Characterization of a shiga toxin-, intimin-, and enterotoxin hemolysin-producing Escherichia coli ONT:H25 strain commonly isolated from healthy cattle

Among bovine fecal and recto-anal mucosal swab samples cultured in our laboratory for Escherichia coli O157:H7, we frequently isolated E. coli organisms that were phenotypically similar to the O157:H7 serotype as non-sorbitol fermenting and negative for beta-glucuronidase activity but serotyped O nontypeable:H25 (ONT:H25). This study determined the prevalence and virulence properties of the E. coli ONT:H25 isolates. Among dairy and feedlot cattle (n = 170) sampled in Washington, Idaho, and Alberta, Canada, the percentage of animals culture positive for E. coli ONT:H25 ranged from 7.5% to 22.5%, compared to the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 that ranged from 0% to 15%. A longitudinal 8-month study of dairy heifers (n = 40) showed that 0 to 15% of the heifers were culture positive for E. coli O157:H7, while 15 to 22.5% of the animals were culture positive for E. coli ONT:H25. As determined by a multiplex PCR, the E. coli ONT:H25 isolates carried a combination of virulence genes characteristic of the enterohemorrhagic E. coli, including intimin, translocated intimin receptor, Stx2, and hemolysin (eae-beta, tir, stx(2vh-a), and hly). E. coli ONT:H25 isolates from diverse geographic locations and over time were fingerprinted by separating XbaI-restricted chromosomal DNA by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) separation. Two strains of E. coli ONT:H25 were highly similar by PFGE pattern. Experimental inoculation of cattle showed that E. coli ONT:H25, like E. coli O157:H7, colonized the bovine recto-anal junction mucosa for more than 4 weeks following a single rectal application of bacteria.