E. coli clinical isolates: Phylogrouping and virulence factors in Alexandria, Egypt

Background: E. coli is can be categorized into many pathotypes which represent groups of strains with specific pathogenic characteristics. This study aimed to identify phylogroups and different virulence factors in E coli isolated from clinical specimens. Methods: Fifty clinical E. coli isolates were included in this study. Identification and Antibiotic susceptibility testing were performed by Vitek® 2 compact system. Virulence genes detection and phylogroup gene alleles were performed using SYBR Green Real-time PCR. Results: The results revealed high antibiotic resistance; 62% of the isolates were MDR and 8% were XDR. The most prevalent virulence gene was papG (78%) while the least was hlyA (22%). Phylogroup B2 was the most predominant (52%), followed by (10%) group D, (8%) group C and group E each, (6%) group B1, (4%) clade1 and (2%) group F. Conclusion: Phylogroup B2 had all the virulence genes investigated in this study and it was more associated with sat and hlyA virulence genes.