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Fitzgerald SF, Mitchell MC, Holmes A, Allison L, Chase-Topping M, Lupolova N, Wells B, Gally DL, McNeilly TN. Prevalence of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 in Wild Scottish Deer with High Human Pathogenic Potential. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:2795. [PMID: 37685059 PMCID: PMC10486872 DOI: 10.3390/ani13172795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 08/15/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 09/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections associated with wildlife are increasing globally, highlighting many 'spillover' species as important reservoirs for these zoonotic pathogens. A human outbreak of STEC serogroup O157 in 2015 in Scotland, associated with the consumption of venison meat products, highlighted several knowledge gaps, including the prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer and the potential risk to humans from wild deer isolates. In this study, we undertook a nationwide survey of wild deer in Scotland and determined that the prevalence of STEC O157 in wild deer is low 0.28% (95% confidence interval = 0.06-0.80). Despite the low prevalence of STEC O157 in Scottish wild deer, identified isolates were present in deer faeces at high levels (>104 colony forming units/g faeces) and had high human pathogenic potential based on whole genome sequencing and virulence gene profiling. A retrospective epidemiological investigation also identified one wild deer isolate from this study as a possible source of a Scottish human outbreak in 2017. These results emphasise the importance of food hygiene practices during the processing of wild deer carcasses for human consumption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Fitzgerald
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - Mairi C. Mitchell
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Anne Holmes
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Lesley Allison
- Scottish E. coli O157/STEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK (L.A.)
| | - Margo Chase-Topping
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Nadejda Lupolova
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Beth Wells
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - David L. Gally
- The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Edinburgh EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Tom N. McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Edinburgh EH26 OPZ, UK
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2
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Rodwell EV, Simpson A, Chan YW, Godbole G, McCarthy ND, Jenkins C. The epidemiology of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 (clonal complex 29) in England, 2014-2021. J Infect 2023; 86:552-562. [PMID: 37060924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jinf.2023.04.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 04/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES We aimed to describe the genomic epidemiology of the foodborne gastrointestinal pathogen, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serotype O26:H11 belonging to clonal complex 29 (CC29) in England. METHODS Between 01 January 2014 and 31 December 2021, 834 human isolates belonging to CC29 were sequenced at the UK Health Security Agency, and the genomic data was integrated with epidemiological data. RESULTS Diagnoses of STEC O26:H11 in England have increased each year from 19 in 2014 to 144 in 2021. Most isolates had the Shiga toxin subtype profiles stx1a (47%), stx1a,stx2a (n=24%) or stx2a (n=28%). Most cases were female (57%), and the highest proportion of cases belonged to the 0-5 age group (38%). Clinical symptoms included diarrhoea (93%), blood-stained stool (48%), and abdominal pain (74%). Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome (HUS) was diagnosed in 40/459 (9%) cases and three children died. All isolates causing STEC-HUS had stx2a either alone (n=33) or in combination with stx1a (n=7). CONCLUSIONS STEC O26:H11 are a clinically significant, emerging threat to public health in England. Determining the true incidence and prevalence is challenging due to inconsistent national surveillance strategies. Improved diagnostics and surveillance algorithms are required to monitor the true burden, detect outbreaks and to implement effective interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ella V Rodwell
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5AT, UK; Warwick Medical School, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL, UK; NIHR HPRU in Gastrointestinal Infections at University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Alex Simpson
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5AT, UK
| | - Yung-Wai Chan
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5AT, UK
| | - Gauri Godbole
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5AT, UK
| | - Noel D McCarthy
- NIHR HPRU in Gastrointestinal Infections at University of Liverpool, UK
| | - Claire Jenkins
- National Infection Service, UK Health Security Agency, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5AT, UK; NIHR HPRU in Gastrointestinal Infections at University of Liverpool, UK
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3
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A systematic review and meta-analysis of published literature on prevalence of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) and virulence genes in feces, hides, and carcasses of pre- and peri-harvest cattle worldwide. Anim Health Res Rev 2022; 23:1-24. [PMID: 35678500 DOI: 10.1017/s1466252321000153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to summarize peer-reviewed literature on the prevalence and concentration of non-O157 STEC (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) serogroups and virulence genes (stx and eae) in fecal, hide, and carcass samples in pre- and peri-harvest cattle worldwide, using a systematic review of the literature and meta-analyses. DATA SYNTHESIS Seventy articles were eligible for meta-analysis inclusion; data from 65 articles were subjected to random-effects meta-analysis models to yield fecal prevalence estimates. Meta-regression models were built to explore variables contributing to the between-study heterogeneity. RESULTS Worldwide pooled non-O157 serogroup, STEC, and EHEC fecal prevalence estimates (95% confidence interval) were 4.7% (3.4-6.3%), 0.7% (0.5-0.8%), and 1.0% (0.8-1.1%), respectively. Fecal prevalence estimates significantly differed by geographic region (P < 0.01) for each outcome classification. Meta-regression analyses identified region, cattle type, and specimen type as factors that contribute to heterogeneity for worldwide fecal prevalence estimates. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of these global foodborne pathogens in the cattle reservoir is widespread and highly variable by region. The scarcity of prevalence and concentration data for hide and carcass matrices identifies a large data gap in the literature as these are the closest proxies for potential beef contamination at harvest.
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4
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Withenshaw SM, Smith RP, Davies R, Smith AEO, Gray E, Rodgers J. A systematized review and qualitative synthesis of potential risk factors associated with the occurrence of non‐O157 Shiga toxin‐producing
Escherichia coli
(STEC) in the primary production of cattle. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf 2022; 21:2363-2390. [DOI: 10.1111/1541-4337.12929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2021] [Revised: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Susan M. Withenshaw
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
| | - Richard P. Smith
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
| | - Rob Davies
- Department of Bacteriology Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
| | - Alice E. O. Smith
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
| | - Elizabeth Gray
- Department of Epidemiological Sciences Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
| | - John Rodgers
- Department of Bacteriology Animal and Plant Health Agency – Weybridge New Haw UK
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5
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Fitzgerald SF, Lupolova N, Shaaban S, Dallman TJ, Greig D, Allison L, Tongue SC, Evans J, Henry MK, McNeilly TN, Bono JL, Gally DL. Genome structural variation in Escherichia coli O157:H7. Microb Genom 2021; 7. [PMID: 34751643 PMCID: PMC8743559 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The human zoonotic pathogen Escherichia coli O157:H7 is defined by its extensive prophage repertoire including those that encode Shiga toxin, the factor responsible for inducing life-threatening pathology in humans. As well as introducing genes that can contribute to the virulence of a strain, prophage can enable the generation of large-chromosomal rearrangements (LCRs) by homologous recombination. This work examines the types and frequencies of LCRs across the major lineages of the O157:H7 serotype. We demonstrate that LCRs are a major source of genomic variation across all lineages of E. coli O157:H7 and by using both optical mapping and Oxford Nanopore long-read sequencing prove that LCRs are generated in laboratory cultures started from a single colony and that these variants can be recovered from colonized cattle. LCRs are biased towards the terminus region of the genome and are bounded by specific prophages that share large regions of sequence homology associated with the recombinational activity. RNA transcriptional profiling and phenotyping of specific structural variants indicated that important virulence phenotypes such as Shiga-toxin production, type-3 secretion and motility can be affected by LCRs. In summary, E. coli O157:H7 has acquired multiple prophage regions over time that act to continually produce structural variants of the genome. These findings raise important questions about the significance of this prophage-mediated genome contingency to enhance adaptability between environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F Fitzgerald
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Nadejda Lupolova
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Sharif Shaaban
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Timothy J Dallman
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit, 61 Colindale Avenue, Public Health England, NW9 5EQ London, UK
| | - David Greig
- Gastrointestinal Bacterial Reference Unit, 61 Colindale Avenue, Public Health England, NW9 5EQ London, UK
| | - Lesley Allison
- Scottish E. coli O157/VTEC Reference Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 51 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh EH16 4SA, UK
| | - Sue C Tongue
- Epidemiology Research Unit (Inverness), Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Northern Faculty, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Scotland, IV2 5NA, UK
| | - Judith Evans
- Epidemiology Research Unit (Inverness), Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Northern Faculty, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Scotland, IV2 5NA, UK
| | - Madeleine K Henry
- Epidemiology Research Unit (Inverness), Department of Veterinary and Animal Science, Northern Faculty, Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), Scotland, IV2 5NA, UK
| | - Tom N McNeilly
- Moredun Research Institute, Pentlands Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, EH26 OPZ, UK
| | - James L Bono
- United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, US Meat Animal Research Center, Clay Center, Nebraska, USA
| | - David L Gally
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and R(D)SVS, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
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6
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Engelen F, Thiry D, Devleesschauwer B, Heyndrickx M, Mainil J, De Zutter L, Cox E. Pathogenic potential of Escherichia coli O157 and O26 isolated from young Belgian dairy calves by recto-anal mucosal swab culturing. J Appl Microbiol 2021; 131:964-972. [PMID: 33103320 DOI: 10.1111/jam.14909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2020] [Revised: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
AIMS The purpose of this study was to investigate the occurrence of Escherichia coli O157 and O26 on Belgian dairy cattle farms, the presence of virulence genes in the confirmed isolates and the association of E. coli O26 presence with calf diarrhoea. METHODS AND RESULTS In total, 233 recto-anal mucosal swabs (RAMS) were obtained from healthy and diarrheic dairy calves on three farms, each alternately visited three consecutive times. RAMS were analysed for presence of E. coli O157 and O26, and stx1, stx2 and eae virulence genes. Overall, 19% of RAMS tested positive for E. coli O157, while 31% tested positive for E. coli O26. The majority of isolates possessed both stx and eae, denoting a high pathogenic potential to humans. While both serogroups persisted at farm level, persistence within the same animal over time appeared to be relatively rare. Interestingly, E. coli O26 was already abundantly present at a younger age compared to E. coli O157. Calf diarrhoea could not be associated with presence of E. coli O26. CONCLUSIONS Young dairy calves are important on-farm reservoirs of potentially pathogenic E. coli O157 and O26. A role of E. coli O26 in calf diarrhoea could not be confirmed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY O157 and O26 are responsible for the majority of human STEC infections. Gaining more epidemiological information regarding their occurrence and persistence on cattle farms will contribute to a better understanding of STEC ecology and risk of human transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Engelen
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (UGent), Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - D Thiry
- Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Fundamental and Applied Research in Animals and Health (FARAH) and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - B Devleesschauwer
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Sciensano, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - M Heyndrickx
- Unit Technology and Food, Institute for Agricultural and Fisheries Research (ILVO), Melle, Belgium
| | - J Mainil
- Bacteriology, Department of Infectious Diseases, Institute for Fundamental and Applied Research in Animals and Health (FARAH) and Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège (ULiège), Liège, Belgium
| | - L De Zutter
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
| | - E Cox
- Laboratory of Immunology, Department of Virology, Parasitology and Immunology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University (UGent), Merelbeke, Belgium
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7
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Rapp D, Ross CM, Maclean P, Cave VM, Brightwell G. Investigation of On-Farm Transmission Routes for Contamination of Dairy Cows with Top 7 Escherichia coli O-Serogroups. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2021; 81:67-77. [PMID: 32561945 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-020-01542-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are foodborne bacterial pathogens, with cattle a significant reservoir for human infection. This study evaluated environmental reservoirs, intermediate hosts and key pathways that could drive the presence of Top 7 STEC (O157:H7, O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145) on pasture-based dairy herds, using molecular and culture-based methods. A total of 235 composite environmental samples (including soil, bedding, pasture, stock drinking water, bird droppings and flies and faecal samples of dairy animals) were collected from two dairy farms, with four sampling events on each farm. Molecular detection revealed O26, O45, O103 and O121 as the most common O-serogroups, with the greatest occurrence in dairy animal faeces (> 91%), environments freshly contaminated with faeces (> 73%) and birds and flies (> 71%). STEC (79 isolates) were a minor population within the target O-serogroups in all sample types but were widespread in the farm environment in the summer samplings. Phylogenetic analysis of whole genome sequence data targeting single nucleotide polymorphisms revealed the presence of several clonal strains on a farm; a single STEC clonal strain could be found in several sample types concurrently, indicating the existence of more than one possible route for transmission to dairy animals and a high rate of transmission of STEC between dairy animals and wildlife. Overall, the findings improved the understanding of the ecology of the Top 7 STEC in open farm environments, which is required to develop on-farm intervention strategies controlling these zoonoses.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Rapp
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand.
| | - C M Ross
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
| | - P Maclean
- Bioinformatics & Statistics, AgResearch, Grasslands Research Centre, Palmerston North, 4410, New Zealand
| | - V M Cave
- Bioinformatics & Statistics, AgResearch, Ruakura Agricultural Centre, Hamilton, 3214, New Zealand
| | - G Brightwell
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
- New Zealand Food Safety Science & Research Centre, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, 4442, New Zealand
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8
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Dixon A, Cernicchiaro N, Amachawadi RG, Shi X, Cull CA, Renter DG. Longitudinal Characterization of Prevalence and Concentration of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Serogroups in Feces of Individual Feedlot Cattle. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2020; 17:631-639. [PMID: 32191498 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2019.2777] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The objective of this study was to quantify the frequency, distribution, and variability of fecal shedding and super-shedding of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157 in feedlot cattle over time. A total of 750 fecal grab samples were collected over a 5-week period (June-July 2017) from 150 cattle housed in 10 pens at a commercial feedlot operation. Samples were subjected to culture-based methods and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction for STEC detection and quantification. Cumulative animal-level prevalence estimates were 9.5%, 5.2%, and 15.8% for STEC O157, non-O157 STEC serogroups only (STEC-6), and for all STEC serogroups tested (STEC-7), respectively, with the prevalence of STEC O157 and STEC-7 significantly differing between weeks (p < 0.01). Most of the variability in fecal shedding for STEC O157, STEC-6, and STEC-7 was between pens, rather than between cattle. Over the 5-week period, 10 animals (6.7%) persistently shed STEC non-O157 over 3 or more consecutive weeks, whereas 2 animals (1.3%) intermittently shed STEC non-O157 on nonconsecutive weeks. Fifteen animals (10.0%) shed multiple STEC serogroups within the same fecal sample and five animals (3.3%) shed multiple serogroups at super-shedding levels, higher than 104 CFU (colony-forming units)/g, in the same sample. The presence of a super-shedder in a pen was significantly associated with a greater within pen-level prevalence of STEC-6 (p = 0.01). This study gives further insights into intermittent and persistent shedding and super-shedding patterns of STEC serogroups in individual feedlot cattle, which can enable the development and effective application of preharvest and periharvest interventions, as well as surveillance strategies, for these pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Dixon
- Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.,Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Natalia Cernicchiaro
- Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.,Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Raghavendra G Amachawadi
- Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.,Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Xiaorong Shi
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Charley A Cull
- Midwest Veterinary Services, Inc., Oakland, Nebraska, USA
| | - David G Renter
- Center for Outcomes Research and Epidemiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA.,Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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9
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Dallman TJ, Greig DR, Gharbia SE, Jenkins C. Phylogenetic context of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O26:H11 in England. Microb Genom 2019; 7:000551. [PMID: 33760723 PMCID: PMC8627664 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The increasing use of PCR for the detection of gastrointestinal pathogens in hospital laboratories in England has improved the detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), and the diagnosis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). We aimed to analyse the microbiological characteristics and phylogenetic relationships of STEC O26:H11, clonal complex (CC) 29, in England to inform surveillance, and to assess the threat to public health. There were 502 STEC belonging to CC29 isolated between 2014 and 2019, of which 416 were from individual cases. The majority of isolates belonged to one of three major sequence types (STs), ST16 (n=37), ST21 (n=350) and ST29 (n=24). ST16 and ST29 were mainly isolated from cases reporting recent travel abroad. Within ST21, there were three main clades associated with domestic acquisition. All three domestic clades had Shiga toxin subtype gene (stx) profiles associated with causing severe clinical outcomes including STEC-HUS, specifically either stx1a, stx2a or stx1a/stx2a. Isolates from the same patient, same household or same outbreak with an established source for the most part fell within 5-SNP single linkage clusters. There were 19 5-SNP community clusters, of which six were travel-associated and one was an outbreak of 16 cases caused by the consumption of contaminated salad leaves. Of the remaining 12 clusters, 9/12 were either temporally or geographically related or both. Exposure to foodborne STEC O26:H11 ST21 capable of causing severe clinical outcomes, including STEC-HUS, is an emerging risk to public health in England. The lack of comprehensive surveillance of this STEC serotype is a concern, and there is a need to expand the implementation of methods capable of detecting STEC in local hospital settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy J. Dallman
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - David R. Greig
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
- Division of Infection and Immunity, The Roslin Institute and Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Saheer E. Gharbia
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
| | - Claire Jenkins
- National Infection Service, Public Health England, London, NW9 5EQ, UK
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10
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Ross CM, Rapp D, Cave VM, Brightwell G. Prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in pasture-based dairy herds. Lett Appl Microbiol 2018; 68:112-119. [PMID: 30411807 DOI: 10.1111/lam.13096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 10/01/2018] [Accepted: 10/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains (STEC) are food-borne pathogens. While E. coli O157:H7 is commonly associated with cattle, less is known about the prevalence of non-O157 STEC serogroups in bovines. This study evaluated the prevalence and virulence status of O157:H7 and six E. coli O-serogroups (O26, O103, O45, O145, O121, O111) in New Zealand dairy farms using molecular as well as culture-based methods. Fresh farm dairy effluent (FDE) (n = 36) and composite calf faeces (n = 12) were collected over three samplings from 12 dairy farms. All seven target serogroups were detected through molecular techniques. Of the 202 isolates which were serologically confirmed following traditional culturing and immunomagnetic separation (IMS), O103, O26, O45 and O121 were the most common serogroups, being found in 81, 47, 42 and 32% of the FDE and in 17, 33, 25 and 9% of the calf faeces respectively. The majority (157/202) of the isolates were negative for stx and eae virulence genes. The prevalence of the seven target STEC was low, and only nine O26 isolates (4%) were recovered from four of the farms. The study has highlighted the need for improving the isolation of Top 7 STEC from the stx-negative populations present in fresh dairy effluent and calf faeces. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are important food-borne pathogens that can cause severe illness in humans. Cattle are asymptomatic reservoirs for STEC, and transmission to humans can be by consumption of food products or water contaminated with cattle faeces. Our study investigated the prevalence of O157:H7 and six E. coli serogroups of STEC (O26, O103, O45, O145, O121, O111) over time in the dairy reservoir and increases the knowledge and understanding of these pathogens on pasture-based farms. Such information is required to develop risk-assessment models aiming at limiting transmission of these STEC to human.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Ross
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Ltd, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - D Rapp
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Ltd, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
| | - V M Cave
- Bioinformatics & Statistics, AgResearch Ltd, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - G Brightwell
- Food & Bio-based Products, AgResearch Ltd, Hopkirk Research Institute, Palmerston North, New Zealand
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11
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Wang LYR, Jokinen CC, Laing CR, Johnson RP, Ziebell K, Gannon VPJ. Multi-Year Persistence of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in a Closed Canadian Beef Herd: A Cohort Study. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2040. [PMID: 30233526 PMCID: PMC6127291 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/13/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In this study, fecal samples were collected from a closed beef herd in Alberta, Canada from 2012 to 2015. To limit serotype bias, which was observed in enrichment broth cultures, Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) were isolated directly from samples using a hydrophobic grid-membrane filter verotoxin immunoblot assay. Overall VTEC isolation rates were similar for three different cohorts of yearling heifers on both an annual (68.5 to 71.8%) and seasonal basis (67.3 to 76.0%). Across all three cohorts, O139:H19 (37.1% of VTEC-positive samples), O22:H8 (15.8%) and O?(O108):H8 (15.4%) were among the most prevalent serotypes. However, isolation rates for serotypes O139:H19, O130:H38, O6:H34, O91:H21, and O113:H21 differed significantly between cohort-years, as did isolation rates for some serotypes within a single heifer cohort. There was a high level of VTEC serotype diversity with an average of 4.3 serotypes isolated per heifer and 65.8% of the heifers classified as "persistent shedders" of VTEC based on the criteria of >50% of samples positive and ≥4 consecutive samples positive. Only 26.8% (90/336) of the VTEC isolates from yearling heifers belonged to the human disease-associated seropathotypes A (O157:H7), B (O26:H11, O111:NM), and C (O22:H8, O91:H21, O113:H21, O137:H41, O2:H6). Conversely, seropathotypes B (O26:NM, O111:NM) and C (O91:H21, O2:H29) strains were dominant (76.0%, 19/25) among VTEC isolates from month-old calves from this herd. Among VTEC from heifers, carriage rates of vt1, vt2, vt1+vt2, eae, and hlyA were 10.7, 20.8, 68.5, 3.9, and 88.7%, respectively. The adhesin gene saa was present in 82.7% of heifer strains but absent from all of 13 eae+ve strains (from serotypes/intimin types O157:H7/γ1, O26:H11/β1, O111:NM/θ, O84:H2/ζ, and O182:H25/ζ). Phylogenetic relationships inferred from wgMLST and pan genome-derived core SNP analysis showed that strains clustered by phylotype and serotype. Further, VTEC strains of the same serotype usually shared the same suite of antibiotic resistance and virulence genes, suggesting the circulation of dominant clones within this distinct herd. This study provides insight into the diverse and dynamic nature of VTEC populations within groups of cattle and points to a broad spectrum of human health risks associated with these E. coli strains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Ya Ruth Wang
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | | | - Chad R Laing
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
| | - Roger P Johnson
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kim Ziebell
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Victor P J Gannon
- National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Lethbridge, AB, Canada
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12
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Schneider LG, Stromberg ZR, Lewis GL, Moxley RA, Smith DR. Cross‐sectional study to estimate the prevalence of enterohaemorrhagic
Escherichia coli
on hides of market beef cows at harvest. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:625-636. [DOI: 10.1111/zph.12468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- L. G. Schneider
- Department of Animal Science University of Tennessee Knoxville TN USA
| | - Z. R. Stromberg
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University of Nebraska, Lincoln Lincoln NE USA
| | - G. L. Lewis
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University of Nebraska, Lincoln Lincoln NE USA
| | - R. A. Moxley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences University of Nebraska, Lincoln Lincoln NE USA
| | - D. R. Smith
- College of Veterinary Medicine Mississippi State University Mississippi State MS USA
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13
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Schneider LG, Lewis GL, Moxley RA, Smith DR. A four-season longitudinal study of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli in beef cow-calf herds in Mississippi and Nebraska. Zoonoses Public Health 2018; 65:552-559. [PMID: 29573177 DOI: 10.1111/zph.12465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2017] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Our objective was to describe the probability of detecting seven serogroups of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC-7) of public health importance in faecal samples from beef cow-calf herds and to test for factors associated with their detection. Fresh faecal samples (n = 85) from two Mississippi and two Nebraska herds were collected in each of four seasons. Samples were tested for each EHEC-7 serogroup by a molecular screening assay. Separate management groups within herds were sampled, and group-level factors were recorded. To measure the effects of factors on faecal shedding of EHEC-7, separate multivariable logistic regression models were used, accounting for the random effect of clustering by group within farm. Statistical significance was set α = 0.05. Fifty-nine samples (4.3%) were positive for EHEC O26, and Nebraska samples were more likely to be positive than Mississippi samples (OR = 12.4, 95% CI: 1.1, 139.2). Forty-four samples (3.2%) were positive for EHEC O45. Odds for detection were greater in the summer than all other seasons combined (OR = 4.2, 95% CI: 1.3, 14.0), and odds decreased if a precipitation event occurred (OR = 0.07, 95% CI: 0.006, 0.8). EHEC O103 was detected in 66 samples (4.9%) with increased probability to be detected at increased temperature. EHEC O111 was detected in 71 samples (5.2%), and 43 samples (3.2%) were positive for EHEC O145. Both EHEC O111 and O145 were associated separately with season, with greater probability for detection in the summer. Eighteen (1.3%) and 68 (5.0%) samples were positive for EHEC O121 and EHEC O157, respectively. We failed to detect significant explanatory factors associated with probability to detect EHEC O121 or O157. Factors that vary by time and place, such as precipitation, ambient temperature, region and season, are uniquely associated with the probability to detect EHEC-7 in fresh faeces collected from cow-calf herds.
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Affiliation(s)
- L G Schneider
- Department of Animal Science, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, USA
| | - G L Lewis
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - R A Moxley
- School of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA
| | - D R Smith
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, MS, USA
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14
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Albonico F, Gusmara C, Gugliotta T, Loiacono M, Mortarino M, Zecconi A. A new integrated approach to analyze bulk tank milk and raw milk filters for the presence of the E. coli serogroups frequently associated with VTEC status. Res Vet Sci 2017; 115:401-406. [PMID: 28735241 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2017.07.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2016] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
We optimized a combination of microbiological and molecular methods to quickly identify the presence of the O157 and the six non-O157 serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121 and O145) most frequently associated with VTEC status, at herd level. The lower detection limit of this methodology is 101CFU/ml for each of the serogroups tested. We tested 67 bulk tank milk (BTM) and raw milk filters (RMF) derived from dairy herds located in Lombardy and Trentino Alto Adige. We identified 3 positive samples and 20 positive samples out of 67 respectively in the BTM and RMF. Interestingly, several samples showed positivity for more than one serogroups at the same time. We also identified the presence of E. coli O45 and O121 for the first time in raw milk and raw milk filters. Once screened the seven serogroups of interest in our samples, we evaluated the real pathogenicity of our positive, non-O157 samples through two parallel molecular biology methods: virulence gene research by PCR, and HRMA and sequencing. The most frequently isolated serogroups in milk were O157 (2.64%), O103 (2.11%), and O145 (1.06%), while in RMF the frequencies were, respectively 14.92%, 4.48%, and 2.98%. Moreover, this is the first published report in Italy of positive recovery of O45 and O121 serogroups in milk and milk filters. The new diagnostic approach proposed investigate the presence of the O157 and big six non-O157 serogroups at farm level and not to identify VTEC hazard only once the product is processed and/or is ready to be consumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Albonico
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Gusmara
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Theo Gugliotta
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Loiacono
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Michele Mortarino
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Alfonso Zecconi
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, via Celoria 10, 20133 Milan, Italy.
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15
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Martorelli L, Albanese A, Vilte D, Cantet R, Bentancor A, Zolezzi G, Chinen I, Ibarra C, Rivas M, Mercado EC, Cataldi A. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O22:H8 isolated from cattle reduces E. coli O157:H7 adherence in vitro and in vivo. Vet Microbiol 2017; 208:8-17. [PMID: 28888654 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2017.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2017] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
PROBLEM ADDRESSED Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are a group of bacteria responsible for food-associated diseases. Clinical features include a wide range of symptoms such as diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening condition. OBJECTIVE Our group has observed that animals naturally colonized with STEC strains of unknown serotype were not efficiently colonized with E. coli O157:H7 after experimental infection. In order to assess the basis of the interference, three STEC strains were isolated from STEC persistently-colonized healthy cattle from a dairy farm in Buenos Aires, Argentina. METHODS AND RESULTS The three isolated strains are E. coli O22:H8 and carry the stx1 and stx2d genes. The activatable activity of Stx2d was demonstrated in vitro. The three strains carry the adhesins iha, ehaA and lpfO113. E. coli O22:H8 formed stronger biofilms in abiotic surface than E. coli O157:H7 (eae+, stx2+) and displayed a more adherent phenotype in vitro towards HeLa cells. Furthermore, when both serotypes were cultured together O22:H8 could reduce O157:H7 adherence in vitro. When calves were intragastrically pre-challenged with 108 CFU of a mixture of the three STEC strains and two days later challenged with the same dose of the strain E. coli O157:H7 438/99, the shedding of the pathogen was significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that E. coli O22:H8, a serotype rarely associated with human illness, might compete with O157:H7 at the bovine recto-anal junction, making non-O157 carrying-calves less susceptible to O157:H7 colonization and shedding of the bacteria to the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Martorelli
- Instituto de Patobiología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | - A Albanese
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Departamento de Fisiología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
| | - D Vilte
- Instituto de Patobiología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | - R Cantet
- Facultad de Agronomía, Universidad de Buenos Aires-CONICET, Buenos Aires 1427, Argentina
| | - A Bentancor
- Cátedra de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1427, Argentina
| | - G Zolezzi
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, INEI-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires 1282, Argentina
| | - I Chinen
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, INEI-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires 1282, Argentina
| | - C Ibarra
- Laboratorio de Fisiopatogenia, Departamento de Fisiología, Instituto de Fisiología y Biofísica Bernardo Houssay (IFIBIO Houssay-CONICET), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires 1121, Argentina
| | - M Rivas
- Servicio Fisiopatogenia, INEI-ANLIS "Dr. Carlos G. Malbrán", Buenos Aires 1282, Argentina
| | - E C Mercado
- Instituto de Patobiología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina
| | - A Cataldi
- Instituto de Biotecnología, CICVyA, Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria, Hurlingham 1686, Argentina.
