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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #377819
Research Project: Molecular Identification and Characterization of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens Associated with Foods

Location: Produce Safety and Microbiology Research

Title: Genomic characterization of Campylobacter jejuni adapted to the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) host

Author
item Parker, Craig
item COOPER, KERRY - University Of Arizona
item SCHIAFFINO, FRANCESCA - Universidad Peruana
item Miller, William - Bill
item Huynh, Steven
item OLORTEGUI, MARIBEL - University Of Virginia
item BARDALES, PAUL - University Of Virginia
item TRIGOSO, DIXNER - University Of Virginia
item KOSEK, MARGARET - University Of Virginia

Submitted to: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/22/2021
Publication Date: 3/18/2021
Citation: Parker, C., Cooper, K.K., Schiaffino, F., Miller, W.G., Huynh, S., Olortegui, M., Bardales, P.G., Trigoso, D.R., Kosek, M.N. 2021. Genomic characterization of Campylobacter jejuni adapted to the guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) host. Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. 11. Article 607747. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.607747.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fcimb.2021.607747

Interpretive Summary: Campylobacter jejuni is the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide with excessive incidence in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC), where infection can be fatal, surveillance is rare and sources for disease have not been identified. The epidemiology of disease in LMIC is different to that in the developed world, where infection is mostly associated with consumption of contaminated meat products. During a survey for C. jejuni from potential animal sources in a town in the Peruvian Amazon, we were able to isolate and whole genome sequence two C. jejuni strains from domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). The C. jejuni isolated from guinea pigs had a novel multilocus sequence type that shared some alleles with other C. jejuni collected from guinea pigs. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analysis with a collection of C. jejuni subsp. jejuni and C. jejuni subsp. doylei suggest that the guinea pig isolates form a new subspecies. Genomic comparisons demonstrated gene gain and loss that could be associated with guinea pig host specialization related to guinea pig diet, anatomy, and physiology.

Technical Abstract: Campylobacter jejuni is a leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis worldwide with particularly high burden in low-and middle-income countries (LMIC). During a survey for C. jejuni from potential zoonotic hosts in a town in the Peruvian Amazon, we were able to isolate and whole genome sequence two C. jejuni strains from domesticated guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus). The C. jejuni isolated from guinea pigs had a novel multilocus sequence type that shared some alleles with other C. jejuni collected from guinea pigs. Average nucleotide identity and phylogenetic analysis with a collection of C. jejuni subsp. jejuni and C. jejuni subsp. doylei suggest that the guinea pig isolates form a new subspecies. Genomic comparisons demonstrated gene gain and loss that could be associated with guinea pig host specialization related to guinea pig diet, anatomy, and physiology.