Molecular typing of antimicrobial-resistant Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains (STEC) in Brazil (original) (raw)

Antimicrobial Resistance in Class 1 Integron-Positive Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Cattle, Pigs, Food and Farm Environment

Microorganisms, 2018

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of class 1 integrons in a collection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from different origins and to characterize pheno- and genotypically the antimicrobial resistance associated to them. A collection of 649 isolates were screened for the class 1 integrase gene (intI1) by Polymerase chain reaction The variable region of class 1 integrons was amplified and sequenced. Positive strains were evaluated for the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes with microarray and for antimicrobial susceptibility by the disk diffusion method. Seven out of 649 STEC strains some to serogroups, O26, O103 and O130 isolated from cattle, chicken burger, farm environment and pigs were identified as positive for intl1. Different arrangements of gene cassettes were detected in the variable region of class 1 integron: dfrA16, aadA23 and dfrA1-aadA1. In almost all strains, phenotypic resistance to streptomycin, tetracycline, trimethoprim/s...

Antibiotic resistance and integrons in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC)

Brazilian Journal of Microbiology, 2015

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolyticuremic syndrome in humans (HUS). Cattle are the main reservoir of STEC and transmission to humans occurs through contaminated food and water. Antibiotics are used in pig production systems to combat disease and improve productivity and play a key role in the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes to the bacteria. Integrons have been identified in resistant bacteria allowing for the acquisition and dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes. STEC strains isolated from humans and animals have developed antibiotic resistance. In our laboratory, 21 non-157 STEC strains isolated from pigs were analyzed to detect class 1 and 2 integrons by PCR. Eight carried integrons, 7 of them harbored intl2. In another study 545 STEC strains were also analyzed for the presence of intl1 and intl2. Strains carrying intl1 belonged to isolates from environment (n = 1), chicken hamburger (n = 2), dairy calves (n = 4) and pigs (n = 8). Two strains isolated from pigs harbored intl2 and only one intl1/intl2, highlighting the presence of intl2 in pigs. The selection for multiresistant strains may contribute to the emergence of antibiotic resistant pathogens and facilitate the spreading of the mobile resistance elements to other bacteria.

Stx genotypes and antimicrobial resistance profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from human infections, cattle and foods in Brazil

FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2006

A total of 107 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains (STEC) isolated from different origins in São Paulo, Brazil, and belonging to different serotypes were characterized regarding stx subtypes and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. Most of the human STEC strains harbored stx 1 (85.7%), while stx 2 , associated or not to stx 1, was identified preferentially in the animal and food strains. None of the STEC strains carried stx 1c. Some genotypes occurred exclusively among strains of bovine origin as stx 2c , stx 11212c (16.5% each), and stx 2d (0.9%), whereas stx 212c(2vha) was only identified among the O157:H7 human strains. Moreover, the stx 2c(2vhb) subtype was found more frequently among bovine than human strains (39% vs. 4.8%). The highest frequencies of susceptibility to antimicrobial agents were observed among bovine (87%) and food (100%) STEC strains, while 47.6% of the human isolates were resistant to at least one drug. Multiresistance occurred among O111 STEC strains from human and bovine origin. The antimicrobials to which resistance was most frequently observed were tetracycline (90%) and streptomycin (75%) among human strains, and also sulphazotrin (88%) in animal strains. A few serotypes were commonly identified among STEC strains isolated from diverse sources in Brazil, but in general the strains presented distinct stx subtypes and/or antimicrobial resistance profiles.

Phenotypic characteristics, virulence profile and genetic relatedness of O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated in Brazil and other Latin American countries

FEMS Microbiology Letters, 2000

Thirty-eight Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7/H À strains isolated from human infections, cattle and foods in Brazil and in some other Latin American countries were compared with regard to several phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. The genetic relatedness of the strains was also determined by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Similar biochemical behaviour was identified, regardless of the origin and country of the strains. Most (89.5%) strains were sensitive to the antimicrobial agents tested, but resistance to at least one drug was observed among bovine strains. Although a diversity of stx genotypes was identified, most (77.8%) of the human strains harboured stx 2 or stx 2 stx 2c(2vha) , whereas stx 2c(2vha) prevailed (64.2%) among strains isolated from cattle. stx 1 and stx 1 stx 2c(2vha) were the genotypes identified less frequently, and occurred exclusively among strains isolated from food and cattle, respectively. Despite differences in the stx genotypes, all strains carried eae-g, efa1, ehx, iha, lpf O157 and toxB sequences. Many closely related subgroups (more than 80% of similarity) were identified by PFGE, and the presence of a particular O157:H7 STEC clone more related to human infections in Brazil, as well as a common origin for some strains isolated from different sources and countries in Latin America can be suggested.

Genetic Heterogeneity of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 1976 through 2003, as Revealed by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2006

The pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns of 46 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil, during the period from 1976 to 2003 were compared with those found among 30 non-STEC strains that carried eae and that belonged to the same serogroups as the STEC strains. All except two of the STEC and non-STEC strains of human origin were from sporadic and unrelated cases of infection; two O111 strains originated from the same patient. Multiple PFGE patterns were found among STEC strains of distinct serotypes. Moreover, the PFGE restriction patterns of STEC strains differed substantially from those observed among non-STEC strains of the same serogroup except serotype O26 strains. Based on the indistinguishable PFGE pattern for two O157:H7 STEC strains isolated in the same geographic area at an interval of approximately 15 days and toxin profile data, the first occurrence of an O157:H7 outbreak in Brazil during that period can be suggested. In general, a close relationship between types of intimin, serotypes, and diarrheagenic groups of E. coli was observed. This is the first time that a large collection of STEC strains from Brazil has been analyzed, and a great genetic diversity was shown among O157:H7 and non-O157:H7 STEC strains isolated in São Paulo, Brazil.

Virulence markers and serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, isolated from cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Letters in Applied Microbiology, 2007

Aims: To determine the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and serotypes and virulence markers of the STEC isolates from beef and dairy cattle in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Methods and Results: Faecal samples from beef cattle were collected at slaughterhouses. The isolates were submitted to colony hybridization assay with specific DNA probes for stx1, stx2 and eae genes, and serotyped for the identification of O and H antigens. Thirty-nine per cent of beef cattle surveyed harboured at least one STEC strain. Among the distinct serotypes identified, 10 were shared by both beef and dairy cattle. Most of the strains isolated harboured stx2. Genotypic and phenotypic profiles allowed the identification of 34 and 31 STEC strains, isolated from beef and dairy cattle,

Virulence Properties and Characteristics of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Sao Paulo, Brazil, from 1976 through 1999

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 2004

Twenty-nine Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains were identified in a collection of 2,607 isolates from patients with diarrhea in São Paulo, Brazil, from 1976 to 1999. The STEC strains belonged mainly to serotypes O111:HNM (HNM, nonmotile) (13 of 29 [44.8%]), O111:H8 (7 of 29 [24%]), and O26:H11 (4 of 29 [13.8%]); stx 1 eae (26 of 29 [89.6%]), in combination with either enterohemorrhagic E. coli hlyA (11 of 26 [42%]) or astA (24 of 26 [92.3%]), prevailed. The O111 STEC strains were distinguished by their inability to decarboxylate lysine. The predominance of STEC O111 and O26 since the late 1970s and the identification of STEC serotypes O55:H19, O93:H19, and O118:H16 in association with human infections in Brazil are described for the first time.

A Multiresistant Clone of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O118:[H16] Is Spread in Cattle and Humans over Different European Countries

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2002

Multiresistant Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O118:H16 and O118 nonmotile strains (designated O118:[H16]) were detected by examination of 171 STEC isolates for their antimicrobial sensitivity. Of 48 STEC O118:[H16] strains, 98% were resistant to sulfonamide, 96% were resistant to streptomycin, 79% were resistant to kanamycin, 75% were resistant to tetracycline, 67% were resistant to ampicillin, 60% were resistant to chloramphenicol, 48% were resistant to trimethoprim, and 10% each were resistant to gentamicin and nalidixic acid. Nalidixic acid resistance and reduced susceptibility to ciprofloxacin were associated with the mutation gyrA LEU-83 . The STEC O118:[H16] strains were found to belong to a single genetic clone as investigated by multilocus enzyme electrophoresis and by multilocus sequence analysis of E. coli housekeeping genes. The STEC O118:[H16] strains originated from humans and cattle and were isolated in seven different countries of Europe between 1986 and 1999. Strains showing multiresistance to up to eight different antimicrobials predominated among the more recent STEC O118:[H16] strains. The genes in parentheses were associated with resistance to kanamycin (aphA1-Ia), chloramphenicol (catA1), tetracycline [tet(A)], and ampicillin (bla TEM-1 ). Class 1 integrons containing sulI (sulfonamide resistance), aadA1a (streptomycin resistance), or dfrA1 (trimethoprim resistance)-aadA1a gene cassettes were detected in 28 strains. The bla TEM-1b gene was present in 18 of 21 strains that were examined by nucleotide sequencing. Class 1 integrons and bla TEM genes were localized on plasmids and/or on the chromosome in different STEC O118:[H16] strains. Hybridization of XbaI-digested chromosomal DNA separated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed that bla TEM genes were integrated at different positions in the chromosome of STEC O118:[H16] strains that could have occurred by Tn2 insertion. Our data suggest that strains belonging to the STEC O118:[H16] clonal group have a characteristic propensity for acquisition and maintenance of resistance determinants, thus contrasting to STEC belonging to other serotypes.

Identification and Characterization of Integron-Mediated Antibiotic Resistance among Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 2001

A total of 50 isolates of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), including 29 O157:H7 and 21 non-O157 STEC strains, were analyzed for antimicrobial susceptibilities and the presence of class 1 integrons. Seventy-eight (n ‫؍‬ 39) percent of the isolates exhibited resistance to two or more antimicrobial classes. Multiple resistance to streptomycin, sulfamethoxazole, and tetracycline was most often observed. Class 1 integrons were identified among nine STEC isolates, including serotypes O157:H7, O111:H11, O111:H8, O111:NM, O103:H2, O45:H2, O26:H11, and O5:NM. The majority of the amplified integron fragments were 1 kb in size with the exception of one E. coli O111:H8 isolate which possessed a 2-kb amplicon. DNA sequence analysis revealed that the integrons identified within the O111:H11, O111:NM, O45:H2, and O26:H11 isolates contained the aadA gene encoding resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin. Integrons identified among the O157:H7 and O103:H2 isolates also possessed a similar aadA gene. However, DNA sequencing revealed only 86 and 88% homology, respectively. The 2-kb integron of the E. coli O111:H8 isolate contained three genes, dfrXII, aadA2, and a gene of unknown function, orfF, which were 86, 100, and 100% homologous, respectively, to previously reported gene cassettes identified in integrons found in Citrobacter freundii and Klebsiella pneumoniae. Furthermore, integrons identified among the O157:H7 and O111:NM strains were transferable via conjugation to another strain of E. coli O157:H7 and to several strains of Hafnia alvei. To our knowledge, this is the first report of integrons and antibiotic resistance gene cassettes in STEC, in particular E. coli O157:H7.