Complete genome sequence of Escherichia coli strain GCU-H1 isolated from a captive-bred common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) in Korea

Although Escherichia coli is considered a commensal bacterium in humans and mammals, including cetaceans, some specific toxin-producing or sequence type (ST) strains are known to cause clinical infections. Notably, the ST131 E. coli is a globally prevalent, multidrug-resistant clone responsible for potential risks to public and animal health. Here, we report the complete genome of ST131 E. coli strain GCU-H1, isolated from the feces of a captive common bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) bred in Korea. The strain GCU-H1 contained a 5,095,519 bp genome with a G + C content of 50.8%, which comprises a single chromosome and three plasmids. Multilocus sequence typing analysis confirmed the strain as ST131/PST43, specifically belonging to the C1/H30R subclade. Moreover, several genes coding for virulence, antimicrobial resistance, and prophages were also detected. This study will provide fundamental information on the possible emergence of potentially pathogenic E. coli in captive marine mammals, thus contributing to our understanding of its dissemination in dolphinarium and public health.