Aggregation of animal lactobacilli with O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

The effect of selected autoaggregative lactobacilli on enterohemorragic O157 Escherichia coli was studied. A total of 27 Lactobacillus sp. strains were examined for expression of autoaggregation and cell surface hydrophobicity. Autoaggregative isolates were obtained from the crops of chickens and vaginas of calves. Aggregative activity was seen between eight autoaggregative lactobacilli and six strains of enterohemorrhagic E. coli O157. The presence of aggregation-promoting factor (apf gene) was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We propose that autoaggregative lactobacilli that aggregate with enterohemorrhagic E. coli can express a class of APF proteins that exhibit the function of an aggregative mediator. The results of this study suggest that APF-producing lactobacilli could represent a further mechanism in the interaction of comensal microflora with enterohemorrhagic E. coli.     

The importance of Lactobacilli in maintaining normal microbial balance in the crop.

1. The effect of lactobacilli on Escherichia coli has been examined in vitro and in chicken crop in vivo. 2. Inhibition of E. coli was dependent on the presence of sufficient numbers of lactobacilli. 3. In a standard test some lactobacilli were bacteriostatic and one was bactericidal. The bacteriostasis was due to the low pH produced by these strains but bactericidal activity could not be accounted for by pH alone. 4. In gnotobiotic animals the bactericidal strain was no more inhibitory for E. coli than was a bacteriostatic strain.     

乳酸菌对仔犬生长性能、发病率、粪中大肠杆菌数量的影响

试验选用60只健康的德国牧羊犬仔犬,共计10窝,随机将每窝仔犬分成2组,试验组20-30日龄饲喂混有3.2 g乳酸菌素的奶粉,30日龄断乳后继续饲喂混有3.2 g乳酸菌的饲料,与对照组进行比较。以此来研究日粮中添加乳酸菌对仔犬生长性能、发病率、肠道菌群的影响。结果表明:在日粮中添加乳酸菌可提高断乳仔犬生长性能,增重明显,饲料利用率提高;降低仔犬发病率、死亡率(P<0.05)及缩短腹泻时间;降低粪便pH值约0.3-0.5单位,使断乳前厌氧菌群呈优势分布,同时增加乳酸菌的含量、减少大肠杆菌的含量(P<0.05)。     

Lactobacilli counts in crop,ileum and caecum of growing broiler chickens fed on practical diets containing whole or dehulled sweet lupin (Lupinus angustifolius) seed meal

1. Four experiments with growing broiler chickens were carried out to study the effects of the inclusion in their diets of lupin (Lupinus angustifolius ) seed meal on E. coli and lactobacilli counts in crop, ileum and caeca at 3 or 4 weeks of age. 2. Diets were formulated to contain the same amounts of metabolisable energy (12.55 MJ/kg) and protein (210 g/kg). Raw whole (heat-untreated) or dehulled sweet (low in alkaloids) lupin seed meal (400 and 320 g/kg respectively) were used to prepare the lupin-based diets, whose protein content was completed with either defatted soyabean meal or casein. 3. Final body weight and food intake of chickens fed on whole lupin seed meal diets were lower than controls, but gain: food ratios were not different. However, birds given the diet with dehulled lupin seed meal had similar body weight, food intake and gain: food values as those of controls. 4. While E. coli counts were not affected, lactobacilli numbers were consistently increased compared to controls in all intestinal sections of chickens fed on the whole or dehulled lupin-based diets, irrespective of the age of the birds or the presence of soyabean meal or casein in the diet. The lactobacilli species isolated were: Lactobacillus fermentum, L. acidophilus, L. salivarius and L. brevis 5. The results suggest that the use of whole or dehulled sweet lupin seed meal in diets for growing broilers might enhance the growth of lactic acid-fermenting bacteria in the gut.     

Prevalence of serogroups and virulence factors of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea in eastern China

This study was undertaken to determine the present distribution of serogroups, hemolytic activity and virulence factors among Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea from eight provinces in eastern China. Two hundred and fifteen E. coli isolates were serogrouped with O-antisera, investigated for hemolytic activity, assessed for F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbrial antigens by monoclonal antibodies and detected for genes of enterotoxins and shiga-toxin-two-variant (Stx2e) by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among these E. coli isolates, 140 were determined to be placed in serogroups, 52 were unable to be serogrouped and the rest 23 auto-agglutinated. These isolates distributed in 45 serogroups and 64.3% (90/140) belonged to 12 O serogroups: O8, O9, O11, O20, O32, O91, O93, O101, O107, O115, O116 and O131. Hemolytic activity was detected in 11.6% (25/215) of all isolates. Several uncommon O serogroups were discovered in this study. Agglutination tests showed that 50.2% (108/215) of these isolates were positive for one or more of the five fimbrial antigens. Seventy-two E. coli strains expressed single fimbria and 36 strains expressed two or more fimbriae. Among these 215 E. coli isolates, strains expressing F18, F4, F6, F6 + F18 or F5 + F41 occurred more frequently. PCR analysis showed that 60.5% (130/215) of the isolates only harboured the gene of estI (STI) while 6.0% (13/215) strains possessed the genes of stx2e, estI and estII and 5.6% (12/215) of strains had the genes of estI/estII. Of all these isolates, 107 (49.8%) were negative for the fimbrial antigens examined. The fimbria-negative isolates usually possessed genetic determinant of estI (78, 72.9%).     

乳酸杆菌对病原菌粘附肉鸡肠粘液的影响

研究嗜酸乳杆菌、禽大肠杆菌O78、大肠杆菌ATCC 25922、鸡白痢沙门氏菌和鼠伤寒沙门氏菌与肉鸡不同肠段粘液糖蛋白的粘附性能,探讨嗜酸乳杆菌对四种病原菌的粘附排斥作用.结果表明,在不同的肠道部位,嗜酸乳杆菌、鸡白痢沙门氏菌和鼠伤寒沙门氏菌与肠粘液糖蛋白的粘附能力不同,而禽大肠杆菌O78、大肠杆菌ATCC 25922在各肠段粘液上的粘附性能相近;在相同的肠道部位,所试菌与肠粘液糖蛋白的粘附能力有差异,其中嗜酸乳杆菌的粘附作用最强;嗜酸乳杆菌对所试病原菌均有不同程度的粘附排斥作用,其中对鸡白痢沙门氏菌的粘附排斥较强,而对大肠杆菌ATCC25922的则较弱.     

Duplex real-time PCR assays for rapid detection of virulence genes in E. coli isolated from post-weaning pigs and calves with diarrhoea

Duplex real-time PCR assays were used as modules to cover partially automated detection of 12 genes encoding adhesins, enterotoxins and Shiga toxins in faecal E. coli isolates. For this a total of 194 E. coli isolates from pigs suffering from post-weaning diarrhoea (PWD), including 65 isolates with haemolytic activity, and 83 isolates from calves with diarrhoea were examined. Data obtained by PCR were compared with O-typing and with haemolytic activity as indirect virulence markers. E. coli O-types O139:K82, O141:K85, and O149:K91 accounted for 43.8% (n = 85) of all porcine strains and for 55.4% (n = 36) of the porcine strains, which exhibited haemolytic activity. These strains carried virulence genes by 65.9% (n = 56) and 80.6% (haemolytic E. coli, n = 29), respectively. The E. coli O-types O139:K82 and O141:K85 were significantly associated with the adhesin gene F18, and O149:K81 with the F4 gene. In this context, detection of the gene encoding F18 was coupled predominantly with the genes responsible for the production of the toxins ST-I, ST-II and Stx2, and the F4 gene with those of the enterotoxins ST-I, ST-II and LT. Both virulence patterns were detected more pronounced in E. coli strains with haemolytic activity. Fifty-six of a total of 83 E. coli isolates originating from calves were O-typed as O101 (O101:K28, O101:K30, O101:K32; n = 29), O78:K80 (n = 23), and O9:K35 (n = 4). Most of the E. coli O78:K80 strains carried the F17 gene (69.6%, n = 16). Virulence genes encoding for F4, F5 or ST-I were detected only in single cases. Intimin and Shiga toxin genes that are present in enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) were not detected.     

Population of Salmonella serovar typhimurium in the cecum of gnotobiotic chickens with Escherichia coli and intestinal bacteria.

To test the interaction between various species of bacteria and Salmonella serovar typhimurium (S. typhimurium), the population of S. typhimurium was measured in the cecum of gnotobiotic chickens in the presence of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and one of the four intestinal bacteria; Lactobacillus acidophilus. Clostridium perfringens, Bifidobacterium thermophilum and Bacteroides vulgatus. Competitive exclusion of S. typhimurium by di-flora chicken was not demonstrated. But the population of S. typhimurium was temporarily suppressed in di-flora chickens with E. coli and L. acidophilus. In penta-flora chickens with E. coli and these four intestinal bacteria, the population of S. typhimurium was suppressed for only 2 days. In normalized chickens, the population of S. typhimurium was markedly suppressed.     

Testing two Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus acidophilus strains for their suitability as a lipoid probiotic

Two strains of lactobacilli (Lactobacillus acidophilus T-135 and Lactobacillus plantarum 4/97) were selected in order to study their inhibitory properties against frequent udder pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus agalactiae, Streptococcus uberis, Salmonella enteritidis and Bacillus pumilus), their production of organic acids as well as their ability to survive on the teat skin, the teat duct mucosa and in a lipoid emulsion. Both strains inhibited the tested pathogenic microbes and survived on the investigated surfaces and in an emulsion for more than 6 hours and 11 days, respectively.     

Adsorption effect of activated charcoal on enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

The adsorption property of activated charcoal on verotoxin (VT)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) was examined using E. coli O157:H7. In the present study, E. coli O157:H7 strains were effectively adsorbed by activated charcoal. Adsorption was dose-dependent, and the maximum adsorption occurred within 5 min. At 10 mg of activated charcoal, bacteria tested were completely adsorbed. Activated charcoal also had the capacity to adsorb toxin (verotoxin 2) activity from the bacterial extract. Furthermore, the adsorption efficiency of activated charcoal for the normal bacterial flora in the intestine was assessed using Enterococcus faecium, Bifidobacterium thermophilum, and Lactobacillus acidophilus. Activated charcoal showed lower binding capacity to the normal bacterial flora tested than that to E. coli O157:H7 strains. These results suggest that activated charcoal could be a good adsorbent system for the removal of VTEC and verotoxin.     

Genotypic prevalence of F4 variants (ab, ac, and ad) in Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic piglets in Korea.

A total of 812 Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets were tested for the presence of the F4 (K88) variant (ab, ac and ad) gene by the polymerase chain reaction. Forty four (5.4%) of the 812 E. coli strains carried genes for F4. Among the 44 isolates known to carry genes for F4, 42 (96%) isolates contained genes for F4ac and 2 (4%) isolates contained genes for F4ab. None of the E. coli strains carried genes for F4ad. Our data show that F4ac is the predominant F4 variant associated with diarrhea in piglets in Korea.     

Development of a sandwich ELISA and comparison with PCR for the detection of F11 and F165 fimbriated Escherichia coli isolates from septicaemic disease in farm animals

The P fimbriae F11 and F165 that have been demonstrated on Escherichia coli septicaemic strains in poultry and calves, respectively, possess a nearly identical major subunit that demonstrates a serological cross-reaction. A polyclonal antibody-based sandwich ELISA (sELISA) that was specific for both F11 and F165 fimbriated strains was compared with a PCR method to detect F11/F165 fimbriated strains, in a collection of E. coli strains isolated from diseased animals. Of 298 isolates tested, 36 were positive by PCR of which only 14 were sELISA positive. There were no sELISA positive but PCR negative results. The 36 PCR positive isolates comprised 11 avian strains of which 10 were sELISA positive, 20 bovine strains of which 4 were sELISA positive and 3 ovine strains, 1 porcine strain and 1 equine strain all of which were sELISA negative. The F11/F165 incidence of 10.7% in 103 poultry and 18.3% in 109 bovine isolates demonstrates a moderate level of these factors in E. coli septicaemic cases in Northern Ireland.     

Age-dependent competition of porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) with different fimbria genes - short communication

To investigate the association of pathogenic Escherichia coli fimbrial adhesins with the development of diarrhoea in piglets of different age groups and to test their relative competitiveness, piglets were orally inoculated with a mixture of E. coli strains harbouring F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbrial genes. A total of 537 E. coli strains with haemolytic activity were isolated from 36 diarrhoeic piglets. The F4 fimbrial gene was observed in 98.5%, 97.6% and 80.6% strains carrying fimbrial genes isolated from diarrhoeic piglets that were infected at 1, 3 and 5 weeks of age, respectively. These data demonstrate that F4 fimbriae are highly associated with diarrhoea in piglets of all age groups. Interestingly, the F18 fimbrial gene was observed in 2.4% and 25.4% strains carrying fimbrial genes isolated from the 3- and 5-week-old groups, respectively, which confirms that F18 fimbriae are associated with diarrhoea in piglets from late stages of suckling to post-weaning, and are more related to diarrhoea in weaned than in unweaned piglets.     

Analysis of the AIDA-I gene sequence and prevalence in Escherichia coli isolates from pigs with post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease

Three hundred and twenty-four strains of Escherichia coli isolated from weaned pigs with diarrhoea or oedema disease in Eastern China were screened by multiplex PCR for the presence of the gene encoding adhesin involved in diffuse adhesion I (AIDA-I). Two AIDA-I positive strains were subjected to analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the complete orfA and orfB of the AIDA gene. The AIDA-I positive E. coli isolates were also assessed for five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41) by monoclonal antibodies and for toxin genes (STa, STb, LT, EAST1, Stx2e) by PCR. Twenty-one (6.5%) of the isolates possessed AIDA-I genes. Of these isolates, two carried AIDA-I genes as the only demonstrated virulence factors, and the remaining isolates carried other virulence factor genes. Comparing the AIDA-I sequence from porcine and human sources, a high homology of orfA both in porcine E. coli and human E. coli was observed. However, each orfB of the two porcine E. coli isolates was 3864 nucleotides long compared with 3861 for the E. coli 2787 orfB, and showed 96.5% homology to E. coli 2787. The data indicated (1) that AIDA-I may be an occasional virulence factor in post-weaning diarrhoea and oedema disease in pigs, (2) that it has the potential to transfer between porcine and human E. coli, and (3) that there is a genetic diversity in orfB between human and porcine E. coli.     

Prevalence of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 gene and its relationship with fimbrial and enterotoxin genes in E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets.

A total of 720 Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets on 756 swine farms were screened for the presence of the enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Escherichia coli strains that carried EAST1 genes were also tested by PCR for the presence of 4 fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F41), 2 heat-stable enterotoxins (STa and STb), and 1 heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) gene. One hundred sixty-four (22.7%) of the 720 E. coli isolates carried genes for EAST1. Of these 164 isolates, 62 (37.8%) carried EAST1 genes only, 11 (6.7%) carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins, 51 (31.1%) carried genes for at least 1 of the enterotoxins, and 40 (23.8%) carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins and enterotoxins. Forty-six percent of strains that carried EAST1 genes carried STa genes, and 16% of strains that carried EAST1 genes carried F4. The isolation rate of enterotoxigenic E. coli strains carrying genes for EAST1 gene was 63%. The 6 major genotypes observed in this study (in decreasing order) were EAST1+, EAST1+STa+, EAST1+STa+STb+, EAST1+STa+F5+, EAST1+STa+F4+, and EAST1+STb+F4+. EAST1 is widely prevalent among diarrheagenic strains of E. coli and may represent an important virulence determinant in the pathogenesis of enteric colibacillosis of preweaned pigs.     

嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对致病性大肠杆菌粘附鸡肠纹状缘膜的影响

为研究嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对致病性大肠杆菌(E.coli)粘附鸡肠纹状缘膜的影响,本实验以雏鸡小肠纹状缘膜为模型,以嗜酸乳杆菌和鸡致病性E.coli O78为研究对象,提取嗜酸乳杆菌表层蛋白、肽聚糖及E.coli O78菌毛,雏鸡小肠纹状缘膜,采用固相粘附试验和生物素标记法从分子间相互作用的关系评价了嗜酸乳杆菌细胞壁提取物对菌毛粘附的抑制作用,结果表明:表层蛋白和肽聚糖对菌毛粘附具有明显的抑制作用,呈浓度依赖性抑制菌毛与纹状缘膜的结合,具有竞争性拮抗作用,这主要是由空间占位造成的。肽聚糖的抑制作用相对较小。     

致病性大肠杆菌苗用菌株的原生质体融合的研究

对筛选的5株大肠杆菌(E2:O2、E6:O78、E7:O8、E9:O9、E22:O138)进行药敏试验以及致病性大肠杆菌原生质的制备、融合和筛选试验。结果表明:①5株大肠杆菌对多种抗菌素存在抗药性,并且这种抗药性能进行培育,同时,在原生质的融合过程中能递进;②大肠杆菌原生质体选择的最佳组合是:溶菌酶2.0 g/L,处理时间是20 m in;③大肠杆菌的融合率在10-8左右,大肠杆菌之间的融合率为10-6左右;共选出3株融合菌株为E2-E6、E6-E7和E2-E22,各融合株的生化特征介于起源菌株的生化特征之间,有2株融合株的抗原特征含原菌株各自的抗原成分。     

鸡致病性大肠杆菌菌毛分型的初步研究

以鸡致病性大肠杆菌F1菌毛特异性单抗1F4－1、2C3、3H3和F11菌毛特异性单抗FA1、FB11作为检测试剂，将111株已知O抗原的鸡致病性大肠杆菌经MD液体培养基连续传代培养后，通过直接玻板凝集法对各菌毛进行初步分型。结果发现F1、F11菌毛与O78、O1及O2三种优势O抗原型菌株之间存在较为明显的相关性，即致病性大肠杆菌主要集中在上。F1、F11菌毛在这三种O抗原型上的总检出率分别为95．6％、75．4％及73．3％。另外，在所检测的111株鸡致病性大肠杆菌中，只表达F1菌毛的大肠杆菌占菌杆总数的33．3％。只表达F11菌毛的大肠杆菌占菌株总数的8．1％，两者都表达的占菌株总数的36％，F1、F11菌毛的总检出率为78．3％。     

预防犊牛腹泻复合微生态制剂3株菌种的配比优化

试验旨在研究预防犊牛腹泻复合微生态制剂3株菌种的配比优化。通过研究嗜酸乳杆菌、布氏酵母菌、枯草芽孢杆菌不同浓度人工胃液、人工肠液、牛胆盐的耐受性及其对大肠杆菌、沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌的抑菌性,确定其生物学特性;以大肠杆菌K99为指示菌,研究3种益生菌不同配比对大肠杆菌K99的抑菌效果,以确定其最佳组合。结果表明:(1)3种益生菌在不同pH人工胃培养条件下都具有较好的耐受性,其中嗜酸乳杆菌、芽孢杆菌在pH为5时,存活率达到了118.75%、142.24%,布氏酵母菌对不同pH均表现成活率达到了100%以上。(2)3种益生菌在人工胃液中9 h存活率较高,与0 h的OD600相比,布氏酵母菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌存活率分别为108.7%、129.73%、96.37%。(3)在含有不同浓度的牛胆盐培养基中,布氏酵母菌、嗜酸乳杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌存活率较对照组的存活率最高为60.49%、85.1%、47.42%。(4)3株益生菌按照不同配比在培养12 h后,试验组第2、4、8组较对照组相比差异显著(P<0.05);培养24 h后,试验组第3、4、5、6较对照组差异显著(P<0.05),组间差异不显著(P>0.05);第8个处理组在培养12 h后对大肠杆菌K99的抑菌效果较好。综合分析,3株益生菌对人工胃液、人工肠液、牛胆盐具有较好的耐受性,并具对大肠杆菌K99、沙门氏菌、金黄色葡萄球菌等致病菌均有一定的抑菌特性。嗜酸乳杆菌、枯草芽孢杆菌、布氏酵母菌最佳的优化配比为3:3:1。     

Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from adult horses with and without enteritis

In the present study E. coli strains isolated from the faeces of ten horses with diarrhoea and 14 horses without diarrhoea were characterized. All horses were culture negative for Salmonella species. Nine colonies of E. coli from each faecal sample were picked at random and a DNA fingerprint was made by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) primers. The number of E. coli genotypes did not differ significantly between horses with and without diarrhoea. In addition, all E. coli strains with different DNA fingerprints were tested by PCR for genes encoding the virulence factors K88, F41, F17, CS31a, Sta1, LT1, VT2, CNF, BFP, and intimin. Genes coding for K88, F41, BFP, STa1, VT2, and CS31A were not detected. Genes for CNF were found in strains from one horse with diarrhoea and one horse with normal faeces. Genes for LT1 (n=1) and intimin (n=1) were found only in strains from horses with normal faeces. Genes for F17 fimbriae were found in strains from three horses with diarrhoea (30%) and in none of the strains from healthy horses. In two of these horses, E. coli strains with different DNA polymorphism patterns were F17 positive; however, none of these strains possessed LT1, Sta1, or CNF genes. Haemolytic E. coli strains were only isolated from two horses with diarrhoea and from none of the healthy horses. Nineteen percent of all E. coli strains did not ferment lactose. Eight per cent of these lactose-negative strains were from horses with diarrhoea, whereas 32% were from horses without diarrhoea. In conclusion, virulence factors were present in E. coli isolates from horses with and without diarrhoea, except for F17, which was only found in E. coli isolated from horses with diarrhoea. F17-positive E. coli might have importance as cause of diarrhoea in horses, but further studies are needed.