title: Escherichia coli O 27 in adult diarrhoea.
abstract: Escherichia coli O 27 H 7 was found in 16 stool samples submitted during a Caribbean cruise (Cruise Z) by 29 patients reporting with diarrhoea. A retrospective search revealed E. coli O 27 H 7 in 11 of 20 and 2 of 14 stool cultures from patients on two previous cruises (Y and X respectively) and in a culture from fresh cream (Cruise Y). The repeated occurrence of E. coli O 27 H 7 in the absence of any other apparent cause suggested that this serotype may have been responsible for the diarrhoea. The results of pathogenicity tests suggested that this strain elaborated heat-stable (ST) enterotoxin. The possibility that food may have been the vector is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D003611:Dairy Products; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D012703:Serotyping; D012767:Ships; D014195:Travel; D014900:West Indies
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial