Virulence Genes and the Antimicrobial Susceptibility ofEscherichia coli, Isolated from Wild Waterbirds, in the Netherlands and Poland

Abstract

Affiliation to four phylogroups (A, B1, B2, and D) was examined, among 190 Escherichia coli strains, collected from five, wild waterbird species, including the following: the Greylag goose-Anser anser (61) and the Canada goose-Branta canadensis (33) obtained in the Netherlands, and the Mallard-Anas platyrhynchos (38), the Mute swan-Cygnus olor (37), and the Great cormorant-Phalacrocorax carbo (21) obtained in Poland. Moreover, the prevalence of 10 virulence factors: astA, iss, iucD, irp2, papC, tsh, vat, cva/cvi, stx2f, and bfp, as well as antimicrobial susceptibility to amoxicillin, enrofloxacin, and tetracycline (minimum inhibitory concentration [MIC] using E-tests) were investigated, in the examined E. coli strains. Results demonstrated that the greatest number of E. coli strains belonged to phylogenetic groups, B1 (86 strains-45.3%) and D (49 strains-25.8%), whereas 40 (21.0%) and only 15 (7.9%) isolates were classified as being of phylogenetic groups, A and B2, respectively. Among the 10 tested virulence-associated genes, 7 genes were detected in 61 examined strains (32.1%) with highly varying frequency. Virulence profiles showed that astA, iss, and irp2 genes were detected most frequently among all examined E. coli strains, isolated from every chosen bird species. Antimicrobial susceptibility, as detected by MIC for the examined antibiotics, is variable among strains isolated from different species of birds. The aim of this study was to examine the prevalence of E. coli strains, isolated from different species of wild waterbirds and determine their potential pathogenicity to the environment, other birds, and people.

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

“…Some authors show a high prevalence of this gene among EAEC strains, although the role of IRP-2 in EAEC pathogenesis in unclear [ 34 ]. The irp-2 gene recorded in this study, as well as other genes suggested as predictors of the virulence of APEC strains, i.e., ompT , iutA , iss , pap-C , cva/cvi and tsh , are commonly found in pathogenic E. coli strains from poultry [ 35 ], but have also been reported in E. coli from wild birds [ 36 ]. Kuczkowski et al [ 36 ] demonstrated the frequent occurrence of the irp-2 and astA genes (in 11.6% of isolates), while the iss , iucD , tsh , pap-C and vat genes were rarely found in E. coli isolates from wild water birds in Poland and the Netherlands.…”

“…The irp-2 gene recorded in this study, as well as other genes suggested as predictors of the virulence of APEC strains, i.e., ompT , iutA , iss , pap-C , cva/cvi and tsh , are commonly found in pathogenic E. coli strains from poultry [ 35 ], but have also been reported in E. coli from wild birds [ 36 ]. Kuczkowski et al [ 36 ] demonstrated the frequent occurrence of the irp-2 and astA genes (in 11.6% of isolates), while the iss , iucD , tsh , pap-C and vat genes were rarely found in E. coli isolates from wild water birds in Poland and the Netherlands. Borges et al [ 16 ] showed that 30.6% of E. coli isolates taken from wild birds in Brazil were positive for at least one virulence gene, the most prevalent being iss , followed by sitA , traT , ompT , fyuA and irp2 .…”

Potential disease transmission from wild geese and swans to livestock, poultry and humans: a review of the scientific literature from a One Health perspective

“…[106] However, geese can also carry E. coli strains of human origin (12.5%), and humans and dairy cattle can carry strains of goose origin (2.9 and 14.3% respectively [103]. In a recent study, Kuczkowski and co-workers [107] reported both geographical and interspecific differences (mute swans (n = 37), greylag geese (n = 61) and Canada geese (n = 33) in Poland and the Netherlands, respectively) in the pathogenicity of the E. coli strains identified. An important question to ask is whether E. coli constitutes a normal part of the gastrointrestinal flora of geese and swans, or whether high prevalence of this bacterium in itself is a sign of transmission from anthropogenic sources.…”

“…Birds in this study winter in the UK, and the authors speculated that antibiotic resistance genes may have been picked up in that environment, rather than in the more pristine Svalbard. Recently, Kuczkowski and co-workers [107] found a higher prevalence of antibiotic resistant E. coli strains in birds sampled in Poland compared to geese in the Netherlands, and hypothesized that this may be a result of difference in proximity to human dwellings. However, also other explanations are possible, such as the general level of antimicrobial resistance in the countries in question, and also in the regions where these goose populations spend time during breeding and migration.…”

Investigation of Commensal Escherichia coli Populations of Cormorant Hatchlings in the Absence of Anthropogenic Impacts in Remote Areas of West Mongolia

“…Phylogenetically, E. coli are assigned to seven major phylogenetic groups, namely A, B1, B2, C, D, E and F [21]. Usually, extraintestinal pathogenic strains belong to groups B2 and D, while isolates belonging to groups A and B1 are more often strictly commensal strains from human intestinal microbiota [20,21,34]. Contrary to our present study, where group B1 was mostly isolated in cormorants, most isolated E. coli in mallard ducks were found to belong to group B2 followed by B1 [2].…”