Abstract

RAPID DETECTION OF UROPATHOGENIC ESCHERICHIA COLI VIRULENCE FACTORS IN IRAQI PATIENTS BY MULTIPLEX POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Esam. G. M. Salih, Mohammed. I. Nadeer*, Maarib. N. Rasheed

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the occurrence of virulence genes expressing fimbriae among a hundred and twelve Escherichia coli isolates obtained from outpatients of seven Iraqi hospitals, between November 2014 and February 2015, showing clinical and laboratory signs of urinary tract infection (UTI).Primers to amplify the genes encoding the virulence factors of uropathogenic Escherichia coli, such as type 1 fimbriae (fimH), S fimbriae (sfa), pilus associated with pyelonephritis (pap) and afimbrial adhesin (afa) genes were combined to develop a multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR) for detection of the respective Virulence factors and for the identification of uropathogenic E. coli. Among the isolates studied, the prevalence of genes coding for fimbrial adhesive systems was 91.071%, 75%, 51.785% and 5.357% for fim H, sfa, pap and Afa respectively. The various combinations of detected genes were designated as virulence patterns. A rapid assessment of the bacterial pathogenicity characteristics may contribute to a better medical approach of the patients with urinary tract infections. The multiplex PCR developed was therefore, concluded to be a useful, sensitive and rapid assay system to identify uropathogenic E. coli. Thus, this assay can be recommended for clinical use to detect virulent urinary E. coli strains, as well as for epidemiological studies.

Keywords: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC), Virulence factors, Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (MPCR), Urinary tract infections (UTIs), Iraq.