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.     

Risk factors associated with faecal shedding of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in eight known-infected Danish dairy herds

A risk-factor study was performed in eight dairy herds found to excrete verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 in a former prevalence study. Associations between excretion of VTEC O157 and management factors such as housing and feeding were analysed in a generalised linear mixed model. The animals were stratified in three age groups and sampled four times during 1 year. The risk of excreting VTEC O157 was higher among weaned calves than non-weaned calves. Among the calves aged 1–4 months, the risk was reduced if the calf had suckled colostrum from the mother or if the calf had stayed >2 days with the mother after calving. Calves aged 5–24 months that had been moved within the last 2 weeks had a higher risk, but risk was reduced if fed barley silage. Cows fed grain or molasses had a higher risk of excreting VTEC O157.     

Prevalence of VTEC O157 in dairy and veal herds and risk factors for veal herds

The aim of this study was to determine the herd prevalence of veal and dairy herds and to identify risk factors for VTEC O157 positive veal herds. The study was based on monitoring data from November 1996 through July 2005 of 1051 dairy herds and 930 veal herds. The herd level prevalence (95% CI) was 8.0% (6.4–9.6) for dairy herds and 12.6% (10.5–14.7) for veal herds. Within the population of veal herds, a prevalence of 39.8% (33.9–45.6) was found for pink veal herds (n = 269) and 1.5% (0.7–2.8) for white veal herds (n = 661).Multivariable logistic regression showed that the type of veal (pink vs. white; OR = 21.6; 95% CI: 10.4–45.0), ventilation (mechanical vs. natural; OR = 0.4; 95% CI: 0.2–0.8), time between arrival in the herd and sampling (3–5 months vs. 0–2 months: OR = 2.33; 95% CI: 1.1–5.1, ≥6 months vs. 0–2 months: OR = 4.11; CI: 1.9–8.9), other feed than the 7 most common (yes vs. no; OR = 2.1; 95% CI: 1.2–3.7) and at least one dog present in the stable (yes vs. no; OR = 2.6; 95% CI: 1.5–4.6) were significantly (P < 0.05) associated with the presence of VTEC O157. The large difference in the VTEC O157 prevalences for pink veal and white veal production might have been caused by a very different management of these type of herds. However, this could not be studied with the data collected.     

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.     

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from extensive cattle of the fighting bulls breed

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 represents a major public health concern worldwide, with cattle recognized as their main natural reservoir. The aim of this work was to determine the prevalence and the pheno-genotypic characteristics of STEC O157:H7 in a herd with 268 cattle of the fighting bulls breed (De Lidia breed) managed under extensive conditions in the South-West of Spain. Rectal-anal swabs of all animals were collected and examined for STEC O157:H7 by performing an immunomagnetic concentration and separation procedure combined with PCR, and the resulting isolates were characterized by both phenotypic and genotypic methods. Overall, STEC O157:H7 was isolated from seven animals (2.6%) in the herd. The PCR procedure indicated that all seven isolates displayed stx₂, eae-γ1, ehxA, O157 rfbE, and fliCh7 genes. They belonged to phage types 4 (one isolate) and 42 (two isolates), and four isolates reacted with typing phages but did not conform to a recognized pattern. Among the seven isolates there were five indistinguishable PFGE patterns and other two which differed only in ?2 restriction fragments, supporting the existence of horizontal transmission among animals in the herd. The present study demonstrates that cattle managed under extensive conditions in Spain can excrete STEC O157:H7 with their faeces. To our knowledge this is the first isolation of this pathogen from De Lidia cattle.     

