Escherichia colifrom animal reservoirs as a potential source of human extraintestinal pathogenicE. coli

Abstract

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) are an important cause of urinary tract infections, neonatal meningitis and septicaemia in humans. Animals are recognized as a reservoir for human intestinal pathogenic E. coli, but whether animals are a source for human ExPEC is still a matter of debate. Pathologies caused by ExPEC are reported for many farm animals, especially for poultry, in which colibacillosis is responsible for huge losses within broiler chickens. Cases are also reported for companion animals. Commensal E. coli strains potentially carrying virulence factors involved in the development of human pathologies also colonize the intestinal tract of animals. This review focuses on the recent evidence of the zoonotic potential of ExPEC from animal origin and their potential direct or indirect transmission from animals to humans. As antimicrobials are commonly used for livestock production, infections due to antimicrobial-resistant ExPEC transferred from animals to humans could be even more difficult to treat. These findings, combined with the economic impact of ExPEC in the animal production industry, demonstrate the need for adapted measures to limit the prevalence of ExPEC in animal reservoirs while reducing the use of antimicrobials as much as possible.

Presence of virulence genes and pathogenicity islands in extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from Brazil

“…There are many virulence genes associated with ExPEC, including papC (P fimbrial usher), papG (P fimbrial adhesin), ecpA (extracellular adhesive fimbriae), iroN (salmochelin siderophore receptor), fyuA (yersiniabactin siderophore receptor), iutA (aerobactin siderophore receptor), ompTp (episomal outer membrane protein OmpT), tsh (temperature sensitive hemagglutinin), hlyF (hemolysin F), hlyA (hemolysin) and iss (serum resistance associated protein) [3][4][5]. These factors are commonly found in ExPEC isolated from UTIs and are less common in most fecal commensal E. coli [6].…”

Distribution Pattern of EcoR Phylogenetic Groups Among Shiga Toxin-Producing and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli Isolated From Healthy Goats

“…Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) strains have been settled in at least six patho-types related to their pathogenicity and virulence factors comprising Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAggEC), enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), and diffusely adherent Escherichia coli (DAEC) (13,14). There are different diseases in humans which are caused by STECs including hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), hemorrhagic colitis (HC), and diarrhea (1).…”

Studies on avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in commercial broiler chicken in South East Queensland

“…E. coli is a gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, non-sporulating, rod shaped bacteria that belongs to the Enterobacteriaceae family (Berg, 1996;Quinn et al, 2011). The bacteria co-exist normally in the gastrointestinal microbiota of healthy humans, mammalian animals and birds and their surrounding environment (Belanger et al, 2011;Wirth et al, 2006). While the majority of E. coli are non-pathogenic, though they may be linked with opportunistic infections in people, animals and birds, some strains are capable of causing intestinal or extraintestinal diseases Johnson and Russo, 2002;Russo and Johnson, 2009).…”

“…Intestinal pathogenic E. coli are found at a lower prevalence to commensal E. coli in the gastrointestinal tract and are capable of causing intestinal disease (Belanger et al, 2011). Intestinal pathogenic E. coli strains can be distinguished from commensal or ExPEC based on the clinical signs and VG profile (Leimbach et al, 2013).…”