Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential
Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many ‘spillover’ species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumptio...
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MDPI AG
2023-09-01
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| Series: | Animals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2795 |
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| author | Stephen F. Fitzgerald Mairi C. Mitchell Anne Holmes Lesley Allison Margo Chase-Topping Nadejda Lupolova Beth Wells David L. Gally Tom N. McNeilly |
| author_facet | Stephen F. Fitzgerald Mairi C. Mitchell Anne Holmes Lesley Allison Margo Chase-Topping Nadejda Lupolova Beth Wells David L. Gally Tom N. McNeilly |
| author_sort | Stephen F. Fitzgerald |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Shiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many ‘spillover’ species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumption of venison meat products, highlighted several knowledge gaps, including the prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer and the potential risk to humans from wild deer isolates. In this study, we undertook a nationwide survey of wild deer in Scotland and determined that the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low 0.28% (95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.80). Despite the low prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer, identified isolates were present in deer faeces at high levels (>10<sup>4</sup> colony forming units/g faeces) and had high human pathogenic potential based on whole genome sequencing and virulence gene profiling. A retrospective epidemiological investigation also identified one wild deer isolate from this study as a possible source of a Scottish human outbreak in 2017. These results emphasise the importance of food hygiene practices during the processing of wild deer carcasses for human consumption. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:29:00Z |
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| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T23:29:00Z |
| publishDate | 2023-09-01 |
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| record_format | Article |
| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj.art-baae74794d504346a7589463fc82fae12023-11-19T07:47:31ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152023-09-011317279510.3390/ani13172795Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic PotentialStephen F. Fitzgerald0Mairi C. Mitchell1Anne Holmes2Lesley Allison3Margo Chase-Topping4Nadejda Lupolova5Beth Wells6David L. Gally7Tom N. McNeilly8Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UKScottish <i>E. coli</i> O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UKScottish <i>E. coli</i> O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UKScottish <i>E. coli</i> O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UKThe Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UKThe Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UKMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UKThe Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UKMoredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UKShiga toxin-producing <i>E. coli</i> (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many ‘spillover’ species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumption of venison meat products, highlighted several knowledge gaps, including the prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer and the potential risk to humans from wild deer isolates. In this study, we undertook a nationwide survey of wild deer in Scotland and determined that the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low 0.28% (95% confidence interval = 0.06–0.80). Despite the low prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer, identified isolates were present in deer faeces at high levels (>10<sup>4</sup> colony forming units/g faeces) and had high human pathogenic potential based on whole genome sequencing and virulence gene profiling. A retrospective epidemiological investigation also identified one wild deer isolate from this study as a possible source of a Scottish human outbreak in 2017. These results emphasise the importance of food hygiene practices during the processing of wild deer carcasses for human consumption.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2795Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC)O157deerprevalencewhole genome sequencingpublic health |
| spellingShingle | Stephen F. Fitzgerald Mairi C. Mitchell Anne Holmes Lesley Allison Margo Chase-Topping Nadejda Lupolova Beth Wells David L. Gally Tom N. McNeilly Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential Animals Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC) O157 deer prevalence whole genome sequencing public health |
| title | Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential |
| title_full | Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential |
| title_fullStr | Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential |
| title_full_unstemmed | Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential |
| title_short | Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential |
| title_sort | prevalence of shiga toxin producing i escherichia coli i o157 in wild scottish deer with high human pathogenic potential |
| topic | Shiga toxin-producing <i>Escherichia coli</i> (STEC) O157 deer prevalence whole genome sequencing public health |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/13/17/2795 |
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