An estuarine neritid gastropod, Clithon corona, a potential reservoir of thermostable direct hemolysin-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus

An estuarine neritid gastropod, Clithon corona, maintained in UV-irradiated recirculating artificial seawater with a salinity of 15 per mil (%o) was found to retain thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH)-producing Vibrio parahaemolyticus in the gut at significantly higher levels than TDH-non-producing one for at least 14 days. Another estuarine neritid gastropod, C. sowerbianus, was not able to support the preferential survival of TDH-producing organisms. This evidence suggests that, if TDH-producing vibrios are brought to estuaries inhabited by C. corona, repeated ingestion of V. parahaemolyticus by this gastropod could lead to accumulation of TDH-producing vibrios in the estuaries.     

Ecological cycle of thermostable direct hemolysin-producing strains of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in a brackish-water area with special reference to molluscs and attached microalgae.

Prevalences of thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH)-producing strains in communities of a gastropod mollusc. Clithon retropictus, and a bivalve mollusc, Corbicula japonica, and levels of the strains in attached microalgae and muddy sediments were investigated at a brackish-water area along Hashizu Creek and Togo Pond in Japan, V. parahaemolyticus was detected from attached microalgae at Hashizu Creek in summer months with the highest level of 1.4 x 10(5) cfu/g. Levels of the organism among 20 animals of C. retropictus and C. japonica at the area varied betwen non-detectable level and 10(3) per mollusc in summer months. TDH was detected from culture supernatants of 11-16% of strains isolated from the algae, sediments and C. japonica and 28% of those isolated from C. retropictus at Hashizu Creek. These evidences suggest that C. retropictus would get TDH-positive strains from the algae.     

Survivals of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli in a gastropod mollusc, Heminerita japonica.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus strains D-3 and R-13 were found to be cleared within 7 days from a marine neritid gastropod mollusc, Heminerita japonica, maintained in artificial seawater with salinities of 15, 25 and 35 permil (%) at 25 degrees C. Escherichia coli strain YS-2 survived at a level of 10(2) colony forming units per gram in the mollusc maintained in 15% water for up to 14 days and fell to non-detectable level within 7 days in a 35% salinity group. The ability of H. japonica to clear these organisms seems to be less active than that of a marine species. Nerita albicilla, and more active than that of an estuarine species. Clithon retropictus.     

In vitro attachment of Vibrio parahaemolyticus to hemocytes of two gastropod molluscs.

Vibrio parahaemolyticus D-3 was observed to attach to hemocytes of a marine gastropod mollusc, Nerita albicilla, regardless of the presence of N. albicilla serum. The organism attached to hemocytes of an estuarine gastropod, Clithon retropictus, in the presence of C. retropictus serum while the attachment to the hemocytes was decreased significantly in the absence of the serum. These evidences suggest that N. albicilla hemocytes would facilitate the clearance of V. parahaemolyticus from the alimentary tract of the mollusc and that C. retropictus hemocytes would protect C. retropictus against the invasion of V. parahaemolyticus to hemocoel of the mollusc.     

Migratory deficiency of Clithon retropictus hemocytes to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli

Hemocytes of a marine gastropod, Nerita albicilla, but not those of an estuarine gastropod, Clithon retropictus, were observed to migrate to live and heat-killed cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli through Nucleopore membrane in Blind well chamber. The defective migration of C. retropictus hemocytes might reflect, at least in part, the survival of V. parahaemolyticus in the estuarine gastropod.     

Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes from adult and juvenile specimens of a brackish-water clam, Corbicula japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live cells of Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains in a balanced salt solution, which was enhanced significantly in the presence of respective C. japonica plasma. Chemotactic attractions of adult's and juvenile's hemocytes were seen also in artificial seawater at a similar level to those in the balanced salt solution. Chemotactic attractions of juvenile's hemocytes to these strains were lower in level than those of adult's hemocytes. C. japonica plasma seems to facilitate for C. japonica hemocytes to recognize these organisms.     

Detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) in Slovenia

The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of Vibrio parahaemolyticus in shellfish samples harvested along the Slovenian coast. Shellfish samples of Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) were collected along the Slovenian coast at four locations (Se?a, Piran, Strunjan and Debeli Rti?) between 2006 and 2008. Samples were examined and analysed for the presence of V. parahaemolyticus by conventional and molecular methods. The presence of Vibrio in the samples was examined by conventional methods on plate grown bacterial cells before and after enrichment in alkaline saline peptone water (ASPW). PCR methods were used for the detection of V. parahaemolyticus-specific toxR and tlh genes and of the virulence-associated tdh and trh genes. Out of 168 samples examined, 24 were positive for toxR and tlh genes by PCR from enrichment broth. Five out of 62 (8.1%), 4 out of 32 (12.5%) and 15 out of 74 (20.2%) samples were positive in 2006, 2007 and 2008, respectively. Colonies of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated from only one sample positive for V. parahaemolyticus by PCR.     

用PCR检测副溶血性弧菌耐热溶血素基因

根据副溶血性弧菌的耐热溶血素基因（ｔｄｈ）设计了２对引物，经聚合酶链式反应（ＰＣＲ）检测，所有１８株神奈川试验阳性副溶血性弧菌均呈阳性反应，而６株神奈川试验阴性副溶血性弧菌呈阴性反应，其他９种（３４株）弧菌和８株其他革兰氏阴性菌也呈阴性反应。检测敏感性可达２ＣＦＵ的副溶血性弧菌。     

苏州大型超市小水产品中副溶血性弧菌的污染调查及耐药性分析

目的了解副溶血性弧菌(Vibrio parahaemolyticus)在苏州市大型超市小水产品中的污染状况及耐药性,为建立副溶血性弧菌食物中毒预警系统提供科学依据。方法定期从苏州一大型超市抽取小水产品,根据GB/T4789.7-2008标准进行副溶血性弧菌的分离培养和鉴定,应用K-B法进行药敏实验。结果在144份样品中检出副溶血性弧菌56株,检出率38.9%。所有分离菌株对先锋必素、诺氟沙星和环丙沙星敏感;部分菌株对氨苄西林、阿莫西林、复方新诺明和头孢噻吩等具有较强的耐药性,耐药率分别为55.4%、42.9%、35.7%和32.1%;有9株菌株出现了多重耐药。结论苏州大型超市小水产品中副溶血性弧菌污染严重,应加强副溶血性弧菌食源性疾病预警,同时加强水产品抗生素使用的管理,防止其耐药菌株的传播。     

Plasma-dependent chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from a juvenile estuarine gastropod mollusc, Clithon retropictus, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes of adult Clithon retropictus were attracted chemotactically to live Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains. The chemotaxis was stimulated by the plasma of adult C. retropictus. Hemocytes of the juvenile specimen were attracted chemotactically to V. parahaemolyticus and E. coli strains in the presence of the plasma of the juvenile and only to E. coli strain in the absence of the plasma. These evidences suggest that hemocytes of juvenile C. retropictus might be defective to recognize V. parahaemolyticus strains and that the hemocytes would display full activities in the presence of the plasma factor(s).     

舟山沿海贝类产品中副溶血性弧菌的检测与毒力基因分析

为了解舟山沿海贝类产品中副溶血性弧菌污染情况,我们于2008年3个不同季节,从不同的农贸市场采集贝类标本,采用实时荧光定量PCR检测方法和常规培养方法,对舟山沿海贝类产品中的副溶血性弧菌进行了检测,同时对分离到的菌株进行血清学分型和毒力基因检测。结果60份贝类产品中,采用常规的分离培养方法,阳性率为83.33%,而采用实时荧光定量PCR检测方法,全部检出副溶血性弧菌。对分离到的50株副溶血性弧菌进行耐热溶血素(tdh)基因检测,结果4株tdh阳性。监测结果表明舟山贝类海产品中携带副溶血性弧菌情况比较严重,应引起足够的重视。     

Attachment of different Escherichia coli strains to cultured rumen epithelial cells

The attachment to fully characterized primary rumen epithelial cell cultures of Escherichia coli strains isolated from different animal species and expressing F1–F4 or F17 fimbriae was examined. As the cell cultures contained stratified (keratinized) and non-stratified (non-keratinized) cells which grew either confluently or non-confluently, the strength of attachment of the different bacterial strains was assessed in relation to the differentiation state of the cells. Thus, strains having F1 fimbriae attached to all types of cultured cells, while strains with F2 and F3 fimbriae did not bind at all. E. coli strains having F4 or F17 fimbrae attached only to non-keratinized cells, particularly to confluent areas. As membrane glycosylation is known to change with differentiation (keratinization), our results suggest that the attachment of fimbriated E. coli strains which were capable of binding to rumen cells was more likely to be dependent on differentiation than the host specificity of the bacteria.     

