Survey and Experimental Infection of Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in Common Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus)

PLoS One. 2016 Aug 8;11(8):e0160116. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0160116. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

Common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) are frequently used for biomedical research but can be afflicted with diarrhea-a serious and potentially lethal health problem. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is thought to be the causative pathogen of hemorrhagic typhlocolitis in common marmosets, but the actual incidence of the disease and the relationship between EPEC and hematochezia are unknown. This study investigated the prevalence of EPEC infection in common marmosets and the association between EPEC and hematochezia. A total of 230 stool or rectal swab samples were collected from 230 common marmosets (98 clinically healthy, 85 diarrhea, and 47 bloody stool samples) and tested by culture-based detection and PCR amplification of VT1, VT2, LT, ST, eae, and bfp genes. Healthy animals were divided into three groups (n = 4 each for high and low concentration groups and n = 2 as negative control), and those in the experimental groups were perorally inoculated with a 2-ml of suspension of EPEC R811 strain adjusted to 5 × 108 (high concentration) and 5 × 104 (low concentration) CFU/ ml. Two animals in each group were examined 3 and 14 days post-inoculation (DPI). EPEC was detected in 10 of 98 clinically healthy samples (10.2%), 17 of 85 diarrhea samples (20%), and all 47 bloody stool samples (100%), with a significant difference detected between presence of EPEC and sample status (P < 0.01). Acute hematochezia was observed in all animals of the high-concentration group but not in other groups at 1 or 2 DPI. A histopathological examination revealed the attachment of gram-negative bacilli to epithelial apical membranes and desquamated epithelial cells in the cecum of animals in the high-concentration group at 3 DPI. These findings suggest that EPEC is a causative agent of hemorrhagic typhlocolitis in common marmosets.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Callithrix
  • Diarrhea / etiology
  • Diarrhea / veterinary*
  • Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli Infections / pathology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Female
  • Hemorrhage / etiology
  • Hemorrhage / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Monkey Diseases / microbiology*
  • Monkey Diseases / pathology
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Virulence

Grants and funding

This study was partially supported by a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (grant no. 24500449, [https://www.jsps.go.jp/j-grantsinaid/]) that was given to NH. The rest part of this study was supported by internal research funds of Central Institute for Experimental Animals that was given to NH.