Escherichia albertii as a Potential Enteropathogen in the Light of Epidemiological and Genomic Studies

Escherichia albertii is a new enteropathogen of humans and animals. The aim the study was to assess prevalence pathogenicity E. strains isolated in northeastern Poland using epidemiological genomic studies. In 2015–2018, total 1154 fecal samples from children adults, 497 bird droppings, 212 food samples, 92 water 500 lactose-negative coli were tested. A 42 isolated. PCR method suitable for their rapid identification. total, 33.3% isolates resistant one antibiotic, 16.7% two. Isolates sensitive cefepime, imipenem, levofloxacin, gentamicin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, did not produce ESBL β-lactamases. High genetic variability has been demonstrated. PFGE method, 90.5% had distinct pulsotypes. MLST typing, 85.7% assigned sequence types (STs), which 64% novel ST types. Cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) Paa genes found 100% isolates. Genes encoding toxins, IbeA, CdtB type 2, Tsh Shiga (Stx2f), 26.2%, 9.7%, 1.7%, 0.4% isolates, respectively. chromosome size tested ranged 4,573,338 5,141,010 bp (average 4,784,003 bp), at least plasmid present all strains. contributes more accurate assessment diversity potential threat it poses public health.