Isolation of Vibrio vulnificus and atypical Vibrio from surface water of the Baltic Sea in Germany

From 1995 to 1997 several defined species like V. alginolyticus, V. anguillarum, V. cholerae (non O1 and non O139), V. mimicus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. vulnificus were isolated during a survey to determine the presence of V. vulnificus in the brackish water of the Baltic Sea in Germany. Moreover atypical Vibrio isolates were detected. Four isolates belonging to a group of atypical Vibrio and possibly representing a new species in the genus Vibrio were characterized in detail. All four strains were isolated from surface costal waters. Based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis they showed the highest relatedness to the species V. navarrensis and V. vulnificus. The strains did not harbor the species specific hemolysin gene vvhA from V. vulnificus as shown by PCR and hybridization experiments. Moreover, they differed in at least two biochemical parameters tested from the hitherto described Vibrio species. All these strains induced hemolysis on washed blood agar dishes and showed phase variations on Luria Bertani agar dishes. Because of the similarity to the eel pathogen V. vulnificus, we infected eels with one of the four atypical strains (CH-291), but no pathogenicity for eels could be detected. Furthermore, Vero cell tests with supernatants of bacterial cultures did not reveal secreted Vero cell cytotoxic compounds. This indicates a nonpathogenic nature of these strains.     

荧光定量PCR法检测副溶血弧菌tdh基因的表达差异

以pvuA为内标基因,运用实时荧光定量PCR检测不同来源以及不同应激条件下副溶血弧菌热稳定直接溶血素基因tdh的表达量。pvuA和tdh基因的荧光定量PCR融解曲线分析表明,两者均为特异性扩增。尽管相同来源的不同菌株间tdh表达量存在显著差异,副溶血弧菌临床分离株的tdh mRNA平均表达量显著高于海产品分离株((57.2比13.8)。在pH4.0、0.5%和8%NaCl应激条件下,临床株ZJ2和海产品分离株FJ14A的tdh mRNA表达量显著高于对照组;另一海产品分离株KP34在8%NaCl条件下的表达量显著提高,而低pH应激时tdh mRNA的表达量显著降低。结果表明,不同副溶血弧菌分离株的tdh mRNA表达差异显著,临床分离株的tdh mRNA表达量总体上高于海产品分离株,副溶血弧菌在不同应激条件下主要表现为tdh mRNA表达上调。     

副溶血弧菌SHJLA株的分离鉴定及致病性分析

副溶血性弧菌（Vibrio parahaemolyticus）是海洋环境中常见的食源性致病茵。本研究从对虾中分离出1株细菌SHJLA,在TCBS和弧菌显色培养基上分别显示典型的蓝绿色和紫红色的菌落,且其生理生化特性具有典型副溶血弧菌的特性。以SHJLA菌株的基因组为模板。检测副溶血弧菌种特异性基因（tlh、toxR、groEL）均为阳性,gyrB基因序列分析表明SHJLA与副溶血弧茵的亲缘关系最近,同源性达98％～100％;检测副溶血弧菌主要毒力相关基因tdh和T3SS2（VopC2和vcrD2）均为阳性。该菌的神奈川溶血实验为阳性,对小鼠的半数致死量（LD50）为4．8×10^8 cfu／mL。结合SHJLA菌株的形态、生理生化、种特异性基因的检测、gyrB基因序列分析、毒力相关基因的检测以及小鼠半数致死量的测定结果,确定SHJLA是一株携带毒力基因的副溶血弧菌。     

The prevalence of subclinical mastitis in dairy goats in Kenya

California mastitis test (CMT), direct leukocytes counts and bacteriological examination were performed on 630 milk samples from apparently healthy mammary glands of dairy goats comprising a mixed population of German Alpine, Toggenberg, Saanen and Galla crosses to find the prevalence of subclinical mastitis. The prevalence of subclinical mastitis was 9.8% according to CMT, 9.7% according to direct leukocyte counts and 28.7% by bacterial isolation during a 3-month period. The proportion of the bacteriologically positive milk samples was significantly (P <0.01) higher than that positive for CMT and direct leukocyte counts. There was a significant (P < 0.01) correlation between CMT and direct leukocyte counts. There was no significant direct relationship between bacterial isolation and CMT Bacterial organisms were isolated in 22.5% of the 568 CMT-negative milk samples. The results suggest that bacterial organisms isolated from the CMT-negative milksamples were either latent infections or did not stimulate any significant increase in somatic cell counts that could be detected by either the CMT or direct leukocyte counts. The observations of this study indicate that the mere presence of bacteria in goat's milk does not mean that the udder is infected and so does not warrant antibiotic therapy.     

Pathogenicity of Vietnamese enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains in colostrum-deprived one-day-old piglets

Preweaning colibacillosis is a major cause of economic loss to the swine industry in Vietnam. The aim of this study was to examine the enteropathogenicity of representative enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains obtained during an earlier epidemiologic survey conducted in five provinces in North Vietnam. This included isolates belonging to serotype O8 that produced heat-stable and heat-labile enterotoxins but did not produce any of the recognized fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F41, F18). In vitro hemagglutination (unique mannose-resistant hemagglutination activity with guinea pig, sheep, human, and chicken red blood cells at 37 degrees C, but not at 18 degrees C) and enterocyte brush border attachment assays suggested that the F- ETEC strains produced an unidentified colonization factor that promoted adherence to the intestinal epithelium. Colostrum-deprived 1-day-old piglets challenged with an F- strain (1-2 x 10(9) bacteria) developed acute watery diarrhea within 4 hours of inoculation and suffered up to 20% weight loss, with comparable severity to piglets challenged with conventional F4 and F5 strains. At necropsy, viable counts and histopathologic examination of intestinal sections demonstrated colonization of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum by F4-positive strains. In comparison, the F- and F5-positive strains attached exclusively to the ileum. Transmission electron micrographs of negatively stained F- cells grown at 37 degrees C demonstrated the presence of fimbriae. These results confirm the presence of a potentially new pathogenic ETEC fimbrial type in piggeries in Vietnam, with a unique hemagglutination property and attachment characteristics similar to ETEC bearing F5 fimbriae.     

Chemotactic activity of hemocytes derived from two marine neritid gastropod molluscs, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, to Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains.

Hemocytes of two marine neritid gastropods, Nerita albicilla and Heminerita japonica, were attracted chemotactically to live Vibrio parahaemolyticus and Escherichia coli strains. Chemotactic attraction of N. albicilla hemocytes was enhanced in the presence of N. albicilla plasma, while that of H. japonica hemocytes was not enhanced in the presence of H. japonica plasma. Chemotactic activity of the hemocytes seems to participate in the rapid elimination of V. parahaemolyticus from these gastropods.     

基于toxR基因的SYBR GreenⅠ实时定量PCR检测病原副溶血弧菌方法的建立

基于副溶血弧菌toxR基因保守序列设计1对特异性引物,建立了SYBR GreenⅠ实时定量PCR检测副溶血弧菌的方法。常规PCR检测,副溶血弧菌扩增出大小为368bp的目的片段,其他4种病原细菌均为阴性;SYBRGreenⅠ实时定量PCR扩增曲线反映了PCR的指数增长阶段和平台阶段;在Tm为85℃,扩增产物的熔解曲线分析只出现1个单特异峰,无引物二聚体;所制作的标准曲线在2.7×108～2.7×102拷贝数之间有较好的线性关系,相关系数为0.998,能对副溶血弧菌进行准确的定量分析;该方法检测时间从核酸抽提到结果分析仅需4～5h,较传统方法敏感、操作简单,耗时短,是副溶血弧菌引起的水产动物疾病的快速诊断及食品中针对副溶血弧菌安全检测的有效手段。     

Effect of ovotransferrin and lactoferrins on Chlamydophila psittaci adhesion and invasion in HD11 chicken macrophages

The effect of ovotransferrin (ovoTF), human lactoferrin (hLF) and bovine lactoferrin (bLF) on the obligate intracellular pathogen Chlamydophila (Cp.) psittaci was evaluated using a model of Buffalo Green Monkey kidney (BGM) cells and HD11 chicken macrophages as artificial hosts. Firstly, the effect of transferrins on the infectivity of the bacteria was evaluated. Pre-incubation of Cp. psittaci with 0.5 to 5 mg/mL ovoTF prior to infecting BGM cells significantly lowered the infection rate (P < 0.05). For both lactoferrins, the infection rate could only be reduced with 5 mg/mL, albeit not significantly as compared to the infection rate created by the untreated bacteria. Secondly, transferrins were tested for their ability to influence bacterial adhesion and entry in HD11 cells. Maximal non-cytotoxic and non-bactericidal concentrations of 0.05 mg/mL ovoTF and 0.5 mg/mL hLF and bLF were used. Overall, ovoTF was more effective than human and bovine LF in inhibiting bacterial irreversible attachment and cell entry and the latter was accompanied by a dose-dependent reduction of actin recruitment at the bacterial entry site. However, once bacteria had entered HD11 cells, transferrins had apparently no effect on intracellular replication. The present findings suggest a possible role for transferrins and especially ovoTF, in preventing avian Cp. psittaci infections.