Sporadic cases of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome associated with faecal cytotoxin and cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in stools.
A cytotoxin active on Vero cells, less active on hela cells, and inactive on WI38 cells (Vero toxin [VT]) was detected in stool isolates of Escherichia coli from 8 of 15 sporadic cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Stools from 5 of these 8 patients were examined for faecal VT activity, and all were positive. Of the 7 of 15 patients who did not have VT+ E. coli, 2 were positive for faecal VT, and a third (patient K) had strong serological evidence of VT+ E. coli infection. 2 HUS patients, including patient F, had siblings with uncomplicated diarrhoea who had both VT+ E. coli in the stools and faecal VT activity. Thus 11 of 15 (73%) of the HUS cases had evidence of infection by VT+ E. coli, suggesting that there was an association between these organisms and these cases of HUS. The clustering of 2 HUS patients and their siblings with VT+ E. coli accords with this suggestion, as do the rising titres of VT-neutralising antibody in 2 HUS patients.
D000906:Antibodies / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000276:immunology; D003968:Diarrhea, Infantile / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology*; D005260:Female; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012703:Serotyping
D000906:Antibodies; D003603:Cytotoxins