6 research outputs found
Highly diverse and antimicrobial susceptible Escherichia coli display a naïve bacterial population in fruit bats from the Republic of Congo
Bats are suspected to be a reservoir of several bacterial and viral pathogens
relevant to animal and human health, but studies on Escherichia coli in these
animals are sparse. We investigated the presence of E. coli in tissue samples
(liver, lung and intestines) collected from 50 fruit bats of five different
species (Eidolon helvum, Epomops franqueti, Hypsignathus monstrosus,
Myonycteris torquata, Rousettus aegyptiacus) of two different areas in the
Republic of Congo between 2009 and 2010. To assess E. coli pathotypes and
phylogenetic relationships, we determined the presence of 59 virulence
associated genes and multilocus sequence types (STs). Isolates were further
tested for their susceptibility to several antimicrobial substances by agar
disk diffusion test and for the presence of an Extended-Spectrum Beta-
Lactamase phenotype. E. coli was detected in 60% of the bats analysed. The
diversity of E. coli strains was very high, with 37 different STs within 40
isolates. Occasionally, we detected sequence types (e.g. ST69, ST127, and
ST131) and pathotypes (e.g. ExPEC, EPEC and atypical EPEC), which are known
pathogens in human and/or animal infections. Although the majority of strains
were assigned to phylogenetic group B2 (46.2%), which is linked with the ExPEC
pathovar, occurrence of virulence-associated genes in these strains were
unexpectedly low. Due to this, and as only few of the E. coli isolates showed
intermediate resistance to certain antimicrobial substances, we assume a
rather naïve E. coli population, lacking contact to humans or domestic
animals. Future studies featuring in depth comparative whole genome sequence
analyses will provide insights into the microevolution of this interesting
strain collection
The contemporary "Trojan Horse"
Pathogens frequently associated with multi-drug resistant (MDR) phenotypes,
including extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae
(ESBL-E) and Acinetobacter baumannii isolated from horses admitted to horse
clinics, pose a risk for animal patients and personnel in horse clinics. To
estimate current rates of colonization, a total of 341 equine patients were
screened for carriage of zoonotic indicator pathogens at hospital admission.
Horses showing clinical signs associated with colic (n = 233) or open wounds
(n = 108) were selected for microbiological examination of nostril swabs,
faecal samples and wound swabs taken from the open wound group. The results
showed alarming carriage rates of Gram-negative MDR pathogens in equine
patients: 10.7% (34 of 318) of validated faecal specimens were positive for
ESBL-E (94%: ESBL-producing Escherichia coli), with recorded rates of 10.5%
for the colic and 11% for the open wound group. 92.7% of the ESBL-producing E.
coli were phenotypically resistant to three or more classes of antimicrobials.
A. baumannii was rarely detected (0.9%), and all faecal samples investigated
were negative for Salmonella, both directly and after two enrichment steps.
Screening results for the equine nostril swabs showed detection rates for
ESBL-E of 3.4% among colic patients and 0.9% in the open wound group, with an
average rate of 2.6% (9/340) for both indications. For all 41 ESBL-producing
E. coli isolated, a broad heterogeneity was revealed using pulsed-field gel
electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns and whole genome sequencing (WGS) -analysis.
However, a predominance of sequence type complex (STC)10 and STC1250 was
observed, including several novel STs. The most common genes associated with
ESBL-production were identified as blaCTX-M-1 (31/41; 75.6%) and blaSHV-12
(24.4%). The results of this study reveal a disturbingly large fraction of
multi-drug resistant and ESBL-producing E. coli among equine patients, posing
a clear threat to established hygiene management systems and work-place safety
of veterinary staff in horse clinics
Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains isolated from horses are a genetically distinct population within the Streptococcus dysgalactiae taxon
The pathogenic role of beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae in the equine
host is increasingly recognized. A collection of 108 Lancefield group C (n =
96) or L (n = 12) horse isolates recovered in the United States and in three
European countries presented multilocus sequence typing (MLST) alleles,
sequence types and emm types (only 56% of the isolates could be emm typed)
that were, with few exceptions, distinct from those previously found in human
Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. Characterization of a subset of
horse isolates by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and 16S rRNA gene
sequence showed that most equine isolates could also be differentiated from S.
