Antibiotic Resistance and Virulence Profiles of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Wild Birds in Poland.

Anna Nowaczek,Renata Urban-Chmiel,Marta Dec,Paweł Różański,Dagmara Stępień-Pyśniak,Agnieszka Marek

doi:10.3390/pathogens10081059

Anna Nowaczek, Renata Urban-Chmiel + Show 4 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens10081059

Copy DOI

Abstract

Wild animals are increasingly reported as carriers of antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic bacteria including Enterobacteriaceae. However, the role of free-living birds as reservoirs for potentially dangerous microbes is not yet thoroughly understood. In our work, we examined Escherichia coli strains from wild birds in Poland in relation to their antimicrobial agents susceptibility, virulence and phylogenetic affiliation. Identification of E. coli was performed using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry. The antibiotic susceptibility of the isolates was determined by the broth microdilution method, and resistance and virulence genes were detected by PCR. E. coli bacteria were isolated from 32 of 34 samples. The strains were most often classified into phylogenetic groups B1 (50%) and A (25%). Resistance to tetracycline (50%), ciprofloxacin (46.8%), gentamicin (34.3%) and ampicillin (28.1%) was most frequently reported, and as many as 31.2% of E. coli isolates exhibited a multidrug resistance phenotype. Among resistance genes, sul2 (31.2% of isolates) and blaTEM (28.1%) were identified most frequently, while irp-2 (31.2%) and ompT (28.1%) were the most common virulence-associated genes. Five strains were included in the APEC group. The study indicates that wild birds can be carriers of potentially dangerous E. coli strains and vectors for the spread of resistant bacteria and resistance determinants in the environment.

Highlights

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common member of the natural intestinal microflora of humans and animals, including birds
Intestinal pathogenic E. coli (IPEC) bacteria are associated with infections of the gastrointestinal tract, while extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains cause infections in extraintestinal anatomic sites
Several pathotypes can be distinguished among IPEC strains: enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC), and diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) [1]

Summary

Introduction

Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a common member of the natural intestinal microflora of humans and animals, including birds. In addition to non-pathogenic commensal strains, there are pathogenic E. coli strains involved in many types of infections. Intestinal pathogenic E. coli (IPEC) bacteria are associated with infections of the gastrointestinal tract, while extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains cause infections in extraintestinal anatomic sites. Several pathotypes can be distinguished among IPEC strains: enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), adherent invasive E. coli (AIEC), and diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) [1]. ExPEC strains include avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC), neonatal meningitis E. coli (NMEC), and sepsis-associated E. coli (SEPEC) [1,2]. Characteristic virulence factors, which play a decisive role in pathogenesis, have been defined for each of these pathotypes [3]

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion