RESUMO
Food-producing animals can harbor Escherichia coli strains with potential to cause diseases in humans. In this study, the presence of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) was investigated in fecal samples from 130 healthy sheep (92 lambs and 38 adults) raised for meat in southern Brazil. EPEC was detected in 19.2% of the sheep examined, but only lambs were found to be positive. A total of 25 isolates was characterized and designated atypical EPEC (aEPEC) as tested negative for bfpA gene and BFP production. The presence of virulence markers linked to human disease as ehxA, paa, and lpfAO113 was observed in 60%, 24%, and 88% of the isolates, respectively. Of the 11 serotypes identified, eight were described among human pathogenic strains, while three (O1:H8, O11:H21 and O125:H19) were not previously detected in aEPEC. Associations between intimin subtypes and phylogroups were observed, including eae-θ2/A, eae-ß1/B1, eae-α2/B2 and eae-γ1/D. Although PFGE typing of 16 aEPEC isolates resulted in 14 unique pulsetypes suggesting a genetic diversity, specific clones were found to be distributed in some flocks. In conclusion, potentially pathogenic aEPEC strains are present in sheep raised for meat, particularly in lambs, which can better contribute to dissemination of these bacteria than adult animals.
Assuntos
Reservatórios de Doenças/microbiologia , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/isolamento & purificação , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Contaminação de Alimentos , Carne/microbiologia , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/genética , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/patogenicidade , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Fezes/microbiologia , Variação Genética , Humanos , Ovinos , Virulência/genéticaRESUMO
Sheep constitute an important source of zoonotic pathogens as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In this study, the prevalence, serotypes and virulence profiles of STEC were investigated among 130 healthy sheep from small and medium farms in southern Brazil. STEC was isolated from 65 (50%) of the tested animals and detected in all flocks. A total of 70 STEC isolates were characterized, and belonged to 23 different O:H serotypes, many of which associated with human disease, including hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Among the serotypes identified, O76:H19 and O65:H- were the most common, and O75:H14 and O169:H7 have not been previously reported in STEC strains. Most of the STEC isolates harbored only stx1, whereas the Stx2b subtype was the most common among those carrying stx2. Enterohemolysin (ehxA) and intimin (eae) genes were detected in 61 (87.1%) and four (5.7%) isolates, respectively. Genes encoding putative adhesins (saa, iha, lpfO113) and toxins (subAB and cdtV) were also observed. The majority of the isolates displayed virulence features related to pathogenesis of STEC, such as adherence to epithelial cells, high cytotoxicity and enterohemolytic activity. Ovine STEC isolates belonged mostly to phylogenetic group B1. PFGE revealed particular clones distributed in some farms, as well as variations in the degree of genetic similarity within serotypes examined. In conclusion, STEC are widely distributed in southern Brazilian sheep, and belonged mainly to serotypes that are not commonly reported in other regions, such as O76:H19 and O65:H-. A geographical variation in the distribution of STEC serotypes seems to occur in sheep.
Assuntos
Infecções por Escherichia coli/veterinária , Doenças dos Ovinos/epidemiologia , Ovinos/microbiologia , Escherichia coli Shiga Toxigênica/genética , Fatores de Virulência/genética , Animais , Brasil/epidemiologia , Reservatórios de Doenças , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado/veterinária , Infecções por Escherichia coli/epidemiologia , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Variação Genética , Síndrome Hemolítico-Urêmica/microbiologia , Humanos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase Multiplex/veterinária , Fenótipo , Filogenia , Prevalência , Sorotipagem , Doenças dos Ovinos/microbiologia , Toxinas Shiga/metabolismo , Escherichia coli Shiga Toxigênica/imunologia , Escherichia coli Shiga Toxigênica/isolamento & purificaçãoRESUMO
BACKGROUND: Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) produce attaching/effacing (A/E) lesions on eukaryotic cells mediated by the outer membrane adhesin intimin. EPEC are sub-grouped into typical (tEPEC) and atypical (aEPEC). We have recently demonstrated that aEPEC strain 1551-2 (serotype O non-typable, non-motile) invades HeLa cells by a process dependent on the expression of intimin sub-type omicron. In this study, we evaluated whether aEPEC strains expressing other intimin sub-types are also invasive using the quantitative gentamicin protection assay. We also evaluated whether aEPEC invade differentiated intestinal T84 cells. RESULTS: Five of six strains invaded HeLa and T84 cells in a range of 13.3%-20.9% and 5.8%-17.8%, respectively, of the total cell-associated bacteria. The strains studied were significantly more invasive than prototype tEPEC strain E2348/69 (1.4% and 0.5% in HeLa and T84 cells, respectively). Invasiveness was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy. We also showed that invasion of HeLa cells by aEPEC 1551-2 depended on actin filaments, but not on microtubules. In addition, disruption of tight junctions enhanced its invasion efficiency in T84 cells, suggesting preferential invasion via a non-differentiated surface. CONCLUSION: Some aEPEC strains may invade intestinal cells in vitro with varying efficiencies and independently of the intimin sub-type.
