Andrea Micke Moreno

Silent dissemination of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli in South America could contribute to the global spread of the mcr-1 gene.

During a Brazilian multicentric antimicrobial resistance surveillance study, colistin resistance was investigated in 4,620 Enterobacteriaceae isolated from human, animal, food and environmental samples collected from 2000 to 2016. We present evidence that mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli has been emerging in South America since at least 2012, supporting a previous report on the possible acquisition of mcr-1-harbouring E. coli by European travellers visiting Latin American countries.

Extended-spectrum β-lactamases belonging to CTX-M group produced by Escherichia coli strains isolated from companion animals treated with enrofloxacin

We studied the antibiotic resistance among Escherichia coli isolates obtained from fecal samples of dogs and cats treated and untreated with enrofloxacin in veterinary clinics. Resistant patterns of 70 strains and the presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL) were studied. The genes encoding the following families of beta-lactamases: CTX-M, GES, PER, TEM and SHV, were investigated by PCR-RFLP and sequencing. The strains isolated from enrofloxacin-treated animals were multi-drug-resistant exhibiting resistant patterns including fluorquinolones, beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, tetracycline and phenicols. On the contrary, the strains obtained from the untreated group of animals exhibited narrower antibiotic resistant profiles. The synthesis of ESBL was detected in 14 strains (20%) isolated from treated animals. The ESBL encoded by genes bla CTX-M-1, bla CTX-M-9 group and bla PER-2 were detected by PCR. We believe that this is the first report on the presence of ESBL in E. coli strains isolated from small animals in Chile, and the first report of beta-lactamase belonging to the CTX-M-9 group (CTX-M-14). The presence of these genes in bacteria isolated from pets is an important fact that constitutes a public health concern.

Virulence properties of Escherichia coli isolated from ostriches with respiratory disease.

Eight Escherichia coli isolates from ostriches with respiratory disease were investigated for the presence of genes encoding the following adhesins: type 1 pili (fim), pili associated with pyelonephritis (pap), S fimbriae (sfa), afimbrial adhesin (afaI), temperature regulated adhesin, curli (crl, csgA) and temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh). Genes for heat labile (LT) and heat stable (STa and STb) enterotoxins, Shiga toxins (stx1 and stx2), cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (cnf), alpha-haemolysin (hly) and aerobactin (aer) production were also investigated. Other characteristics investigated were the presence of hemagglutination activity, growth on an iron-deficient medium, aerobactin production, serum resistance, adherence to chicken tracheal cells, pathogenicity for day-old chicks, and serogroup. Serogrouping showed that four isolates belonged to serogroup O2, two to serogroup O78, one to serogroup O9, and one to serogroup O21. The virulence genes found were: fim in all eight isolates, csgA in seven, aer in six, and pap, crl and tsh in one isolate each. All isolates analyzed were positive for mannose-resistant hemagglutination, adhered in vitro to ciliated tracheal epithelium, grew on iron-deficient medium, and showed serum resistance. Pathogenicity tests on day-old chickens revealed one highly pathogenic isolate, three of low pathogenicity and four isolates with intermediate pathogenicity.

Emergence of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase CTX-M-2-Producing Salmonella enterica Serovars Schwarzengrund and Agona in Poultry Farms

Ketrin C. Silva, Lívia C. Fontes, Andrea M. Moreno, Claudete S. Astolfi-Ferreira, Antonio J. P. Ferreira, Nilton Lincopan Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Preventive Medicine and Animal Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Ornitopathology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; School of Pharmacy, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil

Colistin resistance in Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica strains isolated from swine in Brazil

Reports about acquired resistance to colistin in different bacteria species are increasing, including E. coli of animal origin, but reports of resistance in wild S. enterica of different serotypes from swine are not found in the literature. Results obtained with one hundred and twenty-six E. coli strains from diseased swine and one hundred and twenty-four S. enterica strains from diseased and carrier swine showed a frequency of 6.3% and 21% of colistin-resistant strains, respectively. When comparing the disk diffusion test with the agar dilution test to evaluate the strains, it was confirmed that the disk diffusion test is not recommended to evaluate colistin resistance as described previously. The colistin MIC 90 and MIC 50 values obtained to E. coli were 0.25 μg/mL and 0.5 μg/mL, the MIC 90 and MIC 50 to S. enterica were 1 μg/mL and 8 μg/mL. Considering the importance of colistin in control of nosocomial human infections with Gram-negative multiresistant bacteria, and the large use of this drug in animal production, the colistin resistance prevalence in enterobacteriaceae of animal origin must be monitored more closely.

