Characteristics of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from septicemic and diarrheic calves between 1958 and 1970

A total of 434 Escherichia coli isolated from septicemic calves between 1958 and 1965 and 430 E. coli isolated from diarrheic calves between 1967 and 1970 were studied by colony hybridisation and PCR assays for the presence of the cnf1- and the cnf2-like genes. They were also studied for the presence of genes coding for putative virulence factors associated with the CNF toxins including F17-, Pap- and Sfa-fimbrial adhesins and the recently described CDT-III toxin and AfaVIII-afimbrial adhesin. Thirty (7%) of the 434 septicemic strains were positive for CNF by colony hybridisation. Twenty-six were confirmed as necrotoxigenic E. coli type 2 (NTEC2) and four as NTEC1 by PCR. Thirty-five (8%) of the 430 diarrheic strains were positive for CNF by colony hybridisation. Five of them were studied by PCR and confirmed as NTEC1. The 26 septicemic NTEC2 strains and 20 of the 35 diarrheic NTEC including three of the five NTEC1 were positive for CDT-III. All adhesins studied were present in NTEC as well as in non-NTEC. NTEC1 were mainly Pap-, Sfa- and/or Afa8-positive, whereas NTEC2 were mainly F17- and/or Afa8-positive. This study shows that necrotoxigenic E. coli with their associated adhesins and toxins were present in calves as early as 1958, but their prevalence seems to have increased since that time.     

The use of polymerase chain reaction for determination of virulence factors of Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs in Poland.

E. coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhea or edema disease were tested by phenotypic and genotypic methods for the presence of virulence antigens and genes, respectively. The slide agglutination and ELISA analyses were used for determination of F4, F5, F6, F17, and F41 fimbriae whereas the prevalence of fimbrial fedA and toxin eltI, estI, estII, stx1, stx2 and stx2e genes were recorded by the means of PCR. Only F4 antigen (ac variant) was found in strains of the serogroup O149:K91 isolated from pigs with diarrhea. PCR analyses showed that the fedA gene encoding F18 fimbriae was present in 61.9% of strains isolated from pigs with diarrhea and in 84.2% of strains isolated from pigs with edema disease. The eltI genes encoding heat-labile toxin I (LTI) were present only in 9 out of 21 strains recovered from pigs with diarrhea. Shiga toxin 2 variant (stx2e) genes were found in six isolates from edema disease and also in one strain from diarrhea. The PCR test used in the study was a sensitive and valuable method for determination of virulence factors of E. coli strains.     

Presence of pap-, sfa-, and afa-related sequences in necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolates from cattle: evidence for new variants of the AFA family.

Necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) are associated with intestinal and extraintestinal diseases in animals and human beings and produce Cytotoxic Necrotizing Factor 1 (CNF1) or 2 (CNF2). Fourty-three NTEC1, 42 NTEC2, and 32 CNF-negative isolates from cattle were tested by colony DNA hybridization, by plasmid DNA hybridization and by PCR assays for the presence of DNA sequences homologous to the operons coding for fimbrial (PAP/PRS, SFA/FIC, and F17) and afimbrial (AFA/Dr) adhesins of extraintestinal E. coli. Most NTEC1 isolates hybridized with the PAP probes and either the SFA probe (37%) or the AFA probes (49%). Most NTEC2 isolates, in contrast, hybridized with the F17 probe (45%), the AFA probes (19%), or the F17 and AFA probes (22%). A probe-positive plasmid was identified in each of the 19 NTEC2 isolates studied. They all hybridized with the CNF2 toxin probe (Vir plasmids) and most of them with the F17 (6 plasmids) or AFA (7 plasmids) probes. PCR amplification was obtained with 6 of the 11 NTEC isolates tested for the papGII/prsG genes; with all 5 NTEC isolates tested for the sfa and related operons; but with none of the 18 NTEC isolates tested for the afa and related operons. pap-, sfa-, and afa-related sequences are thus present in NTEC isolates from cattle in addition to f17-related operons and may code for adhesins corresponding to specific colonization factors. f17- and afa-related sequences can be located on the Vir plasmids along with the cnf2 gene. Existence of new variants of the AFA/Dr family is evident from the negative results of this family-specific PCR assay.     

Prevalence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with diarrhea in the US

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-associated post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is economically one of the most important diseases for the swine industry. Porcine ETEC strains typically express K88 or F18 fimbria and heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (STa, STb) enterotoxins. However, recent studies indicate that EAST1 toxin, adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) and porcine attaching and effacing-associated factor (paa) may also be expressed by ETEC strains associated with diarrhea. To better understand the virulence factors of E. coli strains that cause PWD, we applied PCR to screen for K88, F18, F41, 987P and K99 fimbrial genes; LT, STa, STb, Stx2e and EAST1 toxic genes; and AIDA-I, paa and EAE adhesin genes in E. coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with PWD in the US. Of 304 E. coli isolates from diarrheic pigs submitted for testing, 175 (57.6%) strains possessed fimbrial genes: K88 (64.6%), F18 (34.3%), F41 (0.57%), K99 (0.57%), 987P (0); toxin genes: LT (57.7%), STb (72.6%), STa (27.4%), STx2e (17.4%), EAST1 (35%); and adhesin genes: AIDA-I (26.9%), paa (60%), EAE (1.1%). All toxin genes except the EAST1 toxin gene, were almost exclusively associated with K88+ or F18+ isolates, and most of these isolates carried multiple toxin genes. The non-fimbrial adhesin paa was found present in over half of the K88+ isolates. A total of 129 (42%) isolates carried no fimbrial genes, including 66 (21.7%) isolates that did not have any of the above virulence genes. These results suggest a broad array of virulence genes associated with PWD in pigs.     

Prevalence of a gene encoding adhesin involved in diffuse adherence among Escherichia coli isolates in pigs with postweaning diarrhea or edema disease.

A total of 604 Escherichia coli strains isolated from weaned pigs with diarrhea or edema disease on 653 swine farms were screened for the presence of the adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Escherichia coli isolates that carried AIDA genes were also tested by PCR for the detection of 5 fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18, and F41), 3 heat-stable (STa, STb, and EAST1) and 1 heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin, and Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e) genes. Forty-five (7.5%) of the 604 E. coli isolates carried the gene for AIDA. Of these 45 isolates, 5 (11.1%) carried EAST1 genes only, 1 (2.2%) carried genes for at least one of the fimbrial adhesins, 12 (26.7%) carried genes for at least one of the toxins, and 27 (60%) carried genes for at least one of the fimbrial adhesins and toxins. Fifty-one percent of strains that carried AIDA genes carried Stx2e genes, and 40% of strains that carried AIDA genes carried F18ab. The isolation rate of enterotoxigenic E. coli strain carrying genes for AIDA was 87%, and the isolation rate of Shiga toxin-producing E. coil strain carrying genes for AIDA was 49%. AIDA may represent an important virulence determinant in pigs with postweaning diarrhea or edema disease.     

Characterization of Necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) Strains Isolated from Healthy Calves in Poland

Faecal samples from 132 healthy, 4–8‐week‐old calves from four different farms were examined for necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) producing the cytotoxic necrotizing factors type 1 (CNF1) and type 2 (CNF2). CNF2 genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction in 24 (6.1%) of the 396 E. coli strains tested; these strains were found in 18 (13.6%) calves used in the study. None of the 396 E. coli isolates examined possessed the gene encoding CNF1. Overall, 28.8% of E. coli examined expressed the F17 fimbrial antigen. A strong association between CNF2 toxin and F17 fimbriae was found (62.5% of CNF2‐positive strains were F17‐positive). Moreover, six out of 24 NTEC strains had the Stx1 or the Stx2 shiga toxin genes, and three additional isolates possessed the eae genetic marker of the intimin protein.     

Necrotoxic Escherichia coli (NTEC): two emerging categories of human and animal pathogens.

