Strong Association Between Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 and Virulence Genes stx 2 and eae as Possible Explanation for Predominance of Serogroup O157 in Patients with Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome

Objectives: The study aimed to search for E. coli O157 and non-O157 in milk, meat and faeces of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in Cotonou. Methodology and Results: One hundred and Seventy-Five (175) samples including 25 meat, 25 faeces per species and 25 milk from cattle were analysed for E. coli O157; O26 and O111 and the virulence genes were identified by PCR. The SAS software (1998) and the bilateral Z test were used to calculate and compare the identification frequencies. E. coli O157 was identified in 4% of cattle faeces, 4% of sheep faeces, and 20% of beef and, in 20% of milk samples. E. coli O26 was identified in 12% of cattle faeces and, in 8% of beef samples. E. coli O111 was identified at frequencies of 8%, and 12% in faeces of sheep and pigs, respectively. The eae gene was detected in 4% of beef, ovine meat, milk, pig faeces and in sheep faeces. stx1 was detected in 8% of milk, and in 4% of bovine and sheep faeces. The strains possessing the gene were all of E. coli O157 with the exception of one from pig faeces identified as O111. Conclusions and application of findings: The presence of these serogroups of E. coli with virulence genes poses a real food safety problem in Benin. This study findings must be taken into account for risk assessment and management related to the consumption of food of animal origin. Keywords: Benin, E. coli O157, O26, O111, faeces, meat, milk

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Sorbitol-fermenting Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157: indications for an animal reservoir

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268805005467 ◽

2005 ◽

Vol 134 (4) ◽

pp. 719-723 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

D. ORTH ◽

K. GRIF ◽

M. P. DIERICH ◽

R. WÜRZNER

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Clinical Diagnosis ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽

Stool Specimen ◽

Farm Animals ◽

Molecular Characteristics ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Animal Reservoir ◽

Faecal Samples

This study investigates a sorbitol-fermenting enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (SF EHEC) O157 infection in a farmer's family in the Austrian province of Salzburg. The investigation commenced after a 10-month-old boy was admitted to hospital with the clinical diagnosis of a haemolytic–uraemic syndrome (HUS) and his stool specimen grew SF EHEC O157:H−. In a subsequent environmental survey, a stool specimen of the 2-year-old brother and faecal samples of two cattle from the family's farm were also found to be positive for SF EHEC O157:H−. All four isolates had indistinguishable phenotypic and molecular characteristics and were identical to the first strain detected in Bavaria in 1988. Despite identical isolates being demonstrated in Bavaria after 1988, and until this report, increased surveillance in neighbouring Austria had not found this organism. We propose that the strain may have recently spread from Bavaria to Austria. Although SF EHEC O157:H− strains are still rare, they may represent a considerable health threat as they can spread from farm animals to humans and between humans.

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Molecular Profiling of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Non-O157 Strains Isolated from Humans and Cattle in Alberta, Canada

Journal of Clinical Microbiology ◽

10.1128/jcm.03321-14 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 53 (3) ◽

pp. 986-990 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Linda Chui ◽

Vincent Li ◽

Patrick Fach ◽

Sabine Delannoy ◽

Katarzyna Malejczyk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Molecular Profiling ◽

Surveillance Program ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Significant Determinant ◽

Content Type ◽

Virulence Markers ◽

Almost All

Virulence markers in Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) and their association with diseases remain largely unknown. This study determines the importance of 44 genetic markers for STEC (O157 and non-O157) from human clinical cases and their correlation to disease outcome. STEC isolated from a cattle surveillance program were also included. The virulence genes tested were present in almost all O157:H7 isolates but highly variable in non-O157 STEC isolates. Patient age was a significant determinant of clinical outcome.

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Virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains isolated from calves and cattle

Ankara Üniversitesi Veteriner Fakültesi Dergisi ◽

10.1501/vetfak_0000002484 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 58 (4) ◽

pp. 255-260

Author(s):

KUYUCUOĞLU Yahya ;ŞEKER

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Escherichia Coli O157

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Escherichia coli O157 infections and unpasteurised milk

Eurosurveillance ◽

10.2807/esm.06.10.00379-en ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 6 (10) ◽

pp. 147-151 ◽

Cited By ~ 33

Author(s):

F Allerberger ◽

M Wagner ◽

P Schweiger ◽

H- P. Rammer ◽

A Resch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Dairy Cow ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽

Escherichia Coli O157 ◽

Molecular Subtyping ◽

Animal Isolates

We report on two children with Escherichia coli O157 infection, one of whom developed haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Both had drunk raw cows’ or goats’ milk in the week before their illness. Molecular subtyping identified a sorbitol fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H isolate from a dairy cow. This isolate differed from Shiga toxin producing O157:H strains isolated from the 6 year old boy with HUS. This result underlines the need to search for other causes of infection, despite documented consumption of unpasteurised milk. In the second patient, human sorbitol non-fermenting O157:H isolates and animal isolates from goats were indistinguishable. The isolation of indistinguishable sorbitol non-fermenting Escherichia coli O157:H from contact animals supports the association between HUS and consumption of raw goats’ milk, and re-emphasises the importance of pasteurising milk.

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Distribution of Pathogenicity Islands OI-122, OI-43/48, and OI-57 and a High-Pathogenicity Island in Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli

Applied and Environmental Microbiology ◽

10.1128/aem.03661-12 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 79 (11) ◽

pp. 3406-3412 ◽

Cited By ~ 25

Author(s):

Wenting Ju ◽

Jinling Shen ◽

Magaly Toro ◽

Shaohua Zhao ◽

Jianghong Meng

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Shiga Toxin ◽

Phylogenetic Trees ◽

Virulence Genes ◽

Severe Disease ◽

Strong Association ◽

Pathogenicity Island ◽

Pathogenicity Islands ◽

Content Type ◽

High Pathogenicity

ABSTRACTPathogenicity islands (PAIs) play an important role in Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) pathogenicity. The distribution of PAIs OI-122, OI-43/48, and OI-57 and a high-pathogenicity island (HPI) were determined among 98 STEC strains assigned to seropathotypes (SPTs) A to E. PCR and PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism assays were used to identify 14 virulence genes that belonged to the four PAIs and to subtypeeaeandstxgenes, respectively. Phylogenetic trees were constructed based on the sequences ofpagCamong 34 STEC strains andihaamong 67 diverse pathogenicE. coli, respectively. Statistical analysis demonstrated that the prevalences of OI-122 (55.82%) and OI-57 (82.35%) were significantly greater in SPTs (i.e., SPTs A, B, and C) that are frequently associated with severe disease than in other SPTs.terC(62.5%) andureC(62.5%) in OI-43/48 were also significantly more prevalent in SPTs A, B, and C than in SPTs D and E. In addition, OI-122, OI-57, and OI-43/48 and their associated virulence genes (exceptiha) were found to be primarily associated witheae-positive STEC, whereas HPI occurred independently of theeaepresence. The strong association of OI-122, OI-43/48, and OI-57 witheae-positive STEC suggests in part that different pathogenic mechanisms exist betweeneae-positive andeae-negative STEC strains. Virulence genes in PAIs that are associated with severe diseases can be used as potential markers to aid in identifying highly virulent STEC.

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