Phylogenetic and antimicrobial resistance gene analysis of Salmonella Typhimurium strains isolated in Brazil by whole genome sequencing

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) aminoglycoside-resistant ST313 isolates feature unique pathogenic mechanisms to reach the bloodstream

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) from the clonal type ST313 (S. Typhimurium ST313) is the primary cause of invasive salmonellosis in Africa. Recently, in Brazil, iNTS ST313 strains have been isolated from different sources, but there is a lack of understanding of the mechanisms behind how these gut bacteria can break the gut barrier and reach the patient's bloodstream. Here, we compare 13 strains of S. Typhimurium ST313, previously unreported isolates, from human blood cultures, investigating aspects of virulence and mechanisms of resistance. Initially, RNAseq analyses between ST13-blood isolate and SL1344 (ST19) prototype revealed 15 upregulated genes directly related to cellular invasion and replication, such as sopD2, sifB, and pipB. Limited information is available about S. Typhimurium ST313 pathogenesis and epidemiology, especially related to the global distribution of strains. Herein, the correlation of strains isolated from different sources in Brazil was employed to compare clinical and non-clinical isolates, a total of 22 genomes were studied by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs). The epidemiological analysis of 22 genomes of S. Typhimurium ST313 strains grouped them into three distinct clusters (A, B, and C) by SNP analysis, where cluster A comprised five, group B six, and group C 11. The 13 clinical blood isolates were all resistant to streptomycin, 92.3% of strains were resistant to ampicillin and 15.39% were resistant to kanamycin. The resistance genes acrA, acrB, mdtK, emrB, emrR, mdsA, and mdsB related to the production of efflux pumps were detected in all (100%) strains studied, similar to pathogenic traits investigated. In conclusion, we evidenced that S. Typhimurium ST313 strains isolated in Brazil have unique epidemiology. The elevated frequencies of virulence genes such as sseJ, sopD2, and pipB are a major concern in these Brazilian isolates, showing a higher pathogenic potential.

WGS-Based Lineage and Antimicrobial Resistance Pattern of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated during 2000-2017 in Peru

Salmonella Typhimurium is associated with foodborne diseases worldwide, including in Peru, and its emerging antibiotic resistance (AMR) is now a global public health problem. Therefore, country-specific monitoring of the AMR emergence is vital to control this pathogen, and in these aspects, whole genome sequence (WGS)—based approaches are better than gene-based analyses. Here, we performed the antimicrobial susceptibility test for ten widely used antibiotics and WGS-based various analyses of 90 S. Typhimurium isolates (human, animal, and environment) from 14 cities of Peru isolated from 2000 to 2017 to understand the lineage and antimicrobial resistance pattern of this pathogen in Peru. Our results suggest that the Peruvian isolates are of Typhimurium serovar and predominantly belong to sequence type ST19. Genomic diversity analyses indicate an open pan-genome, and at least ten lineages are circulating in Peru. A total of 48.8% and 31.0% of isolates are phenotypically and genotypically resistant to at least one antibiotic, while 12.0% are multi-drug resistant (MDR). Genotype−phenotype correlations for ten tested drugs show >80% accuracy, and >90% specificity. Sensitivity above 90% was only achieved for ciprofloxacin and ceftazidime. Two lineages exhibit the majority of the MDR isolates. A total of 63 different AMR genes are detected, of which 30 are found in 17 different plasmids. Transmissible plasmids such as lncI-gamma/k, IncI1-I(Alpha), Col(pHAD28), IncFIB, IncHI2, and lncI2 that carry AMR genes associated with third-generation antibiotics are also identified. Finally, three new non-synonymous single nucleotide variations (SNVs) for nalidixic acid and eight new SNVs for nitrofurantoin resistance are predicted using genome-wide association studies, comparative genomics, and functional annotation. Our analysis provides for the first time the WGS-based details of the circulating S. Typhimurium lineages and their antimicrobial resistance pattern in Peru.

Genomic Characterization of Salmonella Typhimurium Isolated from Guinea Pigs with Salmonellosis in Lima, Peru

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is one of the most important foodborne pathogens that infect humans globally. The gastrointestinal tracts of animals like pigs, poultry or cattle are the main reservoirs of Salmonella serotypes. Guinea pig meat is an important protein source for Andean countries, but this animal is commonly infected by S. Typhimurium, producing high mortality rates and generating economic losses. Despite its impact on human health, food security, and economy, there is no genomic information about the S. Typhimurium responsible for the guinea pig infections in Peru. Here, we sequence and characterize 11 S. Typhimurium genomes isolated from guinea pigs from four farms in Lima-Peru. We were able to identify two genetic clusters (HC100_9460 and HC100_9757) distinguishable at the H100 level of the Hierarchical Clustering of Core Genome Multi-Locus Sequence Typing (HierCC-cgMLST) scheme with an average of 608 SNPs of distance. All sequences belonged to sequence type 19 (ST19) and HC100_9460 isolates were typed in silico as monophasic variants (1,4,[5],12:i:-) lacking the fljA and fljB genes. Phylogenomic analysis showed that human isolates from Peru were located within the same genetic clusters as guinea pig isolates, suggesting that these lineages can infect both hosts. We identified a genetic antimicrobial resistance cassette carrying the ant(3)-Ia, dfrA15, qacE, and sul1 genes associated with transposons TnAs3 and IS21 within an IncI1 plasmid in one guinea pig isolate, while antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) for β-lactam (blaCTX-M-65) and colistin (mcr-1) resistance were detected in Peruvian human-derived isolates. The presence of a virulence plasmid highly similar to the pSLT plasmid (LT2 reference strain) containing the spvRABCD operon was found in all guinea pig isolates. Finally, seven phage sequences (STGP_Φ1 to STGP_Φ7) were identified in guinea pig isolates, distributed according to the genetic lineage (H50 clusters level) and forming part of the specific gene content of each cluster. This study presents, for the first time, the genomic characteristics of S. Typhimurium isolated from guinea pigs in South America, showing particular diversity and genetic elements (plasmids and prophages) that require special attention and also broader studies in different periods of time and locations to determine their impact on human health.

Emergence, Dissemination and Antimicrobial Resistance of the Main Poultry-Associated Salmonella Serovars in Brazil

Simple Summary

Salmonellosis is a human and animal disease caused by Salmonella, a bacterial genus classified into different species, subspecies, and serological variants (serovars) according to adaptation to one or more different hosts (animals and humans), pathogenicity profiles, and antigenic properties. Some specific Salmonella serovars can spread more easily in the enteric microbiota of avian species, often causing disease in birds and/or being transmitted to humans through food (such as chicken and eggs). Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has also been reported in poultry-associated Salmonella isolates due to the widespread use of antimicrobials on farms. The availability of comprehensive data on the emergence and spread of Salmonella serovars, as well as their AMR profiles in farms and food products in Brazil (a major producer of poultry in the World), is necessary to understand their relevance in all avian production chains and also occurrence in poultry-derived foods. This article aims to provide an overview of the genus Salmonella and the main serovars that emerged in Brazilian poultry over time (Gallinarum, Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Heidelberg, and Minnesota), reviewing the scientific literature and suggesting more effective prevention and control for the future.

Abstract

Salmonella infects poultry, and it is also a human foodborne pathogen. This bacterial genus is classified into several serovars/lineages, some of them showing high antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The ease of Salmonella transmission in farms, slaughterhouses, and eggs industries has made controlling it a real challenge in the poultry-production chains. This review describes the emergence, dissemination, and AMR of the main Salmonella serovars and lineages detected in Brazilian poultry. It is reported that few serovars emerged and have been more widely disseminated in breeders, broilers, and layers in the last 70 years. Salmonella Gallinarum was the first to spread on the farms, remaining as a concerning poultry pathogen. Salmonella Typhimurium and Enteritidis were also largely detected in poultry and foods (eggs, chicken, turkey), being associated with several human foodborne outbreaks. Salmonella Heidelberg and Minnesota have been more widely spread in recent years, resulting in frequent chicken/turkey meat contamination. A few more serovars (Infantis, Newport, Hadar, Senftenberg, Schwarzengrund, and Mbandaka, among others) were also detected, but less frequently and usually in specific poultry-production regions. AMR has been identified in most isolates, highlighting multi-drug resistance in specific poultry lineages from the serovars Typhimurium, Heidelberg, and Minnesota. Epidemiological studies are necessary to trace and control this pathogen in Brazilian commercial poultry production chains.

Prevalence and whole-genome sequencing analysis of Salmonella reveal its spread along the duck production chain

Salmonella is the most important foodborne pathogen in poultry production systems and can infect humans via consumption of contaminated food. Ducks, an important waterfowl widely raised in China, are also a vehicle that transmits Salmonella through the food supply chain. In this study, 701 samples were collected from each production stage of the duck production chain. Salmonella was isolated and identified, and the isolates were tested for drug sensitivity and molecular typing based on whole genome sequencing (WGS) to explore the prevalence of Salmonella in the duck production chain. Altogether, a total of 180 Salmonella isolates (25.7%) were obtained from the duck production chain, 82 (35.7%) isolates were from hatchery samples, followed by 64 (29.2%) from market samples, 17 (23.6%) from farm samples, and 17 (9.4%) from slaughterhouse samples. All isolates were divided into 9 serotypes, among which S. Typhimurium, S. Anatum, and S. Enteritidis were the dominant serotypes. The S. Typhimurium was distributed in various production stages in the duck production chain. Among the 16 antibiotics, selected 60 isolates were only resistant to NAL, indicating that resistance of Salmonella in the duck production chain was low. WGS phylogenetic relationship results based on core-genome SNPs showed that S. Typhimurium can spread across geographic regions and along between different stages of the duck production chain, eventually reaching the market where it is a potential threat to consumer health. This study explored the prevalence of Salmonella in the duck production chain which will provide data support for proposing some interventions to control Salmonella.

Antimicrobial resistance and genetic background of non-typhoidal Salmonella enterica strains isolated from human infections in São Paulo, Brazil (2000-2019)

Salmonella enterica causes Salmonellosis, an important infection in humans and other animals. The number of multidrug-resistant (MDR) phenotypes associated with Salmonella spp. isolates is increasing worldwide, causing public health concern. Here, we aim to characterize the antimicrobial-resistant phenotype of 789 non-typhoidal S. enterica strains isolated from human infections in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, along 20 years (2000-2019). Among the non-susceptible isolates, 31.55, 14.06, and 13.18% were resistant to aminoglycosides, tetracycline, and β-lactams, respectively. Moreover, 68 and 11 isolates were considered MDR and Extended Spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL) producers, respectively, whereas one isolate was colistin-resistant. We selected four strains to obtain a draft of the Genome Sequence; one S. Infantis (ST32), one S. Enteritidis (ST11), one S. I 4,[5],12:i:- (ST19), and one S. Typhimurium (ST313). Among them, three presented at least one of the following antimicrobial resistance genes (AMR) linked to mobile DNA: bla_TEM-1B, dfrA1, tetA, sul1, floR, aac(6')-laa, and qnrE1. This is the first description of the plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance (PMQR) gene qnrE1 in a clinical isolate of S. I 4,[5],12:i:-. The S. Typhimurium is a colistin-resistant isolate, but did not harbor mcr genes, but it presented mutations within the mgrB, pmrB, and pmrC regions that might be linked to the colistin-resistant phenotype. The virulence pattern of the four isolates resembled the virulence pattern of the highly pathogenic S. Typhimurium UK-1 reference strain in assays involving the in vivo Galleria mellonella model. In conclusion, most isolates studied here are susceptible, but a small percentage present an MDR or ESBL-producer and pathogenic phenotype. Sequence analyses revealed plasmid-encoded AMR genes, such as β-lactam and fluoroquinolone resistance genes, indicating that these characteristics can be potentially disseminated among other bacterial strains.

The Dynamics of the Antimicrobial Resistance Mobilome of Salmonella enterica and Related Enteric Bacteria

The foodborne pathogen Salmonella enterica is considered a global public health risk. Salmonella enterica isolates can develop resistance to several antimicrobial drugs due to the rapid spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, thus increasing the impact on hospitalization and treatment costs, as well as the healthcare system. Mobile genetic elements (MGEs) play key roles in the dissemination of AMR genes in S. enterica isolates. Multiple phenotypic and molecular techniques have been utilized to better understand the biology and epidemiology of plasmids including DNA sequence analyses, whole genome sequencing (WGS), incompatibility typing, and conjugation studies of plasmids from S. enterica and related species. Focusing on the dynamics of AMR genes is critical for identification and verification of emerging multidrug resistance. The aim of this review is to highlight the updated knowledge of AMR genes in the mobilome of Salmonella and related enteric bacteria. The mobilome is a term defined as all MGEs, including plasmids, transposons, insertion sequences (ISs), gene cassettes, integrons, and resistance islands, that contribute to the potential spread of genes in an organism, including S. enterica isolates and related species, which are the focus of this review.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Characterization of Salmonella Isolates Recovered from Foods Linked to Human Salmonellosis Outbreaks in Minas Gerais State, Brazil

ABSTRACT

Salmonella is one of the primary pathogens that causes foodborne diseases worldwide. In the present study, we characterized Salmonella isolates recovered from foods linked to human salmonellosis outbreaks in Minas Gerais, Brazil, from 2003 to 2017. Serotype, antimicrobial susceptibility, presence of virulence genes, and genetic polymorphism as determined by repetitive element sequence-based PCR were determined for 70 Salmonella isolates. Thirteen Salmonella serotypes were identified, and the most prevalent were Enteritidis and Typhimurium, comprising 52 (74.3%) of the 70 isolates. Sixty-five (92.8%) of the isolates were resistant to at least 1 of the 15 antimicrobials tested. Ten isolates (14.2%) had a multidrug resistance phenotype. Isolates were screened for 16 virulence genes, which were found in 75.7 to 100% of the isolates. A statistical difference was found among Salmonella serotypes in the presence of the sipB, sopE, lfpA, sefA, and spvC genes. Based on their DNA fingerprints, 40 isolates of Salmonella Enteritidis from 16 outbreaks were separated into 14 groups and 12 isolates of Salmonella Typhimurium were separated into 6 groups. These serological patterns were similar to those reported by public health centers worldwide. Of concern is the high prevalence among the isolates in this study of both virulence genes and resistance to antimicrobials, especially to critically important drugs. Special attention should be given to Salmonella Enteritidis. Although the genomes of these Salmonella isolates were relatively variable, high genetic similarity was observed among them, and some had identical fingerprints. These results support the hypothesis of clonal circulation of Salmonella isolates causing human infections in Minas Gerais.

HIGHLIGHTS

Genomic characterization and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis isolated from food, humans and veterinary-related sources in Brazil

AIMS

To characterize the genetic relatedness, phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance and plasmid content of 80 Salmonella Infantis strains isolated from food, humans and veterinary sources from 2013 to 2018 in Brazil.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis showed major clusters containing 50% and 38.8% of the strains studied respectively. Multilocus sequence typing assigned all strains to ST32. Disk-diffusion revealed that 90% of the strains presented resistant or intermediate resistant profiles and 38.8% displayed multidrug resistance. Resistance genes for aminoglycosides (aac(6')-Iaa; aadA12; aph(3″-Ib; aph(6)-Id), β-lactams (bla_TEM-1 ; bla_CTX-M-8 ; bla_CMY-2 ), trimethoprim (dfrA8), tetracycline (tet(A)), amphenicols (floR), sulfonamide (sul2), efflux pumps (mdsA; mdsB), chromosomal point mutations in gyrB, parC, acrB and pmrA were detected. Strains harboured IncI, IncF, IncX, IncQ, IncN and IncR plasmids.

CONCLUSIONS

The presence of a prevalent S. Infantis subtype in Brazil and the high antimicrobial resistance rates reinforced the potential hazard of this serovar for the public health and food safety fields.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

This is the first study characterizing a large set of S. Infantis from Brazil by whole-genome sequencing, which provided a better local and global comprehension about the distribution and characteristics of this serovar of importance in the food, human and veterinary fields.

Antimicrobial resistance analysis and whole-genome sequencing of Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolate from ducks

OBJECTIVES

Salmonella is one of the most important genera of enteric pathogenic bacteria that threatened duck farms. The aim of this study was to increase the understanding of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in duck-origin S. enterica serovar Indiana isolate.

METHODS

Salmonella was isolated from duck cloacal swabs collected from the duck farms located in Zhejiang and Henan province of China. All of the isolates were identified after a series of confirmation tests including selective culture method, biochemical tests, serotyping and PCR targeting invA gene, and then subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing using the standard Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method. Subsequently, whole-genome analysis of a representative multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Indiana isolate SAP was performed using a combination of Nanopore and Illumina sequencing platforms.

RESULTS

A total of 18 Salmonella isolates were identified. The predominant serotype was S. enterica serovar Indiana (14 out of 18 isolates). The MDR pattern AMP-CFP-GEN-KAN-NEO-TET-NOR-CIP-CLB-SXT was observed in all 14 S. enterica serovar Indiana isolates. The genome of S. enterica serovar Indiana isolate SAP carried 65 antimicrobial resistance genes belonging to different antimicrobial resistance gene family including antibiotic efflux pump, rpsL, kdpDE, AAC(6'), general bacterial porin with reduced permeability to beta-lactams, ampC-type beta-lactamase, mutant Lpx gene conferring resistance to colistin, sulfonamide resistant dihydropteroate synthase folP, and trimethoprim resistant dihydrofolate reductase dfr.

CONCLUSION

S. enterica serovar Indiana strain isolated in this study carried multiple antimicrobial-resistant genes and exhibited resistance to multiple antibiotics.

Serotyping, MLST, and Core Genome MLST Analysis of Salmonella enterica From Different Sources in China During 2004-2019

Salmonella enterica (S. enterica) is an important foodborne pathogen, causing food poisoning and human infection, and critically threatening food safety and public health. Salmonella typing is essential for bacterial identification, tracing, epidemiological investigation, and monitoring. Serotyping and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) analysis are standard bacterial typing methods despite the low resolution. Core genome MLST (cgMLST) is a high-resolution molecular typing method based on whole genomic sequencing for accurate bacterial tracing. We investigated 250 S. enterica isolates from poultry, livestock, food, and human sources in nine provinces of China from 2004 to 2019 using serotyping, MLST, and cgMLST analysis. All S. enterica isolates were divided into 36 serovars using slide agglutination. The major serovars in order were Enteritidis (31 isolates), Typhimurium (29 isolates), Mbandaka (23 isolates), and Indiana (22 isolates). All strains were assigned into 43 sequence types (STs) by MLST. Among them, ST11 (31 isolates) was the primary ST. Besides this, a novel ST, ST8016, was identified, and it was different from ST40 by position 317 C → T in dnaN. Furthermore, these 250 isolates were grouped into 185 cgMLST sequence types (cgSTs) by cgMLST. The major cgST was cgST235530 (11 isolates), and only three cgSTs contained isolates from human and other sources, indicating a possibility of cross-species infection. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that most of the same serovar strains were putatively homologous except Saintpaul and Derby due to their multilineage characteristics. In addition, serovar I 4,[5],12:i:- and Typhimurium isolates have similar genomic relatedness on the phylogenetic tree. In conclusion, we sorted out the phenotyping and genotyping diversity of S. enterica isolates in China during 2004-2019 and clarified the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of Salmonella from different hosts in China in the recent 16 years. These results greatly supplement Salmonella strain resources, genetic information, and traceability typing data; facilitate the typing, traceability, identification, and genetic evolution analysis of Salmonella; and therefore, improve the level of analysis, monitoring, and controlling of foodborne microorganisms in China.

Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 isolated in Brazil revealed to be more invasive and inflammatory in murine colon compared to ST19 strains

Salmonella Typhimurium (ST313) has caused an epidemic of invasive disease in sub-Saharan Africa and has been recently identified in Brazil. As the virulence of this ST is poorly understood, the present study aimed to (i) perform the RNA-seq in vitro of S. Typhimurium STm30 (ST313) grown in Luria-Bertani medium at 37°C; (ii) compare it with the RNA-seq of the S. Typhimurium SL1344 (ST19) and S. Typhimurium STm11 (ST19) strains under the same growing conditions; and (iii) examine the colonization capacity and expression of virulence genes and cytokines in murine colon. The STm30 (ST313) strain exhibited stronger virulence and was associated with a more inflammatory profile than the strains SL1344 (ST19) and STm11 (ST19), as demonstrated by transcriptome and in vivo assay. The expression levels of the hilA, sopD2, pipB, and ssaS virulence genes, other Salmonella pathogenicity islands SPI-1 and SPI-2 genes or effectors, and genes of the cytokines IL-1β, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-12 were increased during ST313 infection in C57BL/6J mice. In conclusion, S. Typhimurium STm30 (ST313) isolated from human feces in Brazil express higher levels of pathogenesis-related genes at 37°C and has stronger colonization and invasion capacity in murine colon due to its high expression levels of virulence genes, when compared with the S. Typhimurium SL1344 (ST19) and STm11 (ST19) strains. STm30 (ST313) also induces stronger expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in this organ, suggesting that it causes more extensive tissue damage.

Phylogenetic relationship and genomic characterization of Salmonella Typhimurium strains isolated from swine in Brazil

Salmonella Typhimurium has been transmitted between humans and animals. Although, Brazil has been one of the largest pork meat exporters worldwide, there are few studies that characterized epidemiologically S. Typhimurium strains from swine. The aims of this work were to study the phylogenetic relationship of S. Typhimurium genomes isolated from swine in Brazil among themselves and with other genomes isolated from several sources and countries using wgMLST and cgMLST and to perform the search of Salmonella pathogenicity islands (SPIs). In addition, for S. Typhimurium strains from swine to compare the virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes by VFDB and ResFinder, genetic content by BLAST Atlas and orthologous proteins clusters by OrthoVenn. The constructed phylogenetic trees by wgMLST and cgMLST grouped the majority (92.3% and 80.7%, respectively) of the strains isolated from swine in Brazil into the same group. All the isolates contained important SPIs (SPI-1, SPI-2, SPI-3, SPI-5 and SPI-9). A total of 100 and 31 virulence and resistance genes were detected in the S. Typhimurium strains isolated from swine, respectively. The BLAST Atlas and orthologous proteins analysis found regions of phages and differences in metabolic, regulatory and cellular processes among S. Typhimurium LT2 and S. Typhimurium isolates from swine. In conclusion, molecular typing based in the wgMLST and cgMLST suggested that the S. Typhimurium isolates from swine studied were genetically related. The pathogenic potential of the strains studied was corroborated by the presence of important SPIs and virulence genes. The high number of antimicrobial resistance genes detected is worrying and reinforced their potential risk in swine in Brazil. The comparison by BLAST Atlas suggested differences in mobile genetic elements among S. Typhimurium LT2 and S. Typhimurium isolates from swine in Brazil. The orthologous proteins analysis revealed unique genes related to important cellular processes in the strains from swine.

Insights about the epidemiology of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from different sources in Brazil using comparative genomics

BACKGROUND

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is an important zoonotic agent worldwide. The aim of this work was to compare genetically 117 S. Typhimurium isolated from different sources over 30 years in Brazil using different genomics strategies.

RESULTS

The majority of the 117 S. Typhimurium strains studied were grouped into a single cluster (≅ 90%) by the core genome multilocus sequence typing and (≅ 77%) by single copy marker genes. The phylogenetic analysis based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) grouped most strains from humans into a single cluster (≅ 93%), while the strains isolated from food and swine were alocated into three clusters. The different orthologous protein clusters found for some S. Typhimurium isolated from humans and food are involved in metabolic and regulatory processes. For 26 isolates from swine the sequence types (ST) 19 and ST1921 were the most prevalent ones, and the ST14, ST64, ST516 and ST639 were also detected. Previous results typed the 91 S. Typhimurium isolates from humans and foods as ST19, ST313, ST1921, ST3343 and ST1649. The main prophages detected were: Gifsy-2 in 79 (67.5%) and Gifsy-1 in 63 (54%) strains. All of the S. Typhimurium isolates contained the acrA, acrB, macA, macB, mdtK, emrA, emrB, emrR and tolC efflux pump genes.

CONCLUSIONS

The phylogenetic trees grouped the majority of the S. Typhimurium isolates from humans into a single cluster suggesting that there is one prevalent subtype in Brazil. Regarding strains isolated from food and swine, the SNPs' results suggested the circulation of more than one subtype over 30 years in this country. The orthologous protein clusters analysis revealed unique genes in the strains studied mainly related to bacterial metabolism. S. Typhimurium strains from swine showed greater diversity of STs and prophages in comparison to strains isolated from humans and foods. The pathogenic potential of S. Typhimurium strains was corroborated by the presence of exclusive prophages of this serovar involved in its virulence. The high number of resistance genes related to efflux pumps is worrying and may lead to therapeutic failures when clinical treatment is needed.

Recent Advances in the Detection of Antibiotic and Multi-Drug Resistant Salmonella: An Update

Antibiotic and multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella poses a significant threat to public health due to its ability to colonize animals (cold and warm-blooded) and contaminate freshwater supplies. Monitoring antibiotic resistant Salmonella is traditionally costly, involving the application of phenotypic and genotypic tests over several days. However, with the introduction of cheaper semi-automated devices in the last decade, strain detection and identification times have significantly fallen. This, in turn, has led to efficiently regulated food production systems and further reductions in food safety hazards. This review highlights current and emerging technologies used in the detection of antibiotic resistant and MDR Salmonella.

Genomic Analysis of Antimicrobial Resistance and Resistance Plasmids in Salmonella Serovars from Poultry in Nigeria

Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health concern, and resistance genes in Salmonella, especially those located on mobile genetic elements, are part of the problem. This study used phenotypic and genomic methods to identify antimicrobial resistance and resistance genes, as well as the plasmids that bear them, in Salmonella isolates obtained from poultry in Nigeria. Seventy-four isolates were tested for susceptibility to eleven commonly used antimicrobials. Plasmid reconstruction and identification of resistance and virulence genes were performed with a draft genome using in silico approaches in parallel with plasmid extraction. Phenotypic resistance to ciprofloxacin (50.0%), gentamicin (48.6%), nalidixic acid (79.7%), sulphonamides (71.6%) and tetracycline (59.5%) was the most observed. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) detected in genomes corresponded well with these observations. Commonly observed ARGs included sul1, sul2, sul3, tet (A), tet (M), qnrS1, qnrB19 and a variety of aminoglycoside-modifying genes, in addition to point mutations in the gyrA and parC genes. Multiple ARGs were predicted to be located on IncN and IncQ1 plasmids of S. Schwarzengrund and S. Muenster, and most qnrB19 genes were carried by Col (pHAD28) plasmids. Seventy-two percent (19/24) of S. Kentucky strains carried multidrug ARGs located in two distinct variants of Salmonella genomic island I. The majority of strains carried full SPI-1 and SPI-2 islands, suggesting full virulence potential.

Identification of a predominant genotype of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Brazilian indigenous population

After nearly a century of vaccination and six decades of drug therapy, tuberculosis (TB) kills more people annually than any other infectious disease. Substantial challenges to disease eradication remain among vulnerable and underserved populations. The Guarani-Kaiowá people are an indigenous population in Paraguay and the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul. This community, marginalized in Brazilian society, experiences severe poverty. Like other South American indigenous populations, their TB prevalence is high, but the disease has remained largely unstudied in their communities. Herein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from local clinics were whole genome sequenced, and a population genetic framework was generated. Phylogenetics show M. tuberculosis isolates in the Guarani-Kaiowá people cluster away from selected reference strains, suggesting divergence. Most cluster in a single group, further characterized as M. tuberculosis sublineage 4.3.3. Closer analysis of SNPs showed numerous variants across the genome, including in drug resistance-associated genes, and with many unique changes fixed in each group. We report that local M. tuberculosis strains have acquired unique polymorphisms in the Guarani-Kaiowá people, and drug resistance characterization is urgently needed to inform public health to ensure proper care and avoid further evolution and spread of drug-resistant TB.

High genetic similarity of Salmonella Enteritidis as a predominant serovar by an independent survey in 3 large-scale chicken farms in China

Salmonella Enteritidis (SE) are important zoonotic pathogens, and can be easily transferred to humans by contaminated animal products. Epidemic surveys of SE are necessary in current modern large-scale chicken farms. In this study, Salmonella strains were isolated from possibly infected samples collected at 3 independent farms, and their serotype, drug resistances, virulence genes, and genetic similarity were analyzed by molecular genetic analysis technologies including multilocus sequence typing (MLST), clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR), pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and whole-genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 346 Salmonella strains were isolated from 3,598 samples (9.61%); 329 isolates were identified as SE (95.09%) and 308 isolates were multidrug resistant (93.62%). Virulotyping based on 6 virulence genes showed high similarity in SE isolates of each farm, with the exception of 2 isolates. All SE isolates were found to be the same ST11 type by MLST, and 22 strains of 150 SE isolates selected at random were found to belong to 1 cluster by PFGE and the same SET1 type by CRISPR. WGS results further revealed that these isolates belonged to the same clonal cluster, with high genetic similarity of 99.80 to 100.00%. All these results indicated that these SE isolates were overwhelmingly dominant and demonstrated high genetic similarity, which revealed that the same SE clone might be transmitted in these farms.

Whole-Genome Sequencing Analysis of Salmonella Enterica Serotype Enteritidis Isolated from Poultry Sources in South Korea, 2010-2017

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serotype Enteritidis (SE) is recognized as a major cause of human salmonellosis worldwide, and most human salmonellosis is due to the consumption of contaminated poultry meats and poultry byproducts. Whole-genome sequencing (data were obtained from 96 SE isolates from poultry sources, including an integrated broiler supply chain, farms, slaughterhouses, chicken transporting trucks, and retail chicken meats in South Korea during 2010–2017. Antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes were investigated using WGS data, and the phylogenetic relationship of the isolates was analyzed using single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) typing and core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). All isolates carried aminoglycoside resistance genes, aac(6’)-Iaa, and 56 isolates carried multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. The most frequent virulence gene profile, pef-fim-sop-inv.-org-sip-spa-sif-fli-flg-hil-ssa-sse-prg-pag-spv, was found in 90 isolates. The SNP analysis provided a higher resolution than the cgMLST analysis, but the cgMLST analysis was highly congruent with the SNP analysis. The phylogenetic results suggested the presence of resident SE within the facility of processing plants, environments of slaughterhouses, and the integrated broiler supply chain, and the phylogenetically related isolates were found in retail meats. In addition, the SE isolates from different origins showed close genetic relationships indicating that these strains may have originated from a common source. This study could be valuable reference data for future traceback investigations in South Korea.

Class 1 integron-borne cassettes harboring blaCARB-2 gene in multidrug-resistant and virulent Salmonella Typhimurium ST19 strains recovered from clinical human stool samples, United States

International lineages, such as Salmonella Typhimurium sequence type (ST) 19, are most often associated with foodborne diseases and deaths in humans. In this study, we compared the whole-genome sequences of five S. Typhimurium strains belonging to ST19 recovered from clinical human stool samples in North Carolina, United States. Overall, S. Typhimurium strains displayed multidrug-resistant profile, being resistance to critically and highly important antimicrobials including ampicillin, ticarcillin/clavulanic acid, streptomycin and sulfisoxazole, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, respectively. Interestingly, all S. Typhimurium strains carried class 1 integron (intl1) and we were able to describe two genomic regions surrounding bla_CARB-2 gene, size 4,062 bp and 4,422 bp for S. Typhimurium strains (HS5344, HS5437, and HS5478) and (HS5302 and HS5368), respectively. Genomic analysis for antimicrobial resistome confirmed the presence of clinically important genes, including bla_CARB-2, aac(6’)-Iaa, aadA2b, sul1, tetG, floR, and biocide resistance genes (qacEΔ1). S. Typhimurium strains harbored IncFIB plasmid containing spvRABCD operon, as well as rck and pef virulence genes, which constitute an important apparatus for spreading the virulence plasmid. In addition, we identified several virulence genes, chromosomally located, while the phylogenetic analysis revealed clonal relatedness among these strains with S. enterica isolated from human and non-human sources obtained in European and Asian countries. Our results provide new insights into this unusual class 1 integron in virulent S. Typhimurium strains that harbors a pool of genes acting as potential hotspots for horizontal gene transfer providing readily adaptation to new surrounds, as well as being crucially required for virulence in vivo. Therefore, continuous genomic surveillance is an important tool for safeguarding human health.

Inactivation of Multi-Drug Resistant Non-Typhoidal Salmonella and Wild-Type Escherichia coli STEC Using Organic Acids: A Potential Alternative to the Food Industry

Salmonella and Escherichia coli are the main bacterial species involved in food outbreaks worldwide. Recent reports showed that chemical sanitizers commonly used to control these pathogens could induce antibiotic resistance. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the efficiency of chemical sanitizers and organic acids when inactivating wild and clinical strains of Salmonella and E. coli, targeting a 4-log reduction. To achieve this goal, three methods were applied. (i) Disk-diffusion challenge for organic acids. (ii) Determination of MIC for two acids (acetic and lactic), as well as two sanitizers (quaternary compound and sodium hypochlorite). (iii) The development of inactivation models from the previously defined concentrations. In disk-diffusion, the results indicated that wild strains have higher resistance potential when compared to clinical strains. Regarding the models, quaternary ammonium and lactic acid showed a linear pattern of inactivation, while sodium hypochlorite had a linear pattern with tail dispersion, and acetic acid has Weibull dispersion to E. coli. The concentration to 4-log reduction differed from Salmonella and E. coli in acetic acid and sodium hypochlorite. The use of organic acids is an alternative method for antimicrobial control. Our study indicates the levels of organic acids and sanitizers to be used in the inactivation of emerging foodborne pathogens.

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Salmonella Typhimurium isolates from humans and foods in Brazil

Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) causes gastroenteritis in many countries. However, in Brazil there are few studies that have conducted a virulence characterization of this serovar. The aim of this study was to evaluate the virulence potential of S. Typhimurium strains isolated in Brazil. Forty S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans (n = 20) and food (n = 20) from Brazil were studied regarding their invasion and survival in human epithelial cells (Caco-2) and macrophages (U937). Their virulence potential was determined using the Galleria mellonella larvae model combined with the analysis of virulence genes by whole genome sequencing (WGS). A total of 67.5% of the S. Typhimurium studied (32.5% isolated from humans and 35% isolated from food) invaded Caco-2 epithelial cells at levels similar to or greater than the S. Typhimurium SL1344 prototype strain. In addition, 37.5% of the studied strains (25% isolated from humans and 12.5% isolated from food) survived in U937 human macrophages at levels similar to or greater than SL1344. S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans (40%) and food (25%) showed high or intermediate virulence in G. mellonella larvae after seven days exposure. Approximately, 153 virulence genes of chromosomal and plasmidial origin were detected in the strains studied. In conclusion, the ability of the S. Typhimurium to invade Caco-2 epithelial cells was strain dependent and was not related to the source or the year of isolation. However, S. Typhimurium strains isolated from humans showed greater survival rates in U937 human macrophages, and presented higher proportion of isolates with a virulent profile in G. mellonella in comparison to strains isolated from food suggesting that this difference may be related to the higher frequency of human isolates which contained plasmid genes, such as spvABCDR operon, pefABCD operon, rck and mig-5.

Frequency of Antimicrobial Resistance Genes in Salmonella From Brazil by in silico Whole-Genome Sequencing Analysis: An Overview of the Last Four Decades

Salmonella is a leading human pathogen and a significant public health concern worldwide. Massive food production and distribution have contributed to this pathogen dissemination, which, combined with antimicrobial resistance (AMR), creates new control challenges in food safety. The development of AMR is a natural phenomenon and can occur in the bacterial evolutionary process. However, the overuse and the misuse of antimicrobial drugs in humans and in animals have increased AMR selective pressure. In Brazil, there is an accuracy lack in AMR frequency in Salmonella because too many isolates are under-investigated for genetic and phenotypic AMR by the Brazilian health authorities and the research community. This underreporting situation makes the comprehension of the real level of Salmonella AMR in the country difficult. The present study aimed to use bioinformatics tools for a rapid in silico screening of the genetic antimicrobial resistance profile of Salmonella through whole-genome sequences (WGS). A total of 930 whole-genome sequences of Salmonella were retrieved from the public database of the National Biotechnology Information Center (NCBI). A total of 65 distinct resistance genes were detected, and the most frequent ones were tet(A), sul2, and fosA7. Nine point mutations were detected in total, and parC at the 57 position (threonine → serine) was the highest frequent substitution (26.7%, 249/930), followed by gyrA at the 83 position (serine → phenylalanine) (20.0%, 186/930) and at the 87 position (aspartic acid → asparagine) (15.7%, 146/930). The in silico prediction of resistance phenotype showed that 58.0% (540/930) of the strains can display a multidrug resistance (MDR) profile. Ciprofloxacin and nalidixic acid were the antimicrobial drugs with the highest frequency rates of the predicted phenotype resistance among the strains. The temporal analysis through the last four decades showed increased frequency rates of antimicrobial resistance genes and predicted resistance phenotypes in the 2000s and the 2010s when compared with the 1980s and 1990s. The results presented herein contributed significantly to the understanding of the strategic use of WGS associated with in silico analysis and the predictions for the determination of AMR in Salmonella from Brazil.

Whole-genome sequencing analysis and CRISPR genotyping of rare antibiotic-resistant Salmonella enterica serovars isolated from food and related sources

For decades, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis have prevailed in several countries as agents of salmonellosis outbreaks. In Brazil, the largest exporter of poultry meat, relatively little attention has been paid to infrequent serovars. Here, we report the emergence and characterization of rare serovars isolated from food and related sources collected between 2014 and 2016 in Brazil. Twenty-two Salmonella enterica isolates were analyzed through the use of whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) genotyping. These isolates were classified into 10 infrequent serovars, including S. Abony, S. Isangi, S. Rochdale, S. Saphra, S. Orion, S. Ouakam, S. Grumpensis, S. Carrau, S. Abaetetuba, and S. Idikan. The presence of six antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, qnrB19, bla_CMY-2, tetA, aac(6')-Iaa, sul2 and fosA7, which encode resistance to quinolones, third-generation cephalosporin, tetracycline, aminoglycoside, sulfonamide and fosfomycin, respectively, were confirmed by WGS. All S. Isangi harbored qnrB19 with conserved genomic context across strains, while S. Abony harbored bla_CMY-2. Twelve (54.5%) strains displayed chromosomal mutations in parC (Thr57→Ser). Most serovars were classified as independent lineages, except S. Abony and S. Abaetetuba, which phylogenetically nested with Salmonella strains from different countries. CRISPR analysis revealed that the spacer content was strongly correlated with serovar and multi-locus sequence type for all strains, independently confirming the observed phylogenetic patterns, and highlighting the value of CRISPR-based genotyping for Salmonella. These findings add valuable information to the epidemiology of S. enterica in Brazil, where the emergency of antibiotic-resistant Salmonella continues to evolve.

