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The occurrence of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains among children with diarrhea in Iran

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Journal of Infection and Chemotherapy

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic diversity and class 2 integron content of typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains isolated from children less than 5 years of age. Biochemical tests and serogrou** were performed for identification of isolated strains, and each isolate was tested for susceptibility to 7 antimicrobial agents. The identity of EPEC and their class 2 integron content was confirmed by PCR analysis and sequencing. Subty** of Escherichia coli spp. was performed through pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis. All EPEC strains were resistant to 6 antimicrobial agents except for gentamycin. The most prevalent serogroups among EPEC strains were found to be members of O86 and O127 serogroups (37.7 %) and O44, O125, and O128 (42.8 %). The majority of our EPEC isolates (60.7 %) were identified as atypical. Among the total 28 isolates, 4 (14.2 %) harbored a class 2 integron 1,500 or 2,300 bp in size, corresponding to dfrA1–sat1 and dfrA1–sat1–aadA1 resistance gene cassette arrays, respectively. PFGE analysis showed an extensive diversity among the isolates. No PFGE clustering was observed according to bundle-forming pilus (bfp) bacteria, suggesting that PFGE analysis could not discriminate between typical and atypical EPEC strains. The high ratio of antibiotic-resistant strains and the large heterogeneity among EPEC isolates with low prevalence of class 2 integrons signify the need to examine for other mechanism(s) involved in conferring resistance in typical and atypical populations of EPEC.

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Acknowledgments

We thank the Research Council of Tarbiat Modares University for supporting the project.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Bacteriology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Jalal-Ale-Ahmad Ave, 14117-13116, Tehran, Iran

    Bita Bakhshi

  2. Department of Biology, Faculty of Basic Science, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Soheil Fallahzad

  3. Department of Microbiology, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran

    Mohammad R. Pourshafie

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  1. Bita Bakhshi
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  2. Soheil Fallahzad
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  3. Mohammad R. Pourshafie
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Correspondence to Bita Bakhshi.

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Bakhshi, B., Fallahzad, S. & Pourshafie, M.R. The occurrence of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains among children with diarrhea in Iran. J Infect Chemother 19, 615–620 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0526-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10156-012-0526-0

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