Evaluation of virulence factors and phylogrouping of escherichia coli strains isolated from acute bovine mastitis in turkey

Abstract

The objective of this study was to determine the phylogenetic distribution of commonly studied virulence factors of 155 E. coli isolated from acute bovine mastitis. In the study, A, B1, B2, C, D, E, F phylogroups, and Clade I were defined. B1 and C were found to be the most prevalent phylogroups covering commensal strains with a ratio of 45.2% and 37.4%, respectively. The other phylogroups determined in the study were F, D, A, and E with a range of 0.6%-8.9%. Commonly known virulence genes; clpg, F17, afa, iucC, iucD, cnf1, cnf2, kps, and traT were selected to determine the virulence factors. The only virulence factor gene existing within the strains was traT (66.4%). However, any relation between phylogroups and virulence factors was not determined. Phylogroups C, E and F were found to be new phylogroups for the first time in acute bovine mastitis cases

Keywords

• escherichia coli
• bovine mastitis
• phylogroup
• virulence factor