SavedAdd your journal

Journals / Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi / 2026 / Volume: 15 Issue: 3

Distribution of Escherichia coli Pathotypes in Poultry by Host, Clinical Relevance, and Serogroup

Kanatlılardaki Escherichia coli patotiplerinin konak, klinik önem ve serogrup bazında dağılımı

Nazen Akdemir(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, ANKARA FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE)0009-0001-6540-7720
Seyyide Sarıçam İnce(ANKARA UNIVERSITY, ANKARA FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE)0000-0002-2386-6857
Pages
—
Publication Date
2026-09-23
🏛️Bibliographic metadata and full text access for this article are provided via DergiPark.
DergiPark Record ↗
✨

AI Summary & Key Takeaways

AI Insight
⚡ TL;DR(Too Long; Didn't Read)

Integration of molecular virulence profiling into surveillance programs may improve the characterization and control of poultry-associated diseases and help elucidate the potential epidemiological relationship between APEC and ExPEC.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯
Objective & Hypothesis:Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections in poultry represent a significant disease burden, causing economic losses and posing public health risks due to their zoonotic potential.
📊
Key Findings & Data:Serogroups O1, O2, and O78 are commonly identified in APEC isolates worldwide.
💡
Conclusion & Impact:Integration of molecular virulence profiling into surveillance programs may improve the characterization and control of poultry-associated diseases and help elucidate the potential epidemiological relationship between APEC and ExPEC.
🔬Design:Review & Systematic Survey
📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample
⚙️Variables:APEC · chicken · Escherichia coli

Abstract

Escherichia coli (E. coli) infections in poultry represent a significant disease burden, causing economic losses and posing public health risks due to their zoonotic potential. Although E. coli is generally characterized by low host specificity, the genetic diversity and acquisition of virulence factors enable the emergence of distinct pathotypes associated with different disease outcomes. In this review, the global and Türkiye-specific distribution of poultry-associated E. coli pathotypes was evaluated in terms of host species, clinical relevance, and serogroup diversity. The most frequently reported pathotypes in poultry include avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC). Among these, APEC is the most prevalent and is strongly associated with colibacillosis and systemic infections in poultry. Serogroups O1, O2, and O78 are commonly identified in APEC isolates worldwide. Notably, APEC and human-associated EXPEC-associated strains share phylogenetic and virulence gene repertoire similarities, suggesting that poultry may act as a potential reservoir for ExPEC strains. Studies in Türkiye have also reported clinically important serogroups, such as O78 and O157 from poultry and environmental sources. ETEC strains have been reported in poultry, with serogroups such as O8 and O149 also identified among ETEC-associated isolates. EPEC strains have also been reported in poultry, with several serogroups, including O24, O25, O26, O103, and O157, described in association with EPEC. O157 is among the most frequently investigated STEC serogroups in poultry. These findings highlight the epidemiological importance of pathogenic E. coli in poultry. Integration of molecular virulence profiling into surveillance programs may improve the characterization and control of poultry-associated diseases and help elucidate the potential epidemiological relationship between APEC and ExPEC.

Özet

Escherichia coli (E. coli) enfeksiyonları kanatlılarda önemli bir hastalık yükü oluşturmakta, ekonomik kayıplara yol açmakta ve zoonotik potansiyelleri nedeniyle halk sağlığı açısından risk teşkil etmektedir. E. coli, genellikle düşük konak özgüllüğü ile karakterize edilmesine rağmen, sahip olduğu genetik çeşitlilik ve virülens faktörlerini kazanabilme yeteneği, farklı hastalık tabloları ile ilişkili olan çeşitli patotiplerin ortaya çıkmasına olanak sağlamaktadır. Bu derlemede, kanatlı kaynaklı E. coli patotiplerinin küresel ve Türkiye’ye özgü dağılımı; konak türü, klinik önem ve serogrup çeşitliliği bazında değerlendirilmiştir. Kanatlılarda en sık bildirilen patotipler arasında avian patojenik E. coli (APEC), enterotoksijenik E. coli (ETEC), enteropatojenik E. coli (EPEC), Shiga toksin üreten E. coli (STEC) ve ekstraintestinal patojenik E. coli (ExPEC) yer almaktadır. Bunlar arasında, APEC en yaygın olanıdır. Kolibasilloz ve sistemik enfeksiyonlar ile ilişkilendirilmektedir. O1, O2 ve O78 serogrupları dünya genelinde APEC izolatlarında sıklıkla tanımlanmaktadır. Dikkat çekici olarak, APEC ve insan kaynaklı ExPEC suşları filogenetik yapı ve virülens gen repertuarı açısından benzerlik göstermekte olup, kanatlıların ExPEC için potansiyel bir rezervuar olabileceğini düşündürmektedir. Türkiye’de yapılan çalışmalarda da kanatlı ve çevresel örneklerden O78 ve O157 gibi klinik açıdan önemli serogruplar bildirilmiştir. ETEC genellikle O8 ve O149 serogrupları ile ilişkilendirilirken, EPEC genellikle O24, O25, O26, O103 ve O157 ile bağlantılıdır. STEC ise çoğunlukla O157 ve ilişkili serogruplarla ilişkili olup kanatlılarda daha nadir tespit edilmektedir. Bu bulgular, kanatlı üretim sistemlerinde patojenik E. coli’nin epidemiyolojik önemini ortaya koymaktadır. Etkin hastalık kontrolü ve APEC–ExPEC ilişkilerinin daha iyi anlaşılması için moleküler olarak virülens karakterizasyonunun rutin sürveyans sistemlerine entegre edilmesi gerekmektedir.

🔖

Cite This Article

Akdemir, N., İnce, S. S. (2026). Distribution of Escherichia coli Pathotypes in Poultry by Host, Clinical Relevance, and Serogroup. Harran Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, Volume: 15 Issue: 3. https://doi.org/10.31196/huvfd.1939270

📄 Full Text PDF Viewer

📄

PDF görüntüleyici hazırlanıyor...

References (54)

  1. Adorján, A., Makrai, L., Mag, T., Jánosi, S., Könyves, L., Tóth, I. (2020). High frequency of multidrug-resistant (MDR) atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (aEPEC) in broilers in Hungary. Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 7, 511. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2020.00511
  2. Akter, T., Hossain, M. J., Khan, M. S., Sultana, H., Fatema, K., & Datta, S. (2016). Isolation, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility pattern analysis of Escherichia coli isolated from clinical samples of Bangladesh. Asian Journal of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, 6(54), 13-16.
  3. Al-Gallas, N., Fadel, M.-E., Altammar, K. A., Awadi, Y., Ben Aissa, R. (2024). Pathovars, occurrence, and characterization of plasmid-mediated quinolone resistance in diarrheal Escherichia coli isolated from farmers and farmed chickens in Tunisia and Nigeria. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 77(5), ovae043. https://doi.org/10.1093/lambio/ovae043
  4. Al-Marri, T., Al-Marri, A., Al-Zanbaqi, R., Al Ajmi, A., Fayez, M. (2021). Multidrug resistance, biofilm formation, and virulence genes of Escherichia coli from backyard poultry farms. Veterinary World, 14(11), 2869-2877. https://doi.org/10.14202/ vetworld.2021.2869-2877
  5. Alonso, M. Z., Lucchesi, P. M. A., Rodríguez, E. M., Parma, A. E., Padola, N. L. (2012). Enteropathogenic (EPEC) and Shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) in broiler chickens and derived products at different retail stores. Food Control, 23(2), 351-355. ttps://doi. org/10.1016/j.foodcont.2011.07.030
  6. Banjo, M., Iguchi, A., Seto, K., Kikuchi, T., Harada, T., Scheutz, F., & Pathogenic Escherichia coli Working Group in Japan. (2018). Escherichia coli H-genotyping PCR: A complete and practical platform for molecular H typing. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 56(6), e00190-18. https://doi.org/10.1128/JCM.00190-18
  7. Boulbair, I., Hu, J., Hammoudi, A., Zhang, B., Aissat, S., Wang, X., & Wang, S. (2025). Molecular characterization and antibiotic resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolates from broiler chickens in Algeria. Animals, 15, 3324. https://doi. org/10.3390/ani15223324
  8. Chandra, M., Kaur, G., Karki, M., Narang, D. (2026). Antimicrobial resistance in Escherichia coli strains of poultry. Microbial Drug Resistance, 32(2), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.1177/10766294251411010
  9. Christensen, H., Bachmeier, J., Bisgaard, M. (2021). New strategies to prevent and control avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Avian Pathology, 50(5), 370- 381. https://doi.org/10.1080/03079457.2020.1845 300
  10. DebRoy, C., Roberts, E., Fratamico, P. M. (2011). Detection of O antigens in Escherichia coli. Animal Health Research Reviews, 12(2), 169-185. https://doi. org/10.1017/S1466252311000193
  11. DebRoy, C., Fratamico, P. M., Yan, X., Baranzoni, G., Liu, Y., Needleman, D. S., & Katani, R. (2016). Comparison of O-antigen gene clusters of all O-serogroups of Escherichia coli and proposal for adopting a new nomenclature for O-typing. PLOS ONE, 11(1), e0147434. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal. pone.0147434
  12. Dubreuil, J. D., Isaacson, R. E., Schifferli, D. M. (2016). Animal enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli. EcoSal Plus, 7(1). https://doi.org/10.1128/ecosalplus.ESP-0006-2016
