Virulence-associated factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs

Thirty one Escherichia coli strains isolated from pigs with urinary tract i nfections were investigated for presence of virulence factors and plasmid D NA profile. The most frequent virulence factors presented by these strains were mannose-resistant fimbriae, including P fimbriae (54.8%) and aerobacti n production (45.2%). The pap operon, detected by PCR, was found in 54.8% o f the strains, which is similar to its frequency in human strains. Other ch aracteristics such as the presence of mannose-sensitive hemagglutinin (16.1 %), indicative of type 1 pill, and production of hemolysin (25.8%), colicin (38.7%) and toxins (22.6% for LT and for VT) were less frequent, No strain s were positive for STa production. Plasmid profiles were variable among is olates from either the same or different farms. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.