scholarly journals Prevalence and Characteristics of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Swiss Raw Milk Cheeses Collected at Producer Level

2008 ◽  
Vol 91 (7) ◽  
pp. 2561-2565 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Stephan ◽  
S. Schumacher ◽  
S. Corti ◽  
G. Krause ◽  
J. Danuser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Raw Milk

scholarly journals Prevalence and molecular characterisation of shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli in raw milk cheeses from Lazio region, Italy

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Selene Marozzi ◽  
Paola De Santis ◽  
Sarah Lovari ◽  
Roberto Condoleo ◽  
Stefano Bilei ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Foodborne Diseases ◽  
Control Plan ◽  
Lazio Region ◽  
Standard Methods ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Regional Control ◽  
Unpasteurized Milk

In recent years, the incidence of foodborne diseases caused by shiga toxin-producing <em>Escherichia coli</em> (STEC) has increased globally. For this reason, within the specific regional control plan for the detection of STEC in food products in Italy, the presence of STEC in unpasteurized milk cheeses was investigated. In total 203 samples obtained from March 2011 to December 2013 were analysed, with two standard methods (ISO 16654:2001 and ISO 13136:2012). Two strains of <em>E. coli</em> O157 were isolated (2/161, 1.2%) but did not carry any virulence-associated genes and 22 <em>stx</em>-positive samples (22/146, 15.1%) were detected in enrichment cultures, mostly from ovine cheeses. Only two strains isolated from different ovine cheeses carried <em>stx</em> gene and none of these was <em>eae</em>-positive. This study confirms the presence of <em>stx</em>-positive <em>E. coli</em> and suggests that this type of food cannot be excluded as a potential vehicle of STEC.

Characteristics of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli Isolated from Swiss Raw Milk Cheese within a 3-Year Monitoring Program

2010 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 88-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. ZWEIFEL ◽  
N. GIEZENDANNER ◽  
S. CORTI ◽  
G. KRAUSE ◽  
L. BEUTIN ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Health Impact ◽  
Toxin Gene ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Raw Milk Cheese ◽  
Human Infections ◽  
Hard Cheese

Food is an important vehicle for transmission of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC). To assess the potential public health impact of STEC in Swiss raw milk cheese produced from cow's, goat's, and ewe's milk, 1,422 samples from semihard or hard cheese and 80 samples from soft cheese were examined for STEC, and isolated strains were further characterized. By PCR, STEC was detected after enrichment in 5.7% of the 1,502 raw milk cheese samples collected at the producer level. STEC-positive samples comprised 76 semihard, 8 soft, and 1 hard cheese. By colony hybridization, 29 STEC strains were isolated from 24 semihard and 5 soft cheeses. Thirteen of the 24 strains typeable with O antisera belonged to the serogroups O2, O22, and O91. More than half (58.6%) of the 29 strains belonged to O:H serotypes previously isolated from humans, and STEC O22:H8, O91:H10, O91:H21, and O174:H21 have also been identified as agents of hemolytic uremic syndrome. Typing of Shiga toxin genes showed that stx1 was only found in 2 strains, whereas 27 strains carried genes encoding for the Stx2 group, mainly stx2 and stx2vh-a/b. Production of Stx2 and Stx2vh-a/b subtypes might be an indicator for a severe outcome in patients. Nine strains harbored hlyA (enterohemorrhagic E. coli hemolysin), whereas none tested positive for eae (intimin). Consequently, semihard and hard raw milk cheese may be a potential source of STEC, and a notable proportion of the isolated non-O157 STEC strains belonged to serotypes or harbored Shiga toxin gene variants associated with human infections.

scholarly journals Behavior of Different Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serotypes in Various Experimentally Contaminated Raw-Milk Cheeses

2012 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 150-158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stéphane D. Miszczycha ◽  
Frédérique Perrin ◽  
Sarah Ganet ◽  
Emmanuel Jamet ◽  
Fanny Tenenhaus-Aziza ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Human Health Risk ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Public Health Implication ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
The Public ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Food Borne Illness

ABSTRACTShiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) is an important cause of food-borne illness. The public health implication of the presence of STEC in dairy products remains unclear. Knowledge of STEC behavior in cheeses would help to evaluate the human health risk. The aim of our study was to observe the growth and survival of experimentally inoculated STEC strains in raw-milk cheeses manufactured and ripened according to five technological schemes: blue-type cheese, uncooked pressed cheese with long ripening and with short ripening steps, cooked cheese, and lactic cheese. Cheeses were contaminated with different STEC serotypes (O157:H7, O26:H11, O103:H2, and O145:H28) at the milk preparation stage. STEC growth and survival were monitored on selective media during the entire manufacturing process. STEC grew (2 to 3 log10CFU · g−1) in blue-type cheese and the two uncooked pressed cheeses during the first 24 h of cheese making. Then, STEC levels progressively decreased in cheeses that were ripened for more than 6 months. In cooked cheese and in lactic cheese with a long acidic coagulation step (pH < 4.5), STEC did not grow. Their levels decreased after the cooking step in the cooked cheese and after the coagulation step in the lactic cheese, but STEC was still detectable at the end of ripening and storage. A serotype effect was found: in all cheeses studied, serotype O157:H7 grew less strongly and was less persistent than the others serotypes. This study improves knowledge of the behavior of different STEC serotypes in various raw-milk cheeses.

scholarly journals Escherichia coli O121 outbreak associated with raw milk Gouda-like cheese in British Columbia, Canada, 2018

2021 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-16
Author(s):  
Eva Boyd ◽  
Aljosa Trmcic ◽  
Marsha Taylor ◽  
Sion Shyng ◽  
Paul Hasselback ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
British Columbia ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Control Measures ◽  
No Production ◽  
Consumer Awareness ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Epidemiologic Surveillance ◽  
Dairy Plant

Background: In 2018, a Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli O121 outbreak that affected seven individuals was associated with raw milk Gouda-like cheese produced in British Columbia, Canada. Objectives: To describe the E. coli O121 outbreak investigation and recommend greater control measures for raw milk Gouda-like cheese. Methods: Cases of E. coli O121 were identified through laboratory testing results and epidemiologic surveillance data. The cases were interviewed on exposures of interest, which were analyzed against Foodbook Report values for British Columbia. Environmental inspection of the dairy plant and the cheese products was conducted to ascertain a source of contamination. Whole genome multi-locus sequence typing (wgMLST) was performed on all positive E. coli O121 clinical and food isolates at the provincial laboratory. Results: Four out of the seven cases consumed the same raw milk Gouda-like cheese between August and October 2018. The implicated cheese was aged longer than the required minimum of 60 days, and no production deficiencies were noted. One sample of the implicated cheese tested positive for E. coli O121. The seven clinical isolates and one cheese isolate matched by wgMLST within 6.5 alleles. Conclusion: Raw milk Gouda and Gouda-like cheese has been implicated in three previous Shiga toxin–producing E. coli outbreaks in North America. It was recommended product labelling to increase consumer awareness and thermization of milk to decrease the risk of illness associated with raw milk Gouda and Gouda-like cheese.

An Automated Fluorescent PCR Method for Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli in Foods

1998 ◽  
Vol 64 (11) ◽  
pp. 4210-4216 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Chen ◽  
Renlin Xu ◽  
Arlene Yee ◽  
Kai Yuan Wu ◽  
Chang-Ning Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Pcr Assay ◽  
System A ◽  
Pure Cultures ◽  
Pcr Method ◽  
Meat Samples ◽  
Shiga Toxin Genes

ABSTRACT An automated fluorescence-based PCR system (a model AG-9600 AmpliSensor analyzer) was investigated to determine whether it could detect Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The AmpliSensor PCR assay involves amplification-mediated disruption of a fluorogenic DNA signal duplex (AmpliSensor) that is homologous to conserved target sequences in a 323-bp amplified fragment of Shiga toxin genes stx 1, stx 2, and stx e. Using the Amplisensor assay, we detected 113 strains of STEC belonging to 50 different serotypes, while 18 strains of non-Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli and 68 strains of other bacteria were not detected. The detection limits of the assay were less than 1 to 5 CFU per PCR mixture when pure cultures of five reference strains were used and 3 CFU per 25 g of food when spiked ground beef samples that were preenriched overnight were used. The performance of the assay was also evaluated by using 53 naturally contaminated meat samples and 48 raw milk samples. Thirty-two STEC-positive samples that were confirmed to be positive by the culture assay were found to be positive when the AmpliSensor assay was used. Nine samples that were found to be positive when the PCR assay was used were culture negative. The system described here is an automated PCR-based system that can be used for detection of all serotypes of STEC in food or clinical samples.

An Overview of Molecular Stress Response Mechanisms in Escherichia coli Contributing to Survival of Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli during Raw Milk Cheese Production

2011 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 849-864 ◽  
Author(s):  
SILVIO PENG ◽  
TAURAI TASARA ◽  
JÖRG HUMMERJOHANN ◽  
ROGER STEPHAN
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Stress Response ◽  
Foodborne Pathogens ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Heat Shock Stress ◽  
Raw Milk Cheese ◽  
Cheese Production

The ability of foodborne pathogens to survive in certain foods mainly depends on stress response mechanisms. Insight into molecular properties enabling pathogenic bacteria to survive in food is valuable for improvement of the control of pathogens during food processing. Raw milk cheeses are a potential source for human infections with Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli (STEC). In this review, we focused on the stress response mechanisms important for allowing STEC to survive raw milk cheese production processes. The major components and regulation pathways for general, acid, osmotic, and heat shock stress responses in E. coli and the implications of these responses for the survival of STEC in raw milk cheeses are discussed.

scholarly journals Faecal carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in asymptomatic nursery children in Lower Saxony (Germany), 2014

2016 ◽  
Vol 144 (16) ◽  
pp. 3540-3548 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. HARRIES ◽  
J. DREESMAN ◽  
S. RETTENBACHER-RIEFLER ◽  
E. MERTENS
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
Resistant Bacteria ◽  
Milk Consumption ◽  
Lower Saxony ◽  
Extended Spectrum ◽  
Mandatory Requirement ◽  
Epidemiological Characteristics ◽  
Pet Rodents

SUMMARYChildren may be at higher risk for carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria because of higher usage of antimicrobials. They also have higher rates of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections than other population groups. Some infections, particularly in children, are asymptomatic, but still lead to the excretion of large numbers of bacteria and viruses that may cause clinical disease in other individuals. That is one reason why, in Lower Saxony as in other German federal states – asymptomatic carriers of STEC are excluded from nurseries and schools until three consecutive stool samples test negative in order to prevent secondary cases. The prevalence of children who are asymptomatic STEC carriers is unknown. But if it is high, this measure would have substantial socioeconomic effects on families. Infections with extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are an increasing problem for public health, especially for hospitals. However, there are no reliable estimates of the prevalence of asymptomatic ESBL-E carriers in Lower Saxony, as there is no mandatory requirement to report these carriers. In order to discuss the exclusion policies for children attending nurseries and ascertain a baseline of ESBL-E carriers, we conducted a cross-sectional study. The aim was to determine the prevalence of ESBL-E and STEC and identify risk factors for carriage in nursery children without diarrhoea (asymptomatic) aged 0–6 years in four selected districts in Northern Germany. During April–September 2014, we collected stool specimens with the support of voluntarily participating nurseries. We tested for STEC by PCR and for ESBL-E on chromogenic agar. Questionnaires answered by parents contained data on eating and drinking habits, outdoor activities, prior antibiotic treatment and animal contact for each participating child. We compared the epidemiological characteristics of ESBL-E carriers vs. non-carriers by using univariable analysis (P value, odds ratio and 95% confidence interval). We could not perform a statistical analysis for STEC carriers due to the low numbers of positive STEC specimens. Of 224 asymptomatic nursery children, we found a prevalence of 2·3% for ESBL-E carriage and 0·5% for STEC carriage. Asymptomatic ESBL-E carriers were more likely to have consumed raw milk, have had contact with pet rodents, or to have taken antibiotics during the preceding 6 months. We also found a high proportion of raw milk consumption (11%). We suggest that the low STEC prevalence in asymptomatic children supports the current practice of excluding STEC carriers from nurseries. The association between ESBL-E carriage and raw milk consumption and contact with pet rodents needs further investigation.

scholarly journals Paediatric haemolytic uraemic syndrome related to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, an overview of 10 years of surveillance in France, 2007 to 2016

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathias Bruyand ◽  
Patricia Mariani-Kurkdjian ◽  
Simon Le Hello ◽  
Lisa-A King ◽  
Dieter Van Cauteren ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Escherichia Coli ◽  
Renal Failure ◽  
Shiga Toxin ◽  
Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome ◽  
Raw Milk ◽  
National Reference ◽  
Food Borne ◽  
Raw Milk Cheese ◽  
Over Time ◽  
Microbiological Surveillance

Introduction Haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) related to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the leading cause of acute renal failure in young children. In France, HUS surveillance in children aged < 15 years was implemented starting from 1996. Aim We present the results of this surveillance between 2007 and 2016. Methods A voluntary nationwide network of 32 paediatric departments notifies cases. Two national reference centres perform microbiological STEC confirmation. Results Over the study period, the paediatric HUS incidence rate (IR) was 1.0 per 100,000 children-years, with a median of 116 cases/year. In 2011, IR peaked at 1.3 per 100,000 children-years, and decreased to 1.0 per 100,000 children-years in 2016. STEC O157 associated HUS peaked at 37 cases in 2011 and decreased to seven cases in 2016. Cases of STEC O26-associated HUS have increased since 2010 and STEC O80 associated HUS has emerged since 2012, with 28 and 18 cases respectively reported in 2016. Four STEC-HUS food-borne outbreaks were detected (three STEC O157 linked to ground beef and raw-milk cheese and one STEC O104 linked to fenugreek sprouts). In addition, two outbreaks related to person-to-person transmission occurred in distinct kindergartens (STEC O111 and O26). Conclusions No major changes in HUS IRs were observed over the study period of 10 years. However, changes in the STEC serogroups over time and the outbreaks detected argue for continuing epidemiological and microbiological surveillance.

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