Survey of Arcobacter species in stillborn, nursery, and sows from pig farms in Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham provinces

Article Sidebar

7-2022
Published: Feb 25, 2023
Keywords:
Arcobacter A. butzleri A. cryaerophilus 23S rRNA fetus

Main Article Content

Natthakorn Chaiyasaen
PhD student in Interdisciplinary Veterinary Science Program, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kean, 40002, Thailand
Kochakorn Direksin
Division of Livestock Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kean, 40002, Thailand, under the project of Research and Technology Transfer Affairs, Khon Kaen University
Suttisak Nopwinyoowong
Division of Laboratory, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kean, 40002, Thailand

Abstract

Objective: This study aimed to survey the presence of Arcobacter spp. in stillbirth piglets, vagina of sows, feces of nursery pigs, and feces of sows.


Materials and Methods: Bacterial culture, genus-specific PCR, and 23S rRNA gene sequencing identification of Arcobacter were performed from internal organs (n = 60, brain, heart, kidney, liver, and small intestine) of stillbirth piglets (n = 12), vaginal swabs of sows (n = 4), rectal swabs of nursery pigs (n = 35), and sow’s feces (n = 51). Samples (n = 102) were collected from pig farms in Khon Kaen and Maha Sarakham provinces between December, 2021 and February, 2022.


Results: Arcobacter was found only in sow's fecal samples, i.e. A. butzleri (4/51, 7.8%) and A. cryaerophilus (1/51, 1.96%). Considering both PCR analysis and the nucleotide sequence of 23S rRNA, the prevalence of Arcobacter was approximately 5-6% of samples examined, or 10-12% of sows. Arcobacter was not found in nursery pigs, vagina, nor stillbirth piglets’ tissues.


Conclusions: Arcobacter spp. was found in feces of healthy sows, confirming that pigs are reservoirs of A. butzleri and A. cryaerophilus, both of which are potentially contagious to humans. The findings of this study, however, do not prove that Arcobacter spp. causes reproductive diseases in pigs. Subsequent studies with larger samples are likely to improve the chances of detecting this infection.

Article Details

Issue
Vol. 32 No. 2 (2022): Jul-Dec 2022
Section
Research articles
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

Arguello E, Otto, CC, Mead, P, Babady, NE, 2015. Bacteremia caused by Arcobacter butzleri in an immunocompromised host. J Clin Microbiol 53. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.03450-14.

Aspinall ST, Wareing DRA, Hayward PG, Hutchinson DN, 1993. Selective medium for thermophilic campylobacters including Campylobacter upsaliensis. J Clin Pathol 46, 829–831. https://doi.org/10.1136/jcp.46.9.829.

Bastyns, K, Cartuyvels, D, Chapelle, S, Vandamme, P, Goossens, H, De Wachter, R, 1995. A Variable 23S rDNA Region is a Useful Discriminating Target for Genus-Specific and Species-Specific PCR Amplification in Arcobacter Species. Syst Appl Microbiol 18, 353–356. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0723-2020(11)80427-3.

Bath GF, Leask R, Pettey KP, Coetzee DJ, 2013. Abortions in sheep associated with Arcobacter skirrowii infection. J S Afr Vet Assoc 84. https://doi.org/10.4102/jsava.v84i1.952.

Benson HJ, 2002. Microbiological applications: laboratory manual in general microbiology. 8th ed. Sepsis.

Bodhidatta L, Srijan A, Serichantalergs O, Bangtrakulnonth A, Wongstitwilairung B, McDaniel P, Mason CJ, 2013. Bacterial pathogens isolated from raw meat and poultry compared with pathogens isolated from children in the same area of rural Thailand. Southeast Asian J Trop Med Public Health 44, 259.

Brückner V, Fiebiger U, Ignatius R, Friesen J, Eisenblätter M, Höck M, Alter T, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM, Gölz G, 2020. Characterization of Arcobacter strains isolated from human stool samples: Results from the prospective German prevalence study Arcopath. Gut Pathog. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-019-0344-3.

Bücker R, Troeger H, Kleer J, Fromm M, Schulzke J, 2009. Arcobacter butzleri induces barrier dysfunction in intestinal HT‐29/B6 cells. J Infect Dis 200, 756–764. https://doi.org/10.1086/600868.

Chieffi D, Fanelli F, Fusco V, 2020. Arcobacter butzleri: Up‐to‐date taxonomy, ecology, and pathogenicity of an emerging pathogen. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 19, 2071–2109. https://doi.org/10.1111/1541-4337.12577.

Collado L, Figueras MJ, 2011. Taxonomy, epidemiology, and clinical relevance of the genus Arcobacter. Clin Microbiol Rev 24, 174–192. https://doi.org/10.1128/CMR.00034-10.

De Oliveira SJ, Baetz AL, Wesley IV, Harmon KM, 1997. Classification of Arcobacter species isolated from aborted pig fetuses and sows with reproductive problems in Brazil. Vet Microbiol 57. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(97)00106-5.

De Oliveria SJ, Wesley IV, Baetz AL, Harmon KM, Kader IITA, De Uzeda M, 1999. Arcobacter cryaerophilus and Arcobacter butzleri isolated from preputial fluid of boars and fattening pigs in Brazil. J Vet Diagnostic Investig 11. https://doi.org/10.1177/104063879901100513.

De Smet S, De Zutter L, Debruyne L, Vangroenweghe F, Vandamme P, Houf K, 2011. Arcobacter population dynamics in pigs on farrow-to-finish farms. Appl Environ Microbiol 77, 1732–1738. https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02409-10.

Ellis WA, Neill SD, O’Brien JJ, Ferguson HW, Hanna J, 1977. Isolation of Spirillum/Vibrio-like organisms from bovine fetuses. Vet Rec 100. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.100.21.451.

Ellis WA, Neill SD, O’Brien JJ, Hanna J, 1978. Isolation of spirillum-like organisms from pig fetuses. Vet Rec 102. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.102.5.106-a.

Fernandez H, Villanueva MP, Mansilla I, Gonzalez M, Latif F, 2015. Arcobacter butzleri and A. cryaerophilus in human, animals and food sources, in southern Chile. Brazilian J Microbiol 46. https://doi.org/10.1590/S1517-838246120140095.

Figueras MJ, Levican A, Pujol I, Ballester F, Quilez MJR, Gomez-Bertomeu F, 2014. A severe case of persistent diarrhoea associated with Arcobacter cryaerophilus but attributed to Campylobacter spp. and a review of the clinical incidence of Arcobacter spp. New Microbes New Infect 2. https://doi.org/10.1002/2052-2975.35.

González I, Fernández-Tomé S, García T, Martín R, 2014. Genus-specific PCR assay for screening Arcobacter spp. in chicken meat. J Sci Food Agric 94. https://doi.org/10.1002/ jsfa.6401.

Gölz G, Alter T, Bereswill S, Heimesaat MM, 2016. The Immunopathogenic potential of Arcobacter butzleri – lessons from a meta-analysis of murine infection studies. PLoS One 11, e0159685. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0159685.

Heimesaat MM, Karadas G, Alutis M, Fischer A, Kühl AA, Breithaupt A, Göbel UB, Alter T, Bereswill S, Gölz G, 2015a. Survey of small intestinal and systemic immune responses following murine Arcobacter butzleri infection. Gut Pathog. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13099-015-0075-z.

Heimesaat MM, Karadas G, Fischer A, Göbel UB, Alter T, Bereswill S, Gölz G, 2015b. Toll-like receptor-4 dependent small intestinal immune responses following murine Arcobacter butzleri infection. Eur J Microbiol Immunol 5. https://doi.org/10.1556/1886.2015.00042.

Ho HTK, Lipman LJA, Hendriks HGCJM, Tooten PCJ, Ultee T, Gaastra W, 2007. Interaction of Arcobacter spp. with human and porcine intestinal epithelial cells. FEMS Immunol Med Microbiol 50. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1574-695X.2007.00230.x.

Ho TKH, Lipman LJA, Van Der Graaf-Van Bloois L, Van Bergen M, Gaastra W, 2006. Potential routes of acquisition of Arcobacter species by piglets. Vet Microbiol 114, 123–133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetmic.2005.11.051.

Houf K, On SLW, Coenye T, Debruyne L, De Smet S, Vandamme P, 2009. Arcobacter thereius sp. nov., isolated from pigs and ducks. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 59, 2599–2604. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.006650-0.

Kim NH, Park SM, Kim HW, Cho TJ, Kim SH, Choi C, Rhee MS, 2019. Prevalence of pathogenic Arcobacter species in South Korea: Comparison of two protocols for isolating the bacteria from foods and examination of nine putative virulence genes. Food Microbiol 78, 18–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2018.09.008.

Lane DJ, 1991. 16S/23S rRNA Sequencing. In: Stackebrandt E, Goodfel- low M (eds) Nucleic acid techniques in bacterial systematics. Wiley, New York, pp 115–175.

Marta C, Giovanni N, Angela M, Loredana C, Elisabetta B, Laura D, Anna M, Angela DP, Gianfranco S, Antonio P, 2020. Large genetic diversity of Arcobacter butzleri isolated from raw milk in Southern Italy. Food Microbiol 89, 103403. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2019. 103403.

Mohan HV, Rathore RS, Dhama K, Ramees TP, Patya A, Bagalko PS, Wani MY, Bhilegaonk KN, Kumar A, 2014. Prevalence of Arcobacter spp. in humans, animals and foods of animal origin in India based on cultural isolation, antibiogram, PCR and multiplex PCR detection. Asian J Anim Vet Adv 9, 452–466. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajava.2014.452.466.

Morita Y, Maruyama S, Kabeya H, Boonmar S, Nimsuphan B, Nagai A, Kozawa K, Nakajima T, Mikami T, Kimura H, 2004. Isolation and phylogenetic analysis of Arcobacter spp. in ground chicken meat and environmental water in Japan and Thailand. Microbiol Immunol 48, 527–533. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1348-0421.2004.tb03548.x.

On SLW, Harrington CS, Atabay HI, 2003. Differentiation of Arcobacter species by numerical analysis of AFLP profiles and description of a novel Arcobacter from pig abortions and turkey faeces. J Appl Microbiol 95. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2672.2003.02100.x.

On SLW, Jensen TK, Bille-Hansen V, Jorsal SE, Vandamme P, 2002. Prevalence and diversity of Arcobacter spp. isolated from the internal organs of spontaneous porcine abortions in Denmark. Vet Microbiol 85, 159–167. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(01)00503-X.

On SLW, Stacey A, Smyth J, 1995. Isolation of Arcobacter butzleri from a neonate with bacteraemia. J Infect 31, 225–227. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0163-4453(95)80031-X.

Open-Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Health, Version 3.01, 2013. [Cited 2018 June 20]. Available from: https://www.openepi.com/Menu/OE_Menu.htm.

Patyal A, Rathore RS, Mohan HV, Dhama K, Kumar A, 2011. Prevalence of Arcobacter spp. in humans, animals and foods of animal origin including sea food from India. Transbound Emerg Dis. 58(5), 402–410. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1865-1682.2011.01221.x

Phasipol P, Chokesajjawatee N, Luangtongkum T, 2013. Comparison of repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) for genetic characterization of Arcobacter spp. Thai J Vet Med 43, 307–311.

Quinn PJ, Carter ME, Markey B, Carter GR, 2004. Clinical Veterinary Microbiology. Spain: Grafos, S.A. Arte Sobre Papel.

Ramees TP, Dhama K, Karthik K, Rathore RS, Kumar A, Saminathan M, Tiwari R, Malik YS, Singh RK, 2017. Arcobacter: An emerging food-borne zoonotic pathogen, its public health concerns and advances in diagnosis and control - A comprehensive review. Vet Q 37, 136–161. https://doi.org/10.1080/01652176.2017.1323355.

