Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain
ABSTRACT Focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) is an intestinal disease causing significant economic losses in the table-egg industry due to reduced egg production in laying hens. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Between 2021 and 2023, 111 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from...
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American Society for Microbiology
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Microbiology Spectrum |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02110-24 |
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| author | Yu-Yang Tsai Julia Ienes Lima Sonsiray Alvarez Narvaez Catherine M. Logue |
| author_facet | Yu-Yang Tsai Julia Ienes Lima Sonsiray Alvarez Narvaez Catherine M. Logue |
| author_sort | Yu-Yang Tsai |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | ABSTRACT Focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) is an intestinal disease causing significant economic losses in the table-egg industry due to reduced egg production in laying hens. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Between 2021 and 2023, 111 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from FDN lesions and screened for the presence of virulence genes using PCR panels. Five strains—FDN-4, FDN-9, FDN-11, FDN-24, and FDN-50—were selected for whole-genome sequencing due to their high virulence gene content. Core-genome analyses found that the five FDN E. coli belong to different phylogroups and strain types (ST), but they all share multiple complete operons involved in key pathogenic functions, including host cell adhesion and invasion, iron acquisition, motility, biofilm formation, and acid resistance. Comparative genomic analyses identified FDN-4 as the most genetically distinct strain, closely resembling EC958, an O25b:H4 ST131 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) commonly associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production. FDN-4 and EC958 share unique chromosomal virulence genes absent in the other FDN strains, all located within genomic islands. This study provides the first complete genomic characterization of E. coli isolated from FDN lesions and highlights FDN-4 as a genetically distinct strain with similarities to O25b:H4 ST131 UPEC.IMPORTANCEThis study presents the first complete genomic characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) lesions. Notably, FDN-4 is the first E. coli strain from a poultry disease (FDN) to show significant similarity to O25b:H4 ST131 strains, commonly classified as uropathogenic E. coli and often associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production. However, caution is warranted when attributing direct transmission routes between poultry and humans. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | DOAJ |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | American Society for Microbiology |
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| series | Microbiology Spectrum |
| spelling | doaj-art-942d7366172d47cb82d52f8dcde1a06b2025-08-20T03:11:22ZengAmerican Society for MicrobiologyMicrobiology Spectrum2165-04972025-05-0113510.1128/spectrum.02110-24Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strainYu-Yang Tsai0Julia Ienes Lima1Sonsiray Alvarez Narvaez2Catherine M. Logue3Department of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USADepartment of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USADepartment of Infectious Diseases, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USADepartment of Population Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USAABSTRACT Focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) is an intestinal disease causing significant economic losses in the table-egg industry due to reduced egg production in laying hens. Its etiology and pathogenesis remain poorly understood. Between 2021 and 2023, 111 Escherichia coli isolates were collected from FDN lesions and screened for the presence of virulence genes using PCR panels. Five strains—FDN-4, FDN-9, FDN-11, FDN-24, and FDN-50—were selected for whole-genome sequencing due to their high virulence gene content. Core-genome analyses found that the five FDN E. coli belong to different phylogroups and strain types (ST), but they all share multiple complete operons involved in key pathogenic functions, including host cell adhesion and invasion, iron acquisition, motility, biofilm formation, and acid resistance. Comparative genomic analyses identified FDN-4 as the most genetically distinct strain, closely resembling EC958, an O25b:H4 ST131 uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) commonly associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production. FDN-4 and EC958 share unique chromosomal virulence genes absent in the other FDN strains, all located within genomic islands. This study provides the first complete genomic characterization of E. coli isolated from FDN lesions and highlights FDN-4 as a genetically distinct strain with similarities to O25b:H4 ST131 UPEC.IMPORTANCEThis study presents the first complete genomic characterization of Escherichia coli isolated from focal duodenal necrosis (FDN) lesions. Notably, FDN-4 is the first E. coli strain from a poultry disease (FDN) to show significant similarity to O25b:H4 ST131 strains, commonly classified as uropathogenic E. coli and often associated with extended-spectrum beta-lactamase production. However, caution is warranted when attributing direct transmission routes between poultry and humans.https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02110-24Escherichia coliavianfocal duodenal necrosisdiseasepoultry |
| spellingShingle | Yu-Yang Tsai Julia Ienes Lima Sonsiray Alvarez Narvaez Catherine M. Logue Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain Microbiology Spectrum Escherichia coli avian focal duodenal necrosis disease poultry |
| title | Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain |
| title_full | Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain |
| title_fullStr | Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain |
| title_short | Whole-genome analysis of five Escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the E. coli O25:H4 ST131 strain |
| title_sort | whole genome analysis of five escherichia coli strains isolated from focal duodenal necrosis in laying hens reveals genetic similarities to the e coli o25 h4 st131 strain |
| topic | Escherichia coli avian focal duodenal necrosis disease poultry |
| url | https://journals.asm.org/doi/10.1128/spectrum.02110-24 |
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