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16
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Stenkamp-Strahm C, McConnel C, Hyatt DR, Magnuson R, Tenneson P, Linke L. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 Shedding in Preweaned Calves on Colorado Dairies. J Food Prot 2017; 80:990-993. [PMID: 28467189 PMCID: PMC9731608 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
To gain insight into a potential age-related predisposition for Escherichia coli pathogen shedding on dairies, this pilot study measured the prevalence of E. coli O157 (ECO157) in the feces of preweaned dairy calves. An aim of this study was to link these outcomes with the concurrent environmental presence of ECO157 and dam ECO157 shedding elucidated in a parallel study. Recto-anal mucosal swabs and a subset of fecal grab samples were collected from calves (2 to 8 weeks of age; n = 399) monthly between December 2013 and June 2014 on three dairies in northern Colorado. A subset of calf dams (n = 111) were also sampled via fecal grab. Concurrently, environmental samples were collected from locations within the vicinity of the calves: farm tractor tires, steering wheels, hutches, buckets, and gloves from the research technicians and the employees involved in calf rearing. The presence of ECO157 and virulence genes was measured in the samples and confirmed via PCR. Of the calves, only 1 (0.25%) of 399 individuals shed during the time period, and the ECO157 strain detected carried no measured virulence genes (eaeA, stx1, and stx2). No difference was seen in detection between the recto-anal mucosal swabs and the fecal grab technique. In contrast, 32% (35 of 111) of the dams shed ECO157, with 1.8% (2 of 111) of the shed isolates containing virulence genes. No ECO157 was detected in the environmental samples. These outcomes demonstrate a disparity between dam and calf ECO157 shedding and indicate that preweaned calves, managed similarly to those of this study, probably have a minor influence on dairy contamination and the transmission of ECO157.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe Stenkamp-Strahm
- 1 Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1644
| | - Craig McConnel
- 2 College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164-6610, USA
| | - Doreene R Hyatt
- 1 Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1644
| | - Roberta Magnuson
- 1 Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1644
| | - Paige Tenneson
- 1 Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1644
| | - Lyndsey Linke
- 1 Animal Population Health Institute, Department of Clinical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-1644
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17
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Epidemiology of Escherichia coli serogroups O26, O103, O111 and O145 in very young ('bobby') calves in the North Island, New Zealand. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:1606-1616. [PMID: 28264732 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817000401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The prevalence and spatial distribution of Escherichia coli serogroups O26, O103, O111 and O145 in calves 70% similarity) using pulsed field gel electrophoresis. Mapping of the farms showed the presence of farms positive for O26, O103 and O145 in three important dairy producing regions of the North Island. Calves positive for O103 were more likely to be positive for O26 and vice versa (P = 0·04). Similarly, calves positive for O145 were more likely to be positive for O103 and vice versa (P = 0·03). This study demonstrates that non-O157 E. coli serogroups of public health and economic importance containing clinically relevant virulence factors are present in calves in the North Island of New Zealand.
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18
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Bosilevac JM, Wang R, Luedtke BE, Hinkley S, Wheeler TL, Koohmaraie M. Characterization of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli on Veal Hides and Carcasses. J Food Prot 2017; 80:136-145. [PMID: 28221873 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-16-247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are Shiga toxin-producing E. coli associated with the most severe forms of foodborne illnesses. The U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food Safety and Inspection Service has identified a higher percentage of non-O157 EHEC compared with E. coli O157:H7-positive samples collected from veal trimmings than from products produced from other cattle slaughter classes. Therefore samples were collected from hides and preevisceration carcasses at five veal processors to assess E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 EHEC contamination during bob veal and formula-fed veal dressing procedures. E. coli O157:H7 prevalence was measured by culture isolation and found to be on 20.3% of hides and 6.7% of carcasses. In contrast, a non-O157 EHEC molecular screening assay identified 90.3% of hides and 68.2% of carcasses as positive. Only carcass samples were taken forward to culture confirmation and 38.7% yielded one or more non-O157 EHEC isolates. The recovery of an EHEC varied by plant and sample collection date; values ranged from 2.1 to 87.8% among plants and from 4.2 to 64.2% within the same plant. Three plants were resampled after changes were made to sanitary dressing procedures. Between the two collection times at the three plants, hide-to-carcass transfer of E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 EHEC was significantly reduced. All adulterant EHEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) were isolated from veal carcasses as well as four other potentially pathogenic serogroups (O5, O84, O118, and O177). Bob veal was found to have a greater culture prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 and greater positive molecular screens for non-O157 EHEC than formula-fed veal (P < 0.05), but the percentage of culture-confirmed non-O157 EHEC was not different (P > 0.05) between the two types of calves. EHEC-O26, -O111, and -O121 were found more often in bob veal (P < 0.05), whereas EHEC-O103 was found more often in formula-fed veal (P < 0.05).
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph M Bosilevac
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, State Spur 18D, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933
| | - Rong Wang
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, State Spur 18D, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933
| | - Brandon E Luedtke
- University of Nebraska-Kearney, 2401 11th Avenue, Kearney, Nebraska 68849
| | - Susanne Hinkley
- NeoSEEK Laboratory, Neogen Corp., 4131 North 48th Street, Lincoln, Nebraska 68504
| | - Tommy L Wheeler
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, P.O. Box 166, State Spur 18D, Clay Center, Nebraska 68933
| | - Mohammad Koohmaraie
- IEH Laboratories and Consulting Group, 15300 Bothell Way N.E., Lake Forest Park, Washington 98155, USA
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19
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Nationwide prevalence and risk factors for faecal carriage of Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in very young calves and adult cattle at slaughter in New Zealand. Epidemiol Infect 2016; 144:1736-47. [PMID: 26733155 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268815003209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Nationwide prevalence and risk factors for faecal carriage of Escherichia coli O157 and O26 in cattle were assessed in a 2-year cross-sectional study at four large slaughter plants in New Zealand. Recto-anal mucosal swab samples from a total of 695 young (aged 4-7 days) calves and 895 adult cattle were collected post-slaughter and screened with real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for the presence of E. coli O157 and O26 [Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and non-STEC]. Co-infection with either serogroup of E. coli (O157 or O26) was identified as a risk factor in both calves and adult cattle for being tested real-time PCR-positive for E. coli O157 or O26. As confirmed by culture isolation and molecular analysis, the overall prevalence of STEC (STEC O157 and STEC O26 combined) was significantly higher in calves [6·0% (42/695), 95% confidence interval (CI) 4·4-8·1] than in adult cattle [1·8% (16/895), 95% CI 1·1-3·0] (P < 0·001). This study is the first of its kind in New Zealand to assess the relative importance of cattle as a reservoir of STEC O157 and O26 at a national level. Epidemiological data collected will be used in the development of a risk management strategy for STEC in New Zealand.
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20
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Luedtke BE, Bosilevac JM. Comparison of methods for the enumeration of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli from veal hides and carcasses. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1062. [PMID: 26483780 PMCID: PMC4586433 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2015] [Accepted: 09/15/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The increased association of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) with veal calves has led the United States Department of Agriculture Food Safety and Inspection Service to report results of veal meat contaminated with the Top 7 serogroups separately from beef cattle. However, detection methods that can also provide concentration for determining the prevalence and abundance of EHEC associated with veal are lacking. Here we compared the ability of qPCR and a molecular based most probable number assay (MPN) to detect and enumerate EHEC from veal hides at the abattoir and the resulting pre-intervention carcasses. In addition, digital PCR (dPCR) was used to analyze select samples. The qPCR assay was able to enumerate total EHEC in 32% of the hide samples with a range of approximately 34 to 91,412 CFUs/100 cm2 (95% CI 4-113,460 CFUs/100 cm2). Using the MPN assay, total EHEC was enumerable in 48% of the hide samples and ranged from approximately 1 to greater than 17,022 CFUs/100 cm2 (95% CI 0.4–72,000 CFUs/100 cm2). The carcass samples had lower amounts of EHEC with a range of approximately 4–275 CFUs/100 cm2 (95% CI 3–953 CFUs/100 cm2) from 17% of samples with an enumerable amount of EHEC by qPCR. For the MPN assay, the carcass samples ranged from 0.1 to 1 CFUs/100 cm2 (95% CI 0.02–4 CFUs/100 cm2) from 29% of the samples. The correlation coefficient between the qPCR and MPN enumeration methods indicated a moderate relation (R2 = 0.39) for the hide samples while the carcass samples had no relation (R2 = 0.002), which was likely due to most samples having an amount of total EHEC below the reliable limit of quantification for qPCR. Interestingly, after enrichment, 81% of the hide samples and 94% of the carcass samples had a detectable amount of total EHEC by qPCR. From our analysis, the MPN assay provided a higher percentage of enumerable hide and carcass samples, however determining an appropriate dilution range and the limited throughput offer additional challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brandon E Luedtke
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska U. S. Meat Animal Research Center Clay Center, NE, USA
| | - Joseph M Bosilevac
- U. S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Roman L. Hruska U. S. Meat Animal Research Center Clay Center, NE, USA
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21
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Synchronization ofE. coliO157 shedding in a grass-fed beef herd: a longitudinal study. Epidemiol Infect 2015; 143:3244-55. [DOI: 10.1017/s0950268815000588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
SUMMARYThis study aims to describe in detail the temporal dynamics ofE. coliO157 shedding and risk factors for shedding in a grass-fed beef herd. During a 9-month period, 23 beef cows were sampled twice a week (58 sampling points) andE. coliO157 was enumerated from faecal samples. Isolates were screened by PCR for presence ofrfbE,stx1andstx2. The prevalence per sampling day ranged from 0% to 57%. This study demonstrates that many members of the herd were concurrently sheddingE. coliO157. Occurrence of rainfall (P< 0·01), feeding silage (P< 0·01) and lactating (P< 0·01) were found to be predictors of shedding. Moving cattle to a new paddock had a negative effect on shedding. This approach, based on short-interval sampling, confirms the known variability of shedding within a herd and highlights that high shedding events are rare.
