Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7-strains from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea and amplification of their virulence marker genes by PCR

Escherichia coli isolated from pigs with postweaning diarrhoea were examined by PCR for the presence of the O157 rfb gene responsible for the biosynthesis of E coli O157 lipopolysaccharide. Among the 372 isolates tested, 38 (10.2 per cent) were of the O157 serogroup, but none of these possessed the H7 determinant. Further analysis of the E coli O157 isolates revealed that seven of them had the genes responsible for the production of Shiga toxin 1 and eaeA intimin, four other strains had genes responsible for the production of Shiga toxin 2, and four other strains were positive for the enterohaemolysin gene.     

Virulence gene profiles and intimin subtypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy and diarrhoeic calves

The virulence properties of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from diarrhoeic and non-diarrhoeic calves were compared. The strains were also tested for O157:H7, O111 and O26 serotypes, using PCR and conventional serotyping methods. E coli strains isolated from 297 faecal samples, from 200 diarrhoeic and 97 non-diarrhoeic calves, were screened by multiplex PCR assay for the stx1, stx2, eae and Ehly virulence genes. STECs were recovered from 8 per cent of diarrhoeic calves and 10.3 per cent of non-diarrhoeic calves. The predominant virulence gene profile was stx1/eae/Ehly (47.3 per cent) among isolates from diarrhoeic calves and eae/Ehly (36.8 per cent) among isolates from non-diarrhoeic calves. Among three tested serogroups, the predominant serogroup was O26 (18.4 per cent), and O157:H7 was not detected. Intimin subtyping by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed only three intimin subtypes (β, γ and ). A significant difference was observed in the distribution of Int- between two groups. Int- was present in 50 per cent of the isolates from diarrhoeic calves and in 11.1 per cent of the isolates from non-diarrhoeic calves; this difference was statistically significant (P=0.01).     

Detection and characterization of verocytoxin-producing Escherichia coli types (VTEC) from different sources]

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is caused by enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) belonging to a few serovars embracing strains of O26, O103, O111, O118, O145 and O157 serogroup, respectively. In own investigations 3.791 food specimen of animal origin were investigated by use of an enzyme-immuno-assay (EIA) and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All E. coli isolates (n = 459) of food as well as isolates from cattle feces (n = 440), from HUS patients (n = 50) and asymptomatic human carriers (n = 16) were investigated by means of the PCR using primer pairs for verocytotoxin genes (vtx1, vtx2, vtx2c, vtx2d, vtx2e), the E. coli attaching und effacing gene (eae), the enterohemolysin-gene (ehlyA) and the vt2 transporter protein-gene (ile X tRNA). Differences were found in respect to the eae- and the ile X tRNA genes, which could be detected in significantly higher ratios in the isolates from patients and human carriers. Furthermore vtx2d strains were exclusively analyzed to each 25% in food and cattle strains. In six food samples pathogenic strains of serovar O157 were detected whereas some of the cattle strains were estimated to belong to EHEC serovars O26:H11, O118:H- and O157:H7. The own data support the thesis that the risk for human beings is affiliated to a great extent by direct contact with ruminants, followed by person-to-person transmission. Regarding the epidemiological data the thesis that each VTEC strain ist potentially an EHEC strain can not longer be substantiated.     

Identification of putative adhesin genes in shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from different sources

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important pathogen responsible for severe human intestinal and systemic infections. The bacterial factors required for colonization of the hosts are still not well defined. In this study, the prevalence of seven putative adhesive genes that are not encoded in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) in 74 STEC strains isolated from humans (n=39), food (n=6), cattle (n=11), and pigs (n=18) was investigated by PCR. In addition, Shiga toxin (stx) and intimin (eaeA including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, epsilon, zeta variants) genes were tested. The most prevalent adhesin was that encoded by toxB gene (52 of 74 isolates; 70.3%). This marker was found in all 12 strains of O157:H7 serotype and in 23 of 32 (71.9%) isolates of the O157:NM serogroup. Moreover, this gene was also present in other 17 STEC of the non-O157 serogroup. The second most prevalent adhesin was that encoded by the lpfAO157/OI-154 gene (43 isolates; 58.1%). This marker was detected in LEE-positive strains of the O157 serogroup but also in 9 LEE-negative isolates of porcine origin. Several STEC isolates tested (42 strains; 56.7%) had the efa1 gene of the Efa1 putative adhesive marker. This adhesin was almost exclusively found among eaeA-positive strains recovered from humans, food and cattle. On the other hand, iha marker was detected either in LEE-positive (29 isolates) or LEE-negative (12 strains) STEC. Only two eaeA-negative strains had the saa putative adhesive gene. These results show that STEC strains may be able to express several putative adhesins. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the role of the genes identified in the present study in the pathogenesis of human infections.     

