Virulence and pathogenicity factors of Escherichia coli in animal production environments: implications for health and productivity
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.71112/zs762503Keywords:
genes, Escherichia coli, producción animal, virulencia, patogenicidad.Abstract
Animal production systems are exposed to multiple environmental factors that directly influence the health, nutrition, reproduction, and growth of livestock species. These conditions also favor the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms of public health relevance, such as Escherichia coli, a bacterium that exhibits diverse virulence and antimicrobial resistance mechanisms, making its control and treatment difficult. Furthermore, there is a significant risk of transmission of strains between animals and humans, especially within the production chain.
The objective of this review was to analyze the main virulence genes and pathogenicity mechanisms of Escherichia coli that predominate in animal production environments. To this end, a systematic review of the scientific literature was conducted in databases such as Medline, LILACS, ScienceDirect, PubMed, SciELO, and Dialnet, using keywords in Spanish and English related to genetics, virulence, animal production, and antimicrobial resistance.
The results show that different variants or serotypes of Escherichia coli possess virulence factors associated with disease generation, especially in young animals, with colibacillosis being a prominent example. These pathogens produce toxins, adhesins, and cytotoxins that cause cell damage, mortality, and economic losses in production systems. In this context, the implementation of preventive measures and sanitary management strategies is essential to reduce the incidence of these infections and ensure the quality and safety of animal products.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Amanda Elizaneth Bonilla Bonilla, Junior Stalin Vargas Hidalgo (Autor/a)
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