Phylogenetic background and virulence genes of Escherichia coli isolates from colisepticemic and healthy broiler chickens in Iran

The purposes of this study were to determine the phylogenetic background and the virulence gene profiles of Escherichia coli isolates from colisepticemic and feces of healthy (AFEC) broiler chickens. In this study, 253 E. coli isolates including 141 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and 112 AFEC isolates were examined by PCR. In general, 253 E. coli isolates distributed among group A (51.8%), B1 (15.8%), B2 (8.7%), and D (23.7%). Ten (8.9%) AFEC isolates segregated in to B1 phylo-group and 102 (91.1%) isolates fell into six different phylogenetic subgroups. Distribution of colisepticemic and fecal isolates differed significantly in their assignments to A and B1 phylo-groups. The three most prevalent virulence genes were crl, fimH, and aer in isolates between both groups. The four genetic markers aer, papC, afa, and sfa were detected significantly more often among colisepticemic isolates than in fecal isolates from healthy broilers. The presence of stx ₂ gene in fecal isolates were significantly differs among the colisepticemic isolates. F17 fimbrial family encoding gene and eae gene were detected in APEC and AFEC isolates, respectively. The colisepticemic and fecal isolates possessed the virulence genes were detected in all of the four phylogenetic groups. Several combination patterns of the virulence genes were detected in APEC and AFEC isolates. In colisepticemic isolates the combination of aer, crl, and fimH genes was the most prevalent pattern. None of the examined isolates harbored the cdt, cnf1, ipaH, and stx ₁ virulence gene sequences.     

Serogrouping,phylotyping, and virulence genotyping of commensal and avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from broilers in Hamedan,Iran

In the present study, 100 Avian-Pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from colibacillosis-suspected broilers and 100 Avian Faecal Escherichia coli (AFEC) isolates from healthy broilers in Iran were examined by PCR for confirmation of their serogroups and phylogenetic background, and their association with ten virulence-associated genes (VAG) including fimC, iutA, chuA, sitA, iss, cvaA/B, hylA, stx1, stx2, and yjaA. Serogroups O78, O1, O2 and O18 were the prominent strains including 54 % of the APEC and 23 % of the AFEC strains. At phylotyping, the majority of APEC strains belonged to phylogenetic group E (22 %) while for the AFEC strains, half of the isolates were not assigned to any group but the predominant phylogroup was E (27 %). Virulence genotyping, revealed that the predominant VAGs were iutA (97 %), fimC (87 %) and iss (84 %) among APEC strains, and fimC (95 %), iss (93 %) and sitA (87 %) in AFEC strains. This is the first time that phylogroup E is described as predominant phylogroup among APEC strains also, this is the first report on the presence of the stx1 gene in APEC strains isolated from broilers in Iran. The results of the present study indicate that VAGs are more prevalent in APEC strains belonging to O2 and O78 serogroups, also phylogroups E and D have more frequency of VAGs than other phylogroups. Therefore, the APEC strains belonging to O2 and O78 serogroups and phylogroups E and D probably have more pathogenicity to broilers.     

Virulence traits of avian pathogenic (APEC) and fecal (AFEC) <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> isolated from broiler chickens in Algeria

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the etiologic agent of avian colibacillosis, the most common disease responsible for chicken morbidity in the world. Although multiple virulence-associated factors were identified, their prevalence in Algeria is still poorly known. In the present research, 92 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates were recovered from broilers with clinical signs and lesions of colibacillosis. In addition, 32 E. coli isolates collected from feces of healthy birds (AFEC) were included for comparison. All isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of a total of 11 virulence-associated genes described for avian pathogenic (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, iutA, and fimC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (eae, stx, elt/est, ipaH, and aggR). The sensitivity of 39 APEC isolates to 16 antibiotics was also determined using antimicrobial pretreated microplates. Here, we report that 98% of the examined isolates host at least one of the tested virulence factors. The most prevalent genes in APEC were iutA (90.6%), ompT (86.9%), and iss (85.8%); whereas, iutA (78.1%), fimC (78.1%), and iroN (68.7%) were the highest prevalent genes in AFEC. Our data showed that none of the AFEC isolates harbor any of the tested diarrheagenic genes. Moreover, only elt/est (5.4%), stx (2.1%), and ipaH (2.1%) genes were carried by APEC isolates. We further established that ceftazodime, ceftiofur, mequindox, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and meropenem were the most efficient antibiotics against the analyzed APEC isolates. Overall, our findings provide more insights about APEC and AFEC virulence potential in Algeria which could participate in the fight against colibacillosis.     

Molecular epidemiology of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated from colisepticemia in poultry

The molecular biology and epidemiology of 150 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains (APEC) isolated from septicemic poultry in Germany was investigated by serotyping, pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only 49.6% of the isolates could be grouped to serogroups O1, O2, and O78. Macrorestriction analyses data revealed two large clonal groups (clusters I and II) among the APEC strains with a similarity of 60.9% to each other. An association between restriction pattern and serogroup or origin of the strains was only present in a few subgroups of each clusters I and II, but was not evident. In contrast, our data revealed distinct combinations of virulence-associated genes in that 51.2% of the O2-strains harboured a combination of the genes fyuA, irp2, iucD, tsh, vat, fimC, and colV and 36.4% of the O78-strains possessed the same gene combination with exception of vat. With 34 different gene combinations the non-O1, -O2, -O78 isolates revealed a higher variability in their virulence gene pattern than O1-, O2-, and O78-strains with 6, 13, and 9 patterns, respectively. Our data indicate only a limited association between the virulence gene pattern and the serogroup of APEC strains and question the sensitivity of O-typing for APEC identification without the application of further diagnostic tools. Although a limited number of APEC clones exist, horizontal gene transfer seems to be common in these pathogens. These findings strengthen further research on the population structure of APEC and may be the reason for the lack of clear definition of this common E. coli pathotype.     

Occurrence of pathogenicity island I(APEC-O1) genes among Escherichia coli implicated in avian colibacillosis

Colibacillosis caused by avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a leading cause of economic loss to the poultry industry worldwide. The ability of APEC to cause disease is determined by certain virulence markers, some of which are located on pathogenicity islands (PAls). We recently described one such PAI in an APEC O1:K1 strain (APEC-O1). This PAI, termed PAI I(APEC-O1), carries the genes of the pap operon, a region similar to the tia invasion determinant of enterotoxigenic E coli; ireA, a gene that encodes an iron-responsive element; and a novel 1.5-kb region, ORF 54. Here, the occurrence of six selected loci of PAI I(APEC-O1) (papA, papC, papG, ireA, tia, and ORF 54) among APEC and fecal E. coli strains from apparently healthy chickens (avian commensal E. coli) was determined using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) techniques. None of the commensal E. coli was positive for all six traits, whereas 7.2% of the APEC isolates were positive for all the traits. Although there was no significant difference in the occurrence of ORF 54 among APEC and commensal E. coli, tia, ireA, papC, and papG genes were predominantly present in APEC rather than in avian commensal E. coli. papA was detected in only 6.3% of APEC, perhaps because of the presence of allelic variants of the gene. Additionally, the presence of all six traits was tested with PCR in APEC isolates collected in the 1980s, and these results were compared with those obtained with the APEC isolated in the 1990s. There was no significant difference in the occurrence of tia, ireA, papC, papG, and ORF 54 between APEC isolates collected during the different decades. However, papA was more frequently present in APEC from the 1980s than it was in APEC from the 1990s. Phylogenetic group of an isolate did not correlate with pathogenicity or the presence of PAI traits, except that more APEC of the low-pathogenicity group belonged to the phylogenetic group B1. However, PAI traits occurred more frequently in isolates belonging to the intermediate- and high-pathogenicity groups than in isolates of low pathogenicity.     

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.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility and molecular characterization of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates

Ninety-five avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates recovered from diagnosed cases of avian colibacillosis from North Georgia between 1996 and 2000 were serotyped and examined for typical virulence-factors, susceptibility to antimicrobials of human and veterinary significance, and genetic relatedness. Twenty different serotypes were identified, with O78 being the most common (12%). The majority of the avian E. coli isolates (60%), however, were non-typeable with standard O antisera. Eighty-four percent of isolates were PCR positive for the temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh) gene and 86% positive for the increased serum survival (iss) gene. Multiple antimicrobial-resistant phenotypes (> or =3 antimicrobials) were observed in 92% of E. coli isolates, with the majority of isolates displaying resistance to sulfamethoxazole (93%), tetracycline (87%), streptomycin (86%), gentamicin (69%), and nalidixic acid (59%). Fifty-six E. coli isolates displaying resistance to nalidixic acid were co-resistant to difloxacin (57%), enrofloxacin (16%), gatifloxacin (2%), and levofloxacin (2%). DNA sequencing revealed point mutations in gyrA (Ser83-Leu, Asp87-Tyr, Asp87-Gly, Asp87-Ala), gyrB (Glu466-Asp, Asp426-Thr), and parC (Ser80-Ile, Ser80-Arg). No mutations were observed in parE. Twelve of the quinolone-resistant E. coli isolates were tolerant to cyclohexane, a marker for upregulation of the acrAB multi-drug resistance efflux pump. Quinolone-resistant isolates were further genetically characterized via ribotyping. Twenty-two distinct ribogroups were identified, with 61% of isolates clustering into four major ribogroups, indicating that quinolone resistance has emerged among multiple avian pathogenic E. coli serogroups and chromosomal backgrounds.     

禽致病性大肠杆菌研究进展

禽大肠杆菌病是由不同血清型禽致病性大肠杆菌(avian pathogenic Escherichia.coli,APEC)引起的严重危害世界养禽业健康发展的重要细菌性传染病之一。作者对禽致病性大肠杆菌的最新亚群分类、病型、生境、毒力因子和致病机理作了综述,同时为有效防控禽大肠杆菌病的未来趋势进行了展望。     

禽源大肠杆菌O2,O78分离株外膜蛋白型的研究

从１７个禽大肠杆菌病病例的Ｏ２、Ｏ７８分离株提取的主要外膜蛋白（ＯＭＦ），在ＳＤＳ－ｐＡＧＥ中出现了２个ＯＭＰ型。其中，９个Ｏ２分离株属２个ＯＭＰ型，８个Ｏ７８分离株均属其中的１个ＯＭＰ型。结果表明，分离到的Ｏ２、Ｏ７８大肠杆菌具有多样性的ＯＭＰ型，而且两者存在着共同的ＯＭＰ型。     

Virulence factors of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from chickens with colisepticemia in Japan

The virulence factors of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated in Japan were investigated. Serogroups O, serotypes K1 and K5, and genes cva C, iss, iutA, papA, tsh, and usp, which have been thought to be related to virulence, were examined for their association with E. coli strains isolated from diseased and healthy chickens. The frequently recognized serogroups O1, O2, and O78 were found in 56 of 125 (44.8%) strains of diseased chickens (APEC) versus 13 of 100 (13.0%) strains of healthy chickens (commensal E. coli), a significant difference at risk ratio < 0.01. Although iss, iutA, and tsh were widely distributed in the APEC irrespective of O serogroup, papA, usp, and the K1 serotype were detected in serogroup O2 of APEC. The kfiD gene related to the K5 capsule and VT, LT, and ST genes related to exotoxins were not detected in any strains examined.     

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.     

Shiga toxin genes in avian Escherichia coli

The purpose of this study was to determine the presence of stx genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). We examined 97 APEC isolates: 34 from lesions of avian cellulitis, 31 from avian septicemia, 13 from swollen head syndrome (SHS) in chickens, and 19 from diseased turkeys. We also examined five isolates from the feces of healthy chickens. All 102 E. coli isolates were tested for the presence of stx genes by PCR amplification and by colony blots using probes specific for stx1 and stx2. Fifty-three percent (52) of the 97 APEC carried stx gene sequences: one isolate carried stx2 sequences, two carried both stx1 and stx2 sequences, and the remaining 49 isolates carried only stx1 sequences. Twenty-six isolates were positive by both hybridization and PCR amplification, 10 were positive by PCR only, and 16 were positive by hybridization only. All the stx-positive isolates were negative by PCR for the eae and E-hlyA genes. The five isolates from healthy chickens were all negative for stx. All 13 SHS isolates were positive for the stx1 gene and had low titres for cytotoxicity in the Vero cell assay (VCA). Other stx-positive isolates were negative in the VCA. The stx1 gene from one SHS E. coli isolate was cloned and sequenced and shown to be identical to that of the stx gene of Shigella dysenteriae. The observations indicate that stx1 gene sequences are widespread among APEC but that cytotoxicity on Vero cells is uncommon.     

Virulence-associated genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli from laying hens in Apulia,southern Italy

1. Escherichia coli isolated from lesions (Avian Pathogenic E. coli?-?APEC) of layer hens affected by colibacillosis and from intestinal contents of clinically-healthy birds (Avian Faecal E. coli?-?AFEC) were serotyped. All the isolates were investigated for the presence of virulence genes to determine which genes were more closely related to those from lesions.

2. A number of different serogroups were detected, O78 being predominant among the isolates from colibacillosis.

3. E. coli isolated from lesions were not linked to a specific pathotype (set of common virulence genes).

4. The presence of the virulence genes, with the exception of astA, was associated more generally with APEC strains.

5. Statistically, genes such as cva/cvi, tsh, iss, irp2 and iucD were more related to isolates from colibacillosis.

6. It is suggested that the detection of these genes in a rapid and inexpensive test for field practitioners could provide useful information about the potential virulence of E. coli isolated in commercial layer flocks.     

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.     

Rapid detection of virulence-associated genes in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli by multiplex polymerase chain reaction

Based on recently published prevalence data of virulence-associated factors in avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and their roles in the pathogenesis of colibacillosis, we developed a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) as a molecular tool supplementing current diagnostic schemes that mainly rely on serological examination of strains isolated from diseased birds. Multiple isolates of E. coli from clinical cases of colibacillosis known to possess different combinations of eight genes were used as sources of template DNA to develop the multiplex PCR protocol, targeting genes for P-fimbriae (papC), aerobactin (iucD), iron-repressible protein (irp2), temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh), vacuolating autotransporter toxin (vat), enteroaggregative toxin (astA), increased serum survival protein (iss), and colicin V plasmid operon genes (cva/cvi). In order to verify the usefulness of this diagnostic tool, E. coli strains isolated from fecal samples of clinically healthy chickens were also included in this study, as were uropathogenic (UPEC), necrotoxigenic, and diarrhegenic E. coli strains. The application of the multiplex PCR protocol to 14 E. coli strains isolated from septicemic poultry showed that these strains harbored four to eight of the genes mentioned above. In contrast, those isolates that have been shown to be nonpathogenic for 5-wk-old chickens possessed either none or, at most, three of these genes. We found only one enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), one enteropathogenic (EPEC), and two enterotoxic (ETEC) E. coli strains positive for irp2, and another two ETEC strains positive for astA. As expected, UPEC isolates yielded different combinations of the genes iss, papC, iucD, irp2, and a sequence similar to vat. However, neither the colicin V operon genes cva/cvi nor tsh were amplified in UPEC isolates. The multiplex PCR results were compared with those obtained by DNA-DNA-hybridization analyses to validate the specificity of oligonucleotide primers, and the protocol was concluded to be a useful, sensitive, and rapid assay system to detect avian pathogenic E. coli and differentiate them from nonpathogenic strains and those belonging to other pathotypes.     

Pathotypes of avian Escherichia coli as related to tsh-, pap-, pil-, and iuc-DNA sequences, and antibiotic sensitivity of isolates from internal tissues and the cloacae of broilers

One hundred four Escherichia coli isolates were collected from internal tissues and the cloacae of broilers with colibacillosis or from the cloacae of healthy birds. The isolates were tested for the presence of DNA sequences for temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (tsh), for P (pap) and F1 (pil) fimbriae, and for aerobactin synthesis (iuc) by DNA/DNA hybridization. The isolates were also tested for O1, O2, and O78 serogroups, serum and antibiotic resistance, and virulence in day-old chickens. The Tsh/Pil/Iuc was the major pathotype detected in 53.8% of isolates from internal tissues, as compared with only 28.8% of isolates from the cloacae. The Tsh/Pap/Iuc pathotype was detected at a lower frequency (15.4%) but only in isolates from internal tissues. Among the virulence-associated marker genes, tsh and iuc were detected in most of the isolates from internal tissues (90.4% and 92.3%), as compared with only 51.9% and 63.5% of isolates from the cloacae, respectively, pap was detected to a lesser extent, in 25% of isolates but only from internal tissues. In contrast to the pil gene, the tsh-, pap-, and iuc-DNA sequences were more frequently detected in isolates from internal tissues than in isolates from the cloacae. O-antigen typing revealed that 25% of isolates belonged to serogroups O1 (4.8%), O2 (9.6%), and O78 (10.6%). Although most isolates appeared to be resistant to serum, only isolates from internal tissues were virulent in day-old chickens in contrast to isolates from the cloacae. More than 10% of isolates were resistant to most of the antibiotics used for the study. However, less resistance to enrofloxacin and norfloxacin was observed. Our data suggest that the Tsh/Pil/Iuc and Tsh/Pap/Iuc pathotypes and Tsh and Iuc virulence-associated markers are important factors of avian pathogenic E. coli. Enrofloxacin appeared to be the best choice for treatment of the infection.     

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC).

