云南省昆明市动物园大肠杆菌分离株毒力基因分布特征

为研究云南省昆明市动物园动物体内大肠杆菌(E.coli)分离株毒力基因的分布特征,从圆通山动物园37个动物种群粪便中分离出37株E.coli,采用生化鉴定方法鉴定大肠杆菌,PCR方法检测19种毒力基因。鉴定结果表明:37株E.coli中,ompA、iroN、fimC、aatA、vat 5种毒力基因携带率分别为100%、95.49%、83.78%、70.27%、51.35%,ibeA、neuC、iutA、traT、stx 5种毒力基因携带率为0,其他9种毒力基因携带率均低于40.00%;分离菌株普遍携带8种以下毒力基因,同时携带10种以上毒力基因的概率为8.10%;分离株强毒力岛基因携带率较高,分布较为普遍。结果表明,昆明市圆通山动物园内流行的大肠杆菌以致病性大肠杆菌为主,不同种类动物体内大肠杆菌的毒力基因携带率存在较大差异,其原因可能与动物的饲养环境以及动物自身的适应能力和抵抗力有关。因此,对于动物园内具有较高大肠杆菌致病风险的动物,要采取相应防治措施,防止大肠杆菌病发生与流行。     

致狐狸肺炎大肠杆菌血清鉴定与毒力基因检测

为了确定狐狸肺炎源致病性大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli,E.coli)流行血清型与毒力基因的携带情况并分析其相关性,2016—2017年采集河北省部分地区患肺炎死亡的狐狸的肺脏、心血等组织142份中分离到了105株E.coli,且RT-PCR检测犬瘟热病毒为阴性,人工感染小鼠致病性试验结果显示105株分离菌株中77株为致病性E.coli。采用玻片凝集试验和PCR方法分别检测77株致病性E.coli血清型和毒力基因,结果显示:77株致病性E.coli有9种血清型,其中以O1、O8、O78、O12为流行的优势致病血清型,77株致病性E.coli携带14种不同毒力基因,以irp2、fyuA、papC、fimC、iucD^a、colv、hlyF、ompT 8种毒力基因检出率较高,在32.5%～98.7%之间,其余毒力基因检出率较低。狐狸肺炎源致病性E.coli的优势血清型携带的毒力基因较多,至少携带9种毒力基因,流行的优势血清型与毒力基因之间具有一定的相关性。狐狸肺炎源E.coli流行血清型代表株TS(O1)1、QH(O8)2、QH(O78)3、TS(O12)4均对狐狸很强的致病性。本试验为狐狸肺炎源致病性E.coli防控提供了参考依据。     

江苏部分地区禽致病性大肠杆菌分离株的生物学特征及耐药性研究

为了解江苏部分地区禽致病性大肠杆菌(APEC)的分子流行状况,从临床分离鉴定出120株APEC,并对分离株的血清型、种系发生型、毒力基因型和耐药性进行检测。血清型检测结果显示,在已定型的95株分离株中,最常见的血清型为O78,约占定型菌株比例为27.4%,其他主要血清型还有O18、O24和O88等。APEC分离株种系发生型以B2型和D型为主,分别占受试分离株的35.6%和28.5%,而A型和B1型分别占22.8%和13.1%。对已知的12种毒力基因的检测发现,铁摄取基因的检出率相对较高,如tonB(93.3%)、iutA(90.8%)、iroN(84.2%)和feoB(82.5%),其他受检基因fimH、iss、cvaC和traT的检出率也在70%以上,而hlyD、papC、irp-2和tsh基因在APEC菌株中的检出率低于30%。筛选40株分离株进行1日龄雏鸡致病力试验,确定出高致病株和低致病株分别占65%和35%。进一步分析发现高致病株比低致病株检出率高的毒力因子有iutA、tsh、iroN、irp-2、iss和cvaC(P0.05),提示这6种毒力基因可作为鉴别APEC毒力的靶标基因。APEC分离株大多呈现多重耐药,对受试的13种抗生素的耐药率均超过了50%,特别是对强力霉素、四环素、先锋IV、氨苄青霉素、磺胺异噁唑的耐药率甚至达到了80%以上。本研究丰富了APEC流行病学数据,为指导临床APEC菌株的鉴定和防控提供科学依据。     

鸡致病性E.coli地方株血清型的鉴定、毒力基因及致病性检测

为了研究河北秦皇岛地区鸡致病性大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli,E.coli)地方流行株的优势血清型、毒力基因和致病性,本研究采用常规鉴定方法和16SrRNA PCR方法,从采集自河北秦皇岛地区不同养鸡场的83份病鸡组织中分离鉴定出56株E.coli。人工感染1日龄雏鸡试验表明,46株分离株为致病性E.coli。采用玻片凝集试验、PCR方法分别测定致病性E.coli分离株的血清型分布和16种毒力基因携带情况。结果显示,定型的42株致病性E.coli分离株包括11种血清型,以O7 8、O89、O142及O1为优势血清型;46株致病性E.coli分离株中以irp2、fuyA、ompT、Iss a、iutA、iroN和hlyF毒力基因检出率较高,在89.1%~100.0%,其他毒力基因检出率为22.0%~72.0%。选择优势血清型代表株QH1(O78)、QH1(O89)、QH1(O142)和QH1(O1)人工感染1日龄雏鸡,计算半数致死量(LD50),确定其致病性。结果表明,QH1(O78)株致病性最强,对1日龄雏鸡的LD50为3.16×106 CFU/mL;对14,49日龄雏鸡的LD50分别为1.07×107,5×108 CFU/mL。本研究为河北秦皇岛地区鸡致病性E.coli地方流行株防控提供试验依据。     

广东屠猪肉样品中大肠杆菌耐药性与毒力特征的分析

为分析广东地区屠猪肉中大肠杆菌(E.coli)药物敏感菌株的血清型、毒力基因和系统进化背景,本研究从屠猪肉样品中分离出112株E.coli,采用玻片凝集法鉴定血清型,琼脂稀释法测定10种抗菌药的敏感性,PCR方法检测7种毒力相关基因,多重PCR方法进行系统进化背景判定。结果显示,112株E.coli中,定型菌株95株,分别属于15种血清型,其中O65、O131、O8和O158为优势血清型。几乎所有菌株对氟苯尼考、多西环素和四环素高度耐药,而对头孢曲松高度敏感,其中多重耐药菌株多数耐5种以上药物,常见的多重耐药表型是氟苯尼考/氯霉素/多西环素/四环素/氨苄西林。PCR鉴定结果表明,含有毒力基因的菌株中38%至少具有两个毒力基因,其中EAST1+Stx2e和hlyF+Stx2e比较常见。比较常见的毒力基因为Stx2e和EAST1,STb基因仅在一株菌中检测到。多重PCR鉴定结果显示,屠猪肉样品中E.coli主要分布为共生型的A组和B1组。本研究为大肠杆菌病的控制和合理使用抗生素提供实验依据。     

羊源大肠杆菌血清型鉴定、毒力基因检测及耐药性分析

为分析内蒙古扎兰屯地区羊源大肠杆菌血清型分布、毒力基因及耐药性流行情况,采集患羊鼻腔拭子150份,分离大肠杆菌,并采用O血清型玻板凝集试验、PCR法和K-B药敏纸片法对分离的大肠杆菌致病菌株进行血清型、毒力基因及耐药性检测。结果显示, 45株大肠杆菌致病菌株分属10种血清型,以O111、O127、 O38为流行的优势血清型,分别占致病菌株的26.7%、22.2%和17.8%;分离菌株毒力基因irp2、fyuA、hlyA、hlyE、Ler、eaeA、Ehly检出率在33.3%以上,其他毒力基因检出率在4.4%～14.3%之间;分离菌株对氨苄西林、阿莫西林、新霉素9种药物耐药率在53.3%以上,对其他药物的耐药率在13.3%～26.7%之间。研究表明,内蒙古扎兰屯地区羊源大肠杆菌血清型复杂,携带多种毒力基因,耐药性严重。     

河北部分地区狐狸源肺炎克雷伯菌血清型鉴定、毒力基因及致病性检测

为分析河北部分地区狐狸源肺炎克雷伯菌(Klebsiella pneumoniae)的荚膜血清型、毒力基因流行情况及致病性,从河北地区养殖场中采集患病狐狸肺脏、心血、肝脏等病料组织217份,分离得到63株致病性肺炎克雷伯菌。采用PCR法分别检测63株肺炎克雷伯菌荚膜血清型及19种毒力基因;通过人工感染小鼠致病试验验证4株优势血清型流行株的半数致死量(LD_(50))。结果显示,63株肺炎克雷伯菌中23株为K2血清型,7株为K20血清型。63株肺炎克雷伯菌携带13种毒力基因,毒力基因fimH、mrkD、wabG、uge、ybt、ybtA、alls、ompK35等检出率均在58.73%以上,其他毒力基因检测率较低;分离菌株呈现多重毒力基因型,同时携带9种毒力基因的菌株最多,占致病性菌株的33.33%。优势血清型流行株KD1(K20)和KD45(K2)的致病性最强,其LD_(50)分别为3.16×10~5,3.16×10~6 CFU/mL。本研究为该地区肺炎克雷伯菌病的防控提供参考。     

