ObjectiveTo investigate the virulence factors including hemolysin production, β-lactamase production, and biofilm formation. Antimicrobial resistance and plasmid content of 20 Escherichia coli isolates obtained from feces and Tigris water were screened.MethodsTen clinical and ten environmental E. coli isolates were collected from children diarrhea and swim areas on Tigris River in Baghdad city, Iraq, respectively. The bacterial isolates were identified by cultural characteristics, Gram stain, biochemical tests, and screened for the presence of E. coli O157:H7 serotype. Bacterial E. coli isolates were investigated for hemolysin production, biofilm formation, and β-lactamase production. Antibiotics susceptibility and plasmid content were determined.ResultsA total of ten clinical and ten water E. coli isolates were studied. Results showed that all E. coli isolates give negative results for latex O157:H7. Virulence factors analysis showed that 6/10 water isolates and 2/10 clinical isolates were hemolytic, 5/10 water isolates and 3/10 clinical isolates were biofilm formation, and 7/10 water isolates and 4/10 clinical isolates were β-lactamase producer. Antibiotics profile showed that all bacterial isolates were multidrug resistant. All E. coli isolates (100%) were resistant to carbenicillin, cefodizime, imipenem, and piperacillin. The plasmid DNA analysis showed that all E. coli isolates contained plasmid with molecular weight range between 4.507 kbp and 5.07 kbp, but clinical isolates contained multiple small and mega plasmids.ConclusionOur study revealed that E. coli isolates from river water exhibit a higher level of hemolysin production, β-lactamase production, and biofilm formation than feces isolates may be due to long adaptation. On the other hand, clinical E. coli isolates from feces showed higher level of antibiotic resistance and have multiple plasmids.

Current study obtained (75) isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa collected from different cases included : 28 isolates from otitis media, 23 isolates from burn infections, 10 isolates from wound infections, 8 isolates from urinary tract infections and 6 isolates from blood, during the period between 1/9/2014 to 1/11/2014        The result revealed that the tox A gene was present in 54 isolates (72%) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of tox A gene was 352 bp. The result shows 17 isolates (60.71%) from otitis media has tox A gene, 18 isolates (78.26%) from burn followed by 8 isolate (80%) from wound infection and 5 isolates (62.5%) from urinary tract infection , finally 6 isolates (100%) from blood have this gene.

From 50 stool samples collected from children with diarrhea of both sexes who visited various hospitals in Baghdad, 26 isolates of E.coli were found to belong to the phylogenetic group E. The findings revealed that the percentage of E.coli for thephylogenetic group E is (52%) , making it the dominant group among the other phylogenetic groups. The findings demonstrated that 100% of the E.coli isolates from phylogenetic group E are resistant to penicillin, and only 15% are resistant to imipenem. Multi-drug resistance (MDR) was found to be 15%, while XDR reached 85%. The results of thephylogenetic group for the remaining species of isolates in this study were group A (2/50 and by 4%), group B2 (1/50 and by 2% ),group C (12/50 and by 24%), group D (6/50 and by 12%), group F (3/50 and by 6%), group B1 by 0%, and group Clade 1 by (0%).

The result obtained 75 isolate of Pseudomonasaeruginosa included: 28 isolates from otitis media, 23 isolates from burn infections, 10 isolates from wound infections, 8 isolates from urinary tract infections and 6 isolates from blood. The isolates were identified by culturing on MacConkey agar, Blood agar, Cetrimide agar, Pseudomonas agar and CHROMagar Orientation then identified by performing biochemical tests including (oxidase test and catalase test) and further identification by using a API20E system. The result obtained Pseudomonasaeruginosa that have Las B included : 23 isolates from otitis media 82.14%, 19 isolates from burn infections 82.60%,10 isolates from wound infections 100%, 5 isolates from urinary tract infections 62.5 % and 6 isolates from blood 100%.The result revealed that the lasB gene was present in 63 isolates 84% of Pseudomonasaeruginosa. The gel electrophoresis showed that the molecular weight of alg D gene was 300bp. Conclusions: The results of the detection the virulence gene showed that Pseudomonasaeruginosa have las B gene84% that encoded elastase enzyme as the enzyme is highly efficient in protein analysis and the necrosis process.

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