辽宁省食源性副溶血性弧菌毒力基因、血清分型及耐药性分析

研究辽宁省2017-2020年市售水产品及其制品中分离的158株副溶血性弧菌的毒力基因、血清分型和耐药性, 为食源性疾病的暴发和散发进行评估和预警。

采用多重荧光定量PCR技术对毒力基因tlh、tdh和trh进行检测, 同时检测血清分型; 采用肉汤稀释法测定副溶血性弧菌MIC值并分析其耐药性。

158株副溶血性弧菌中均携带tlh基因, 携带tdh基因的菌株2株, 携带trh基因的菌株2株, 同时携带tdh基因和trh基因的菌株1株; 158株中67株血清型为O2(含K不分型), 39株为O3(含K不分型), 携带tdh和trh毒力基因的菌株血清型均为O3;副溶血性弧菌122株(77.22%)对头孢唑啉耐药, 36株(22.78%)对头孢西丁耐药, 30株(18.99%)对氨苄西林耐药, 18株菌呈现耐受2类及以上的多重耐药性。携带毒力基因的5株副溶血性弧菌对头孢唑啉均耐药。

大多数食源性副溶血性弧菌不携带毒力基因, O2血清型(42.41%)是辽宁省食源性副溶血性弧菌的主要血清型, 其次为O3(24.68%); 副溶血性弧菌对头孢唑啉显著耐药, 少数菌表现出多重耐药, 提示应继续加强水产品及其生食制品中副溶血性弧菌的致病性和耐药性监测。

     

宏转录组测序分析老年抗生素相关性腹泻患者肠道菌群组成及耐药通路特点

为探究老年抗生素相关性腹泻(AAD)患者肠道菌群结构变化的特点以及与细菌耐药性之间的关联。

对来自华山医院老年科的6名老年AAD患者的肠道菌群进行宏转录组测序, 并以另5名相同饮食标准下接受抗生素治疗但未发生腹泻的患者作为对照, 深入分析老年AAD患者肠道菌群物种组成及耐药通路变化。

AAD组物种丰度和多样性均低于对照组, 且两组菌群组成在不同分类学水平上存在明显差异(P < 0.05)。KEGG比对结果显示, AAD组多条抗生素耐药通路的表达量均有显著上调, 包括与β-内酰胺类抗生素耐药相关的青霉素结合蛋白pbp1B、pbp5、金属β-内酰胺酶bla2, β-内酰胺酶基因表达调节因子ampR、ampC等, 与万古霉素耐药相关的VanX、VanB、VanW和VanH等。另外, mlaC、natB、znuC、tcyB、tcyC等53条ATP结合盒超家族(ABC转运蛋白)相关通路在AAD组中显著上调。

菌群结构变化、某些优势菌属的扩张、菌群失调相关的代谢变化以及抗生素耐药性等因素与老年人AAD有潜在联系。

     

双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片对幽门螺杆菌根治后消化道不良反应的改善作用

探讨加用双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片对临床四联疗法根除幽门螺杆菌(H.pylori)过程中患者消化道不良反应的改善作用。

选择2019年1月至2020年1月在昆明医科大学第二附属医院门诊就诊的100例H.pylori感染患者, 分为益生菌组和正常组, 各50例。全部患者通过四联疗法根除H.pylori后, 益生菌组患者继续加用双歧杆菌乳杆菌三联活菌片治疗, 对结果进行分析。

2组患者使用含有铋剂的四联疗法根除H.pylori后效果满意。益生菌组患者不良反应发生率低于正常组(25.5% vs 47.5%;χ²=11.023, P=0.001)。

益生菌可减轻四联疗法根除H.pylori后消化道不良反应, 根除H.pylori过程中加用益生菌的时机尚待进一步探讨。

     

MALDI-TOF MS在快速检测碳青霉烯类耐药肺炎克雷伯菌及其同源性分析中的应用

利用基质辅助激光解吸电离飞行时间质谱(MALDI-TOF MS)筛选碳青霉烯类耐药肺炎克雷伯菌(CRKp)特异性峰, 并进行同源性分析。

收集30株CRKp临床分离株, 采用法国梅里埃VITEK 2 Compact分析仪进行细菌鉴定和药敏试验、利用改良碳青霉烯灭活试验(mCIM)检测碳青霉烯酶; 利用MALDI-TOF MS技术筛选CRKp菌株特异性峰, 采用MALDI-TOF MS进行同源性分析, 多位点序列分型(MLST)方法作为验证。

30株CRKp株mCIM均为阳性, 其中24株含有共同特异性峰, 特异性达到80%, 符合区分阈值。蛋白质质量峰聚类分析显示, 30株CRKp株分为三大簇, 同时MLST结果表明, ST11/A型为27株、ST15/B型为2株, 而ST2193/D型仅有1株。

MALDI-TOF MS在CRKp鉴定中具有精准、快速的优点。MALDI-TOF MS能够有效进行CRKp同源性分析, 并应用于院内感染流行暴发的监测。

     

基于宏基因组学分析安徽地区畜禽粪便微生物耐药性特征

为深入了解在食用动物生产过程中滥用抗生素,迫使肠道共生细菌成为微生物耐药性（antimicrobial resistance,AMR）重要宿主之一的现象,本研究利用宏基因组学针对食用动物的肠道细菌AMR进行分析。

利用宏基因组学技术对安徽地区猪和鸡粪便中的AMR及可移动遗传元件进行定量和表征,并且在核心抗性基因亚型水平上研究猪和鸡共生细菌群落的耐药性特征。

从抗性基因（antimicrobial resistance gene,ARG）的丰度和多样性来看,鸡肠道共生菌中ARG的多样性和检出率高于猪,而猪肠道共生菌中ARG总丰度高于鸡。大环内酯―林可酰胺―链菌素类抗性基因和四环素抗性基因是所有样本中含量最高的2种ARG,研究也检测到了世界范围内流行的ARG,包括optrA、qnrS、lsaE和tem等,同时,一些可移动遗传元件,包括噬菌体、质粒和插入序列也显示出与ARG存在一定相关性,这揭示了ARG的水平转移潜力。此外,食物链动物的抗性组和微生物组之间在统计学上也被证明存在正相关性。宿主溯源分析表明,在鸡样本中的拟杆菌和大肠埃希菌被检测出含有大量ARG,而在猪的样本中被检测出含有丰富ARG的为瘤胃球菌和罗氏菌。

本研究通过对猪和鸡共生细菌群落中AMR的调查统计,证实肠道微生物群是ARG的重要宿主及传播途径之一,为评价食用动物安全性及后续泛耐药基因数据库的构建提供科学依据,对公共健康具有重要意义。

     

大连市一起由境外输入引起的本土新冠肺炎关联病例的病毒基因组特征分析

了解引起大连市本土新型冠状病毒肺炎（COVID-19）的新型冠状病毒（SARS-CoV-2）流行株的基因组特征和变异情况,追溯SARS-CoV-2来源。

选取2022年8月20日—9月14日97例由境外输入引起的COVID-19关联病例的样本。采用SARS-CoV-2全基因组靶向扩增结合高通量测序技术（Ion Torrent测序平台）进行全基因组测序。分析SARS-CoV-2的基因组特征、核苷酸和氨基酸突变位点和基因分型。构建进化树,结合病例的流行病学资料,溯源SARS-CoV-2流行株。

共获得97例SARS-CoV-2全基因组序列,基因组全长29 735～29 741 bp,平均测序深度1 457×～50 485×,测序覆盖率范围95.9%～100.0%。同NCBI数据库中的SARS-CoV-2参考基因组（NC_045512）序列相比,97例SARS-CoV-2全基因组序列共享75个核苷酸突变位点,22例在此基础上新增1～3个突变位点。75个共享突变位点类型包括：4个非编码区和7个基因编码区,其中基因编码区的70个突变位点,来自基因ORF1ab、S、ORF3a、E、M、ORF8、N。共享的氨基酸突变类型包括15个同义突变和51个非同义突变。97例SARS-CoV-2全基因组序列,Pangolin分型为BA.5.2.1.21 （BF.21进化分支）型,Nextstrain分型为22B型,GISAID分型为GRA型。经与大连SARS-CoV-2基因库的序列比对,与8月9日境外输入的编号20220809-1和20220809-2病例共享75个核苷酸突变位点,高度同源。进化分析结果显示,此次SARS-CoV-2流行株与同时期日本大阪SARS-CoV-2流行株共同处于BF.21进化分支上,与病例20220809-1和20220809-2流行病学调查中的来源国日本一致。

此次SARS-CoV-2流行株属于Omicron变异株（BF.21进化分支）,来源于日本。

     

哮喘患儿口咽部菌群分析及3株优势菌的拮抗作用

了解哮喘患儿呼吸道菌群多样性及其组成特征, 同时研究所分离的3株优势菌对流感嗜血杆菌的抑制作用, 探究哮喘与呼吸道菌群之间的关系。

采集沈阳市儿童医院呼吸内科2019年3月至2019年12月收治的21例4~12岁急性发作期哮喘患儿咽拭标本, 并同时采集23例同龄健康儿童的咽拭标本作为对照, 对呼吸道菌群进行分离培养、纯化和16S rRNA鉴定。采用牛津杯法检测健康儿童口咽部分离的3株优势菌对流感嗜血杆菌的拮抗作用。

哮喘和健康儿童呼吸道培养出的需氧菌(t=2.143, P=0.038)和厌氧菌(t=3.270, P=0.002)的密度差异有统计学意义。哮喘患儿咽部需氧菌以肺炎链球菌和流感嗜血杆菌为主, 厌氧菌以韦荣球菌为主。健康儿童咽部需氧菌以缓症链球菌和口腔链球菌为主, 厌氧菌以干酪乳杆菌为主。健康儿童口咽部的3株优势菌对哮喘儿童口咽部流感嗜血杆菌的生长具有显著抑制作用。

与健康儿童相比, 哮喘患儿口咽部菌群发生紊乱, 且哮喘患儿口咽部需氧菌、厌氧菌密度显著增加。健康儿童口咽部的某些优势菌可能对哮喘致病菌的定植有一定的拮抗作用。

     

双歧杆菌三联活菌制剂防治儿童呼吸道感染继发腹泻临床疗效的meta分析

采用meta分析评价双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童呼吸道感染继发腹泻的临床疗效。

计算机检索中国知网、维普、万方、PubMed、Web of Science和Embase数据库,收集全球范围内在治疗儿童呼吸道感染继发腹泻中使用双歧杆菌三联活菌制剂（散/胶囊）的随机对照研究和前瞻性非随机对照研究,检索时间截至2022年7月,采用Jadad评分量表对纳入文献进行质量评价,采用Cochrane协作网提供的RevMan 5.4分析软件进行数据处理和meta分析。

纳入19篇公开发表的文献进行meta分析,共3 086例患者,治疗组（对照组常规治疗措施+双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊）1 578例,对照组1 508例,meta分析结果显示,治疗组的总体有效率显著高于对照组[OR = 6.54,95% CI（4.03,10.62）,P＜0.000 01],同时,治疗组的显效率优于对照组[OR=4.21,95% CI（2.97,5.97）,P＜0.000 01],并且,相比于对照组,治疗组的腹泻发病率降低[OR = 0.20,95% CI（0.12,0.34）,P＜0.000 01]）,差异均有统计学意义。

双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊与常规治疗方法相比,可以提高儿童呼吸道感染继发腹泻的治疗总体有效率、治疗显效率,同时有效降低患儿的腹泻发病率。

     

双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童抗生素相关性腹泻临床疗效的meta分析

采用meta分析评价双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童抗生素相关性腹泻的临床疗效。

系统性地检索中国知网、维普、万方、PubMed、Embase及Web of Science数据库,纳入国内外使用双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童抗生素相关性腹泻的随机对照研究和前瞻性非随机对照临床试验,文献检索时间至2022年6月,筛选所检索文献,提取符合纳入标准的文献数据进行质量评价,采用Cochrane协作网提供的RevMan 5.3软件进行meta分析。

经系统地检索文献,本研究共纳入16项前瞻性非随机对照研究进行meta分析,共计1 415例儿童,meta分析结果显示使用双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊治疗儿童抗生素相关性腹泻的显效率显著高于对照组[OR＝2.58,95% CI（2.03,3.28）,I² = 10%,P＜0.000 1];治疗组的总体有效率也显著高于对照组[OR = 5.80,95% CI（3.80,8.85）,I² = 0%,P＜0.000 1]。

Meta分析评价现有文献结果表明双歧杆菌三联活菌散/胶囊与常规治疗措施相比,能够显著提高儿童抗生素相关性腹泻的显效率和总体有效率,有助于改善患儿临床预后和加速康复。

     

急性脑卒中患者肠道菌群研究

通过粪便标本检测急性脑卒中患者肠道菌群变化情况, 探讨急性脑卒中患者肠道菌群结构。

通过高通量二代测序技术对10例健康者(对照组)及10例急性脑卒中患者(疾病组)粪便样本进行菌群结构测序分析。

与对照组比较, 急性脑卒中患者粪便样本中物种OTU信息量显著增加(P < 0.01), 菌群多样性指数(Shannon)和物种均一度指数(Evenness)也有所增加但差异无统计学意义(均P > 0.05)。门水平上, 疾病组患者肠道Bacteroidetes数量较对照组显著增加, Firmicutes数量显著减少(均P < 0.05)。属水平上, 疾病组患者肠道Bacteroides、Bilophila、Butyricimonas比例较对照组显著升高, 而Collinsella、Coprococcus、Clostridium等比例较对照组显著降低(均P < 0.05)。

急性脑卒中患者肠道菌群结构与健康人存在显著差异。

     

Insights into a multidrug resistant Escherichia coli pathogen of the globally disseminated ST131 lineage: genome analysis and virulence mechanisms

Escherichia coli strains causing urinary tract infection (UTI) are increasingly recognized as belonging to specific clones. E. coli clone O25b:H4-ST131 has recently emerged globally as a leading multi-drug resistant pathogen causing urinary tract and bloodstream infections in hospitals and the community. While most molecular studies to date examine the mechanisms conferring multi-drug resistance in E. coli ST131, relatively little is known about their virulence potential. Here we examined E. coli ST131 clinical isolates from two geographically diverse collections, one representing the major pathogenic lineages causing UTI across the United Kingdom and a second representing UTI isolates from patients presenting at two large hospitals in Australia. We determined a draft genome sequence for one representative isolate, E. coli EC958, which produced CTX-M-15 extended-spectrum β-lactamase, CMY-23 type AmpC cephalosporinase and was resistant to ciprofloxacin. Comparative genome analysis indicated that EC958 encodes virulence genes commonly associated with uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC). The genome sequence of EC958 revealed a transposon insertion in the fimB gene encoding the activator of type 1 fimbriae, an important UPEC bladder colonization factor. We identified the same fimB transposon insertion in 59% of the ST131 UK isolates, as well as 71% of ST131 isolates from Australia, suggesting this mutation is common among E. coli ST131 strains. Insertional inactivation of fimB resulted in a phenotype resembling a slower off-to-on switching for type 1 fimbriae. Type 1 fimbriae expression could still be induced in fimB-null isolates; this correlated strongly with adherence to and invasion of human bladder cells and bladder colonisation in a mouse UTI model. We conclude that E. coli ST131 is a geographically widespread, antibiotic resistant clone that has the capacity to produce numerous virulence factors associated with UTI.     

Prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and diversity of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates from a longitudinal study of beef cattle feedlots

Prevalence, antibiotic susceptibility, and genetic diversity were determined for Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated over 11 months from four beef cattle feedlots in southwest Kansas. From the fecal pat (17,050) and environmental (7,134) samples collected, 57 isolates of E. coli O157:H7 were identified by use of bacterial culture and latex agglutination (C/LA). PCR showed that 26 isolates were eaeA gene positive. Escherichia coli O157:H7 was identified in at least one of the four feedlots in 14 of the 16 collections by C/LA and in 9 of 16 collections by PCR, but consecutive positive collections at a single feedlot were rare. Overall prevalence in fecal pat samples was low (0.26% by C/LA, and 0.08% by PCR). No detectable differences in prevalence or antibiotic resistance were found between isolates collected from home pens and those from hospital pens, where antibiotic use is high. Resistant isolates were found for six of the eight antibiotics that could be used to treat E. coli infections in food animals, but few isolates were multidrug resistant. The high diversity of isolates as measured by random amplification of polymorphic DNA and other characteristics indicates that the majority of isolates were unique and did not persist at a feedlot, but probably originated from incoming cattle. The most surprising finding was the low frequency of virulence markers among E. coli isolates identified initially by C/LA as E. coli O157:H7. These results demonstrate that better ways of screening and confirming E. coli O157:H7 isolates are required for accurate determination of prevalence.     

Appearance of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in piglets with diarrhea in connection with feed changes

Twelve weaned piglet (3-week-old) were divided into three groups according to time of feed change and observed for diarrhea during the time they were 3 to 8 weeks of age. A total of 553 strains of Escherichia coli were isolated from rectal fecal samples and examined for heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (ST) enterotoxins, pilus antigens (K88, K99, and 987P), hemolysin (Hly), raffinose utilization (Raf) and drug resistance. Enterotoxins and/or hemolytic E. coli strains appeared in the rectal feces of 5- to 6-week-old piglets with diarrhea in connection with feed change and changing temperatures. Most of the isolates showed multiple drug resistance to sulfonamides (Sa), streptomycin (Sp), ampicillin, and/or mercury. Enterotoxigenic E. coli isolates represented four phenotypes: K88+.LT+.Hly+.Raf+.(SaSmCpTcKmSp) (12 strains), K99+.ST+.Raf+.(TcKm) (7 strains), ST+.Raf+.(TcKm) (7 strains), and ST.+(SaSmKm) (25 strains). The drug resistance determinants were transferable concurrently and some of them mobilized the determinants for K88, LT, Hly, and Raf to an E. coli C strain.     

Heterogeneity of phenotypic and genotypic traits including organic-acid resistance in Escherichia coli O157 isolates

We undertook an epidemiologic study for the sensitivity of both Shiga-like toxin (Slt)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and non-STEC O157 strains isolated from different patients with diarrhea to hydrochloric acid (HCl) and organic acids such as acetate, propionate, butyrate and lactate, and other pathogenic factors. The E. coli O157 isolates examined showed a wide variety of organic-acid susceptibility patterns. E. coli O157 isolates resistant to HCl or acetate were found more frequently than those resistant to other organic acids. These isolates also showed diverse pathogenicity patterns for the presence of the virulence genes, antibiotic susceptibility and plasmid profile.     

Diarrhea in neonatal piglets caused by K99+ST+ enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli strains were isolated from the feces of 34.4% of 64 diarrheaic neonatal piglets on seven farms. Of a total of 518 isolates, 86 (16.6%) were enterotoxigenic and grouped into four phenotypes: K99+ST+ (K99 pilus antigen and heat-stable enterotoxin producing, 36 strains), ST+ (37 strains), K88+LT+ (K88 pilus antigen and heat-labile enterotoxin producing, 11 strains), and K88+ST+ (2 strains). K99+ST+ and ST+ isolates showed multiple drug resistance and most of those (58.3% and 56.8%, respectively) belonged to O serogroup 101. A K99+ST+ isolate proved to be capable of inducing diarrhea and death in hysterectomy-produced colostrum-deprived piglets when orally inoculated.     

DNA sequence and analysis of a 90.1-kb plasmid in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O145:NM 83-75

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains belonging to serogroup O145 are important emerging food-borne pathogens responsible for sporadic cases and outbreaks of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. A large plasmid carried by STEC O145:NM strain 83-75 and named pO145-NM was sequenced, and the genes were annotated. pO145-NM is 90,103bp in size and carries 89 open reading frames. Four genes/regions in pO145-NM encode for STEC virulence factors, including toxB (protein involved in adherence), espP (a serine protease), katP (catalase peroxidase), and the hly (hemolysin) gene cluster. These genes have also been identified in large virulence plasmids found in other STEC serogroups, including O26, O157, O111, and O103. pO145-NM carries the espPα subtype that is associated with STEC strains that cause more severe disease. Phylogenetic analyses of HlyB, EspP, and ToxB in various STEC strains showed a high degree of similarity of these proteins in E. coli serotypes O145:NM, O26:H11/H-, O111:NM/H-, and O157:H7 potentially placing these STEC into a related group.     

Analysis of environmental Escherichia coli isolates for virulence genes using the TaqMan PCR system

AIMS: To assess the presence of virulence genes in environmental and foodborne Escherichia coli isolates using the TaqMan PCR system. METHODS AND RESULTS: Three TaqMan pathogen detection kits called O157:H7, StxI and StxII were used to investigate the presence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli isolates. All 54 foodborne E. coli O157:H7 isolates showed expected results using these kits. Ninety (15%) of 604 environmental isolates gave positive amplification with an O157:H7-specific kit. TaqMan PCR amplification products from these 90 isolates were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis, and 90% (81 of 90) of the environmental samples contained the expected PCR product. Sixty-six of these 90 were chosen for serotyping tests and only 35% (23 of 66) showed agglutination with both anti-O157 and anti-H7 antibodies. Further ribotyping of 16 sero-positive isolates in an automated Riboprinter did not identify these to be O157:H7. Multiplex PCR with primers for eaeA, stxI and stxII genes was used to confirm the TaqMan results in 10 selected environmental isolates. CONCLUSIONS: All three TaqMan pathogen detection kits were useful for virulence gene analysis of prescreened foodborne O157:H7 isolates, while the O157:H7-specific kit may not be suitable for virulence gene analysis of environmental E. coli isolates, because of high false positive identification. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The ability to rapidly identify the presence of pathogenic E. coli in food or environmental samples is essential to avert outbreaks. These results are of importance to microbiologists seeking to use TaqMan PCR to rapidly identify pathogenic E. coli in environmental samples. Furthermore, serotyping may not be a reliable method for identification of O157:H7 strains.     

Isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from dung beetles Catharsius molossus

In an epidemiological survey, Escherichia coli O157:H7 was isolated from the intestine 4 of 113 dung beetle Catharsius molossus captured below ground at Tongshan County, Jiangsu Province of China. In parallel, 10 strains of E. coli O157:H7 were isolated from fecal samples of 383 diarrhea patients from the same region. Most importantly, using pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of chromosomal DNA restriction fragments and PCR method, we found that the PFGE pattern and virulence genes of beetle isolates were identical to those of the human isolates, such as Shiga-toxins (stx) and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli hemolysin A (EHEC-hlyA). Therefore, dung beetle might acquire pathogenic E. coli O157:H7 through contact with feces of domestic animals.     

Molecular characterization of Irish E. coli O157:H7 isolates of human, bovine, ovine and porcine origin

Aims:  To determine the degree of relatedness between isolates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 of human, bovine, ovine and porcine origin.
Methods and Results:  Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates were compared using (i) PFGE Xba I patterns, (ii) PCR profiles of virulence genes and (iii) the DNA sequences of genes reported to play a role in pathogenicity. The 77 E. coli O157:H7 isolates demonstrated 49 different PFGE patterns of which, eight were common to multiple isolates, and the remaining 41 were distinct. Isolates of different origin did not correlate, except for one cluster consisting of two human and two beef isolates. The majority of animal isolates had the same PCR profiles of virulence genes as those isolated from clinical patients. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the sequence of a 255-bp region of the vtx2 subunit A gene.
Conclusions:  Six SNPs were detected in the vtx2 A gene, defining four different haplotypes. One nonsynonymous substitution encoded for an amino acid change from glutamic to aspartic acid.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  Results indicate that although E. coli O157:H7 isolates of differing origin were distinct by PFGE, the DNA sequences of the main virulence genes associated with human clinical illness were conserved.     

Characterization of class 1 integrons-mediated antibiotic resistance among calf pathogenic Escherichia coli

Escherichia coli isolates from calf diarrhea cases (n=22) in the Beijing surrounding region in China were characterized for disease serotype, virulence factors, antimicrobial susceptibility pattern and class 1 integrons. 59% (n=13) of the isolates were positive for the int I1 gene. The presence and genetic content of class 1 integrons in 13 E. coli isolates were examined by PCR and sequencing. Sequencing analysis revealed six gene cassettes, which encoded resistance to trimethoprim (dfrA1, dfrA17), aminoglycosides (aadB, aadA1 and aadA5) and chloramphenicol (cmlA). The gene cassette arrays dfrA1-orf (45%) and aadB-orf-cmlA (32%) were most prevalent among these isolates. These data revealed the high prevalence of class 1 integrons among calf pathogenic E. coli isolates in the Beijing surrounding region in China, which may provide important and useful surveillance information reflecting specific antibiotic selective pressure.