Necrotoxic Escherichia coli (NTEC) were originally defined as strains of E. coli producing a toxin called cytotoxic necrotising factor (CNF). Two types of CNF have been identified, each of them being genetically linked to several other specific virulence markers, a situation that allows the definition of two distinct homogeneous categories of NTEC called NTEC-1 and NTEC-2. CNF1 and CNF2 are highly homologous holoproteins containing 1,014 amino acids that exert both lethal and necrotic activities in vivo and induce multinucleation and actin stress fibres in cell cultures. The activity of CNFs on mammal cells is due to their ability to constitutively activate by deamidation the Rho proteins, a family of small GTPases that regulate the physiology of the cell cytoskeleton. In NTEC-1, the gene encoding CNF1 belongs to a pathogenicity island which also comprises the genes encoding for alpha-haemolysin and P-fimbriae. In NTEC-2 strains, CNF2 is encoded by a plasmid that also encodes, in 100% of the isolates, a new member of the cytolethal distending toxin family (CDT-III) and in about 50% of the isolates, the F17b-fimbrial adhesin that confers the ability to adhere to calf intestinal villi. The presence of CDT is also suspected in a large majority of NTEC-1 strains. NTEC-1 strains can be found in humans and in all species of domestic mammals, whereas NTEC-2 strains have only been reported in ruminants. The implication of NTEC strains has been clearly established in extra-intestinal infections of humans and animals, for instance in urinary tract infections for NTEC-1 strains. Their role in severe dysenteric syndromes, both in humans and animals, is substantiated by several clinical reports, but there is little published information on this pathogenicity in animal models of infection. The combined production of several powerful toxins (haemolysin, CNF, CDT) by NTEC strains makes them, however, potentially aggressive pathogens which deserve to be searched for on a larger scale. Moreover, NTEC-1 from man and animals appear to be highly related according to available molecular markers, which indicates that domestic animals could constitute reservoirs of NTEC strains which are pathogenic for humans.     

Prevalence and characteristics of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) strains isolated from diarrhoeic dairy calves.

Fecal samples from 246, 1-90-days old diarrhoeic dairy calves in 72 herds were screened for the presence of cytotoxic necrotizing factors (CNF)-producing Escherichia coli (NTEC). NTEC were detected by tissue culture assays and PCR in 39 (15.8%) of the diarrheic calves, and the majority of these animals (34 of 39, ca. 87.2%) were infected by NTEC producing CNF2. Calves were grouped according to their age (1-7 days, 8-14 days, 15-21 days, 22-30 days and 31-90 days) and analyses of prevalence were done by the Mantel-Haenzsel chi2-test for trend. A significant age-associated increase in the prevalence of NTEC producing CNF2 (p<0.0001) was found. Eighty-one (8.4%) of the 958 E. coli isolates from the 246 diarrheic calves were positive for CNF in the tissue culture assays. These strains were analyzed by PCR and this technique showed that three (3.7%) strains were CNF1-positive and 75 (92.6%) were CNF2-positive. Moreover, three of the strains positive in the tissue culture assays were negative by PCR. These strains were subsequently assayed in several biological tests (rabbit skin test, mouse intraperitoneal test and mouse footpad test) which showed that they were really NTEC, probably producing CNF2, but with some different properties to classical strains producing CNF2. NTEC strains producing CNF2 belonged to different serogroups (O2, O7, O9, O14, O15, O41, O43, O45, O55, O76, O86, O88, O109, O115, O123, O128, O153 and O159) than strains producing CNF1 (O11 and O32) or PCR-negative strains (O111). Moreover, a strong association between CNF2 and F17 fimbriae was found (78.6% of CNF2-positive strains were F17-positive, whereas only 22.9% of CNF2-negative strains were F17-positive).     

Genotypic prevalence of the adhesin involved in diffuse adherence in Escherichia coli isolates in pre-weaned pigs with diarrhoea in Korea

A total of 1002 Escherichia coli strains isolated from pre-weaned pigs with diarrhoea on 1114 swine farms were screened for the presence of the adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Escherichia coli isolates that carried AIDA genes were also tested by PCR for the detection of five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41), heat-stable (STa, STb) and heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin, enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1), and Shiga toxin 2 oedema disease (Stx2e) genes. Twenty-three (2.3%) of the 1002 E. coli isolates carried the gene for AIDA. Among 23 isolates shown to carry genes for AIDA, three carried the AIDA gene as the only shown virulence factor. Other isolates carried other virulence factor genes in addition to AIDA. Four isolates carried genes for at least one of the fimbrial adhesins and enterotoxins. Sixteen isolates carried genes for enterotoxins only. The AIDA may represent an additional virulence determinant in pre-weaned pigs with diarrhoea.     

Prevalence of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) gene in isolates in weaned pigs with diarrhea and/or edema disease

A total of 476 Escherichia coli isolated from weaned pigs with diarrhea and/or edema disease were screened for the presence of the enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). E. coli strains that carried EAST1 genes were also tested by PCR for the presence of genes for five fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41), two heat-stable (STa and STb) and one heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin, and Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e). One hundred and forty nine (31.3%) of the 476 E. coli isolates carried the gene for EAST1. Of these 149 isolates, 66 (44.3%) carried the east1 gene only and 83 (55.7%) carried genes for the fimbrial adhesins or enterotoxins. E. coli which carried east1 gene also possessed genes for STa or F4 frequently. EAST1 may represent an additional determinant in the pathogenesis of E. coli diarrhea in weaned pigs.     

