Location of increased serum survival gene and selected virulence traits on a conjugative R plasmid in an avian Escherichia coli isolate

Avian colibacillosis is a costly disease for the poultry industry. The mechanisms of virulence employed by the etiologic agent of this disease remain ill defined. However, accumulated evidence suggests that complement resistance and the presence of the increased serum survival gene (iss) in an avian Escherichia coli isolate may be indicative of its ability to cause disease. This association of iss with the E. coli implicated in avian disease may mean that iss and/or, perhaps, the genes associated with it are important contributors to avian E. coli virulence. For this reason, we have begun a search for iss's location in the bacterial genome. Thus far, iss in an avian E coli isolate has been localized to a conjugative R plasmid and estimated to be about 100 kilobase (kb) in size, encoding resistance to tetracycline and ampicillin. Hybridization studies have revealed that this plasmid contains sequences with homology to tsh, a gene associated with virulence of avian E coli; intI 1, a gene encoding the integrase of Class 1 integrons; and certain genes of the aerobactin- and CoIV-encoding operons. Sequences homologous to merA, a gene of the mercury resistance operon, were not identified on this R plasmid. This plasmid, when transferred into an avirulent, recipient strain by conjugation, enhanced the transconjugant's resistance to complement but not its virulence, in spite of the plasmid's possession of several putative virulence genes and traits. Such results may reflect the multifactorial nature of virulence, the degree of the recipient's impairment for virulence, or an inability of the embryo assay used here to detect this plasmid's contribution to virulence. Additionally, this plasmid contains genes encoding antimicrobial resistances, which may provide a selective advantage to virulent E. coli in the production environment. Further study will be needed to determine whether this plasmid is widespread among virulent E. coli and to ascertain the implications that this link between virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes may have for poultry management.     

Transposon mutagenesis used to study the role of complement resistance in the virulence of an avian Escherichia coli isolate.

The role of complement resistance in the virulence of an avian Escherichia coli isolate was examined with transposon mutagenesis. A suicide plasmid containing a kanamycin-encoding mini-transposon was used to transform a virulent complement-resistant avian E. coli isolate. A less resistant mutant was identified that contained a transposon insertion in a plasmid and in the chromosome. This loss of complement resistance was associated with a drop in virulence in an embryo assay. No other phenotypic changes were detected in the mutant. These results suggest that complement resistance is associated with the virulence of this organism.     

Characterizing avian Escherichia coli isolates with multiplex polymerase chain reaction

Colibacillosis caused by Escherichia coli infections account for significant morbidity and mortality in the poultry industry. Yet, despite the importance of colibacillosis, much about the virulence mechanisms employed by avian E. coli remains unknown. In recent years several genes have been linked to avian E. coli virulence, many of which reside on a large transmissible plasmid. In the present study, a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) protocol to detect the presence of four of these genes is described. Such a protocol may supplement current diagnostic schemes and provide a rapid means of characterizing the E. coli causing disease in poultry. The targets of this procedure included iss, the increased serum survival gene; tsh, the temperature sensitive hemagglutinin gene; cvi, the ColV immunity gene; and iucC, a gene of the aerobactin operon. Organisms, known for their possession or lack of these genes, were used as a source of the template DNA to develop the multiplex PCR protocol. Identity of the amplicons was confirmed by size, DNA:DNA hybridization with specific gene probes, and DNA sequencing. When the multiplex PCR protocol was used to characterize 10 E. coli isolates incriminated in avian colibacillosis and 10 from the feces of apparently healthy birds, nine of the isolates from apparently healthy birds contained no more than one gene, while the 10th contained all four. Also, eight of the isolates incriminated in colibacillosis contained three or more genes, while the remaining two contained two of the target genes. Interestingly, the isolates of sick birds containing only two of the targeted genes killed the least number of embryos,and the isolate of healthy birds that contained all the genes killed the most embryos amongthis group. These genes were not found among the non-E. coli isolates tested, demonstrating the procedure's specificity for E. coli. Overall, these results suggest that this protocol might be useful in characterization and study of avian E. coli.     

Identification of a new Escherichia coli She haemolysin homolog in avian E. coli

Haemolysin is one type of virulence factor that assists in the pathogenesis of Escherichia coli. Currently, hemolytic activity in E. coli has been attributed to haemolysin genes found in either uropathogenic or enterohemorrhagic E. coli. Both haemolysins are classified as RTX toxins because they both have repeats in toxin domains and share similar operon organization, sequence homology, and mechanisms of action. Haemolytic avian E. coli isolates, however, lack either E. coli haemolysin gene. To investigate the avian E. coli haemolysin, a genomic library was made from an avian pathogenic E. coli. A haemolytic clone that was isolated was shown to contain homology with sheA, an E. coli K- 12 gene which causes haemolysis when present in high copy number. The cloned haemolysin gene, hlyE, lacked the conserved amino acid sequence and accessory genes common to all RTX toxins. DNA hybridizations and polymerase chain reaction amplifications showed that the nucleotide sequences homologous to hlyE were not present in a collection of three O157: H7 E. coli, five haemolytic canine uropathogenic E. coli, one haemolytic O26 E. coli, and three haemolytic avian pathogenic E. coli. Thus we have identified a new E. coli haemolysin distinct from the RTX haemolysins and have shown that some avian pathogenic E. coli possess a haemolysin with no apparent homology to hlyE or RTX haemolysins.     

Clinical and microbial efficacy of antimicrobial treatments of experimental avian colibacillosis

The clinical and microbial efficacy of antimicrobial treatments of avian colibacillosis was studied, using an experimental model on chickens previously inoculated with multiresistant commensal Escherichia coli strains. One E. coli with pMG252 plasmid containing bla(FOX5) and qnrA1 genes and another E. coli with pMG298 plasmid containing bla(CTX-M15) and qnrB1 genes were first orally inoculated to chickens Both isolates were also resistant to chloramphenicol, sulphamethoxazole, trimethoprim, streptomycin, gentamicin, kanamycin, and tetracycline. The birds were then experimentally infected with an avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), via the air sac. Treatments (oxytetracycline (OTC), trimethoprim-sulfadimethoxin (SXT), amoxicillin (AMX) or enrofloxacin (ENR) were then offered at the therapeutic doses. Symptoms, lesions in dead or sacrificed birds, and isolation and characterization of APEC from internal organs were studied. Results showed that OTC, SXT or ENR treatments could control the pathology. AMX worsened the disease, possibly due to endotoxin shock. All APEC re-isolated from internal organs showed the same antimicrobial susceptibility as the APEC inoculated strain, except for one APEC isolate from an infected OTC-treated bird, which acquired tetracycline resistance only, and one APEC isolate recovered from the air sacs of a chicken in the infected SXT-treated group, which acquired the pMG252 plasmid and became multi-resistant. Thus three antimicrobials could control the disease but the experimental model enabled, to our knowledge, the first observation of plasmid transfer from a bacterium of the intestinal tract to a pathogenic isolate from the respiratory tract.     

Serum resistance and aerobactin iron uptake in avian Escherichia coli mediated by conjugative 100-megadalton plasmid.

A total of 115 strains of Escherichia coli isolated from chickens with colisepticemia in Japan were examined for chicken lethality and virulence factors. It was found that serum resistance and aerobactin-mediated iron uptake are the most prevalent characteristics in these strains. Among them, S-20, a representative virulent strain of serotype O2, was further studied. S-20 harbored a conjugative 100-megadalton (Mdal) plasmid, designated pKI100. Curing and reintroduction experiments showed that pKI100 encodes both serum resistance and aerobactin-mediated iron uptake, and the diminished virulence of the pKI100-cured strain was fully restored by the reintroduction of the plasmid. These results demonstrated that pKI100 is the virulence plasmid of the S-20 strain, and that serum resistance and aerobactin-mediated iron uptake are the virulence factors in E. coli strains which cause avian colibacillosis.     

Linkage of genes for heat-stable enterotoxin, drug resistance, K99 antigen, and colicin in bovine and porcine strains of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Linkages among genes for production of Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin (ST), drug resistance, K99 antigen, and colicin were investigated in 2 bovine and 3 porcine strains of enterotoxigenic E coli. In conjugation experiments, all 5 isolates transferred enterotoxigenicity and the ability to produce K99; 4 of the 5 isolates also transferred antibiotic resistance markers, and 3 colicinogenic strains transmitted the ability to produce colicin. In 2 of the 3 colicin-producing strains, the genes for colicin were located along with those for K99 and ST on a single plasmid. One of these 2 strains transferred the genes for tetracycline resistance and production of both mouse-active ST (STa) and mouse-inactive ST, whereas the other transmitted the gene(s) for STa only. Transformation studies with the 3rd strain revealed that the K99 determinant resided on a 22-megadalton (Mdal)R plasmid, and that STa and colicin production were on a 65-Mdal plasmid. Analysis of the plasmids from the transformation experiments revealed that the larger plasmid was conjugative and the smaller plasmid was nonconjugative; stable cointegrate formation occurred between these 2 plasmids. Genetic information coding for the production of STa and K99 were also present on a single plasmid of approximately 80 Mdal in both noncolicinogenic strains.     

Effect of bambermycins, in vitro, on plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance

The potential of bambermycins (a growth-promoting antimicrobial approved for turkeys, broilers, and swine) to overcome or control plasmid-mediated antimicrobial resistance was determined in a series of in vitro experiments. Four possible modes of action of bambermycins were studied: synergistic effect with 12 other antimicrobials, elimination of resistance (R) plasmids from Escherichia coli, selective killing or inhibition of E coli carrying R plasmids, and inhibition of R plasmid transfer. Bambermycins had no synergistic activity with the other drugs tested and had little effect on eliminating plasmids from host bacteria. Dependent on plasmid type, bambermycins decreased or increased transfer frequency of R plasmids. Bambermycins also selectively inhibited growth of bacteria harboring certain R plasmids.     

Microarray based comparative genotyping of gentamicin resistant Escherichia coli strains from food animals and humans

Recent data from the European and Hungarian Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring Systems have indicated that the routine use of gentamicin in human and veterinary medicine frequently leads to the selection of gentamicin resistance in Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to provide molecular characterization of gentamicin resistance in clinical and commensal E. coli strains representing humans and food producing animals by genotyping for antimicrobial resistance and virulence using a miniaturized microarray. All 50 strains tested proved to be multidrug resistant defined as resistance to three or more antimicrobial classes. Antimicrobial resistances genes such as aadA1-like, strB, bla(TEM), sul1 and tet(A) or tet(B), and corresponding phenotypes (streptomycin-, ampicillin-, sulfamethoxazole- and tetracycline resistance) were detected in >50% of isolates regardless of the host or clinical background. However, certain genes encoding gentamicin resistance such as aac(6')-Ib and ant(2″)-Ia as well as catB3-like genes for phenicol resistance were only detected in human isolates. Among virulence genes, the increased serum survival gene iss was predominant in all host groups. Although the majority of gentamicin resistant E. coli strains were characterized by diverse antimicrobial resistance, and virulence gene patterns, accentuated links between catB3-like, aac(6')-Ib, bla(CTX-M-1) and sat genes could be detected in human strains. Further resistance/virulence gene associations (tet(A) with iroN and iss) were detected in poultry strains. In conclusion, the simultaneous characterization of antimicrobial resistance and virulence genotypes of representative clinical and commensal strains of E. coli should be useful for the identification of emerging genotypes with human and or animal health implications.     

Resistance to Serum Complement,iss, and Virulence of Avian Escherichia coli

Control of avian colibacillosis is hampered by lack of easily identifiable markers for virulent Escherichia coli. Resistance to serum complement appears to be a widespread trait of virulent avian E. coli, suggesting that bacterial factors promoting survival in serum may be useful in discriminating between virulent and avirulent isolates. Such distinguishing factors may prove useful in diagnostic protocols or as targets in future colibacillosis control protocols. Interestingly, the factors responsible for resistance to complement differ in the E. coli isolated from mammalian and avian hosts, which may reflect differences in the nature of avian and mammalian colibacillosis. In some cases, genetic determinants for serum complement resistance in avian E. coli are found on aerobactin- or Colicin V-encoding plasmids. One such gene, iss, first described for its role in the serum resistance associated with a ColV plasmid from a human E. coli isolate, occurs much more frequently in isolates from birds with colibacillosis than in faecal isolates from healthy birds. Efforts to identify the genomic location of iss in a single, virulent avian E. coli isolate have revealed that it occurs in association with several purported virulence genes, all linked to a large conjugative R plasmid. At this time, it is not known whether iss merely marks the presence of a larger pathogenicity unit or is itself a contributor to virulence. Nevertheless, the presence of the complement-resistance determinant, iss, may be a marker of virulent avian E. coli exploitable in controlling avian colibacillosis.     

3株猪源大肠埃希氏菌耐药基因的初步定位

本试验旨在对临床分离的猪源大肠埃希氏菌耐药基因进行初步定位。采用常规细菌分离培养、16S rRNA PCR扩增和序列测定方法从江西省3个规模化猪场送检的子宫脓液中分离鉴定病原菌,并通过质粒提取、转化大肠埃希氏菌DH5α感受态细胞及药敏试验对临床分离株的耐药基因进行初步定位。结果显示,分离鉴定到3株大肠埃希氏菌,其中JX-22分离株仅对氧氟沙星、大观霉素敏感,JX-26分离株仅对链霉素、氧氟沙星等4种药物敏感,JX-28分离株仅对氧氟沙星等3种药物敏感,均为多重耐药菌;3株大肠埃希氏菌均可纯化到分子质量大小不一的质粒。分离株、质粒转化菌及大肠埃希氏菌DH5α感受态细胞药敏试验对比结果显示,3株大肠埃希氏菌的耐链霉素、林可霉素、甲硝唑、氨苄西林、阿莫西林、大观霉素、丁胺卡那基因,JX-22和JX-26分离株的耐多西环素、氟苯尼考和复方新诺明基因,JX-22分离株的耐头孢曲松基因,JX-28分离株的耐头孢曲松、头孢噻肟、诺氟沙星基因均定位于细菌质粒上;JX-28分离株的耐多西环素、氟苯尼考和复方新诺明基因,JX-22分离株的耐诺氟沙星基因和JX-26分离株的耐头孢曲松、头孢噻肟基因均定位于其染色体上;3株分离株均无氧氟沙星耐药基因。本试验初步确定3株多重耐药猪源大肠埃希氏菌的大部分耐药基因定位于质粒上,为进一步研究猪源大肠埃希氏菌的耐药机理和有效控制措施奠定基础。     

Pathogenic diversity of Escherichia coli and the emergence of 'exotic' islands in the gene stream.

Escherichia coli is a highly adaptive bacterial species that is both a member of the commensal intestinal flora and a versatile pathogen associated with numerous types of intestinal and systemic infections in humans and other animals. The spectrum of diseases caused by E. coli is due to the acquisition of specific virulence genes harbored on plasmids, bacteriophages, or within distinct DNA segments termed pathogenicity islands (PAIs) that are absent from the genomes of commensal E. coli strains. PAIs are likely to have been transferred horizontally and may have integrated into the E. coli chromosome through bacteriophage or plasmid integration or transposition. The contribution of intergenic inheritance to the adaptation and evolution of E. coli, types of PAIs associated with different groups of pathogenic E. coli and approaches to identify unique sequence islands (USIs), some of which might confer pathogenicity, in E. coli and other bacteria are presented.     

Similar cefoxitin-resistance plasmids circulating in Escherichia coli from human and animal sources

The aim of this study was to determine the molecular epidemiology of cefoxitin-resistance Escherichia coli identified in cattle entering feedlots and determine if there were any similarities to E. coli causing human infections in Canadian hospitals. A total of 51 E. coli were isolated from a total of 2483 cattle entering four feedlots in southern Alberta, Canada. DNA fingerprinting using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed thirty-two unique patterns with two major clusters observed comprised of Cluster A (11 strains) and Cluster B (7 strains). PCR and sequence analysis revealed 38 isolates (74.5%) harboured bla(CMY-2), whereas the remainder were found to contain mutations in the promoter region of the chromosomal ampC gene, which has been previously associated with cefoxitin resistance. No resistance to nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, or amikacin was observed in the clinical isolates. bla(CMY-2) harbouring plasmids were transferred to E. coli DH10B. All of the plasmids carrying bla(CMY-2) contained the A/C replicon and also harboured other resistance genes. Plasmid fingerprinting using BglII revealed 17 unique patterns with all but one clustering within 70% similarity. Comparison of the plasmid fingerprints to those isolated from human clinically significant E. coli in Canada during a similar time period [Mulvey, M.R., Bryce, E., Boyd, D.A., Ofner-Agostini, M., Land, A.M., Simor, A.E, Paton, S., 2005. The Canadian Hospital Epidemiology Committee, and The Canadian Nosocomial Infection Surveillance Program, Health Canada. Molecular characterization of cefoxitin resistant Escherichia coli from Canadian hospitals. Antimicrob. Agents Chemother. 49, 358-365] revealed four strains that harboured bla(CMY-2) A/C replicon type plasmid with fingerprint similarities of greater than 90% to the ones identified in E. coli from the cattle in this study. These findings highlight the potential linkage of multidrug resistant organisms in food producing animals and human infections in Canadian hospitals. The plasmids conferred resistance to multiple antibiotics which could limit options for the treatment of infections caused by these strains.     

鸡致病性大肠埃希菌素V质粒研究进展

大肠埃希菌素V(ColV)质粒是鸡致病性大肠埃希菌中重要的毒力质粒之一,能够编码大肠埃希菌素V、血清抗性、铁摄取系统等与致病相关的毒力基因。目前虽然对鸡的大肠埃希菌病研究的比较广泛,但其确切的发病机制仍需继续深入研究。文章综述了ColV质粒与鸡大肠埃希菌病的联系,及其3个表型与鸡致病性大肠埃希菌毒力的关系,为防控鸡大肠埃希菌病提供新的思路。     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmid analysis of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated in Taiwan.

Sixty Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (App) strains from pigs in Taiwan were examined. Serotyping revealed that these belonged to serovars 1 (n=53), 2 (n=3), and 5 (n=4). Agar disk diffusion susceptibility testing of the isolates showed 55 (92%) were resistant to three or more antimicrobial agents. Six resistance patterns were observed. Ampicillin-chloramphenicol-flumequine-nalidixic acid-streptomycin-sulfonamide/trimethoprim-tetracycline was the most common multi-resistance pattern. Minimal inhibitory concentration of 14 antimicrobial agents was determined. The isolates were highly susceptible to ceftiofur and trimethoprim in vitro. Isolates were resistant to streptomycin, ampicillin, and nalidixic acid. All isolates were examined for the presence of plasmids using the alkaline lysis method. Forty three (72%) isolates had four plasmid bands with an approximate sizes of 3.5, 4.3, 5.8 and 6.0 kb; 12 (20%) had three bands at 3.5, 4.3 and 5.2 kb, and 5 (8%) had no plasmid bands. Antimicrobial resistance plasmids were detected in resistant strains of App. Three antimicrobial resistance plasmids were transformed into E. coli DH5 alpha. pTMY1 (4.3 kb) encoded a streptomycin kinase and a dihydropteroate synthase; pTMY2 (6.0 kb) encoded ROB-1 beta-lactamase and aminoglycoside 3'-phosphotransferase; pTMY3 (5.2 kb) encoded only ROB-1 beta-lactamase. The 4.3 kb plasmid was sequenced and consisted of 4242 bp with 42.9% GC content. The 4.3 kb plasmid DNA sequence was 98% homologous to a plasmid previously isolated from Pasteurella haemolytica.     

鸡源大肠杆菌强毒株耐药基因的定位及耐药质粒消除

本试验对临床分离的多重耐药鸡源致病性大肠杆菌强毒株的耐药基因进行初步定位,为临床选择合适的治疗策略提供理论依据。从送检病死鸡的肝脏、心脏中分离鉴定致病菌,质粒提取试剂盒提取分离菌的耐药质粒,转化入基因工程菌JM109,通过质粒纯化、电泳和药敏试验对耐药基因进行了初步定位。并用艾叶水煮液对该菌株进行体外耐药质粒消除试验。结果分离鉴定到1株强毒力鸡源大肠杆菌,该菌呈多重耐药性,且仅对氟奇霉素和链霉素敏感;由质粒转化和药敏试验结果可初步将耐环丙沙星、青霉素、氧氟沙星、氟哌酸、林可霉素和复方新诺明的基因定位于耐药质粒上,并可随质粒的转移而使转化菌获得耐药性;用艾叶水煮液可使该菌的耐药质粒消除率达60%;质粒消除菌的药敏试验结果表明,消除耐药质粒的细菌恢复了对环丙沙星、青霉素、氧氟沙星、氟哌酸、林可霉素和复方新诺明的敏感性。本研究结果表明,分离菌的耐药基因分别位于质粒和染色体上,艾叶对耐药质粒有较强的消除作用,可作为临床治疗用药。     

Distribution of lipopolysaccharide core types among avian pathogenic Escherichia coli in relation to the major phylogenetic groups

Five distinct lipopolysaccharide (LPS) core types, namely R1-R4 and K12 have been identified in Escherichia coli. The aims of this study were to determine, primarily by means of PCR, the distribution of those oligosaccharide core types among avian pathogenic E. coli and their relationship to phylogenetic groups. To identify putative avian pathogenic E. coli, serum resistance and the presence of three virulence genes encoding temperature sensitive haemagglutinin (tsh), increased serum survival (iss) and colicin V (cvaC) were determined. Of the 143 clinical isolates examined 62% possessed the R1 core, 22% were R3, 13% were R4 and 3% were R2. Fifty commensal isolates consisted of 58% with R1 core, 38% with R3 core, 4% with R4 core, and none with R2. None of the isolates were of K12 core type. The distribution of core oligosaccharide types in clinical and commensal isolates were not statistically significant (P=0.51). Three genes, tsh, iss and cvaC were found in E. coli of all four core types. The genes tsh (P<0.001) and iss (P=0.03412) were significantly associated with the R4 core oligosaccharide type. The isolates containing R4 core type LPS were mainly confined to phylogenetic group D. The widespread R1 core type showed less ability to possess virulence genes and 83% were in the phylogenetic group A. Results of this study indicated that E. coli with R1, R2, R3 and R4 were important in causing infections in chickens and further, the E. coli with R4 core type were less common among commensals, possessed more virulence genes and were related to phylogenetic groups pathogenic for poultry.     

