Occurrence of Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Pathotypes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Surface Water

Jatinder P S Sidhu; Warish Ahmed; L Hodgers; S Toze

doi:10.1128/AEM.02888-12

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Occurrence of Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Pathotypes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Surface Water

Journal article

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Peer reviewed

Occurrence of Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Pathotypes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Surface Water

Jatinder P S Sidhu, Warish Ahmed, L Hodgers and S Toze

Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol.79(1), pp.328-335

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AEM.02888-12

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Abstract

Escherichia coli isolates (n = 300) collected from six sites in subtropical Brisbane, Australia, prior to and after storm events were tested for the presence of 11 virulence genes (VGs) specific to diarrheagenic pathotypes. The presence of eaeA, stx1, stx2, and ehxA genes specific for the enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) pathotype was detected in 56%, 6%, 10%, and 13% of isolates, respectively. The VGs astA (69%) and aggR (29%), carried by enteroaggregative (EAEC) pathotypes, were frequently detected in E. coli isolates. The enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) gene bfp was detected in 24% of isolates. In addition, enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) VG ipaH was also detected in 14% of isolates. During dry periods, isolates belonging to the EAEC pathotype were most commonly detected (23%), followed by EHEC (11%) and EPEC (11%). Conversely, a more uniform prevalence of pathotypes, EPEC (14%), EAEC (12%), EIEC (10%), EHEC (7%), and ETEC (7%), was observed after the storm events. The results of this study highlight the widespread occurrence of potentially diarrheagenic pathotypes in the urban aquatic ecosystems. While the presence of VGs in E. coli isolates alone is insufficient to determine pathogenicity, the presence of diarrheagenic E. coli pathotypes in high frequency after the storm events could lead to increased health risks if untreated storm water were to be used for nonpotable purposes and recreational activities.

Details

Title: Occurrence of Virulence Genes Associated with Diarrheagenic Pathotypes in Escherichia coli Isolates from Surface Water
Authors: Jatinder P S Sidhu (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Warish Ahmed (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
L Hodgers (Author) - CSIRO Land and Water
S Toze (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: Applied and Environmental Microbiology, Vol.79(1), pp.328-335
Publisher: American Society for Microbiology
Date published: 2013
DOI: 10.1128/AEM.02888-12
ISSN: 0099-2240
Organisation Unit: University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450041502621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology; Microbiology

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