Detection of fimH, kpsMTII, hlyA, and traT genes in Escherichia coli isolated from Iraqi patients with cystitis

Abstract

This study was conducted at Baghdad Medical City/Baghdad Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, Iraq. 150 urine samples were collected from patients of both genders who had suspected urinary tract infections (UTIs) and symptoms diagnosed by the investigating physician. These samples were then evaluated using optical microscopy and bacterial cell identification, which revealed the presence of pathogenic bacteria. The samples of E. coli were cultivated and stored with the aim of using Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) to investigate genes encoding for specific virulence factors. Out of 150 samples (75 males and 75 females), 63 (42%) were found to be infected with E. coli and came from individuals with cystitis. Selective culture media, biochemical tests, and API 20 E were used to identify the isolates. According to our findings, females 45 isolates (71.4%) were infected more than males 18 isolates (28.6%), notably in the age range between 18 and 45 years. The virulence genes were discovered using the PCR method (fimH, kpsMTII, traT, and hlyA). The results showed FimH gene was found in 63 (100%) isolates, kpsMTII gene in 34 (54%) isolates, traT gene in 20 (31.7%) isolates, and hlyA gene in 10 (15.9%) isolates. Conclusion: UPEC isolates showed that all isolates were carriers of the fimH virulence gene and in varying proportions of other virulence genes (kpsMTII, traT, and hlyA), and most of the studies showed that there is a correlation between the virulence genes and the antibiotics.