Characterization of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from calves in Poland

Fecal samples from 67 3–5-months-old calves with diarrhea were screened for the presence of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Several accessory virulence factors genes were also tested. Among 192 E.coli isolates tested, 15 (7.6%) were found to harbour the shiga toxin 1 or 2 (stx1 or stx2) genes. The stx2-carrying samples were further subtyped by PCR for the stx2c, stx2d, and stx2e toxin variants. It was shown that stx2-positive bacteria mainly possessed the stx2c shiga toxin type gene. The enterohemolysin (hlyA) and intimin (eae) genes were found in seven (46.7%) STEC strains whereas the cytotoxic necrotizin factor 1 and 2 or the P fimbrial genes were detected in two isolates only. This study confirmed that calves are a reservoir of STEC strains (with all pathogenicity genes) that may be virulent for humans.     

Local intestinal immune response to Escherichia Coli heat-labile (LT) enterotoxin: LT antitoxin levels in healthy, diseased and antigen-fed pigs

With purified LT toxin and IgA, specific anti-LT enterotoxin activity was demonstrated in small intestinal contents of 27 pigs. After 60 days of age, rise in intestinal LT antitoxin titer was observed. Feeding LT containing E. coli antigen increased LT antibody levels in the intestinal secretions, but decreased antibody titers in sera. In post-weaning E. coli diarrhea LT antibody levels in intestinal secretions and sera decreased significantly. This phenomenon can be related to the occurrence of the frequently observed post-weaning E. coli diarrhea.     

Presence of Escherichia coli carrying the EAST1 toxin gene in farm animals

Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) heat-stable toxin 1 (EAST1) is a small toxin of proteic nature. The reference strain producing this toxin was originally detected in the stools of a diarrheic Chilean child. Today, we know that EAST1 is not solely associated with EAEC but also with many other diarrheic E. coli families. Some studies have established the role of EAST1 in human outbreaks of diarrhea. In addition, isolates from farm animals were shown, more recently, to carry the astA gene coding for EAST1. However, the relation between the presence of EAST1 and disease is not conclusive. In this article, the current state of the knowledge on the presence and probable role of EAST1 in farm animal diseases is reviewed and discussed.     

Serotypes, virulence genes, intimin types and PFGE profiles of Escherichia coli isolated from piglets with diarrhoea in Slovakia

Two hundred and fifty Escherichia coli isolates from diarrhoeic and healthy piglets were serotyped and tested for the presence of virulence genes for fimbriae, intimin, heat-labile (LT) and heat-stable (STa and STb) enterotoxins, Stx toxins, and enteroaggregative heat-stable 1 (EAST1) enterotoxin by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Although 220 isolates from diarrhoeic piglets belonged to 43 O serogroups and 77 O:H serotypes, 60% were of one of the 10 serogroups O2, O8, O15, O54, O84, O101, O141, O147, O149 and O157, and 60% belonged to only 10 serotypes (O8:H-, O54:H-, O84:H7, O101:H-, O141:H-, O141:H4, O147:H-, O149:H10, O163:H-, and ONT:H-). PCR showed that 79% of 220 isolates carried genes for at least one of the virulence factors tested. The gene encoding for EAST1 was the most prevalent (65%) followed by those encoding for STb (49%), LT (42%), STa (13%), and Stx2e (4%). Eighty-three (38%) of the 220 E. coli isolates carried the gene for F4 (K88), whereas genes for F18, F5 (K99), F41, F6 (P987), F17, and intimin (eae) were detected in 9%, 3%, 3%, 3%, 1%, and 3%, respectively. Seropathotype O149:H10:F4:LT/STb/EAST1 (70 isolates) was the most common, representing 32% of isolates. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis with XbaI of 15 O149:H10 representative isolates from diarrhoeic piglets distinguished 14 types. The 15 isolates exhibited a wide variability of distinct restriction patterns though all belonged to the same serotype (O149:H10), and all but one showed identical virulence determinants (F4, LT, STb, and EAST1). Among 30 isolates from healthy piglets only two virulence genes were detected: EAST1 (26%) and eae (17%). In total, 12 isolates were positives for the eae gene: five isolates had intimin beta1, four possessed intimin theta and three showed intimin type xiB. This is believed to be the first study describing the presence of intimin type xiB in E. coli of porcine origin.     

