Comparative genomics reveals a lack of evidence for pigeons as a main source of stx_2f-carrying Escherichia coli causing disease in humans and the common existence of hybrid Shiga toxin-producing and enteropathogenic E. coli pathotypes.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Wild birds, in particular pigeons are considered a natural reservoir for stx_2f-carrying E. coli. An extensive comparison of isolates from pigeons and humans from the same region is lacking, which hampers justifiable conclusions on the epidemiology of these pathogens. Over two hundred human and pigeon stx_2f-carrying E. coli isolates predominantly from the Netherlands were analysed by whole genome sequencing and comparative genomic analysis including in silico MLST, serotyping, virulence genes typing and whole genome MLST (wgMLST).

Results

Serotypes and sequence types of stx_2f-carrying E. coli showed a strong non-random distribution among the human and pigeon isolates with O63:H6/ST583, O113:H6/ST121 and O125:H6/ST583 overrepresented

SUBMITTER: van Hoek AHAM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6451237 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature