Genetic Diversity and Distribution of Virulence-Associated Genes in <i>Y. enterocolitica</i> and <i>Y. enterocolitica</i>-Like Isolates from Humans and Animals in Poland
Katarzyna Morka,
Ewa Wałecka-Zacharska,
Justyna Schubert,
Bartłomiej Dudek,
Anna Woźniak-Biel,
Maciej Kuczkowski,
Alina Wieliczko,
Jarosław Bystroń,
Jacek Bania,
Gabriela Bugla-Płoskońska
Affiliations
Katarzyna Morka
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Ewa Wałecka-Zacharska
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Justyna Schubert
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Bartłomiej Dudek
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Wroclaw University, S. Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
Anna Woźniak-Biel
Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
Maciej Kuczkowski
Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
Alina Wieliczko
Department of Epizootiology and Clinic of Birds and Exotic Animals, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, pl. Grunwaldzki 45, 50-366 Wrocław, Poland
Jarosław Bystroń
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Jacek Bania
Department of Food Hygiene and Consumer Health Protection, Wrocław University of Environmental and Life Sciences, C. K. Norwida 31, 50-375 Wrocław, Poland
Gabriela Bugla-Płoskońska
Department of Microbiology, Institute of Genetics and Microbiology, Wroclaw University, S. Przybyszewskiego 63, 51-148 Wrocław, Poland
Yersinia enterocolitica, widespread within domestic and wild-living animals, is a foodborne pathogen causing yersiniosis. The goal of this study was to assess a genetic similarity of Y. enterocolitica and Y. enterocolitica-like strains isolated from different hosts using Multiple Locus Variable-Number Tandem Repeat Analysis (MLVA) and Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) methods, and analyze the prevalence of virulence genes using multiplex-Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) assays. Among 51 Yersinia sp. strains 20 virulotypes were determined. The most common virulence genes were ymoA, ureC, inv, myfA, and yst. Yersinia sp. strains had genes which may contribute to the bacterial invasion and colonization of the intestines as well as survival in serum. One wild boar Y. enterocolitica 1A strain possessed ail gene implying the possible pathogenicity of 1A biotype. Wild boar strains, represented mainly by 1A biotype, were not classified into the predominant Variable-Number Tandem Repeats (VNTR)/PFGE profile and virulotype. There was a clustering tendency among VNTR/PFGE profiles of pig origin, 4/O:3, and virulence profile. Pig and human strains formed the most related group, characterized by ~80% of genetic similarity what suggest the role of pigs as a potential source of infection for the pork consumers.
