Captive wild birds as reservoirs of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC)

Abstract

Psittacine birds have been identified as reservoirs of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli, a subset of pathogens associated with mortality of children in tropical countries. The role of other orders of birds as source of infection is unclear. The aim of this study was to perform the molecular diagnosis of infection with diarrheagenic E. coli in 10 different orders of captive wild birds in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Fecal samples were analyzed from 516 birds belonging to 10 orders: Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Passeriformes, Pelecaniformes, Piciformes, Psittaciformes and Strigiformes. After isolation, 401 E. coli strains were subjected to multiplex PCR system with amplification of genes eae and bfp (EPEC), stx1 and stx2 for STEC. The results of these tests revealed 23/401 (5.74%) positive strains for eae gene, 16/401 positive strains for the bfp gene (3.99%) and 3/401 positive for stx2 gene (0.75%) distributed among the orders of Psittaciformes, Strigiformes and Columbiformes. None of strains were positive for stx1 gene. These data reveal the infection by STEC, typical and atypical EPEC in captive birds. The frequency of these pathotypes is low and restricted to few orders, but the data suggest the potential public health risk that these birds represent as reservoirs of diarrheagenic E. coli.

Survey on pathogenic Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. in captive cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus)

“…Even though other researchers have detected the eae 44 and stx2 45 genes in psittacine fecal samples, suggesting that these birds could be reservoirs of EPEC and STEC to humans, we did not observe virulence genes for the diarrheagenic E. coli in this survey.…”

Captive Green Iguana Carries Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli Pathotypes

“…The presence of DEC strains in wild animals seems to be low in comparison to their prevalence in humans and ruminants. EPEC (typical and atypical) and STEC strains have been isolated from captive wild birds in Brazil (12,13). A study that surveyed animals from zoos in India demonstrated a low prevalence of DEC strains in wild ruminants (STEC 7.14%; EPEC 1.58%), in non-ruminant animals (STEC 3.48%; EPEC 5.81%) and wild birds (EPEC 5.84%) (14).…”

Shiga toxin‐producingEscherichia coliin the animal reservoir and food in Brazil

“…Despite low frequencies, ranging from 1·1 to 9·8%, STEC was detected in urban pigeons in MG (Silva et al ), psittacine pet birds in home environments in SP (Gioia‐Di Chiacchio et al ) and in free‐living wild birds and pigeons in SP (Borges et al ; Sanches et al ; Oliveira et al ).…”