Feeding supplemental dried distiller's grains increases faecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157 in experimentally inoculated calves

Escherichia coli O157 is an important foodborne pathogen and asymptomatic cattle serve as major reservoirs for human infection. We have shown a positive association between feeding distiller's grains and E. coli O157 prevalence in feedlot cattle. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of feeding dried distiller's grain (DDG) on faecal shedding of E. coli O157 in calves experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157. Holstein calves (five per treatment group), fed steam-flaked corn-based high-grain diets supplemented with 0% (control) or 25% DDG, were orally inoculated with a five-strain mixture (6 x 10(9) CFU/calf) of nalidixic acid-resistant (NalR) E. coli O157. Faecal samples were taken three times per week for 6 weeks to determine the prevalence and concentration of Nal E. coli O157. At the end of the study (day 43), calves were euthanized and necropsied. Ruminal, caecum, colon, and rectal contents, and rectoanal mucosal swab (RAMS) samples were collected at necropsy to determine NalR E. coli O157 concentration. There was a trend for an interaction between treatment and faecal sampling day. The concentration of NalR E. coli O157 in the faeces was significantly higher in faecal samples from calves fed DDG compared with control calves on days 35, 37, 39 and 42. At necropsy, the concentration of NalR E. coli O157 was higher in the caecum (P = 0.01), colon (P = 0.03) and rectum (P = 0.01) from calves fed DDG compared with control animals. The number of sites at necropsy positive for NalR E. coli O157 was higher in calves fed DDG compared with calves in the control treatment (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that E. coli O157 gut persistence and faecal prevalence increased in calves fed DDG, which potentially have important implications for food safety.     

Risk factors for hide contamination of Scottish cattle at slaughter with Escherichia coli O157

In the slaughter processing of cattle, contaminated hides have been identified as one of the major sources of Escherichia coli O157 carcase contamination. Logistic regression analysis was applied to data collected in a large scale study in Scotland involving 222 cattle forming 34 groups sent for slaughter from 30 farms to 10 slaughterhouses. Aspects of individual animal characteristics, farm management practices and slaughterhouse features were examined to identify potential risk factors for hide contamination at harvest. Two models were developed, the first in which slaughterhouse was modelled as a fixed effect, and a second model where slaughterhouse and farm groups were modelled as random effects. In the first model, there was a significantly increased risk of a carcase testing positive for E. coli O157 on the hide if either the hide of the carcase immediately before or after it on the line was contaminated (OR 3.6; 95% CI: 1.4–9.9). If both adjacent carcases had contaminated hides, the odds ratio for the study carcase having a contaminated hide rose to 11.5 (95% CI: 4.4–32.5). If animals were held in lairage, receiving hay as feed appeared to have a protective effect on hide contamination. Transportation to the slaughterhouse by haulier, as opposed to transport by the farmer, was associated with a 5.4 increase in the odds of E. coli O157 contamination. The use of a crush in the lairage, often employed when reading ear tags, was also found to significantly increase the odds of hide contamination with E. coli O157. In the second model, the inclusion of slaughterhouse and farm group as random effects resulted in two of the previously identified factors being associated with hide contamination. If at least one of the adjacent carcases on the line had a contaminated hide, the associated odds ratio was 6.6 (95% CI: 2.8–15.9), which rose to 22.7 (95% CI: 9.3–55.5) if both adjacent hides were contaminated. Receiving hay in lairage was found to be important to the model, although not significant in itself (OR 0.005; 95% CI: 1.2e⁻⁶–20.7). These results suggest that modifiable risk factors for hide contamination exist. However, in order best to reduce the prevalence of hide contamination at slaughter, individual slaughterhouse risk assessment and intervention strategies are appropriate.     

A Multi‐Level Approach for Investigating Socio‐Economic and Agricultural Risk Factors Associated with Rates of Reported Cases of Escherichia coli O157 in Humans in Alberta,Canada

Using negative binomial and multi‐level Poisson models, the authors determined the statistical significance of agricultural and socio‐economic risk factors for rates of reported disease associated with Escherichia coli O157 in census subdivisions (CSDs) in Alberta, Canada, 2000–2002. Variables relating to population stability, aboriginal composition of the CSDs, and the economic relationship between CSDs and urban centres were significant risk factors. The percentage of individuals living in low‐income households was not a statistically significant risk factor for rates of disease. The statistical significance of cattle density, recorded at a higher geographical level, depended on the method used to correct for overdispersion, the number of levels included in the multi‐level models, and the choice of using all reported cases or only sporadic cases. Our results highlight the importance of local socio‐economic risk factors in determining rates of disease associated with E. coli O157, but their relationship with individual risk factors requires further evaluation.     

