Mucoviscosity Determination and Detection of magA and rmpA Genes in Clinical Isolates of Klebsiella pneumoniae in Northern Iran

Klebsiella pneumoniae is an opportunistic pathogen with several pathogenic factors including capsular type and the presence of magA and rmpA genes. The present study aimed to investigate the frequency of magA and rmpA genes and mucoviscosity among clinical isolates of K. pneumoniae, to determine the virulence of local strains of this bacterium.
In this cross-sectional study, during 2015, a total of 65 capsulated K. pneumoniae were isolated and identified from urinary tract infections (UTIs) in Rasht, using microbiological test and CPS gene amplification in polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Mucoviscosity of test bacteria measured by string test and the presence of magA and rmpA genes detected in PCR using specific primers.
All of 65 isolates of K. pneumoniae recognized as CPS positive in PCR assay. Out of them, 22 (33.48%) strains showed an HV-positive phenotype. The presence of magA gene was confirmed in 2 (3.07%) isolates and 10 (15.38%) isolates were positive for the presence of rmpA gene. Also, 8 of the rmpA-positive and the 2 magA-positive isolates showed hypermucoviscous phenotypes.
Presence of virulence genes magA and rmpA and relatively high prevalence of hypermucoviscosity (HV) in local K. pneumoniae strains, clarifies the importance of rapid diagnosis and suitable treatment of infections caused by this bacterium in the prevention of complicated clinical infections.