Captive and free-living urban pigeons (Columba livia) from Brazil as carriers of multidrug-resistant pathogenic Escherichia coli

Author(s)

Borges, Clarissa A. ; Maluta, Renato P. ; Beraldo, Livia G. ; Cardozo, Marita V. ; Guastalli, Elisabete A. L. ; Kariyawasam, Subhashinie ; DebRoy, Chitrita ; Avila, Fernando A.

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: VETERINARY JOURNAL; v. 219, p. 65-67, JAN 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Thirty Escherichia coli isolates from captive and free-living pigeons in Brazil were characterised. Virulence associated genes identified in pigeons included those which occur relatively frequently in avian pathogenic E. colt (APEC) from commercial poultry worldwide. Eleven of 30 E. coli isolates from pigeons, belonging mainly to B1 and B2 phylogenetic groups, had high or intermediate pathogenicity for 1-day-old chicks. The frequency of multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. colt in captive pigeons was relatively high and included one isolate positive for the extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) gene bla(CTX-M-8). Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) showed high heterogeneity among isolates. There is potential for pigeons to transmit antibiotic resistant pathogenic E. colt to other species through environmental contamination or direct contact. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 08/00417-0 - Biochemical, serological and genotypic characterization of Escherichia coli strains isolated from water, feces and carcass from sheep raised in São Paulo State, Brazil
• Grantee: Renato Pariz Maluta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/12002-0 - Detection and characterization of STEC, EPEC and APEC in wild birds and pigeons in Jaboticabal-SP
• Grantee: Fernando Antonio de Avila
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 11/06467-2 - Detection and characterization of Escherichia coli (APEC) in wild birds and pigeons (Columba livia) in Jaboticabal-SP
• Grantee: Clarissa Araújo Borges
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate