Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay

IntroductionShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen that cause food-borne diseases in humans. Cattle and derived foodstuffs play a known role as reservoir and vehicles, respectively. In Uruguay, information about the characteristics of circulating STEC in meat productive...

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Main Authors: Paula Mussio, Inés Martínez, Santiago Luzardo, Armando Navarro, Gerardo Leotta, Gustavo Varela
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2023-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Microbiology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1130170/full
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author Paula Mussio
Inés Martínez
Santiago Luzardo
Armando Navarro
Gerardo Leotta
Gustavo Varela
author_facet Paula Mussio
Inés Martínez
Santiago Luzardo
Armando Navarro
Gerardo Leotta
Gustavo Varela
author_sort Paula Mussio
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen that cause food-borne diseases in humans. Cattle and derived foodstuffs play a known role as reservoir and vehicles, respectively. In Uruguay, information about the characteristics of circulating STEC in meat productive chain is scarce. The aim was to characterize STEC strains recovered from 800 bovine carcasses of different slaughterhouses.MethodsTo characterize STEC strains we use classical microbiological procedures, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and FAO/WHO risk criteria.ResultsWe analyzed 39 STEC isolated from 20 establishments. They belonged to 21 different O-groups and 13 different H-types. Only one O157:H7 strain was characterized and the serotypes O130:H11(6), O174:H28(5), and O22:H8(5) prevailed. One strain showed resistance in vitro to tetracycline and genes for doxycycline, sulfonamide, streptomycin and fosfomycin resistance were detected. Thirty-three strains (84.6%) carried the subtypes Stx2a, Stx2c, or Stx2d. The gene eae was detected only in two strains (O157:H7, O182:H25). The most prevalent virulence genes found were lpfA (n = 38), ompA (n = 39), ompT (n = 39), iss (n = 38), and terC (n = 39). Within the set of STEC analyzed, the majority (81.5%) belonged to FAO/WHO’s risk classification levels 4 and 5 (lower risk). Besides, we detected STEC serotypes O22:H8, O113:H21, O130:H11, and O174:H21 belonged to level risk 2 associate with diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis or Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS). The only O157:H7 strain analyzed belonged to ST11. Thirty-eight isolates belonged to the Clermont type B1, while the O157:H7 was classified as E.DiscussionThe analyzed STEC showed high genomic diversity and harbor several genetic determinants associated with virulence, underlining the important role of WGS for a complete typing. In this set we did not detect non-O157 STEC previously isolated from local HUS cases. However, when interpreting this findings, the low number of isolates analyzed and some methodological limitations must be taken into account. Obtained data suggest that cattle constitute a local reservoir of non-O157 serotypes associated with severe diseases. Other studies are needed to assess the role of the local meat chain in the spread of STEC, especially those associated with severe diseases in humans.
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spelling doaj.art-f66f4eff765943b79e5f8ab35de80d802023-03-06T06:21:35ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2023-03-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.11301701130170Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in UruguayPaula Mussio0Inés Martínez1Santiago Luzardo2Armando Navarro3Gerardo Leotta4Gustavo Varela5Departamento de Microbiología, Laboratorio Tecnológico del Uruguay, Montevideo, UruguayLatitud, Fundación LATU, Montevideo, UruguayInstituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria, INIA, Tacuarembó, UruguayDepartamento de Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Mexico City, MexicoInstituto de Ciencia y Tecnología de Sistemas Alimentarios Sustentables, UEDD INTA-CONICET, Buenos Aires, ArgentinaDepartamento de Bacteriología y Virología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, UruguayIntroductionShiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a zoonotic pathogen that cause food-borne diseases in humans. Cattle and derived foodstuffs play a known role as reservoir and vehicles, respectively. In Uruguay, information about the characteristics of circulating STEC in meat productive chain is scarce. The aim was to characterize STEC strains recovered from 800 bovine carcasses of different slaughterhouses.MethodsTo characterize STEC strains we use classical microbiological procedures, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) and FAO/WHO risk criteria.ResultsWe analyzed 39 STEC isolated from 20 establishments. They belonged to 21 different O-groups and 13 different H-types. Only one O157:H7 strain was characterized and the serotypes O130:H11(6), O174:H28(5), and O22:H8(5) prevailed. One strain showed resistance in vitro to tetracycline and genes for doxycycline, sulfonamide, streptomycin and fosfomycin resistance were detected. Thirty-three strains (84.6%) carried the subtypes Stx2a, Stx2c, or Stx2d. The gene eae was detected only in two strains (O157:H7, O182:H25). The most prevalent virulence genes found were lpfA (n = 38), ompA (n = 39), ompT (n = 39), iss (n = 38), and terC (n = 39). Within the set of STEC analyzed, the majority (81.5%) belonged to FAO/WHO’s risk classification levels 4 and 5 (lower risk). Besides, we detected STEC serotypes O22:H8, O113:H21, O130:H11, and O174:H21 belonged to level risk 2 associate with diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis or Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (HUS). The only O157:H7 strain analyzed belonged to ST11. Thirty-eight isolates belonged to the Clermont type B1, while the O157:H7 was classified as E.DiscussionThe analyzed STEC showed high genomic diversity and harbor several genetic determinants associated with virulence, underlining the important role of WGS for a complete typing. In this set we did not detect non-O157 STEC previously isolated from local HUS cases. However, when interpreting this findings, the low number of isolates analyzed and some methodological limitations must be taken into account. Obtained data suggest that cattle constitute a local reservoir of non-O157 serotypes associated with severe diseases. Other studies are needed to assess the role of the local meat chain in the spread of STEC, especially those associated with severe diseases in humans.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1130170/fullSTECbovine carcassesvirulence factorsWGSUruguay
spellingShingle Paula Mussio
Inés Martínez
Santiago Luzardo
Armando Navarro
Gerardo Leotta
Gustavo Varela
Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
Frontiers in Microbiology
STEC
bovine carcasses
virulence factors
WGS
Uruguay
title Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
title_full Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
title_fullStr Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
title_full_unstemmed Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
title_short Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in Uruguay
title_sort phenotypic and genotypic characterization of shiga toxin producing escherichia coli strains recovered from bovine carcasses in uruguay
topic STEC
bovine carcasses
virulence factors
WGS
Uruguay
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1130170/full
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