Bioserotypes, virulence genes, antimicrobial susceptibility and genomic diversity of Yersinia enterocolitica isolates from Argentina and Chile

Abstract

Yersinia enterocolitica is associated with human clinical manifestations. In this study, the bioserotype distribution, virulence potential, the antimicrobial susceptibility, and the genomic diversity of Y. enterocolitica isolates recovered from Argentina and Chile were assessed. Eight Chilean and 22 Argentine isolates recovered from human (7) and animal feces (3), foods (18) and wastewater (2) were analyzed. They belonged to the bioserotypes B2 O:9 (9), B1A O:5 (8), B1A O:41,42-41,43 (8), B4 O:3 (3) and B1A O:7,8-8-8,19 (2). Autoagglutination (AA), Ca2+-dependent growth at 37°C and yadA, inv and yst genes were observed in B2 O:9 and B4 O:3 strains. B1A strains exhibited the genotype yadA- inv- yst+. All strains were resistant to ampicillin, rifampicin and erythromycin. By XbaI-PFGE, 11 genomic types (GTs) were demonstrated (D.I. 0.90). The characteristics of these Y. enterocolitica isolates highlight the importance to maintain active surveillance of this enteropathogen in both countries. Practical applications: The trade exchange among Chile and Argentina includes 12–19% of agricultural goods and foodstuffs with fresh and processed vegetables, seafoods and meat products as the major commodities. Additionally, travel and tourism have increased in recent years with more than 2.5 million passengers moving from Argentina to Chile in 2017. In this context, the control of foodborne pathogens and diseases represents a challenge for both countries. The analysis of bioserotypes, virulence potential, antimicrobial susceptibility, and clonal relatedness of Argentine and Chilean Y. enterocolitica isolates encourages further studies to contribute to the knowledge of the epidemiology of this enteropathogen and the implementation of adequate sanitary measures to prevent Y. enterocolitica illness in both countries.