title: Detection and Characterization of Shiga Toxin Producing Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., and Yersinia Strains from Human, Animal, and Food Samples in San Luis, Argentina.
abstract: Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC), Salmonella spp., and Yersinia species was investigated in humans, animals, and foods in San Luis, Argentina. A total of 453 samples were analyzed by culture and PCR. The antimicrobial susceptibility of all the strains was studied, the genomic relationships among isolates of the same species were determined by PFGE, and the potencial virulence of Y. enterocolitica strains was analyzed. Yersinia species showed higher prevalence (9/453, 2.0%, 95% CI, 0.7-3.3%) than STEC (4/453, 0.9%, 95% CI, 0-1.8%) and Salmonella spp. (3/453, 0.7%, 95% CI, 0-1.5%). Y. enterocolitica and Y. intermedia were isolated from chicken carcasses (6/80, 7.5%, 95% CI, 1.5-13.5%) and porcine skin and bones (3/10, 30%, 95% CI, 0-65%). One STEC strain was recovered from human feces (1/70, 1.4%, 95% CI, 0-4.2%) and STEC stx1/stx2 genes were detected in bovine stools (3/129, 2.3%, 95% CI, 0-5.0%). S. Typhimurium was isolated from human feces (1/70, 1.4%, 95% CI, 0-4.2%) while one S. Newport and two S. Gaminara strains were recovered from one wild boar (1/3, 33%, 95% CI, 0-99%). The knowledge of prevalence and characteristics of these enteropathogens in our region would allow public health services to take adequate preventive measures.
authors.affiliation: General Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1 Piso 1, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Gabriela Isabel
authors.initials: GI
authors.lastname: Favier
authors.affiliation: General Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1 Piso 1, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucero Estrada
authors.affiliation: General Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1 Piso 1, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: Teresa Inés
authors.initials: TI
authors.lastname: Cortiñas
authors.affiliation: General Microbiology, Faculty of Chemistry, Biochemistry and Pharmacy, National University of San Luis, Ejército de los Andes 950, Bloque 1 Piso 1, 5700 San Luis, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Esther
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Escudero