某定点肉牛屠宰场中非O157致病性STEC的分离鉴定

为了了解新疆伊犁地区肉牛屠宰过程中大肠杆菌的污染情况,检测非O157致病性产志贺毒素大肠杆菌(Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli,STEC)的感染情况,本试验采集新疆伊犁地区某定点肉牛屠宰场中屠宰肉牛的粪样和屠宰后的胴体表面拭子,并对样品进行了大肠杆菌的分离鉴定、毒力基因(eae、stx1、stx2)的PCR检测、O157鉴定(rfbE)、ERIC-PCR基因分型和小鼠致病性试验。结果显示,在采集的45份样品中分离鉴定出42株大肠杆菌,分离率为93.3%。其中2株菌株同时编码了毒力基因stx1和stx2,检出率为4.8%,毒力基因eae未被检出。PCR鉴定均为非O157STEC。ERIC-PCR基因分型检测发现,2株菌的基因型非常相似,同源关系密切。对小鼠进行腹腔注射攻毒,攻菌6h后,小鼠开始出现死亡,立即解剖死亡小鼠发现,其肠道出血,肝脏、脾脏、肾脏明显出血肿大,解剖对照小鼠表现正常,表明菌株具有一定的致病性。综上所述,在肉牛屠宰过程中存在大肠杆菌污染,其中粪便中非O157STEC菌株对胴体造成了污染,需要加强控制肉牛的屠宰加工关键环节的环境卫生。     

牛源大肠杆菌O157：H7的分离及毒力基因鉴定

从2个牛场采集新鲜粪便,增菌后,免疫磁珠富集,涂布筛选性培养基,挑取可疑菌落用rfbE/fliC二重PCR和血清学方法鉴定。设计毒力基因stx1、stx2、eae、hlyA和tccp相应引物,针对O157：H7对分离株进行PCR鉴定。口服攻毒链霉素处理的BALB/c小鼠明确分离株致病性。结果显示,成功分离到7株出血性大肠杆菌O157：H7,并且有1株迟缓性发酵山梨醇麦康凯培养基。毒力基因检测显示,其中6株毒力因子表型为stx1-stx2＋eae＋hlyA＋tccp＋,另有1株表现型为stx1＋stx2＋eae＋hlyA＋tccp＋,各分离株tccp基因均为阳性,但携带的重复片段数量有差异。所采集样品中肠出血性大肠杆菌O157：H7的检出率高达12%。1×1010 CFU同剂量口服接种经PBS洗涤的5株O157：H7分离株全菌,小鼠存活率有差异分别为40%,50%,60%,20%,50%,各分离株在小鼠体内排菌时间也有差异分别为攻毒后7,9,13,13,15d。     

江苏某奶牛场健康奶牛体内产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的分离鉴定及其对小鼠致病性的研究

通过对江苏省某奶牛场连续6个月的定群、定畜跟踪调查,获得产志贺毒素大肠杆菌(STEC)在该牛场分布的广泛性、持续性和血清型多样化的资料,并对一些重要血清型分离株作致病性的鉴定.基于本实验室已经建立的多重PCR方法对stx1、stx2、eaeA、ehxA共4个基因进行检测,对检测出的阳性样品,非O157 STEC采用多重PCR结合CT-SMAC平板的分离方法,而O157 STEC通过免疫磁珠结合O157显色平板的分离方法.结果表明,该奶牛场STEC的初筛率为16.1%(112/696),分离率为11.1%(77/696).分离株属于35种O血清型和60种O:H血清型.该场的优势血清型为O4、O26和O93,O157在该场存在,但并非优势血清型.77个分离株中,stx2基因的检出率为68.8%,远远高于其它毒力基因,如stx1(19.5%)、eaeA(11.7%1)和ehxA(20.8%).该场分离到一些O157和O26血清型的菌株,对小鼠具有较强的致病性.奶牛是STEC的天然宿主,可健康带菌.除了O157STEC外,非O157 STEC中一些高致病力菌株对人类的健康也存在威胁.     

南北疆不同季节肉牛饮用水和饲草料的大肠菌群污染监测

为了调查新疆南北疆地区肉牛饮用水和饲草料中大肠菌群的污染程度和危害,试验采集南北疆地区肉牛养殖场中不同季节饮用水和饲草料,采用国家标准方法测定饮用水和饲草料中大肠菌群数,并通过PCR方法测定伊犁地区饮用水和饲草料中大肠杆菌的毒力基因(stx1、stx2、eae)。结果表明:北疆地区饮用水中大肠菌污染比南疆地区更严重,南北疆地区饲草料中均存在一定程度的大肠杆菌污染,夏季饮用水和饲草料中大肠杆菌污染比冬季严重。伊犁地区夏季饮用水中大肠杆菌没有测定出毒力基因,但饲草料中存在2株大肠杆菌中编码毒力基因stx1+stx2和eae。南北疆地区肉牛的饮用水和饲草料中大肠杆菌污染存在一定的地域性和季节性,虽然只测定出2株大肠杆菌中编码毒力基因,但在养殖过程中仍需预防致病性大肠杆菌的危害。     

牦牛屠宰环境中大肠杆菌分离菌株的病原学特征研究

为了了解牦牛屠宰过程中大肠杆菌污染状况、菌株所携带的毒力基因及其耐药情况。2018年11月份以随机采样方式从成都市某屠宰场采集样品150份,其中牦牛胴体拭子30份,鼻腔拭子60份,土壤拭子31份,皮毛拭子29份,应用伊红美蓝琼脂培养基和麦康凯琼脂培养基对大肠杆菌进行初步分离和鉴定,PCR法扩增分离菌株携带的主要毒力因子基因est、elt、stx、eaeA、ipaH、aggR、ehxA、hlyA、astA等,采用K-B纸片扩散法检测细菌的耐药性。结果表明:从150份牦牛屠宰样品中共分离到20株大肠杆菌,分离率为13.33%(20/150)。不同样品中大肠杆菌检出率由高到低依次为牦牛胴体拭子(16.67%,5/30)、鼻腔拭子(15.00%,9/60)、土壤拭子(12.90%,4/31)和皮毛拭子(6.90%,2/29)。从20株大肠杆菌中均检出astA基因,15株菌株检出eaeA基因,9株菌株检出aggR基因,5株菌株检出ipaH基因,3株菌株检出stx2基因,分别从1株菌株检出stx1、ehxA和hlyA基因。大肠杆菌对氨苄西林的耐药率为50%,其次为氯霉素(45%)、链霉素(5%)、四环素(5%)。说明在牦牛屠宰过程中会污染致病性大肠杆菌,对食品安全带来潜在风险。     

牛源产志贺毒素大肠杆菌分离株的毒力基因分布和遗传进化分析

为了探讨牛源产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli,STEC）分离株在毒力基因分布和遗传进化方面与人源EHEC O157菌株之间的关系,本试验选择收集来自江苏某奶牛场的STEC菌株18株以及人源、羊源、猪源、禽源STEC参考菌株9株,参照美国疾病预防控制中心PulseNet推荐的方法,运用XbaⅠ酶进行酶切并完成脉冲肠凝胶电泳（PFGE）分型和聚类分析;同时对部分STEC菌株进行毒力基因检测。结果表明,经毒力基因检测,不同来源的O157菌株毒力基因分布不尽相同,其中牛源STEC O157与参考株EHEC O157∶H7（EDL933W）的基因排谱最为相近;牛源STEC O18和O26的基因排谱与参考株EHEC O157∶H7（EDL933W）类似,但存在部分基因的缺失。对27株不同来源的STEC分离株进行PFGE,产生了22种不同的酶切图谱。总体来看,不同来源的STEC Dice相似性系数在72%~100%之间。牛源O157分离株与猪源及禽源O157菌株的相似度偏低,而与两株人源O157分离株的相似度偏高,Dice相似性系数在83%~95%之间,牛源O26（克隆群Ⅶ、Ⅷ）与人源O157的相似性系数 > 82%。显然,从牛群中分离到的部分STEC菌株与人源EHEC O157具有较近的遗传进化关系。     

多重PCR方法检测鸭源产志贺氏毒素大肠杆菌

为了检测产志贺毒素大肠杆菌(STEC)在鸭源大肠杆菌中的分布情况,本研究建立检测STEC的多重PCR方法,针对STEC特有的毒力基因stx1、stx2、h&A和eaeA筛选了4对引物,通过对PCR反应条件的优化、特异性和灵敏度的检测,建立检测STEC的多重PCR,并应用该方法调查254株鸭源致病性E.coli和115株外表健康鸭的泄殖腔分离的E.coli中STEC的分布情况.在254株鸭源致病性E.coli中检测出6株STEC,从外表健康鸭的泄殖腔分离的115株E.coil中未检测到STEC.检出的STEC的血清型分别为O36、O60、O77、O78、O158和O7 & O92.本实验建立的检测STEC的多重PCR方法特异性好、灵敏度高;对鸭源E.coli的检测结果证实鸭致病性大肠杆菌中存在STEC菌株,分布频率较低,但其血清型具有广泛的宿主源,存在引起人类疾病的可能性.     

江苏地区动物粪便及食品中大肠杆菌O157的生物学特性分析

收集江苏地区养殖场及农贸市场动物粪便及食品样品700份,经显色培养基筛选、PCR鉴定大肠杆菌O157,并分析其进化分群、毒力基因、生物被膜形成能力、耐药性和耐药基因,了解O157污染情况。分离得到16株大肠杆菌O157,在粪便和食品中的分离率分别为2.6%(13/500)和1.5%(3/200),进化分群显示D群占68.75%(11/16)为优势分群,68.75%(11/16)分离株能形成生物被膜。毒力基因stx1、stx2、hly A、eae的分布率分别为25%、37.5%、68.75%、63.16%。综合分析显示,不同来源菌株进化分群及毒力基因型相似。分离株的耐药率在56%以上,且至少同时耐受7种药物;耐药基因tet A、TEM、floR、cml A、aph3、aad A1、aad A2检测率50%~63%,其他耐药基因检测率小于30%。本研究表明动物粪便作为大肠杆菌O157的贮库,可能由养殖场感染动物并污染食品,威胁人类健康。     

内蒙古呼和浩特地区牛源致病性大肠杆菌的血清型、毒力基因检测及耐药性分析

为鉴定内蒙古呼和浩特地区奶牛肠道致病性大肠杆菌(E.coli)分离株的血清型、毒力基因和耐药性,本研究分别采用接种小鼠试验、玻片凝集试验、PCR方法及药敏纸片法测定E.coli分离株的致病性、血清型分布、8种毒力基因及对20种抗生素的敏感性。结果表明,从内蒙古奶牛场采集的100份粪便样品中鉴定出50株致病性E.coli(50%)。定型的24株致病性E.coli的血清型共10种,以O18、O146和O152为优势血清型,共14株,占定型菌株的58.3%。50株致病性E.coli中,毒力基因irp2、eae A、stx1、stx2和hly A的检出率分别为100%、50%、14%、10%和8%。另外,所有血清型菌株对受试的抗菌药物呈多重耐药性,并且均耐受青霉素、四环素、多西环素、利福平、复方新诺明和阿莫西林6种抗生素,而且全部含有毒力基因irp2。本研究结果为牛源致病性E.coli病的防控和临床用药提供了实验依据。     

新疆伊犁某肉牛场大肠埃希菌及其毒力基因的检测

为了解新疆伊犁某肉牛场潜在的致病性大肠埃希菌,对新疆伊犁地区某养殖场2013年秋季和2014年夏冬两季的饲草料和粪样及定点屠宰场2013年和2014年秋季屠宰加工环节的样品进行大肠埃希菌的分离鉴定,采用PCR方法检测大肠埃希菌毒力基因(stx1和stx2、eae)存在的数量。结果表明,该养殖场饲草料样品在夏季、秋季、冬季的大肠埃希菌分离率分别为44.8%、31.4%和6.0%,其毒力基因的检出率为3.6%;该养殖场粪样样品在夏季、秋季、冬季的大肠埃希菌分离率分别为70.7%、75.0%和74.4%,其毒力基因的检出率为23.5%;定点屠宰场在加工环节样品中2013年和2014年秋季的大肠埃希菌分离率为32.4%和32.5%,只有1株菌株携带有毒力基因stx1和stx2,检出率为4.2%。新疆伊犁地区不同季节对饲草料中大肠埃希菌的污染分布具有影响,粪样中具有比较稳定的大肠埃希菌数量,其毒力基因的检出率最高。     

Presence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in feces from feedlot cattle in Alberta and absence on corresponding beef carcasses.

The study objectives were to determine the prevalence and serotypes of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in pens of feedlot cattle and on corresponding beef carcasses. We collected 25 fecal samples from 84 pens in 21 Alberta feedlots and 40 carcass swabs from each preslaughter pen for analysis by culture and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Non-O157 STEC were recovered from feces from 12 (14%) of the 84 pens and 12 (57%) of the 21 feedlots by examination of 1 E. coli isolate positive for 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-beta-glucuronide per sample. Twelve non-O157 serotypes were detected, but 7 of the 15 STEC isolates lacked the accessory virulence genes eae and hlyA. Although 115 (7%) of the carcass broths were PCR-positive, no STEC isolates were recovered from the 1650 carcasses sampled. Our data indicate that multiple non-O157 STEC serotypes may be present in cattle feces, yet are unlikely to be recovered from the corresponding beef carcasses when 20 colonies per sample from PCR-positive broth cultures are analyzed.     

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli in healthy cattle, sheep and swine herds in Northern Spain

Three-hundred and forty-five herds (17 swine, 122 dairy sheep, 124 beef and 82 dairy cattle) were investigated for prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Rectal faecal samples were selectively enriched and then examined by immunodetection techniques (Immunomagnetic Separation with anti-E. coli O157 Dynabeads, ImmunoMagnetic cell Separation (IMS) and automated enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay using VIDAS) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (rfbE and fliC genes) to assess the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7. Prevalence of non-O157 STEC was estimated by PCR screening for stx genes of 10 lactose-positive colonies grown on MacConkey agar after enrichment. PCR was used on all STEC isolates to detect stx(1), stx(2), eaeA and E-hlyA genes. Both immunodetection methods showed a moderate-good level of agreement (kappa = 0.649) but IMS showed 87.5% complementary sensitivity. Prevalence of positive herds for E. coli O157:H7 was estimated at 8.7% for sheep and 3.8% for cattle, whereas all the porcine herds tested negative. Non-O157 STEC were also absent from swine, but were isolated more frequently from ovine (50.8%) than bovine herds (35.9%). Within-herd prevalences of excretion of E. coli O157:H7 established by individual testing of 279 sheep (six herds) and 30 beef cattle (one herd) were 7.3% and 6.7% respectively. PCR analysis of 49 E. coli O157:H7 and 209 non-O157 isolates showed a different distribution of virulence genes. All E. coli O157:H7 were stx(2) gene-positive, eaeA was detected in 95.9%, and the toxigenic profile stx(2)/eaeA/E-hlyA was present in 75.5% of the isolates. Among the non-O157 STEC, prevalence of eaeA was significantly lower (5.3%) and E-hlyA was present in 50.2% of the isolates but only sporadically associated with eaeA. stx(2) was predominant in non-O157 isolates from cattle, whereas in sheep the combination stx(1)/stx(2) was more prevalent. This study demonstrated the wide distribution of STEC in ruminant herds, which represent an important reservoir for strains that pose a potential risk for human infections.     

Serotypes and Shiga toxin genotypes among Escherichia coli isolated from animals and food in Argentina and Brazil

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from animals and food in Argentina (n=44) and Brazil (n=20) were examined and compared in regard to their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics to evaluate their pathogenic potential. The clonal relatedness of STEC O157 isolates (n=22) was established by phage typing (PT) and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). All O157 strains studied carried eae and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)-hly sequences. In Argentina, these strains occurred both in cattle and meat, and 50% of them carried stx2/stx2vh-a genes, whereas in Brazil the O157 strains were isolated from animals, and most harbored the stx2vh-a sequence. At least 13 different O:H serotypes were identified among the non-O157 strains studied, with serotype O113:H21 being found in both countries. All but one non-O157 strains did not carry eae gene, but EHEC-hlyA gene was found in 85.7% of them, and the stx2 genotype was also more prevalent in Argentina than in Brazil (P<0.01), where stx1 alone or in association was most common (68.8%). One STEC strain isolated from a calf in Brazil harbored the new variant referred to as stx2-NV206. PFGE analysis showed that STEC O157 strains were grouped in four clusters. One Brazilian strain was considered possibly related (> or =80%) to Argentinean strains of cluster I. Differences in the pathogenic potential, especially in regard to serotypes and stx genotypes, were observed among the STEC strains recovered from animals and food in both countries.     

Virulence profiles of Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy pig at slaughter

Recently, virulence patterns of Stx2e-producing Escherichia coli from pigs with edema disease and from humans were compared and strains from diseased pigs were reported to be unlikely human pathogens [Sonntag, A.K., Bielaszewska, M., Mellmann, A., Dierksen, N., Schierack, P., Wieler, L.H., Schmidt, M.A., Karch, H., 2005. Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli isolates from humans and pigs differ in their virulence profiles and interactions with intestinal epithelial cells. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 71, 8855-8863]. In the present study, 31 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains harboring stx2e, which were previously isolated out of fecal samples from healthy pigs at slaughter [Kaufmann, M., Zweifel, C., Blanco, M., Blanco, J.E., Blanco, J., Beutin, L., Stephan, R., 2006. Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in fecal samples of finished pigs at slaughter in Switzerland. J. Food Prot. 69, 260-266], were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic traits. Nine of the thirty-one sorbitol-positive non-O157 STEC (stx2e) isolated from healthy pigs belonged to serotypes found in STEC isolated from humans, including two serotypes (O9:H-, O26:H-) reported in association with hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Otherwise, the serotypes were different from those isolated from cases of edema disease in pigs. The eae (intimin) gene, which is strongly correlated with severe human disease, was not detected. Moreover, all strains were lacking the genes for enterohemolysin (ehxA), porcine A/E associated protein (paa), STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) and the serin protease EspI (espI). Nine strains tested positive for astA (EAST1), one O141:H17 strain for fedA (F18 fimbrial adhesin) and one O159:H- strain for terF (tellurite resistance). Similar to the Stx2e-producing E. coli isolated from humans, which are mainly lacking further virulence factors, genes of an iron uptake system on the high-pathogenicity island (irp2, fyuA) were detected in three ONT:H10 and ONT:H19 strains from healthy pigs. Consequently, although the isolated strains are unlikely to be associated with severe human diseases, healthy pigs cannot be excluded as a potential source of human infection with Stx2e-producing STEC.     

High occurrence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in healthy cattle in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil

In order to evaluate the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, 197 fecal samples of healthy cattle from 10 dairy farms, four beef farms and one slaughterhouse at Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, were examined for Shiga toxin (Stx) gene sequences by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). For presumptive isolation of O157:H7 E. coli, the Cefixime-potassium tellurite-sorbitol MacConkey Agar (CT-SMAC) was used. A high occurrence (71%) of Stx was detected, and was more frequently found among dairy cattle (82% vs. 53% in beef cattle), in which no differences were observed regarding the age of the animals. Dot blot hybridization with stx1 and stx2 probes revealed that the predominant STEC type was one that had the genes for both stx1 and stx2 in dairy cattle and one that had only the stx1 gene for beef cattle. Three (1.5%) O157:H7 E. coli strains were isolated from one beef and two dairy animals by the use of CT-SMAC. To our knowledge, this is the first report of O157:H7 isolation in Brazil. A PCR-based STEC detection protocol led to the isolation of STEC in 12 of 16 randomly selected PCR-positive stool samples. A total of 15 STEC strains belonging to 11 serotypes were isolated, and most of them (60%) had both stx1 and stx2 gene sequences. Cytotoxicity assays with HeLa and Vero cells revealed that all strains except two of serotype O157:H7 expressed Stx. The data point to the high prevalence of STEC in our environment and suggest the need for good control strategies for the prevention of contamination of animal products.     

Occurrence and virulence patterns of E. coli O26, O103, O111 and O145 in slaughter cattle

The study attempted to investigate the occurrence of non-O157 E. coli serogroups O26, O103, O111 and O145 in cattle at slaughter and to determine the virulence potential of these isolates. A total of 399 fecal samples were analyzed by selective plating and E. coli isolates were characterized by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the genes vtx1, vtx2, eae and EHEC hlyA. Immunomagnetic separation (IMS) is required to increase the efficiency of the isolation procedure. E. coli O26, O103, O111 and O145 were recovered from 24 (6%) fecal samples. E. coli O26 and O103 seemed to be more abundant in slaughter cattle than E. coli O111 and O145. Sixteen out of the 24 isolates harbored vtx genes. All vtx-positive isolates harbored one or more additional virulence factors. Six out of the 8 vtx-negative isolates harbored eae and/or EHEC hlyA, whereas 2 strains harbored none of the tested virulence genes.     

Serotypes and virulence markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from dairy cattle in São Paulo State, Brazil

In order to determine the occurrence, serotypes and virulence markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, 153 fecal samples of cattle randomly selected from six dairy farms in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, were examined for Shiga toxin (Stx) production by the Vero cell assay. Feces were directly streaked onto MacConkey Sorbitol Agar and incubated at 37 degrees C overnight. Sorbitol-negative colonies (maximum 20) and up to 10 sorbitol-positive colonies from each plate were subcultured onto presumptive diagnostic medium IAL. Sorbitol-negative isolates were screened with O157 antiserum for identification of O157:H7 E. coli. Isolates presenting cytotoxic activity were submitted to colony hybridization assays with specific DNA probes for stx1, stx2, eae, Ehly and astA genes. The isolation rate of STEC ranged from 3.8 to 84.6% depending on the farm analysed. STEC was identified in 25.5% of the animals, and most of them (64.1%) carried a single STEC serotype. A total of 202 STEC isolates were recovered from the animals, and except for the 2 O157:H7 isolates all the others expressed cytotoxic activity. The great majority of the STEC isolates carried both stx1 and stx2 genes (114/202, 56.4%) or stx2 (82/202, 40.6%); and whereas the Ehly sequence occurred in most of them (88%) eae was only observed in O157:H7 and O111:HNM isolates. Serotypes O113:H21, O178:H19 and O79:H14 were the most frequent STEC serotypes identified and widely distributed among animals from different farms, while others such as O77:H18, O88:H25 and O98:H17 occurred only in particular farms. This is the first report on the occurrence of STEC in dairy cattle in Sao Paulo State, and the results point to substantial differences in rate of isolation, serotypes and genetic profile of STEC that has been previously described among beef cattle in our community. Moreover, to our knowledge O79:H14 and O98:H17 represent new STEC serotypes, while O178:H19 has only been recently reported in Spain.     

Phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) from Swiss cattle

A total of 42 Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) strains from slaughtered healthy cattle in Switzerland were characterized by phenotypic and genotypic traits. The 42 sorbitol-positive, non-O157 STEC strains belonged to 26 O:H serotypes (including eight new serotypes) with four serotypes (O103:H2, O113:H4, O116:H-, ONT:H-) accounting for 38.1% of strains. Out of 16 serotypes previously found in human STEC (71% of strains), nine serotypes (38% of strains) were serotypes that have been associated with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis showed that 18 (43%) strains carried the stx1 gene, 20 strains (48%) had the stx2 gene, and four (9%) strains had both stx1 and stx2 genes. Of strains encoding for stx2 variants, 63% were positive for stx2 subtype. Enterohemolysin (ehxA), intimin (eae), STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) were detected in 17%, 21%, and 19% of the strains, respectively. Amongst the seven intimin-positive strains, one possessed intimin type beta1 (O5:H-), one intimin gamma1 (O145:H), one intimin gamma2/theta, (O111:H21), and four intimin epsilon (O103:H2). The strains belonged to 29 serovirotypes (association between serotypes and virulence factors). O103:H2 stx1eae-epsilon ehxA, O116:H- stx2, and ONT:H- stx2c were the most common accounting for 29% of the strains. Only one strain (2.4%) of serovirotype O145:H- stx1stx2eae-gamma1ehxA showed a pattern of highly virulent human strains. This is the first study providing characterization data of bovine non-O157 STEC in Switzerland, and underlining the importance of the determination of virulence factors (including intimin types) in addition to serotypes to assess the potential pathogenicity of these strains for humans.     

Prevalence and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in beef farms

Rectal content grab samples were collected from 2436 beef cattle reared on 406 beef farms in Japan between November 2007 and March 2008. STEC strains O157 and O26 were isolated from 110 (27.1%) and 7 (1.7%) farms, respectively. Farms that tested positive for STEC O157 were located in 35 out of all 47 Japanese prefectures. This indicates that STEC O157 strains are widespread on beef farms nationwide. Of the 2436 tested beef cattle, 218 (8.9%) and 10 (0.4%) had STEC strains O157 and O26 in the rectal content, respectively. The most common Shiga toxin genes detected in the isolated STEC O157 strains were: stx(2c) alone (32.1%), stx(2)/stx(2c) (27.2%), and stx(1)/stx(2) (21.8%). Almost all of the STEC O157 and STEC O26 strains expressed Shiga toxins (Stx). Most of the STEC O157 and STEC O26 strains possessed eaeA and EHEC-hlyA. These results strongly suggest that STEC strains O157 and O26 from beef cattle would be pathogenic to humans. Therefore, it is important to reduce STEC strains O157 and O26 in beef cattle in order to prevent foodborne disease caused by STEC. The presence of dogs and/or cats on a farm was significantly (P=0.02) associated with the prevalence of STEC O157. More research is needed to clarify the role of dogs and cats.