Estimating the Level of Interleukin-22 in Sera of Patients with Uropathogenic Escherichia coli Infection in Mosul City

Abstract

Background: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) were infectious diseases of the urinary system, that were caused by the different causative agents, including fungi, parasites, viruses, and bacteria. The current study was designed to isolate different bacteria from UTI and choose E. coli isolates to study levels of interleukin-22 in patients infected with it. Furthermore, studying the prevalence of type 1 fimbriae (fimH) virulence gene from isolated E. coli of above patients. Methods: In the present study, a total of (140) midstream urine and serum samples were collected from patients (110 females and 30 males) with the age ranged between 10 to 65 years, who had signs and symptoms and primarily diagnosed with UTI by physician in Al-Salam Teaching Hospital – Mosul/Iraq during the period between January and March 2021, while thirty-four healthy individuals were studied as controls for the ELISA test. Identification of bacterial isolates was done by microscopical examination, biochemical tests, and (API 20E). Furthermore, disc diffusion method was used in antibiotic sensitivity test, and DNA from E. coli isolates was extracted for gene detection. In addition, serum interleukin-22 level was determined via ELISA technique. Results: The mean ± SD age in UTI patients were (32.95 ± 12.80) years, while in the healthy controls group were (35.55 ± 13.51) years. Additionally, E. coli were the most common isolated bacteria from the patient group with a frequency and percentage of 50 (35.7%). Furthermore, when compared to the control group, serum IL- 22 level was significantly higher in the patient's group due to E. coli infection (P<0.001). Moreover, the prevalence of the fimH gene in E. coli isolates was 47 (94.0%) were positive for that gene. Conclusion: The present study revealed that E. coli was the most bacterial infection in patients with urinary tract infection, while the highest E. coli sensitivity was to Meropenem, Nitrofurantoin (F15) and Chloramphenicol also the higher serum IL- 22 level in patients with UTIs due to E. coli compared to controls group. Therefore, IL-22 could be used as a biomarker for UTI. Additionally, the prevalence of the fimH gene in E. coli isolates was present in most isolates.