Isolation and characterisation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from calves in Argentina

Four hundred and twenty-two calves were examined for intestinal carriage of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 using conventional plating. Two (0.5%) E. coli O157 were recovered. They were compared with 96 Argentine strains of different origin by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, phage typing and PCR-RFLP of stx2 genes. One strain isolated from a calf, was closely related with 18 strains of clinical origin.     

Associations between management, climate, and Escherichia coli O157 in the faeces of feedlot cattle in the Midwestern USA

Our objective was to generate hypotheses for potential on-farm control strategies for Escherichia coli O157 by identifying associations between management practices and climate, and the presence of E. coli O157 in feedlot cattle. Faeces were obtained from 10,622 cattle in 711 pens on 73 feedlots between May and August 2001. Management and climate information was obtained by questionnaire and observation at the time of sampling. The prevalence of E. coli O157 was 10.2% at the sample level, 52.0% at the pen-level, and 95.9% at the feedlot-level. The factors associated with the presence of E. coli O157 in cattle faeces were the frequency of observing cats in the pens or alleys (most common when observed daily), the presence of E. coli O157 in the water tanks (positive association), the historical use of injectable mass medication (positive association), the use of antibiotics in the ration or water (negative association), the wetness of the pen, number of cattle in the pen (negative association), wind velocity (positive association), and height of the feed bunk (positive association).     

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。     

大肠杆菌O157 Z4182基因的克隆与表达

根据大肠杆菌0157z4182基因设计1对引物，并在其5'端分别加入NcoI、XhoI酶切位点，用聚合酶链反应（PCR）从本试验用的大肠杆菌O157及1株产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）08、1株肠道聚集粘附大肠杆菌（EAggEC)和1株产肠毒素性大肠杆菌（ETEC）菌株中也扩增出了803BP的DNA片段。以大肠杆菌0157菌株94H的DNA为模板，用上述引物做PCR，将其产物连接到载体质粒pET28a( )，然后转化到宿主菌大肠杆菌LE392，从该菌中提取重组质粒，再将其转化到表达宿主大肠杆菌BL21（DE3），用PCR，限制性内切酶位点分析及核苷酸序列测定法对克隆的重组质粒进行鉴定，表明Z4182基因定向克隆到了载体质粒Pet28a( )。将转化子培养并经IPTG诱导后，做SDS-PAGE电泳，表明该菌株可以表达Z4182基因。本试验为阐明大肠杆菌O157Z4182基因的分布及探讨该基因产物的功能和致病作用奠定了基础。     

与HEp-2细胞粘附现象相关的大肠杆菌O157基因的发现

将产志贺毒素大肠杆菌O157：H7菌株97094培养于含有不同质量浓度的萘啶酮酸(nalidixie acid，NA)的麦康凯(MacConkey)琼脂平板上，获得对NA有抗性的菌株。用含有自杀性质粒pRT733的供体菌SM10λpir(携带转座子TnphoA)和抗萘啶酮酸的97094菌株做接合试验，使转座子TnphoA转入受体菌97094，经过约200个接合试验，有503个菌株在含有Km、NA、XP的LB琼脂平板上形成蓝色菌落，说明在这些菌株中形成了phoA融合基因,并能表达phoA基因。在这503个Km^r，NA^r变异体中，有6株完全失去了对HEp-2细胞的局灶型粘附(local adherence,LA)现象。对构建的6株大肠杆菌O157 TnphoA变异体，克隆TnphoA及其两侧的大肠杆菌O157 DNA序列，用根据TnphoA融合接点处的phoA的DNA序列设计合成的寡核苷酸引物，对各克隆中TnphoA上游的大肠杆菌O157的DNA片段部分进行测序，测序结果做BLAST搜索，发现有4个变异体的TnphoA插入到已知的大肠杆菌O157紧密素基因eae中，有2个变异体的TnphoA分别插入到eae之外的核苷酸序列中，分别插入到一个功能未知的菌毛分子伴侣基因和一个功能未知的Z4182基因的上游。这项研究表明，除紧密素外，大肠杆菌O157尚有其他因子参与对真核细胞的粘附。     

应用测试片快速检测食品中的大肠杆菌O157：H7

目的应用大肠杆菌O157:H7测试片快速检测食品中的大肠杆菌O157:H7。方法对大肠杆菌O157:H7测试片的各项指标及影响因素进行测试,并将其应用于食品检测。结果大肠杆菌O157:H7测试片的检测灵敏度高,其对纯菌的检测低限可达3cfu/mL;特异性较强,与鼠伤寒沙门氏菌、志贺氏菌等21种非目的菌无交叉反应;快速,24h内可报告阴性检测结果。应用该测试片检测各种食品206份,检测结果与SN标准的符合率达到98.5%。结论应用测试片检测食品中的大肠杆菌O157:H7具有快速、方便、经济、无需昂贵设备等优点。该测试片可适应于食品中大肠杆菌O157:H7的快速初筛。     

肠出血性大肠杆菌O157：H7噬菌体的分离纯化

分离纯化了抑制肠出血性大肠杆菌（Enterohemorrhagic E coli,EHEC）0157：H7的噬菌体,并对其进行效价测定。将宿主菌EHEC0157：H7培养制成悬液后与污水样品37℃共培养16h,将培养物离心、过滤除菌后得到该菌的噬菌体原液。噬菌体原液采用双层琼脂平板法进行5次纯化,得到直径相同的噬菌斑。纯化后噬菌体的效价达到12×10^pfu。电镜观察表明,该噬菌体呈蝌蚪状。根据ICTV对病毒的分类标准,该噬菌体属长尾噬菌体科,为烈性噬菌体。     

大肠杆菌O157:H7菌毛分子伴侣基因的克隆与表达

根据Genebank中已登录的大肠杆菌O157:H7菌株EDL933基因序列中茵毛分子伴侣ycbR基因序列设计1对引物,并分别在其5'端分别加入Neo I、Xho I酶切位点,以大肠杆菌O157:H7国内分离株97094的DNA为模板,用聚合酶链反应(PCR)扩增出710 bp的DNA片段.回收并纯化该DNA片段,用限制性核酸内切酶Nco I、Xho I同时消化DNA片段和双酶切栽体质粒pET28a(+).将它们回收纯化并连接,然后转化到宿主菌大肠杆菌DH5a,从该菌中提取重组质粒,用PCR、限制性内切酶位点分析及核苷酸序列测定法对克隆的重组质粒进行鉴定,表明ycbR基因定向克隆到了载体质粒pET28a(+).再将重组质粒转化到表达宿主菌大肠杆菌BL21(DE3),在含Kan抗生素LB培养基中经IPTG诱导12～16 h,做SDS-PAGE分析,表明ycbR基因在菌株中获得高效表达,表达蛋白相对分子质量大小约为30 000,与预期结果一致.为研究大肠杆菌ycbR基因产物的功能和致病作用奠定了基础.     

用PCR鉴定大肠杆菌O157∶H7

根据大肠杆菌Ｏ１５７∶Ｈ７的编码ｅａｅ蛋白的ｅａｅＡ基因和大肠杆菌编码Ｈ７抗原的ｆｌｉＣ基因的核甘酸序列,合成了２对寡核苷酸引物,建立了一个检测大肠杆菌Ｏ１５７∶Ｈ７的ＰＣＲ方法。对１１株已知大肠杆菌Ｏ１５７∶Ｈ７（ＮＭ;无运动性）株和其他不同属的４２株已知肠道致病菌的检测结果表明,该方法只从大肠杆菌Ｏ１５７∶Ｈ７（ＮＭ）株的ＤＮＡ中产生预期的扩增产物,而从其他菌株的ＤＮＡ中未扩增出任何ＤＮＡ产物。该方法从基因水平直接确定大肠杆菌的血清型,特异性强,克服了以往血清学方法有非特异性反应的缺陷,为检测和鉴定大肠杆菌Ｏ１５７∶Ｈ７（ＮＭ）提供了一个新方法。