Virulence Profiles, Phylogenetic Background, and Antibiotic Resistance of Escherichia coli Isolated from Turkeys with Airsacculitis

Author(s)

Cunha, Marcos Paulo Vieira ; Xavier de Oliveira, Maria Gabriela ; Vilela de Oliveira, Mirela Caroline ; da Silva, Ketrin Cristina ; Gomes, Cleise Ribeiro ; Moreno, Andrea Micke ; Knoebl, Terezinha

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: SCIENTIFIC WORLD JOURNAL; v. N/A, p. 8-pg., 2014-01-01.

Abstract

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) has been studied for decades because of its economic impact on the poultry industry. Recently, the zoonotic potential of APEC and multidrug-resistant strains have emerged. The aim of this study was to characterize 225 APEC isolated from turkeys presenting airsacculitis. The results showed that 92% of strains presented a multidrug-resistance (MDR), and the highest levels of resistance were to sulfamethazine (94%) and tetracycline (83%). Half of these strains were classified in phylogenetic group B2, followed by B1 (28.6%), A (17.1%), and D (4.8%). The prevalence of virulence genes was as follows: salmochelin (iroN, 95%), increased serum survival (iss, 93%), colicin V (cvi/cva, 67%), aerobactin (iucD, 67%), temperature-sensitive haemagglutinin (tsh, 56%), iron-repressible protein (irp2, 51%), invasion brain endothelium (ibeA, 31%), vacuolating autotransporter toxin (vat, 24%), K1 antigen (neuS, 19%), enteroaggregative heat-stable cytotoxin (astA, 17%), and pilus associated with pyelonephritis (papC, 15%). These results demonstrate that the majority of the investigated strains belonged to group B2 and were MDR. These data suggest that turkeys may serve as a reservoir of pathogenic and multidrug-resistance strains, reinforcing the idea that poultry plays a role in the epidemiological chain of ExPEC. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/18204-6 - Virulence properties and resistance profile of Escherichia coli isolated from air sac of turkeys
• Grantee: Terezinha Knöbl
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants