Persistence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in experimentally infected swine

These experiments determined the ability of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to colonize and persist in pigs simultaneously inoculated with other pathogenic E. coli strains. Three-months-old pigs were inoculated with a mixture of five E. coli strains. The mixture included two Shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) O157:H7 strains, two enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC) strains and one enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strain. A high dose mixture with all five strains at 10(10)CFU/animal (CFU: colony forming units) and a low dose mixture with the STEC strains at 10(7)CFU and the EPEC and ETEC strains remaining at 10(10)CFU were used. The STEC strains persisted in the alimentary tracts of some pigs at 2 months post-inoculation, following inoculation with both the high and low dose mixtures. When all strains were given at 10(10)CFU (high dose) the STEC strains persisted in greater numbers and in more pigs than did the other E. coli strains. The results demonstrated that persistent colonization (> or =2 months) by E. coli O157:H7 can occur in pigs. These findings were similar to those reported from sheep inoculated with the same mixture of E. coli strains. The results are consistent with reports suggesting that pigs have the potential to be reservoir hosts for STEC O157:H7.     

Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the gallbladders of experimentally infected calves.

Fifteen weaned calves (age 89-141 days) were treated with dexamethasone (0.25 mg/kg, IV) for 3 days before, the day of, and the day after inoculation with 10 colony-forming units of either Escherichia coli O157:H7 (strain 86-24, which produces Shiga toxin 2 and intimin; n = 13) or nonpathogenic E. coli (strain 123, which does not produce Shiga toxin or intimin; n = 2). All calves were necropsied 4 days after inoculation. Histologic lesions of attaching and effacing bacteria were observed in the large intestine (12/13) and in the gallbladder mucosa (5/13) of calves inoculated with E. coli 86-24. Cholecystitis was present in 12 of 13 calves that received E. coli 86-24. Inoculum bacteria were recovered from the distal colons or feces (13/13) and gallbladders (3/4) of calves inoculated with 86-24.     

Experimental infection of calves with Escherichia coli O157:H7

Three 3-month-old Japanese Black calves were experimentally infected with Escherichia coli O157:H7 to define the magnitude (CFU/g) and duration of fecal shedding of the organism. In two of the three calves, fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 ceased in 5 and 9 weeks. The remaining calf continued shedding E. coli O157:H7 for more than 31 weeks, and the magnitude of the shedding ranged from 10(1) to 10(4) CFU/g of feces. The possibility is suggested that a percentage of animals naturally infected with E. coli O157:H7 on farms may become long-term shedders, transmitting the organism to other animals in the herd and to the proximate environment.     

Heinz body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis from ingestion of Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum) in a dog

A 4-year-old, intact male miniature schnauzer was presented with anorexia. The dog had ingested some Chinese steamed dumplings 2 days before, which contained Chinese chive (Allium tuberosum) and garlic (Allium sativum). Hematological examinations revealed severe Heinz body hemolytic anemia with eccentrocytosis and an increased concentration of methemoglobin, which was thought to result from oxidative damage to erythrocytes by constituents in these Allium plants. In this case, eccentrocytosis was a hallmark finding and could be detected easily, suggesting that this hematological abnormality is useful in diagnosing Allium plant-induced hemolysis.     

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ｅａｅ Ａ基因和大肠杆菌编码Ｈ７抗原的ｆｌｉＣ基因的核苷酸序列,合成了２对窦核苷酸引物,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不     

A systemic vaccine based on Escherichia coli O157:H7 bacterial ghosts (BGs) reduces the excretion of E. coli O157:H7 in calves

Cattle are the main reservoir of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7, a bacterium that, in humans, causes hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening disease, especially in children and older people. Therefore, the development of vaccines preventing colonization of cattle by E. coli O157:H7 could be a main tool for an HUS control program. In the present study, we evaluated bacterial ghosts (BGs) of E. coli O157:H7 as an experimental vaccine against this pathogen. BGs are empty envelopes of Gram-negative bacteria, which retain the morphological surface make-up of their living counterparts and are produced by controlled expression of the cloned protein E, which causes loss of all the cytoplasm content. In this work, E. coli O157:H7 BGs were used for subcutaneous immunization of calves. The vaccinated animals elicited significant levels of BG-specific IgG but not IgA antibodies in serum. Low levels of IgA and IgG antibodies against BGs were detected in saliva from vaccinated animals. Following oral challenge with E. coli O157:H7, a significant reduction in both the duration and total bacterial shedding was observed in vaccinated calves compared to the nonimmunized group. We demonstrated that systemic vaccination with E. coli O157 BGs provides protection in a bovine experimental model. Further research is needed to reach a higher mucosal immune response leading to an optimal vaccine.     

牛源大肠杆菌O157:H7的分离鉴定

为调查新疆部分地区E.coli O157：H7的感染情况和菌株致病性,从新疆阿克苏、伊犁、塔城3个地区的牛场采集新鲜粪样564份,对E.coli O157：H7进行分离与鉴定。利用E.coli营养肉汤（EC肉汤）对样品进行增菌后,用山梨醇麦康凯培养基（SMAC）平板选择性培养,再经过4-甲基伞形酮-β-D葡萄糖醛酸苷培养基（MUG）的筛选,对疑似菌株进行生化和PCR鉴定,并将分离鉴定到的菌株进行小鼠攻毒试验。结果显示,从伊犁地区采集的样品中共分离出2株E.coli O157：H7（Y166和Y226）,其检出率为0.88%;小鼠攻毒试验中,Y166和Y226试验组小鼠在48 h内全部死亡,具有一定致病性;从阿克苏、塔城所采样品中未分离到E.coli O157：H7。     

H7-HCP-Tir-Intimin高效降低小鼠粪便中大肠杆菌O157:H7排菌

构建BL21(PcoldⅠ-fliC-hcpA-tir-eae),并评价对小鼠的免疫原性,以期研制更加有效的候选免疫原,最大限度降低E.coli O157:H7对食物、环境和人类的危害。将946、423、309、811bp的fliC,hcpA,tir和eae基因被依次克隆,中间添加8个氨基酸的间隔序列,构建重组菌BL21(PcoldⅠ-fliC-hcpA-tir-eae)。进口白油和ISA50V作为佐剂与重组蛋白乳化,制备2种油乳剂疫苗,分别接种4周龄BALB/c雄鼠,二免21d,口服攻击E.coli O157:H7109 CFU/只,每天采集粪便,检测排菌。结果显示,2种重组疫苗均能够诱导高滴度血清IgG。ISA50V佐剂组抗体产生早于进口白油佐剂组,但进口白油佐剂组抗体滴度一致性更好。所有免疫组小鼠排菌极度降低,第1天排菌低于104 CFU/g,第5天检测不到排菌,整个检测期无反弹,而对照组在整个检测期排菌持续很高(>104 CFU/g)。结果表明,四价重组蛋白H7-HCP-Tir-Intimin能够高效降低口服大肠杆菌O157:H7后的排菌,极显著降低细菌的定植,很大程度减少病原传播,对环境和人类的威胁。     

Immunogenicity of an Escherichia coli (serotype O1) pili vaccine in chickens

Immunogenicity of an oil-emulsified Escherichia coli (serotype O1) pili vaccine was evaluated in chickens. Chickens were vaccinated with 116 micrograms or 29 micrograms of pili protein and challenged with the homologous E. coli via the posterior thoracic air sac. Unvaccinated chickens were challenged to serve as positive controls or left unchallenged to serve as negative controls. Vaccinated chickens were protected against challenge because they suffered low or no mortality; had mild gross lesions in air sacs, pericardial sacs, and livers, and the scored values were significantly (P less than or equal to 0.05) lower than those in the positive controls; and eliminated E. coli from tissues more efficiently than the positive controls.     

All blood, No stool: enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 is a pathotype of diarrheagenic E. coli that produces one or more Shiga toxins, forms a characteristic histopathology described as attaching and effacing lesions, and possesses the large virulence plasmid pO157. The bacterium is recognized worldwide, especially in developed countries, as an emerging food-borne bacterial pathogen, which causes disease in humans and in some animals. Healthy cattle are the principal and natural reservoir of E. coli O157:H7, and most disease outbreaks are, therefore, due to consumption of fecally contaminated bovine foods or dairy products. In this review, we provide a general overview of E. coli O157:H7 infection, especially focusing on the bacterial characteristics rather than on the host responses during infection.     

基于免疫纳米颗粒强化的压电免疫传感器检测大肠杆菌O157:H7

[目的]结合纳米技术建立检测大肠杆菌(Escherichia coli)O157:H7高灵敏检测技术.[方法]采用化学共沉淀法制备出核心粒径约为10 nm的免疫纳米磁颗粒,柠檬酸钠还原法制备粒径约为20 nm的免疫胶体金.压电免疫传感器通过金黄色葡萄球菌蛋白A(Protein A from Staphylococcus aureus SPA)法将抗体固定于石英晶振上,两种免疫纳米颗粒借助不同的抗体连接于传感器上对检测频率信号进行放大.[结果]SPA在石英晶振上的最佳固定浓度和时间为1.2 mg/mL和40 min,抗体的最佳固定浓度和时间为1.0 mg/mL和60 min.压电免疫传感器通过两种免疫纳米颗粒的放大作用,使其对大肠杆菌O157:H7的检测限从104 cfu/mL提高到101 cfu/mL.[结论]免疫纳米颗粒强化对压电免疫传感器的检测频率信号具有很好的放大效应,可以明显提高其检测灵敏度.     

Verotoxinogenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157:H7--a nationwide Swedish survey of bovine faeces

In the autumn of 1995 the first outbreaks of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 including ca 100 human cases were reported in Sweden. From outbreaks in other countries it is known that cattle may carry these bacteria and in many cases is the source of infection. Therefore, the present study was performed to survey the Swedish bovine population for the presence of verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) of serotype O157:H7. Individual faecal samples were collected at the 16 main Swedish abattoirs from April 1996 to August 1997. Of 3071 faecal samples, VTEC O157 were found in 37 samples indicating a prevalence of 1.2% (CI95% 0.8-1.6). All 37 isolates carried genes encoding for verotoxin (VTI and/or VT2), intimin, EHEC-haemolysin and flagellin H7 as determined by PCR. Another 3 strains were of serotype O157:H7 but did not produce verotoxins. The 37 VTEC O157:H7 strains were further characterised by phage typing and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The results clearly show that VTEC O157:H7 is established in the Swedish bovine population and indicate that the prevalence of cattle carrying VTEC O157:H7 is correlated to the overall geographical distribution of cattle in Sweden. Results of this study have formed the basis for specific measures recommended to Swedish cattle farmers, and furthermore, a permanent monitoring programme was launched for VTEC O157:H7 in Swedish cattle at slaughter.     

猪源大肠杆菌O157:H7鞭毛蛋白抗原表位分析及验证

利用生物信息学分析大肠杆菌O157:H7鞭毛蛋白FliC的二级结构及亲水性、抗原指数、柔性区域和表面可能性等指数,预测大肠杆菌O157:H7鞭毛蛋白FliC的潜在B细胞抗原表位,为其致病性研究提供理论基础。利用DNAStar软件Protean程序中Garnier-Robson方法和Chou-Fasman方法分析鞭毛蛋白FliC的α-螺旋、β-折叠、转角区域和卷曲区域,通过Kyte-Doolittle方法、Karplus-Schulz方法、Emini方法和Jameson-Wolf方法分析鞭毛蛋白FliC的亲水性、柔性区域、表面可能性和抗原指数。综合分析得出鞭毛蛋白FliC 63-74、236-247、338-349、460-471、542-553位氨基酸序列为潜在的B细胞优势抗原表位。化学合成法合成优势抗原表位338-349和460-471肽段,免疫BALB/c小鼠3次后,采用ELISA方法验证抗体水平。ELISA结果显示,338-349、460-471肽段具有很强的抗原性,能引起BALB/c小鼠产生高滴度的抗体。     

应用多重PCR方法检测出血性大肠杆菌O157:H7

选择O157：H7的产志贺样毒素基因stx1、stx2和β-葡糖醛酸糖苷酶基因(uidA)分别设计引物,在同一扩增体系中进行PCR反应。在优化好的多重PCR反应条件下,对菌株及其它肠道菌进行检测。试验结果为：O157：H7菌株在250,207,179bp处均出现特异条带。试验结果表明,选择3对引物的多重PCR方法可特异、快速而且灵敏地对大肠杆菌O157：H7进行检测。     

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.     

Effect of oral enrofloxacin and florfenicol on pigs experimentally infected with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1

This study was carried out to compare the efficacy of two oral anti-microbials as metaphylactic medication to pigs inoculated with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 1. Forty-two pigs with an average weight of 22.64 kg were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: group F was given doses of 40 ppm of florfenicol, group E received 150 ppm of enrofloxacin and group C received no medication. Groups F and E received medicated feed 12 h before being inoculated and for 7 days after inoculation. All the pigs were inoculated by aerosol, with 2 x 10(7) CFU/ml of A. pleuropneumoniae serotype 1 each. The average body temperature was higher in group C than in groups E and F, between 12 and 96 h after inoculation (P < 0.05). No differences were found between groups F and E in respiration pattern, nasal secretion and general condition (P > 0.05): however, differences were found in group C for respiration pattern and general condition (P < 0.05), 12 h after inoculation. There was no mortality in groups F and E, whereas a 50% mortality was recorded in group C during the first 48 h after inoculation (P < 0.05). Necropsies and bacterial cultures were performed 12 days after inoculation. Lesions were observed in five pigs of group F (35.71%) with an average damage of 1.16%; in four pigs of group E (28.57%) with 1.24%; and in 13 animals in group C (92.85%) with 34.5% of affected lung tissue (P < 0.05). The infective agent was cultured from various organs of animals in groups F and C, but not from those in group E.     

上海市动物及其产品中大肠埃希菌O157:H7带菌情况的调查

为了解上海市动物及动物产品中大肠埃希菌O 157∶H 7带菌情况及其毒力采集上海市猪、牛等动物粪便以及市场和超市猪肉、牛肉、牛奶、虾仁等样本568 份,应用免疫胶体金技术、分离培养、形态特征观察生化特性鉴定、血清学试验、多重引物PCR进行大肠埃希菌O 157∶H 7的分离、鉴定及毒力基因分析。结果表明,上海市动物及动物产品中存在大肠埃希菌O 157∶H 7,检出率为2.05%。其中牛粪、猪粪中检出率较高,分别为9.76%和8.57%。