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) cause aerosacculitis, polyserositis, septicemia and other mainly extraintestinal diseases in chickens, turkeys and other avian species. APEC are found in the intestinal microflora of healthy birds and most of the diseases associated with them are secondary to environmental and host predisposing factors. APEC isolates commonly belong to certain serogroups, O1, O2 and O78, and to a restricted number of clones. Several experimental models have been developed, permitting a more reliable evaluation of the pathogenicity of E. coli for chickens and turkeys. Hence, virulence factors identified on APEC are adhesins such as the F1 and P fimbriae, and curli, the aerobactin iron sequestering system, K1 capsule, temperature-sensitive hemagglutinin (Tsh), resistance to the bactericidal effects of serum and cytotoxic effects. Experimental infection studies have shown that the air-exchange regions of the lung and the airsacs are important sites of entry of E. coli into the bloodstream of birds during the initial stages of infection and that resistance to phagocytosis may be an important mechanism in the development of the disease. They have also demonstrated that F1 fimbriae are expressed in the respiratory tract, whereas P fimbriae are expressed in the internal organs of infected chickens. The role of these fimbrial adhesins in the development of disease is not yet, however, fully understood. The more recent use of genetic approaches for the identification of new virulence factors will greatly enhance our knowledge of APEC pathogenic mechanisms. Diagnosis of APEC infections is based on the clinical picture, lesions and isolation of E. coli. This may be strengthened by serotyping and identification of virulence factors using immunological or molecular methods such as DNA probes and PCR. Approaches for the prevention and control of APEC infections include the control of environmental contamination and environmental parameters such as humidity and ventilation. Antibiotherapy is widely used, although APEC are frequently resistant to a wide range of antibiotics. Vaccines containing killed or attenuated virulent bacteria protect against infection with the homologous strain but are less efficient against heterologous strains. Hence, vaccination for colibacillosis is not widely practised because of the large variety of serogroups involved in field outbreaks.     

陕西省部分禽源性大肠杆菌的外膜蛋白型

从陕西省部分优势血清型的禽源性大肠杆菌中提取外膜蛋白 (outer membrane protein,OMP) ,用 SDS- PAGE进行 OMP分型。 18株菌共产生了 3种 OMP型 ,其中 4株 O1菌株 ,4株 O2菌株 ,4株 O78菌株和 3株 O89菌株各属2个 OMP型 (OMP- 1,2型 ) ;3株 O75菌株属 3个 OMP型 (OMP- 1,2 ,3型 )。结果表明 ,陕西省分离的优势血清型禽源大肠杆菌具有多样性的 OMP型 ,且多种血清型间具有共同的 OMP型。     

Serotypes and virulence genes of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from diseased pigs in China

Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) isolates were detected in 315/3127 (10.1%) diseased pigs from 19 provinces of China; the frequency of isolation increased from 3.1% in 2004 to 14.6% in 2007. All isolates were characterised for O serogroups, haemolysis, phenotypic and genotypic antimicrobial resistance, virulence genes and pathogenicity. The most prevalent serogroups were O161, O8, O11, O138, O101 and O26; 83/315 (26.3%) isolates were haemolytic. Forty percent of isolates in phylogenetic groups B2 and D were highly virulent porcine ExPEC strains. Thirty-three putative extraintestinal virulence factor genes that are normally associated with human and/or avian ExPEC strains were widely present in porcine isolates. These results indicate that ExPEC are prevalent in pigs in China and represent a potential public health threat.     

IbeB is involved in the invasion and pathogenicity of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli

The ibeB gene in neonatal meningitis Escherichia coli (NMEC) contribute to the penetration of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). However, whether IbeB plays a role in avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) infection remains unclear. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibeB gene in Chinese APEC strains and examine whether IbeB is involved in APEC pathogenicity. The ibeB gene was found in all 100 detected E. coli isolates with over 97% sequence homology. These results indicated that ibeB is a conserved E. coli gene irrelevant of pathotypes. To determine the role of ibeB in APEC pathogenicity, an ibeB mutant of strain DE205B was constructed and characterized. The inactivation of ibeB resulted in reduced invasion capacity towards DF-1 cells and defective virulence in animal models as compared to the wild-type strain. Animal infection experiments revealed that loss of ibeB decreased APEC colonization and invasion capacity in brains and lungs. These virulence-related phenotypes were partially recoverable by genetic complementation. Reduced expression levels of invasion- and adhesion-associated genes in ibeB mutant could be major reasons as evidenced by reduced ibeA and ompA expression. These results indicate that IbeB is involved in APEC invasion and pathogenicity.