamides. Multiresistance was also detected in 4 Campylobacter strains from the Western Cape. With the exception of tetracyclines, strains from high health Gauteng broiler farms were susceptible to antibiotics used to treat Campylobacter infections.

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