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Occurrence of potentially human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O103 in Norwegian sheep.

ABSTRACT: The investigation of an outbreak of hemorrhagic-uremic syndrome in Norway in 2006 indicated that the outbreak strain Escherichia coli O103:H25 could originate from sheep. A national survey of the Norwegian sheep population was performed, with the aim of identifying and describing a possible reservoir of potentially human-pathogenic E. coli O103, in particular of the H types 2 and 25. The investigation of fecal samples from 585 sheep flocks resulted in 1,222 E. coli O103 isolates that were analyzed for the presence of eae and stx genes, while a subset of 369 isolates was further examined for flagellar antigens (H typing), stx subtypes, bfpA, astA, and molecular typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The total ovine E. coli O103 serogroup was genetically diverse by numbers of H types, virulotypes, and PFGE banding patterns identified, although a tendency of clustering toward serotypes was seen. The flocks positive for potentially human-pathogenic E. coli O103 were geographically widely distributed, and no association could be found with county or geographical region. The survey showed that eae-negative, stx-negative E. coli O103, probably nonpathogenic to humans, is very common in sheep, with 27.5% of flocks positive. Moreover, the study documented a low prevalence (0.7%) of potentially human-pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O103:H2, while STEC O103:H25 was not detected. However, 3.1% and 5.8% of the flocks were positive for enteropathogenic E. coli O103 belonging to H types 2 and 25, respectively. These isolates are of concern as potential human pathogens by themselves but more importantly as possible precursors for human-pathogenic STEC.

SUBMITTER: Sekse C

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3837766 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Occurrence of potentially human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O103 in Norwegian sheep.

Sekse Camilla C Sunde Marianne M Hopp Petter P Bruheim Torkjel T Cudjoe Kofitsyo Sewornu KS Kvitle Bjørg B Urdahl Anne Margrete AM

Applied and environmental microbiology 20130927 23

The investigation of an outbreak of hemorrhagic-uremic syndrome in Norway in 2006 indicated that the outbreak strain Escherichia coli O103:H25 could originate from sheep. A national survey of the Norwegian sheep population was performed, with the aim of identifying and describing a possible reservoir of potentially human-pathogenic E. coli O103, in particular of the H types 2 and 25. The investigation of fecal samples from 585 sheep flocks resulted in 1,222 E. coli O103 isolates that were analyz ...[more]

PMID: 24077709

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Project description:BACKGROUND:Classification of pathogenic Escherichia coli (E. coli) has traditionally relied on detecting specific virulence associated genes (VAGs) or combinations thereof. For E. coli isolated from faecal samples, the presence of specific genes associated with different intestinal pathogenic pathovars will determine their classification and further course of action. However, the E. coli genome is not a static entity, and hybrid strains are emerging that cross the pathovar definitions. Hybrid strains may show gene contents previously associated with several distinct pathovars making the correct diagnostic classification difficult. We extended the analysis of routinely submitted faecal isolates to include known virulence associated genes that are usually not examined in faecal isolates to detect the frequency of possible hybrid strains. METHODS:From September 2012 to February 2013, 168 faecal isolates of E. coli routinely submitted to the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) from clinical microbiological laboratories throughout Norway were analysed for 33 VAGs using multiplex-PCR, including factors associated with extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains. The strains were further typed by Multiple Locus Variable-Number Tandem-Repeat Analysis (MLVA), and the phylogenetic grouping was determined. One isolate from the study was selected for whole genome sequencing (WGS) with a combination of Oxford Nanopore's MinION and Illumina's MiSeq. RESULTS:The analysis showed a surprisingly high number of strains carrying ExPEC associated VAGs and strains carrying a combination of both intestinal pathogenic E. coli (IPEC) and ExPEC VAGs. In particular, 93.5% (101/108) of isolates classified as belonging to an IPEC pathovar additionally carried ExPEC VAGs. WGS analysis of a selected hybrid strain revealed that it could, with present classification criteria, be classified as belonging to all of the Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), Neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC) and Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) pathovars. CONCLUSION:Hybrid ExPEC/IPEC E. coli strains were found at a very high frequency in faecal samples and were in fact the predominant species present. A sequenced hybrid isolate was confirmed to be a cross-pathovar strain possessing recognised hallmarks of several pathovars, and a genome heavily influenced by horizontal gene transfer.

Project description:Plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) is frequent among Escherichia coli from various food products and animals in several countries. The objective of this study was to characterize quinolone resistant E. coli (QREC) from Norwegian turkey meat regarding resistance profiles, genetic mechanisms for quinolone resistance, genetic relatedness, and to investigate whether PMQR genes were present. In total, 78 QREC were isolated by a selective method from 156 samples throughout 2013. Isolates were subjected to susceptibility testing, characterization of resistance mechanisms, serotyping, phylotyping and multi-locus variable-tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). All 78 isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin, while 77 were also resistant to nalidixic acid. The nalidixic acid sensitive isolate had a resistance profile indicating the presence of a PMQR gene. Both PCR and whole genome sequencing confirmed the presence of a 47 304 kb IncX1 plasmid containing the qnrS1 gene. The mechanism conferring quinolone resistance in the remaining isolates was mediated by mutations in the quinolone resistance-determining region of the chromosomal gyrA gene and for most of the isolates also in the parC gene. Molecular typing by MLVA showed a high degree of genetic diversity, although four clusters dominated. Two clusters contained strains belonging to phylogroup D/serogroup O176, the third contained isolates of phylogroup B1/serogroup O19, whereas the fourth contained isolates of phylogroup B1/non-typeable serogroup. Isolates within the latter cluster had MLVA profiles identical to QREC isolated from day-old imported turkey parent animals investigated in a preliminary study at the Norwegian Veterinary Institute. This finding suggests that QREC obtained from turkey may have been introduced via import of breeding animals to Norway. This is the first time the qnrS1 gene is described from E. coli isolated from Norwegian turkey meat. Compared to available qnrS1 carrying plasmids in Genbank, the current IncX1 plasmid showed high degree of similarity to other IncX1 plasmids containing qnrS1 isolated from both Shigella flexneri and E. coli found in different geographical areas and sources. To conclude, this study showed that mutations in gyrA and parC are the main mechanism conferring quinolone resistance in E. coli isolated from Norwegian turkey meat, and that PMQR has not been widely dispersed throughout the E. coli population in Norwegian turkey.

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Dataset Information

Occurrence of potentially human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O103 in Norwegian sheep.

Publications

Occurrence of potentially human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O103 in Norwegian sheep.

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