title: Chicken as reservoir for extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli in humans, Canada.
abstract: We previously described how retail meat, particularly chicken, might be a reservoir for extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) in humans. To rule out retail beef and pork as potential reservoirs, we tested 320 additional E. coli isolates from these meats. Isolates from beef and pork were significantly less likely than those from chicken to be genetically related to isolates from humans with UTIs. We then tested whether the reservoir for ExPEC in humans could be food animals themselves by comparing geographically and temporally matched E. coli isolates from 475 humans with UTIs and from cecal contents of 349 slaughtered animals. We found genetic similarities between E. coli from animals in abattoirs, principally chickens, and ExPEC causing UTIs in humans. ExPEC transmission from food animals could be responsible for human infections, and chickens are the most probable reservoir.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and Occupational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine Ave West, 36B, Montréal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada.
authors.forename: Catherine Racicot
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Bergeron
authors.forename: Catharine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Prussing
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Boerlin
authors.forename: Danielle
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Daignault
authors.forename: Lucie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dutil
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Reid-Smith
authors.forename: George G
authors.initials: GG
authors.lastname: Zhanel
authors.forename: Amee R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Manges
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle; D002645:Chickens; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D013552:Swine; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*; D055815:Young Adult