A high number of multidrug-resistant and predominant genetically related cluster ofShigella flexneristrains isolated over 34 years in Brazil

Author(s)

Gonzales, Julia Cunha ^[1] ; Seribelli, Amanda Aparecida ^[1] ; Gomes, Carolina Nogueira ^[1] ; dos Prazeres Rodrigues, Dalia ^[2] ; Campioni, Fabio ^[1] ; Passaglia, Jaqueline ^[1] ; da Silva, Paulo ^[3] ; Falcao, Juliana Pfrimer ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Dept Anal Clin Toxicol & Bromatol, Fac Ciencias Farmaceut Ribeirao Preto, Ave Cafe S-No, Campus Univ USP, BR-14040903 Ribeirao Preto, SP - Brazil

^[2] Fundacao Oswaldo Cruz, Rio De Janeiro - Brazil

^[3] Inst Adolfo Lutz Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Journal of Microbiology; v. 51, n. 4, p. 1563-1571, DEC 2020.
• Web of Science Citations: 0

Abstract

Shigella flexnerihas been a major public health problem in developing countries. This work analyzed the frequency of 16 virulence genes, the genotypic diversity, and the antimicrobial resistance profiles of 130S. flexneristrains isolated in Brazil. TheipaHgene was found in all the 130 strains. The frequencies of the other genes were variableial(88.5%),sigA(82.3%),iuc(74.6%),virA(73%),pic(72.3%),virF (57.7%),sat(48.5%),ipaBCD(37%),sen(36%),set1A(35.4%),sepA(30%),set 1B(30%),virB(14%),icsA(10%), andipgD(5.4%). A total of 57 (43.8%) strains were multidrug-resistant. ERIC-PCR grouped 96 of the strains into a single cluster with >= 70.4% of similarity, 75 of these strains presented a similarity >= 80.9%. PFGE grouped 120 of the strains into a single cluster with 57.4% of similarity and 82 of these strains presented a similarity >= 70.6%. In conclusion, the high frequency of some virulence genes reinforces the pathogenic potential of the strains studied. The high rates of MDR strains are alarming once it may lead to failure when antimicrobial treatment is necessary. Genotype techniques reveled a major cluster with high genetic similarity includingS. flexneristrains from the different Brazilian states and distinct years of isolation, showing that they probably emerged from a common ancestor. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 14/13029-0 - Molecular characterization of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains of diverse origins
• Grantee: Juliana Pfrimer Falcão
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants