Genomic characterization of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) of avian origin and rabbit ileal loop response; a pet macaw (Ara chloropterus) as a possible zoonotic reservoir

Autor(es)

Saidenberg, Andre Becker Simoes ^[1] ; van Vliet, Arnoud H. M. ^[2] ; Brandao, Paulo Eduardo ^[1] ; de Sa, Lilian Rose Marques ^[1] ; Cunha, Marcos Paulo Vieira ^[1] ; La Ragione, Roberto M. ^[2] ; Knobl, Terezinha ^[1]

Afiliação do(s) autor(es)

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Vet Med & Anim Sci, Ave Prof Dr Orlando Marques de Paiva 87, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Surrey, Sch Vet Med, Fac Hlth & Med Sci, Dept Pathol & Infect Dis, Guildford, Surrey - England

• Tipo de documento: Artigo Científico
• Fonte: VETERINARY QUARTERLY; v. 40, n. 1, p. 331-341, JAN 1 2020.
• Citações Web of Science: 0

Resumo

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) constitutes one of the main causes of mortality in children in low- to medium-income countries. Diverse animal species have been linked as reservoirs, including birds. The aim of this study was to describe the genomic and phylogenetic features of an EPEC recovered from a pet macaw and further characterizing the macro and microscopic lesion in a rabbit ileal loop experimental model. The isolate was whole-genome sequenced (WGS) obtaining its genotypic and phenotypic in silico characteristics and inoculated in a rabbit experimental model with subsequently evaluating the strain's pathogenicity by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and histopathology. The isolate was characterized as O109:H21-B1-ST40 typical EPEC, harboring several virulence factors of diarrheagenic E. coli. The macaw EPEC genome was located in a monophyletic clade of human and animal ST40 EPEC sequences. In vivo inoculation demonstrated severe hemorrhage with SEM and histopathological analysis confirming these lesions to be associated with intra-epithelial lymphocytes. Therefore, the isolate not only shared several genotypic and phylogenetic similarities with EPEC that affects humans and animals, but was able to induce severe tissue injury in a mammal model. These findings highlight the underrated role of pet birds as zoonotic reservoirs and the diversity in virulence factors being unraveled by new WGS studies. (AU)

• Processo FAPESP: 11/18204-6 - Fatores de virulência e perfil de sensibilidade antimicrobiana de amostras de Escherichia coli isoladas de sacos aéreos de perus
• Beneficiário: Terezinha Knöbl
• Modalidade de apoio: Auxílio à Pesquisa - Regular