Evaluation of phylogroup, sequence type, resistome and virulome in Escherichia coli resulting in feline bacterial cystitis and subclinical bacteriuria.

There is limited information on E. coli from feline urine and whether associated virulence and antimicrobial resistance patterns contribute to disease manifestations. This study aimed to characterise E. coli isolates, sequence types (ST), antimicrobial resistance (ARG) and virulence associated genes (VAG) from cats in primary care with subclinical bacteriuria (SBU) or lower urinary tract infection (LUTI). Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on E. coli isolates that had been stored from a longitudinal health monitoring programme. Clinical records were reviewed to determine underlying disease conditions, phenotypic susceptibility and SBU and LUTI status. Descriptive review of phylogroup and ST was assessed together with evaluation of ARG and VAG by ST and based on SBU or LUTI status. WGS data was available for 152 E. coli isolates from cats (n = 26 with LUTI, n = 126 with SBU). The most common phylogroup was B2 with ST73, ST80, ST83 and ST127 predominating and ST80 being associated with clinical LUTI. Evaluating all isolates, there was no difference in prevalence of MDR status, total VAG or ARG count from cats with SBU or LUTI. Exploring individual VAG, ibeA, an invasin, and kpsT, part of the group 2 polysaccharide capsule, were associated with LUTI whilst P-fimbrial genes (pap) were associated with SBU. Based on this study, evidence is limited that expression of LUTI is directly related to ST or virulome and there is no evidence for increased resistome with SBU. However, low prevalence of cats with clinical LUTI may have precluded identification of associations.