内蒙古呼和浩特地区牛源致病性大肠杆菌的血清型、毒力基因检测及耐药性分析

为鉴定内蒙古呼和浩特地区奶牛肠道致病性大肠杆菌(E.coli)分离株的血清型、毒力基因和耐药性,本研究分别采用接种小鼠试验、玻片凝集试验、PCR方法及药敏纸片法测定E.coli分离株的致病性、血清型分布、8种毒力基因及对20种抗生素的敏感性。结果表明,从内蒙古奶牛场采集的100份粪便样品中鉴定出50株致病性E.coli(50%)。定型的24株致病性E.coli的血清型共10种,以O18、O146和O152为优势血清型,共14株,占定型菌株的58.3%。50株致病性E.coli中,毒力基因irp2、eae A、stx1、stx2和hly A的检出率分别为100%、50%、14%、10%和8%。另外,所有血清型菌株对受试的抗菌药物呈多重耐药性,并且均耐受青霉素、四环素、多西环素、利福平、复方新诺明和阿莫西林6种抗生素,而且全部含有毒力基因irp2。本研究结果为牛源致病性E.coli病的防控和临床用药提供了实验依据。     

邢台地区致鸡卵黄性腹膜炎大肠杆菌血清型鉴定、毒力基因检测及耐药性分析

为分析邢台地区致鸡卵黄性腹膜炎大肠杆菌(E.coli)分离株的血清型、毒力基因和耐药性,本实验采用常规鉴定方法和16S rRNA PCR的方法,从邢台地区不同养鸡场46份患卵黄性腹膜炎的40周龄~45周龄蛋鸡病料组织中分离鉴定出37株E.coli。人工感染1日龄的雏鸡,结果显示32株分离菌为致病性E.coli,采用玻板凝集法检测其血清型分布,结果显示定型的27株致病性E.coli分离株共属于11个血清型,以O_(78)、O_(148)、O_2及O_8为优势血清型。采用PCR方法检测32株致病性E.coli分离株14种毒力基因,其中irp2、fyuA、ompT、Iss~a、iucD~a、iutA、iroN、hlyF、fimC毒力基因检出率最高,分别为100%、96.9%、93.8%、86.7%、84.3%、71.9%、65.7%、56.3%和50%,其余毒力基因检出率较低。耐药性分析结果显示,32株致病性E.coli分离株仅对头孢克肟、左氧氟沙星、阿奇霉素、头孢曲松和氟苯尼考5种药物高度敏感,对其他药物存在不同程度的耐药性。本研究为防治致病性E.coli引起蛋鸡卵黄性腹膜炎提供了实验依据。     

禽优势血清型大肠杆菌部分相关毒力基因的检测

为研究禽大肠杆菌的致病性及相关生物特性,试验对湖北省各地方养殖场送检的病料,通过分离培养及生化鉴定,分离得到232株禽大肠杆菌。18个O因子血清鉴定结果显示,优势血清型为O_(20)(19)、O_(78)(27),这两种血清型菌株合计46株,占血清型定型菌株的25.99%(未定型菌株为55株)。对优势血清型禽大肠杆菌菌株进行毒力基因检测,结果表明fimH、iroD、iucD、estA和ibeA基因携带率分别为87.88%、57.58%、48.49%、36.37%、0%。研究结果为湖北地区大肠杆菌防控和疫苗的研制提供数据支撑,并为阐明大肠杆菌的致病机理奠定基础。     

Fimbriae and enterotoxins associated with Escherichia coli serogroups isolated from pigs with colibacillosis