dysgalactiae strains from other animal species, supporting the existence of a
horse specific genomovar. Draft genome information confirms the
distinctiveness of the horse genomovar and indicates the presence of
potentially horse-specific virulence factors. While this genomovar represents
most of the isolates recovered from horses, a smaller MLST and MLSA defined
sub-population seems to be able to cause infections in horses, other animals
and humans, indicating that transmission between hosts of strains belonging to
this group may occur
Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains isolated from horses are a genetically distinct population within the Streptococcus dysgalactiae taxon
The pathogenic role of beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae in the equine host is increasingly
recognized. A collection of 108 Lancefield group C (n=96) or L (n=12) horse isolates recovered in
the United States and in three European countries presented multilocus sequence typing (MLST)
alleles, sequence types and emm types (only 56% of the isolates could be emm typed) that were, with
few exceptions, distinct from those previously found in human Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp.
equisimilis. Characterization of a subset of horse isolates by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and
16S rRNA gene sequence showed that most equine isolates could also be differentiated from
S. dysgalactiae strains from other animal species, supporting the existence of a horse specific
genomovar. Draft genome information confirms the distinctiveness of the horse genomovar and
indicates the presence of potentially horse-specific virulence factors. While this genomovar represents
most of the isolates recovered from horses, a smaller MLST and MLSA defined sub-population seems to
be able to cause infections in horses, other animals and humans, indicating that transmission between
hosts of strains belonging to this group may occur
Carriage of Extended Spectrum Beta Lactamase-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i>: Prevalence and Factors Associated with Fecal Colonization of Dogs from a Pet Clinic in Lower Saxony, Germany
Extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are an emerging problem in veterinary and human medicine. Our study concentrated on the estimation of the prevalence and factors associated with the carriage of ESBL-producing E. coli in dogs who visited a veterinary clinic in northern Germany in 2017. For this reason, 1000 patients (healthy and sick dogs) were tested, resulting in 1000 samples originating from rectal swabs. Additional data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire that was completed by the dog owner. Factors associated with ESBL carriage were considered for further modeling if p E. coli. Seven factors were associated with the colonization of dogs with ESBL-E. coli within the multivariable model, namely husbandry system (p = 0.0019, OR = 3.00; 95% CI: 1.50–6.00), contact with puppies (p = 0.0044, OR = 2.43; 95% CI: 1.32–4.46), feeding of raw meat (p = 0.011, OR = 2.28; 95% CI: 1.21–4.31), food residues (p = 0.0151, OR = 2.31; 95% CI: 1.18–4.53) and food supplements (p = 0.0487, OR = 0.426; 95% CI: 0.18–0.96), and antibiotic treatments of dogs (p = 0.0005, OR = 3.030; 95% CI: 1.62–5.68) or owners (p = 0.041, OR = 2.74; 95% CI: 1.04–7.19) prior to the study. These factors refer to the animals themselves as well as to the owners and their habits or medical treatments. Although the causality and direction of transmission from owners to their dogs cannot be proven, the factor of antibiotic treatment of the owner is clearly associated with the dog’s status
Beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae strains isolated from horses are a genetically distinct population within the Streptococcus dysgalactiae taxon
The pathogenic role of beta-hemolytic Streptococcus dysgalactiae in the equine host is increasingly recognized. A collection of 108 Lancefield group C (n = 96) or L (n = 12) horse isolates recovered in the United States and in three European countries presented multilocus sequence typing (MLST) alleles, sequence types and emm types (only 56% of the isolates could be emm typed) that were, with few exceptions, distinct from those previously found in human Streptococcus dysgalactiae subsp. equisimilis. Characterization of a subset of horse isolates by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) and 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that most equine isolates could also be differentiated from S. dysgalactiae strains from other animal species, supporting the existence of a horse specific genomovar. Draft genome information confirms the distinctiveness of the horse genomovar and indicates the presence of potentially horse-specific virulence factors. While this genomovar represents most of the isolates recovered from horses, a smaller MLST and MLSA defined sub-population seems to be able to cause infections in horses, other animals and humans, indicating that transmission between hosts of strains belonging to this group may occur