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22
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Bonardi S, Alpigiani I, Tozzoli R, Vismarra A, Zecca V, Greppi C, Bacci C, Bruini I, Brindani F. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157, O26 and O111 in cattle faeces and hides in Italy. Vet Rec Open 2015; 2:e000061. [PMID: 26392887 PMCID: PMC4567145 DOI: 10.1136/vetreco-2014-000061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Revised: 09/17/2014] [Accepted: 11/24/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Ruminants are regarded as the natural reservoir for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), especially of serogroup O157. MATERIALS AND METHODS During 2011 and 2012, 320 samples (160 faecal samples from the rectum and 160 hide samples from the brisket area) were collected from 160 cattle at slaughter in Northern Italy during warm months (May to October). Cattle were reared in different farms and their age at slaughter ranged between nine months and 15 years, most of them being culled cattle (median age: six years; average age: 4.6 years). Samples were tested by immunomagnetic-separation technique for E coli O157 and O26 and by a screening PCR for stx genes followed by cultural detection of STEC. The virulence genes stx1, stx2, eae, and e-hlyA were detected and among stx2-positive isolates the presence of the stx2a and stx2c variants was investigated. RESULTS Twenty-one of 160 cattle (13.1 per cent; 95 per cent CI 8.3 to 19.4 per cent) were found to be faecal carriers of STEC. STEC O157 was found in 10 (6.3 per cent) samples, STEC O26 in six (3.8 per cent) and STEC O111 in one (0.6 per cent). Four isolates (2.5 per cent) were O not determined (OND). Six out of 160 (3.8 per cent; 95 per cent CI 1.4 to 8.0 per cent) hide samples were positive for STEC; four hides (2.5 per cent) were contaminated by STEC O157 and two (1.3 per cent) by STEC O26. In three cattle (1.9 per cent) STEC from both faeces and hides were detected. Among STEC O157, 87.5 per cent of them carried the stx2c gene and 12.5 per cent carried both stx1 and stx2c genes. No O157 isolate harboured stx2a variant. STEC O26 and O111 carried the stx1 gene only. One OND strain carried both the stx2a and stx2c genes. CONCLUSIONS This study shows that STEC O157 from cattle can harbour the stx2c variant, which is associated with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in humans, and that cattle hides may be a source of human pathogenic STEC O157 and O26 in the slaughterhouse environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Bonardi
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - I Alpigiani
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - R Tozzoli
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety , Istituto Superiore di Sanità , Rome , Italy
| | - A Vismarra
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - V Zecca
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - C Greppi
- National Health Service, Veterinary Service, Local Unit of Cremona , Italy
| | - C Bacci
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - I Bruini
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
| | - F Brindani
- Department of Veterinary Science, Unit of Food Hygiene , University of Parma , Parma , Italy
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Willford JD, Bisha B, Bolenbaugh KE, Goodridge LD. Luminescence based enzyme-labeled phage (Phazyme) assays for rapid detection of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli serogroups. BACTERIOPHAGE 2014; 1:101-110. [PMID: 22334866 DOI: 10.4161/bact.1.2.15666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Revised: 03/23/2011] [Accepted: 03/31/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Most diagnostic approaches for Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have been designed to detect only serogroup O157 that causes a majority, but not all STEC related outbreaks in the United States. Therefore, there is a need to develop methodology that would enable the detection of other STEC serogroups that cause disease. Three bacteriophages (phages) that infect STEC serogroups O26, O103, O111, O145 and O157 were chemically labeled with horseradish peroxidase (HRP). The enzyme-labeled phages (Phazymes) were individually combined with a sampling device (a swab), STEC serogroup-specific immunomagnetic separation (IMS) beads, bacterial enrichment broth and luminescent HRP substrate, in a self-contained test device, while luminescence was measured in a hand-held luminometer.The O26 and O157 Phazyme assays correctly identified more than 93% of the bacteria tested during this study, the O123 Phazyme assay identified 89.6%, while the O111 and O145 Phazyme assays correctly detected 82.4% and 75.9%, respectively. The decreased specificity of the O111 and O145 assays was related to the broad host ranges of the phages used in both assays. The Phazyme assays were capable of directly detecting between 10(5) and 10(6) CFU/ml in pure culture, depending on the serogroup. In food trials, the O157 Phazyme assay was able to detect E. coli O157:H7 in spinach consistently at levels of 1 CFU/g and occasionally at levels of 0.1 CFU/g. The assay detected 10(0) CFU/100 cm(2) on swabbed meat samples and 10(2) CFU/100 ml in water samples. The Phazyme assay effectively detects most STEC in a simple and rapid manner, with minimal need for instrumentation to interpret the test result.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Willford
- Department of Animal Science; University of Wyoming; Laramie, WY USA
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24
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Microencapsulation by spray drying of nitrogen-fixing bacteria associated with lupin nodules. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 2014; 30:2371-8. [DOI: 10.1007/s11274-014-1662-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2014] [Accepted: 05/01/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
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van Overbeek LS, van Doorn J, Wichers JH, van Amerongen A, van Roermund HJW, Willemsen PTJ. The arable ecosystem as battleground for emergence of new human pathogens. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:104. [PMID: 24688484 PMCID: PMC3960585 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00104] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Disease incidences related to Escherichia coli and Salmonella enterica infections by consumption of (fresh) vegetables, sprouts, and occasionally fruits made clear that these pathogens are not only transmitted to humans via the "classical" routes of meat, eggs, and dairy products, but also can be transmitted to humans via plants or products derived from plants. Nowadays, it is of major concern that these human pathogens, especially the ones belonging to the taxonomical family of Enterobacteriaceae, become adapted to environmental habitats without losing their virulence to humans. Adaptation to the plant environment would lead to longer persistence in plants, increasing their chances on transmission to humans via consumption of plant-derived food. One of the mechanisms of adaptation to the plant environment in human pathogens, proposed in this paper, is horizontal transfer of genes from different microbial communities present in the arable ecosystem, like the ones originating from soil, animal digestive track systems (manure), water and plants themselves. Genes that would confer better adaptation to the phytosphere might be genes involved in plant colonization, stress resistance and nutrient acquisition and utilization. Because human pathogenic enterics often were prone to genetic exchanges via phages and conjugative plasmids, it was postulated that these genetic elements may be hold key responsible for horizontal gene transfers between human pathogens and indigenous microbes in agroproduction systems. In analogy to zoonosis, we coin the term phytonosis for a human pathogen that is transmitted via plants and not exclusively via animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard S van Overbeek
- Plant Research International, Wageningen University and Research Centre Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Joop van Doorn
- Applied Plant Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre Lisse, Netherlands
| | - Jan H Wichers
- Food and Biobased Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Aart van Amerongen
- Food and Biobased Research, Wageningen University and Research Centre Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Herman J W van Roermund
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre Lelystad, Netherlands
| | - Peter T J Willemsen
- Central Veterinary Institute, Wageningen University and Research Centre Lelystad, Netherlands
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Paddock ZD, Renter DG, Cull CA, Shi X, Bai J, Nagaraja TG. Escherichia coliO26 in Feedlot Cattle: Fecal Prevalence, Isolation, Characterization, and Effects of anE. coliO157 Vaccine and a Direct-Fed Microbial. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2014; 11:186-93. [DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2013.1659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Zac D. Paddock
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - David G. Renter
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Charley A. Cull
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Xiarong Shi
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Jianfa Bai
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Tiruvoor G. Nagaraja
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
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Thomas KM, McCann MS, Collery MM, Moschonas G, Whyte P, McDowell DA, Duffy G. Transfer of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157, O26, O111, O103 and O145 from fleece to carcass during sheep slaughter in an Irish export abattoir. Food Microbiol 2013; 34:38-45. [DOI: 10.1016/j.fm.2012.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2012] [Accepted: 11/23/2012] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- K M Thomas
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland
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Etcheverría AI, Padola NL. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: factors involved in virulence and cattle colonization. Virulence 2013; 4:366-72. [PMID: 23624795 PMCID: PMC3714128 DOI: 10.4161/viru.24642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cause hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) in humans. Outbreaks are linked to bovine food sources. STEC O157:H7 has been responsible for the most severe outbreaks worldwide. However, non-O157 serotypes have emerged as important enteric pathogens in several countries. The main virulence factor of STEC is the production of Shiga toxins 1 and 2. Additional virulence markers are a plasmid-encoded enterohemolysin (ehxA), an autoagglutinating adhesin (Saa), a catalase-peroxidase (katP), an extracellular serine protease (espP), a zinc metalloprotease (stcE), a subtilase cytotoxin (subAB), among others. Other virulence factors are intimin and adhesins that had a roll in the adherence of STEC to bovine colon. This review focuses on the virulence traits of STEC and especially on those related to the adhesion to bovine colon. The known of the interaction between STEC and the bovine host is crucial to develop strategies to control cattle colonization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Analía Inés Etcheverría
- Laboratorio de Imunoquímica y Biotecnología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CICPBA, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, UNCPBA, Tandil, Argentina.
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Fernández D, Krüger A, Polifroni R, Bustamante AV, Sanso AM, Etcheverría AI, Lucchesi PMA, Parma AE, Padola NL. Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O130:H11 and O178:H19 isolated from dairy cows. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2013; 3:9. [PMID: 23483233 PMCID: PMC3592196 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2013.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2012] [Accepted: 02/19/2013] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) are isolated from human patients with bloody diarrhea, hemorrhagic colitis (HC), and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). In the last years, the infections with non-O157 serotypes are increasing their frequency of association with human disease. STEC produce Shiga toxin (Stx) and other virulence factors that could contribute to human pathogenesis. Cattle are the main reservoir and the transmission to humans is through the consumption of undercooked meat, non-pasteurized dairy products, and vegetables or water contaminated with feces. We have previously determined that O130:H11 and O178:H19 serotypes were the most prevalent in dairy cows from Argentina. In the present study, 37 and 25 STEC isolates from dairy cows belonging to O130:H11 and O178:H19 serotypes, respectively, were characterized regarding to their cytotoxicity on Vero cells, stx subtypes, presence of sab and typing by multiple-locus variable-number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA). All strains demonstrated a cytotoxic effect, and in O130:H11 isolates, stx2EDL933 was the predominant subtype. In O178:H19 isolates the main stx2 subtype was stx2vha. The sab gene was detected in 65 and 24% of the isolates belonging to O130:H11 and O178:H19, respectively. Only one MLVA profile was identified among the O130:H11 isolates meanwhile 10 MLVA profiles were detected among the O178:H19 isolates which were grouped in two main clusters. In conclusion, our data show that O130:H11 and O178:H19 STEC isolates encode virulence factors associated with severe human disease and both serotypes should be considered for routinely testing. Our subtyping experiments showed that isolates could be distinguished based on the stx2 subtype and the presence/absence of sab gene, and for isolates belonging to O178:H19, also when the MLVA type was considered. However, MLVA subtyping of O130:H11 isolates will require the development of more specific markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Fernández
- Laboratorio de Inmunoquímica y Biotecnología, Facultad Ciencias Veterinarias, Centro de Investigaciones Veterinarias Tandil-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas-Comisión de Investigaciones Científicas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (CIVETAN-CONICET-CICPBA), Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires Tandil, Argentina
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Bai J, Paddock ZD, Shi X, Li S, An B, Nagaraja TG. Applicability of a Multiplex PCR to Detect the Seven Major Shiga Toxin–ProducingEscherichia coliBased on Genes That Code for Serogroup-Specific O-Antigens and Major Virulence Factors in Cattle Feces. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2012; 9:541-8. [DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2011.1082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jianfa Bai
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Zachary D. Paddock
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Xiaorong Shi
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Shubo Li
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
- Liaoning Center for Animal Epidemic Disease Control and Prevention, Shenyang, Liaoning, China
| | - Baoyan An
- Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
| | - Tiruvoor G. Nagaraja
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine/Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas
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31
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Paddock Z, Shi X, Bai J, Nagaraja T. Applicability of a multiplex PCR to detect O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157 serogroups of Escherichia coli in cattle feces1. Vet Microbiol 2012; 156:381-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetmic.2011.11.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2011] [Revised: 11/18/2011] [Accepted: 11/22/2011] [Indexed: 10/14/2022]
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Thomas KM, McCann MS, Collery MM, Logan A, Whyte P, McDowell DA, Duffy G. Tracking verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157, O26, O111, O103 and O145 in Irish cattle. Int J Food Microbiol 2011; 153:288-96. [PMID: 22209630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2011.11.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 11/11/2011] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate carriage and transfer of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157, O26, O111, O103 and O145 from faeces and hide to dressed carcasses of Irish cattle as well as establishing the virulence potential of VTEC carried by these cattle. Individual cattle was tracked and faecal samples, hide and carcass (pre-evisceration and post-wash) swabs were analysed for verotoxin (vt1 and vt2) genes using a duplex real-time PCR assay. Positive samples were screened for the five serogroups of interest by real-time PCR. Isolates were recovered from PCR positive samples using immunomagnetic separation and confirmed by latex agglutination and PCR. Isolates were subject to a virulence screen (vt1, vt2, eaeA and hlyA) by PCR. Isolates carrying vt genes were examined by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Of the VTEC isolated, E. coli O157 was the most frequently recovered from hide (17.6%), faeces (2.3%) and pre-evisceration/post-wash carcass (0.7%) samples. VTEC O26 was isolated from 0.2% of hide swabs and 1.5% of faeces samples. VTEC O145 was isolated from 0.7% of faeces samples. VTEC O26 and VTEC O145 were not recovered from carcass swabs. Non-VTEC O103 was recovered from all sample types (27.1% hide, 8.5% faeces, 5.5% pre-evisceration carcass, 2.2% post-wash carcass), with 0.2% of hide swabs and 1.0% of faeces samples found to be positive for VTEC O103 isolates. E. coli O111 was not detected in any samples. For the four serogroups recovered, the direct transfer from hide to carcass was not observed. This study shows that while VTEC O157 are being carried by cattle presented for slaughter in Ireland, a number of other verotoxin producing strains are beginning to emerge.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Thomas
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland
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Jacob ME, Shi X, An B, Nagaraja TG, Bai J. Evaluation of a multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction for the quantification of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle feces. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2011; 9:79-85. [PMID: 22047056 DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2011.0947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cattle are asymptomatic reservoirs for Escherichia coli O157, a major foodborne pathogen. The organism generally colonizes the hindgut of cattle and is shed in the feces at low concentrations. The objective of this research was to evaluate a multiplex, real-time polymerase chain reaction (mqPCR) assay for quantification of E. coli O157 in cattle feces using stx1, stx2, and rfbE gene targets. Primer efficiency and analytical sensitivity of the assay were evaluated with a single or pooled (five strain) culture of E. coli O157. In pure culture, the minimum detection limit of the assay was 1.4×10(3) CFU/mL and 3.6×10(3) CFU/mL for the single and five-strain mixture of E. coli O157, respectively. Diagnostic sensitivity was analyzed using DNA extracted from cattle feces spiked with E. coli O157. In feces spiked with the pooled mixture of five E. coli O157 strains, the minimum detection limit was 3.6×10(4) CFU/g. We also evaluated the assay with feces from cattle experimentally inoculated with E. coli O157 by comparing the results to a culture-based method. For the majority of samples tested, the concentration of E. coli O157 detected by the real-time and culture methods was within one log difference. However, the assay could only be evaluated for cattle shedding high concentrations of E. coli O157. In conclusion, the mqPCR quantifying E. coli O157 in cattle feces using stx1, stx2, and rfbE gene targets may have use in detecting and quantifying super shedders, but is not applicable for quantification in animals shedding low concentrations (10(2) to 10(3) CFU/g feces).
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E Jacob
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS 66506, USA
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Potentially human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O26 in Norwegian sheep flocks. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:4949-58. [PMID: 21642413 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00189-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
A national survey of Escherichia coli O26 in Norwegian sheep flocks was conducted, using fecal samples to determine the prevalence. In total, 491 flocks were tested, and E. coli O26 was detected in 17.9% of the flocks. One hundred forty-two E. coli O26 isolates were examined for flagellar antigens (H typing) and four virulence genes, including stx and eae, to identify possible Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). Most isolates (129 out of 142) were identified as E. coli O26:H11. They possessed eae and may have potential as human pathogens, although only a small fraction were identified as STEC O26:H11, giving a prevalence in sheep flocks of only 0.8%. Correspondingly, the sheep flock prevalence of atypical EPEC (aEPEC) O26:H11 was surprisingly high (15.9%). The genetic relationship between the E. coli O26:H11 isolates was investigated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), identifying 63 distinct PFGE profiles and 22 MLVA profiles. Although the MLVA protocol was less discriminatory than PFGE and a few cases of disagreement were observed, comparison by partition mapping showed an overall good accordance between the two methods. A close relationship between a few isolates of aEPEC O26:H11 and STEC O26:H11 was identified, but all the E. coli O26:H11 isolates should be considered potentially pathogenic to humans. The present study consisted of a representative sampling of sheep flocks from all parts of Norway. This is the first large survey of sheep flocks focusing on E. coli O26 in general, including results of STEC, aEPEC, and nonpathogenic isolates.
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Associations between the presence of virulence determinants and the epidemiology and ecology of zoonotic Escherichia coli. Appl Environ Microbiol 2010; 76:8110-6. [PMID: 20952647 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01343-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The severity of human infection with pathogenic Escherichia coli depends on two major virulence determinants (eae and stx) that, respectively, produce intimin and Shiga toxin. In cattle, both may enhance colonization, but whether this increases fitness by enhancing cattle-to-cattle transmission in the field is unknown. In E. coli O157, the almost uniform presence of the virulence determinants in cattle isolates prevents comparative analysis. The availability to this study of extensive non-O157 E. coli data, with much greater diversity in carriage of virulence determinants, provides the opportunity to gain insight into their potential impact on transmission. Dynamic models were used to simulate expected prevalence distributions for serogroups O26 and O103. Transmission parameters were estimated by fitting model outputs to prevalence data from Scottish cattle using a Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) approach. Despite similar prevalence distributions for O26 and O103, their transmission dynamics were distinct. Serogroup O26 strains appear well adapted to the cattle host. The dynamics are characterized by a basic reproduction ratio (R(0)) of >1 (allowing sustained cattle-to-cattle transmission), a relatively low transmission rate from environmental reservoirs, and substantial association with eae on transmission. The presence of stx(2) was associated with reduced transmission. In contrast, serogroup O103 appears better adapted to the noncattle environment, characterized by an R(0) value of <1 for plausible test sensitivities, a significantly higher transmission rate from noncattle sources than serogroup O26, and an absence of fitness benefits associated with the carriage of eae. Thus, the association of eae with enhanced transmission depends on the E. coli serogroup. Our results suggest that the capacity of E. coli strains to derive fitness benefits from virulence determinants influences the prevalence in the cattle population and the ecology and epidemiology of the host organism.
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Fernández D, Irino K, Sanz M, Padola N, Parma A. Characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from dairy cows in Argentina. Lett Appl Microbiol 2010; 51:377-82. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2010.02904.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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Moxley RA, Smith DR. Attaching-effacing Escherichia coli infections in cattle. Vet Clin North Am Food Anim Pract 2010; 26:29-56, table of contents. [PMID: 20117541 PMCID: PMC7127223 DOI: 10.1016/j.cvfa.2009.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are now broadly placed into 6 classes based on virulence mechanisms. One of these classes, enterotoxigenic E coli, is the most common cause of diarrhea in beef and dairy calves in the first 4 days of life. Two other diarrheagenic classes, enterohemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC), are important causes of disease in human beings, but less well substantiated causes of diarrhea in calves. E coli strains that cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans, express high levels of Shiga toxin, cause attaching-effacing (A/E) lesions in intestinal epithelial cells, and possess a specific 60-MDa EHEC plasmid are known as EHEC. One feature EHEC and EPEC have in common is the causation of intestinal epithelial lesions known as attaching and effacing (A/E). Attaching-effacing E coli (AEEC) is a designation for those E coli strains known to cause A/E lesions or at least carry the genes for this trait, and therefore include organisms that fall into either the EHEC or EPEC classes. Because cattle are carriers of many different serotypes of EHEC, much emphasis has been placed on the public health and food safety concerns associated with the fecal shedding of these organisms. However, much less emphasis has been given to their roles as diarrheagenic pathogens of cattle. The goal of this article is to address the question of pathogenicity, with a review that focuses on the results of studies of natural and experimental infections with these organisms. The authors conclude that there is overwhelming evidence that many different serogroups of AEEC are diarrheagenic pathogens of calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodney A Moxley
- School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE 68583-0905, USA.
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Cobbaut K, Berkvens D, Houf K, De Deken R, De Zutter L. Escherichia coli O157 prevalence in different cattle farm types and identification of potential risk factors. J Food Prot 2009; 72:1848-53. [PMID: 19777885 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-72.9.1848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Although the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 on cattle farms has been examined extensively, the relationship between this pathogen and farm type has been established only rarely. A large-scale study was designed to determine the prevalence of E. coli O157 in the Flemish region of Belgium on farms of dairy cattle, beef cattle, mixed dairy and beef cattle, and veal calves. The effect of various factors on the occurrence at the pen level also was evaluated. In 2007, 180 farms were randomly selected based on region, farm size, and number of animals purchased and were examined using the overshoe sampling method. When possible, overshoes used in areas containing animals in three different age categories (< 8 months, 8 to 30 months, and > 30 months) were sampled on each farm. In total, 820 different pens were sampled and analyzed for the presence of E. coli O157 by enrichment, immunomagnetic separation, and plating on selective agar. Presumptive E. coli O157 colonies were identified using a multiplex PCR assay for the presence of the rfb(O157) and fliC(H7) genes. The statistical analysis was carried out with Stata SE/10.0 using a generalized linear regression model with a logit link function and a binomial error distribution. The overall farm prevalence of E. coli O157 was 37.8% (68 of 180 farms). The highest prevalence was found on dairy cattle farms (61.2%, 30 of 49 farms). The prevalences on beef, mixed dairy and beef, and veal calf farms were 22.7% (17 of 75 farms), 44.4% (20 of 45 farms), and 9.1% (1 of 11 farms), respectively. A significant positive correlation between age category and E. coli O157 prevalence was found only on mixed dairy and beef farms and dairy farms. No influence of farm size or introduction of new animals was demonstrated.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Cobbaut
- Department of Veterinary Public Health and Food Safety, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium
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Fratamico PM, DebRoy C, Miyamoto T, Liu Y. PCR Detection of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O145 in Food by Targeting Genes in the E. coli O145 O-Antigen Gene Cluster and the Shiga Toxin 1 and Shiga Toxin 2 Genes. Foodborne Pathog Dis 2009; 6:605-11. [DOI: 10.1089/fpd.2008.0254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Pina M. Fratamico
- Microbial Food Safety Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania
| | - Chitrita DebRoy
- Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, E. coli Reference Center, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania
| | - Takahisa Miyamoto
- Laboratory of Food Hygienic Chemistry, Kyushu University, Hakozaki, Japan
| | - Yanhong Liu
- Microbial Food Safety Research Unit, Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania
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40
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Jenkins C, Evans J, Chart H, Willshaw GA, Frankel G. Escherichia coli serogroup O26--a new look at an old adversary. J Appl Microbiol 2008; 104:14-25. [PMID: 18171379 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03465.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli serogroup O26 played an important part in the early work on Verocytotoxin and is an established diarrhoeal pathogen. Recently, Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) O26 has been increasingly associated with diarrhoeal disease and frequently linked to outbreaks and cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). This review investigates the pathogenicity, geographical distribution, changing epidemiology, routes of transmission and improved detection of VTEC O26. Laboratory data on VTEC O26 isolates and clinical data on HUS suggest a true difference in the incidence of VTEC O26 in different geographic locations. However, few diagnostic laboratories use molecular methods to detect VTEC and so it is difficult to assess the role of VTEC O26 in causing diarrhoeal disease. VTEC O26 is frequently found in the cattle population but rarely in food. However, the small number of outbreaks analysed to date are thought to be food-borne rather than associated with direct or indirect contact with livestock or their faeces. The increase in awareness of VTEC O26 in the clinical and veterinary setting has coincided with the development of novel techniques that have improved our ability to detect and characterize this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jenkins
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, NW3 2QG, London, UK.
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41
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Aktan I, Carter B, Wilking H, La Ragione RM, Wieler L, Woodward MJ, Anjum MF. Influence of geographical origin, host animal and stx gene on the virulence characteristics of Escherichia coli O26 strains. J Med Microbiol 2008; 56:1431-1439. [PMID: 17965341 DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.47311-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of geographical origin, host animal and presence of the stx gene on the virulence of Escherichia coli O26 strains from ruminants was determined in this study. A clear association was found between the virulence profile and geographical origin of Shiga-toxigenic E. coli (STEC) O26 strains, with UK STEC O26 strains harbouring virtually identical profiles, whilst central European strains showed considerable heterogeneity in plasmid-encoded genes. The former group were also more likely to be non-motile and katP gene positive. Comparison of UK STEC and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC) O26 strains showed that the presence of the stx1 gene was positively correlated with the presence of espP and katP genes and negatively associated with the presence of the yagP-yagT region and with rhamnose fermentation. In contrast to the uniform profiles of STEC O26 strains from ruminants in the UK, aEPEC O26 strains of bovine and ovine origin showed diverse profiles both within and between groups, and could not be separated into discrete groups. These results indicate that the characteristics of UK O26 strains from ruminants are distinct from those of O26 strains from ruminants and humans in other regions in central Europe. Such differences are expected to influence the zoonotic potential of this pathogen and the subsequent incidence of O26-associated human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilknur Aktan
- Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK.,Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Neston, South Wirral CH64 7TE, UK
| | - Ben Carter
- Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Hendrik Wilking
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Free University Berlin, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Roberto M La Ragione
- Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Lothar Wieler
- Institute of Microbiology and Epizootics, Free University Berlin, D-10115 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin J Woodward
- Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
| | - Muna F Anjum
- Department of Food and Environmental Safety, Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA), Weybridge, Woodham Lane, New Haw, Addlestone, Surrey KT15 3NB, UK
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42
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Heinikainen S, Pohjanvirta T, Eklund M, Siitonen A, Pelkonen S. Tracing shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli O103, O145, and O174 infections from farm residents to cattle. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:3817-20. [PMID: 17804658 PMCID: PMC2168472 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00198-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe diarrheal infections caused by Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli O103:H2:stx(1):eae-epsilon:ehx, O145:H28:stx(1):eae-gamma:ehx (two cases in a family), and O174:H21:stx(2c) in farm residents were traced to cattle. Molecular methods were applied to the isolation and characterization of the strains. The causative strains were also isolated from cattle samples 1 or 4 months later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirpa Heinikainen
- Department of Animal Diseases and Food Safety Research, Evira, Finnish Food Safety Authority, Kuopio Research Unit, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland.
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Sales J, Vali L, Hoyle DV, Yates CM, Amyes SGB, McKendrick IJ. The interaction between dam methylation sites and Xba1 restriction digest sites in Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933. J Appl Microbiol 2007; 102:820-5. [PMID: 17309632 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.03115.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the reason for the predicted pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern for the sequenced Escherichia coli O157:H7 EDL933 (EDL933) being different from that observed in practice, using the restriction enzyme Xba1. METHODS AND RESULTS Primers were designed that flanked either side of each of the predicted Xba1 restriction sites, and the resultant PCR products were sequenced. No sequencing errors were found in the published genome. The distribution of dam methylation sites within the genome was investigated, and a new PFGE pattern was predicted by assuming that any Xba1 restriction site that coincided with a dam methylation site would not be cut. The estimated mean band sizes were obtained from six replicate gels. It was found that the observed and predicted PFGE patterns were in good agreement. CONCLUSIONS The difference between the observed and the predicted PFGE patterns for EDL933, using Xba1, could be accounted for by assuming that the methylated restriction sites were not cut. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY PFGE is commonly used as a subtyping method. This study provides additional information about the basic technique that could enhance the interpretation of PFGE patterns in comparative studies of the E. coli isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Sales
- Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland, Edinburgh, UK.
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Hussein HS. Prevalence and pathogenicity of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in beef cattle and their products1,2. J Anim Sci 2007; 85:E63-72. [PMID: 17060419 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2006-421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 234] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
During the past 23 yr, a large number of human illness outbreaks have been traced worldwide to consumption of undercooked ground beef and other beef products contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Although several routes exist for human infection with STEC, beef remains a main source. Thus, beef cattle are considered reservoirs of O157 and nonO157 STEC. Because of the global nature of the food supply, safety concerns with beef will continue, and the challenges facing the beef industry will increase at the production and processing levels. To be prepared to address these concerns and challenges, it is critical to assess the beef cattle role in human infection with STEC. Because most STEC outbreaks in the United States were traced to beef containing E. coli O157:H7, the epidemiological studies have focused on the prevalence of this serotype in beef and beef cattle. Worldwide, however, additional STEC serotypes (e.g., members of the O26, O91, O103, O111, O118, O145, and O166 serogroups) have been isolated from beef and caused human illnesses ranging from bloody diarrhea and hemorrhagic colitis to the life-threatening hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). To provide a global assessment of the STEC problem, published reports on beef and beef cattle in the past 3 decades were evaluated. The prevalence rates of E. coli O157 ranged from 0.1 to 54.2% in ground beef, from 0.1 to 4.4% in sausage, from 1.1 to 36.0% in various retail cuts, and from 0.01 to 43.4% in whole carcasses. The corresponding prevalence rates of nonO157 STEC were 2.4 to 30.0%, 17.0 to 49.2%, 11.4 to 49.6%, and 1.7 to 58.0%, respectively. Of the 162 STEC serotypes isolated from beef products, 43 were detected in HUS patients and 36 are known to cause other human illnesses. With regard to beef cattle, the prevalence rates of E. coli O157 ranged from 0.3 to 19.7% in feedlots and from 0.7 to 27.3% on pasture. The corresponding prevalence rates of nonO157 STEC were 4.6 to 55.9% and 4.7 to 44.8%, respectively. Of the 373 STEC serotypes isolated from cattle feces or hides, 65 were detected in HUS patients and 62 are known to cause other human illnesses. The results indicated the prevalence of a large number of pathogenic STEC in beef and beef cattle at high rates and emphasized the critical need for control measures to assure beef safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- H S Hussein
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, University of Nevada, Reno 89557, USA.
