title: Virulence of Escherichia coli strains isolated from urine of patients with acute cystitis and from faeces of healthy women.
abstract: E. coli strains were isolated from the urine of patients with acute cystitis in general practice and from the faeces of a comparable reference group of healthy individuals. These strains were serotyped and tested for virulence in an experimental mouse model. Of 30 cystitis-strains 18 were virulent, and of 30 faeces-strains 15 were virulent. It is concluded that the cystitis-strains were not more often virulent than the faeces-strains. O antigens commonly found among urinary E. coli isolates were present in 60% of the cystitis-strains and in 37% of the faeces-strains. K antigens commonly found in urinary E. coli strains were present in 33% of the cystitis-strains and in 12% of the faeces-strains. Neither the presence of common urinary O-antigens, nor the presence of common urinary K antigens could be associated with virulence of the isolated strains. However, it is suggested that certain O and K antigens (O2,O6, K23) may be associated with virulence for the urinary tract.
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000818:Animals; D003556:Cystitis / Q000382:microbiology*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008875:Middle Aged; D012703:Serotyping; D014556:Urine / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence