Objective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E.coli), enteropathogenic E.coli, enterohemorrhagic E.
coli and Shiga toxin-producing E.coli strains.Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses.
In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, Ball - Shoes TPU - Mens hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated.Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes.
In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.
31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2.An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain.
However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons.Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of Vitamin E E.coli infection for other animals and humans.