BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Today, the PCR-based replicon typing of major plasmid incompatibility groups is used in epidemiological studies to describe the distribution of traits such as antibiotic resistance in the bacteria of enterobacteriaceae family. Despite the crucial role of plasmids in transmitting pathogens, little studies have been conducted on the type of plasmid transmitted by bacterial serotypes of E. coli. The main objective of this study was to classify plasmid O2, O6 and O157 serotypes of E. coli bacteria based on major plasmid incompatibility groups using multiplex-PCR method.
METHODS: This descriptive study was performed on 40 isolates of E. coli related to O6, O2 and O157 serotypes to identify 8 plasmid replicons (IncN, IncFIB, FreP, IncB/O, Inc FIIA, IncFIC, IncFIA, IncI1) by multiplex-PCR method.
RESULTS: The results showed that the amplicon of Fre (88%), and replicons of IncFIB (78%), IncFIA (60%), IncB/O (53%), IncI1 (50%), IncN (25%) were observed in 40 studied isolates. IncFIC and IncFIIA replicons were not observed in any of the isolates.
CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated a high diversity of plasmid incompatibility groups among the studied isolates.