Molecular investigation of <i>Proteus vulgaris</i> virulence genes from asymptomatic bacteriuria in pregnant women

Background. It is a well-known bacterium Proteus vulgaris that causes urinary tract infections specifically bacteriuria. This study aimed to genetically search for the role of some virulence genes in this bacterium via bacteriuria in pregnant women of the Thi-Qar Governorate of Iraq. Materials anm methods. A mid-stream urine specimen with a total of 235 specimens was gleaned from pregnant women, which were performed in a random manner from various hospitals, when 116 cases suffered from UTI (patient group). The others (119 specimens) were collected from married women, but not pregnant women, and apparently in healthy cases (control group). MacConkey agar and blood agar were used for culturing and identification of bacteria under aerobic conditions, followed by microscopic examination, appearance description, biochemical test, API 20E analysis, and PCR analysis. Results. Genetic analysis revealed bacteriuria in 39 (33.6%) pregnant women infected with Proteus sp., but it stooped to 3 (2.5%) in apparently healthy women (control). When phenotypically and genotypically with specific identification genes of P. vulgaris the same samples were infected with this bacterium in eight (6.8%), while it receded to 1 (0.84%) in the control. The PCR and statistical analyses demonstrated that the total existence of each study gene (ureC, mrpA, and zapA) in bacteriuria isolates of P. vulgaris was 11/9 (122.2%), 9/9 (100%) and 9/9 (100%), respectively. There was significant variation in the position of zapA on chromosomes 8/9 (88.8%) and on the plasmid that was dropped to 1/9 (11.1%). Conclusion. The role of these bacteria is serious and significant in pathogenicity and attachment to the epithelial tissues of the urinary tract, the opportunistic nature of P. vulgaris, biofilm production, and elevated urine pH, which lead to stone production in pregnant women. PCR is the fastest and most accurate method for diagnosing P. vulgaris and its virulence genes.