Association between virulence profile and fluoroquinolone resistance in Escherichia coli isolated from dogs and cats in China

Introduction: Escherichia coli is not only a commensal organism in humans and animals, but also a causative agent of diarrhea and extraintestinal infections. Information about the relationship between population structure, virulence gene profiles, and fluoroquinolone resistance of E. coli in dogs and cats in China is limited. Methodology: A total of 174 pathogenic and commensal E. coli isolates were evaluated in terms of phylogenetic group, virulence gene profile, sequence types (STs), and fluoroquinolone susceptibility. Results: A total of 46.6% of isolates belonged to phylogenetic group B2. Isolates displayed high resistance to tetracycline (82.2%), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (73.6%), gentamicin (62.1%), and enrofloxacin (60.9%). fimH (81.6%) was the most prevalent virulence gene, and 83.9% of isolates contained one or more investigated virulence genes. The majority of the investigated virulence genes were more prevalent in fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates and pathogenic isolates. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) showed that E. coli isolates analyzed were assigned to 65 STs. Among of them, pathogenic-resistant and pathogenic-susceptible isolates had 44 and 10 STs, respectively, while there were 8 and 3 STs in the commensal resistant and susceptible isolates, respectively. Conclusions: Phylogenetic group B2 was the dominant group, accounting for 46.6% of the isolates. Pathogenic isolates and fluoroquinolone-susceptible isolates possessed more virulence genes. Pathogenic isolates and fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates exhibited high population diversity, and pandemic clone ST131 appeared in 9.8% of isolates.

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Phylogenetic group determination and plasmid virulence gene profiles of colistin-resistant Escherichia coli originated from the broiler meat supply chain in Bogor, Indonesia

Veterinary World ◽

10.14202/vetworld.2020.1807-1814 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 13 (9) ◽

pp. 1807-1814

Author(s):

Irma Rahayuningtyas ◽

Agustin Indrawati ◽

I Wayan Teguh Wibawan ◽

Maria Fatima Palupi ◽

Istiyaningsih Istiyaningsih

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Supply Chain ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Phylogenetic Group ◽

Health Concern ◽

Small Scale ◽

Broiler Meat ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles

Background and Aim: Pathogenic Escherichia coli contamination along the broiler meat supply chain is a serious public health concern. This bacterial infection with multidrug-resistant can lead to treatment failure. Several studies have revealed that avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and human extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) showed a close genetic relationship and may share virulence genes. This study aimed to determine the phylogenetic group and virulence gene profiles in colistin-resistant E. coli obtained from the broiler meat supply chain in Bogor, West Java, Indonesia. Materials and Methods: Fifty-eight archive isolates originated from the cloacal swab, litter, drinking water, inside plucker swab, fresh meat at small scale poultry slaughterhouses, and traditional markets were used in this study. All the isolates were characterized by a polymerase chain reaction to determine the phylogenetic group (A, B1, B2, or D) and virulence gene profiles with APEC marker genes (iutA, hlyF, iss, iroN, and ompT). Results: Phylogenetic grouping revealed that the isolates belong to A group (34.48%), D group (34.48%), B1 group (17.24%), and B2 group (13.79%). The virulence gene prevalence was as follows: iutA (36%), hlyF (21%), ompT (21%), iroN (10%), and iss (9%). The B2 group presented with more virulence genes combinations. iroN, hlyF, and ompT genes were positively associated with the B2 group (p≤0.05). Conclusion: Our results highlight the role of colistin-resistant E. coli originated from the broiler meat supply chain as a potential reservoir for human ExPEC virulence genes.

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Clinical and Molecular Correlates of Escherichia coli Bloodstream Infection from Two Geographically Diverse Centers in Rochester, Minnesota, and Singapore

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00937-18 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 62 (10) ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Shehara M. Mendis ◽

Shawn Vasoo ◽

Brian D. Johnston ◽

Stephen B. Porter ◽

Scott A. Cunningham ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Odds Ratio ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Fluoroquinolone Resistance ◽

Content Type ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Clonal Distribution ◽

To Receive ◽

Community Onset

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli bacteremia is caused mainly by sequence type complex 131 (STc131) and two clades within its fluoroquinolone-resistance-associated H30 subclone, H30R1 and H30Rx. We examined clinical and molecular correlates of E. coli bacteremia in two geographically distinct centers. We retrospectively studied 251 unique E. coli bloodstream isolates from 246 patients (48 from the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN [MN], and 198 from Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore [SG]), from October 2013 through March 2014. Isolates underwent PCR for phylogroup, STc, blaCTX-M type, and virulence gene profiles, and medical records were reviewed. Although STc131 accounted for 25 to 27% of all E. coli bacteremia isolates at each site, its extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-associated H30Rx clade was more prominent in SG than in MN (15% versus 4%; P = 0.04). In SG only, patients with STc131 (versus other E. coli STc isolates) were more likely to receive inactive initial antibiotics (odds ratio, 2.8; P = 0.005); this was true specifically for patients with H30Rx (odds ratio, 7.0; P = 0.005). H30Rx comprised 16% of community-onset bacteremia episodes in SG but none in MN. In SG, virulence scores were higher for H30Rx than for H30R1, non-H30 STc131, and non-STc131 isolates (P < 0.02 for all comparisons). At neither site did mortality differ by clonal status. The ESBL-associated H30Rx clade was more prevalent and more often of community onset in SG, where it predicted inactive empirical treatment. The clonal distribution varies geographically and has potentially important clinical implications. Rapid susceptibility testing and clonal diagnostics for H30/H30Rx might facilitate earlier prescribing of active therapy.

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Virulence gene profiles of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from chickens with colibacillosis in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe

Onderstepoort Journal of Veterinary Research ◽

10.4102/ojvr.v82i1.850 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 82 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Joshua Mbanga ◽

Yvonne O. Nyararai

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Economic Losses ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Pcr Assay ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Polymerase Chain

Colibacillosis, a disease caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), is one of the main causes of economic losses in the poultry industry worldwide. This study was carried out in order to determine the APEC-associated virulence genes contained by E. coli isolates causing colibacillosis in chickens. A total of 45 E. coli isolates were obtained from the diagnostics and research branch of the Central Veterinary Laboratories, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. These isolates were obtained from chickens with confirmed cases of colibacillosis after postmortem examination. The presence of the iutA, hlyF, ompT, frz, sitD, fimH, kpsM, sitA, sopB, uvrY, pstB and vat genes were investigated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay. Of the 45 isolates, 93% were positive for the presence of at least one virulence gene. The three most prevalent virulence genes were iutA (80%), fimH (33.3%) and hlyF (24.4%). The kpsM, pstB and ompT genes had the lowest prevalence, having been detected in only 2.2% of the isolates. All 12 virulence genes studied were detected in the 45 APEC isolates. Virulence gene profiles were constructed for each APEC isolate from the multiplex data. The APEC isolates were profiled as 62.2% fitting profile A, 31.1% profile B and 6.7% profile C. None of the isolates had more than seven virulence genes. Virulence profiles of Zimbabwean APEC isolates are different from those previously reported. Zimbabwean APEC isolates appear to be less pathogenic and may rely on environmental factors and stress in hosts to establish infection.

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Virulence Factor Gene Profiles of Escherichia coli Isolates from Clinically Healthy Pigs

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02952-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (10) ◽

pp. 6680-6686 ◽

Cited By ~ 43

Author(s):

Peter Schierack ◽

Hartmut Steinrück ◽

Sylvia Kleta ◽

Wilfried Vahjen

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Factor ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Clinical Signs ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Bacterial Populations ◽

Factor Gene ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Virulence Factor Gene

ABSTRACT Nonpathogenic, intestinal Escherichia coli (commensal E. coli) supports the physiological intestinal balance of the host, whereas pathogenic E. coli with typical virulence factor gene profiles can cause severe outbreaks of diarrhea. In many reports, E. coli isolates from diarrheic animals were classified as putative pathogens. Here we describe a broad variety of virulence gene-positive E. coli isolates from swine with no clinical signs of intestinal disease. The isolation of E. coli from 34 pigs from the same population and the testing of 331 isolates for genes encoding heat-stable enterotoxins I and II, heat-labile enterotoxin I, Shiga toxin 2e, and F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41 fimbriae revealed that 68.6% of the isolates were positive for at least one virulence gene, with a total of 24 different virulence factor gene profiles, implying high rates of horizontal gene transfer in this E. coli population. Additionally, we traced the occurrence of hemolytic E. coli over a period of 1 year in this same pig population. Hemolytic isolates were differentiated into seven clones; only three were found to harbor virulence genes. Hemolytic E. coli isolates without virulence genes or with only the fedA gene were found to be nontypeable by slide agglutination tests with OK antisera intended for screening live cultures against common pathogenic E. coli serogroups. The results appear to indicate that virulence gene-carrying E. coli strains are a normal part of intestinal bacterial populations and that high numbers of E. coli cells harboring virulence genes and/or with hemolytic activity do not necessarily correlate with disease.

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Detection of virulence genes of APEC (avian pathogenic Escherichia coli) isolated from poultry in Noakhali, Bangladesh

Bioresearch Communications ◽

10.3329/brc.v7i1.54253 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (1) ◽

pp. 967-972

Author(s):

Farzana Ehetasum Hossain ◽

Saiful Islam ◽

Md Aminul Islam ◽

Shariful Islam ◽

Firoz Ahmed

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Economic Loss ◽

Point Of View ◽

Pcr Analysis ◽

Avian Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Wide Range

Avian colibacillosis, caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC), is one of the major infectious diseases of poultry that bring about great economic loss for the Bangladesh poultry industry. The present study aimed to determine the virulence genes of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) from cases of colibacillosis in poultry at the Noakhali district of Bangladesh. Currently, virulence-associated gene profiles of APEC isolates were investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). A total of 24 (twenty-four) Escherichia coli isolates were collected and presumptively identified from 8 (eight) colibacillosis cases from 4 commercial broiler poultry farms (2 broilers per farm) in Noakhali, Bangladesh. The pathogenesis of Escherichia coli involves a wide range of different virulence genes. At this point, four virulence genes, iutA, hlyF, iroN, and iss were detected by PCR analysis. It has been observed that iutA, iss, hlyF, and iroN genes were found in 7(29.16%), 20(83.33%), 22(91.66%), and 24(100%) APEC isolates respectively. Furthermore, out of the twenty-four APEC isolates, six (25%) isolates had four virulence genes, fourteen (58.33%) isolates carried at least three virulence genes, three (12.5%) isolates carried two genes and one (4.16%) isolates had one virulence gene. Most importantly. six types of virulence gene profiles existed within the APEC isolates from which profile number 3 (hlyF, iroN, iss) having 13 (54.16%) isolates were predominant. The occurrence of APEC isolates of this region which is responsible for avian colibacillosis cases can be a matter of concern from the public health point of view. Future investigations will be able to utilize these virulence genes to identify APEC in Bangladesh helping in the diagnosis and prevention of colibacillosis in poultry. Bioresearch Commu. 7(1): 967-972, 2021 (January)

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Molecular characterisation of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia

World Rabbit Science ◽

10.4995/wrs.2020.10879 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 28 (2) ◽

pp. 81

Author(s):

Raouia Ben Rhouma ◽

Ahlem Jouini ◽

Amira Klibi ◽

Safa Hamrouni ◽

Aziza Boubaker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Antimicrobial Resistance ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antibiotic Resistance Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Class 1 Integron ◽

