Molecular characteristics of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from livestock at a monitoring point in Jiangsu Province / 中国人兽共患病学报

ABSTRACT

This study was aimed at analyzing the molecular characteristics of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli(E.coli)strains isolated from domestic animals at a surveillance site in Jiangsu province and evaluating their potential pathogenicity,to provide evidence supporting the surveillance,prevention,and control of infectious diarrhea.Thirty-seven EPEC strains isolated from domestic animals at this surveillance site were characterized by whole genome sequencing.All EPEC strains isolated from local livestock were aEPEC,which has a variety of serotypes and carries a variety of virulence genes associated with diarrhea.Nine ST types with regional epidemic characteristics were identified.Five eae gene subtypes were found,among which β1 was dominant and was also the most common strain in patients with diarrhea.According to analysis of the characteristics of 37 EPEC strains,all EPEC strains from local livestock were aEPEC,thus posing a potential threat to public health.Monitoring of livestock feces and the breeding environment must be strengthened in the surveillance of infectious diarrhea.