Haemorrhagic colitis and Vero-cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in England and Wales.
Vero-cytotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli (VTEC) were identified by the use of DNA probes in 39% of faecal samples from patients with haemorrhagic colitis in England and Wales. The patients with VTEC were distributed widely and their ages ranged from 2.5 to 86 years (mean 41). 3 patients died, including a child of 2.5 years. 30 of the 32 VTEC strains belonged to serogroup O157. Plating on sorbitol agar for non-fermenters followed by agglutination with a specific O157 antiserum was a useful screening method for O157 VT+ strains. However, it was not as sensitive as the DNA probe technique and did not detect VTEC of other serogroups.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000818:Animals; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003092:Colitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004739:England; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D014709:Vero Cells; D014852:Wales
D003603:Cytotoxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial