Classificação de Escherichia coli patogênica aviária (APEC)e de Escherichia coli uropatogênica (UPEC) em grupos filogenéticose associação com a patogenicidade in vivo
Rocha, Silvio Luís da SilveiraFurian, Thales QuediBorges, Karen ApellanisRocha, Daniela Tonini daMoraes, Hamilton Luiz de SouzaSalle, Carlos Tadeu PippiNascimento, Vladimir Pinheiro do
Background: Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) and uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) are responsible, respectively, for avian colibacillosis and for 80% of urinary tract infections in humans. E. coli control is difficult due to the absence of a reliable method to differentiate pathogenic and commensal strains. Genetic similarity between APEC and UPEC suggests a common ancestral origin and the capability of potentially pathogenic strains to affect human health. The classification in phylogenetic groups facilitates the identification of pathogenic strains. The objective of this work was to classify APEC and UPEC E. coli strains into phylogenetic groups and to associate it with in vivo pathogenicity. Materials, Methods & Results: 460 APEC and 450 UPEC strains, stored in BHI with glycerol at -80°C, were selected. APEC strains were isolated from cellulitis, respiratory tract and poultry litter of broiler flocks from Southern Brazil. The UPEC strains from urinary tract infection were provided by a hospital in Porto Alegre. After DNA extraction, APEC and UPEC strains were classified into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) by a multiplex-PCR protocol for the detection of the chuA and yjaA genes and the TspE4.C2 DNA fragment. Phylogenetic groups were associated with pathogenicity indexes (PI), presented on a scale of 0 to 10, which were previously obtained through the inoculation of APEC strains in one-day-old chicks. Phylogenetic groups were also associated with the presence of 38 virulence-associated genes. The multiplex-PCR protocol was able to differentiate 100% of the APEC and UPEC strains in the four phylogenetic groups. The majority of APEC strains were classified into phylogenetic groups D (31.1%) and B2 (24.1%). On the other hand, the majority of UPEC strains were classified into B2 (53.6%). Among APEC strains, five genes (crl, mat, ompA, fimC and fimH) [ ](AU)
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