Biomedical Research

Background/purpose: One of the most common childhood diseases is Urinary Tract Infection (UTI). Without diagnosis and treatment, it can cause irreparable effects. Escherichia coli cause UTI in 75% of cases. Unlike diarrheagenic E. coli has certain pathotypes, E. coli causing UTI, are not well known. For further information, we considered pathogenicity determinants and epidemiology of uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) strains isolated from children with Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) to define distinct pathotypes.

Methods: One hundred E. coli strains (50 UPEC and 50 commensal) isolated from children with UTI were examined. Some virulence factors and specific genes were examined by PCR method. Genetic diversity was evaluated by phylogenetic typing groups.

Results: Some pathogenicity determinants were more prevalent in UPEC strains rather than commensal E. coli strains, significantly. There were PAI IICFT073, PAI II J96, PAI I536, PAI ICFT073, PAIII536, PAI IV, gafD, focG, vat, usp, hlyD, sat, cnf1, picU, fliC(H7), kpsMTII, kpsMTIII. UPEC were mainly found in phylogenetic typing groups B2 and D, while in commensal isolates, phylogenetic groups A and D were the most common.

Conclusion: We need a simple pathotypes screening test which can be used either as or could be beneficial to facilitate along with other experiments in establishing an UTI assessment. Unfortunately, due to the high variation in pathogenicity determinants of UPEC strains, pathotypes could not be determined using genotype and virulence factors. Knowledge of the molecular details of UPEC is mainstay of successful strategies development for treatment of UTI and prevention of its subsequent complications.

Author(s): Shahin Najar Peerayeh, Masoumeh Navidinia, Fatemeh Fallah, Bita Bakhshi, Jamshid Jamali
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