Scientific Reports (Apr 2023)

Characterization of the pathogenicity of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from pneumonia-infected lung samples of dogs and cats in South Korea

  • Chi Sun Yun,
  • Bo-Youn Moon,
  • Mi-Hye Hwang,
  • Soo-Kyoung Lee,
  • Bok-Kyung Ku,
  • Kichan Lee

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-32287-z
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 1
pp. 1 – 9

Abstract

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Abstract This study aimed to investigate the pathogenicity of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli (ExPEC) isolated from dog and cat lung samples in South Korea. A total of 101 E. coli isolates were analyzed for virulence factors, phylogroups, and O-serogroups, and their correlation with bacterial pneumonia-induced mortality was elucidated. P fimbriae structural subunit (papA), hemolysin D (hlyD), and cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (cnf1) were highly prevalent in both species, indicating correlation with bacterial pneumonia. Phylogroups B1 and B2 were the most prevalent phylogroups (36.6% and 32.7%, respectively) and associated with high bacterial pneumonia-induced mortality rates. Isolates from both species belonging to phylogroup B2 showed high frequency of papA, hlyD, and cnf1. O-serogrouping revealed 21 and 15 serogroups in dogs and cats, respectively. In dogs, O88 was the most prevalent serogroup (n = 8), and the frequency of virulence factors was high for O4 and O6. In cats, O4 was the most prevalent serogroup (n = 6), and the frequency of virulence factors was high for O4 and O6. O4 and O6 serogroups were mainly grouped under phylogroup B2 and associated with high bacterial pneumonia-induced mortality. This study characterized the pathogenicity of ExPEC and described the probability of ExPEC pneumonia-induced mortality.