Shigatoxigenic and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in fish for human consumption

Abstract

Shigatoxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli with virulence and multidrug resistance profile were isolated from Nile tilapia. This study finding is of great importance to public health because they help understand this pathogen epidemiology in fish and demonstrate how these animals can transmit E. coli related diseases to humans.

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

“…STEC genes were also reported in E. coli from fish of pay‐to‐fish ponds in SP (Ribeiro et al ; Cardozo et al ) and from stable flies ( Stomoxys calcitrans ) (Castro et al ).…”

“…Additionally, Gioia‐Di Chiacchi et al (, ) reported the detection of tEPEC/STEC hybrid strains isolated from small‐size psittacine birds raised as pets, carrying the stx2f subtype and belonging to the serotype O137:H6, previously associated with HUS. STEC strains isolated from fish farm and free fish by Cardozo et al () had the stx2a , stx2c and stx2d subtypes.…”

“…In addition, raw milk (Vicente et al ; Sandrini et al . ), pasteurized milk (Hoffmann et al ; Silva et al ), cheese (Paneto et al ; Martins et al ; Cardoso and Marin ), chicken (Gonzalez et al ), fish (Ribeiro et al ; Cardozo et al ) and water (Vicente et al ; Sandrini et al . ; Lascowski et al ) have also been investigated (Table ).…”

“…Fish are dead‐end STEC hosts. Notwithstanding, studies in SP identified STEC in fish for human consumption (Ribeiro et al ; Cardozo et al ). In one of these studies, the authors observed the presence of cattle around the nurseries and rivers (Cardozo et al ).…”

“…Among STEC isolated from food and water samples in Brazil, the great majority (69·6%) carries the stx 2 gene alone (49·6%) or along with the stx 1 gene (20%). The genetic profile ( stx2a, stx2c and stx2d ) most frequently implicated in HC and SHU was identified from STEC isolated from fish for human consumption in SP (Cardozo et al ).…”