Prevalence of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 gene and its relationship with fimbrial and enterotoxin genes in E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets.

A total of 720 Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic piglets on 756 swine farms were screened for the presence of the enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Escherichia coli strains that carried EAST1 genes were also tested by PCR for the presence of 4 fimbriae (F4, F5, F6, F41), 2 heat-stable enterotoxins (STa and STb), and 1 heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) gene. One hundred sixty-four (22.7%) of the 720 E. coli isolates carried genes for EAST1. Of these 164 isolates, 62 (37.8%) carried EAST1 genes only, 11 (6.7%) carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins, 51 (31.1%) carried genes for at least 1 of the enterotoxins, and 40 (23.8%) carried genes for at least 1 of the fimbrial adhesins and enterotoxins. Forty-six percent of strains that carried EAST1 genes carried STa genes, and 16% of strains that carried EAST1 genes carried F4. The isolation rate of enterotoxigenic E. coli strains carrying genes for EAST1 gene was 63%. The 6 major genotypes observed in this study (in decreasing order) were EAST1+, EAST1+STa+, EAST1+STa+STb+, EAST1+STa+F5+, EAST1+STa+F4+, and EAST1+STb+F4+. EAST1 is widely prevalent among diarrheagenic strains of E. coli and may represent an important virulence determinant in the pathogenesis of enteric colibacillosis of preweaned pigs.     

AFA and F17 adhesins produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in domestic animals.

AFA and F17 are afimbrial and fimbrial adhesins, respectively, produced by pathogenic Escherichia coli strains in domestic animals. F17-related fimbriae are mainly detected on bovine and ovine E. coli associated with diarrhoea or septicaemia. The F17-G adhesin subunits recognize N-acetyl-D-glucosamine (GlcNAc) receptors present on bovine intestinal cells. Some F17 subtypes also bind to GlcNAc receptors present on human uroepithelial and intestinal Caco-2 cells or to the laminin contained in the basement of mammalian membranes. F17 is often associated with other virulence factors (aerobactin, serum resistance, CNF2 toxin, K99, CS31A or AFA adhesins) on pathogenic E. coli. A cluster of only four genes is required to synthesize functional F17-related fimbrial structures. The hypothesis of multifunctional F17 fimbrial subunits is supported by the fact that: i) the N-terminal part of the adhesin subunit participates in receptor recognition, whereas the C-terminal part is required for biogenesis of the fimbrial filament; and ii) the interaction between structural and adhesin subunits seems to be crucial for the initiation of monomer polymerization. Recently, determinants related to the afa gene clusters from human pathogenic E. coli associated with intestinal and extra-intestinal infections were identified in strains isolated from calves and piglets with diarrhoea and septicaemia. Two afa-related gene clusters, designated afa-7 and afa-8, that encode afimbrial adhesins were cloned and characterized from bovine pathogenic E. coli. These animal afa gene clusters were plasmid and chromosome borne and were expressed by strains that produced other virulence factors such as CNF toxins, F17, PAP and CS31A adhesins. A high frequency of afa-8 and a low prevalence of afa-7 among bovine E. coli isolates were suggested by preliminary epidemiological studies. As with the human afa gene clusters, the animal ones encode an adhesive structure composed of two proteins: AfaE which mediates adhesion to epithelial cells and AfaD which is an invasin.     

Attaching and effacing Escherichia coli isolated from dogs in Brazil: characteristics and serotypic relationship to human enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC)

Escherichia coli isolates recovered from 182 fecal specimens from dogs up to five months old from the cities of S?o Paulo and Campinas, SP, Brazil, were examined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for several virulence factors and properties. The eae gene was found in 23 isolates of E. coli from 22 dogs, 19 of 146 (13%) from dogs with diarrhea and 3 of 36 (8.3%) from dogs with no diarrhea. Two different eae+ isolates were recovered from one dog with diarrhea. Isolates from two dogs with diarrhea harbored the bfpA gene, and none of the isolates possessed genes for enterotoxins, the EAF plasmid or Shiga toxins. PCR showed that, among the 23 isolates, eight were positive for beta intimin, six for gamma, two for, one for alpha, one for kappa, and five showed no amplification with any of the nine pairs of specific intimin primers used. PCR also showed that the LEE (locus of enterocyte effacement) was inserted in selC in four isolates, likely in pheU in seven isolates, and in undetermined sites in twelve isolates. Fifteen isolates adhered to HEp-2 cells and were fluorescence actin staining (FAS) positive. The predominant adherence pattern was the localized adherence-like (LAL) pattern. The eae-positive isolates belonged to a wide diversity of serotypes, including O111:H25, O119:H2 and O142:H6, which are serotypes that are common among human EPEC. These results confirmed the presence of EPEC in dogs (DEPEC) with and without diarrhea. The virulence factors found in these strains were similar to those in human EPEC, leading to the possibility that EPEC may move back and forth among human and canine populations.     

Characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from adult horses with and without enteritis

In the present study E. coli strains isolated from the faeces of ten horses with diarrhoea and 14 horses without diarrhoea were characterized. All horses were culture negative for Salmonella species. Nine colonies of E. coli from each faecal sample were picked at random and a DNA fingerprint was made by means of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using Enterobacterial Repetitive Intergenic Consensus (ERIC) primers. The number of E. coli genotypes did not differ significantly between horses with and without diarrhoea. In addition, all E. coli strains with different DNA fingerprints were tested by PCR for genes encoding the virulence factors K88, F41, F17, CS31a, Sta1, LT1, VT2, CNF, BFP, and intimin. Genes coding for K88, F41, BFP, STa1, VT2, and CS31A were not detected. Genes for CNF were found in strains from one horse with diarrhoea and one horse with normal faeces. Genes for LT1 (n=1) and intimin (n=1) were found only in strains from horses with normal faeces. Genes for F17 fimbriae were found in strains from three horses with diarrhoea (30%) and in none of the strains from healthy horses. In two of these horses, E. coli strains with different DNA polymorphism patterns were F17 positive; however, none of these strains possessed LT1, Sta1, or CNF genes. Haemolytic E. coli strains were only isolated from two horses with diarrhoea and from none of the healthy horses. Nineteen percent of all E. coli strains did not ferment lactose. Eight per cent of these lactose-negative strains were from horses with diarrhoea, whereas 32% were from horses without diarrhoea. In conclusion, virulence factors were present in E. coli isolates from horses with and without diarrhoea, except for F17, which was only found in E. coli isolated from horses with diarrhoea. F17-positive E. coli might have importance as cause of diarrhoea in horses, but further studies are needed.     

Characterization of enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga-toxin producing E. coli (STEC) and necrotoxigenic E. coli (NTEC) isolated from diarrhoeic Mediterranean water buffalo calves (Bubalus bubalis)

Two hundred and twenty Escherichia coli isolates from 314 Mediterranean water buffalo calves less than 4 weeks old affected by severe diarrhoea with a lethal outcome were characterized for the presence of the virulence factors LT, ST, Stx1, Stx2, haemolysins, intimin, CNF1, CNF2, CDT-I, CDT-II, CDT-III, CDT-IV, and F17-related fimbriae (F17a, F17b, F17c, F17d). The prevalence of ETEC, STEC and NTEC were 1.8%, 6.8% and 20.9%, respectively. The ETEC isolates were all LT-positive and ST-negative. The STEC isolates were all Stx and intimin-positive, with Stx1 (80%) more frequent than Stx2 (27%). The NTEC isolates were all CNF and Hly-positive, with CNF2 (83%) more frequent than CNF1 (22%). Susceptibility assays to 11 antimicrobials displayed high rates of resistance (>30%) to antimicrobials tested. These data show that the most prevalent strains in diarrhoeic water buffalo calves were NTEC, mostly CNF2 and HlyA-positive, with strong associations CNF2/CDT-III and CNF2/F17c.     

Prevalence and identity of cdt-related sequences in necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli

The cytolethal distending toxins (CDT) are responsible for the mitosis block at G2/M and the cycle arrest of cells in culture. Escherichia coli isolated from humans and animals with intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases can be positive for the production of a CDT-like cytopathic effect or for the presence of cdt-related genes. The purpose of this study was to compare the prevalence and the identity of cdt-related sequences in necrotoxigenic E. coli (NTEC). A collection of 98 bovine type 2 NTEC (NTEC2) and 45 bovine, 20 canine, 3 feline, 65 human and 129 porcine type 1 NTEC (NTEC1) isolates was studied by colony hybridisation and PCR assays specific for the cdtB genes encoding the B sub-unit of the CDT-I, CDT-II, CDT-III and CDT-IV toxins produced by E. coli. cdtB-III sequences were frequent amongst bovine NTEC2, since 83% of these isolates were positive by colony hybridisation and/or PCR, whereas cdtB-related sequences were rare amongst NTEC1, since only 2 bovine (4%), 3 canine (15%), 10 human (15%) and 13 porcine (10%) of these isolates were positive. The 28 probe-positive NTEC1 harboured cdtB-IV sequences (13 isolates), cdtB-I sequences (10 isolates), or still unidentified cdt-related sequences (5 isolates). After comparison with previously published and unpublished results of phenotypic assay on cell cultures, existence of other cdt-related sequences is suggested amongst NTEC1. The differences between NTEC1 and NTEC2 in their CDT profiles may have implication for the pathogenesis of those two classes of pathogenic E. coli.     

河西走廊地区犊牛腹泻致病性大肠杆菌分离鉴定、毒力因子及耐药性检测

[目的]为了分析河西走廊地区犊牛腹泻致病性大肠杆菌携带毒力基因和耐药性情况,[方法]2020—2021年在河西走廊地区采集患腹泻病犊牛的粪便、肛拭子及肝脏等病料组织279份,采用人工感染试验动物、PCR方法和K-B药敏纸片法分别检测犊牛腹泻性大肠杆菌致病性、毒力因子和耐药性。[结果]结果表明,分离得到了126株大肠杆菌,其中79株犊牛腹泻性大肠杆菌能引起小鼠死亡;分离的79株致病性大肠杆菌的毒力基因crl、irp2、fimH、papC、K88、K99、stx1、stx2检测率在40.5%～100%之间,其他毒力基因检测率在15.2%～34.2%之间;分离的79株致病性大肠杆菌对氨苄西林、阿莫西林、新霉素等8种药物的耐药率在49.4%～96.2%之间,对其他药物的耐药率在5.1%～32.9%之间。[结论]从河西走廊地区患腹泻病犊牛病料组织中分离得到79株致病性大肠杆菌,这些菌株携带多种毒力基因,对临床中常用的抗菌药物产生了耐药性。     

Detection of the enteroaggregative Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) gene and its relationship with fimbrial and enterotoxin markers in E. coli isolates from pigs with diarrhoea

The presence of the astA gene responsible for production of enteroaggregative Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1) was examined in E. coli strains isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea. Two hundred and seven isolates were tested using PCR for the astA marker and for heat-labile I (LTI), heat-stable I (STI), and heat-stable II (STII) enterotoxin genes. Moreover, the isolates were also analysed for their serotypes (O and K antigens) as well as for fimbrial adhesins using agglutination methods. It was shown that 96 (46.4%) of the isolates possessed the astA genetic determinant. The most common EAST1-positive E. coli serotype was O149:K91 and these strains were mostly LTI/STII-positive. A close correlation between the presence of F4 fimbriae and the EAST1 gene was also observed: 88 of 96 (91.7%) astA(+) isolates tested possessed the F4 antigen. Thus, EAST1 enterotoxin may represent an additional virulence determinant playing a role in the pathogenesis of porcine colibacillosis.     

仔猪腹泻致病性大肠杆菌分型鉴定及耐药性分析

为了解贵州省规模化养猪场腹泻仔猪致病性大肠杆菌流行情况及耐药性变化,本研究运用凝集试验、PCR和药敏纸片琼脂扩散法等方法对分离的78株致病性大肠杆菌进行血清型、毒力基因及耐药性分析。结果显示,78株致病性大肠杆菌以O138、O87血清型为主,占定型菌株的60.8%;其中62株致病性大肠杆菌检出毒力基因,检出率为79.5%,可分为8种毒力基因类型,分属肠致病性大肠杆菌（EPEC）、肠产毒性大肠杆菌（ETEC）和肠聚集性大肠杆菌（EAEC）,毒力基因eaeA、elt和escV检出率较高,分别为38.5%、28.2%和21.8%;分离到的致病性大肠杆菌对β-内酰胺类药物高度耐药,均为多重耐药株,耐药种类可达8种以上。结果表明,当前贵州省规模化养猪场腹泻仔猪致病性大肠杆菌的毒力基因检出率较高且基因型复杂,耐药性严重。本试验结果可为规模化养猪场防控仔猪腹泻提供基础资料及理论依据。     

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%).