Edwarsiella tarda is a zoonotic bacterium that can be isolated from humans, animals and the environment. Although E. tarda is primarily considered a fish pathogen, it is the only species of its genus considered to be pathogenic for humans as well. A survey of zoonotic intestinal bacteria in fresh feces from South American sea lions (SASL) Otaria flavescens, reported E. tarda as the most frequently isolated species. In this study, we used HEp-2 cells to establish in vitro the adherence and invasive ability of 17 E. tarda strains isolated from SASL fecal material. All the strains were able to adhere and invade HEp-2 cells with adhesion and invasion percentages ranging from 56 to 100% and 21 to 74%, respectively. Despite the expression of these pathogenic factors, further investigation is needed to determine whether this bacterium could play a role as primary pathogen for this and other species of pinnipeds.

Os primeiros dois casos de diarréia crônica por Arcobacter butzleri no sul do Chile são apresentados. As características clínicas, a ausência de outros enteropatógenos, vírus ou parasitas, o resultado do tratamento, bem como a associação epidemiológica entre ambos pacientes e o fato de A. butzleri ter sido a única bactéria isolada permitem assumir que este microrganismo seria o agente etiológico destes dois casos de diarréia crônica.

The first two cases of chronic diarrhea due to Arcobacter butzleri in Chile are reported. The clinical findings, the absence of other enteropathogens, virus or parasites, the epidemiological association between both patients, the treatment outcome and the fact that A. butzleri was the only bacteria isolated, support the assumption that it was the etiological agent of these chronic diarrhea cases.