Potential group B Streptococcus interspecies transmission between cattle and people in Colombian dairy farms.

Group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a leading cause of neonatal death and an emerging pathogen in adults. Additionally, GBS is a bovine pathogen causing intramammary infections. The likelihood of GBS interspecies transmission is largely unknown. We explored the potential transmission of GBS between cattle and people on dairy farms in Colombia and compared the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles of isolates from both host species. Across 33 farms, throat swabs and rectal swabs were collected from 191 people, and rectal swabs and composite milk samples from 2092 cattle, yielding 60 human isolates and 301 bovine isolates. The majority (64%) of isolates belonged to shared sequence types (ST). Sequence type (ST) 1 was the most common strain in both host species, suggesting that interspecies transmission may be possible. Two members of the bovine-specific clonal complex 61/67 were detected in human samples (ST718 and ST1175), providing evidence for the lack of genuine species barriers. Apparent prevalence of penicillin resistance was surprisingly high in human and bovine isolates. Further investigation of this phenomenon is needed and could lead to modification of standard testing and treatment recommendations in human and veterinary medicine.

Streptococcus agalactiae is not always an obligate intramammary pathogen: Molecular epidemiology of GBS from milk, feces and environment in Colombian dairy herds.

For many years Streptococcus agalactiae has been considered an obligate intramammary and strictly contagious pathogen in dairy cattle. However, recent reports of S. agalactiae isolation from extramammary sources have contradicted that premise. To gain further insight into the epidemiology of S. agalactiae infection in cattle, we examined its distribution and heterogeneity of strains in bovine milk, bovine feces, and the environment in Colombian dairy farms. First, a longitudinal study was conducted at herd level in 152 dairy herds. Bulk tank milk samples from each herd where collected twice a month for six months. A follow-up study with a cross sectional design at the cow level was conducted in a subset of 25 farms positive for S. agalactiae. Cow-level milk samples from 1712 lactatting cows and 1545 rectal samples were collected, as well as 120 environmental samples. Samples were used for S. agalactiae detection and genotyping using Multi Locus Sequence Typing. Results showed sporadic rather than repeated isolation of S. agalactiae from bulk tank milk in 40% of the positive herds, challenging the idea that S. agalactiae is a highly contagious pathogen causing chronic infections. S. agalactiae was isolated from rectal or environmental samples in 32% and 12% of cross-sectional study farms, respectively, demonstrating that the bacteria can survive in extramammary sources and that S. agalactiae is not an obligate intramammary pathogen. The same strain was isolated from rectal and bulk tank milk samples in eight farms, suggesting that fecal shedding is frequent, and contributes to the presence of S. agalactiae in bulk tank. High within-herd heterogeneity of strains was found, which is distinct from the situation in developed dairy industries. These new epidemiological findings should be considered to adjust surveillance and control recommendations for S. agalactiae.

Resistencia antimicrobiana de Streptococcus agalactiae de origen humano y bovino / Antimicrobial resistance of Streptococcus agalactiae of human and bovine origin / Resistência antimicrobiana de Streptococcus agalactiae de origem humana e bovina

Resumen Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG) es un agente etiológico importante en un amplio espectro de infecciones humanas y bovinas. En humanos, este patógeno es el principal responsable de septicemias severas y muertes neonatales, debido a la enfermedad conocida como "sepsis neonatal", la cual ha sido reportada en diferentes países, incluyendo a Colombia. Cerca del 36% de las mujeres embarazadas son colonizadas por esta bacteria y de ellas el 45% de los neonatos adquiere la infección por SAG. En adultos, la colonización de SAG asintomática ocurre frecuentemente en el tracto gastrointestinal y genitourinario. Sin embargo, puede llegar a causar enfermedades tales como meningitis, septicemia, abscesos, infecciones del tracto urinario y artritis especialmente en adultos inmunocomprometidos. Adicionalmente, SAG es considerado un patógeno de alta importancia en la producción lechera, por ser responsable de cuadros generalmente subclínicos y crónicos de mastitis en vacas, afectando la sanidad del hato, así como la calidad y cantidad de leche producida. La principal herramienta para el control de SAG es el uso de antimicrobianos tipo betalactámicos o tipo macrólidos en casos de pacientes alérgicos a las penicilinas. Sin embargo, se ha reportado aislamientos de SAG resistentes o con susceptibilidad disminuida a los antimicrobianos utilizados para su control en ambas especies: humanos y bovinos. El hallazgo de resistencia antimicrobiana en SAG está recibiendo atención entre la comunidad científica en todo el mundo debido a su impacto negativo en la salud pública. El presente trabajo es una revisión de literatura científica, no sistemática, que tiene como objetivo analizar los mecanismos y la prevalencia de la resistencia antimicrobiana de SAG, así como los genes asociados a esta condición en aislamientos de origen humano y bovino.

Abstract Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG) is an important etiologic agent in a wide spectrum of human and bovine infections. In humans, this pathogen is the main responsible of severe septicemia and neonatal dead, due to the disease known as "neonatal sepsis", which has been reported in different countries, including Colombia. About 36% of pregnant women are colonized by this bacterium and of them, the 45% of the newborns acquire the SAG infection. In adults, asymptomatic SAG colonization occurs frequently in gastrointestinal and genitourinary tract. However, it can cause diseases such as meningitis, septicemia, abscesses, infections in urinary tract and arthritis particularly in immunocompromised adults. Additionally, SAG is considered a highly important pathogen in dairy production for being responsible of mastitis cases generally subclinical and chronic in cows, affecting the herd health, as well as the quality and the quantity of milk produced. The main tool for SAG control is the use of beta-lactams antimicrobials or macrolides in cases of penicillin-allergic patients. Some of the studies reported resistant SAG isolates or with decreased susceptibility to the antimicrobials used for its control in both species: humans and bovines. The finding of antimicrobial resistance in SAG is getting attention from the scientific community around the world because its negative impact in public health. The present work is a non-systematic review of scientific literature, with the objective of analyzing the mechanism and prevalence of SAG antimicrobial resistance, as well as, the genes associated to this condition in human and bovine isolates.

Resumo Streptococcus agalactiae (SAG) é um agente etiológico importante em um amplo espectro de infecções humanas e bovinas. Nos seres humanos, esse patógeno é a principal causa de septicemia grave e mortes neonatais, devido à doença conhecida como "sepse neonatal", que tem sido relatada em diferentes países, incluindo a Colômbia. Cerca de 36% das mulheres grávidas são colonizadas por esta bactéria e destes 45% dos recém-nascidos adquirem a infecção pelo SAG. Em adultos, a colonização do SAG assintomático ocorre com freqüência nos tratos gastrintestinal e genitourinário. No entanto, pode levar a doenças como meningite, septicemia, abscessos, infecções do trato urinário e artrite, especialmente em adultos imunocomprometidos. Além disso, a SAG é considerado um patógeno de grande importância na produção de leite, sendo responsável mastite geralmente subclínica e crônica em caixas de vacas, afetando a saúde do rebanho, ea qualidade e quantidade de leite produzida. A principal ferramenta para o controle do SAG é o uso de antimicrobianos beta-lactâmicos ou do tipo macrolídeo em casos de pacientes alérgicos a penicilinas. No entanto, isolados de SAG resistentes ou com reduzida susceptibilidade aos antimicrobianos usados para controlá-los foram relatados em ambas as espécies: humanos e bovinos. O achado de resistência antimicrobiana no SAG está recebendo atenção entre a comunidade científica em todo o mundo devido ao seu impacto negativo na saúde pública. Este papel é uma revisão da literatura científica, não sistemática, ou seja para analisar os mecanismos e a prevalência de resistência antimicrobiana SAG, bem como os genes associados com esta condição em isolados humanos e bovinos.