  13. Dutta, T. K., Roychoudhury, P., Bandyopadhyay, S., Wani, S. A., Hussain, I. (2011). Detection and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) in poultry birds with diarrhoea. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 133(5), 541-545.
  14. Fadel, H. M., Afifi, R., Al-Qabili, D. M. (2017). Characterization and zoonotic impact of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in some wild bird species. Veterinary World, 10(9), 1118-1128. https://doi.org/10.14202/ vetworld.2017.1118-1128
  15. Farooq, S., Hussain, I., Mir, M. A., Bhat, M. A., Wani, S. A. (2009). Isolation of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli and Shiga toxin 1 and 2f-producing Escherichia coli from avian species in India. Letters in Applied Microbiology, 48(6), 692-697. https://doi. org/10.1111/j.1472-765X.2009.02594.x
  16. Ferreira, J. C., Penha Filho, R. A. C., Kuaye, A. P. Y., Andrade, L. N., & Darini, A. L. C. (2018). Virulence potential of commensal multidrug resistant Escherichia coli isolated from poultry in Brazil. Infection, Genetics and Evolution, 65, 251-256. https://doi. org/10.1016/j.meegid.2018.07.037
  17. Foster-Nyarko, E., Pallen, M. J. (2022). The microbial ecology of Escherichia coli in the vertebrate gut. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 46(3), 1-22. fuac008. https:// doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuac008
  18. Gonzalez, A. G. M., Cerqueira, A. M. F. (2020). Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in the animal reservoir and food in Brazil. Journal of Applied Microbiology, 128(6), 1568-1582. https://doi.org/10.1111/ jam.14500
  19. Gülhan, T., İlhan, Z., Aksakal, A., Solmaz, H., Ekin, İ. H. (2009). Hayvan orijinli Escherichia coli suşlarının enterotoksin tiplerinin (LT, ST) belirlenmesi. Van Veterinary Journal, 20(2), 27-31.
  20. Hassan, M. S., Iliyasu, M. Y., Alhaji, S. Y., Usman, N. I., Abdullahi, U. S. (2025). Virulence phenotype of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) and prevalence of colibacillosis among poultry birds in Bauchi Metropolis, Nigeria. International Journal of Tropical Disease & Health, 46(1), 1-11. https://doi. org/10.9734/ijtdh/2025/v46i11616
  21. Hong, Y., Qin, J., Forga, X. B., Totsika, M. (2023). Extensive diversity in Escherichia coli group 3 capsules is driven by recombination and plasmid transfer from multiple species. Microbiology Spectrum, 11(4), e01432-23. https://doi.org/10.1128/ spectrum.01432-23
  22. Hu, J., Afayibo D. J. A., Zhang, B., Zhu, H., Yao, L., Guo, W., & Wang, S. (2022). Characteristics, pathogenic mechanism, zoonotic potential, drug resistance, and prevention of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC). Frontiers in Microbiology, 13, 1049391. https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2022.1049391
  23. Iguchi, A., Iyoda, S., Seto, K., Morita-Ishihara, T., Scheutz, F., Ohnishi, M., Pathogenic E. coli Working Group in Japan. (2015). Escherichia coli O-genotyping PCR: A comprehensive and practical platform for molecular O serogrouping. Journal of Clinical Microbiology, 53(8), 2427-2432. https://doi.org/10.1128/ JCM.00321-15
  24. Ilcebaylik, A., Turkyilmaz, S. (2020). Investigation of important virulence genes and antibiotic resistance of Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens. Israel Journal of Veterinary Medicine, 75(4), 204- 214
  25. Joya, J. E., Tsuji, T., Jacalne, A. V., Arita, M., Tsukamoto, T., Honda, T., Miwatani, T. (1990). Demonstration of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli in diarrheic broiler chicks. European Journal of Epidemiology, 6(1), 88- 90. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00155557
  26. Kamal, O., Kneuper, H., Cogan, T., Woodward, M. J. (2026). Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli: Advances in pathogenesis, diagnosis, and control. Veterinary Sciences, 13(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.3390/ vetsci13010019
