Virulence factors and phylogenetic group profile of uterine Escherichia coli in early postpartum of high-producing dairy cows
Luana de Cássia Bicudo
A E , Eunice Oba A , Sony Dimas Bicudo A , Domingos da Silva Leite B , Amanda Keller Siqueira B , Marina Mitie de Souza Monobe C , Meghi Nogueira B , José Carlos de Figueiredo Pantoja D , Fernando José Paganini Listoni D and Márcio Garcia Ribeiro D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Animal Reproduction and Veterinary Radiology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Prof. Doutor Walter Mauricio Correa Street, Rubião Junior, Postal Address 560, 18618-681, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
B Department of Genetics, Evolution and Bioagents, Institute of Biology, University of Campinas, 255 Monteiro Lobato Street, 13083-862, Postal Address 6109, Campinas, SP, Brazil.
C Department of Veterinary Clinics, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Prof. Doutor Walter Mauricio Correa Street, Rubião Junior, Postal Address 560, 18618-681, Botucatu, SP, Brazil.
D Department of Veterinary Hygiene and Public Health, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences (FMVZ), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Prof. Doutor Walter Mauricio Correa Street, Rubião Junior, Postal Address 560, 18618-681, Botucatu, Brazil.
E Corresponding author. Email: luanacbicudo@gmail.com
Animal Production Science 59(10) 1898-1905 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN17729
Submitted: 24 October 2017 Accepted: 14 December 2018 Published: 4 February 2019
Abstract
Escherichia coli is the most common contaminant of the bovine uterus in the first few weeks postpartum, and one of the most important pathogens involved in uterine infections. This bacterium is characterised by diverse virulence factors (VF); however, the profile of E. coli VF in physiologic postpartum uterine contamination is not well established. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the prevalence of intrauterine bacteria, a set of virulence factors and phylogroups of E. coli isolates, leukogram and uterine cytology in 75 Holstein cows at 24 h (Sampling time 1) and 14 days (Sampling time 2) postpartum. Escherichia coli, α-haemolytic Streptococcus, Trueperella pyogenes, and Pasteurella multocida were the most common microorganisms isolated in pure culture, whereas E. coli and Clostridium perfringens Type A, E. coli and α-haemolytic Streptococcus, and E. coli and Proteus mirabilis were the most frequent microorganisms in mixed colonies at both studied sampling times. In the 59 E. coli isolates after 24 h (n = 35) and 14 days (n = 24) postpartum, the genes detected for VF were fimH, iucD/aer, kps, hlyA, usp, vt1 and vt2. Most E. coli strains detected in both moments of study belonged to Commensal phylogenetic groups A and B1, whereas Pathogenic groups D and B2 were identified at 24 h and 14 days postpartum respectively. All cows presented suitable immune response against the presence of bacteria in uterine lumen, observed by leukocytosis, neutrophilia, lymphocytosis and monocytosis at leukogram and a high number of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in uterine cytology, in both studied moments. Thus, a complex diversity of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria is involved in uterine contamination in the early postpartum of cows, besides the predominance of E. coli. Moreover, the genes fimH, iucD/aer, hlyA, kps, usp, vt1 and vt2 play a key role in the virulence of E. coli in this period.
Additional keywords: animal reproduction, bacteriology, genetic variation, microbial diversity.
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