An outbreak of food poisoning due to Escherichia coli serotype O7:H4 carrying astA for enteroaggregative E. coli heat-stable enterotoxin1(EAST1)

SUMMARYAll of 86 foods routinely examined for potentially pathogenic enteric bacteria were found to harbour one or more coliform species. None of the strains isolated produced heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) or showed invasive properties. The suckling mouse test indicated that one strain ofEscherichia coliproduced heat-stable enterotoxin (ST). Twelve incidents of suspected food poisoning were also investigated. In two of them the foods examined contained LT-producing strains ofE. coliand in two there were LT-producing strains ofKlebsiella pneumoniae. The counts of viable enterotoxigenic micro-organisms in these foods were 3000–30 000E. coli/g and 50 000 to 1 millionK. pneumoniae/g. The dominant symptom in all the incidents was watery diarrhoea. These seem to be the first reported cases of foodborne enterotoxigenic enteric bacteria in Europe. Though enterotoxigenicE. coliand related gram-negative enterotoxin-producing species are rare in correctly handled food in Sweden, these micro-organisms should be searched for when outbreaks of food poisoning are investigated.

Download Full-text

Comparison of colony and stool blots for detection of enteropathogens by DNA probes

Canadian Journal of Microbiology ◽

10.1139/m91-066 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 37 (5) ◽

pp. 407-410

Author(s):

Mônica A. M. Vieira ◽

Beatriz E. C. Guth ◽

Tânia A. T. Gomes

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Key Words ◽

Sensitivity And Specificity ◽

Dna Probes ◽

Type I ◽

Enteropathogenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Key Words Dna ◽

E Coli ◽

Heat Stable

DNA probes that identify genes coding for heat-labile type I (LT-I) and heat-stable type 1 (ST-I) enterotoxins, enteropathogenic Escherichia coli adherence factor (EAF), and Shigella-like, invasiveness (INV) are used to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of stool blots in comparison with the sensitivity and specificity of colony blots in detecting enteropathoghens. The sensitivities of the probes in stool blots are 91.7% for the LT-I probe, 76.9% for the ST-I probes, 78.9% for the EAF probe, and 45.5% for the INV probe. The specificity of all probes is higher than 95%. In general, the stool blot method identifies as many if not more LT-I-, ST-I-, and EAF-producing E. coli infections than the colony blots. Key words: DNA probes, stool blots, enteropathogens, diagnosis.

Download Full-text

Incidence of Escherichia coli  - Glucuronidase Positive on Goat Milk

Bulletin of University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca Agriculture ◽

10.15835/buasvmcn-agr:12428 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (2) ◽

pp. 359

Author(s):

Zorica Voşgan ◽

Anca Domuţa ◽

Stela Jelea ◽

Lucia Mihălescu ◽

Flavia Pop

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Food Poisoning ◽

Goat Milk ◽

Lactation Period ◽

Health Indicator ◽

Pathogenic Factor ◽

E Coli ◽

Higher Temperature ◽

Hot Weather

Papers on beta- glucuronidase sensitivity and specificity for identifying Escherichia coli in sources of environment, food, water, etc. have been published since 1976. In this study we conducted a review of the incidence of E. coli β- glucuronidase -positive in goat milk, obtained by hand milking throughout the lactation: spring, summer, autumn. The presence of E. coli in milk is considered both as a health indicator and a pathogenic factor capable of causing food poisoning. The determination of the E. coli β-glucuronidase-positive was carried using TBX medium by cultivating colonies typical blue at 440C. The absence of E. coli in milk yielded during the spring, when the animal milking is done three times a day, was found in the performed analyses; the same was observed during fall, when the milk production is lower and the milking is done once a day. The load of E. coli β-glucuronidase-positive was averaging 66.67 CFU/ml of goat milk, during the middle lactation period (July-August), in conditions of higher temperature. During this period, milking is done in the mountain zone, where the transhumance of animals takes place in summer. The presence of the species E. coli was also confirmed by microscopic examination. Attention should be paid to hygiene and milk should be immediately cooled, during hot weather, as E. coli can be a source of food poisoning.

Download Full-text

Erratum

Epidemiology and Infection ◽

10.1017/s0950268803009592 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 130 (3) ◽

pp. 573-573

Author(s):

Z. ZHOU ◽

J. OGASAWARA ◽

Y. NISHIKAWA

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

E Coli ◽

Heat Stable ◽

Epidemiol Infect

Epidemiol. Infect. 128 (2002), 363–371An outbreak of gastroenteritis in Osaka, Japan due toEscherichia coliserogroup O166[ratio ]H15 that had a coding gene for enteroaggregativeE. coliheat-stable enterotoxin 1 (EAST1)Tables 1 and 2 were omitted

Download Full-text

Food Poisoning Potential of Artificially Contaminated Vacuum Packaged Sliced Ham in Sandwiches1

Journal of Food Protection ◽

10.4315/0362-028x-44.6.430 ◽

1981 ◽

Vol 44 (6) ◽

pp. 430-434 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

JAMES E. STEELE ◽

MICHAEL E. STILES

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Staphylococcus Aureus ◽

Storage Temperature ◽

Food Poisoning ◽

Microbial Competition ◽

Growth And Survival ◽

E Coli ◽

Enteropathogenic Bacteria ◽

Test Conditions ◽

And Staphylococcus Aureus

Ham sandwiches inoculated with a mixture of five enteropathogenic bacteria, Bacillus cereus, Clostridium perfringens. Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus, were held at 30, 21 and 4 C for up to 24 h. Food poisoning potential was judged by the growth and survival of the inoculated pathogens. Major differences were observed between new and old (30 days of storage at 4 C) ham samples. On new ham, all enteropathogens were able to grow except C. perfringens, whereas on old ham, with high microbial competition. the pathogens survived but did not grow. Severe storage temperature abuse was necessary to develop a food poisoning potential in new ham samples. The safety of old ham was attributed to the competitive microflora that grew in the ham during storage at 4 C for 30 days. Infective pathogens, E. coli and S. typhimurium, either survived or increased in numbers under all test conditions. The safety of vacuum packaged sliced ham for use in sandwiches, in its present market form, was indicated by these studies.

Download Full-text

Evolution of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli pathotypes in India

Journal of Laboratory Physicians ◽

10.4103/jlp.jlp_58_19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (04) ◽

pp. 346-351

Author(s):

Pankaj Singh ◽

Sharda C. Metgud ◽

Subarna Roy ◽

Shashank Purwar

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Clinical Settings ◽

Accurate Identification ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

E Coli ◽

Medical College ◽

Diarrheagenic Escherichia Coli ◽

Proper Management ◽

Heat Stable

Abstract CONTEXT: Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) is the leading cause of infectious diarrhea in developing countries. On the basis of virulence and phenotypic characteristics, the DEC is categorized into multiple pathotypes. Each pathotype has different pathogenesis and geographical distribution. Thus, the proper management of disease relies on rapid and accurate identification of DEC pathotypes. AIMS: The aim of the study was to determine the prevalence of DEC pathotypes in India. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was carried out between January 2008 and December 2012 at Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College and KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital and Medical Research Center, Belgaum (Karnataka), India. A total of 300 stool samples were collected from diarrhea patients with age >3 months. The DEC was identified by both conventional and molecular methods. RESULTS: Of 300 samples, E. coli were detected in 198 (66%) and 170 (56.6%) samples by culture and polymerase chain reaction, respectively. Among DEC (n = 198) isolates, eae gene (59.5%) was the most prevalent followed by stx (27.7%), east (27.2%), elt (12.6%), est (10.6%), ipaH (5.5%), and eagg (1.5%) genes. On the basis of virulence genes, enteropathogenic E. coli (33.8%) was the most common pathotype followed by Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC, 23.2%), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC, 13.6%), enteroinvasive E. coli (5.5%), enteroaggregative heat-stable enterotoxin 1-harboring E. coli (EAST1EC, 4.5%), STEC/ETEC (3.5%), STEC/enteroaggregative E. coli (STEC/EAEC, 1.0%), and EAEC (0.05%). CONCLUSIONS: The hybrid DEC is potentially more virulent than basic pathotypes. The pathotyping should be included in clinical settings for the proper management of DEC-associated diarrhea.

Download Full-text

Properties of human testis-specific lactate dehydrogenase expressed from Escherichia coli

Biochemical Journal ◽

10.1042/bj2730587 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 273 (3) ◽

pp. 587-592 ◽

Cited By ~ 22

Author(s):

K M LeVan ◽

E Goldberg

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Lactate Dehydrogenase ◽

Prokaryotic Expression ◽

Specific Activity ◽

Human Testis ◽

Reading Frame ◽

E Coli ◽

Heat Stable ◽

Prokaryotic Expression Vector ◽

Tac Promoter

The cDNA encoding the C4 isoenzyme of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH-C4) was engineered for expression in Escherichia coli. The Ldh-c open reading frame was constructed as a cassette for production of the native protein. The modified Ldh-c cDNA was subcloned into the prokaryotic expression vector pKK223-3. Transformed E. coli cells were grown to mid-exponential phase, and induced with isopropyl beta-D-thiogalactopyranoside for positive regulation of the tac promoter. Induced cells expressed the 35 kDa subunit, which spontaneously formed the enzymically active 140 kDa tetramer. Human LDH-C4 was purified over 200-fold from litre cultures of cells by AMP and oxamate affinity chromatography to a specific activity of 106 units/mg. The enzyme was inhibited by pyruvate concentrations above 0.3 mM, had a Km for pyruvate of 0.03 mM, a turnover number (nmol of NADH oxidized/mol of LDH-C4 per min at 25 degrees C) of 14,000 and was heat-stable.

Download Full-text

Escherichia coli heat-stable toxin: its effect on motility of the small intestine

AJP Gastrointestinal and Liver Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpgi.1982.242.4.g360 ◽

1982 ◽

Vol 242 (4) ◽

pp. G360-G363 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

J. R. Mathias ◽

J. Nogueira ◽

J. L. Martin ◽

G. M. Carlson ◽

R. A. Giannella

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Small Intestine ◽

Action Potential ◽

Myoelectric Activity ◽

Complex Activity ◽

E Coli ◽

Heat Stable ◽

Rabbit Small Intestine ◽

Weight Substance

Escherichia coli heat-stable enterotoxin is a low-molecular-weight substance that has been shown to induce the active secretion of fluid and electrolytes in the small intestine. In this study, we have characterized the effects of purified E. coli heat-stable toxin (ST, strain 18D, serotype 042:K86:H37) on the motility of rabbit small intestine by using myoelectric recording techniques. Substances, such as cholera toxin, that activate the adenylate cyclase-cAMP system induced predominantly migrating action-potential complex activity. E. coli ST, a toxin that activates the guanylate cyclase-cGMP system, was infused into isolated in vivo ileal loops of New Zealand White rabbits. Inactivated toxin was also studied by exposing the ST to 1 mM dithiothreitol for 90 min. Active E. coli ST induced only repetitive bursts of action potentials. When the toxin was inactivated with dithiothreitol, no alteration in myoelectric activity was observed. We speculate that repetitive bursts of action-potential activity may represent a virulent factor of the bacterium, altering motor activity to slow transit and allowing for bacterial proliferation and invasion.

Download Full-text

DIFFERENTIAL INHIBITORY EFFECTS OF CHOLERA TOXOIDS AND GANGLIOSIDE ON THE ENTEROTOXINS OF VIBRIO CHOLERAE AND ESCHERICHIA COLI

Journal of Experimental Medicine ◽

10.1084/jem.137.4.1009 ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 137 (4) ◽

pp. 1009-1023 ◽

Cited By ~ 77

Author(s):

Nathaniel F. Pierce

Keyword(s):

Escherichia Coli ◽

Binding Sites ◽

Competitive Inhibitor ◽

Inhibitory Effect ◽

Inhibitory Effects ◽

E Coli ◽

Stable Component ◽

Heat Stable ◽

Cholera Enterotoxin ◽

Gut Mucosa

Natural cholera toxoid appears to act as a competitive inhibitor of cholera enterotoxin and is thus a useful tool for studying the interaction of cholera enterotoxin with cell membranes. Cholera enterotoxin binds to gut mucosa more rapidly than does its natural toxoid. Once binding occurs, however, it appears to be prolonged for both materials. Formalinized cholera toxoid has no inhibitory effect upon cholera enterotoxin. Enterotoxic activity, ability to bind to gut mucosa, and antitoxigenicity appear to be independent properties of cholera enterotoxin. Natural cholera toxoid does not inhibit Escherichia coli enterotoxin, indicating that although the two enterotoxins activate the same mucosal secretory mechanism they occupy different binding sites in the mucosa. Ganglioside, which may be the mucosal receptor of cholera enterotoxin, is highly efficient in deactivating cholera enterotoxin. By contrast, ganglioside is relatively inefficient in deactivating heat-labile E. coli enterotoxin and is without effect upon the heat-stable component of E. coli enterotoxin. These findings suggest that ganglioside is not likely to be the mucosal receptor for E. coli enterotoxin. Differences in cellular binding of E. coli and cholera enterotoxins may explain, at least in part, the marked differences in the time of onset and duration of their effects upon gut secretion.

Download Full-text