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.     

Fimbriae and enterotoxins associated with Escherichia coli serogroups isolated from pigs with colibacillosis

A comprehensive study of 223 Escherichia coli isolates from pigs with colibacillosis included determination of O serogroups, detection of heat-labile enterotoxin, heat-stable enterotoxin (STa and STb), and identification of K88, K99, 987-P, F-41, and type 1 fimbriae. The incidence of the various E coli types among isolates of pigs of different ages was also determined. Escherichia coli bearing K88 fimbriae accounted for 48% of all isolates studied, were most often of serogroup O157, O149, or O8, and usually produced labile toxin alone or in combination with STa or STb. These E coli were commonly isolated from pigs in each age group studied (0 to 5 days, 6 to 10 days, 11 to 24 days, and greater than 24 days). Escherichia coli bearing 987-P accounted for 30% of the isolates, were most often of serogroup O141 or O20, and usually produced STa. Escherichia coli bearing K99 accounted for 13% of the isolates, usually were of serogroup O101 or O8, and almost always produced STa. Escherichia coli bearing 987-P or K99 were most often isolated from pigs less than 6 days of age. Fimbriae F-41, when identified, were usually on E coli of serotype O101:K99. Although infrequently found, type 1 fimbriae were on E coli of most of the serogroups identified in this study.     

Faecal carriage of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 in cattle and sheep at slaughter in Great Britain

A 12-month abattoir survey was conducted between January 1999 and January 2000, to determine the prevalence of faecal carriage of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) in cattle and sheep slaughtered for human consumption in Great Britain. Samples of rectum containing faeces were collected from 3939 cattle and 4171 sheep at 118 abattoirs, in numbers proportional to the throughput of the premises. The annual prevalence of faecal carriage of VTEC O157 was 4.7 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval 4.1 to 5.4) for cattle and 1.7 per cent (1.3 to 2.1) for sheep, values which were statistically significantly different from each other (P < 0.001). The organisms were recovered from both cattle and sheep slaughtered throughout the year and at abattoirs in all regions of the country, but the highest prevalence was in the summer. The most frequency recovered VTEC O157 isolates were phage types 2, 8 and 21/28 in cattle and 4 and 32 in sheep, the five most frequently isolated phage types associated with illness in people in Great Britain during the same period.     

High prevalence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 from cattle in selected regions of Japan

The prevalence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157 was examined in bovine faeces. EHEC O157 was isolated from the faeces of 42 (13.0%) of 324 cattle. Of the 4 farms and the facilities tested, the 3 farms and the facilities were found positive for EHEC O157. The highest isolation rate among the farms was 33.7%. The prevalence of EHEC O157 in heifers was higher than that in calves and other cattle. No cattle positive for EHEC O157 showed any clinical signs except 2 calves with diarrhea in a veterinary hospital. Almost all isolates possessed the stx gene, and Stx-positive strains carrying both stx(1) and stx(2) genes were predominant. These results indicate that EHEC O157 are distributed in bovine faeces, and that dairy and beef farms in selected regions of Japan are heavily contaminated with the organisms.     

The characterisation of E. coli O157:H7 isolates from cattle faeces and feedlot environment using PFGE

The objectives of this study were to investigate the diversity of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolates obtained over a 3-month period from a cattle feedlot in order to assess the relationship between environmental and faecal isolates and to determine the pattern of transmission of E. coli O157:H7 between groups of cattle. Faecal samples were obtained from cattle housed in four adjacent feedlot pens at monthly intervals, with environmental pen samples collected simultaneously. All E. coli O157:H7 isolates obtained were examined by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to detect eaeA, ehxA, stx1 and stx2 genes and antibiotic sensitivity profiling. Ten isolates were subjected to acid shock to imitate conditions in the acidic cattle abomasum and assess the effect on PFGE profiles. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from 69 faecal samples and 26 environmental samples. All isolates (n=95) carried the genes for eaeA, ehxA and stx2 and were sensitive to all antibiotics tested. The PFGE profiles of all isolates differed by no more than two bands and clustered within 80% similarity following dendrogram analysis. Acid shock had no effect on the subsequent PFGE patterns. A total of 8.7% (6/69) of cattle were shedding E. coli O157:H7 in the first month with faecal shedding increasing to 52% (36/69) by the third month of the study. A single isolate of E. coli O157:H7 may be passed rapidly through cattle pens, with the environment acting as a significant reservoir for transmission. PFGE is a useful tool for tracking the direct and indirect transmission of E. coli O157:H7 isolates on the farm.     

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the Swedish pig population

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 (VTEC O157:H7) was detected in two of 2446 individual faecal samples collected from pigs slaughtered at five Swedish slaughterhouses, indicating a prevalence of 0.08 per cent, with a 95 per cent confidence interval from 0 to 0.16 per cent Four Swedish VTEC O157:H7-positive farms which kept ruminants and pigs were studied by repeated faecal sampling; VTEC O157:H7 was isolated from the ruminants and pigs on all the farms and the same strains were present in the pigs and the ruminants. On one of the farms, the organism persisted in the pig population for 11 months. On all four farms, management practices which might have influenced the isolation rate in pigs were identified. A group of young VTEC O157:H7-positive pigs was moved from one of the VTEC O157:H7-positive farms to a fattening herd where there were no ruminants. The number of VTEC O157:H7-positive faecal samples decreased gradually and after nine weeks the pigs were all negative; at slaughter none of the pigs was VTEC O157:H7-positive.     

Prevalence of faecal excretion of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 in cattle in England and Wales

During the decade to 1999, the incidence of human infections with the zoonotic pathogen verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) increased in England and Wales. This paper describes the results of a survey of 75 farms to determine the prevalence of faecal excretion of VTEC O157 by cattle, its primary reservoir host, in England and Wales. Faecal samples were collected from 4663 cattle between June and December 1999. The prevalence of excretion by individual cattle was 4.2 per cent (95 per cent confidence interval [CI] 2.0 to 6.4) and 10.3 per cent (95 per cent CI 5.8 to 14.8) among animals in infected herds. The within-herd prevalence on positive farms ranged from 1.1 to 51.4 per cent. At least one positive animal was identified on 29 (38.7 per cent; 95 per cent CI 28.1 to 50.4) of the farms, including dairy, suckler and fattening herds. The prevalence of excretion was least in the calves under two months of age, peaked in the calves aged between two and six months and declined thereafter. The phage types identified most widely were 4, 34 and 2, which were each found on six of the 29 positive farms.     

Characteristics of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli from pigs.

Porcine verotoxigenic Escherichia coli were characterized with respect to frequency of occurrence, serogroup, and association with disease, weaning, and selected properties of the bacterium. Of 668 strains of E. coli from southern Ontario pigs with enteric disease, 32 (4.8%) produced verotoxin at 10(3)-10(7) cytotoxic doses per mL of culture supernatant. Of 22 isolates which belonged to O serogroups 138, 139 and 141, 15 produced verotoxin. Among other enterotoxigenic types of E. coli, two of 57 isolates of O157:K"V17" and two of 96 isolates of O149:K91 were verotoxigenic. The remaining 13 verotoxigenic E. coli belonged to O groups 2, 107, 120, 121 and 130. An additional 21 verotoxigenic E. coli belonging to O groups 138, 139 and 141 and three to O157:K"V17" were identified in a collection of 47 E. coli recovered from weaned pigs with enteric disease. Verotoxigenic E. coli were associated with postweaning diarrhea, bloody stools, sudden death and edema disease. They were isolated at similar frequencies (14%) from healthy weaned pigs, and from weaned pigs with enteric disease. Isolation rates from neonates were low and significantly different from rates in weaned pigs. Neutralizing antibody to verotoxin was not detected in the sera of 45 pigs, which included pigs from herds with a history of edema disease. Verotoxin was not associated with production of colicin, hemolysin, or enterotoxins or with any of 23 biochemical properties of the organisms. The serological data indicate that porcine verotoxigenic E. coli are not a common source of verotoxigenic E. coli for humans. Porcine verotoxin may play a role in postweaning diarrhea and absence of detectable neutralizing antibody in serum may be an important aspect of pathogenesis.     

Molecular characterisation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated in Poland

Ten Escherichia coli O157 strains isolated from cattle and children in Poland were investigated by the use of molecular biological methods. All strains possessed the intimin and enterohaemolysin genes and harboured the genetic determinants for Stx2 toxin (five isolates), Stx1 toxin (two strains) or both (three isolates). The genetic relatedness of the strains was examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of chromosomal DNA digested with Xbal and Notl. Nine closely related RFLP patterns were observed. Comparison of bovine and human E coli O157 isolates based on the analysis of Xbal and Notl digested profiles showed that all strains belonged to one genetic cluster. These results indicate that cattle must be considered as a possible source of human E coli O157 infection in Poland.     

Applicability of a multiplex PCR to detect O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157 serogroups of Escherichia coli in cattle feces

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), particularly O157, are major food borne pathogens. Non-O157 STEC, particularly O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145, have also been recognized as a major public health concern. Unlike O157, detection procedures for non-O157 have not been fully developed. Our objective was to develop a multiplex PCR to distinguish O157 and the 'top six' non-O157 serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) and evaluate the applicability of the multiplex PCR to detect the seven serogroups of E. coli in cattle feces. Published sequences of O-specific antigen coding genes, rfbE (O157) and wzx and wbqE-F (non-O157), were analyzed to design serogroup-specific primers. The specificity of amplifications was confirmed with 138 known STEC strains and the reaction yielded the expected amplicons for each serogroup. In feces spiked with pooled 7 STEC strains, the sensitivity of the detection was 4.1 × 10(5)CFU/g before enrichment and 2.3 × 10(2) after 6h enrichment in E. coli broth. Additionally, 216 fecal samples from cattle were collected and tested by multiplex PCR and cultural methods. The multiplex PCR revealed a high prevalence of all seven serogroups (178 [O26], 108 [O45], 149 [O103], 30 [O111], 103 [O121], 5 [O145], and 160 [O157]) of 216 samples in fecal samples. Cultural procedures identified 33.1% (53/160) and 35.5% (11/31) of PCR-positive samples for E. coli O157 and non-O157 serogroups, respectively. Samples that were culture-positive were all positive by the multiplex PCR. The multiplex PCR can be used to identify serogroups of putative STEC isolates.     

Study on the Virulence Gene Distribution and Genetic Evolution of Cattle Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli Isolates

This study was aimed to understand the relationship of virulence gene distribution and genetic evolution between cattle originated Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and human originated enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157. This experiment collected 18 strains STEC in a dairy farm from Jiangsu province and 9 STEC reference strains (human, sheep, swine and avian), according to the method of U.S. Centers for Disease Prevention and Control Center (PulseNet), using the XbaⅠ enzyme digestion and pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis, virulence genes were detected in some STEC isolates. The virulence gene distribution of O157 from different origin was remarkably different. The cattle originated STEC O157 and the human originated EHEC O157:H7 (EDL933W) had the most similar virulence gene distribution. In contrast, virulence genes were lack in cattle STEC O18 and O26, even though the cattle STEC O18 and O26 had the similar genotype as human EHEC O157:H7 (EDL933W). PFGE of Xba Ⅰ digested chromosomal DNA from 27 isolates of STEC exhibited 22 profiles. In general,the Dice coefficients of different originated STEC ranged from 72% to 100%.Cattle STEC O157 had a high similarity with two strains of human originated EHEC O157, while a low similarity was demonstrated between cattle STEC O157 and STEC O157 of swine and avian. The Dice coefficients of the cattle STEC O157 and the two strains of human EHEC O157 ranged from 83% to 95%. The Dice coefficients of cattle STEC O26 (Ⅶ,Ⅷ) and the two strains of human EHEC O157 were more than 82%. Therefore, it was concluded that the cattle STEC O157 and human EHEC O157 had a closer relationship in terms of virulence gene distribution and in genetic evolution.     

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。     

Effects of feeding wet corn distillers grains with solubles with or without monensin and tylosin on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of fecal foodborne pathogenic and commensal bacteria in feedlot cattle

Distillers grains, a coproduct of ethanol production from cereal grains, are composed principally of the bran, protein, and germ fractions and are commonly supplemented in ruminant diets. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of feeding wet distillers grains with solubles (WDGS) and monensin and tylosin on the prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibilities of fecal foodborne and commensal bacteria in feedlot cattle. Cattle were fed 0 or 25% WDGS in steam-flaked corn-based diets with the addition of no antimicrobials, monensin, or monensin and tylosin. Fecal samples were collected from each animal (n = 370) on d 122 and 136 of the 150-d finishing period and cultured for Escherichia coli O157. Fecal samples were also pooled by pen (n = 54) and cultured for E. coli O157, Salmonella, commensal E. coli, and Enterococcus species. Antimicrobial resistance was assessed by determining antimicrobial susceptibilities of pen bacterial isolates and quantifying antimicrobial resistance genes in fecal samples by real-time PCR. Individual animal prevalence of E. coli O157 in feces collected from cattle fed WDGS was greater (P < 0.001) compared with cattle not fed WDGS on d 122 but not on d 136. There were no treatment effects on the prevalence of E. coli O157 or Salmonella spp. in pooled fecal samples. Antimicrobial susceptibility results showed Enterococcus isolates from cattle fed monensin or monensin and tylosin had greater levels of resistance toward macrolides (P = 0.01). There was no effect of diet or antimicrobials on concentrations of 2 antimicrobial resistance genes, ermB or tetM, in fecal samples. Results from this study indicate that WDGS may have an effect on the prevalence of E. coli O157 and the concentration of selected antimicrobial resistance genes, but does not appear to affect antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in Enterococcus and generic E. coli isolates.     

A longitudinal study of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) prevalence in three Australian diary herds

Over a 12 month period, 588 cattle faecal samples and 147 farm environmental samples from three dairy farms in southeast Queensland were examined for the presence of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC). Samples were screened for Shiga toxin gene (stx) using PCR. Samples positive for stx were filtered onto hydrophobic grid membrane filters and STEC identified and isolated using colony hybridisation with a stx-specific DNA probe. Serotyping was performed to identify serogroups commonly associated with human infection or enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli were isolated from 16.7% of cattle faecal samples and 4.1% of environmental samples. Of cattle STEC isolates, 10.2% serotyped as E. coli O26:H11 and 11.2% serotyped as E. coli O157:H7, and the E. coli O26:H11 and E. coli O157:H7 prevalences in the cattle samples were 1.7 and 1.9%, respectively. Prevalences for STEC and EHEC in dairy cattle faeces were similar to those derived in surveys within the northern and southern hemispheres. Calves at weaning were identified as the cattle group most likely to be shedding STEC, E. coli O26 or E. coli O157. In concurrence with previous studies, it appears that cattle, and in particular 1-14-week-old weanling calves, are the primary reservoir for STEC and EHEC on the dairy farm.     

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.     

Characterization of pathogenic Escherichia coli isolated from humans in Austria: phenotypes, toxin gene types and epidemiology

One hundred and ten clinical Escherichia coli isolates of serovar O157 (n = 102) and O26 (n = 8) were characterized for the presence of putative virulence genes by PCR. All but one of these isolates contained the eae gene. The EHEC-hly gene could be detected in all E. coli O157 and in 50% of E. coli O26 isolates. Forty-five (40.9%) of the 110 E. coli were positive for both stx(1) and stx(2) genes, 2 (1.8%) isolates were positive for stx(1) and 57 isolates (51.8%) were positive for stx(2) only. Among the 102 stx(2) positive isolates, 14 (13.7%) E. coli O157 contained also the stx(2c) variant gene. No other stx(2) variant was identified. Six clinical isolates (five E. coli O157:H7 and one E. coli O26) did not contain stx genes. Ten non-pathogenic E. coli isolates which were amplified as controls didn't contain any stx and eae gene but two of the ten strains contained the EHEC-hly gene. By their growth on chromogenic media, all but two of 50 E. coli O157 could be differentiated from eight E. coli O26 and 10 non-pathogenic E. coli. Sixty-one of the O157:H7 isolates were further subjected to pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) which identified 49 distinguishable patterns. In five cases where contact infection among family members was suspected, indistinguishable PFGE patterns confirmed the epidemiological relatedness of the isolates. Moreover, two PFGE clusters were identified which comprised five and three strains, respectively. These findings indicate the occurrence of both family and diffuse outbreaks of E. coli O157 infections in Austria during recent years and demonstrate the need for molecular subtyping of these pathogens.