title: ExPEC-typical virulence-associated genes correlate with successful colonization by intestinal E. coli in a small piglet group.
abstract: Upon studying the transmission of Escherichia coli from a sow to five of her piglets, we observed domination of the coliform flora in piglets by a single E. coli clone, especially after weaning. This haemolytic cloneH1 did not harbour any virulence determinants typical for intestinal pathogenic E. coli isolates from swine but had a virulence gene profile very similar to extraintestinal E. coli (ExPEC), including genes coding for P fimbriae and several iron acquisition systems, besides having an affiliation to the phylogenetic B2 group. Overall, we show that the presence of higher numbers of ExPEC-typical virulence-associated genes (VAGs) in clones correlate with their successful colonization ability in piglets. We conclude that VAGs typical for ExPEC also support intestinal colonization in healthy pigs. Faeces of healthy domestic pigs can harbour high numbers of ExPEC-similar E. coli and are suggested to be a potential risk for the transmission of such bacteria to other hosts.
authors: Institut für Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Fachbereich Veterinärmedizin, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany. pschiera@fh-lausitz.de
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Schierack
authors: Nicole
authors: N
authors: Walk
authors: Christa
authors: C
authors: Ewers
authors: Hendrik
authors: H
authors: Wilking
authors: Hartmut
authors: H
authors: Steinrück
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Filter
authors: Lothar H
authors: LH
authors: Wieler
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins / Q000235:genetics* / Q000378:metabolism; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology*; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D036781:Fimbriae Proteins