Distribution of Ten Virulence Genes Along the Chromosome of Acinetobacter baumannii Isolated from Various Clinical Samples

Abstract

The current study focused on Acinetobacter baumannii because of its increasing importance as a causative agent of infection in hospitals and its resistance to many antibiotics. A total of 204 samples were collected from various cases from main hospitals in Mosul City (Iraq) and were cultured on selective media (HiCromeTM Acinetobacter Agar Base and MacConkey Agar). Bacteria were identified by conventional and molecular methods by detecting the blaOXA-51-like gene, which is genetically considered a diagnostic gene because it is present in all strains of A. baumannii. Results: A total of 18 sample isolates of A. baumannii were positive out of the 204 collected samples distributed in burned skin, respiratory tract infections, wounds and urine. Ten virulence genes (las I, lasR, RhlI, RhlR, cvaC, iutA, kpsMTII, PAI, ibeA, traT ) were also detected in our local A. baumannii, the results showed the presence of Quorum Sensing genes (lasI, lasR, RhlI, RhlR) with percentages 84.2%, 84.2%, 89.4%, 26.3%, respectively. PAI gene showed in the 19 bacterial strains (including the standard) with 94.7%. kpsMTII, traT, and iutA genes with percentages of 31.5%, 26.3%, and 5.2% respectively, while cvaC and ibeA genes were not recorded in any of the isolates under study.