Detection of Clonal Group A Escherichia coli Isolates from Broiler Chickens, Broiler Chicken Meat, Community-Dwelling Humans, and Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Patients and Their Virulence in a Mouse UTI Model

Escherichia coli clonal group A isolates cause infections in people. We investigated 158 phylogroup D E. coli isolates from animals, meat, and humans. Twenty-five of these isolates were of clonal group A, and 15 isolates were shown to cause infection in a mouse urinary tract infection (UTI) model. We conclude that clonal group A isolates are found in both broiler chickens and broiler chicken meat and may cause UTI in humans.