Isolation and molecular characterization of Arcobacte butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus from the pork production chain in Brazil

Author(s)

Gobbi, Debora D. S. ^[1] ; Spindola, Maria G. ^[1] ; Moreno, Luisa Z. ^[1] ; Matajira, Carlos E. C. ^[1] ; Oliveira, Maria G. X. ^[1] ; Paixao, Renata ^[1] ; Ferreira, Thais S. P. ^[1] ; Moreno, Andrea M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Med Vet & Zootecnia, Lab Sanidade Suina, Lab Epidemiol Mol & Resistencia Antimicrobianos, Cidade Univ, BR-05508270 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira; v. 38, n. 3, p. 393-399, MAR 2018.
• Web of Science Citations: 3

Abstract

Arcobacter is an emerging zoonotic pathogen, and the major transmission routes to humans are the handling or consumption of contaminated raw/undercooked food products of animal origin, water and seafood. The isolation and identification of Arcobacter species are not routine in clinical laboratories; therefore, its true incidence in human infections may be underestimated. The present study aimed to isolate and characterize Arcobacter from carcasses and fecal samples collected at swine slaughterhouses and from meat markets in Sao Paulo State, Brazil. The isolates were identified using multiplex-PCR to differentiate the species and analyzed by single-enzyme amplified fragment length polymorphism (SE-AFLP). Arcobacter spp. were isolated from 73.0% of swine carcasses, 4% of fecal samples and 10% of pork samples. A. butzleri was the most prevalent species identified, followed by A. cryaerophilus. Interestingly, the carcasses presented higher frequency of A. butzleri isolation, whereas only A. cryaerophilus was isolated from fecal samples. SE-AFLP enabled the characterization of A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus into 51 and 63 profiles, respectively. The great genetic heterogeneity observed for both species corroborates previous reports. This study confirms the necessity for a standard isolation protocol and the improvement of molecular tools to further elucidate Arcobacter epidemiology. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 07/01636-5 - Isolation and characterization of Arcobacter spp. strains from intensive swine productions and slaughterhouses
• Grantee: Debora Dirani Sena de Gobbi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• FAPESP's process: 10/17043-6 - Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of Arcobacter spp isolated from swine.
• Grantee: Debora Dirani Sena de Gobbi
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 10/13650-5 - Characterization of Arcobacter spp. strains isolated from swine through amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP).
• Grantee: Maria Garcia Spindola
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation