Molecular detection of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in asymptomatic captive psittacines

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

André Becker Saidenberg²  Rodrigo Hidalgo F. Teixeira¹  Neiva Maria R. Guedes¹  Mariangela Da Costa Allgayer¹  Priscilla Anne Melville²  Nilson Roberti Benites² 

[1] ,Universidade de São Paulo Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia Departamento de Medicina Veterinária PreventivaSão Paulo SP ,Brazil

关键词: Enterobacteria;    Escherichia coli;    virulence factors;    psittacines;    wild birds;    Enterobactéria;    Escherichia coli;    fatores de virulência;    psitacídeos;    aves selvagens;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-736X2012000900017

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Psittaciformes are one of the most endangered groups of birds, and several Brazilian species are classified between vulnerable and critically endangered. It is thus necessary to identify agents that cause infections in captive wild animals and to assess the risks posed thereof and to design interventions to minimize the possibility of disease outbreaks, leading to the conservation of endangered species. The purpose of this study was to identify enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) cloacal isolates from asymptomatic psittacines in captivity and evaluate the distribution of the EPEC pathotype. Cloacal swabs were obtained from 46 asymptomatic birds, and resulting isolates were tested by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of the attaching and effacing gene (eae) and bundle-forming pilus structural gene (bfpA) of EPEC. Samples from several species were tested, and three samples were found to be positive for the eae and bfpA genes and characterized as typical EPEC. This is the first report of this pathotype in asymptomatic psittacines. Although certain E. coli strains are more pathogenic than others, various factors should be considered when determining the potential of E. coli isolates to cause disease in captive psittacines. Birds that are positive for the EPEC (typical) strain could be zoonotic sources of infection, and may have acquired these strains through contact with humans or domestic animals. These findings may also be valuable for the long-term management of endangered species ex situ as one EPEC sample was isolated from a Red-tailed Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis).

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