A comprehensive study of 223 Escherichia coli isolates from pigs with colibacillosis included determination of O serogroups, detection of heat-labile enterotoxin, heat-stable enterotoxin (STa and STb), and identification of K88, K99, 987-P, F-41, and type 1 fimbriae. The incidence of the various E coli types among isolates of pigs of different ages was also determined. Escherichia coli bearing K88 fimbriae accounted for 48% of all isolates studied, were most often of serogroup O157, O149, or O8, and usually produced labile toxin alone or in combination with STa or STb. These E coli were commonly isolated from pigs in each age group studied (0 to 5 days, 6 to 10 days, 11 to 24 days, and greater than 24 days). Escherichia coli bearing 987-P accounted for 30% of the isolates, were most often of serogroup O141 or O20, and usually produced STa. Escherichia coli bearing K99 accounted for 13% of the isolates, usually were of serogroup O101 or O8, and almost always produced STa. Escherichia coli bearing 987-P or K99 were most often isolated from pigs less than 6 days of age. Fimbriae F-41, when identified, were usually on E coli of serotype O101:K99. Although infrequently found, type 1 fimbriae were on E coli of most of the serogroups identified in this study.     

Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from cases of avian colibacillosis.

Forty-four western Canadian isolates of Escherichia coli associated with colibacillosis of turkeys and chickens were examined for serotype, antibiotic resistance, and production of aerobactin. The isolates belonged to fourteen O serogroups, with 39% of the strains being non-typeable. A high frequency of resistance to tetracycline, kanamycin, neomycin, cephalothin, streptomycin and erythromycin was observed. Most isolates produced aerobactin. Ten E. coli belonging to serogroups O1, O2 and O78 were also examined for pili production, hemagglutination, serum sensitivity, production of iron-regulated outer membrane proteins (IROMPS), and virulence. All isolates examined produced pili, exhibited mannose-sensitive hemagglutination of avian red blood cells and produced IROMPS under iron-restricted growth conditions. The five isolates of serogroup O1 and O2 were resistant to killing by turkey serum and were highly virulent. Only two of the five isolates of serogroup O78 were serum resistant. No correlation between serum resistance and virulence was observed in serogroup O78.     

Prevalence and characteristics of attaching and effacing strains of Escherichia coil isolated from diarrheic and healthy sheep and goats

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence and characteristics of attaching and effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) in diarrheic and healthy small ruminants. ANIMALS: 502 lambs and kids with diarrhea and 511 healthy sheep and goats. PROCEDURE: Fecal samples from diarrheic and healthy sheep and goats were screened for the eae gene. In addition, E coli isolates with positive results for the eae gene (E coli eae+) were analyzed for the espB gene, production of verotoxins (VT), and serogroup. RESULTS: A significantly higher prevalence of healthy lambs and kids were infected with AEEC, compared with diarrheic lambs and kids and healthy adult sheep and goats. Some differences in the characteristics of E coli eae strains isolated from diarrheic and healthy animals were detected. Thus, the espB gene was detected more frequently among E coli eae+ strains isolated from healthy animals than in those isolated from diarrheic animals, and VT production was only detected in E coli eae+ strains isolated from healthy lambs and kids. The E coli eae+ isolates belonged to several O serogroups. However, 17 of 40 (42.5%) isolates from diarrheic lambs and only 4 of 168 (2.4%) isolates from healthy sheep belonged to serogroup 026. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Our results suggest that E coli eae+ 026 strains may play a role in diarrheal disease in lambs, whereas E coli eae+ strains that also had VT production and eae+ strains that had positive results for the espB gene did not appear to be associated with diarrhea in small ruminants.     

Prevalence of serogroups and virulence genes in Escherichia coli associated with postweaning diarrhoea and edema disease in pigs and a comparison of diagnostic approaches

Identification of Escherichia coli causing porcine postweaning diarrhoea (PWD) or edema disease (ED) requires knowledge regarding the prevalent pathotypes within a given region. This study was undertaken to determine the present distribution of serogroups, hemolytic activity and virulence factor gene profiles among porcine pathogenic E. coli isolates in Denmark and to compare detection of these characteristics as diagnostic approaches. Five hundred and sixty-three E. coli were serogrouped using E. coli O-antisera and investigated for hemolytic activity. Of these, 219 isolates were further characterized using a 5'-nuclease PCR assay detecting genes for adhesion factors, enterotoxins and verocytotoxin 2e (VT2e). Forty-two different serogroups were found. The most prevalent serogroup was O149 accounting for 49.9% of all isolates, followed by O138 (14.9%), O139 (6.9%), O141 (4.1%) and O8 (3.7%). Hemolytic activity was detected in 87.7% of all isolates. Virulence factor genes detected were F4 (44.7%), F18 (39.3%), intimin (1.4%), F6 (0.9%), STb (77.6%), EAST1 (65.8%), LT (61.6%), STa (26.5%) and VT2e (16.4%). Six pathotypes accounted for 65.7% of all isolates investigated. Using possession of virulence factor genes as reference, O-serogrouping employing a selection of antisera representing common pig pathogenic serogroups and detection of hemolysis were evaluated as epidemiological markers for pathogenicity. Both criteria were associated with pathogenicity (P<0.001, for both), however, both methods also resulted in false classifications regarding pathogenicity for 11.9 and 13.2% of isolates, respectively. Detection of adhesion factor genes F4, F18 and intimin is suggested as an operational alternative when diagnosing PWD and ED.     

