title: Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in Sheffield: cattle as a possible source.
abstract: During 1986 and 1987, faecal samples from patients with haemorrhagic colitis (HC) or haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) were examined for evidence of infection by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). During the 2-year period VTEC infections were found in 31 (78%) of 40 patients initially presenting with HC, and in 5 (63%) of 8 patients initially presenting with HUS. VTEC were found in only 2 (0.9%) of 229 age and sex matched control patients with acute non-bloody diarrhoea. All but one VTEC belonged to E. coli serogroup O 157. During 1987 this serogroup was isolated from 2 (1%) of 207 samples of faeces taken from cattle arriving at a Sheffield abattoir, indicating a possible source of these infections for man. We are unaware of previous reports of isolation of this organism from cattle in England.
authors.affiliation: Public Health Laboratory, Northern General Hospital, Sheffield.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Norman
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000032:analysis*; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003093:Colitis, Ulcerative / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1