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45
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Vali L, Hamouda A, Hoyle DV, Pearce MC, Whitaker LHR, Jenkins C, Knight HI, Smith AW, Amyes SGB. Antibiotic resistance and molecular epidemiology of Escherichia coli O26, O103 and O145 shed by two cohorts of Scottish beef cattle. J Antimicrob Chemother 2007; 59:403-10. [PMID: 17289773 DOI: 10.1093/jac/dkl491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to identify the profile of antibiotic resistance among E. coli O26, O103 and O145 in two cohorts of Scottish beef cattle on two farms and to determine whether there is an association between resistant phenotypes and the genotypic PFGE patterns to suggest clonality among resistant strains. METHODS MICs of 11 antibiotics for 297 E. coli O26, 152 E. coli O103 and 13 E. coli O145 were determined. Isolates were screened for the presence integrons 1 and 2 and the virulence factors stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehxA by PCR with specific primers. PFGE subtyping was performed after digestion with XbaI endonuclease. RESULTS Among E. coli O26, O103 and O145 there were four, four and one isolates, respectively, that harboured a class 1 integron. A class 2 integron was detected in only one O145 isolate. Diversity in PFGE patterns was higher among E. coli O103 and O145 strains compared with the O26 serotype; and PFGE demonstrated 13, 27 and 6 different patterns among O26, O103 and O145 isolates, respectively. Selective PFGE types that harboured virulence factors were widespread among the cattle population throughout the sampling period. There were multiply resistant isolates that were of similar PFGE patterns. CONCLUSIONS The dissemination and persistence of certain PFGE genotypes among the cattle population was evident in this study. Certain resistance phenotypes, especially among E. coli O26 isolates, were associated with distinct PFGE clones.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leila Vali
- Molecular Chemotherapy, Centre for Infectious Diseases, The Chancellor's Building, 49 Little France Crescent, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, UK
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Vali L, Hamouda A, Pearce MC, Knight HI, Evans J, Amyes SGB. Detection of genetic diversity by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis among Escherichia coli O157 isolated from bovine faecal samples by immunomagnetic separation technique. Lett Appl Microbiol 2007; 44:19-23. [PMID: 17209809 DOI: 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2006.02034.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Escherichia coli O157 is considered to be one of most important human pathogens of animal origin which causes serious clinical complications. One of the most common methods to isolate E. coli O157 is the immunomagnetic separation (IMS) technique which employs specific antibodies coupled to magnetic beads to bind and extract cells from enrichment broths followed by plating onto sorbitol MacConkey agar supplemented with cefixime and potassium tellurite (CT-SMAC) plates. The aim of this study was to determine strain variation by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) among E. coli O157 on IMS/CT-SMAC plates. METHODS AND RESULTS Every suspect colony of E. coli O157 was tested following isolation by the IMS/CT-SMAC technique. From 124 colonies detected; six XbaI-PFGE profiles were identified. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that mixed populations of E. coli O157 with distinguishable PFGE profiles that are simultaneously present in bovine faeces can be isolated with IMS/CT-SMAC technique. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY If the aim of the study was to analyse diversity of PFGE profiles of E. coli O157 in a faecal sample following isolation by the IMS/CT-SMAC technique, at least five colonies per sample should be analysed to detect different PFGE subtypes if present.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Vali
- Molecular Chemotherapy, Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
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47
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Aktan I, La Ragione RM, Woodward MJ. Colonization, persistence, and tissue tropism of Escherichia coli O26 in conventionally reared weaned lambs. Appl Environ Microbiol 2006; 73:691-8. [PMID: 17158624 PMCID: PMC1800784 DOI: 10.1128/aem.01879-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O26 is recognized as an emerging pathogen associated with disease in both ruminants and humans. Compared to those of E. coli O157:H7, the shedding pattern and location of E. coli O26 in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) of ruminants are poorly understood. In the studies reported here, an stx-negative E. coli O26 strain of ovine origin was inoculated orally into 6-week-old lambs and the shedding pattern of the O26 strain was monitored by serial bacteriological examination of feces. The location of colonization in the GIT was examined at necropsy at two time points. The numbers of O26 organisms excreted in feces declined from approximately 10(7) to 10(4) CFU per gram of feces by day 7 and continued at this level for a further 3 weeks. Beyond day 30, excretion was from few animals, intermittent, and just above the detection limit. By day 38, all fecal samples were negative, but at necropsy, O26 organisms were recovered from the upper GIT, specifically the ileum. However, no attaching-effacing (AE) lesions were observed. To identify the location of E. coli O26 within the GIT early after inoculation, two lambs were examined postmortem, 4 days postinoculation. High numbers of O26 organisms were recovered from all GIT sites examined, and approximately 10(9) CFU were recovered from 1 gram of ileal tissue from one animal. Despite high numbers of O26 organisms, AE lesions were identified on the mucosa of the ascending colon of only one animal. These data indicate that E. coli O26 readily colonizes 6-week-old lambs, but the sparseness of AE lesions suggests that O26 is well adapted to this host, and mechanisms other than those dependent upon intimin may play a role in persistence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilknur Aktan
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Science and Animal Husbandry, University of Liverpool, Neston, United Kingdom.
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Halliday JEB, Chase-Topping ME, Pearce MC, McKendrick IJ, Allison L, Fenlon D, Low C, Mellor DJ, Gunn GJ, Woolhouse MEJ. Herd-level risk factors associated with the presence of Phage type 21/28 E. coli O157 on Scottish cattle farms. BMC Microbiol 2006; 6:99. [PMID: 17140453 PMCID: PMC1713242 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2180-6-99] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2006] [Accepted: 12/02/2006] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background E. coli O157 is a bacterial pathogen that is shed by cattle and can cause severe disease in humans. Phage type (PT) 21/28 is a subtype of E. coli O157 that is found across Scotland and is associated with particularly severe human morbidity. Methods A cross-sectional survey of Scottish cattle farms was conducted in the period Feb 2002-Feb 2004 to determine the prevalence of E. coli O157 in cattle herds. Data from 88 farms on which E. coli O157 was present were analysed using generalised linear mixed models to identify risk factors for the presence of PT 21/28 specifically. Results The analysis identified private water supply, and northerly farm location as risk factors for PT 21/28 presence. There was a significant association between the presence of PT 21/28 and an increased number of E. coli O157 positive pat samples from a farm, and PT 21/28 was significantly associated with larger E. coli O157 counts than non-PT 21/28 E. coli O157. Conclusion PT 21/28 has significant risk factors that distinguish it from other phage types of E. coli O157. This finding has implications for the control of E. coli O157 as a whole and suggests that control could be tailored to target the locally dominant PT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo EB Halliday
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Margo E Chase-Topping
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JF, UK
| | - Michael C Pearce
- Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Health Group, Research Division, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Iain J McKendrick
- Biomathematics & Statistics Scotland, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JZ, UK
| | - Lesley Allison
- Scottish E. coli O157 Reference Laboratory, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Dave Fenlon
- Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Health Group, Research Division, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Chris Low
- Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Health Group, Research Division, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Dominic J Mellor
- Comparative Epidemiology & Informatics, Institute of Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow, G61 1QH, UK
| | - George J Gunn
- Scottish Agricultural College, Animal Health Group, Research Division, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JG, UK
| | - Mark EJ Woolhouse
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, University of Edinburgh, Ashworth Laboratories, King's Buildings, West Mains Road, Edinburgh, EH9 3JF, UK
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Ogura Y, Ooka T, Whale A, Garmendia J, Beutin L, Tennant S, Krause G, Morabito S, Chinen I, Tobe T, Abe H, Tozzoli R, Caprioli A, Rivas M, Robins-Browne R, Hayashi T, Frankel G. TccP2 of O157:H7 and non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC): challenging the dogma of EHEC-induced actin polymerization. Infect Immun 2006; 75:604-12. [PMID: 17101643 PMCID: PMC1828498 DOI: 10.1128/iai.01491-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) trigger actin polymerization at the site of bacterial adhesion by inducing different signaling pathways. Actin assembly by EPEC requires tyrosine phosphorylation of Tir, which subsequently binds the host adaptor protein Nck. In contrast, Tir(EHEC O157) is not tyrosine phosphorylated and instead of Nck utilizes the bacterially encoded Tir-cytoskeleton coupling protein (TccP)/EspF(U), which mimics the function of Nck. tccP is carried on prophage CP-933U/Sp14 (TccP). Typical isolates of EHEC O157:H7 harbor a pseudo-tccP gene that is carried on prophage CP-933 M/Sp4 (tccP2). Here we report that atypical, beta-glucuronidase-positive and sorbitol-fermenting, strains of EHEC O157 harbor intact tccP and tccP2 genes, both of which are secreted by the LEE-encoded type III secretion system. Non-O157 EHEC strains, including O26, O103, O111, and O145, are typically tccP negative and translocate a Tir protein that encompasses an Nck binding site. Unexpectedly, we found that most clinical non-O157 EHEC isolates carry a functional tccP2 gene that encodes a secreted protein that can complement an EHEC O157:H7 DeltatccP mutant. Using discriminatory, allele-specific PCR, we have demonstrated that over 90% of tccP2-positive non-O157 EHEC strains contain a Tir protein that can be tyrosine phosphorylated. These results suggest that the TccP pathway can be used by both O157 and non-O157 EHEC and that non-O157 EHEC can also trigger actin polymerization via the Nck pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoshitoshi Ogura
- Division of Cell and Molecular Biology, Flowers Building, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
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50
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Abstract
The objective of this review is to highlight the importance of cattle in human disease due to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and to discuss features of STEC that are important in human disease. Healthy dairy and beef cattle are a major reservoir of a diverse group of STEC that infects humans through contamination of food and water, as well as through direct contact. Infection of humans by STEC may result in combinations of watery diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Systems of serotyping, subtyping, and virulence typing of STEC are used to aid in epidemiology, diagnosis, and pathogenesis studies. Severe disease and outbreaks of disease are most commonly due to serotype O157:H7, which, like most other highly pathogenic STEC, colonize the large intestine by means of a characteristic attaching and effacing lesion. This lesion is induced by a bacterial type III secretion system that injects effector proteins into the intestinal epithelial cell, resulting in profound changes in the architecture and metabolism of the host cell and intimate adherence of the bacteria. Severe disease in the form of bloody diarrhea and the hemolytic uremic syndrome is attributable to Shiga toxin (Stx), which exists as 2 major types, Stx1 and Stx2. The stx genes are encoded on temperate bacteriophages in the chromosome of the bacteria, and production and release of the toxin are highly dependent on induction of the phages. Regulation of the genes involved in induction of the attaching and effacing lesion, and production of Stx is complex. In addition to these genes that are clearly implicated in virulence, there are several putative virulence factors. A major public health goal is to prevent STEC-induced disease in humans. Studies aimed at understanding factors that affect carriage and shedding of STEC by cattle and factors that contribute to development of disease in humans are considered to be important in achieving this objective.
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Affiliation(s)
- C L Gyles
- Department of Pathobiology, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, N1G 2W1.
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