Background and Aim: Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strains are a causative agent in most of the urinary tract infections (UTIs), which constitute a multitude of virulence factors. There is little information about phylogenetic group distribution, types, and their virulence factors in Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in different areas of Iran. In the present study, the phylogenic pattern and prevalence of four known uropathogenic virulent factors were identified by means of multiplex-PCR. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, one hundred E. coli isolates were collected from patients with urinary tract infection in zabol during. January - August 2013- and the isolates were verified using conventional biochemical and morphologic tests. DNA of all isolates was extracted by means of boiling method. The prevalence of virulent genes and phylogenetic groups was determined employing Multiplex-PCR. Finally, the obtained data was analyzed using Fisher's exact test. Results: Prevalence of cnf1, iha, irp2 and ompT genes were 28%, 29%, 89%, and 67%, respectively. Furthermore, the distribution of A, B1, B2 and D phylogenetic groups were 17%, 6%, 55% and 22%, respectively. Overall, virulent genes were more prevalent (96%, 66%, 61% and 79% respectively) in groups B2 isolates. Conclusion: It was found that UPEC isolates largely belong to phylogenetic group B2, which carry the most frequent and number of virulent genes. Therefore, they can play a more effective role in the occurrence of UTI compared to other phylogenetic groups.

Keywords: Uropathogenic E. coli, phylogenetic analysis, Virulent factors.

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