Azadeh Foroughi - Pathobiology & Basic Science Department, Veterinary Faculty, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran
Shervin Ramezan-Ghanbari - Islamic Azad University, Broujerd, Iran

۱) Background: Uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) is responsible for ۷۰-۹۰% of urinary tractinfections. On the other hand, E. coli producing Shiga toxin (STEC), the so-called Verotoxinproducing E. coli (VTEC), has two stx۱ and stx۲ genes (Producing Stx۱ and Stx۲ toxins). Since these genes are plasmidal and can be transmitted between E. coli strains, it is likely that stx۱ and stx۲ genes are also found in the Uropathogenic E. coli. Studies in different parts of the world indicate some cases of dangerous syndromes such as Haemolytic-Uraemic Syndrome (HUS)following urinary tract infections. Also, the incidence of urinary tract infections caused by Verotoxigenic E. coli strains is increasing. Therefore, the present study was conducted to investigate the presence of verotoxin genes in Uropathogenic E. coli; ۲)Methods: A total of ۱۸۰ clinical specimens were collected during five months. After diagnostic tests and differential biochemistry tests, ۱۰۰ samples were confirmed as E. coli and the presence of stx۲ and stx۱ genes was investigated by Muliplex-PCR; ۳) Results: The results showed that the prevalence rates of stx۱ and stx۲ genes were ۱۵% and ۱۳%, respectively, in UPEC samples examined in this study, which is in agreement with the results of few similar studies in Iran; and ۴) Conclusions: It seems that the frequency of verotoxin genes in E. coli causing urinary tract infections in Kermanshah is more than the other parts of Iran. Therefore, the potential risks of these bacteria could not be ignored.

Uropathogenic E. coli, stx۱, stx۲, VTEC, STEC