The study examines whether crows are carriers of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli (ExPEC) and avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC)-like strains, and if wetland roost areas contribute to their spread. A total of 10 crow feces (n = 71) and 15 water E. coli isolates (n = 134) from a wetland area could be characterized as potentially ExPEC based on the presence of ≥2 of the five cardinal genes iutA, kpsMT2, papEF, pap A/C, papG, sfa/foc, and afa/dra, while six fecal and 14 water isolates could be characterized as potentially APEC-like based on the presence of plasmid associated genes: iutA, episomal iss, ompT, hlyF and iroN. A total of 32 fecal and 27 water isolates tested carried plasmids based on incompatibility typing. Plasmids from 34 of 38 isolates tested could be transferred to another E. coli strain by conjugation with the antibiotic resistance (AR) profile being transferred, indicating their potential to be transferred to indigenous and non-pathogenic strains in the wetland. APEC-like plasmids could be transferred in six of eight isolates tested. Pathogenic E. coli of importance to the medical community and poultry industry may be detected in high levels in surface water due to corvid activity. Regardless of their role in health or disease, water in wetlands and streams can serve as a media for the dissemination of AR and virulence traits of bacteria, with corvids acting as potential vectors for farther dissemination.

中文翻译：

---

美国乌鸦作为肠道外致病性大肠杆菌和禽类致病性大肠杆菌的载体及其对人工湿地的潜在影响

该研究检查了乌鸦是否是肠外致病性大肠杆菌（ExPEC）和禽类致病性大肠杆菌（APEC）样菌株的携带者，以及湿地栖息地是否有助于它们的传播。根据五个基本基因iutA，kpsMT2，papEF≥2的存在，总共可以将湿地地区的10只乌鸦粪便（n = 71）和15种大肠杆菌分离水（n = 134）表征为潜在的ExPEC。 ，pap A / C，papG，sfa / foc和afa / dra，而根据质粒相关基因的存在，六个粪便和14个水分离株可能被表征为潜在的APEC样：iutA，附加型iss，ompT，hlyF和iroN。基于不相容性分型，总共测试了32个粪便分离物和27个水分离物携带质粒。通过结合已转移的抗生素抗性（AR）谱，可以将38种分离菌株中的34种质粒转移到另一株大肠杆菌中，这表明它们有可能转移到湿地的本地和非致病性菌株中。可以将APEC样质粒转移到测试的八种分离物中的六种中。致病性大肠杆菌由于弯曲活动，可能在地表水中高水平检测到对医学界和家禽业具有重要意义的疾病。无论它们在健康或疾病中的作用如何，湿地和溪流中的水都可以充当AR传播和细菌毒力特性的媒介，而Corvid则可以作为进一步传播的潜在媒介。