Evolution of Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium driven by anthropogenic selection and niche adaptation

Salmonella enterica serotype Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) is a leading cause of gastroenteritis and bacteraemia worldwide, and a model organism for the study of host-pathogen interactions. Two S. Typhimurium strains (SL1344 and ATCC14028) are widely used to study host-pathogen interactions, yet genotypic variation results in strains with diverse host range, pathogenicity and risk to food safety. The population structure of diverse strains of S. Typhimurium revealed a major phylogroup of predominantly sequence type 19 (ST19) and a minor phylogroup of ST36. The major phylogroup had a population structure with two high order clades (α and β) and multiple subclades on extended internal branches, that exhibited distinct signatures of host adaptation and anthropogenic selection. Clade α contained a number of subclades composed of strains from well characterized epidemics in domesticated animals, while clade β contained multiple subclades associated with wild avian species. The contrasting epidemiology of strains in clade α and β was reflected by the distinct distribution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes, accumulation of hypothetically disrupted coding sequences (HDCS), and signatures of functional diversification. These observations were consistent with elevated anthropogenic selection of clade α lineages from adaptation to circulation in populations of domesticated livestock, and the predisposition of clade β lineages to undergo adaptation to an invasive lifestyle by a process of convergent evolution with of host adapted Salmonella serotypes. Gene flux was predominantly driven by acquisition and recombination of prophage and associated cargo genes, with only occasional loss of these elements. The acquisition of large chromosomally-encoded genetic islands was limited, but notably, a feature of two recent pandemic clones (DT104 and monophasic S. Typhimurium ST34) of clade α (SGI-1 and SGI-4).

Antimicrobial Resistance in Nontyphoidal Salmonella Isolates from Human and Swine Sources in Brazil: A Systematic Review of the Past Three Decades

Salmonella is the leading cause of foodborne illnesses worldwide. The widespread use of antimicrobials as prophylactic, therapeutic, and growth promoters in both livestock and human medicine has resulted in selective pressure regarding antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria. This systematic review summarizes phenotypic antimicrobial resistance profiles in Salmonella isolates from human and swine sources between 1990 and 2018 in Brazil. The 20 studies that matched the eligibility criteria-isolates from pigs and humans from Brazil, between 1990 and 2016, containing information on the number of Salmonella isolates, and applying the disk diffusion susceptibility method-were included. During the assessed period, Salmonella strains isolated from swine sources displayed the highest resistance rates for tetracycline (20.3%) and sulfonamides (17.4%). In contrast, human isolates displayed the highest resistance rates against ampicillin (19.8%) and tetracycline (17%). Salmonella Typhimurium was the most frequent AMR isolate from both swine and human sources, corresponding to 67% of all isolates. From 2001 to 2005, tetracycline and ampicillin were the top antimicrobial resistance compounds, and the most frequently detected in swine and human sources, respectively. A total of 63 and 58 multiple drug resistance profiles were identified in swine and human isolates, respectively. Antimicrobial resistance has decreased throughout the 1990-2016 period, except for gentamicin and nalidixic acid in swine and human isolates, respectively. The results indicate that Salmonella isolated from human and swine display resistance against clinically important antimicrobials, indicating that swine are possibly one of the main vectors for spreading human salmonellosis in Brazil.

Occurrence, quantification, pulse types, and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella sp. isolated from chicken meat in the state of Paraná, Brazil

The aim of this work was to verify the occurrence, quantification, pulse types, and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Salmonella sp. isolated from chicken meat produced and marketed in the state of Paraná, considered to be the state with the highest production of poultry meat in Brazil. Ninety-five of 300 (31.5%) frozen cuts of chicken were found to contain Salmonella sp., and 98 different isolates of Salmonella sp. were cultured from the positive samples. Quantification showed low Salmonella sp. loading, ranging from 0.12 to 6.4 MPN/g. The antimicrobial resistance test was performed against 16 agents from 6 different classes. All isolates were sensitive to meropenem, imipenem, chloramphenicol, and amikacin. The highest resistance rates were observed for nalidixic acid (95%), tetracycline (94%), doxycycline (94%), ampicillin (87%), amoxicillin with clavulanic acid (84%), ceftriaxone (79%), and ciprofloxacin (76%). A total of 84 (85.7%) of the isolates were identified with a multidrug resistant profile, 13 of which were found to have encoding genes extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), especially blaCTX-M-2 e blaTEM-1. The major serovars identified were S. Typhimurium (43%) and S. Heidelberg (39%). The third most isolated serovar was S. Ndolo (6%), without previous reports of its presence in poultry meat in Brazil. Molecular characterization of S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg isolates by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed a clonal relationship between all isolates of the same serovar (genetic similarity greater than 80%). Isolates of S. Typhimurium and S. Heidelberg with 100% similarity were found in up to five different geographic regions of the state, showing the potential for the spread of this pathogen in the Paraná poultry chain. Epidemiological surveys like this are important to understand the dynamics of dissemination and to monitor the prevalence of pathogens in the final products of poultry chains. In addition, to know the resistance profile of strains of Salmonella sp. present in food that contributes to the adoption of faster and more effective therapeutic measures, when necessary.

Phylogenetic analysis revealed that Salmonella Typhimurium ST313 isolated from humans and food in Brazil presented a high genomic similarity

Salmonella Typhimurium sequence type 313 (S. Typhimurium ST313) has caused invasive disease mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. In Brazil, ST313 strains have been recently described, and there is a lack of studies that assessed by whole genome sequencing (WGS)-the relationship of these strains. The aims of this work were to study the phylogenetic relationship of 70 S. Typhimurium genomes comparing strains of ST313 (n = 9) isolated from humans and food in Brazil among themselves, with other STs isolated in this country (n = 31) and in other parts of the globe (n = 30) by 16S rRNA sequences, the Gegenees software, whole genome multilocus sequence typing (wgMLST), and average nucleotide identity (ANI) for the genomes of ST313. Additionally, pangenome analysis was performed to verify the heterogeneity of these genomes. The phylogenetic analyses showed that the ST313 genomes were very similar among themselves. However, the ST313 genomes were usually clustered more distantly to other STs of strains isolated in Brazil and in other parts of the world. By pangenome calculation, the core genome was 2,880 CDSs and 4,171 CDSs singletons for all the 70 S. Typhimurium genomes studied. Considering the 10 ST313 genomes analyzed the core genome was 4,112 CDSs and 76 CDSs singletons. In conclusion, the ST313 genomes from Brazil showed a high similarity among them which information might eventually help in the development of vaccines and antibiotics. The pangenome analysis showed that the S. Typhimurium genomes studied presented an open pangenome, but specifically tending to become close for the ST313 strains.

Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonellaisolates from goose farms in Northeast China

BACKGROUND

Salmonella is one of the most important enteric pathogenic bacteria that threatened poultry health.

AIMS

This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Salmonella isolates in goose farms.

METHODS

A total of 244 cloacal swabs were collected from goose farms to detect Salmonella in Northeast China. Antimicrobial susceptibility, and resistance gene distribution of Salmonella isolates were investigated.

RESULTS

Twenty-one Salmonella isolates were identified. Overall prevalence of Salmonella in the present study was 8.6%. Among the Salmonella isolates, the highest resistance frequencies belonged to amoxicillin (AMX) (85.7%), tetracycline (TET) and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) (81%), followed by chloramphenicol (CHL) (76.2%), florfenicol (FLO) (71.4%), kanamycin (KAN) (47.6%), and gentamycin (GEN) (38.1%). Meanwhile, only 4.8% of the isolates were resistant to ciprofloxacin (CIP) and cefotaxime (CTX). None of the isolates was resistant to cefoperazone (CFP) and colistin B (CLB). Twenty isolates (95%) were simultaneously resistant to at least two antimicrobials. Ten resistance genes were detected among which the bla _TEM-1, cmlA, aac(6')-Ib-cr, sul1, sul2, sul3, and mcr-1.1 were the most prevalent, and presented in all 21 isolates followed by tetB (20/21), qnrB (19/21), and floR (15/21).

CONCLUSION

Results indicated that Salmonella isolates from goose farms in Northeast China exhibited multi-drug resistance (MDR), harboring multiple antimicrobial resistance genes. Our results will be useful to design prevention and therapeutic strategies against Salmonella infection in goose farms.

Genomic comparison of diverse Salmonella serovars isolated from swine

Food animals act as a reservoir for many foodborne pathogens. Salmonella enterica is one of the leading pathogens that cause food borne illness in a broad host range including animals and humans. They can also be associated with a single host species or a subset of hosts, due to genetic factors associated with colonization and infection. Adult swine are often asymptomatic carriers of a broad range of Salmonella servoars and can act as an important reservoir of infections for humans. In order to understand the genetic variations among different Salmonella serovars, Whole Genome Sequences (WGS) of fourteen Salmonella serovars from swine products were analyzed. More than 75% of the genes were part of the core genome in each isolate and the higher fraction of gene assign to different functional categories in dispensable genes indicated that these genes acquired for better adaptability and diversity. High concordance (97%) was detected between phenotypically confirmed antibiotic resistances and identified antibiotic resistance genes from WGS. The resistance determinants were mainly located on mobile genetic elements (MGE) on plasmids or integrated into the chromosome. Most of known and putative virulence genes were part of the core genome, but a small fraction were detected on MGE. Predicted integrated phage were highly diverse and many harbored virulence, metal resistance, or antibiotic resistance genes. CRISPR (Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats) patterns revealed the common ancestry or infection history among Salmonella serovars. Overall genomic analysis revealed a great deal of diversity among Salmonella serovars due to acquired genes that enable them to thrive and survive during infection.

Determining antimicrobial susceptibility in Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium through whole genome sequencing: a comparison against multiple phenotypic susceptibility testing methods

Background

UK public health organisations perform routine antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) to characterise the potential for antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella enterica serovars. Genetic determinants of these resistance mechanisms are detectable by whole genome sequencing (WGS), however the viability of WGS-based genotyping as an alternative resistance screening tool remains uncertain. We compared WGS-based genotyping, disk diffusion and agar dilution to the broth microdilution reference AST for 102 Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. Typhimurium) isolates across 11 antimicrobial compounds.

Results

Genotyping concordance, interpreted using epidemiological cut-offs (ECOFFs), was 89.8% (1007/1122) with 0.83 sensitivity and 0.96 specificity. For seven antimicrobials interpreted using Salmonella clinical breakpoints, genotyping produced 0.84 sensitivity and 0.88 specificity. Although less accurate than disk diffusion (0.94 sensitivity, 0.93 specificity) and agar dilution (0.83 sensitivity, 0.98 specificity), genotyping performance improved to 0.89 sensitivity and 0.97 specificity when two antimicrobials with relatively high very major error rates were excluded (streptomycin and sulfamethoxazole).

Conclusions

An 89.8% concordance from WGS-based AST predictions using ECOFF interpretations suggest that WGS would serve as an effective screening tool for the tracking of antimicrobial resistance mechanisms in S. Typhimurium. For use as a standalone clinical diagnostic screen, further work is required to reduce the error rates for specific antimicrobials.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (10.1186/s12866-019-1520-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Dissemination of Multidrug-Resistant Commensal Escherichia coli in Feedlot Lambs in Southeastern Brazil

Antimicrobial resistance (AR) is a public health issue since it limits the choices to treat infections by Escherichia coli in humans and animals. In Brazil, the ovine meat market has grown in recent years, but studies about AR in sheep are still scarce. Thus, this study aims to investigate the presence of AR in E. coli isolated from lambs during feedlot. To this end, feces from 112 lambs with 2 months of age, after weaning, were collected on the first day of the animals in the feedlot (day 0), and on the last day before slaughtering (day 42). Isolates were selected in MacConkey agar supplemented with 4 mg/L of ceftiofur and identified by biochemical methods. Isolates were submitted to an antimicrobial susceptibility test by disc-diffusion and PCR to investigate genes for phylogenetic group, virulence determinants and resistance to the several antimicrobial classes tested. The genetic localization of the bla genes detected was elucidated by S1-PFGE followed by Southern blot-hybridizations. The isolates were typed by XbaI-PFGE and MLST methods. Seventy-eight E. coli were isolated from 8/112 (7.1%) animals on day 0, and from 55/112 (49.1%) animals on day 42. Since only fimH was present in almost all E. coli (97.4%) as a virulence gene, and also 88.5% belonged to phylogroups B1 or A, we consider that isolates represent intestinal commensal bacteria. The dendrogram separated the 78 non-virulent isolates in seven clusters, two of which comprised 50 E. coli belonging to ST/CC 1727/446 or ST 3994 recovered on day 42 commonly harboring the genotype bla CMY -2-aac(3)-IIa -tetA-sul1-sul2-floR-cmlA. Special attention should be given to the presence of bla CTX-M-15, a worldwide gene spread, and bla CTX-M-14, a hitherto undetected gene in Enterobacteriaceae from food-producing animals in Brazil. Importantly, E. coli lineages and plasmids carrying bla genes detected here have already been reported as sources of infection in humans either from animals, food, or the environment, which raises public health concerns. Hence, two types of commensal E. coli carrying important AR genes clearly prevailed during feedlot, but lambs are also reservoirs of bacteria carrying important AR genes such as bla CTX-M-14 and bla CTX-M-15, mostly related to antimicrobial treatment failure.