Escherichia Coli ST131 Collected From Companion Animals Can Cause Cystitis and Pyelonephritis in a Murine Model of Urinary Tract Infection
type: CreativeWork
description: Background: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause 80% of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) globally. Since the mid- 2000s, a subset of UPEC called ST131 have undergone rapid pandemic spread. ST131 are a major cause of UTIs that lead to serious complications in humans like pyelonephritis and sepsis. In companion animals, ST131 infections rarely cause severe symptoms, but are underreported as tracking of infections in animals has been limited. Recent analyses have shown that ST131 infections in companion animals represent spread from human hosts not primary animal infections. To manage the risk of zoonotic spread of ST131 E. coli from companion animals to humans, it is vital to understand the bidirectional transmission and identify the factors that predict an isolate’s ability to cause severe disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ST131 isolates from companion animals retain the ability, like their human counterparts, to cause UTI and pyelonephritis in a mouse model of UTI and to evaluate mechanisms of motility and adhesion. Methods: Six ST131 isolates collected from 3 dogs and 3 cats, were transurethrally inoculated into 36 C57BL/6 mice. CFUs were determined from urine, and bladder and kidney tissue post sacrifice. Isolates were assessed for motility via RNA expression of two flagellar genes, soft agar and trans-well assays. Adhesion was assessed via mannose sensitive hemagglutination, and T24 bladder epithelia adhesion assay. Finally, the percentage of a population of each isolate with type 1 fimbriae turned on was determined. Results: E. coli ST131 (102 – 1011 CFUs) were present in the urine ≥ 21 days in 24 of 36 mice. All 6 strains of E. coli were able to infect the kidney with strain AUS75 infecting 1/6 mice while strain AUS272 infected 4/6 mice. Three strains infected 2/6 mice and one strain (AUS80) 3/6 mice. The diameters of the motility assays ranged from 4.3 (AUS80) to 38mm (AUS75). flhD RNA expression ranged from 3- (AUS…
abstract: Background: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) cause 80% of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTI) globally. Since the mid- 2000s, a subset of UPEC called ST131 have undergone rapid pandemic spread. ST131 are a major cause of UTIs that lead to serious complications in humans like pyelonephritis and sepsis. In companion animals, ST131 infections rarely cause severe symptoms, but are underreported as tracking of infections in animals has been limited. Recent analyses have shown that ST131 infections in companion animals represent spread from human hosts not primary animal infections. To manage the risk of zoonotic spread of ST131 E. coli from companion animals to humans, it is vital to understand the bidirectional transmission and identify the factors that predict an isolate’s ability to cause severe disease. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ST131 isolates from companion animals retain the ability, like their human counterparts, to cause UTI and pyelonephritis in a mouse model of UTI and to evaluate mechanisms of motility and adhesion. Methods: Six ST131 isolates collected from 3 dogs and 3 cats, were transurethrally inoculated into 36 C57BL/6 mice. CFUs were determined from urine, and bladder and kidney tissue post sacrifice. Isolates were assessed for motility via RNA expression of two flagellar genes, soft agar and trans-well assays. Adhesion was assessed via mannose sensitive hemagglutination, and T24 bladder epithelia adhesion assay. Finally, the percentage of a population of each isolate with type 1 fimbriae turned on was determined. Results: E. coli ST131 (102 – 1011 CFUs) were present in the urine ≥ 21 days in 24 of 36 mice. All 6 strains of E. coli were able to infect the kidney with strain AUS75 infecting 1/6 mice while strain AUS272 infected 4/6 mice. Three strains infected 2/6 mice and one strain (AUS80) 3/6 mice. The diameters of the motility assays ranged from 4.3 (AUS80) to 38mm (AUS75). flhD RNA expression ranged from 3- (AUS…
author: Landon, Holly
language: en_US
date published: 2023
date modified: 2026-07-24T01:50:13Z
provider: Creighton University
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: Creighton University