E Coli ◽

Class 1

The purpose of this study was to identify Escherichia coli isolates in diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits in Tunisia and characterise their virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. In the 2014-2015 period, 60 faecal samples from diarrhoeic and healthy rabbits were collected from different breeding farms in Tunisia. Susceptibility to 14 antimicrobial agents was tested by disc diffusion method and the mechanisms of gene resistance were evaluated using polymerase chain reaction and sequencing methods. Forty E. coli isolates were recovered in selective media. High frequency of resistance to tetracycline (95%) was detected, followed by different levels of resistance to sulphonamide (72.5%), streptomycin (62.5%), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (60%), nalidixic acid (32.5%), ampicillin (37.5%) and ticarcillin (35%). E. coli strains were susceptible to cefotaxime, ceftazidime and imipenem. Different variants of blaTEM, tet, sul genes were detected in most of the strains resistant to ampicillin, tetracycline and sulphonamide, respectively. The presence of class 1 integron was studied in 29 sulphonamide-resistant E. coli strains from which 15 harboured class 1 integron with four different arrangements of gene cassettes, dfrA17+aadA5 (n=9), dfrA1 + aadA1 (n=4), dfrA12 + addA2 (n=1), dfrA12+orf+addA2 (n=1). The qnrB gene was detected in six strains out of 13 quinolone-resistant E. coli strains. Seventeen E. coli isolates from diarrhoeic rabbits harboured the enteropathogenic eae genes associated with different virulence genes tested (fimA, cnf1, aer), and affiliated to B2 (n=8) and D (n=9) phylogroups. Isolated E. coli strains from healthy rabbit were harbouring fim A and/or cnf1 genes and affiliated to A and B1 phylogroups. This study showed that E. coli strains from the intestinal tract of rabbits are resistant to the widely prescribed antibiotics in medicine. Therefore, they constitute a reservoir of antimicrobial-resistant genes, which may play a significant role in the spread of antimicrobial resistance. In addition, the eae virulence gene seemed to be implicated in diarrhoea in breeder rabbits in Tunisia.

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Comparison of Virulence Gene Profiles of Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Healthy and Diarrheic Swine

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02885-05 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 72 (7) ◽

pp. 4782-4795 ◽

Cited By ~ 152

Author(s):

Toni A. Chapman ◽

Xi-Yang Wu ◽

Idris Barchia ◽

Karl A. Bettelheim ◽

Steven Driesen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Dimensional Space ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Clinical Isolates ◽

Algorithm Analysis ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Extraintestinal Disease ◽

Highly Correlated ◽

Postweaning Diarrhea

ABSTRACT A combination of uni- and multiplex PCR assays targeting 58 virulence genes (VGs) associated with Escherichia coli strains causing intestinal and extraintestinal disease in humans and other mammals was used to analyze the VG repertoire of 23 commensal E. coli isolates from healthy pigs and 52 clinical isolates associated with porcine neonatal diarrhea (ND) and postweaning diarrhea (PWD). The relationship between the presence and absence of VGs was interrogated using three statistical methods. According to the generalized linear model, 17 of 58 VGs were found to be significant (P < 0.05) in distinguishing between commensal and clinical isolates. Nine of the 17 genes represented by iha, hlyA, aidA, east1, aah, fimH, iroNE. coli , traT, and saa have not been previously identified as important VGs in clinical porcine isolates in Australia. The remaining eight VGs code for fimbriae (F4, F5, F18, and F41) and toxins (STa, STb, LT, and Stx2), normally associated with porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli. Agglomerative hierarchical algorithm analysis grouped E. coli strains into subclusters based primarily on their serogroup. Multivariate analyses of clonal relationships based on the 17 VGs were collapsed into two-dimensional space by principal coordinate analysis. PWD clones were distributed in two quadrants, separated from ND and commensal clones, which tended to cluster within one quadrant. Clonal subclusters within quadrants were highly correlated with serogroups. These methods of analysis provide different perspectives in our attempts to understand how commensal and clinical porcine enterotoxigenic E. coli strains have evolved and are engaged in the dynamic process of losing or acquiring VGs within the pig population.

