Surface water of a perennial river exhibits multi-antimicrobial resistant shiga toxin and enterotoxin producing Escherichia coli

The high incidences of waterborne diseases are frequently associated with shiga toxin (STEC) and enterotoxin producing Escherichia coli (ETEC). Therefore, in the present study, surface water samples collected from the river Saryu were analyzed for the presence of multi-antimicrobial resistant ETEC and STEC. Forty-two E. coli isolates were screened for virulence determinants of STEC and ETEC. Eighteen E. coli isolates exhibit both stx1 and stx2 genes (66.6%) or only stx1 (33.3%) gene. eaeA, hlyA, and chuA genes were present in 94.5%, 83.3%, and 55.6% of STEC, respectively. Further, it was observed that 12 isolates exhibit only ST1 gene (25%) or both LT1 and ST1 genes (75%). The resistance to multi-antimicrobials was observed in 100% and 27.7% of ETEC and STEC isolates, respectively. The presence of multi-antimicrobial resistant diarrheagenic E. coli in surface waters of south Asia is an important health concern due to risk of developing waterborne outbreaks.     

泰州市腹泻病人中致泻大肠埃希氏菌感染状况及 病原学特征分析

摘要:目的　了解泰州市腹泻病人中致泻大肠埃希氏菌感染状况、毒力基因、分子分型以及耐药性情况,为致泻大肠埃希氏菌防治提供依据。方法　对2013年泰州市215份腹泻病人粪便标本进行多重PCR鉴定和分离培养,并对分离的致泻大肠埃希氏菌菌株进行生化鉴定、脉冲场凝胶电泳（Pulsed Field Gel Electrophoresis,PFGE）分子分型以及药敏试验。结果　215份腹泻病人粪便标本共检测出致泻大肠埃希氏菌30株,其中EPEC 20株（占9.30%）,EAEC 5株（占2.33%）,ETEC 5株（占2.33%）;PFGE结果表明,30株致泻大肠埃希氏菌PFGE带型种类多,各亲缘关系较近,但无100%的同源菌,同时PFGE分析结果表明在同一个粪便中有2种不同致泻大肠埃希氏菌感染情况存在;药敏试验表明,30株致泻大肠埃希氏菌对阿莫西林、四环素耐药性最高,3耐以及以上占63.33%。结论　泰州市腹泻病人中致泻大肠埃希氏菌感染普遍存在,并以EPEC、EAEC、ETEC感染为主,菌株的耐药性较强,耐药谱广;基因型呈多态分布,且具有流行相关性。     

太原地区携带OI一28毒力基因组岛致泻大肠埃希菌性小儿腹泻

目的探讨携带OI-28毒力基因组岛致泻大肠埃希菌在小儿腹泻中的病原学作用。方法在山西省儿童医院采集257例腹泻病患儿粪便,做肠道病原菌常规培养和致泻大肠埃希菌血清学分型鉴定,用PCR和DNA斑点杂交检测致泻大肠埃希菌EHEC OI-28毒力基因组岛中与RTX相关的5个毒力基因。结果257例腹泻病患儿检出病原菌206株(80.16%)。其中大肠埃希菌149株(57.98%),其他肠道致病菌57株(22.18%)。血清分型检出致泻大肠埃希菌EPEC 3株(2.01%)、ETEC 2株(1.34%)、EHEC 2株(1.34%),其余142株为"疑似致泻大肠埃希菌"(55.25%)。149株大肠埃希菌中OI-28 5个基因全阳性者21株(14.09%),1个基因阳性者8株(5.37%),2个基因阳性者2株(1.34%)。21例携带OI-28毒力基因组岛大肠埃希菌感染的腹泻患儿,以3岁以下小儿为主(80.95%)。结论携带OI-28毒力基因组岛大肠埃希菌是夏季小儿腹泻的重要病原菌之一。     

分子生物学方法鉴定由自毙鼠分离的细菌

目的 对1株由自毙鼠分离的细菌（X175菌株）进行属、种及型的鉴定。方法 ①采用16S rDNA对X175菌株进行种属鉴定;②应用荧光PCR检测X175菌株是否存在致泻性大肠埃希菌常见毒素基因（stx1/stx2/eae、lt/st、aggR/ipaH）及大肠埃希菌O104、H4基因;③应用PCR检测X175菌株是否存在肠出血性大肠埃希菌（EHEC）O104∶H4的9个毒力基因。结果 ①经16S rDNA鉴定,X175菌株与大肠埃希菌埃希菌属的一些菌株相似度达99%,进化树显示X175菌株与大肠埃希菌O104∶H4菌株的亲缘关系较近;②大肠埃希菌O104基因和ipaH基因检测结果均为阳性,stx1/stx2/eae、lt/st、aggR、志贺菌/沙门菌、H4等基因检测结果均为阴性;③肠出血性大肠埃希菌O104∶H4九个毒力因子检测结果均为阴性。结论 X175菌株为大肠埃希菌O104弱毒型菌株,H抗原和其他一些特性还需进一步研究。     

致泻性大肠埃希菌2种检测方法的比较

摘要:目的　通过对致泻性大肠埃希菌2种检测方法的比较,为今后的细菌鉴定工作提供参考。方法　分别按照GB/T4789.6-2003和食源性疾病监测工作手册,检测本市某次因市政施工损坏供水管道,导致的饮水污染事件中分离出的大肠埃希菌。并对结果进行比较分析。结果　按照国标方法检出1株EPEC、2株EIEC。按照工作手册进行PCR鉴定后,2株EIEC应为EAEC。结论　工作手册采用的PCR技术可提高致泻性大肠埃希菌检测的准确率和及时率,建议修订国标。     

2018-2019年江苏省食源性疾病中致泻大肠埃希氏菌流行特征及耐药性分析

目的 了解江苏省食源性疾病患者中致泻大肠埃希氏菌的病原学特征、流行状况和耐药性特征,为其预防控制和指导临床合理用药提供科学依据。 方法 从江苏省各设区市哨点医院共收集24 292例食源性疾病患者的粪便或肛拭子标本进行致泻大肠埃希氏菌检测,采用实时荧光定量PCR进行毒力基因分型,采用微量肉汤稀释法进行药敏实验。 结果 致泻大肠埃希氏菌检出率为2.48%。EAEC(36.48%)、EPEC(31.85%)及ETEC(30.00%)为主要毒力基因型。致泻大肠埃希氏菌在不同年龄（x2=33.428, P <0.001）、不同季节（x2=131.452, P <0.001）间检出率差异有统计学意义,<1岁年龄段及夏季检出率最高。致泻大肠埃希氏菌对氨苄西林耐药率最高（71.85%）;多重耐药率为64.81%。 结论 EAEC在江苏省食源性致泻性大肠埃希菌中最常见。夏季感染ETEC可能性大。多重耐药率高于往年,应加强耐药性监测。     

2010年福建南平及永安监测点致泻大肠杆菌的监测报告

目的:为了解福建省腹泻病人中致泻大肠杆菌的感染情况。方法:应用多重PCR或单重PCR方法检测致泻大肠杆菌的EPEC/EHEC eaeA基因、EHEC stx基因、EAEC aggR基因、EIEC ipaH、EIEC virA、ETEC ST、ETEC LT、EPEC bfp基因。API 20E生化鉴定条进行生化试验。血清学鉴定。结果:2010年度共分离得19株致泻大肠杆菌,检出率为10.9%。1株EAEC;1株tEPEC;4株aEPEC;13株ETEC。19株分离的致泻大肠杆菌经API 20E鉴定均为大肠埃希菌。1株tEPEC与EPEC三种多价诊断血清型均不凝集,而1株aEPEC血清型为O111:K58(B4)。13株ETEC菌株血清型:多数为O6:K15,1株O25:K19(L),3株未能分型。结论:监测结果对于我们了解福建省致泻大肠杆菌感染情况,预警潜在发生疫情的可能性有其重要性。这些菌种的获得可以为下一步研究其毒力特征、分子分型及耐药性积累原始材料。     

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.     

产志贺毒素大肠杆菌多重PCR与Vero细胞毒实验对比研究

目的：通过对比研究建立一种具有高特异性，敏感性的检测产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）的实验方法。方法：应用多重PCR和Vero细胞毒实验方法，对比检测从疫区分离的142株大肠杆菌菌株。结果：60株多重PCR stx2或stx1阳性大肠杆菌Vero细胞毒试验均阳性，82株不含有stx1具有高度的特异性和敏感性，可作为鉴定大肠杆菌是否为STEC的首选方法。     

EcoR phylogenetic analysis and virulence genotyping of avian pathogenic Escherichia coli strains and Escherichia coli isolates from commercial chicken carcasses in southern Brazil

Escherichia coli strains designated as avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) are responsible for avian colibacillosis, an acute and largely systemic disease that promotes significant economic losses in poultry industry worldwide because of mortality increase, medication costs, and condemnation of carcasses. APEC is a subgroup of extraintestinal pathogenic E. coli pathotype, which includes uropathogenic E. coli, neonatal meningitis E. coli, and septicemic E. coli. We isolated E. coli from commercial chicken carcasses in a Brazilian community and compared by polymerase chain reaction-defined phylogenetic group (A, B1, B2, or D) with APEC strains isolated from sick chickens from different poultry farms. A substantial number of strains assigned to phylogenetic E. coli reference collection group B2, which is known to harbor potent extraintestinal human and animal E. coli pathogens, were identified as APEC (26.0%) in both commercial chicken carcasses and retail poultry meat (retail poultry E. coli [RPEC]) (21.25%). The majority of RPEC were classified as group A (35%), whereas the majority of APEC were groups B1 (30.8) and A (27.6%). APEC and RPEC presented the genes pentaplex, iutA, hly, iron, ompT, and iss, but with different virulence profiles. The similarity between APEC and RPEC indicates RPEC as potentially pathogenic strains and supports a possible zoonotic risk for humans.     

Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from swine feces

The virulence gene and antibiotic resistance profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains belonging to 58 different O:H serotypes (219 strains) isolated from swine feces were determined. Of the 219 isolates, 29 (13%) carried the stx(1) gene, 14 (6%) stx(2), 176 (80%) stx(2e), 46 (21%) estIa, 14 (6.4%) estIb, 10 (4.6%) fedA, 94 (42.9%) astA, 25 (11.4%) hly(933), and one (0.46%) cdt-III. None of the strains possessed the elt, bfp, faeG, fanA, fasA, fimF(41a), cnf-1, cnf-2, eae, cdt-I, or cdt-IV genes. The strains were also tested for antibiotic susceptibility using 16 antibiotics. The STEC isolates displayed resistance most often to tetracycline (95.4%), sulfamethoxazole (53.4%), kanamycin (38.4%), streptomycin (34.7%), and chloramphenicol (22.4%). An E. coli serotype O20:H42 strain, which was positive for stx(2e) and astA, was resistant to all of the antibiotics tested except for amikacin. In addition, 52 of the swine isolates, representing 16 serogroups and 30 different serotypes, were examined for their ability to withstand acid challenge by three types of acid resistance (AR) pathways, AR1 (rpoS dependent), AR2 (glutamate dependent), and AR3 (arginine dependent). None of the strains was defective in the AR1 resistance pathway, while one strain was defective in the AR2 pathway under aerobic growth conditions but fully functional under anaerobic growth conditions. Among the three AR pathways, the AR3 pathway offered the least protection, and 8 out of 52 strains were defective in this pathway. The strain that was defective in AR2 was fully functional in the AR3 pathway. Since AR plays a vital role in the survival and virulence of these strains, differences among the isolates to induce AR pathways may play a significant role in determining their infective dose. This study demonstrates that swine STEC comprise a heterogeneous group of organisms, and the possession of different combinations of E. coli virulence genes indicate that some swine STEC can potentially cause human illness.     

Shiga Toxin Subtypes Associated with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Red Deer, Roe Deer, Chamois, and Ibex

Abstract A total of 52 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, isolated from fecal samples of six ibex, 12 chamois, 15 roe deer, and 19 red deer were further characterized by subtyping the stx genes, examining strains for the top nine serogroups and testing for the presence of eae and ehxA. Eleven of the 52 strains belonged to one of the top nine STEC O groups (O26, O45, O91, O103, O111, O113, O121, O145, and O157). Eight STEC strains were of serogroup O145, two strains of serogroup O113, and one strain of serogroup O157. None of the strains harbored stx2a, stx2e, or stx2f. Stx2b (24 strains) and stx1c (21 strains) were the most frequently detected stx subtypes, occurring alone or in combination with another stx subtype. Eight strains harbored stx2g, five strains stx2d, three strains stx1a, two strains stx2c, and one strain stx1d. Stx2g and stx1d were detected in strains not harboring any other stx subtype. The eae and ehxA genes were detected in two and 24 STEC strains, respectively. Considering both, the serogroups and the virulence factors, the majority of the STEC strains isolated from red deer, roe deer, chamois, and ibex do not show the typical patterns of highly pathogenic STEC strains. To assess the potential pathogenicity of STEC for humans, strain isolation and characterization is therefore of central importance.     

Dairy farm investigation on Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Kolkata, India with emphasis on molecular characterization

An investigation was conducted to determine the distribution, virulence gene profile and phenotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains within a dairy farm in Kolkata, India by characterizing the STEC strains isolated from healthy dairy cow and calf stool samples, raw milk and farm floor swabs from July 2001 to March 2002. Primary screening by multiplex-PCR detected stx1 and stx2, the common virulence genes of STEC, in 18.9% of cow faeces, 32.4% of calf stool samples, 21.6% of farm floor swabs and 4.5% of raw milk samples and viable STEC were recovered from 4.5, 9.9, 8.1 and 1.8% of the corresponding PCR-positive samples. Strains harbouring stx1 (63.3%) and hlyA (53.3%) were frequently detected compared to eae (13.3%). Most of the strains harboured similar sets of reported virulence genes common among isolates from diarrhoea patients. Most of the strains also exhibited multidrug resistance, sorbitol fermentation and produced enterohaemolysin. The randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-PCR (RAPD-PCR) profile of the STEC strains isolated from the farm milieu revealed diverse banding patterns and clonal analysis demonstrated that the strains from different sources were not identical but showed some genetic relatedness. The study demonstrates the potential of dairy farm for housing virulent STEC.     

产志贺毒素大肠杆菌毒力基因检测

目的 分析河南省2000～2002年分离的351株与产志贺毒素大肠菌(STEC)感染有关的菌株，了解不同来源标本各种毒素基因携带模式。方法 应用多重PCR技术，检测所有菌株志贺毒素(stx1和stx2、hlyA、eaeA、rfbO111和rfbO157基因。结果 351株待检菌株分为枸橼酸杆菌、O157：H7大肠杆菌、rfbO157基因阳性不携带志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌和rfbO157基因阴性携带志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌4种不同类型。4种类型菌株具有6种rebO157、stx2、stx1基因模式。携带志贺毒素基因的菌株主要源自波尔山羊、普通本地羊和病人，其它家畜家禽中有不同程度感染STEC。结论 河南省存在STEC的感染．主要以O157：H7大肠杆菌为主，但也存在其它非O157的STEC。     

Typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli

Typical and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains differ in several characteristics. Typical EPEC, a leading cause of infantile diarrhea in developing countries, is rare in industrialized countries, where atypical EPEC seems to be a more important cause of diarrhea. For typical EPEC, the only reservoir is humans; for atypical EPEC, both animals and humans can be reservoirs. Typical and atypical EPEC also differ in genetic characteristics, serotypes, and virulence properties. Atypical EPEC is more closely related to Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), and like STEC these strains appear to be emerging pathogens.     

Continuous surveillance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infections by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis shows that most infections are sporadic

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the value of real-time molecular typing of Shiga toxin (Verocytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections in order to detect possible outbreaks of infections. All laboratory confirmed STEC infections in Denmark from 2003 to mid 2005 were routinely characterized by serotyping, virulence genes characterization, and subtyping by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the PulseNet protocol for STEC O157. The study included 312 STEC isolates representing 50 different O groups and 75 O:H-serotypes, and 68% of the isolates belonged to the eight most common O-groups: O157 (26%), O103 (13%), O146 (8%), O26 (8%), O117 (4%), O145 (3%), O128 (3%), and O111 (2%). The remaining O-groups constituted less than 2% each, and 8.1% of the isolates were O-rough. The eae gene was found in 60% of all isolates, and detection of the two main Shiga toxin genes showed that 40% had stx1 only, 31% had stx2 only, and 29% had both stx1 and stx2. A high diversity was seen within all O groups, and for most of the rare O groups, the number of PFGE profiles equaled the number of isolates. However, one outbreak of E. coli O157 was detected by the routine PFGE typing. The value of "real-time' PFGE typing of the infrequent serotypes is limited if the full scheme for O-grouping or O:H-serotyping is used routinely for all STEC isolates. Possible outbreaks can then be detected by the increased number of isolates within a particular serotype. PFGE typing would then be valuable in subsequent steps of the outbreak investigation. However, routine PFGE typing of the three to five most common O groups will enable early recognition of possible outbreaks.     

A long-term study on the prevalence of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) on four German cattle farms

The occurrence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was studied on four cattle farms. STEC were detected in 29-82% of the cattle. STEC with additional EHEC markers were detected on all farms. The occurrence of the complete virulence marker pattern (stx1 and/or stx2, eae, EHEC(hlyA), katP, espP) was correlated with the presence of known STEC serotypes. STEC O26:H11 and O165:H25 with the complete pattern of virulence markers were the most prevalent. STEC O157 (H7/H-) STEC O103:H2 and STEC O145:H- were found sporadically. Five clonal subgroups of the STEC O26:H11 isolates were identified by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. STEC O26:H11 were present in three groups of cattle. This serotype was detected in a single group over the entire fattening period. Most STEC O26:H11 with the complete pattern of potential virulence markers were found in clinically healthy cattle. These animals may represent a risk factor for farmers and consumers.     

Isolation and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in retail edible beef by-products

The prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was investigated in 350 edible beef intestinal samples, including omasum (n=110), abomasum (n=120), and large intestines (n=120), collected from traditional beef markets in Seoul, Korea. A total of 23 STEC strains were isolated from 15 samples (four strains from three omasa, 10 from five abomasa, and nine from seven large intestines). The O serotypes and toxin gene types of all STEC isolates were identified, and antimicrobial resistance was assessed using the disk diffusion method. The isolation rates of STEC from edible beef intestines were 2.8% in omasum, 4.2% in abomasums, and 5.9% in large intestines. All STEC isolates harbored either stx1, or both stx1 and stx2 genes simultaneously. Among the 23 isolates, 13 strains were identified as 11 different O serogroups, and 10 strains were untypable. However, enterohemorrhagic Esherichia coli O157, O26, and O111 strains were not isolated. The highest resistance rate observed was against tetracycline (39%), followed by streptomycin (35%) and ampicillin (22%). Of the 23 isolates, 12 isolates (52%) were resistant to at least one antibiotic, nine (39%) isolates were resistant to two or more antibiotics, and one isolate from an abmasum carried resistance against nine antibiotics, including beta-lactam/beta-lactamase inhibitor in combination and cephalosporins. This study shows that edible beef by-products, which are often consumed as raw food in many countries, including Korea, can be potential vehicles for transmission of antimicrobial-resistant pathogenic E. coli to humans.     

Enteroaggregative E. coli O104 from an outbreak of HUS in Germany 2011, could it happen again?

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) particularly O157:H7 (Sequence type 11 complex), is the best documented and most well-known of E. coli that cause diarrhoea. The importance of EHEC lies in the severity of disease. Outbreaks can infect thousands of people causing bloody diarrhoea and haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) that in turn can result in protracted illness or even death. The ability of EHEC to colonise the human gut is normally associated with the presence of genes from another group of diarrhoeagenic E. coli, the enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), via the locus of enterocyte effacement. However, the massive outbreak in Germany was caused by an EHEC which had acquired virulence genes from yet another group of diarrhoeagenic E. coli, the enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC). In reality EAEC is probably the most common bacterial cause of diarrhoea but is not identified in most diagnostic laboratories. This outbreak emphasises the importance of being able to detect all diarrhoeagenic E. coli and not to focus on E. coli O157:H7 alone. Routine surveillance systems for EAEC, a once ignored global pathogen, would go a long way to reaching this goal. This review describes methods for identifying non-O157 EHEC and describes the key genetic features of EHEC and EAEC. Our aim is to provide information for laboratories and policy makers which enables them to make informed decisions about the best methods available for detecting newly emergent strains of diarrhoeagenic E. coli.     

Urban dust fecal pollution in Mexico City: antibiotic resistance and virulence factors of Escherichia coli

Fecal pollution of settled dust samples from indoor and outdoor urban environments, was measured and characterized by the presence of fecal coliforms (FC), and by the characterization of Escherichia coli virulence genes, adherence and antibiotic resistance traits as markers. There were more FC indoors than outdoors (mean values 1089 and 435MPN/g). Among indoor samples, there were more FC in houses with carpets and/or pets. Using a PCR-based assay for six enteropathogenicity genes (belonging to the EAEC, EHEC and EPEC pathotypes) on randomly selected E. coli isolates, there was no significant difference between isolates from indoors and outdoors (60% and 72% positive to at least one gene). The serotypes commonly associated with pathogenic strains, such as O86 and O28, were found in the indoor isolates; whereas O4, O66 and O9 were found amongst outdoor isolates. However, there were significantly more outdoor isolates resistant to at least one antibiotic (73% vs. 45% from indoors) among the strains positive for virulence factors, and outdoor isolates were more commonly multiresistant. There was no relationship between the presence of virulence genes and resistance traits. These results indicate that outdoor fecal bacteria were more likely from human sources, and those found indoors were related to pets and maintained in carpets. This study illustrates the risk posed by fecal bacteria from human sources, usually bearing virulence and resistance traits. Furthermore, the high prevalence of strains carrying genes associated to EAEC or EHEC pathotypes, in both indoor and outdoor environments, adds to the health risk.