TABLE 2.
Prevalence of PAI markers, malX, and usp in the intestinal E. coli strains of healthy Swedish infantsa
| Marker or gene | % positive strains |
|
|---|---|---|
| All strains (n = 273) | Strains defined by persistence (n = 100) | |
| PAI markers | ||
| IV536 | 57 | 62 |
| IICFT073 | 34 | 37 |
| I536 | 18 | 14 |
| IIJ96 | 17 | 14 |
| II536 | 12 | 8 |
| III536 | 3 | 4 |
| Virulence-associated genes | ||
| malX | 44 | 46 |
| usp | 45 | 52 |
a
A total of 273 commensal E. coli strains obtained from 130 Swedish infants during the first year of life were assessed for carriage of six PAI markers, malX, and usp. Of these, 100 were defined according to the time they persisted in the infantile gut.