Virulence factors in Escherichia coli isolated from calves with diarrhea in Vietnam

This study was conducted to determine the prevalence and characteristics of pathogenic Escherichia (E.) coli strains from diarrheic calves in Vietnam. A total of 345 E. coli isolates obtained from 322 diarrheic calves were subjected to PCR and multiplex PCR for detection of the f5, f41, f17, eae, sta, lt, stx1, and stx2 genes. Of the 345 isolates, 108 (31.3%) carried at least one fimbrial gene. Of these 108 isolates, 50 carried genes for Shiga toxin and one possessed genes for both enterotoxin and Shiga toxin. The eae gene was found in 34 isolates (9.8%), 23 of which also carried stx genes. The Shiga toxin genes were detected in 177 isolates (51.3%) and the number of strains that carried stx1, stx2 and stx1/stx2 were 46, 73 and 58, respectively. Among 177 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli isolates, 89 carried the ehxA gene and 87 possessed the saa gene. Further characterization of the stx subtypes showed that among 104 stx1-positive isolates, 58 were the stx1c variant and 46 were the stx1 variant. Of the 131 stx2-positive strains, 48 were stx2, 48 were stx2c, 11 were stx2d, 17 were stx2g, and seven were stx2c/stx2g subtypes. The serogroups most prevalent among the 345 isolates were O15, O20, O103 and O157.     

Prevalence of virulence genes in Escherichia coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with diarrhea in the US

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC)-associated post-weaning diarrhea (PWD) is economically one of the most important diseases for the swine industry. Porcine ETEC strains typically express K88 or F18 fimbria and heat-labile (LT) and/or heat-stable (STa, STb) enterotoxins. However, recent studies indicate that EAST1 toxin, adhesin involved in diffuse adherence (AIDA-I) and porcine attaching and effacing-associated factor (paa) may also be expressed by ETEC strains associated with diarrhea. To better understand the virulence factors of E. coli strains that cause PWD, we applied PCR to screen for K88, F18, F41, 987P and K99 fimbrial genes; LT, STa, STb, Stx2e and EAST1 toxic genes; and AIDA-I, paa and EAE adhesin genes in E. coli strains recently isolated from young pigs with PWD in the US. Of 304 E. coli isolates from diarrheic pigs submitted for testing, 175 (57.6%) strains possessed fimbrial genes: K88 (64.6%), F18 (34.3%), F41 (0.57%), K99 (0.57%), 987P (0); toxin genes: LT (57.7%), STb (72.6%), STa (27.4%), STx2e (17.4%), EAST1 (35%); and adhesin genes: AIDA-I (26.9%), paa (60%), EAE (1.1%). All toxin genes except the EAST1 toxin gene, were almost exclusively associated with K88+ or F18+ isolates, and most of these isolates carried multiple toxin genes. The non-fimbrial adhesin paa was found present in over half of the K88+ isolates. A total of 129 (42%) isolates carried no fimbrial genes, including 66 (21.7%) isolates that did not have any of the above virulence genes. These results suggest a broad array of virulence genes associated with PWD in pigs.     

Origin of Clostridium perfringens isolates determines the ability to induce necrotic enteritis in broilers

Since the ban on growth-promoting antibiotics in animal feed in the European Union, necrotic enteritis has become a major cause of mortality in broiler chickens. Despite the importance of the disease, the pathogenesis is still not completely understood. In the current study, Clostridium perfringens strains isolated from healthy flocks and isolates from outbreaks of necrotic enteritis were evaluated for the ability to cause gut necrosis in an intestinal loop model in laying hens and in an experimental infection model in broilers. High, intermediate and low alpha toxin producing strains were chosen from each isolation source. Only the isolates from field outbreaks induced necrotic gut lesions, independent of the amount of alpha toxin produced in vitro. It was also shown that alpha toxin producing isolates from calf hemorrhagic enteritis cases were not able to induce necrotic enteritis in poultry. These results suggest the presence of host specific virulence factors in C. perfringens strains, isolated from chickens with intestinal necrotic enteritis lesions.     

Therapeutic effect of anti-TNF-α antibody and levofloxacin (LVFX) in a mouse model of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 infection

The ability of an anti-TNF-α antibody to confer protection against enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 was investigated in germfree IQI mice. The use of an antibiotic levofloxacin (LVFX) alone or with the antibody was also studied. Protection included an increase in survival rate. Treatment with the anti-TNF-α antibody inhibited the histological signs associated with EHEC infection but did not prevent the colonization of EHEC or production of Shiga toxin (Stx). No clinical signs were observed and EHEC was completely eliminated in the mouse model receiving both anti-TNF-α antibody and LVFX. Anti-TNF-α antibody suppressed inflammatory cytokine response in the mouse kidney and brain by EHEC infection.     

Development of a multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay to detect shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in cattle

A multiplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (mLAMP) assay was developed for simultaneous detection of the stx1 and stx2 genes and applied for detection of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle farm samples. Two target genes were distinguished based on T_m values of 85.03 ± 0.54℃ for stx1 and 87.47 ± 0.35℃ for stx2. The mLAMP assay was specific (100% inclusivity and exclusivity), sensitive (with a detection limit as low as 10 fg/µL), and quantifiable (R² = 0.9313). The efficacy and sensitivity were measured to evaluate applicability of the mLAMP assay to cattle farm samples. A total of 12 (12/253; 4.7%) and 17 (17/253; 6.7%) STEC O157, and 11 (11/236; 4.7%) non-O157 STEC strains were isolated from cattle farm samples by conventional selective culture, immunomagnetic separation, and PCR-based culture methods, respectively. The coinciding multiplex PCR and mLAMP results for the types of shiga toxin revealed the value of the mLAMP assay in terms of accuracy and rapidity for characterizing shiga toxin genes. Furthermore, the high detection rate of specific genes from enrichment broth samples indicates the potential utility of this assay as a screening method for detecting STEC in cattle farm samples.     

Occurrence of fimbriae and enterotoxins in Escherichia coli strains isolated from piglets in Poland.

1125 and 1146 E. coli strains isolated from suckling and weaned piglets with diarrhea, respectively, and 724 strains from healthy piglets were tested for the presence of fibriae and production of enterotoxins. The fimbriae were determined by hemagglutination and slide agglutination tests, enterotoxins—by the use of ileal loop test in piglets (LT and STb enterotoxins) and suckling mouse assay (STa enterotoxin). It was found that 72.8 and 53.0% strains, isolated from diseased suckling and weaned piglets, respectively, possessed specific fimbrial hemagglutinins, in most cases with K88 antigen. Additionally, 987P fimbriae were detected in 14.0 and 0.7% strains isolated from piglets with diarrhea. Only 5 strains (0.7%) recovered from healthy piglets had specific fimbriae, usually with undetermined antigenic structure. F1 fimbriae (called common or unspecific) were found in strains isolated both from diseased (15.2 and 16.3% strains, respectively) and healthy piglets (27.1% strains). It was noted that the strains isolated from suckling and weaned piglets with diarrhea in most cases were enterotoxigenic (90.5 and 69.1% strains, respectively) and most frequently produced heat-labile toxin LT alone or with STb. 18.5% of enterotoxigenic strains isolated from healthy piglets produced STa toxin.     

Differential responses of cells from human skin keratinocyte and bovine mammary epithelium to attack by pore-forming Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin

Human skin keratinocytes HaCat attacked by Staphylococcus aureus α-toxin showed a transient drop of cellular ATP levels whereas in toxin-perforated bovine mammary epithelial cells (BMEC), the ATP levels dropped more slowly. Morphologically, during the ATP level depletion, HaCat cell developed a spacious intracellular vacuole together with the transient influx of trypan blue. WST-1 signal, which tested the function of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells, also decreased concomitantly. On the other hand, BMEC excluded trypan blue and vacuolation was not observed throughout the experiment. We conclude that mammary epithelial cells resist the toxin better than keratinocytes. This is the first report showing that α-toxin enhances transient membrane permeability to large molecules, temporary vacuole formation and the transient defect of mitochondrial enzyme in viable cells without cell lysis.     

Tonsils--place of botulinum toxin production: results of routine laboratory diagnosis in farm animals

Since a case of a veterinarian was reported, who was likely to be infected/intoxicated by Clostridium botulinum during the handling of a diseased animal, tonsils in animals were tested for botulinum neurotoxin and bacterial forms of neurotoxic Clostridium botulinum during routine botulism laboratory examinations including standard samples (intestinal tract and liver) from 48 cattle, 11 horses, and 14 goats. Ten out of 60 samples from tonsils contained free botulinum toxin, and 12 out of 59 were positive for live toxin producing bacteria. In 32 out of 162 intestinal samples toxin was detected. Toxin producing bacteria were found in 37 samples. Eight of 56 liver samples contained free toxin, and 15 out of 43 toxigenic bacteria. Samples from 10 slaughter pigs were all negative, whereas from slaughter cattle tonsils had a high incidence of toxin (7 of 10) or toxigenic bacteria (2 of 8). The results are discussed in the context of effects on animal health and botulism as zoonosis.     

Some properties of beta toxin produced by Clostridium haemolyticum strain IRP-135

Six culture media were evaluated for the optimization of β-toxin production by Clostridium haemolyticum (strain IRP-135) using both batch and dialysis culture techniques. The lethal component of β-toxin remained active for 13 days when maintained at 37°C but was inactivated by heating at 60° for 20 min. A 1 : 10,000 dilution of trypsin inactivated the toxin in 15 min. Preliminary data from electrophoresis in SDS acrylamide gel indicate the molecular weight of the β-toxin to be approximately 32,000.     

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.     

Heat-stable (STa) enterotoxin of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli: binding of the enterotoxin to coagulated milk and casein

Oral or intragastric inoculation of the STa enterotoxin of Escherichia coli has been the standard laboratory test for that toxin. We demonstrated that the severity of the secretory response of 2-4-day-old mice to a single dose of the toxin was influenced by weaning of these mice. After oral application of 50-250 fmol of purified, radioiodinated STa toxin (12-13 Ci mmol-1) approximately 55-65% of the administered toxin bound to the stomach contents. Binding of the toxin did not destroy its biological activity. The binding was pH dependent; stomach contents bound 75% of the toxin at pH 2.3 and only 7.4% at pH 10.1. The principle in the stomach contents which bound the toxin was also demonstrated in murine and bovine milk. Further studies with renin-coagulated milk and commercial casein indicated that milk casein bound the toxin. Based on these findings, we speculate that in cases of food-poisoning involving casein-containing foods STa toxin may be present in the absence of cultivable enterotoxigenic E. coli.     

Prevalence of enterotoxigenic <Emphasis Type="Italic">Escherichia coli</Emphasis> virulence genes from scouring piglets in Zimbabwe

World-wide, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) and verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC)-induced diarrhea are economically important for porcine producers. Our aim was to investigate the prevalence of toxin and fimbrial genes among E. coli isolated from diarrheic piglets from randomly selected piggeries in Zimbabwe.We used multiplex PCR for screening STa, STb, LT, and Stx-2e toxins. Subsequently F4, F5, F6, F18 and F41 fimbriae genes were screened in toxin positive isolates. Toxin positive strains lacking tested fimbriae genes were characterized using transmission electron microscopy, agglutination and agglutination inhibition tests. Approximately 32% of the 1,984 isolates tested positive for STa, STb, LT or Stx-2e genes. Of these, approximately 81% had F4, F5, F6, F18 or F41 fimbriae genes. The remaining toxin positive strains lacked tested fimbriae genes and appeared to either express F1-like fimbriae, or lacked fimbriae. The data constitute an important framework for implementation of prevention measures, such as using relevant fimbriae-based vaccines against ETEC induced diarrhea or VTEC-induced edema.     

Enhanced resistance to Listeria monocytogenes in mice injected with either whole cells or fractions of the aerobic corynebacterium, Corynebacterium catarrhalis

Resistance of mice to Listeria monocytogenes was shown to be enhanced by pretreatment with either intact or delipidated whole cells of a new species of aerobic corynebacteria, designated as Corynebacterium catarrhalis, as well as with fractions isolated therefrom. Both whole cells and a particulate fraction (CBAp40) proved to be effective when given intravenously, whereas a water-soluble fraction (CBA-LS) was not. In contrast, CBA-LS, as well as CBAp40 and whole cells were found to be effective when given subcutaneously as far as they had previously been adsorbed onto a gel of either calcium phosphate or aluminum hydroxide. Furthermore, pretreatment of mice with either of the mineral gels in the absence of the products failed to confer protection on them to the challenge with L. monocytogenes. It is suggested that C. catarrhalis or products derived therefrom could be used as agents for enhancing resistance to infections of immuno-compromised individuals.     

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.     

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.     

Interaction between attaching-effacing Escherichia coli O26:K60 and O157:H7 in young lambs

Recent surveys have shown that Escherichia coli O26 is prevalent in ruminants compared with E. coli O157. These serogroups share common colonisation factors and we hypothesised that prior colonisation by E. coli O26 may show reduced colonisation by E. coli O157. To test this hypothesis, strains of E. coli O26:K60 and O157:H7 were tested in competitive in vitro and in vivo studies. Using an established 6-week-old lamb model, an experimental group of lambs was dosed orally with E. coli O26:K60 and then E. coli O157:H7 four days later. The faecal shedding of O26:K60 and O157:H7 organisms from this experimental group was compared with that from animals dosed with either O26:K60 alone or O157:H7 alone. Shedding data indicated that counts for O157:H7 were unaffected by the competition from O26:K60, whereas the O26:K60 counts were lower when competing with O157:H7.