Abstract Shiga toxin E. coli (STEC) is an important pathogen responsible for foodborne illness, this have been related with epidemic outbreaks in the past, mainly because of consumption of bovine meat. The objective of this study was identify the serotypes and Stx2 subtypes and associate them with their possible epidemiology. There were analyzed a total of 65 isolates from the collection of the Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia of the Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, from carcasses and feces of bovines at three different Municipal slaughterhouses. The identification of Stx2 gene by PCR at final point, sequencing and analyzed with the help of BLAST software. There were found O157:H7, O70:H16, O91:H10, O112ac:H2, O128ac:H26 serotypes, which have been reported to be present at infectious outbreaks previously by foodborne worldwide; 63.07% (41/65) of the Escherichia coli strains got amplified for Stx2 and after BLAS analysis it was confirmed its presence and a hypothetic protein. The presence of this serotypes in combination with different subtype’s, Stx2a, Stx2c, Stx2d, in carcasses and feces of bovine in must be considered as a potential risk for diseases an important problem of the public health.

Resumen La bacteria E. coli productora de la toxina Shiga (STEC) es un importante patógeno causante de enfermedades transmitidas por los alimentos; esto se ha relacionado con brotes epidémicos en el pasado, principalmente debido al consumo de carne de vacuno. El objetivo de este estudio fue identificar los serotipos y subtipos de Stx2 y asociarlos con su posible epidemiología. Se analizaron un total de 65 aislamientos de la colección del Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia de la Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, a partir de canales y heces de bovinos en tres diferentes rastros municipales. La identificación del gen Stx2 por PCR en el punto final, secuenciado y analizado con la ayuda del programa BLAST. Se encontraron los estereotipos O157:H7, O70:H16, O91:H10, O112ac:H2, O128ac:H26, cuya presencia se ha reportado en brotes infecciosos anteriormente transmitidos por alimentos en todo el mundo; 63.07% (41/65) de las cepas de Escherichia coli se amplificaron para el Stx2 y después del análisis con BLAST se confirmó su presencia, así como la de una hipotética proteína. La presencia de estos serotipos en combinación con los diferentes subtipos Stx2a, Stx2c y Stx2d en las canales y las heces de los bovinos debe considerarse un riesgo potencial de enfermedades, un importante problema de salud pública.

Abstract This study aimed to determine the frequency of contamination and serovar diversity of Salmonella enterica (SE) and Escherichia coli (EC) in different stages of cattle slaughtering and deboning processes. Fecal, carcass, and primal cut (100 of each type) samples were collected in a Federally Inspected slaughterhouse in Mexicali, Baja California. EC was not analyzed in fecal samples because it is part of the gut microbiota. Strain identity was confirmed by biochemical methods and PCR, using the taxonomic genes invA and gadA for SE and EC, respectively. In EC, the presence of genes associated with the main pathotypes was also investigated. SE had a 34 % frequency in fecal samples, 3% in carcasses, and 2% in cuts, while Montevideo was the predominant serovar (72.5 % of the total strains). EC was detected in carcasses (34 %) and cuts (11 %) at an average concentration of 0.012 and 0.33 log CFU cm-2, respectively. Although several of the identified EC serovars were associated with enterotoxigenic or Shiga toxin-producing strains, none carried the virulence factors typically observed in these pathotypes. In summary, beef carcasses and cuts are not a relevant source of EC pathogenic strains. However, beef is an important reservoir of SE, which represents a public health risk. Genomic studies are required on the virulence profile and genes of SE strains commonly associated with subclinical infections and isolated from apparently healthy animals.

Resumen El objetivo fue determinar la frecuencia de contaminación y la diversidad de serotipos de Salmonella enterica (SE) y Escherichia coli (EC) en diferentes etapas de los procesos de matanza y deshuese de bovinos. Se tomaron muestras de heces, canales y cortes primarios (100 de cada tipo) en un rastro Tipo Inspección Federal ubicado en Mexicali, Baja California. EC no se analizó en heces, por ser esta bacteria parte de la microbiota intestinal. La identidad de las cepas se confirmó por métodos bioquímicos y por PCR: genes taxonómicos invA y gadA, para SE y EC, respectivamente. En EC se investigó también la presencia de genes asociados con los principales patotipos. SE tuvo una frecuencia de 34 % en heces, 3 % en canales y 2 % en cortes, siendo Montevideo el serotipo predominante (72.5 % del total de cepas). EC se detectó en canales (34 %) y en cortes (11 %), en concentraciones promedio de 0.012 y 0.33 log UFC cm-2, respectivamente. Aunque varios de los serotipos de EC identificados están asociados con cepas enterotoxigénicas o productoras de toxinas tipo Shiga, ninguno portaba factores de virulencia característicos de estos patotipos. En resumen, las canales y cortes de bovino no son una fuente relevante de cepas patógenas de EC. En contraste, los bovinos constituyen un importante reservorio de SE, lo cual representa un riesgo para la salud pública. Se requieren estudios genómicos sobre el perfil de virulencia y los genes asociados con infecciones subclínicas en cepas de SE provenientes de animales aparentemente sanos.

A total of 221 strains of Aeromonas species isolated in Mexico from clinical (161), environmental (40), and food (20) samples were identified using the automated system bioMérieux-Vitek®. Antisera for serogroups O1 to 044 were tested using the Shimada and Sakazaki scheme. The K1 antigen was examined using as antiserum the O7:K1C of Escherichia coli. Besides, we studied the antimicrobial patterns according to Vitek AutoMicrobic system. Among the 161 clinical strains 60% were identified as A. hydrophila, 20.4% as A. caviae, and 19.25% as A. veronii biovar sobria. Only A. hydrophila and A. veronii biovar sobria were found in food (55 and 90% respectively) and environmental sources (45 and 10% respectively). Using "O" antisera, only 42.5% (94/221) of the strains were serologically identified, 55% (121/221) were non-typable, and 2.5% (6/221) were rough strains. Twenty-two different serogroups were found, O14, O16, O19, O22, and O34 represented 60% of the serotyped strains. More than 50% of Aeromonas strain examined (112/221) expressed K1 encapsulating antigen; this characteristic was predominant among Aeromonas strains of clinical origin. Resistance to ampicillin/sulbactam and cephazolin was detected in 100 and 67% of Aeromonas strain tested for their susceptibility to antibiotics. In conclusion, antibiotic-resistant Aeromonas species that possess the K1 encapsulating antigen and represent serogroups associated with clinical syndrome in man are not uncommon among Aeromonas strains isolated from clinical, food and environmental sources in Mexico.

The presence of Vibrio cholerae non-O1 in water supplies for human consumption in the city of Campeche and rural locality of Bécal was investigated. V. cholerae non-O1 was detected in 5.9% of the samples obtained in deep pools of Campeche. Studies conducted in Bécal and neighbourhood of Morelos in Campeche indicated that collected samples harbored V. cholerae non-O1 in 31.5% and 8.7% respectively. There was a particular pattern of distribution of V. cholerae non-O1 serotypes among different studied regions. Accordingly, V. cholerae non-O1 serotype O14 predominated in the deep pools of Campeche and together with V. cholerae non-O1, O155 were preferentially founds in samples taken from intradomiciliary faucets in the neighbourhood of Morelos. Samples from Bécal predominantly presented the serotype O112. 60% and 53.8% of all studied strains of V. cholerae non-O1 proved to be resistant to ampicillin and carbenicillin. 3.1%, 7.7% and 6.2% presented resistant to doxycycline, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and erythromycin respectively. The study showed the necessity of performing a strong epidemiologic surveillance for emergence and distribution of V. cholerae non-O1