Intestinal colonization of genotoxic Escherichia coli strains encoding colibactin and cytotoxic necrotizing factor in small mammal pets.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli encoding colibactin (clb), cytolethal distending toxin (cdt), and hemolysin-associated cytotoxic necrotizing factor (cnf) are associated with various intestinal and extra-intestinal diseases in humans and animals. Small mammal pets are not evaluated for genotoxin-encoding E. coli. Thus, the prevalence of such strains is unknown. The objective of this study was to isolate and characterize genotoxin-encoding E. coli from healthy and ill small mammal pets examined at a veterinary clinic and at two animal adoption centers. E. coli isolates were cultured from fecal samples and biochemically characterized. A total of 65 animals, including mice, rats, rabbits, guinea pigs, and hedgehogs, were screened. Twenty-six E. coli isolates were obtained from 24 animals. Twelve of the 26 is

SUBMITTER: Fabian NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6948155 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature