Biochemical phenotypes of enteropathogenic Escherichia coli common to Iran and Sweden

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) is a significant cause of childhood diarrhea globally.
• Understanding the genetic relatedness and geographic distribution of EPEC strains is crucial for effective public health interventions.
• Previous studies have highlighted the need for robust methods to track E. coli strain similarities across borders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of a computerized biochemical fingerprinting method for analyzing EPEC strains.
• To investigate the biochemical similarity and clonal relationships of EPEC strains isolated from children with diarrhea in Sweden and Iran.
• To evaluate the potential of biochemical fingerprinting as an epidemiological tool for tracking E. coli in different geographical areas.

Main Methods:

• A collection of 143 EPEC strains from Sweden (n=71) and Iran (n=72) were analyzed.
• Computerized biochemical fingerprinting was employed to determine strain phenotypes.
• Virulence factors were assessed in conjunction with biochemical profiles.

Main Results:

• Sweden yielded 54 distinct phenotypes, while Iran produced 48, with varying numbers of strains per phenotype.
• A notable proportion of biochemically similar strains in both countries also shared similar virulence factors.
• Twenty-nine isolates (9 Swedish, 20 Iranian) demonstrated biochemical identity with strains from the other country, particularly within serogroups O55, O119, O126, O127, and O128.

Conclusions:

• Computerized biochemical fingerprinting is a valuable tool for evaluating clonal relationships among E. coli strains.
• The method demonstrates efficacy in identifying shared EPEC strains between geographically distinct regions, aiding epidemiological surveillance.
• Biochemical fingerprinting can complement other methods for understanding the global dissemination and evolution of pathogenic E. coli.