Comparison of Bacteriological, Genetic and Pathological Characters between Escherichia coli O115a,c:K(B) and Citrobacter rodentium.

• DOI: 10.1538/expanim.50.183
• Publication Date: 2004-01-14T09:54:10Z
• Authors: Akiko OKUTANI; Toru TOBE; Chihiro SASAKAWA; Ryoko NOZU; Kazuo GOTOH; Akira TAKAKURA; Toshio ITOH; Yukiko MIYAMOTO; Kikuji ITOH
• Keywords: DNA, Bacterial; Male; 0301 basic medicine; Mice, Inbred BALB C; 0303 health sciences; Hyperplasia; Colon; Sequence Homology; Sequence Analysis, DNA; 3. Good health; Citrobacter freundii; Rodent Diseases; Colonic Diseases; Mice; 03 medical and health sciences; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; Escherichia coli; Animals; Germ-Free Life; Female; Disease Susceptibility

Murine pathogenic Escherichia coli O115a,c:K(B) (MPEC) is the causative agent of mouse megaenteron, the pathology of which resembles that of transmissible murine colonic hyperplasia caused by Citrobacter rodentium. We compared their genetic and pathological features to reveal the relationship between these two bacteria. To evaluate the genetic distances, 16S rDNA genes were sequenced and biochemical reactions were tested. Mouse strain susceptibility tests, using CF1 MPEC-susceptible germfree mice and BALB/cA(Jic) resistant mice were performed. MPEC strains and C. rodentium showed more than 99.6% identity by comparison of 16S rDNA gene sequences. All results from biochemical reactions and the mouse strain susceptibility tests were identical. It is proposed that MPEC should be reclassified as C. rodentium.