Introduction: The severity of urinary tract infection (UTI) produced by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) is due to the expression of a wide spectrum of virulence genes. E. coli strains were divided into four phylogenetic groups (A, B1, B2 and D) based on their virulence genes. The present study aimed to assess the relationship between virulence genes, phylogenetic groups, and antibiotic resistance of UPEC. Methodology: A total of 148 E. coli were tested for antimicrobial resistance against 10 drugs using the disk diffusion method. The isolates were screened by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for detection of virulence genes and categorized into the four major phylogenetic groups. Results: Phylogenetic group B2 was predominant (33.8%), followed by D (28.4%), A (19.6), and B1 (18.2%). A higher prevalence of fimH (89.9%), fyuA (70.3%), traT (66.2%), iutA (62.2%), kpsMTII (58.8%), and aer (56.1%) genes were found in UPEC, indicating a putative role of adhesins, iron acquisition systems, and protectins that are main cause of UTIs. The most common antibiotic resistance was to cephalotin (85.1%), ampicillin (78.4%) and the least to nitrofurantoin (5.4%) and imipenem (2%). In total, 93.9% of isolates were multidrug resistant (MDR). Conclusions: This study showed that group B2 and D were the predominant phylogenetic groups and virulence-associated genes were mostly distributed in these groups. The virulence genes encoding components of adhesins, iron acquisition systems, and protectins were highly prevalent among antibiotic-resistant UPEC. Although the majority of strains are MDR, nitrofurantoin is the drug of choice for treatment of UTI patients in Ulaanbaatar.

Introduction: Diarrheal diseases are common with worldwide distribution, and diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) strains are the main causative agents. The present study aimed to define the association of various pathotypes of E. coli from diarrheal patients in Mongolia. Methodology: A total of 341 E. coli strains were isolated from the stool of diarrheal patients. Bacterial susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined by the Kirby Bauer disk diffusion method. DEC isolates were identified by HEp-2 cell adherence assay and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: DEC pathogens were detected in 53.7% of 341 E. coli isolates. Enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) was the most common DEC pathotype identified by HEp-2 adherence assay and multiplex PCR methods in 97 samples (28.4%), followed by atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) in 50 samples (14.7%), diffusely adherent E. coli (DAEC) in 25 samples (7.3%), enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in 6 samples (1.8%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) in 4 samples (1.2%), and enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC) in 1 sample (0.3%). DEC strains had > 50% antibiotic resistance against cephalothin, ampicillin, and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole. All tested DEC strains were susceptible to imipenem. Among the 183 DEC strains, 27 (14.8%) were extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing isolates, and 125 (68.3%) isolates were multiple drug resistant. Conclusions: We have identified six pathotypes of DEC from the clinical isolates tested and concluded that a high prevalence of antimicrobial resistance was observed in these pathotypes. EAEC was the most common pathotype identified and this is the first report of EHEC identification in Mongolia.

Background Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a highly virulent pathogen that causes foodborne illness, food poisoning, skin and soft tissue infections, abscesses, mastitis, and bacteremia. It is common for meat and meat products to become contaminated with S. aureus due to dirty hands, food storage conditions, food production processes, and unhygienic conditions, causing food poisoning. Therefore, we aimed to detect virulence genes and S. aureus contamination in raw beef for retail sale. Methods In this study, samples of raw beef were collected from 100 retail market stalls in Ulaanbaatar. S. aureus was detected according to the ISO 6888-1 and ISO 6888-2:2003 standard, and the nucA gene encoding the species-specific thermonuclease was amplified and confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). In the strains of S. aureus found in the samples, the genes encoding the virulence factors sea, sed, tsst, eta, etb, and mecA were amplified and detected by multiplex PCR. Antibiotic susceptibility was determined by the Kirby–Bauer disc diffusion method. Results Thirty-five percent of the studied samples were contaminated with S. aureus. Antibiotic resistance was then assessed in these strains, and highest rates of resistance were determined to be to ampicillin (97.1%), oxacillin (88.6%), and penicillin (88.6%). Six virulence genes were detected by multiplex PCR in the S. aureus strains isolated from meat, and the penicillin-binding protein PBP 2A and its encoding gene mecA, enterotoxin A (sea), and toxic shock syndrome toxin (tsst) were identified in 17.1% of the samples. Moreover, cytotoxic toxin type a was identified in 5.7% of the samples, type b in 11.4%, and enterotoxin D (sed) in 2.9%. Conclusions The results show that S. aureus contamination is high in raw meat for retail sale, and the strains are resistant to antibiotics. These data indicate that there is a high risk for food poisoning caused by S. aureus in raw meat and that complications during its treatment are possible. S. aureus strains isolated from meat contain genes coding for both heat-resistant and nonresistant toxicity factors and are highly pathogenic, so it is necessary to ensure proper hygienic conditions during meat preparation and sale.