Detection, Isolation, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Escherichia albertii</i> from Wild Birds in West Japan

Abstract

Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen. Several outbreaks of E. albertii have occurred particularly in Japan. Although birds have been considered as one of the most important reservoirs of this bacterium, information regarding the prevalence in birds is still scanty. We performed a survey of E. albertii in wild birds in Japan, and examined characteristics of the isolates. E. albertii specific gene was detected in 5 cloacal swabs out of 156 birds by PCR. Four E. albertii were A c c e p t e d M a n u s c r i p t isolated from a swallow with 2 different E. albertii strains and 2 pigeons in a flock by XRM-MacConkey agar. These isolates were assigned to biogroup 3, shown no resistance to any antimicrobials tested, and classified into 2 EAO-genotypes (EAOg2 and EAOg33) and untypable. Similar to clinical E. albertii strains, these isolates carried virulence genes including eae (n=4), paa (n=4), Eccdt-I (n=2) and stx2f (n=1) in addition to Eacdt. Interestingly, stx2f genes in a strain were located on an inducible bacteriophage, which can confer the ability to produce Stx2f to E. coli. In conclusion,

Isolation and characterization of <i>Escherichia albertii</i> from wild and safeguarded animals in Okayama Prefecture and its prefectural borders, Japan

“…As discussed above that E. albertii has been identified in various wild mammals and birds [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 15 , 17 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 ], however, at present less information is available about characteristics and genomic diversity of E. albertii isolates from wild and safeguarded animals/birds. In the present study, PFGE analysis clearly indicated presence of genetically diverse E. albertii strains among various wild animals even fecal samples collected from them within a limited geographically area ( Fig.…”

“…E. albertii O-genotypes (EAOgs) of the isolates were examined by PCR assays developed by Ooka et al [ 26 ], which can differentiate 40 O-genotypes (EAOg1 to EAOg40). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed using Xba I-digested genomic DNA of E. albertii strains isolated from wildlife sources as described previously [ 15 ]. DNA fingerprints obtained were analyzed and phylogenetic tree was constructed by a UPGMA method using a BIONUMERICS software (Fingerprints version 8.0; Applied Maths NV, Sint-Marten-Latem, Belgium).…”

“…Since they have omnivorous feeding habits and prefer riparian areas, they might contaminate vegetables and environmental water. Furthermore, E. albertii has also been identified in other wild and safeguarded animals such as bat, cat, dog, monkey, penguin, seal, and various birds (bulbul, cormorant, duck, fantail, finch, gyrfalcon, honeyeater, magpie, pigeon, redpoll, short-tailed shearwater, siskin, sparrow, starling, swallow, teal, wagtail, woodpecker, wren) [ 3 , 5 , 6 , 15 , 17 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 25 ]. However, the distribution as well as bacteriological characteristics of E. albertii in wild and safeguarded animals is still not well understood.…”

The genomic epidemiology of Escherichia albertii

“…Similarly, in 2004, large-scale mortality of a nch species (Carduelis ammea) occurred in Alaska, United States of America (USA), with E. albertii as the probable aetiology (2). Active molecular surveillance studies for E. albertii have since detected the bacterium in dead and apparently healthy birds of multiple orders and species from Australia, Asia and North America (2,(20)(21)(22). Escherichia albertii also has been detected in poultry faeces/GI tract contents and meat (e.g.…”

“…raccoon, seal, bat) (8,26,27). Although the occurrence and signi cance to mammal host health remains uncertain, there is a growing body of evidence that avian hosts may act as a reservoir of infection (21,25). Thus, the extent of associated disease in birds and the relationship of bird and human infections requires further investigation.…”