牛病毒性腹泻病毒E2蛋白的真核表达及间接ELISA抗体检测方法的建立

为建立检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(Bovine viral diarrhea virus, BVDV)抗体的间接ELISA方法,利用昆虫细胞真核表达系统成功表达E2蛋白,将纯化后的E2蛋白作为包被抗原,用方阵滴定方法对影响ELISA的各个因素进行优化,并进行特异性、敏感性和重复性试验。结果表明,在昆虫细胞中表达了BVDV E2蛋白,Western blot证实目的蛋白可与BVDV阳性血清发生特异性反应。ELISA优化结果显示,E2蛋白最佳包被浓度为0.5μg/mL,最佳封闭液为1%明胶,最佳血清稀释度为1∶400,最佳血清作用方式为37℃作用30 min,酶标抗体的最佳作用方式为1∶2 000稀释、37℃作用30 min,最佳底物作用时间为室温20 min,阳性临界值为OD₄₅₀≥0.423。与血清中和试验法进行比较,总符合率为97.8%,板内和板间重复性试验的变异系数均小于10%。该方法与牛常见病毒阳性血清均无交叉反应。说明建立的间接ELISA抗体检测方法特异性、敏感性和重复性良好,可用于大批量样本的临床检测和流行病学研究。     

非洲猪瘟病毒CD2v抗体间接ELISA方法的建立及其初步应用

为建立血清中非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus, ASFV)抗体的间接酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)方法,研究真核表达ASFV CD2v重组蛋白,并以纯化的蛋白为包被抗原,通过反应条件优化、特异性试验、敏感性试验和重复性试验,建立一种快速的ASFV间接ELISA检测方法。通过方阵试验对间接ELISA方法进行优化,最终确定抗原的最佳包被浓度为10μg/m L,待检血清的最佳稀释倍数为1∶25,最佳封闭液为1%BSA与明胶封闭缓冲液,酶标抗体最佳稀释度为1∶2 000,最优二抗稀释液为PBST,以此建立的ASFV间接ELISA方法临界值为0.366。该方法仅与ASFV阳性血清发生特异性反应,与猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、伪狂犬病病毒、口蹄疫病毒阳性血清均无交叉反应,具有较强的特异性。该方法检测ASFV阳性血清灵敏度可达1∶50,批内重复性和批间重复性变异系数分别为2.2%～9.4%和4.7%～8.1%。试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有良好的特异性、灵敏性和重复性,可初步应用于ASFV抗体检测。     

A型塞内卡病毒VP2蛋白阻断ELISA检测方法的建立

为了建立一种检测A型塞内卡病毒(SVA)VP2蛋白抗体的阻断ELISA方法,试验用SVA VP2蛋白作为抗原包被酶标板,采用棋盘法确定最佳蛋白包被浓度和单克隆抗体最佳稀释倍数。同时对阻断ELISA的其他条件(封闭液、血清稀释度、底物反应条件)进行优化,对方法的特异性和重复性进行考察。结果表明:VP2蛋白最佳包被浓度为0.5μg/mL;最佳封闭液为2%BSA,每孔200μL,37℃封闭1 h;待检血清最佳稀释度为1∶1,在37℃条件下作用1 h;单克隆抗体最佳稀释度为1∶40 000,在37℃条件下作用1 h;底物最佳反应条件为室温避光10 min。特异性试验结果显示,SVA阳性血清与猪伪狂犬病病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综征病毒、猪瘟病毒、猪口蹄疫病毒、猪流行性腹泻病毒阳性血清均无交叉反应。批间、批内重复性试验结果的变异系数均小于10%。对200份猪血清样本进行荧光抗体中和试验和阻断ELISA方法检测,符合率为96.0%。说明该ELISA方法具有良好的特异性和重复性,可用于塞内卡病毒血清抗体检测和流行病学调查。     

