Phylogenetic groups, serogroups and virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from patients with urinary tract infection in Baghdad, Iraq

Eman Jassim Mohammed; Kadhim Ch. Hasan; Mohammed Allami

doi:10.18502/ijm.v14i4.10230

Eman Jassim Mohammed Department of Biology, College of Science, Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, Iraq
Kadhim Ch. Hasan Department of Surgery, Babil Medical College, University of Babylon, Babil, Iraq
Mohammed Allami Department of Dentistry, Al-Manara College for Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijm.v14i4.10230

Keywords: Urinary tract infections; Uropathogenic Escherichia coli; Phylogenetic groups; Serogroup; Drug resistance; Virulence factors

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is divided into different phylogenetic groups that differ in their antibiotic resistance patterns, serogroups and pathogenicity. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of phylogenetic groups of UPEC isolates and their relationship with serogroups and virulence factors in patients with UTIs.

Materials and Methods: Of the 412 urine samples tested a total of 150 UPEC were isolated and confirmed with PCR using 16S rRNA gene. Antibiotic resistance of the isolates was tested using disk diffusion method and the isolates were divided into phylogenetic groups by the quadruplex PCR method. The prevalence of serogroups and virulence genes were investigated using multiplex PCR.

Results: 87 (58%) of the isolates belonged to phylogroup B2. Virulence genes fimH (95.3%), aer (49.3%) and serogroups O8 (22.3%), O25 (21.5%) showed the highest prevalence. The lowest drug resistance was observed against imipenem (4.6%) and meropenem (3.3%). The prevalence of multidrug-resistant and extended-spectrum beta-lactamases isolates were 60% and 61.3%, respectively. We also found a significant relationship between phylogenetic groups, serogroups and virulence factors among our isolates.

Conclusion: The high abundance of phylogenetic group B2, serogroups O8 and O25, and virulence genes fimH and aer indicate their importance in the pathogenesis of UPEC in this country.