Veterinary Pathology Department, College of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Bacteria, Parasites and Fungi, Statens Serum Institut, Copenhagen, Denmark; Section for Food Safety and Zoonoses, Institute for Veterinary and Companion Animal Science, Københavns Universitet, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Department of Pathology and Infectious Diseases, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.
Vet Microbiol. 2022 Apr;267:109372. doi: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2022.109372. Epub 2022 Feb 16.
Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) is a globally distributed pathogen, with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) and sepsis-associated E. coli (SEPEC) pathotypes particularly involved in human and companion animal disease, while avian pathogenic pathotype (APEC) severely impact poultry health and production. Similarities between APEC from poultry/meat and human ExPEC suggest that some APEC lineages may have zoonotic potential. ExPEC sequence type 73 (ST73) and its clonal complex (CC) are increasing causes of urinary tract infections and sepsis, but its role in zoonotic disease is less well understood. Here, we analyzed the genome sequences of 25 E. coli isolates from Brazil (11 APEC and 14 UPEC) from two time periods, from poultry producing areas and hospitals in the same geographical regions. Isolates were compared to 558 publicly available ST73/CC73 global sequences. Brazilian APEC harbored virulence factors associated with UPEC/SEPEC such as sfa, cnf1, vat, usp, hlyA, iron acquisition and protectins/serum resistance systems, while lacking some common APEC markers and widespread multidrug resistance. Analysis of core genome MLST and SNP phylogenetic trees indicated evolutionary relationships between subgroups of the Brazilian APEC to two contemporary Brazilian UPEC isolates from the same region, and one Brazilian UPEC available from another study. Phylogenies showed a non-host, geographical, or pathotype specificity, with APEC isolates clustering closely with international human UPEC, SEPEC. The remaining Brazilian UPEC grouped within human clusters. Collectively, this suggests a zoonotic potential for subgroups of Brazilian APEC from the ST73 lineage that could contaminate poultry products and subsequently cause human infection.
肠外致病性大肠杆菌（ExPEC）是一种全球分布的病原体，其中尿路致病性大肠杆菌（UPEC）和败血症相关大肠杆菌（SEPEC）病原体特别与人类和伴侣动物疾病有关，而禽致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）则严重影响家禽的健康和生产。家禽/肉类中的 APEC 与人类 ExPEC 之间的相似性表明，一些 APEC 谱系可能具有人畜共患病的潜力。ExPEC 序列型 73（ST73）及其克隆复合体（CC）是引起尿路感染和败血症的越来越多的原因，但对其在人畜共患病中的作用了解较少。在这里，我们分析了来自巴西的 25 株大肠杆菌分离株的基因组序列，这些分离株来自两个时期，分别来自产生家禽的地区和同一地理区域的医院。将分离株与 558 个公开的 ST73/CC73 全球序列进行了比较。巴西 APEC 携带与 UPEC/SEPEC 相关的毒力因子，如 sfa、cnf1、vat、usp、hlyA、铁摄取和保护素/血清抵抗系统，而缺乏一些常见的 APEC 标志物和广泛的多药耐药性。核心基因组 MLST 和 SNP 系统发育树的分析表明，巴西 APEC 的亚群与来自同一地区的两个当代巴西 UPEC 分离株以及另一个来自另一项研究的巴西 UPEC 之间存在进化关系。系统发育树显示了非宿主、地理或病原体特异性，APEC 分离株与国际人类 UPEC、SEPEC 紧密聚类。其余的巴西 UPEC 则聚集在人类集群中。总的来说，这表明 ST73 谱系的巴西 APEC 的亚群具有人畜共患病的潜力，可能污染家禽产品，随后导致人类感染。
