Escherichia coli and Salmonella ser. Saintpaul natural co-infection in a free-living ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti): a case report

ABSTRACT This study reports a co-infection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella in a free-living ruddy ground dove (Columbina talpacoti) received at the Laboratory of Ornithological Studies of the State University of Ceará, Brazil. The bird presented diarrhea, leg paralysis and anorexia, and died shortly after. Necropsy was then performed and samples from lung, kidney, liver and intestine were collected for microbiological and histopathological analyses. Escherichia coli was isolated from cloacal swab, lung and kidney samples. Salmonella ser. Saintpaul was identified in liver and spleen samples. Escherichia coli isolates were tested for the presence of eight diagnostic genes for diarrheagenic pathotypes (STEC, ETEC, EPEC, EIEC, EAEC) with conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR). EAEC was detected in the lung and kidney, and STEC in the intestine. In conclusion, Columbina talpacoti is susceptible to enteroaggregative Escherichia coli and Salmonella ser. Saintpaul infection, which may have public health implications.

摘要 本研究报道了一例发生于野生棕地鸠（Columbina talpacoti）的大肠杆菌（Escherichia coli）与沙门氏菌（Salmonella）混合感染案例，该野鸟被送至巴西塞阿拉州立大学鸟类研究实验室。该个体表现出腹泻、腿部麻痹及厌食症状，并在接收后不久死亡。随后研究人员对其实施剖检，采集肺脏、肾脏、肝脏及肠道样本用于微生物学与组织病理学分析。从泄殖腔拭子、肺脏及肾脏样本中分离得到大肠杆菌；从肝脏与脾脏样本中鉴定出沙门氏菌圣保罗血清型（Salmonella ser. Saintpaul）。采用常规聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction, PCR）对大肠杆菌分离株开展8种致腹泻性病原体路径型的诊断基因检测，涉及产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli）、产肠毒素大肠杆菌（ETEC, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli）、肠致病性大肠杆菌（EPEC, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli）、肠侵袭性大肠杆菌（EIEC, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli）与肠聚集性大肠杆菌（EAEC, enteroaggregative Escherichia coli）。结果在肺脏与肾脏样本中检出肠聚集性大肠杆菌（EAEC），在肠道样本中检出产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）。综上，棕地鸠（Columbina talpacoti）对肠聚集性大肠杆菌及沙门氏菌圣保罗血清型具有易感性，该感染可能具有公共卫生意义。