The aim of this work was to verify the presence of seven virulence factors (ST, LT, eae, stx1, stx2, INV and EAEC) among Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy humans, bovines, chickens, sheep, pigs and goats, from two sewage treatment plants and from the Tietê River. We have found a high prevalence of eae, stx1 and stx2 in ruminants. The EAEC gene was only found in humans and sewage. No strains presented ST, LT or INV. BOX-PCR fingerprints revealed a high diversity among the strains analysed and a non-clonal origin of strains that presented the same virulence factors. Therefore, we concluded that ruminants may constitute an important reservoir of most diarrheagenic E. coli in Brazil, except for EAEC strains. These results emphasize the importance of the identification of the animal source of fecal contamination for the correct water risk assessment.
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Research Article|
February 03 2011
Prevalence of virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy animals and water sources in Brazil
Camila Carlos;
Camila Carlos
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Fabiana Alexandrino;
Fabiana Alexandrino
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Monica A. M. Vieira;
Monica A. M. Vieira
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Nancy C. Stoppe;
Nancy C. Stoppe
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Maria Inês Z. Sato;
Maria Inês Z. Sato
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Tânia A. T. Gomes;
Tânia A. T. Gomes
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
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Laura M. M. Ottoboni
1Centro de Biologia Molecular e Engenharia Genética, Universidade Estadual de Campinas - UNICAMP, C.P. 6010, 13083-875 Campinas, S.P., Brasil
Tel: +55 19 3521 1136 ; Fax: +55 19 3521 1089; E-mail: [email protected]
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J Water Health (2011) 9 (1): 138–142.
Article history
Received:
May 03 2010
Accepted:
September 23 2010
Citation
Camila Carlos, Fabiana Alexandrino, Monica A. M. Vieira, Nancy C. Stoppe, Maria Inês Z. Sato, Tânia A. T. Gomes, Laura M. M. Ottoboni; Prevalence of virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from healthy animals and water sources in Brazil. J Water Health 1 March 2011; 9 (1): 138–142. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wh.2010.068
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