ArgO145, a Stx2a prophage of a bovine O145:H- STEC strain, is closely related to phages of virulent human strains

Shiga toxins (Stx) are the main virulence factor of a pathogroup of Escherichia coli strains that cause severe human diseases. These toxins are encoded in prophages (Stx prophages), and generally their expression depends on prophage induction. Several studies have reported high diversity among both Stx prophages and Stx. In particular, the toxin subtype Stx2a is associated with high virulence and HUS. Here, we report the genome of ArgO145, an inducible Stx2a prophage identified in a bovine O145:H- strain which produced high levels of Shiga toxin and Stx phage particles. The ArgO145 genome shared lambda phage organization, with recombination, regulation, replication, lysis, and head and tail structural gene regions, although some lambda genes encoding regulatory proteins could not be identified. Remarkably, some Stx2a phages of strains isolated from patients in other countries showed high similarity to ArgO145.

Isolation of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli from chicken and chicken-derived products

Atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains from chicken and chicken-derived products were isolated and characterised. The strains presented a wide variety of serotypes, some have been reported in other animal species (O2:H40, O5:H40) and in children with diarrhoea (O8:H-). Most of the strains carried intimin β. The results indicate that chicken and chicken products are important sources of atypical EPEC strains that could be associated with human disease, and highlight the need to improve hygiene practices in chicken slaughtering and meat handling.

MLVA typing of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae bacterins and field strains

Because of the lack of information about both the genetic characteristics of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae commercial vaccines and their relationship with field strains, the authors attempted to identify genetic subtypes of some M hyopneumoniae bacterins, and to compare them with M. hyopneumoniae field strains. Six commercial M hyopneumoniae bacterins and 28 bronchoalveolar lavages from pigs at slaughter from three herds were analysed by Multiple-Locus Variable number tandem repeat Analysis (MLVA) on p146R1, p146R3, H4, H5 and p95 loci. The results obtained showed the presence of more than one M hyopneumoniae genotype in some pigs and also in one of the bacterins analysed. It is also worth noting that MLVA typing allowed the distinction among circulating field strains and also when comparing them with vaccine strains, which, knowing the relatedness among them, could be useful in the research of the efficacy of the vaccines.

Distribution of additional virulence factors related to adhesion and toxicity in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from raw products in Argentina

A total of 73 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolates, belonging to 25 serotypes and isolated from raw products in Argentina, were examined for the occurrence of genes responsible for bacterial adhesions to intestine, ehaA (EHEC autotransporter), lpfAO113 (long polar fimbriae), sab (STEC autotransporter [AT] contributing to biofilm formation), ecpA (E. coli common pilus), hcpA (haemorrhagic coli pilus), elfA (E. coli laminin-binding fimbriae), sfpA (sorbitol-fermenting EHEC O157 fimbriae plasmid-encoded) and of the toxigenic gene cdt-V (cytolethal distending toxin). Our study showed different adhesin profiles that are not linked to one specific serotype and that all analysed isolates possess, besides stx genes, some adherence genes. Several of the isolates contained also multiple toxin genes. The results of the present work alert the presence of genes coding for additional adhesins and cdt-V toxin in LEE-negative STEC strains that occur in foods, and this traits could increase their pathogenic potential.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Meat products are one of the main vehicles of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, and the presence of genes coding for additional adhesins and toxins could increase their pathogenic potential. There is a need for a more detailed characterization of the strains in regard to these extra virulence factors.

Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using chicken egg yolk IgY antibodies

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a subset of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) is associated with a spectrum of diseases that includes diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and a life-threatening hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Regardless of serotype, Shiga toxins (Stx1 and/or Stx2) are uniformly expressed by all EHEC, and so exploitable targets for laboratory diagnosis of these pathogens. In this study, a sandwich ELISA for determination of Shiga toxin (Stx) was developed using anti-Stx2B subunit antibodies and its performance was compared with that of the Vero cell assay and a commercial immunoassay kit. Chicken IgY was used as capture antibody and a HRP-conjugated rabbit IgG as the detection antibody. The anti-Stx2B IgY was harvested from eggs laid by hens immunized with a recombinant protein fragment. Several parameters were tested in order to optimize the sandwich ELISA assay, including concentration of antibodies, type and concentration of blocking agent, and incubation temperatures. Supernatants from 42 STEC strains of different serotypes and stx variants, including stx_2EDL933, stx_2vha, stx_2vhb, stx_2g, stx_1EDL933, and stx_1d were tested. All Stx variants were detected by the sandwich ELISA, with a detection limit of 115 ng/ml Stx2. Twenty three strains negative for stx genes, including different bacteria species, showed no activity in Vero cell assay and produced negative results in ELISA, except for two strains. Our results show that anti-Stx2B IgY sandwich ELISA could be used in routine diagnosis as a rapid, specific and economic method for detection of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli contamination at different stages of the chicken slaughtering process

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli is a foodborne pathogen that produces potentially fatal infant diarrhea, noticeably in developing countries. The aim of this study was to detect EPEC contamination by PCR at different stages of the chicken slaughtering process. We collected swabs from chicken cloacae and washed carcasses (external and visceral cavity) during the slaughtering process in 3 sampling occasions. Unwashed eviscerated carcasses were also sampled (at the visceral cavity) in the second and third sampling occasions. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli was detected in 6 to 28% of cloacal samples, 39 and 56% of unwashed eviscerated carcasses, and 4 to 58% of washed carcasses. None of the samples were positive for bfpA, suggesting contamination with atypical EPEC. The detection of EPEC at different stages of the chicken slaughtering process showed that the proportion of contaminated samples remained or even increased during processing. In addition, the high proportion of contaminated carcasses during chicken processing represents a risk for the consumers and a challenge to improve procedures for those working in the sanitary control service.

Antibodies anti-Shiga toxin 2 B subunit from chicken egg yolk: isolation, purification and neutralization efficacy

Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2) are the main virulence factors of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), a foodborne pathogen associated with diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. The aim of this study was to evaluate the antibodies against Stx2 obtained from egg yolks of laying hens immunized with a recombinant Stx2B subunit. A high specific response in serum was observed 25 days after the first immunization and IgY antibodies were extracted from day 47th and purified from egg yolk. A concentration of 0.84 mg of total IgY/ml of egg yolk was obtained, of which 8% were antigen specific. The ability of anti-Stx2B IgY to recognize Stx2B and Stx2 either in solid-phase or in solution were evaluated and compared with anti-Stx2B rabbit antibodies by Western blotting and ELISA. The protective efficacy of IgY against Stx2 was determined by in vitro and in vivo experiments. The results show that IgY was able to recognize Stx2B and Stx2 in denatured conditions, attached to a solid-phase and free in solution. The anti-Stx2B IgY could effectively block the biological activity of Stx2 on Vero cells and protect mice from Stx2 challenge. The data suggest that immunization of hens with Stx2B could be a strategy to obtain at low cost a relatively high concentration of anti-Stx2 egg yolk IgY, able to neutralize Stx2 lethal activity. IgY technology could be an useful tool for research, diagnosis and therapy of EHEC infection.

Multiplex PCR assay for the detection of five putative virulence genes encoded in verotoxigenic Escherichia coli plasmids

The aim was to perform a pentavalent PCR assay for the detection of putative virulence genes encoded in VTEC plasmids, katP, espP, subA, stcE, and ehxA. The five-specific primer pairs used in the assay do not interfere with each other and generate amplification products of 914, 774, 556, 399, and 262 bp. It was selected at random 39 strains belonged to 20 serotypes in order to evaluate the multiplex in a wide variety of strains. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to perform simultaneous amplification and search for recognized plasmid-encoded virulence markers from different E. coli serotypes and apply this technique to the genetic characterization of E. coli strains isolated from reservoirs, foods or patients. This complementary technique is a useful tool to detect interstrain differences for epidemiological studies and to provide information that could be related to the risk of human infection.