Comparison between avian pathogenic (APEC) and avian faecal (AFEC) Escherichia coli isolated from different regions in Brazil.
Detection and analysis of virulence-associated genes (VAGs) of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) may be helpful to distinguish pathogenic from commensal faecal strains (AFEC). The aim of this study was to characterise 120 isolates of avian Escherichia coli, comprising 91 APEC (from diseased birds) and 29 AFEC (from healthy chickens), collected in Brazil. Phylogenetic analysis and in vivo pathogenicity testing was performed on 38 VAGs. The VAGs iucD, iutA, iroN, fepC, ompT, cvi and hlyF were statistically associated with medium and high pathogenicity (MP/HP) strains. A minimal group of seven VAGs may be required to accurately discriminate pathogenic and non-pathogenic avian strains of E. coli in Brazil.
Bacterial Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: silveiravet@gmail.com.
F
F
Silveira
Bacterial Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil; Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Preventive Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA.
R P
RP
Maluta
Instituto Adolfo Lutz, São Paulo, Brazil.
M R
MR
Tiba
Bacterial Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
J B
JB
de Paiva
Instituto Biológico, Bastos Research Unit, Bastos, São Paulo, Brazil.
E A L
EA
Guastalli
Bacterial Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
W D
WD
da Silveira
D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D002645:Chickens; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity* / Q000502:physiology*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005798:Genes, Bacterial; D010802:Phylogeny; D011201:Poultry Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA / Q000662:veterinary; D014774:Virulence
Avian faecal E. coli (AFEC); Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC); Molecular epidemiology; Pathogenicity