禽致病性大肠杆菌中耶尔森菌强毒力岛的分子流行病学调查

为了解耶尔森菌强毒力岛（HPI）在禽致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）中的流行情况，根据HPI结构基因irp2和fyuA参考序列设计了引物，用PCR方法和斑点杂交法对从江苏等地分离的APEC基因组进行了扩增和检测，并对E．coli NTJC040406菌株相关基因进行了克隆和序列分析。结果表明，216株APEC中有44．9％的菌株携带有HPI，序列分析表明相关基因与GenBank中参考序列的同源性高达98％以上。提示HPI在APEC中广泛存在，经进一步分析，发现分离菌株是否携带HPI与O78等特定血清型有一定的相关性。     

银川地区鸡源致病性大肠杆菌耶尔森菌强毒力岛相关基因的检测及序列分析

为了研究耶尔森菌强毒力岛(HPI)在银川地区鸡源致病性大肠杆菌中的分布情况,试验根据HPI相关基因irp2和fyuA的参考序列设计引物,采用双重PCR方法对分离的20株鸡源致病性大肠杆菌进行这两种基因的扩增和检测,以及基因克隆和核苷酸序列分析。结果表明:irp2和fyuA基因在鸡源致病性大肠杆菌分离株中的阳性率均为40%(8/20);这两种毒力岛相关基因的核苷酸序列与GenBank中报道的基因核苷酸同源性高达98%以上。说明irp2和fyuA基因具有较高的保守性。     

华南虎源大肠杆菌的快速鉴定及致病特性的初步研究

从患病华南虎分离病原菌,进行快速鉴定,同时以大肠杆菌16S rRNA基因的通用引物和irp2、papC、iucD、tsh、iss毒力基因的特异性引物进行PCR扩增、测序,并将扩增出来的irp2、iucD、iss基因序列与Genbank相应序列进行同源性分析。测序鉴定为大肠埃希氏菌,与传统细菌鉴定方法结果相一致,分离菌携带irp2、iucD、iss毒力基因,从毒力试验得到证实。其序列与Genbank上发表的iucD、iss基因序列同源性分别高达98%、99%,而irp2基因序列的同源性仅为48%。采用16S rRNA基因序列分析法可以对华南虎大肠埃希氏菌感染进行快速鉴定,华南虎源性大肠杆菌同时携带有irp2、iucD、iss 3个毒力基因,可能与其致病性有关系。     

聊城地区鸡源大肠杆菌毒力基因分析

为了明确聊城地区养鸡场大肠杆菌毒力基因的携带及分布情况,试验采集聊城地区养鸡场样品,分离、鉴定大肠杆菌菌株,并利用PCR方法检测18种毒力基因(aatA、papC、tsh、fimC、mat、ibeB、vat、yijp、ibeA、ompA、neuC、cvaC、iss、iroN、fyuA、iucD、irp2、chuA)的分布情况。结果表明:共分离、鉴定到212株大肠杆菌;阳性率超过50%的毒力基因有yijp、fimC、mat、ompA、ibeB、iroN等6种,阳性率为20%～49%的毒力基因有7种(aatA、tsh、vat、cvaC、iss、iucD、irp2),阳性率为20%以下的毒力基因有5种(papC、ibeA、neuC、fyuA、chuA);分离菌株同时携带10种及以上毒力基因的比例为10%,大多数菌株携带5～9种毒力基因,占比为73%。说明聊城地区鸡源大肠杆菌普遍携带5～9种毒力基因,且侵袭及毒素相关基因yijp的携带率最高。     

鸡源大肠杆菌中HPI和LEE毒力岛相关基因的检测

采用PCR方法检测辽宁锦州地区分离的150株鸡源大肠杆菌中耶尔森菌强毒力岛基因(HPI)和肠细胞脱落位点毒力岛(LEE),利用多重PCR方法检测HPI irp2和fyuA基因,以及LEE ler和eaeA基因.在分离的鸡源大肠杆菌中,HPI毒力岛基因检测结果为:18.7％的菌株irp2和fyuA基因扩增阳性,6.7％的菌株irp2基因阳性;LEE毒力岛基因检测结果为:15.3％的菌株ler和eaeA基因扩增阳性.结果表明,25.3％的鸡源大肠杆菌携带HPI,15.3％的鸡源大肠杆菌携带LEE.     

黑颈鹤源大肠杆菌的快速鉴定及致病特性的初步研究

对黑颈鹤病原菌进行快速鉴定及毒力因子分析。采用16S rRNA序列分析法鉴定黑颈鹤病原菌,其毒力基因分别用大肠杆菌的irp2、papC、iucD、tsh、iss毒力基因的特异性引物进行PCR检测,并将扩增出来的irp2基因序列与Genbank~（TM）相应序列进行同源性分析。分离菌株鉴定为大肠埃希氏菌,鉴定结果与生化检测结果一致,分离菌携带irp2毒力基因,这从毒力试验得到证实,其序列与与Genbank~（TM）上发表的HPI irp2基因序列同源性高达98%以上。采用16S rRNA序列分析法可以对黑颈鹤大肠埃希氏菌感染进行快速鉴定,黑颈鹤源性大肠杆菌携带有irp2毒力基因。     

鸭源致病性大肠杆菌的血清型鉴定及其相关毒力基因分析

自规模化养鸭场患典型大肠杆菌败血症雏鸭分离的282株致病性大肠杆菌（E.coli）中鉴定出210株（包含37种血清型）,其中O93、O78、O92、O76占43.8%（92/210）为优势血清型,O46、O32＆O93混合型、O60＆O93混合型为首次从鸭群中分离到。应用PCR结合核酸序列测定对210株致病性E.coli（鸭大肠杆菌病分离株）和28株自健康雏鸭泄殖腔拭子分离的E.coli（临床健康鸭大肠杆菌分离株）进行包括强毒力岛（HPI）中的鼠疫菌素受体基因（fyuA）和铁调节蛋白基因（irp2）、Ⅰ型菌毛必需蛋白基因（fimC）、P型菌毛结构基因（papA）和血清耐受基因（iss）检测,结果表明：fyuAi、rp2、fimC、papA和iss基因在鸭大肠杆菌病分离株的携带率分别为41.0%、43.3%、92.9%、97.6%和96.7%,在临床健康鸭大肠杆菌分离株的携带率分别为21.4%、25.0%、92.9%、100%和92.9%,患病鸭和临床健康鸭大肠杆菌分离株iss、fimC和papA携带率差异不显著（P〉0.05）,但papA的携带率均显著高于其他宿主（鸡、猪和人）源E.coli;HPI毒力岛在鸭源E.coli中分布较广,其携带率表现为鸭大肠杆菌病分离株极显著高于临床健康鸭大肠杆菌分离株。HPI毒力岛的携带率与菌株的致病性呈明显的正相关,与O78等特定的血清型有一定的关系。鸭大肠杆菌病分离株有37.6%（79/210）同时携带fyuAi、rp2、fimCi、ss和papA基因,极显著高于健康鸭大肠杆菌分离株的14.3%（4/28）（P〈0.01）。     

APEC强毒力岛核心基因irp2、fyuA敲除对其致病性影响的研究

采用Red同源重组技术分别构建出APEC irp2单基因敲除株△AE17和irp2、fyuA双基因敲除株△△AE17。运用活菌计数法分别观察AE17、△AE17、△△AE17黏附鸡胚成纤维细胞DF-1的能力。并且应用Real-time PCR检测AE17、△AE17和△△AE17中的luxs,pfs,tsh,ibeA,stx2f,iss,ompA,fimC 8个毒力基因转录水平。结果成功构建出基因敲除株△AE17和△△AE17,它们黏附DF-1细胞的能力分别下降为AE17的66.04%和53.54%。同时,Real-time PCR结果显示,△AE17的luxs,iss,ompA和fimC等4个毒力基因的转录水平均极显著下降(P<0.01),△△AE17的luxs,pfs,tsh,iss,ompA和fimC等6个毒力基因的转录水平极显著的下降(P<0.01)。结果表明强毒力岛中核心基因的敲除能够减弱APEC黏附DF-1的能力,并且使其毒力基因的转录水平有所降低。irp2、fyuA双基因敲除较irp2单基因敲除对APEC的致病性影响更显著。     

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。     

皖北地区仔猪源大肠杆菌毒力因子及HPI毒力岛的检测

我国皖北地区哺乳仔猪腹泻频发,临床直肠棉拭子培养物有34例符合大肠杆菌特征,并进行产肠毒素大肠杆菌(ETEC)毒力因子(STa、STb、LT、SLT-2e)和HPI毒力岛的PCR快速检测。结果,仅有10例表达STa和STb(29.41%),其中3例表达STa基因(8.82%),2例表达STb基因(5.88%),2例表达STa和STb基因,1例表达STa和irp2基因(2.94%),2例表达STa和STb及irp2基因,揭示HPI+大肠杆菌与ETEC混合感染共有3例(8.82%);未检测到LT和STL-2e毒力因子。有10例表达irp2基因(29.41%),其中7例独立表达irp2基因(20.59%)。STa、STb和Irp2的PCR产物测序结果分别与GenBank检索的目标序列比对,其同源性均达到100%。结果初步揭示了皖北地区致哺乳仔猪腹泻ETEC毒力因子及HPI毒力岛的分布情况。     

Characterization of Escherichia coli strains obtained from layer chickens affected with colibacillosis in a commercial egg-producing farm

The present study reports colibacillosis of layer chickens in a commercial egg-producing farm in western Japan. Three flocks of chicken at 18-21 weeks of age were affected during the initiation of egg lay. Postmortem examination revealed pericarditis, perihepatitis, airsacculitis, subcutaneous inguinal lesion, and injured cloaca. Escherichia coli was isolated from the lesions of the affected birds. Twenty-two of 26 E. coli isolates (84.6%) obtained from 18 birds in the 3 flocks showed pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns that were considered to be closely associated to each other and arbitrarily designated as pattern A. All the 22 isolates with the PFGE pattern A harbored the putative virulence genes, astA, iss, iucD, tsh, and cva/cvi. Additional 2 PFGE patterns (B and C) were also found in E. coli isolates obtained from the affected flocks and had the putative virulence genes in combinations different from those in the pattern A strains. The results suggested that certain E. coli virulence genes and host factors, such as initiation of egg lay may be associated with occurrence of colibacillosis.     

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.     

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.     

水貂出血性肺炎大肠杆菌毒力基因测定和H基因分型

为了分离鉴定引起水貂出血性肺炎的大肠杆菌,并对其致病性、血清型和毒力基因进行鉴定.本研究主要通过细菌分离鉴定试验对具有典型肺炎症状的死亡水貂的病原体进行分离,利用16S rRNA对进行细菌鉴定,并通过PCR方法对分离细菌的血清型和毒力基因进行检测,分析分离菌对动物的致病性.结果显示:28例水貂肺炎病例中分离出8株大肠杆...     

Virulence-associated traits in avian Escherichia coli: comparison between isolates from colibacillosis-affected and clinically healthy layer flocks

Colibacillosis appears to be of increasing importance in layer flocks. The aim of this study was to determine characteristics of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli associated with the occurrence of colibacillosis outbreaks at flock level. Forty E. coli strains originating from layers from healthy flocks ('control isolates'), consisting of 25 caecal and 15 extra-intestinal isolates, were compared with 40 strains isolated from layers originating from colibacillosis-affected flocks ('outbreak isolates'), consisting of 20 caecal and 20 extra-intestinal isolates. The examined characteristics were adhesins, invasivity in T84 cell culture, serum resistance, iron uptake, colicin production, and toxinogenicity. The following traits were significantly more often detected in the outbreak isolates than in the control isolates: tsh, iss, iucA, iutA, irp2, fyuA, iroC, cvaC, colicin and colicin V production. A comparison of the extra-intestinal outbreak isolates and the caecal control isolates yielded the same results as when the caecal isolates, extra-intestinal isolates and total number of isolates of the outbreak and the control group were compared. When comparing the caecal and extra-intestinal isolates within the control and within the outbreak group, no significant differences were detected. The O78 and O2 groups showed significant differences with other O-types and NT strains for prevalence of most of the same characteristics. The combination of type 1 fimbriae, tsh, serum resistance, iss, traT, iucA, fyuA, iroC and colicin or colicin V production was significantly more often present in extra-intestinal outbreak isolates than in extra-intestinal control isolates. Only the combination of serum resistance, fyuA and colicin production was present in all outbreak isolates, with a significantly lower prevalence in the control isolates. None of the characteristics or combinations examined were exclusive to the outbreak isolates.     

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.     

Virulence-associated genes in Escherichia coli isolates from poultry with colibacillosis

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli, the causative agent of colibacillosis, harbors several putative virulence genes. In this study we examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) the presence of 16 of those genes in 200 colibacillosis isolates from our region. The seven virulence genes iutA, iss, cvaC, tsh, papC, papG and felA were detected significantly more often amongst colibacillosis isolates than in fecal isolates from healthy birds, thereby confirming their worldwide occurrence and possible pathogenic role in colibacillosis. However, several of those genes were not detected in many colibacillosis isolates, and none of them were detected in 27.5% of those isolates, which suggests that variants of those genes and yet undetected virulence factors should be searched for.     

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.