Comparison of the Common Adhesin Coding Operons Distribution in Uropathogenic and Phylogenetic Group B2 and A Escherichia coli Isolates

Escherichia coli is one of the most causative pathogen of urinary tract infection. Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are the second most common cause of morbidity and remain a serious health concern among the clinicians. The severity of UTI caused by uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is due to the expression of a wide spectrum of virulent factors such as adhesin coding operons. Little is known about the relationship between the E. coli genetic background and the acquisition of adhesin coding operons in UPEC isolates. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of adhesin coding operons in UPEC isolates belonged to phylogenetic group B2 and A collected from patients suffering from UTI. A total 100 UPEC isolates were used for DNA extraction by the boiling lysis. The analysis of phylogenetic groups, along with detection of adhesin coding operons was performed by Multiplex-PCR method. Associations were assessed between afa, fim, foc, pap and sfa operons among to 55 B2 and 17 A groups E. coli isolates. Statistical analysis was performed using Fisher exact test. Phylogenetic analysis showed that 55 and 17 of 100 UPEC isolates belonged to the B2 and A phylogenetic groups, respectively. The afa, fim, foc, pap and sfa operons were present in five (9.09%), 55 (100%), 16 (29.09%), 46 (83.63%) and 46 (83.63%) of UPEC isolates belonged to phylogenetic group B2, and two (12.50%), 14 (87.50%), one (6.25%), two (12.5%) and 12 (75%) of isolates belonged to phylogenetic group A, respectively. Statistical analysis showed that pap gene was significantly more frequently detected in phylogenetic group B2 (P < 0.05). The UPEC isolates belonging to group B2 harbored a greater number of adhesin coding operons than strains from phylogenetic groups A.