非洲猪瘟病毒p30基因的原核表达及间接ELISA抗体检测方法的建立

为建立检测血清中非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus,ASFV)抗体的间接ELISA方法,本试验将ASFVp30基因进行原核表达,采用SDS-PAGE和Western blotting方法对重组蛋白进行表达鉴定和免疫原性分析,随后以纯化的重组蛋白为包被抗原,经条件优化、特异性试验、敏感性试验和重复性试验,建立一种血清中ASFV抗体的检测方法。结果显示,ASFVp30基因成功克隆到原核表达载体pET-32a(+)中,获得pET-32a-p30重组质粒;转化大肠杆菌BL21(DE3)感受态细胞进行诱导表达,得到P30重组蛋白,重组蛋白大小约为42ku,主要以包涵体形式存在;Western blotting结果显示,纯化后的蛋白具有良好的免疫原性;以纯化的P30重组蛋白为包被抗原,建立了检测ASFV抗体的间接ELISA方法,通过方阵试验对间接ELISA方法进行优化,最终确定了抗原最佳包被浓度为1.2μg/mL,待检血清最佳稀释倍数为1∶100,最佳封闭液为1%BSA,酶标抗体最佳稀释度为1∶4 000,以此建立的ASFV间接ELISA方法临界值为0.322。本方法仅与ASFV阳性血清发生特异性反应,与猪瘟病毒、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、口蹄疫病毒、伪狂犬病病毒、猪圆环病毒2型及猪流行性腹泻病毒阳性血清均无交叉反应,具有较强的特异性。该方法检测ASFV阳性血清灵敏度可达到1∶1 600;批内重复性和批间重复性变异系数均10%。本试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有良好的特异性、灵敏度和重复性,可初步应用于ASFV抗体的检测。     

猪瘟病毒E2蛋白主要抗原区的原核表达及其间接ELISA检测方法的建立与应用

采用RT-PCR方法扩增猪瘟病毒(CSFV)E2蛋白主要抗原区基因,克隆入原核表达载体pET32a(+),转化大肠埃希菌BL21构建重组表达菌,经SDS-PAGE和Western blot鉴定目的蛋白得到成功表达。利用纯化的重组蛋白作为包被抗原,通过反应条件优化,建立了间接ELISA抗体检测方法。ELISA抗原最适包被浓度为0.5μg/mL(0.05μg/孔),最佳封闭液为5g/L BSA,待检血清最适稀释度为1∶100,作用时间为1h,酶标抗体最适稀释度为1∶2 000,最适作用时间为45min,室温显色10min。用该方法检测牛病毒性腹泻病毒(BVDV)、猪圆环病毒2型(PCV-2)、猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)阳性血清结果均为阴性;批内和批间重复试验变异系数分别<5%和<8%,表明本方法具有较好的特异性和重复性。应用△E2-ELISA对350份血清样品进行检测,阳性率为77.71%,高于IDEXX试剂盒检测阳性率(67.14%),与IDEXX试剂盒阳性符合率91.06%,阴性符合率50%,总符合率77.43%。表明本试验建立的间接ELISA方法适于临床CSFV血清抗体的检测。     

猪圆环病毒2型重组Cap蛋白间接ELISA抗体检测方法的建立

利用pET32a(+)-Cap重组蛋白作为包被抗原,通过反应条件优化,建立了间接ELISA方法用于检测猪圆环病毒2型(PCV2)抗体。结果表明,抗原最适包被浓度为4μg/mL,最佳封闭液为1%BSA,37℃封闭3 h,血清最适稀释度为1∶200,其作用时间为60 min,酶标抗体最适稀释度为1∶20 000,最适作用时间为30 min,37℃显色15 min,判定血清样品P/N≥2.1,且OD450≥0.228为阳性。该方法与猪瘟、猪口蹄疫、猪脑心肌炎、猪呼吸与繁殖综合征病毒阳性血清反应呈阴性。批内和批间重复性试验结果变异系数均值分别为5.65%和5.81%,表明本方法具有较好的特异性和重复性。应用本方法对123份血清样品进行检测,检测结果阳性率78%,与国产商品化试剂盒检测结果对比,符合率为91.9%,表明本试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有较高的敏感性,适于大规模检测PCV2血清抗体的流行病学调查。     

猪沙波病毒抗体间接ELISA检测方法的建立及初步应用

以原核表达重组蛋白作为抗原建立了猪沙波病毒(SaV)抗体的间接ELISA检测方法。使用矩阵滴定法确定抗原包被浓度为6.4μg/mL,血清稀释倍数为1∶50。试验选用1%BSA作为封闭液,血清和二抗的最佳作用时间分别为60 min和40 min。选择无致癌的TMB为底物,确定TMB最佳反应时间为10 min。通过对20份猪阴性血清样品的检测,计算阳性判定值为0.203。通过交叉试验、批内和批间重复性试验证明,本研究建立的SaV间接ELISA检测方法具有特异性高,重复性好的特点,可用于猪沙波病毒抗体的检测。     

猪流行性腹泻病毒间接ELISA抗体检测方法建立与应用

猪流行性腹泻病毒(porcine epidemic diarrhea virus,PEDV)是目前引起我国猪急性肠炎并水样腹泻的重要病原之一,但尚无商品化病毒血清抗体检测试剂盒。本研究以纯化的PEDV为包被抗原,通过优化ELISA反应条件,建立了间接ELISA抗体检测方法,其反应条件为:抗原最佳包被浓度为3μg/mL,血清样品最佳稀释度为1∶100,包被时间为37℃作用2 h,1.5%BSA 37℃封闭3 h,二抗1∶10 000稀释,37℃作用30 min,抗体临界值为OD450nm≥0.306判为阳性,OD450nm≤0.268判为阴性,介于二者之间为可疑。该方法检测6份已知PEDV阳性血清效价为1∶3 200,检测猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒、猪圆环病毒2型、猪瘟病毒、伪狂犬病毒和口蹄疫病毒血清抗体均为阴性,批间和批内重复试验变异系数2.5%～8.3%,对江苏、上海、浙江、安徽地区587份猪血清样品进行检测,抗体阳性率达56.76%,证明该方法具有较好敏感性、特异性和重复性,可用于PEDV抗体检测和流行病学调查。     

猪瘟病毒抗体间接ELISA检测方法的建立及优化

以原核表达、纯化的猪瘟病毒(CSFV)E2主要抗原区蛋白为目标检测物,通过对各反应条件的筛选和优化,建立了检测CSFV抗体的间接ELISA检测方法。结果表明,本研究的最佳抗原包被浓度和最佳血清稀释度分别为1.0 μg/mL和1:200;最佳抗原包被条件和最佳封闭时间均为37 ℃ 1 h;最佳酶标二抗稀释度和作用时间分别为1:10 000和37 ℃ 45 min;阴性临界值判断标准为当D450nm<0.30时猪血清样品为CSFV抗体阴性;批内和批间重复试验变异系数分别为4.8%和6.9%,表明该检测方法具有较高的稳定性;特异性试验结果表明,间接ELISA方法与猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒(PRRSV)、猪伪狂犬病病毒(PRV)、猪圆环病毒(PCV)、猪细小病毒(PPV)阳性血清均无交叉反应;应用该间接ELISA方法随机检测80份猪血清样品,与进口阻断ELISA试剂盒相比其阳性符合率为83.58%,阴性符合率为76.92%,总体符合率为80.25%。结果表明本试验建立的间接ELISA方法具有很好的临床应用价值。     

A型副鸡嗜血杆菌血凝素基因原核表达及间接ELISA方法的建立及应用

原核表达A型副鸡嗜血杆菌(Haemophilus paragallinarum serotype A,Hpgserotype A)的血凝素蛋白HA,并以HA蛋白为包被抗原,建立血清间接ELISA检测方法。克隆Hpg HA基因,将其克隆至原核表达载体pET-28a(+)中进行重组HA蛋白的诱导表达,对表达产物进行纯化,并进行Western blot鉴定;用纯化后的HA蛋白作为包被抗原,优化反应条件,建立血清间接ELISA检测方法,并进行特异性、灵敏度和重复性试验,最后对临床样品进行检测。原核表达获得大小约为37ku的重组HA蛋白;Western blot结果表明重组蛋白具有良好的特异性和抗原反应性。Hpg间接ELISA优化反应条件为:抗原包被量每孔500ng,血清以1∶200倍稀释作用1h,酶标二抗以1∶2 500倍稀释作用1h,TMB显色时间为10min。在该优化条件下,OD_(450)≥0.34为阳性,反之为阴性;特异性试验结果表明对鸡新城疫病毒、禽流感病毒、沙门菌、金黄色葡萄球菌、多杀性巴氏杆菌和大肠埃希菌阳性血清检测均为阴性;对85份阳性血清进行检测,敏感性为98.8%;重复性试验结果表明,批内和批间OD_(450)值的变异系数分别1.5%~3.7%和6.5%~8%。用本试验建立的方法对临床上215份鸡血清样品进行检测,阳性率为25.1%。说明建立的ELISA检测方法可用于Hpgserotype A抗体水平的检测。     

Occurrence of non-sorbitol fermenting, verocytotoxin-lacking Escherichia coli O157 on cattle farms

Escherichia coli O157 is often associated with hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). The verocytotoxins are considered to be the major virulence determinants. However, vt-negative E. coli O157 were recently isolated from patients with HUS. Several transmission routes to humans are described, but cattle feces are the primary source from which both the food supply and the environment become contaminated with E. coli O157.In a prevalence study performed on dairy, beef, mixed dairy/beef and veal farms in the summer of 2007, vt-negative isolates were detected on 11.8% (8/68) of the positive farms. From these eight farms, a total of 43 sorbitol-negative E. coli O157:H7 were collected. On five farms, only strains negative for the vt genes were present whereas both vt-negative and vt-positive strains could be detected on three other farms. Further characterization revealed that all isolates carried the eaeA and hlyA genes. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of all isolates resulted in nine different PFGE types and within the vt-negative strains, four different genotypes were identified, indicating that certain genetic clones are widespread over the cattle population.     

Serum antibody coupled with the construction of gentamicin sulfate for the Escherichia coli targeted drug

Conjugates of the Escherichia coli serum antibody (Ab) with the gentamicin sulfate (GM sulfate) have been evaluated for the assessment of their ability to eradicate E. coli in vitro. The combination of every component in the targeted drug is the amino of serum antibody and gentamicin sulfate combined with the hydroxyl of PEG6000 by hydrogen bond, which forms stable complexes. The half-life of this complex is 4.83 h, and it is non-toxic side effects and low immunogenic. After the combination of antibody and gentamicin sulfate, the targeting of antibody is quite good. In vitro anti-bacterial activity of gentamicin sulfate increased 1000 times, and the clinical curative effect enhanced 100 times, this means higher efficacy and safety.     

Relationship between level of antibiotic use and resistance among Escherichia coli isolates from integrated multi-site cohorts of humans and swine

The objective of this longitudinal ecological study was to examine the relationship between the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant (AR) commensal Escherichia coli isolates from both monthly human wastewater and composite swine fecal samples and the concurrent aggregated monthly antibiotic use recorded within each host species in multi-site vertically integrated swine and human populations. In addition, human vocation (swine worker versus non-swine worker), swine production group, and season were examined as potential confounding variables. Human and swine E. coli isolates (n = 2469 human and 2310 swine, respectively) were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility using a commercial broth microdilution system. In the human population, among swine workers the relative odds of tetracycline resistance were increased significantly for tetracycline (class) drug use at the third quartile and above of mean monthly dosage (MMD) (OR = 1.8) as compared to the referent category (non-use). The relative odds of ciprofloxacin resistance were significantly increased for ciprofloxacin use in non-swine workers (OR = 5.5) as compared to the referent (non-use). The relative odds of tetracycline resistance were increased significantly for chlortetracycline use in medicated feed for the upper tertile of MMD category (OR = 2.9) as compared to the referent category (no use) across all swine production groups. While high variability among seasonal samples over the 3-year period was observed, no common seasonal trends relating to antibiotic use and prevalence of resistance over the 3-year period were apparent. The overall effects of concurrent human and swine antibiotic use on AR E. coli levels were inconsistent and modest in this study.     

Performance and diarrhoea in piglets following weaning at seven weeks of age: Challenge with E. coli O 149 and effect of dietary factors

Four dietary factors (ad libitum versus feed restriction, control versus protein restriction at ad libitum feeding, control versus inclusion of lupin as a protein source at ad libitum feeding, and control versus extra vitamin E at ad libitum feeding) were tested in four separate experiments for the effect on diarrhoea. To introduce a diarrhoea-like condition, half of the piglets were challenged with an E. coli O 149 dose of 1 × 10⁸ colony forming units on days one and two after weaning (day of weaning = day zero). All piglets were susceptible since the dams were tested mono-zygotic susceptible to the attachment site of E. coli O 149 in the intestines. Each of the four experiments included 32 piglets from 4 sows. The design was a 2 × 2 factorial with dietary factor and E. coli O 149 challenge as the two factors, each at two levels. The piglets were housed individually during the experiment which lasted for 10 days from weaning at 7 weeks of age. The daily recordings included feed intake, weight and faecal score (from 1 = solid and cloddy to 6 = watery and yellow). Faeces from days 1 to 4 were tested for E. coli strains. In addition, blood was sampled and serum was analysed for antibodies to E. coli, IgG and IgM. Generally the E. coli challenge had no effect on growth and feed intake whereas faecal score and number of faecal haemolytic bacteria increased and faecal dry matter decreased. Feed restriction decreased the weight gain while faecal characteristics were unaffected. An analysis including all four experiments revealed that a feed intake of less than 200 g during the first day after weaning seems to be associated with a relatively high incidence of a post-weaning diarrhoea-like condition. Protein restriction decreased faecal score and increased faecal dry matter while weight gain tended to decrease. Inclusion of lupin affected neither weight gain nor faecal characteristics. Extra vitamin E did not affect weight gain while faecal dry matter decreased, and faecal score and number of faecal haemolytic bacteria increased. The dietary treatments had no effect on the measured immunoglobulins. In conclusion, the studied dietary factors could not alleviate a diarrhoea-like condition and at the same time maintain the growth rate. Furthermore, the results indicate that performance can be improved if piglets achieve a daily feed intake of at least 200 g during the first day after weaning.     

Influences of dietary regimens on microbial content in gastrointestinal tracts of meat goats

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary treatments on microbial loads and pH of gastrointestinal tract contents in meat goats, as well as the concentration of volatile fatty acid (VFA) in the rumen. Crossbred (Boer x Spanish) goats (n = 36; BW = 17.7 kg) were assigned randomly to one of three experimental diets (n = 12/diet or 3 pens/treatment) for 90 days:alfalfa (Medicago sativa) hay alone (AH-diet); 18% CP concentrate alone (C-diet); or, a combined diet (AHC-diet), consisting of the AH-diet for the first 45 days, followed by 45 days of the C-diet. After evisceration, pH values of rumen liquor and colon digesta were immediately measured from each animal, as well as aseptically collected rumen liquor and rectal samples to determine the microbial loads. Collected rumen liquor was also prepared for volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents. Feeding meat goats with alfalfa hay alone had higher (P < 0.05) rumen (7.17) and colon (7.10) pH compared with those fed either the concentrate alone or combined-diet. Although the acetate content was high in the AH-fed group (66.3 mM) compared to the AHC-diet group (34.6 mM), no significant differences were found in the total VFA contents in rumen liquor among the goats fed three different dietary regimens. Total plate counts were not significantly different among goats fed the experimental diets in the rumen or rectal samples. Escherichia coli counts in the rectal samples were lower (P < 0.05) in the AH-diet group (6.43 log₁₀ CFU/g) compared with the C-diet (8.21 log₁₀ CFU/g) or AHC-diet (8.40 log₁₀ CFU/g) groups. However, no significant differences were found in the E. coli counts of rumen samples from goats fed the experimental diets. The mean (± SEM) rumen E. coli counts were 1.38, 1.65, and 2.51 ± 0.560 log₁₀ CFU/g in the AH-, C-, and AHC-diet groups, respectively. The results indicate that feeding hay alone may decrease the fecal shedding of E. coli in meat goats with increasing the rumen and colon pH.     

