ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Microbiol.
Sec. Food Microbiology
Multidrug-resistant mammary pathogenic Escherichia coli ST479 isolated from Holstein Dairy Cows in Jiangsu, China
Kun Wang 1
Minghui Zhang 1
Yujie Li 1
Mingxun Li 1
Yujia Sun 1,2
Zhangping Yang 1,2
1. Yangzhou University College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou, China
2. Yangzhou University Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture & Agri-Product Safety of MOE, Yangzhou, China
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Abstract
Mastitis is one of the most prevalent diseases in dairy cattle farming, causing significant economic losses to the industry. Escherichia coli (E. coli) is a major infectious pathogen responsible for bovine mastitis. This study conducted molecular and phenotypic characterization analyses of E. coli strains isolated from milk samples of clinical mastitis cases in Jiangsu Province, China. Through antibiotic susceptibility testing, multilocus sequence typing (MLST), whole-genome sequencing analysis, and comparative assessment of mammary pathogenicity in cellular and murine modelsmammary pathogenic capability assessment, the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of the mastitis-associated E. coli ST479 were elucidated. The results demonstrate that E. coli ST479 is a multidrug-resistant mastitis-causing strain capable of producing extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBLs) and exhibits a globally widespread distribution. In experimental models, ST479 invaded bovine mammary epithelial cells and induced mastitis in mice. Notably, it elicited a moderated inflammatory response compared to the reference strain ATCC 25922, suggesting a distinct host-pathogen interaction profile The emergence of multidrug-resistant clonal strains such as ST479, capable of causing mastitis and producing ESBLs, represents a concern for dairy farm health management due to its potential to limit treatment options. Given the detection of ST479 in multiple regions around the world and its multiple antibiotic drug resistance, we emphasize the need for enhanced surveillance and management of such strains in dairy farms to safeguard animal health and ensure sustainable production.This research aims to provide reference data for understanding the infection transmission mechanisms, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and genotypic variations of mastitis-associated E. coli in bovine mastitis. The emergence of multidrug-resistant clonal strains of mastitis-associated E. coli may threaten farm production and animal consumer safety. Implementing rigorous and sustained bacterial surveillance to address this escalating challenge is crucial for ensuring animal welfare and the sustainable development of the dairy industry.
Summary
Keywords
Bovine Mastitis, Escherichia coli ST479, mlst, multidrug resistance, ST479
Received
02 November 2025
Accepted
17 February 2026
Copyright
© 2026 Wang, Zhang, Li, Li, Sun and Yang. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Zhangping Yang
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