Article

Uropathogenic virulence factors in isolates of Escherichia coli from clinical cases of canine pyometra and feces of healthy bitches.

Department of Veterinary Science, The University of Melbourne, 250 Princes Highway, Werribee 3030, Vic, Australia.
Veterinary Microbiology (impact factor: 3.33). 06/2003; 94(1):57-69. pp.57-69
Source: PubMed

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is commonly isolated in canine pyometra, but little is known of the virulence factors that may be involved in the precipitation of this disease. The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of uropathogenic virulence factor (UVF) genes in E. coli isolates from canine pyometra and from feces of healthy bitches to evaluate their role in the pathogenesis of pyometra. E. coli from 23 cases of canine pyometra and from the feces of 24 healthy bitches were analyzed, by polymerase chain reaction, for UVF genes associated with canine and human urinary tract infections (UTIs). The prevalences of UVFs in E. coli from canine pyometra were similar to that in canine and human uropathogenic E. coli. The prevalence of pap was greater (P=0.036) for E. coli from pyometra (52%) than for fecal isolates (21%), and the papGIII allele was present in all pap-containing isolates. The prevalences of genes for alpha-haemolysin and cytotoxic necrotising factor 1 were not significantly higher (P=0.075) in E. coli from pyometra than from feces. The proportion of pyometra strains with >or=3 UVFs was higher (P=0.039) than that of fecal strains, suggesting that possession of >or=3 UVF genes enhances the pathogenicity of the strain. Our findings demonstrate that E. coli associated with canine pyometra are similar to uropathogenic strains, and that operons that encode P fimbriae, alpha-haemolysin and cytotoxic necrotising factor 1 probably enhance the virulence and pathogenicity of the strain in the canine genital tract.

0 0
 · 
0 Bookmarks
 · 
13 Views
  • Source
    Article: Mucometra, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, and pyometra in the bitch: advances in treatment and assessment of future reproductive success.
    J Verstegen, G Dhaliwal, K Verstegen-Onclin
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: Pyometra is a common reproductive disorder which affects nearly one fourth of all female dogs before they reach 10 y of age. An association between pyometra and the most common uterine disease of the bitch, cystic endometrial hyperplasia, has been established, as the latter allows commensal bacteria originating from the vagina to proliferate in the uterus at the end of estrus. The progressive degenerative process in the development of cystic endometrial hyperplasia is usually proposed as the initiating lesion for pyometra in bitches; this is mediated by progesterone and potentially aggravated by estrogens. However, a separate process caused by local uterine irritation to trophoblastic reaction and bacterial proliferation has been recently proposed as an alternate mechanism leading to the development of pyometra. Pyometra is clinically distinct in pathogenesis, signs, treatment and prognosis from postpartum metritis or mucometra. Treatment of pyometra has historically involved ovariohysterectomy, however, during the last 10 y, numerous effective treatments have been proposed to treat both open and closed cervix pyometra with good success and future fertility. Among the treatments available, the use of repeated low doses of prostaglandins alone or in association with either dopamine agonists or progesterone-receptor antagonists has been demonstrated to be a viable alternative for valuable breeding dogs.
    Theriogenology 09/2008; 70(3):364-74. · 1.96 Impact Factor
  • Article: Changes in CRP, SAA and haptoglobin produced in response to ovariohysterectomy in healthy bitches and those with pyometra
    Roman Da ˛browski, Władysław Wawron, Krzysztof Kostro
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: The aim of the study was to assess changes in serum C-reactive protein (CRP), serum amyloid A component (SAA) and haptoglobin (Hp) concentrations in healthy bitches and in those with pyometra undergoing ovariohysterectomy, and to establish the usefulness of such determinations for monitoring the postoperative period. Our results indicate that CRP and SAA determinations serve to evaluate the severity of the inflammatory process in pyometra since the concentrations of these acute phase proteins were increased immediately after surgery and diminished thereafter. The CRP and SAA response was rapidly produced while Hp concentrations increased in a more gradual manner. Thus, postoperative concentrations of CRP and SAA provide valuable information on the subsidence of the inflammatory response during the uneventful postoperative period. Our findings also suggest that acute phase proteins might be useful diagnostic markers of early postoperative complications.
    Theriogenology 01/2007; 67:321. · 1.96 Impact Factor
  • Source
    Article: Evaluation of the contribution of gyrA mutation and efflux pumps to fluoroquinolone and multidrug resistance in pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates from dogs and cats.
    Bashar W Shaheen, Dawn M Boothe, Omar A Oyarzabal, Chengming Wang, Calvin M Johnson
    [show abstract] [hide abstract]
    ABSTRACT: To investigate the contribution of gyrA mutation and efflux pumps to fluoroquinolone resistance and multidrug resistance among Escherichia coli isolates from dogs and cats. 536 clinical isolates of E coli. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined for enrofloxacin and 6 other drug classes by use of broth microdilution techniques. Real-time PCR assay was used to determine the mutation in gyrA; Phe-Arg-β-naphthylamide, an efflux pump inhibitor, was used to examine the contribution of efflux pump overexpression. The MIC for fluoroquinolones increased in a stepwise fashion and was lowest in the absence of mutations, higher with a single point mutation, and highest with 2 point mutations. Level of resistance in the latter category was high (8 times the breakpoint), but this was associated with expression of the AcrAB efflux pump. Inhibition of the efflux pump resulted in a reduction in the MIC to less than the susceptible breakpoint for isolates with an MIC ≤ 4 mg/L, regardless of the presence of a mutation. The greatest magnitude in MIC decrease (MIC was decreased by a factor of > 67 fold) was for isolates with a single mutation but the greatest absolute decrease in MIC (124 mg/L) was for isolates with 2 mutations. Inhibition of the AcrAB efflux pump in isolates characterized by multidrug resistance decreased the MIC of drugs structurally unrelated to fluoroquinolone. Fluoroquinolone resistance in E coli appeared to be a stepwise phenomenon, with MIC increasing as the number of point mutations in gyrA increased, but high-level resistance and multidrug resistance associated with fluoroquinolone resistance reflected overexpression of the AcrAB efflux pump.
    American Journal of Veterinary Research 01/2011; 72(1):25-32. · 1.27 Impact Factor

Show more

Data provided are for informational purposes only. Although carefully collected, accuracy cannot be guaranteed. The impact factor represents a rough estimation of the journal's impact factor and does not reflect the actual current impact factor. Publisher conditions are provided by RoMEO. Differing provisions from the publisher's actual policy or licence agreement may be applicable.

Keywords

24 healthy bitches
 
alpha-haemolysin
 
canine genital tract
 
canine pyometra
 
cytotoxic necrotising factor 1
 
E. coli
 
encode P fimbriae
 
Escherichia coli
 
fecal strains
 
healthy bitches
 
human urinary tract infections
 
human uropathogenic E. coli
 
papGIII allele
 
polymerase chain reaction
 
prevalences
 
pyometra strains
 
uropathogenic strains
 
UVF genes
 
UVFs
 
virulence factors