Multilocus sequence typing of Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli strains isolated from environmental waters in the Mediterranean area

• Published in: Environmental research Vol. 127; pp. 56 - 62
• Main Authors: Rodríguez-Martínez, S., Cervero-Aragó, S., Gil-Martin, I., Araujo, R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier Inc 01.11.2013; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bacteria; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Campylobacter; Campylobacter coli; Campylobacter coli - genetics; Campylobacter coli - isolation & purification; Campylobacter jejuni; Campylobacter jejuni - genetics; Campylobacter jejuni - isolation & purification; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Genetics; Mediterranean Region; Microbiology; MLST; Multilocus Sequence Typing; Pathogenicity, virulence, toxins, bacteriocins, pyrogens, host-bacteria relations, miscellaneous strains; Pathogens; Phylogeny; Populations; River; Rivers; Rivers - microbiology; Sewage - microbiology; Strain; Urban sewage and animal sewage; Waste water; Waste Water - microbiology; Water Microbiology; Mediterranean Region; Spain, Cataluna, Llobregat R; MED, Western Mediterranean; MED; River; Urban sewage and animal sewage; MLST; Campylobacter coli; Campylobacter jejuni; Typing; Campylobacteraceae; Molecular epidemiology; Bacteria; Environment; Genotype; Isolate
• ISSN: 0013-9351; 1096-0953
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2013.10.003

Campylobacter jejuni and Campylobacter coli are important animal-related waterborne pathogens that are distributed worldwide. To further understand Campylobacter populations in water from the Mediterranean area, the genetic diversity of environmental strains was analyzed using multilocus sequence typing (MLST). MLST was also used to determine the potential geographical differences between these bacterial strains and other campylobacters isolated worldwide. The typing study was conducted using 58 strains isolated from the Llobregat river and other water sources, such as urban sewage, animal wastewater and clinical samples. Thirty-nine different sequence types were obtained; eight of these sequences were described for the first time in this study, suggesting the presence of local strains. The identified C. jejuni strains were the most diverse population, whereas the identified C. coli strains showed a high clonal structure, which clustered most of the sequence types into a few clonal complexes. The strains were not exclusively related to specific water sources. However, comparing the identified strains with an international database showed that most of the Mediterranean strains that were exclusively isolated from environmental waters have previously been isolated from similar sources, particularly those obtained from river water. Additional studies, including those in different geographical areas using a wide range of Campylobacter sources, are required to improve the global knowledge concerning Campylobacter dissemination in the environment. •Campylobacter strains isolated from the Mediterranean area were analyzed using MLST.•River water, urban and animal wastewater and clinical isolates were analyzed.•Environmental C. jejuni strains showed higher genetic variability than C. coli strains.•No direct association was observed between the strains and their isolation sources.•Approximately 71% of the river STs have been previously identified from other water sources.