O-serogroups, eae gene and EAF plasmid in Escherichia coli isolates from cases of bovine mastitis in Brazil

Mastitis has been recognized for some time as the most costly disease in dairy herds. From March 1997 to August 1998, 2144 samples of bovine mastitic milk were collected, from which 182 Escherichia coli isolates were made, and from which 141 isolates had the somatic antigen (serogroup) determined. Twelve different serogroups were isolated from mastitic milk, and among them were O26, O55, O111 and O119, all of them classic enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) serogroups. These represented 40.0% of the isolates. The 20 of 57 isolates tested had plasmids and in dot blot hybridization, nine isolates were positive for an EaeA probe and an EPEC adherence factor (EAF) probe while two isolates were negative for EaeA probe but positive for the EAF probe. The nine isolates were characterized as attaching and effacing (A/E) E. coli (AEEC) isolates.     

Pathogenic and fecal Escherichia coil strains from turkeys in a commercial operation

The biochemical phenotypes and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of 105 clinical Escherichia coli isolates from flocks with colibacillosis in a turkey operation were compared with 1104 fecal E. coli isolates from 20 flocks in that operation. Clinical isolates and 194 fecal isolates with biochemical phenotypes or minimum inhibitory concentrations for gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole similar to clinical isolates were tested for somatic antigens and the potential virulence genes hylE, iss, tsh, and K1. The predominant biochemical phenotype of clinical isolates contained 21 isolates including 14 isolates belonging to serogroup 078 with barely detectable beta-D-glucuronidase activity. Thirty-five fecal isolates had biochemical phenotypes matching common phenotypes of clinical isolates. Sixty-six (63%) clinical isolates exhibited intermediate susceptibility or resistance to gentamicin and sulfamethoxazole compared with 265 (24%) fecal isolates (P < 0.001). Seventy-seven clinical isolates reacted with O-antisera, of which 51 (66%) belonged to the following serogroups: O1, O2, O8, O25, O78, O114, and O119. In comparison, 8 of 35 (23%) fecal isolates subtyped on the basis of biochemical phenotype belonged to these serogroups and four of 167 (2%) fecal isolates subtyped on the basis of their antimicrobial resistance patterns belonged to these serogroups. Iss, K1, and tsh genes were detected more often among clinical isolates than these fecal isolates (P < 0.05). In summary, a small subgroup of E. coli strains caused most colibacillosis infections in this operation. These strains existed at low concentration in normal fecal flora of healthy turkeys in intensively raised flocks. The data suggest that colibacillosis in turkey operations may be due to endogenous infections caused by specialized pathogens.     

Prevalence of serogroups and virulence factors of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea in eastern China

This study was undertaken to determine the present distribution of serogroups, hemolytic activity and virulence factors among Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea from eight provinces in eastern China. Two hundred and fifteen E. coli isolates were serogrouped with O-antisera, investigated for hemolytic activity, assessed for F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbrial antigens by monoclonal antibodies and detected for genes of enterotoxins and shiga-toxin-two-variant (Stx2e) by a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Among these E. coli isolates, 140 were determined to be placed in serogroups, 52 were unable to be serogrouped and the rest 23 auto-agglutinated. These isolates distributed in 45 serogroups and 64.3% (90/140) belonged to 12 O serogroups: O8, O9, O11, O20, O32, O91, O93, O101, O107, O115, O116 and O131. Hemolytic activity was detected in 11.6% (25/215) of all isolates. Several uncommon O serogroups were discovered in this study. Agglutination tests showed that 50.2% (108/215) of these isolates were positive for one or more of the five fimbrial antigens. Seventy-two E. coli strains expressed single fimbria and 36 strains expressed two or more fimbriae. Among these 215 E. coli isolates, strains expressing F18, F4, F6, F6 + F18 or F5 + F41 occurred more frequently. PCR analysis showed that 60.5% (130/215) of the isolates only harboured the gene of estI (STI) while 6.0% (13/215) strains possessed the genes of stx2e, estI and estII and 5.6% (12/215) of strains had the genes of estI/estII. Of all these isolates, 107 (49.8%) were negative for the fimbrial antigens examined. The fimbria-negative isolates usually possessed genetic determinant of estI (78, 72.9%).     

Phenotypic and genotypic characterization of virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens with simultaneous occurrence of cellulitis and other colibacillosis lesions.

The objective of this study was to characterize virulence factors of Escherichia coli isolates from broilers with simultaneous occurrence of cellulitis and other colibacillosis lesions. Thirty flocks were sampled and 237 birds with cellulitis were examined. Eighty-two (34.6%) of 237 birds condemned for cellulitis had gross lesions in the heart, air sacs, joints, or liver. In 58 chickens, E. coli was isolated from both the cellulitis and other lesions of colibacillosis, and 18.9% of the E. coli isolates from the 2 types of lesions belonged to the same O group. Escherichia coli of serogroups O78, O1, and O2 predominated. Isolates of the same serogroup that were derived from different lesions in the same birds had similar patterns of biotype, aerobactin production, serum sensitivity profile, antibiotic sensitivity, and K1 capsule production. Escherichia coli derived from cellulitis lesions produced virulence factors similar to those found in E. coli isolated from other colibacillosis lesions in poultry.     

Prevalence of genotypes for fimbriae and enterotoxins and of O serogroups in Escherichia coli isolated from diarrheic piglets in Korea.

Polymerase chain reaction for 4 fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F41), 2 heat-stable enterotoxins (STa, STb), and 1 heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) were performed on 400 Escherichia coli isolates to determine their genotype prevalence among enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates from preweaned pigs with diarrhea in the Republic of Korea. A total of 200 of the 400 E. coli isolates were also selected for characterization of the O serogroup. Of these 200 isolates, serogroup could be determined in 139 (69.5%) but not in 61 isolates (30.5%). Isolates of serogroup O101 were the most common, followed in descending order by 08, 020, 0162, 0141, and 0149. Ninety-seven (24.3%) of the 400 E. coli isolates carried genes for at least 1 of the entertoxins or fimbrial adhesins. Of these 97 isolates, 27 carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins and entertoxins. Sixty-six percent of the isolates that carried fimbrial adhesin genes carried genes for at least 1 of the enterotoxins, and 71% of the isolates that carried enterotoxin genes carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins. Genes for the F6 fimbriae were detected in 6% of the E. coli isolates, and F4+, F41+, and F5+ genes were detected in 4.3%, 3.3%, and 2% of the isolates, respectively. Genes for STa, STb, and LT were detected in 10%, 8.5%, and 4.3% of the isolates, respectively. The 6 major genotypes observed in this study (in decreasing order) were F6+, STb+, F41+, STa+STb+, F6+STa+, and STa+.     

Antimicrobial susceptibilities, serogroups, and molecular characterization of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates in Japan

In total, 83 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from avian colibacillosis during a period from 2001 to 2006 in Japan were investigated for serogroups, typical virulence factors, antimicrobial susceptibility, and genetic relatedness. The most common serogroup was O78 (30.1%); 80.7% of isolates harbored the iss gene and 55.4% of isolates harbored the tsh gene. Antimicrobial resistance of the isolates was found for ampicillin (77.1%), oxytetracycline (75.9%), kanamycin (36.1%), fradiomycin (33.7%), trimethoprim (25.3%), enrofloxacin (21.7%), and florfenicol (6.0%). Although multiple antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes (three or more antimicrobials) accounted for 54.2% of isolates, no isolate exhibited resistance to all agents tested. The fluoroquinolone-resistant isolates had point mutations in GyrA (Ser83 --> Leu, Asp87 --> Asn) and ParC (Ser80 --> Ile, Glu84 --> Gly). Of 18 enrofloxacin-resistant E. coli isolates, nine isolates belonged to serotype O78. In PFGE analysis, eight of the nine enrofloxacin-resistant O78 isolates were classified into an identical cluster. This suggests that a specific genotype of fluoroquinolone-resistant O78 APEC may be widely distributed in Japan.