Some virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolated from cloacal swabs of healthy Alagoas Curassows (Pauxi mitu) in Brazil

Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira

André A.b. Saidenberg²  Luciana Allegretti²  Claudete C.s. Astolfi-ferreira²  Antônio J.p. Ferreira²  Marcelo A. Almeida¹  Tânia F. Raso² 

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

关键词: Cracidae;    Alagoas Curassow;    Pauxi mitu;    Escherichia coli;    virulence genes;    Cracídeos;    mutum-do-nordeste;    Pauxi mitu;    Escherichia coli;    genes de virulência;   

DOI  :  10.1590/S0100-736X2013000400017

来源: SciELO

【 摘 要 】

Birds of the Cracidae family (curassows, guans, and chachalacas) are endemic of the Neotropics and 50 species are currently classified. Brazil has 22 species, seven of which are considered threatened. The Alagoas Curassow (Pauxi mitu) species is considered extinct in the wild; but about 120 birds are alive in captivity. Conservation of this species depends entirely on correct management. Health reports of both wildlife and captive curassows are rare. In this study the presence of Escherichia coli was evaluated in 23 healthy Alagoas Curassows from two private breeding centres. E. coli was isolated from cloacal swabs, and the presence of genes encoding cytotoxic necrotising factor 1 (cnf1), alpha-haemolysin (hly), aerobactin (iuc), serum resistance (iss) and the following adhesions: S fimbriae (sfa), pili associated with pyelonephritis (pap) and temperature-sensitive haemagglutinin (tsh) were investigated. E. coli was isolated from 78.3% (18/23) of the birds, and the percentage of curassows colonized by E. coli was similar between the two facilities. From the 22 E. coli isolates, 15 (68.2%) were positive for at least one virulence factor by PCR, and the most frequently found gene was iss (50%). No curassows had clinical signs of disease. Nevertheless, the presence of some E. coli strains may be a concern to the wildlife in captivity. Additional health surveillance studies are essential to guarantee successful conservation programmes for threatened cracids in Brazil.

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