AUTHOR=Gioia-Di Chiacchio Rosely Martins , Cunha Marcos Paulo Vieira , de Sá Lilian Rose Marques , Davies Yamê Minieiro , Pereira Camila Bueno Pacheco , Martins Fernando Henrique , Munhoz Danielle Dias , Abe Cecilia Mari , Franzolin Marcia Regina , dos Santos Luis Fernando , Guth Beatriz Ernestina Cabilio , Elias Waldir Pereira , Piazza Roxane Maria Fontes , Knöbl Terezinha 

TITLE=Novel Hybrid of Typical Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shiga-Toxin-Producing E. coli (tEPEC/STEC) Emerging From Pet Birds

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=9

YEAR=2018

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2018.02975

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2018.02975

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=<p>Exotic psittacine birds have been implicated as reservoir of diarrheagenic <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> (<italic>E. coli</italic>), including enteropathogenic <italic>E. coli</italic> (EPEC) and Shiga-toxin producing <italic>E. coli</italic> (STEC). Here, we present a genotypic and phenotypic characterization of typical EPEC/STEC hybrid strains isolated from exotic psittacine birds. The strains were positive for <italic>eae</italic>, <italic>bfp</italic>A, and s<italic>tx</italic>2f genes, belong to serotype O137:H6 and ST2678. Two strains were subject to whole genome sequencing, confirming the presence of the virulence factors of both <italic>E. coli</italic> pathotypes. Phenotypical <italic>in vitro</italic> tests confirmed their ability to adhere to HeLa cells and cause cytotoxicity to Vero cells. The rabbit ileal loop assays showed the attaching and effacing lesion, in addition to inflammatory process and overproduction of intestinal mucus. This is the first report of hybrid typical EPEC/STEC (O137:H6/ST2678) strains isolated from companion psittacine birds and the results suggest zoonotic risks.</p>