  27. Karacan Sever, N., Şahan Yapıcıer, Ö., Akan, M. (2022). Distribution of serotypes and antibiotic resistance of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated from chickens. Kafkas Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi, 28(6), 767-772. https://doi. org/10.9775/kvfd.2022.28271
  28. Kauffmann, F. (1947). The serology of E. coli group Journal of Immunology, 57, 71-100.
  29. Khairullah, A. R., Afnani, D. A., Riwu, K. H. P., Widodo, A., Yanestria, S. M., Moses, I. B., & Raissa, R. (2024). Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli: Epidemiology, virulence and pathogenesis, diagnosis, pathophysiology, transmission, vaccination, and control. Veterinary World, 17(12), 2747-2762. ttps://doi.org/10.14202/ vetworld.2024.2747-2762
  30. Koochakzadeh, A., Askari Badouei, M., Zahraei Salehi, T., Aghasharif, S., Soltani, M., Ehsan, M. R. (2015). Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli in wild and pet birds in Iran. Brazilian Journal of Poultry Science, 17(4), 445-450. https://doi.org/10.1590/1516- 635x1704445-450
  31. Li, D., Liu, B., Chen, M., Guo, D., Guo, X., Liu, F., & Wang, L. (2010). A multiplex PCR method to detect 14 Escherichia coli serogroups associated with urinary tract infections. Journal of Microbiological Methods, 82(1), 71-77. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. mimet.2010.04.008
  32. Liu, B., Furevi, A., Perepelov, A. V., Guo, X., Cao, H., Wang, Q., & Widmalm, G. (2020). Structure and genetics of Escherichia coli O antigens. FEMS Microbiology Reviews, 44(6), 655-683. https://doi.org/10.1093/ femsre/fuz028 Luppi, A., Gibellini, M., Gin, T., Vangroenweghe, F., Vandenbroucke, V., Bauerfeind, R., & Hidalgo, A. (2016). Prevalence of virulence factors in enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with post-weaning diarrhoea in Europe. Porcine Health Management, 2, 20. https://doi. org/10.1186/s40813-016-0039-9
  33. Machnicka, A. (2014). Escherichia coli in sewage sludge - Detection method. Chemistry-Didactics-Ecology- Metrology, 19(1-2), 79-85. https://doi.org/10.1515/ cdem-2014-0007
  34. MacInnes, J. I., Van Immerseel, F., Boyce, J. D., Rycroft, A. N., Vázquez-Boland, J. A. (2022). Escherichia coli. In J. I. MacInnes, F. Van Immerseel, J. D. Boyce, A. N. Rycroft, & J. A. Vázquez-Boland (Eds.), Pathogenesis of bacterial infections in animals (pp. 117-157). John Wiley & Sons.
  35. Mainil, J. (2013). Escherichia coli virulence factors. Veterinary Immunology and Immunopathology, 152(1-2), 2-12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetimm.2012.09.032
  36. Malik, Y. S., Milton, A. A. P., Ghatak, S., Ghosh, S. (2021). Avian colibacillosis (Escherichia coli). In role of birds in transmitting zoonotic pathogens (Livestock diseases and management). Springer. https://doi. org/10.1007/978-981-16-4554-9_12
  37. Markey, B. K., Leonard, F., Archambault, M., Cullinane, A., Maguire, D. (2013). Clinical Veterinary Microbiology (2nd ed.). Mosby.
  38. Moxley, R. A. (2022). Enterobacteriaceae. In D. S. McVey, M. Kennedy, M. M. Chengappa, R. Wilkes (Eds.), Veterinary Microbiology (pp. 56-74). John Wiley & Sons. https://doi.org/10.1002/9781119650836.ch6
  39. Nawaz, S., Wang, Z., Zhang, Y., Jia, Y, Chen, Z., & Han, X. (2024). Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC): Current insights and future challenges. Poultry Science, 103(12), 104359. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. psj.2024.104359
  40. Nolan, L. K., Barnes, H. J., Vaillancourt, J.-P., Abdul-Aziz, T., Logue, C. M. (2013). Colibacillosis. In D. E. Swayne (Ed.), Diseases of poultry (13th ed., pp. 751-805). John Wiley & Sons.
  41. Nolan, L. K., Barnes, H. J., Abdul-Aziz, T. A., Logue, C. M., Vaillancourt, J. P. (2015). Colibacillosis. In J. Brugère- Picoux, J. P. Vaillancourt, M. Bouzouaia, H. L. Shivaprasad, & D. Venne (Eds.), Manual of Poultry Diseases (pp. 301-316).
  42. Oh, J.-Y., Kang, M.-S., An, B.-K., Shin, E.-G., Kim, M.-J., & Kwon, Y.-K. (2012). Prevalence and characteristics of intimin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from healthy chickens in Korea. Poultry Science, 91(10), 2438-2443. https://doi.org/10.3382/ ps.2012-02301
  43. Osek, J. (1999). Prevalence of virulence factors of Escherichia coli strains isolated from diarrheic and healthy piglets after weaning. Veterinary Microbiology, 68(3-4), 209-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0378- 1135(99)00109-1
  44. Percival, S. L., Williams, D. W. (2014). Escherichia coli. In S. L. Percival, M. V. Yates, D. W. Williams, R. M. Chalmers, & N. F. Gray (Eds.), Microbiology of waterborne diseases (2nd ed., pp. 89-117). Academic Press. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-415846- 7.00006-8
  45. Puño-Sarmiento, J., Gazal, L. E., Medeiros, L. P., Nishio, E. K., Kobayashi, R. K. T., Nakazato, G. (2014). Identification of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli strains from avian organic fertilizers. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 11(9), 8924-8939. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph110908924
  46. Ramatla, T., Jane, N., Dineo, M., Mpho, T., Tshegofatso, M., Khasapane, N. G. (2025). The global prevalence of antibiotic resistance and shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in chickens: A systematic review and meta-analysis (2011-2024). Antibiotics, 14(6), 568. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics14060568
  47. Rogers, L., Power, K., Ó Gaora, P., Fanning, S. (2016). Escherichia coli and other Enterobacteriaceae: Occurrence and detection. In Encyclopedia of Food and Health (pp. 545-551). https://doi.org/10.1016/ B978-0-12-384947-2.00259-2
  48. Ryu, J.-H., Kim, S., Park, J., Choi, K.-S. (2020). Characterization of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains isolated from pre-weaned calves in the Republic of Korea. Acta Veterinaria Scandinavica, 62(1), 45. https:// doi.org/10.1186/s13028-020-00543-1
  49. Sarıçam İnce, S., Ünal, A., Akan, M. (2025). Comparison of pathogenicity factors of avian pathogenic and extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolates originating from broiler chickens. British Poultry Science, 66(4), 515-522. https://doi.org/10.1080/0 0071668.2025.2451242
  50. Sarowska, J., Futoma-Koloch, B., Jama-Kmiecik, A., Frej- Madrzak, M., Ksiazczyk, M., & Choroszy-Krol, I. (2019). Virulence factors, prevalence and potential transmission of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from different sources: Recent reports. Gut Pathogens, 11, 10. https://doi. org/10.1186/s13099-019-0290-0
  51. Watts, A., Wigley, P. (2023). Understanding the biological characteristics and diagnostic approaches for Escherichia coli and colibacillosis. International Journal of Veterinary Research and Allied Sciences, 3(2), 7-13. https://doi.org/10.51847/HlXsZoecLI
  52. Wilczyński, J., Stępień-Pyśniak, D., Wystalska, D., Wernicki, A. (2022). Molecular and serological characteristics of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from various clinical cases of poultry colibacillosis in Poland. Animals, 12(9), 1090. https://doi. org/10.3390/ani12091090
  53. Yang, S., Xi, F., Jing, J., Wu, D., Kong, L., Feng, B., & Wang, L. (2018). Genetic diversity of K-antigen gene clusters of Escherichia coli and their molecular typing using a suspension array. Canadian Journal of Microbiology, 64(4), 231-241. https://doi.org/10.1139/cjm-2017- 0620
  54. Zou, M., Ma, P.-P., Liu, W.-S., Liang, X., Li, X.-Y., Li, Y.-Z., Liu, B.-T. (2021). Prevalence and antibiotic resistance characteristics of extraintestinal pathogenic Escherichia coli among healthy chickens from farms and live poultry markets in China. Animals, 11(4), 1112. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11041112