Assuntos
Adesinas Bacterianas/genética , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/genética , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Virulência/genética , Citoesqueleto de Actina/metabolismo , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/classificação , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/patogenicidade , Genes Bacterianos , Células HeLa , Humanos , Microscopia Eletrônica de Transmissão , Sorotipagem , Junções Íntimas/metabolismoRESUMO
This study characterized 76 atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) strains, previously classified by the eae(+) EAF-negative stx(-) genotype, isolated from children with diarrhea in Brazil. Presence of bfpA and bfpA/perA was detected in 2 and 6 strains, respectively. The expression of bundle-forming pilus (BFP), however, was observed by immunofluorescence in 1 bfpA and 3 bfpA/perA strains, classifying them as typical EPEC (tEPEC). The remaining 72 aEPEC strains were characterized by serotyping, intimin typing, adherence patterns to HEp-2 cells, capacity to induce actin aggregation (fluorescent actin staining test), and antimicrobial resistance. Our results show that aEPEC comprise a very heterogeneous group that does not present any prevalence or association regarding the studied characteristics. It also suggest that tEPEC and aEPEC must not be classified only by the reactivity with the EAF probe, and that the search of other markers present in pEAF, as well as the BFP expression, must be considered for this matter.
Assuntos
Adesinas Bacterianas/genética , Diarreia/microbiologia , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/genética , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/patogenicidade , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Toxina Shiga/genética , Aderência Bacteriana , Técnicas de Tipagem Bacteriana , Brasil , Linhagem Celular , Criança , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/classificação , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica/isolamento & purificação , Proteínas de Fímbrias/genética , Imunofluorescência/métodos , Humanos , Reação em Cadeia da Polimerase/métodos , Proteínas Repressoras/genética , Sorotipagem , VirulênciaRESUMO
A collection of 69 eae-positive strains expressing 29 different intimin types and eight tir alleles was characterizedwith respect to their adherence patterns to HeLa cells, ability to promote actin accumulation in vitro, the presence of bfpA alleles in positive strains, and bundle-forming pilus (BFP) expression. All of the nine typical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (tEPEC) studied harbored the enteropathogenic E. coli adherence factor (EAF) plasmid, as shown by PCR and/or EAF probe results. In addition, they were positive for bfpA, as shown by PCR, and BFP expression, as confirmed by immunofluorescence(IFL) and/or immunoblotting (IBL) assays. Localized adherence (LA) was exclusively displayed by those ninetEPEC, while localized-adherence-like (LAL) was the most frequent pattern among atypical EPEC (aEPEC) and Shiga-toxinproducing E. coli (STEC). All LA and LAL strains were able to cause attaching and effacing (AE) lesions, as established by means of the FAS test. There was a significant association between the presence of tir allele á1 and bfpA-positive strains, and consequently, with the LA pattern. However, intimin type or bfpA was not associated with the adherence pattern displayed in HeLa cells. Among the eight bfpA alleles detected, a new type (â10; accession number FN391178) was identified in a strain of serotype O157:H45, and a truncated variant (â3.2-t; accession number FN 391181) in four strains belonging to differentpathotypes.
