Isolation and identification of pathogenic Escherichia coli from sheep lung

Abstract:

[Objective] In recent years, more and more reported sheep respiratory diseases are partially caused by ExPEC (Extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli), resulting in some economic losses. We determine and characterize the bacterial pathogen from sheep with respiratory tract infection in Shihezi, Xinjiang. [Methods] Bacteria were isolated and identified from the lungs of infected lambs by routine methods combined with 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Meanwhile, antimicrobial susceptibility and specific virulence gene of the isolates were tested with K-B and PCR. Pathological examination was carried out from the lung of naturally infected sheep and artificially infected mice. [Results] A pathogenic Escherichia coli was isolated from infected lamb lung, which showed multiple drug resistance and carried 3 virulence genes (iutA, fyuA and ireA). Histology examination showed that the capillary vessel of alveolar wall was congested, bronchial lumen was found hyperemia, infiltration and hyperplasia of lymphocyte could be seen in lung tissue. [Conclusion] The bacterial pathogen isolated from infected lambs was ExPEC.