Detection of phenotypes, virulence genes and phylotypes of avian pathogenic and human diarrheagenic Escherichia coli in Egypt

Introduction: The purpose from this study was to determine phenotypes, intestinal virulence-associated genes, and phylotypic profiling of human diarrheagenic E. coli (DEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC). Methodology: A total of 108 chicken visceral organs (liver, spleen, heart) from 36 diseased birds (three organs per each bird) and 78 human stool samples (50 diarrheic patients and 28 healthy persons) were randomly collected during the first half of 2015 in the district of Mansoura city, Egypt. Conventional culturing, serotyping, and molecular characterization of virulence genes and phylogroups were performed. Results: Sixty-five (35%) biochemically identified E. coli isolates were detected from chicken visceral (29/108; 26.9%) and human stool samples (36/78; 46.2%). Serotypes O78, O2, and O1 were the most prevalent serotypes (62%) distinguished from APEC isolates, and only two similar serotypes (O119:H4 and O26:H11) were identified from both APEC and DEC isolates. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the respective percentages of 100 and 35 with eae and Shiga toxin genes were detected from APEC isolates while 50%, 27.8%, and 19.4% of human DEC isolates harbored eae, stx1, and stx2 genes, respectively. Phylogrouping revealed a significantly higher occurrence of pathogenic phylogroups (D and B2) in APEC (19/29; 65.5%) than in human DEC isolates (8/36; 22.2%). Conclusions: APEC isolates shared serotypes, virulence genes, and phylotypes with human DEC isolates, which is a subsequent potential public health concern. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report in Egypt that determines virulence gene and phylogroup coexistence between APEC and DEC isolates.