title: Survival of Escherichia coli O157 in a soil protozoan: implications for disease.
abstract: Intra-protozoal growth of bacterial pathogens has been associated with increased environmental survival, virulence and resistance to biocides and antibiotics. Using laboratory microcosms we have shown that Escherichia coli O157 survives and replicates in a common environmental protozoan, Acanthamoeba polyphaga. As protozoa are widely distributed in soils and effluents, they may constitute an important environmental reservoir for transmission of E. coli O157 and other pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Pharmaceutical Sciences Institute, School of Life and Health Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barker
authors.forename: T J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Humphrey
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000382:microbiology*; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000378:metabolism; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D012987:Soil
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D012987:Soil