Prevalence of urovirulence genes cnf, hlyD, sfa/foc, and papGIII in fecal Escherichia coli from healthy dogs and their owners.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the prevalence of 4 urovirulence genes in fecal Escherichia coli isolates from healthy dogs and their owners and to determine whether detection of E coli strains with these genes was associated with a history of urinary tract infection (UTI).


METHODS
61 healthy dog-owner pairs and 30 healthy non-dog owners.


METHODS
A fecal specimen was obtained from each participant, and 3 colonies of E coli were isolated from each specimen. A multiplex PCR assay was used to detect 4 genes encoding virulence factors: cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf), hemolysin (hlyD), s-fimbrial and F1C fimbriae adhesin (sfa/foc), and pilus associated with pyelonephritis G allele III (papGIII). Human participants completed a questionnaire to provide general information and any history of UTI for themselves and, when applicable, their dog.


RESULTS
26% (16/61) of dogs, 18% (11/61) of owners, and 20% (6/30) of non-dog owners had positive test results for >or= 1 E coli virulence gene. One or more genes were identified in fecal E coli isolates of both dog and owner in 2% (1/61) of households. There was no difference in the detection of any virulence factor between dog-owner pairs. Female owner history of UTI was associated with detection of each virulence factor in E coli strains isolated from their dogs' feces.


CONCLUSIONS
Dogs and humans harbored fecal E coli strains possessing the genes cnf, hlyD, sfa/foc, and papGIII that encode urovirulence factors. It was rare for both dog and owner to have fecal E coli strains with these virulence genes.
Stenske
Katherine A
KA
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
Bemis
David A
DA
Gillespie
Barbara E
BE
Oliver
Stephen P
SP
Draughon
Francis A
FA
Matteson
Karla J
KJ
Bartges
Joseph W
JW
D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000235:genetics*; D004285:Dogs; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D014774:Virulence
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; C065231:HlyD protein, E coli; D026901:Membrane Transport Proteins; C101637:ymcE protein, E coli; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1