Molecular characterization, serotyping, and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Leptospira interrogans serovar Copenhageni isolates from Brazil

Leptospira interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae is the major serogroup infecting humans worldwide, and rodents and dogs are the most significant transmission sources in urban environments. Knowledge of the prevalent serovars and their maintenance hosts is essential to understand the epidemiology of leptospirosis. In this study, 20 Leptospira isolates were evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), variable number tandem-repeat analysis (VNTR), serotyping, and determination of antimicrobial resistance profile. Isolates, originated from bovine, canine, human, and rodent sources, were characterized by microscopic agglutination test with polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies and were identified as L. interrogans serogroup Icterohaemorrhagiae serovar Copenhageni. MICs of antimicrobials often used in veterinary medicine were determined by broth microdilution test. Most of tested antibiotics were effective against isolates, including penicillin, ampicillin, and ceftiofur. Higher MIC variability was observed for fluoroquinolones and neomycin; all isolates were resistant to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole and sulphadimethoxine. Isolates were genotyped by PFGE and VNTR; both techniques were unable to discriminate between serovars Copenhageni and Icterohaemorrhagiae, as expected. PFGE clustered all isolates in 1 pulsotype, indicating that these serovars can be transmitted between species and that bovine, rodent, and dogs can maintain them in the environment endangering the human population.

Characterization of atypical Listeria innocua isolated from swine slaughterhouses and meat markets

Atypical Listeria innocua strains presenting phenotypic characteristics similar to those of Listeria monocytogenes were recently isolated from food and the environment. These isolates also tested positive for virulence genes specific to L. monocytogenes. Here we report the isolation of atypical hemolytic L. innocua strains from the environment of pork processing plants in Brazil. The strains were positive for L. monocytogenes virulence genes hly, inlA and inlB by PCR and presented genotypic similarities with human isolates of L. monocytogenes via the AFLP technique using HindIII single enzyme protocol. Phenotypic and genotypic similarities suggest that these atypical L. innocua may be pathogenic strains.

Prevalence of Avian Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) Clone Harboring sfa Gene in Brazil

Escherichia coli sfa+ strains isolated from poultry were serotyped and characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). Isolates collected from 12 Brazilian poultry farms mostly belonged to serogroup O6, followed by serogroups O2, O8, O21, O46, O78, O88, O106, O111, and O143. Virulence genes associated were: iuc 90%, fim 86% neuS 60%, hly 34%, tsh 28%, crl/csg 26%, iss 26%, pap 18%, and 14% cnf. Strains from the same farm presented more than one genotypic pattern belonging to different profiles in AFLP. AFLP showed a clonal relation between Escherichia coli sfa+ serogroup O6. The virulence genes found in these strains reveal some similarity with extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC), thus alerting for potential zoonotic risk.

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

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.

Virulence Genes and Antimicrobial Resistance Profiles of Pasteurella multocida Strains Isolated from Rabbits in Brazil

Pasteurella multocida is responsible for a wide range of diseases in domestic animals. In rabbits, the agent is related to nasal discharge, pneumonia, otitis media, pyometra, orchitis, abscess, and septicemia. One hundred and forty rabbits with respiratory diseases from four rabbitries in São Paulo State, Brazil were evaluated for the detection of P. multocida in their nasal cavities. A total of twenty-nine animals were positive to P. multocida isolation, and 46 strains were selected and characterized by means of biochemical tests and PCR. P. multocida strains were tested for capsular type, virulence genes, and resistance profile. A total of 45.6% (21/46) of isolates belonged to capsular type A, and 54.34% (25/46) of the isolates were untypeable. None of the strains harboured toxA or pfhA genes. The frequency of the other twenty genes tested was variable, and the data generated was used to build a dendrogram, showing the relatedness of strains, which were clustered according to origin. Resistance revealed to be more common against sulfonamides and cotrimoxazole, followed by erythromycin, penicillin, and amoxicillin.