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Updated: Jun 29, 2025
Author Spotlight: Advancements in Understanding and Combatting Shigella Infections
Published on: February 9, 2024
Pathogenic characteristics of an aggregated diarrhea event caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides from stream
Peng Zhang1, Huimin Yao2, Lei Ji1
1Huzhou Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Huzhou, China.
Abstract:
This study aimed to investigate the cause of a foodborne disease outbreak in Huzhou on August 14, 2023. Multiple enteropathogens were detected using FilmArray, and the pathogen was subsequently isolated and cultured from anal swabs of the cases and stream water. The isolated strains were identified using VITEK MS, and antimicrobial susceptibility test, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) molecular typing, and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were performed on the isolates of Plesiomonas shigelloides. Gene annotation and sequence alignment were used to analyze the virulence genes and drug resistance genes of the strains. A phylogenetic tree was constructed based on single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), and homology analysis was conducted to trace the origin of P. shigelloides. A total of 7 strains of P.shigelloides were isolated, with 3 from stream water and 4 from anal swabs. All 7 strains exhibited the same PFGE pattern and showed resistance to amikacin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, cefazolin, streptomycin, and florfenicol. The isolated strains carried the same resistance genes and virulence factors. In the sequences of the isolated strains from this outbreak, 11 mutation sites were detected. The phylogenetic tree based on SNP sites showed that these strains were homologous. This foodborne disease outbreak caused by P.shigelloides was the first reported in Huzhou. WGS can be used as a complementary method to PFGE for epidemiological investigations of disease outbreaks.
Insights
A foodborne disease outbreak in Huzhou was caused by Plesiomonas shigelloides. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) confirmed the pathogen
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Genomics
Background:
- Foodborne disease outbreaks pose significant public health challenges.
- Identifying the causative agent is crucial for effective control and prevention.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the etiology of a foodborne disease outbreak in Huzhou.
- To characterize the Plesiomonas shigelloides strains involved using molecular methods.
Main Methods:
- FilmArray for initial pathogen detection.
- Isolation and culturing from clinical and environmental samples.
- VITEK MS for identification.
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
- Pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and whole genome sequencing (WGS) for molecular typing.
- Gene annotation and phylogenetic analysis.
Main Results:
- Seven strains of Plesiomonas shigelloides were isolated from cases and stream water.
- All strains shared identical PFGE patterns and antimicrobial resistance profiles.
- WGS revealed conserved virulence and resistance genes, with 11 mutation sites.
- Phylogenetic analysis confirmed the homology and origin of the outbreak strains.
Conclusions:
- Plesiomonas shigelloides was identified as the causative agent of the Huzhou foodborne outbreak.
- WGS provides valuable high-resolution data for outbreak investigations, complementing PFGE.
- This marks the first reported P. shigelloides foodborne outbreak in Huzhou.
