title: Molecular screening of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from dairy neonatal calves in Cordoba province, Argentina.
abstract: The aim of this study was to perform a current molecular characterization of bovine pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from random samplings in Argentinean dairy farms. Rectal swabs were obtained from 395 (63.7%) healthy and 225 (36.3%) diarrheic calves, belonging to 45 dairy farms in Cordoba Province, Argentina. E. coli isolates were examined for virulence genes (f5, f41, f17, sta, stb, lt, eae, vt) using PCR and the prevalence of E. coli virulence profiles was spatially described in terms of spatial distribution. A total of 30.1% isolates were found to be positive for at least one of the virulence genes. Depending on the different gene combinations present, 11 virulence profiles were found. Most of the isolates analyzed had a single gene, and no combination of fimbrial and enterotoxin gene was predominant. There was no association between the frequency and distribution of E. coli virulence genes and calf health status. Most of the virulence profiles were compatible with ETEC strains and showed a homogeneous distribution over the sampled area. A clustering pattern for E. coli virulence profiles could not be recognized. This work provides updated information on the molecular characterization of pathogenic E. coli strains from dairy herds in Cordoba, Argentina. These findings would be important to formulate prevention programs and effective therapies for diarrhea in calves caused by E. coli.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina. Electronic address: nayapicco@yahoo.com.ar.
authors.forename: Natalia Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Picco
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Fabrisio E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Alustiza
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Romina V
authors.initials: RV
authors.lastname: Bellingeri
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: María C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Grosso
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Carlos E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Motta
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Alejandro J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Larriestra
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Claudina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vissio
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Patología Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Karina I
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Tiranti
authors.affiliation: Grupo Sanidad Animal, Estación Experimental Agrícola INTA Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Horacio R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Terzolo
authors.affiliation: Grupo Sanidad Animal, Estación Experimental Agrícola INTA Balcarce, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: Ana R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Anatomía Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Argentina.
authors.forename: Adriana B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Vivas
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000382:microbiology*; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003612:Dairying; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D004768:Enterotoxins / Q000235:genetics; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D015995:Prevalence; D012494:Sampling Studies; D014774:Virulence / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D004768:Enterotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins
keywords: Argentina; Calves; Diarrea; Diarrhea; Escherichia coli; Genes de virulencia; PCR; Terneros; Virulence genes