Grant: Master's Award: Canada Graduate Scholarships

Extraintestinal infections caused by Escherichia coli are responsible for significant morbidity and mortality and result in considerable health care costs. These infections most commonly affect the urinary tract, and the population at highest risk are young, sexually active women. The bacteria normally colonize the intestinal tract and then can move on to cause infection outside the intestine (such as urinary tract, kidney and bloodstream infections). However, the origin of these E. coli and the way they arrive in the gut are unclear. The possibility that a food animal reservoir, particularly a poultry reservoir, exists could contribute to the development and selection of antimicrobial resistance in E. coli. Previously, we compared E. coli isolates from retail meat, ready-to-eat foods and women urinary tract infections (UTIs). This investigation demonstrated the existence of genetically identical or closely related groups of E. coli from human and food sources. The aim of the current study is to determine whether the reservoir is specifically in food animals or whether transmission occurs from human-to-human via food. We will focus on E. coli found further upstream in the chain of food animal production. We will (i) analyse E. coli isolated from chicken, pork and beef recovered from abattoirs and from on-farm programs in Québec and Ontario; (ii) compare these isolates to those recovered from women clinical infections; and (iii) examine the distribution of E. coli genotypes from these two sources, as well as genes associated with antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Although our clinical E. coli isolates will come from UTIs, the results will be relevant for other, more severe extraintestinal infections. Moreover, if a food animal reservoir can be established there may be significant public health implications.