Open AccessCharacterization of multidrug-resistant avian pathogenic Escherichia coli: an outbreak in canaries
Author(s) -
Angela Hitomi Kimura,
Vanessa Lumi Koga,
Luís Eduardo de Souza Gazal,
Benito Guimarães de Brito,
Kelly Cristina Tagliari de Brito,
Arturo NavarroOcaña,
Gerson Nakazato,
Renata Katsuko Takayama Kobayashi
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
brazilian journal of microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1678-4405
pISSN - 1517-8382
DOI - 10.1007/s42770-021-00443-0
Subject(s) - nalidixic acid , pathogenic escherichia coli , biology , ampicillin , outbreak , tetracycline , microbiology and biotechnology , multiple drug resistance , norfloxacin , enrofloxacin , antibiotic resistance , escherichia coli , amikacin , serotype , ciprofloxacin , virulence , virology , drug resistance , antibiotics , gene , genetics
The canary (Serinus canaria) is appreciated for its beautiful song, colors, and docile temperament and drives a lucrative business. However, diseases caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) compromise the health of canaries, and the inadequate antimicrobial treatment can lead to the emergence of resistant strains. This study aimed to characterize 21 isolates of E. coli obtained from canaries infected with colibacillosis during an outbreak in northern Paraná State, Brazil. APEC and diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) virulence genes were screened for by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All isolates were positive for the hlyF, iss, and ompT genes, which are characteristic of APEC. The iroN gene was found in 95.2% of isolates, and none had the iutA gene. The ipaH gene, characteristic of enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), was found in 71.4% of isolates, all belonging to the phylogenetic group B1. High genetic similarity (>95%) was found using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus PCR (ERIC-PCR). The isolates belonged to serotypes O117:H4 (71.4%) and O1:H20 (23.8%). This is the first report of a clonal colibacillosis outbreak in canaries caused by APEC. All isolates were resistant to ampicillin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, norfloxacin, and tetracycline. The high rate of multidrug resistance in our study shows the importance of avoiding the inadequate antibiotic treatment. We suggest that further studies should be conducted to contribute to the understanding of colibacillosis in canaries since the health of animals is linked to human and environmental health, as defined by the concept of One Health.