An investigation of factors associated with the prevalence of verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 shedding in Scottish beef cattle

The prevalence of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in 12-30-month-old beef finishing cattle in Scotland was determined using 1g faeces samples enriched in buffered peptone water, followed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and isolation on sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and tellurite supplement (CT-SMAC). A validated questionnaire was used to collect information that could be associated with the samples. Generalised Linear Models and Generalised Linear Mixed Models were used to identify factors associated with shedding both between and within groups. A total of 14,856 samples were collected from 952 farms, of which 1231 were positive for VTEC O157. Prevalence levels were calculated with 95% confidence intervals as follows: 7.9% (6.5%, 9.6%) of animals sampled were estimated to be shedding VTEC O157, while 22.8% (19.6%, 26.3%) of farms were estimated as having at least one animal shedding in the group sampled. The median percentage of animals shedding in positive groups was 25% (20%, 32%). An increased probability of a group containing a shedding animal was associated with larger numbers of finishing cattle, the presence of pigs on the farm, or the farm being classed as a dairy unit stocking beef animals. Farms that spread slurry on grazing land were more likely to have shedding animals, while those that spread manure were at lower risk. Groups with older animals were less likely to be identified as positive. There was no significant regional difference in group shedding probabilities, but the proportion of positive groups dropped over two successive years of the study. Higher mean levels of shedding in positive groups were associated with animals being housed rather than at pasture, and this effect was stronger in groups which had recently had a change in housing or diet. Farms with animals at pasture had lower mean prevalence where water was supplied from a natural source, as had farms with higher numbers of finishing cattle. There remained unexplained variability in mean prevalence levels on positive farms in different areas of Scotland.     

Synergistic action of E. coli endotoxin and Pasteurella multocida type A for the induction of bronchopneumonia in pigs

This study aimed to investigate whether Escherichia coli endotoxin (LPS) may predispose the lung to an infection with Pasteurella multocida type A (Pma) and to determine the LPS concentration needed to reproduce clinical signs of bronchopneumonia. Twenty-four hours before inoculating Pma or sterile growth medium, piglets were tracheally instilled with 10, 100 or 400 microg/kg LPS. Cough, body temperature, daily weight gain (DWG) bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) cells and volume of pneumonic lung were measured. Changes in breathing pattern (Penh) were assessed by whole body barometric plethysmography. No significant changes were observed in Pma-treated or in control animals. Each LPS doses induced DWG reduction while the higher generated a severe subacute interstitial pneumonia causing hyperthermia and an increase in Penh. The combination of the lower LPS doses with Pma produced an asymptomatic bronchopneumonia leading to DWG reduction, rise in Penh and an increase in BALF macrophages and neutrophils. With 400 microg/kg LPS, Pma worsened the inflammatory process as illustrated by cough, hyperthermia, major DWG reduction and by a greater Penh response. Lung lesions consisted of severe exudative bronchopneumonia. We concluded that LPS may negatively influence growth, predispose to persisting lung inflammatory process and promote Pma infection depending on the dose previously administered.     

Detection and characterisation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli other than Escherichia coli O157:H7 in wild ruminants

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are an important group of emerging pathogens, with ruminants recognised as their main natural reservoir. The aim of this work was to establish the prevalence of non-O157 STEC in free-ranging wild ruminants in the Extremadura region of Spain and to characterise them phenogenotypically. Faecal samples were collected from 243 wild ruminants, including Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus, Dama dama and Ovis musimon and were examined for STEC using both phenotypic (Vero cells) and genotypic (PCR and PFGE) methods.Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli were isolated from 58 (23.9%) of the samples and a total of 65 isolates were characterised. A PCR method indicated that 11 (16.9%) strains carried the stx₁ gene, 44 (67.7%) carried the stx₂ gene and 10 (15.4%) carried both these genes. The ehxA gene was detected in 37 (57%) of the isolates but none contained either the eae or saa genes. The isolates were from a total of 12 ‘O’ serogroups, although 80% were restricted to the O2, O8, O128, O146, O166 and O174 serogroups. The most commonly isolated STEC bacteria, which were from the O146 serogroup, exhibited a high degree of polymorphism as indicated by PFGE. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolates of serogroups O20, O25, O166, O171, O174 and O176 had not previously been found in wild ruminants. This is the first study to confirm that wild ruminants in Spain are a reservoir of STEC and are thus a potential source of human infection.