Affiliation:
1. Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery University of Pisa Pisa Italy
2. Department of Health, Animal Science and Food Safety University of Milan Milan Italy
3. Research Center Nutraceuticals and Food for Health-Nutrafood University of Pisa Pisa Italy
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Bacillus cereus is often responsible for foodborne diseases and both local and systemic infections in humans. Cases of infection in other mammals are rather rare. In this study, we report a B. cereus feed-related outbreak that caused the death of 6234 pigs in Italy.
Methods and Results
Massive doses of a Gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium were recovered from the animal feed, faeces of survived pigs and intestinal content of dead ones. The B. cereus MM1 strain was identified by MALDI-TOF MS and typified by RAPD-PCR. The isolate was tested for the production of PC-PLC, proteases, hemolysins and biofilm, for motility, as well as for the presence of genes encoding tissue-degrading enzymes and toxins. Antimicrobial resistance and pathogenicity in Galleria mellonella larvae were also investigated. Our results show that the isolated B. cereus strain is swimming-proficient, produces PC-PLC, proteases, hemolysins, biofilm and carries many virulence genes. The strain shows high pathogenicity in G. mellonella larvae.
Conclusions
The isolated B. cereus strain demonstrates an aggressive profile of pathogenicity and virulence, being able to produce a wide range of determinants potentially hazardous to pigs' health.
Significance and Impact of Study
This study highlights the proficiency of B. cereus to behave as a devastating pathogen in swine if ingested at high doses and underlines that more stringent quality controls are needed for livestock feeds and supplements.
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Subject
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology,General Medicine,Biotechnology
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