Assuntos
Humanos , Escherichia coli , Escherichia coli Enteropatogênica , Toxinas Shiga , Células HeLa/citologiaRESUMO
The present study was conducted in Lima Metropolitana to evaluate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in raw beef, raw ground beef, soft cheese and fresh vegetables, sampled at different markets in the city. Between October 2000 and February 2001, 407 food samples were collected from different markets in the 42 districts of Lima Metropolitana. Samples were assayed for E. coli O157 by selective enrichment in modified Tryptic Soy Broth containing novobiocin, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite. Fifty (12.3%) of 407 food samples resulted positive for E. coli O157 isolation (23 of 102 ground beef; 15 of 102 beef meat; eight of 102 soft cheese and four of 101 fresh vegetables). Thirty-five E. coli O157 isolates were further analysed for the presence of virulence genes. All 35 were positive by PCR for O157 rfbE, fliCh7, eae-gamma1 and ehxA genes. In addition, genes encoding Shiga toxins were detected in 33 of 35 isolates, five isolates (14%) encoded stx(1), stx(2), and 28 (80%) stx2 only. The isolates were of seven different phage types (PT4, PT8, PT14, PT21, PT34, PT54, and PT87) with three phage types accounting for 80% of isolates: PT4 (15 isolates), PT14 (8 isolates), and PT21 (5 isolates). Interestingly, the majority (31 of 35; 89%) of E. coli O157:H7 isolates characterized in this study belonged mainly to the phage types previously found in STEC O157:H7 strains associated with severe human disease in Europe and Canada. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 32 isolates revealed 14 XbaI-PFGE groups (I to XIV) of similarity >85%, with 23 (72%) isolates grouped in five clusters. Some isolates from different districts presented a high clonal relatedness. Thus, PFGE group VIII clustered eleven strains from nine different districts. The broad range of PFGE subtypes found in this study demonstrates the natural occurrence of many genetic variants among STEC O157:H7 spread in Lima.
Assuntos
Escherichia coli O157 , Contaminação de Alimentos/análise , Microbiologia de Alimentos , Toxinas Shiga/biossíntese , Animais , Tipagem de Bacteriófagos , Bovinos , Queijo/microbiologia , Contagem de Colônia Microbiana , Qualidade de Produtos para o Consumidor , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado , Escherichia coli O157/genética , Escherichia coli O157/metabolismo , Escherichia coli O157/patogenicidade , Humanos , Separação Imunomagnética , Carne/microbiologia , Produtos da Carne/microbiologia , Peru , Toxinas Shiga/análise , Verduras/microbiologia , Virulência/genéticaRESUMO
A total of 71 enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains isolated from children with diarrhoea in Montevideo, Uruguay, were characterized in this study. PCR showed that 57 isolates carried eae and bfp genes (typical EPEC strains), and 14 possessed only the eae gene (atypical EPEC strains). These EPEC strains belonged to 21 O : H serotypes, including eight novel serotypes not previously reported among human EPEC in other studies. However, 72% belonged to only four serotypes: O55:H- (six strains), O111:H2 (13 strains), O111:H- (14 strains) and O119:H6 (18 strains). Nine intimin types, namely, alpha1 (two O142 strains), beta1 (29 strains, including 13 O111:H2 and 14 O111:H-), gamma1 (three O55:H- strains), theta (five strains, including three strains with H40 antigen), kappa (two strains), epsilon1 (one strain), lambda (one strain), muB (six strains of serotypes O55:H51 and O55:H-) and xiR/beta2B (22 strains, including 18 O119:H6) were detected among the 71 EPEC strains. The authors have identified two novel intimin genes (muB and xiR/beta2B) in typical EPEC strains of serotypes O55:H51/H- and O119:H6/H-. The complete nucleotide sequences of the novel muB and xiR/beta2 variant genes were determined. PFGE typing after XbaI DNA digestion was performed on 44 representative EPEC strains. Genomic DNA fingerprinting revealed 44 distinct restriction patterns and the strains were clustered in 12 groups. Only 15 strains clustered in six groups of closely related (similarity>85%) PFGE patterns, suggesting the prevailing clonal diversity among EPEC strains isolated from children with diarrhoea in Montevideo.