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Intestine and Environment of the Chicken as Reservoirs for Extraintestinal Pathogenic Escherichia coli Strains with Zoonotic Potential

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.01324-08 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 75 (1) ◽

pp. 184-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 133

Author(s):

Christa Ewers ◽

Esther-Maria Antï¿½o ◽

Ines Diehl ◽

Hans-C. Philipp ◽

Lothar H. Wieler

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Infection Model ◽

E Coli ◽

Gene Profiles ◽

Pathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Zoonotic Risk ◽

Resistant Strains ◽

Genetic Pool

ABSTRACT Although research has increasingly focused on the pathogenesis of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) infections and the “APEC pathotype” itself, little is known about the reservoirs of these bacteria. We therefore compared outbreak strains isolated from diseased chickens (n = 121) with nonoutbreak strains, including fecal E. coli strains from clinically healthy chickens (n = 211) and strains from their environment (n = 35) by determining their virulence gene profiles, phylogenetic backgrounds, responses to chicken serum, and in vivo pathogenicities in a chicken infection model. In general, by examining 46 different virulence-associated genes we were able to distinguish the three groups of avian strains, but some specific fecal and environmental isolates had a virulence gene profile that was indistinguishable from that determined for outbreak strains. In addition, a substantial number of phylogenetic EcoR group B2 strains, which are known to include potent human and animal extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) strains, were identified among the APEC strains (44.5%) as well as among the fecal E. coli strains from clinically healthy chickens (23.2%). Comparably high percentages (79.2 to 89.3%) of serum-resistant strains were identified for all three groups of strains tested, bringing into question the usefulness of this phenotype as a principal marker for extraintestinal virulence. Intratracheal infection of 5-week-old chickens corroborated the pathogenicity of a number of nonoutbreak strains. Multilocus sequence typing data revealed that most strains that were virulent in chicken infection experiments belonged to sequence types that are almost exclusively associated with extraintestinal diseases not only in birds but also in humans, like septicemia, urinary tract infection, and newborn meningitis, supporting the hypothesis that not the ecohabitat but the phylogeny of E. coli strains determines virulence. These data provide strong evidence for an avian intestinal reservoir hypothesis which could be used to develop intestinal intervention strategies. These strains pose a zoonotic risk because either they could be transferred directly from birds to humans or they could serve as a genetic pool for ExPEC strains.

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Reconstitution of Acetosyringone-Mediated Agrobacterium tumefaciens Virulence Gene Expression in the Heterologous Host Escherichia coli

Journal of Bacteriology ◽

10.1128/jb.183.12.3704-3711.2001 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 183 (12) ◽

pp. 3704-3711 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Scott M. Lohrke ◽

Hongjiang Yang ◽

Shouguang Jin

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Escherichia Coli ◽

Agrobacterium Tumefaciens ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Gene Encoding ◽

Virulence Gene Expression ◽

E Coli ◽

Glucose Binding

ABSTRACT The ability to utilize Escherichia coli as a heterologous system in which to study the regulation ofAgrobacterium tumefaciens virulence genes and the mechanism of transfer DNA (T-DNA) transfer would provide an important tool to our understanding and manipulation of these processes. We have previously reported that the rpoA gene encoding the alpha subunit of RNA polymerase is required for the expression of lacZ gene under the control of virB promoter (virBp::lacZ) in E. colicontaining a constitutively active virG gene [virG(Con)]. Here we show that an RpoA hybrid containing the N-terminal 247 residues from E. coli and the C-terminal 89 residues from A. tumefaciens was able to significantly express virBp::lacZ in E. coli in a VirG(Con)-dependent manner. Utilization oflac promoter-driven virA and virGin combination with the A. tumefaciens rpoA construct resulted in significant inducer-mediated expression of thevirBp::lacZ fusion, and the level ofvirBp::lacZ expression was positively correlated to the copy number of the rpoA construct. This expression was dependent on VirA, VirG, temperature, and, to a lesser extent, pH, which is similar to what is observed in A. tumefaciens. Furthermore, the effect of sugars on virgene expression was observed only in the presence of thechvE gene, suggesting that the glucose-binding protein ofE. coli, a homologue of ChvE, does not interact with the VirA molecule. We also evaluated other phenolic compounds in induction assays and observed significant expression with syringealdehyde, a low level of expression with acetovanillone, and no expression with hydroxyacetophenone, similar to what occurs in A. tumefaciens strain A348 from which the virA clone was derived. These data support the notion that VirA directly senses the phenolic inducer. However, the overall level of expression of thevir genes in E. coli is less than what is observed in A. tumefaciens, suggesting that additional gene(s) from A. tumefaciens may be required for the full expression of virulence genes in E. coli.

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Isolation and Characterization of Potentially Pathogenic Antimicrobial-Resistant Escherichia coli Strains from Chicken and Pig Farms in Spain

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.02421-09 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 76 (9) ◽

pp. 2799-2805 ◽

Cited By ~ 147

Author(s):

Pilar Cortés ◽

Vanessa Blanc ◽

Azucena Mora ◽

Ghizlane Dahbi ◽

Jesús E. Blanco ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Virulence Gene ◽

E Coli ◽

Isolation And Characterization ◽

Zoonotic Risk ◽

Poultry Farms ◽

Pig Farms ◽

Genes Encoding

ABSTRACT To ascertain whether on animal farms there reside extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) and plasmidic class C β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli isolates potentially pathogenic for humans, phylogenetic analyses, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) typing, serotyping, and virulence genotyping were performed for 86 isolates from poultry (57 isolates) and pig (29 isolates) farms. E. coli isolates from poultry farms carried genes encoding enzymes of the CTX-M-9 group as well as CMY-2, whereas those from pig farms mainly carried genes encoding CTX-M-1 enzymes. Poultry and pig isolates differed significantly in their phylogenetic group assignments, with phylogroup A predominating in pig isolates and phylogroup D predominating in avian isolates. Among the 86 farm isolates, 23 (26.7%) carried two or more virulence genes typical of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). Of these, 20 were isolated from poultry farms and only 3 from pig farms. Ten of the 23 isolates belonged to the classic human ExPEC serotypes O2:H6, O2:HNM, O2:H7, O15:H1, and O25:H4. Despite the high diversity of serotypes and pulsotypes detected among the 86 farm isolates, 13 PFGE clusters were identified. Four of these clusters contained isolates with two or more virulence genes, and two clusters exhibited the classic human ExPEC serotypes O2:HNM (ST10) and O2:H6 (ST115). Although O2:HNM and O2:H6 isolates of human and animal origins differed with respect to their virulence genes and PFGE pulsotypes, the O2:HNM isolates from pigs showed the same sequence type (ST10) as those from humans. The single avian O15:H1 isolate was compared with human clinical isolates of this serotype. Although all were found to belong to phylogroup D and shared the same virulence gene profile, they differed in their sequence types (ST362-avian and ST393-human) and PFGE pulsotypes. Noteworthy was the detection, for the first time, in poultry farms of the clonal groups O25b:H4-ST131-B2, producing CTX-M-9, and O25a-ST648-D, producing CTX-M-32. The virulence genes and PFGE profiles of these two groups were very similar to those of clinical human isolates. While further studies are required to determine the true zoonotic potential of these clonal groups, our results emphasize the zoonotic risk posed especially by poultry farms, but also by pig farms, as reservoirs of ESBL- and CMY-2-encoding E. coli.

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