Isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from intact colon fecal samples of swine

Escherichia coli O157:H7 was recovered from colon fecal samples of pigs. Polymerase chain reaction confirmed two genotypes: isolates harboring the eaeA, stx(1), and stx(2) genes and isolates harboring the eaeA, stx(1), and hly(933) genes. We demonstrate that swine in the United States can harbor potentially pathogenic E. coli O157:H7.     

Comparison of Escherichia coli Isolates from humans, food, and farm and companion animals for presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli virulence markers

The objective of this study was to characterize Escherichia coli isolates from dairy cows/feedlots, calves, mastitis, pigs, dogs, parrot, iguana, human disease, and food products for prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) virulence markers. The rationale of the study was that, isolates of the same serotypes that were obtained from different sources and possessed the same marker profiles, could be cross-species transmissible. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect presence of genes encoding Shiga toxin 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2), H7 flagella (flicC), enterohemolysin (hly) and intimin (eaeA) in E. coli isolates (n = 400). Shiga toxin-producing isolates were tested for production of Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2 and enterohemolysin. Of the E. coli O157:H7/H- strains, 150 of 164 (mostly human, cattle, and food) isolates were stx+. Sixty-five percent of O157 STEC produced both Stx1 and Stx2; 32% and 0.7% produced Stx2 or Stx1, respectively. Ninety-eight percent of O157 STEC had sequences for genes encoding intimin and enterohemolysin. Five of 20 E. coli O111, 4 of 14 O128 and 4 of 10 O26 were stx+ . Five of 6 stx+ O26 and O111 produced Stx1, however, stx+ O128 were Stx-negative. Acid resistance (93.3%) and tellurite resistance (87.3%) were common attributes of O157 STEC, whereas, non-O157 stx+ strains exhibited 38.5% and 30.8% of the respective resistances. stx-positive isolates were mostly associated with humans and cattle, whereas, all isolates from mastitis (n = 105), and pigs, dogs, parrot and iguanas (n = 48) were stx-negative. Multiplex PCR was an effective tool for characterizing STEC pathogenic profiles and distinguished STEC O157:H7 from other STEC. Isolates from cattle and human disease shared similar toxigenic profiles, whereas isolates from other disease sources had few characteristics in common with the former isolates. These data suggest interspecies transmissibility of certain serotypes, in particular, STEC O157:H7, between humans and cattle.     

Subtyping of Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from human infections and healthy cattle in Argentina

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause nonbloody (NBD) and bloody diarrhea (BD), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). Cattle have been described as their main reservoir. STEC O157:H7 is recognized as the predominant serotype in clinical infections, but much less is known about the dominant subtypes in humans and animals or their genetic relatedness. The aims of this study were to compare the STEC O157 subtypes found in sporadic human infections with those in the bovine reservoir using stx-genotyping, phage typing, and XbaI-pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and correlate the subtypes with the severity of clinical manifestations. The 280 STEC O157:H7 strains collected included in this study were isolated from HUS (n=122), BD (n=69), and NBD (n=30) cases, and healthy carriers (n=5), and from bovines (n=54) in the abattoirs. The stx-genotyping showed that stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) was predominant in human (76.1%) and in bovine strains (55.5%), whereas the second more important genotype was stx? (20.8%) in human and stx(2c(vh-a)) (16.7%) in cattle strains. In human strains, PT4 (37.6%), PT49 (24.3%), and PT2 (18.6%) were the most frequent PTs (80.5%). In bovine isolates, PT2 (26%), PT39 (16.7%), and PT4 and PT49 (11.1% each) were predominant. By XbaI-PFGE, all 280 strains yielded 148 patterns with 75% similarity, and 169 strains were grouped in 37 clusters. Identical PT-PFGE-stx profile combinations were detected in strains of both origins: PT4-AREXH01.0011-stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) (12 humans and one bovine), PT4-AREXH01.0543-stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) (one human and four bovines), PT2-AREXH01.0076-stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) (one human and four bovines), PT49-AREXH01.0175-stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) (seven humans and one bovine), and PT49-AREXH01.0022-stx?/stx(2c(vh-a)) (seven humans and one bovine). No correlation was found among the stx-genotypes, the phage type, and the clinical symptoms.     

Human infections with non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Switzerland, 2000-2009

We characterized 97 non-O157 Shiga toxin (stx)-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from human patients during 2000-2009 from the national reference laboratory in Switzerland. These strains belonged to 40 O:H serotypes; 4 serotypes (O26:H11/H-, O103:H2, O121:H19, and O145:H28/H-) accounted for 46.4% of the strains. Nonbloody diarrhea was reported by 23.2% of the patients, bloody diarrhea by 56.8%. Hemolytic uremic syndrome developed in 40.0% of patients; serotype O26:H11/H- was most often associated with this syndrome. Forty-five (46.4%) strains carried stx2 genes only, 36 strains (37.1%) carried stx1, and 16 (16.5%) strains carried stx1 and stx2. Genes encoding enterohemolysin and intimin were detected in 75.3% and 70.1% of the strains, respectively. Resistance to ≥1 antimicrobial agent was present in 25 isolates. High genetic diversity within strains indicates that non-O157 stx-producing E. coli infections in Switzerland most often occurred as single cases.     

Reduced faecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle following systemic vaccination with γ-intimin C₂₈₀ and EspB proteins

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 is the most prevalent EHEC serotype that has been recovered from patients with haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. Vaccination of cattle, the main reservoir of EHEC O157:H7, could be a logical strategy to fight infection in humans. This study evaluated a vaccine based on the carboxyl-terminal fragment of 280 amino acids of γ-intimin (γ-intimin C₂₈₀) and EspB, two key colonization factors of E. coli O157:H7. Intramuscular immunization elicited significantly high levels of serum IgG antibodies against both proteins. Antigen-specific IgA and IgG were also induced in saliva, but only the IgA response was significant. Following experimental challenge with E. coli O157:H7, a significant reduction in bacterial shedding was observed in vaccinated calves, compared to control group. These promising results suggest that systemic immunization of cattle with intimin and EspB could be a feasible strategy to reduce EHEC O157:H7 faecal shedding in cattle.     

Beta-lactam resistance and Enterobacteriaceae, United States

Extended-spectrum cephalosporins (ESC) are an important drug class for treating severe Salmonella infections. We screened the human collection from the National Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System 2000 for ESC resistance mechanisms. Of non-Typhi Salmonella tested, 3.2% (44/1,378) contained blaCMY genes. Novel findings included blaCMY-positive Escherichia coli O157:H7 and a blaSHV-positive Salmonella isolate. CMY-positive isolates showed a ceftriaxone MIC > or =2 microg/mL.     

MPCR-DHPLC检测大肠杆菌O157研究

目的:建立多重PCR(Multiplex PCR,MPCR)结合变性高效液相色谱(Denaturing High-PerformanceLiquid Chromatography,DHPLC)检测大肠杆菌O157的方法,并了解食品中分离的O157毒力基因携带情况。方法:针对大肠杆菌O157的rfbE、flicH7、eaeA、stx1、stx2基因设计引物,其单一PCR扩增产物在DHPLC上出现的色谱峰为标准色谱峰,建立MPCR-DHPLC检测方法。结果:MPCR扩增产物在DHPLC上的色谱峰,在位置和峰型上与标准色谱峰有较好的对应性。DHPLC能分离大小4个碱基差异的DNA片段。4株分离株检测结果,O157-1出现rfbE、flicH7、eaeA基因色谱峰,O157-2、O157-3、O157-4只出现rfbE基因色谱峰。结论:建立的MPCR-DHPLC方法可用于大肠杆菌O157及其毒力基因的检测。     

Virulence genotypes and serotypes of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli isolated from cattle and foods in Argentina

Virulence factors of Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli(VTEC) strains isolated from hamburgers and ground beef were studied in Argentina by PCR. Their virulence profiles were correlated with those corresponding to strains isolated from calves and adult cattle. Most virulent profiles (VTs⁺ eae ⁺Mp⁺) were present in E. colifrom healthy and diarrheic calves corresponding to O5:H-, O5:H27, O20:H?, O26:H11, O38:H?, O103:H-, O103:H2, O111:H-, O118:H16, O165:H-serotypes. The presence of the eaegene was significantly more frequent among VTEC strains isolated from calves (20/26; 76%) than from adult cattle (1/39; 2.5%) (p< 0.005). VT2⁺ eae ^? E. coliwas prevalent in foods and adult cattle at slaughterhouse. The prevalence of the eaegene was similar between VTEC strains isolated from meat (0/21) and adult cattle (1/39; 2.5%) which constitutes the main population processed at slaughterhouses in Argentina. Serotyping showed that VTEC strains were distributed among 31 serotypes, some of which (O20:H19, O91:H21, O113:H21, O116:H21, O117:H7, O171:H2, OX3:H21) were shared between bovine and food strains. These O serogroups have been isolated from cases of haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) in humans in several continental European countries. This study confirms the role of cattle as a reservoir of many VTEC serotypes other than O157:H7 and represents a base for future diagnostic, prevention and control strategies of EHEC in this country. In addition, this study affirms the advantages of PCR-based screening of E. coliisolates given the finding of so many verotoxin-producing strains.     

中国部分地区大肠埃希菌O157的分子分型及变异研究

目的了解出血性大肠埃希菌（EHEC）O157的分子流行特征和遗传变异关系并完善EHECO157：H7感染性腹泻监测制度。方法采用聚合酶链反应分析毒力基因的分布情况；用脉冲场凝胶电泳技术对1988-2005年部分地区分离到的249株EHECO157：H7（其中产志贺毒素的245株，不产志贺毒素的4株）和51株O157非H7进行分子流行病学分析。结果stx2基因在我国的EHECO157：H7菌株中有着很高的分布率，部分菌株携带stx2基因变种。300株O157共分为161种带型，其中51株O157非H7菌株共有42种带型，4株O157：H7非产毒株分别为4种带型，245株EHECO157：H7共有115种带型。结论EHECO157间的基因变异较大；产stx2原毒素的菌株和5衄2毒素发生变异的菌株带型相差较大。部分菌株之间存在着一定的交叉，说明虽然这两大类菌株有其特有的流行克隆系，但是它们的克隆系之间亲缘关系较近。     

Evaluation of a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for the quantification of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces

Cattle are asymptomatic reservoirs for Escherichia coli O157, a major foodborne pathogen. The organism generally colonizes the hindgut of cattle and is shed in the feces at low concentrations. The objective of this research was to evaluate a multiplex, real-time polymerase chain reaction (mqPCR) assay for quantification of E. coli O157 in cattle feces using stx1, stx2, and rfbE gene targets. Primer efficiency and analytical sensitivity of the assay were evaluated with a single or pooled (five strain) culture of E. coli O157. In pure culture, the minimum detection limit of the assay was 1.4×10(3) CFU/mL and 3.6×10(3) CFU/mL for the single and five-strain mixture of E. coli O157, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity was analyzed using DNA extracted from cattle feces spiked with E. coli O157. In feces spiked with the pooled mixture of five E. coli O157 strains, the minimum detection limit was 3.6×10(4) CFU/g. We also evaluated the assay with feces from cattle experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157 by comparing the results to a culture-based method. For the majority of samples tested, the concentration of E. coli O157 detected by the real-time and culture methods was within one log difference. However, the assay could only be evaluated for cattle shedding high concentrations of E. coli O157. In conclusion, the mqPCR quantifying E. coli O157 in cattle feces using stx1, stx2, and rfbE gene targets may have use in detecting and quantifying super shedders, but is not applicable for quantification in animals shedding low concentrations (10(2) to 10(3) CFU/g feces).     

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O78:H(-) in family, Finland, 2009

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a pathogen that causes gastroenteritis and bloody diarrhea but can lead to severe disease, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC serotype O78:H(-) is rare among humans, and infections are often asymptomatic. We detected a sorbitol-fermenting STEC O78:H(-):stx(1c):hlyA in blood and fecal samples of a 2-week-old boy who had bacteremia and HUS and in fecal samples of his asymptomatic family members. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics and the virulence properties of this invasive STEC were investigated. Our findings demonstrate that contrary to earlier suggestions, STEC under certain conditions can invade the human bloodstream. Moreover, this study highlights the need to implement appropriate diagnostic methods for identifying the whole spectrum of STEC strains associated with HUS.     

福建省O157大肠杆菌调查

目的 探索Ｏ１５７大肠杆菌在福建省人兽及食物中的存在情况,并了解这些检出菌的生物学特性。方法 １９９７～１９９８年选莆田、福州等地检查腹泻患粪便、畜食粪便标本及肉类标本２７２５份,以血清学方法检测Ｏ１５７大肠杆菌。结果 先从猪、鸽、牛、鸡、鸭等动物及腹泻中检出７６株Ｏ１５７大肠杆菌。据血清学及动力试验结果分类,３３株Ｏ１５７：Ｈ７,２１株Ｏ１５７：ＮＭ,２２株Ｏ１５７：Ｈ？,其中以猪检出率最高     

Sequence heterogeneity of the eae gene and detection of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli using serotype-specific primers.

The distribution of the Escherichia coli attaching and effacing (eae) gene in strains of verotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) isolated from cattle and humans was studied. The majority of strains isolated from humans with bloody diarrhoea or HUS and cattle with severe diarrhoea were eae positive (82 and 83% respectively). In contrast, 59% of VTEC isolated from asymptomatic cattle were eae negative and of the remaining 41% that were eae positive, the majority were serotype O157. H7. The nucleotide sequence of the 3'' end of the eae gene of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) of serotype O55. H7 was found to be almost identical to that of serotype O157. H7. Specific primers are described which detect the eae sequences of VTEC serotypes O157. H7, O157. H-, and EPEC serotypes O55. H7 and O55. H-. The nucleotide sequence of the 3'' end of the eae gene of serotype O111. H8 differed significantly from that of O157. H7. Primers were developed to specifically identify the eae sequences of VTEC serotypes O111. H- and O111. H8. We conclude that whereas the majority of VTEC associated with disease in cattle and humans possess the eae gene, the gene itself may not be necessary to produce haemorrhagic colitis and HUS. Sequence heterogeneity in the 3'' end of eae alleles of VTEC permits specific identification of subsets of these organisms.     

首次从病人中分离到产毒O157:H7菌株的多重PCR鉴定

目的 鉴定从病人粪便中分离到的大肠杆菌O157：H7菌株的毒素基因和rfbO157特异性基因。方法 多重PCR技术同时检测大肠杆菌O157：H7的四种毒素基因和O157特异性基因。结果 可疑菌株含有志贺氏毒素2（stx2)基因，溶血素基因（hlyA)，肠上皮细胞纤毛清除素基因（eaeA)和O157：H7特异性基因（rfbO157)，但不含有志贺氏毒素1（stx1)基因。结论 菌株为产志贺氏毒素大肠杆菌O157：H7血清型。     

Virulence factors for hemolytic uremic syndrome, Denmark

We present an analysis of strain and patient factors associated with the development of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) patients registered in Denmark in a 6-year period. Of 343 STEC patients, bloody diarrhea developed in 36.4% and HUS in 6.1%. In a multivariate logistic regression model, risk factors for bloody diarrhea were the eae and stx2 genes, O groups O157 and O103, and increasing age. Risk factors for HUS were presence of the stx2 (odds ratio [OR] 18.9) and eae (OR undefined) genes, being a child, and having bloody diarrhea. O group O157, although associated with HUS in a univariate analysis (OR 4.0), was not associated in the multivariate analysis (OR 1.1). This finding indicates that, rather than the O group, the combined presence of the eae and stx2 genes is an important predictor of HUS.     

衢州市2000-2009年肠出血性大肠埃希菌O157∶H7监测

目的了解浙江省衢州市肠出血性大肠埃希菌O157∶H7人的感染、食品污染以及动物和媒介昆虫带菌情况。方法在流行季节采集腹泻患者、动物粪便以及各类食品、苍蝇等样本,MEC肉汤增菌后,用特异性免疫磁珠集菌,以科玛嘉显色平板分离,纯化的菌株进行生化鉴定、血清分型及毒力基因检测。结果 2000-2009年,共检测样本12 292份,检出EHEC O157∶H7 19株,总检出率为0.15%。其中4种宿主动物粪便样本中检出18株,检出率分别为羊2.14%、牛1.29%、猪0.45%、鸭0.19%;食品中从生猪肉中检出1株,检出率0.17%;腹泻患者和苍蝇样本中均未检出。经毒力基因检测,其中16株stx2+hly+eaeA阳性,1株hly+eaeA阳性,其余2株不带毒力基因,带毒率89.47%。结论浙江省衢州市部分动物中产毒的EHEC O157∶H7带菌率较高,表明该地区存在暴发或流行的潜在危险,应加强综合监测。     

Analysis of collection of hemolytic uremic syndrome-associated enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

Multilocus sequence typing of 169 non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) isolated from patients with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) demonstrated 29 different sequence types (STs); 78.1% of these strains clustered in 5 STs. From all STs and serotypes identified, we established a reference panel of EHEC associated with HUS (HUSEC collection).     

Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 gastroenteritis in farm visitors,North Wales

An outbreak of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (VTEC O157) gastroenteritis in visitors to an open farm in North Wales resulted in 17 primary and 7 secondary cases of illness. E. coli O157 Vero cytotoxin type 2, phage type 2 was isolated from 23 human cases and environmental animal fecal samples. A case-control study of 16 primary case-patients and 36 controls (all children) showed a significant association with attendance on the 2nd day of a festival, eating ice cream or cotton candy (candy floss), and contact with cows or goats. On multivariable analysis, only the association between illness and ice cream (odds ratio [OR]=11.99, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04 to 137.76) and cotton candy (OR=51.90, 95% CI 2.77 to 970.67) remained significant. In addition to supervised handwashing, we recommend that foods on open farms only be eaten in dedicated clean areas and that sticky foods be discouraged.     

大肠埃希菌O157∶H7携带stx2::IS1203v基因研究

目的了解中国部分地区大肠埃希菌O157：H7菌株携带志贺毒素基因变异状况。方法采用聚合酶链反应扩增志贺毒素基因，使用核苷酸序列测定判断是否存在志贺毒素的新变种，用HeLa细胞毒性实验研究其细胞毒性的变化。结果1992—2002年中国部分地区分离到的289株产志贺毒素的大肠埃希菌O157：H7中有3株菌携带的志贺毒素2（stx2）基因有1．3kb的插入序列（IS）插入，且这段IS和IS1203变种（IS1203 variant，IS1203v）有100％的核苷酸序列同源性。IS1203v插入到3株大肠埃希菌O157：H7 stx2基因的位置及开放性读码框（ORF）方向有所不同。除此之外，3株菌原有的stx2基因序列完全一致且为Stx2原型毒素。和Stx2原型毒素相比，这3株携带stx2：：IS1203v基因的菌株对HeLa细胞的毒性明显降低。结论分离到IS1203v插入stx2基因的大肠埃希菌O157：H7菌株；IS1203v的插入可导致对HeLa细胞的细胞毒性降低。     

安阳市首次分离到产毒O157:H7菌株的PCR鉴定

目的:鉴定从生羊肉中分离到的大肠杆菌O157:H7菌株的毒性基因和rfbO157、flicH7特异性基因。方法:PCR技术同时检测大肠杆菌O157:H7的四种毒性基因和rfbO157、flicH7特异性基因。结果:可疑菌株含有鞭毛H7基因(fli-cH7),志贺毒素2(stx2)基因,溶血素基因(hlyA),肠上皮细胞纤毛清除素基因(eaeA)和O157:H7特异性基因(rfbO157),但不含有志贺毒素1(stx1)基因。结论:菌株为产志贺毒素大肠杆菌O157:H7血清型。