Assuntos
Adesinas Bacterianas/classificação , Adesinas Bacterianas/genética , Infecções por Escherichia coli/microbiologia , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/classificação , Proteínas de Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/classificação , Escherichia coli/genética , Antígenos de Bactérias/análise , Criança , Pré-Escolar , Análise por Conglomerados , Impressões Digitais de DNA , DNA Bacteriano/química , DNA Bacteriano/genética , Desoxirribonucleases de Sítio Específico do Tipo II , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado , Escherichia coli/isolamento & purificação , Genes Bacterianos , Genótipo , Humanos , Dados de Sequência Molecular , Antígenos O/análise , Filogenia , Polimorfismo de Fragmento de Restrição , Análise de Sequência de DNA , Homologia de Sequência de Aminoácidos , Sorotipagem , UruguaiRESUMO
Thirty-six enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from Cuban pigs with diarrhea were serotyped and screened by PCR for the presence of virulence genes. The 36 isolates belonged to 11 O serogroups and 14 O:H serotypes, with 53% of the isolates belonging to only two serotypes: O141:H- (13 isolates) and O157:H19 (6 isolates). Genes coding for STb, STa, VT2e, and LT toxins were identified in 69, 61, 53, and 6% of the isolates, respectively. The most prevalent fimbrial adhesin was F18, detected in 22 (61%) isolates. The gene encoding F6 (P987) colonization factor was identified in three (8%) isolates. None of the 36 isolates assayed contained genes encoding F4 (K88), F5 (K99), or F41. The seropathotype O141:H-:STa/STb/VT2e/F18 (13 isolates) was the most frequently detected, followed by O157:H19:VT2e/F18 (5 isolates). A genetic diversity study, carried out by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of 24 representative isolates, revealed 21 distinct restriction patterns clustered in 18 groups (I-XVIII). Isolates of the same serotype were placed together in a dendrogram, but isolates of serotype O157:H19 showed a high degree of polymorphism. The results of this study demonstrate the presence in Cuba of different clusters among one of the most prevalent serotypes isolated from pigs with diarrhea. Further experiments are needed to determine whether some of these clusters have appeared recently; if so, their evolution, as well as their possible association with pathogenicity in farms should be studied.
Assuntos
Diarreia/veterinária , Escherichia coli/genética , Escherichia coli/patogenicidade , Genes Bacterianos , Doenças dos Suínos/microbiologia , Adesinas Bacterianas/genética , Animais , Cuba , Diarreia/microbiologia , Eletroforese em Gel de Campo Pulsado , Enterotoxinas/genética , Escherichia coli/classificação , Sorotipagem , Suínos , Virulência/genéticaRESUMO
A total of 153 Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates from feces of cattle and beef products (hamburgers and ground beef) in Argentina were characterized in this study. PCR showed that 22 (14%) isolates carried stx1 genes, 113 (74%) possessed stx2 genes and 18 (12%) both stx1 and stx2. Intimin (eae), enterohemolysin (ehxA), and STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) virulence genes were detected in 36 (24%), 70 (46%) and in 34 (22%) of the isolates, respectively. None of 34 saa-positive isolates carried the gene eae, and 31 were ehxA-positive. Fourteen (7 of serotype O26:H11 and 4 of serotype O5:H-) isolates had intimin b1, 16 isolates possessed intimin g1 (11 of serotype O145:H- and 5 of serotype O157:H7), 5 isolates had intimin type e1 (4 of serotypes O103:H- and O103:H2), and one isolate O111:H- showed intimin type q/g2. Although the 153 STEC isolates belonged to 63 different seropathotypes, only 12 accounted for 58% of isolates. Seropathotype ONT:H- stx2 (18 isolates) was the most common, followed by O171:H2 stx2 (12 isolates), etc. The majority (84%) of STEC isolates belonged to serotypes previously found in human STEC and 56% to serotypes associated with STEC isolated from patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Thus, this study confirms that cattle are a major reservoir of STEC pathogenic for humans. To our knowledge, this is the first study that described the presence of saa gene in STEC of serotypes O20:H19, O39:H49, O74:H28, O79:H19, O116:H21, O120:H19, O141:H7, O141:H8, O174:H21, and ONT:H21. The serotypes O120:H19 and O185:H7 were not previously reported in bovine STEC.