Ramees TP, Rathore RS, Bagalkot PS, Mohan HV, Kumar A, Dhama K, 2014. Detection of Arcobacter butzleri and Arcobacter cryaerophilus in clinical samples of humans and foods of animal origin by cultural and multiplex PCR based methods. Asian J Anim Vet. Adv 9. https://doi.org/10.3923/ajava.2014.243.252.

Schroeder-Tucker L, Wesley IV, Kiehlbauch JA, Larson DJ, Thomas LA, Erickson GA, 1996. Phenotypic and ribosomal RNA characterization of Arcobacter species isolated from porcine aborted fetuses. J Vet Diagnostic Investig 8. https://doi.org/10.1177/1040 63879600800208.

Soma Sekhar M, Tumati SR, Chinnam BK, Kothapalli VS, Sharif NM, 2018. Occurrence of Arcobacter species in animal faeces, foods of animal origin and humans in Andhra Pradesh, India. Indian J Anim Res 52, 1649–1653. https://doi.org/10.18805/ijar.B-3402.

Suarez DL, Wesley IV, Larson DJ, 1997. Detection of Arcobacter species in gastric samples from swine. Vet Microbiol 57, 325–336. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378-1135(97)00107-7.

Van Driessche E, Houf K, Vangroenweghe F, Nollet N, De Zutter L, Vandamme P, Van Hoof J, 2004. Occurrence and strain diversity of Arcobacter species isolated from healthy Belgian pigs. Res Microbiol 155, 662–666. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resmic.2004.04.011.

Vandamme P, Falsen E, Rossau R, Hoste B, Segers P, Tytgat R, De Ley J, 1991. Revision of Campylobacter, Helicobacter, and Wolinella taxonomy: Emendation of generic descriptions and proposal of Arcobacter gen. nov. Int J Syst Bacteriol 41, 88–103. https://doi.org/10.1099/ 00207713-41-1-88.

Vandamme P, Vancanneyt M, Pot B, Mels L, Hoste B, Dewettinck D, Vlaes L, Van den Borre C, Higgins R, Hommez J, Kersters K, Butzler JP, Goossens H, 1992. Polyphasic taxonomic study of the emended genus Arcobacter with Arcobacter butzleri comb. nov. and Arcobacter skirrowii sp. nov., an aerotolerant bacterium isolated from veterinary specimens. Int J Syst Bacteriol 42, 344–356. https://doi.org/10.1099/00207713-42-3-344.

Verma M, Joshi N, Rathore RS, Mohan HV, 2015. Detection of Arcobacter spp in poultry, pigs, their meat and environment samples by conventional and PCR assays. Indian J Anim Sci 85. https://epubs.icar.org.in/index.php/IJAnS/article/view/51694/21849.

Vicente-Martins S, Oleastro M, Domingues FC, Ferreira S, 2018. Arcobacter spp. at retail food from Portugal: Prevalence, genotyping and antibiotics resistance. Food Control. 85, 107–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2017.09.024

Vindigni SM, Srijan A, Wongstitwilairoong B, Marcus R, Meek J, Riley PL, Mason C, 2007. Prevalence of foodborne microorganisms in retail foods in Thailand. Foodborne Pathog Dis 4. https://doi.org/10.1089/fpd.2006.0077.

Wesley I V, Baetz AL, Larson DJ, 1996. Infection of cesarean-derived colostrum-deprived 1-day-old piglets with Arcobacter butzleri, Arcobacter cryaerophilus, and Arcobacter skirrowii. Infect. Immun. 64(6), 2295-229964. https://doi.org/10.1128/iai.64.6.2295-2299.1996.

Yamauchi Y, Uehara Y, Boutin S, Yamamoto N, Kuwahara-arai K, Kirikae T, Hiramatsu K, Zimmermann S, 2020. Detection of Arcobacter species in human stool samples by culture and real-time PCR. Juntendo Med J 66, 431–438. https://doi.org/10.14789/jmj.2020.66. JMJ19-OA05.