Frequencies of virulence genes and pulse field gel electrophoresis fingerprints in Escherichia coli isolates from canine pyometra

Abstract Escherichia coli is the most common bacterial agent isolated from canine pyometra. The frequencies of 24 virulence genes and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) profiles were determined for 23 E. coli isolates from cases of canine pyometra in Brazil. The frequencies of virulence genes were 91.3% fim H, 91.3% irp -2, 82.6% fyu A, 56.5% iro N, 47.8% tra T, 39.1% usp , 34.8% sfa D/E, 34.8% tsh , 30.4% pap C, 30.4% hly A, 26.1% pap GIII, 26.1% cnf -1, 21.7% pap E/F, 21.7% iss , 17.4% iut A, 17.4% omp T, 17.4% cva C, 17.4% hly F, 17.4% iuc D, 13.0% iuc C, 13.0% ast A, 4.3% pap GII, 0% afa B/C and 0% pap GI. The high frequency of yersiniabactin ( fyu A and irp 2) and salmochelin ( iro N) genes suggests that iron uptake systems might be important in the pathogenesis of canine pyometra. PFGE profiles of 19 isolates were heterogeneous, confirming that E. coli isolates from canine pyometra are unlikely to be epidemic clones.