山东省部分地区禽源致病性大肠杆菌的血清流行病学调查与耐药性检测

为调查山东省禽源致病性大肠杆菌流行的血清型及耐药性,从山东部分地区的45家养禽场分离到致病性大肠杆菌96株,应用微量平板凝集试验进行了血清型鉴定,共鉴定出18种血清型,其中优势血清型6种,分别为O78、O2、O15、O18、O143、O88,占定型致病性菌株的64％。抗菌药物敏感性试验发现,96株大肠杆菌对20种药物有不同程度的耐药性。75％以上的菌株对氨苄青霉素、阿莫西林、土霉素等5种抗菌药耐药,50％以上的菌株对卡那霉素、多西环素、环丙沙星等7种抗菌药表现为耐药;所有分离株存在多重耐药现象,75％的受检菌对9种或9种以上的被测药物耐药。结果表明,O78、O2、O15、O18、O143、O886种血清型是山东省部分地区近年来禽源致病性大肠杆菌的优势血清型,且禽源致病性大肠杆菌的耐药现象严重,有必要加强耐药性检测,以指导兽医临床合理使用抗菌药物。     

Molecular characterization of plasmids with antimicrobial resistant genes in avian isolates of Pasteurella multocida

The complete nucleotide sequences of two plasmids from avian isolates of Pasteurella multocida that caused outbreaks of fowl cholera in Taiwan were determined. The entire sequences of the two plasmids, designated as pJR1 and pJR2, were 6792 bp and 5252 bp. Sequence analysis showed that the plasmid pJR1 contained six major genes: the first gene (sulII) encoded a type II sulfonamide resistant dihydropteroate synthase, the second gene (tetG) encoded a tetracycline resistance protein, the third gene (catB2) encoded a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase, the fourth gene (rep) encoded a replication protein, and the fifth and sixth genes (mbeCy and deltambeAy) encoded proteins involved in the mobilization of plasmid. The plasmid pJR2 contained five major genes: the first gene (deltaintI1) encoded a truncated form of a type I integrase, the second gene (aadA1) encoded an aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase that confers resistance to streptomycin and spectinomycin, the third gene (blaP1) encoded a beta-lactamase that confers resistance to ampicillin and carbenicillin, and the fourth and fifth genes might encode proteins involved in the plasmid replication or segregation. Sequence comparisons showed that the antibiotic resistance genes found in pJR1 and pJR2 exhibited a high degree of sequence homology to the corresponding genes found in a great variety of gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica Typhimurium DT104, Psedomonas spp., P. multocida, Mannheimia spp., and Actinobacills pleuropneumoniae, which suggests that these resistance genes were disseminated in these bacteria. Although sulII and tetG genes were found previously in P. multocida or Mannheimia spp., this is the first report on the presence of catB2, aadA1, and blaP1 genes in bacteria of the family Pasturellaceae. Moreover, the aadA1 and blaP1 genes found in pJR2 were organized into an integron structure, which is a site-specific recombination system capable of capturing and mobilizing antibiotic resistance genes. This is also the first report on the presence of an integron in bacteria of the family Pasteurellaceae. The presence of a P. multocida integron might facilitate the spreading of antibiotic resistance genes between P. multocida and other gram-negative bacteria.     

Virulence factors of avian Escherichia coli

A total of 45 strains of Escherichia coli isolates from chickens with colisepticemia were examined for virulence factors commonly found in pathogenic groups of E. coli. These strains were studied for the following: pathogenicity in 1-day-old chicks; toxin, hemolysin, and colicin production; cell invasiveness and adherence; hemagglutination for fimbriae detection; serum resistance; aerobactin production in iron-limited conditions; and plasmid content. The characteristics exhibited by virulent strains were invasion for HeLa and chicken fibroblast cells, serum resistance, colicin V, and aerobactin production. None of the isolates were toxigenic or positive in hemagglutination tests. The molecular genetic studies of the virulence factors by agarose electrophoresis showed that the plasmids of these strains are of high molecular weight.