Characterization of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from calves in Poland.
Fecal samples from 67 3-5-months-old calves with diarrhea were screened for the presence of shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Several accessory virulence factors genes were also tested. Among 192 E. coli isolates tested, 15 (7.6%) were found to harbour the shiga toxin 1 or 2 (stx1 or stx2) genes. The stx2-carrying samples were further subtyped by PCR for the stx2c, stx2d, and stx2e toxin variants. It was shown that stx2-positive bacteria mainly possessed the stx2c shiga toxin type gene. The enterohemolysin (hlyA) and intimin (eae) genes were found in seven (46.7%) STEC strains whereas the cytotoxic necrotizin factor 1 and 2 or the P fimbrial genes were detected in two isolates only. This study confirmed that calves are a reservoir of STEC strains (with all pathogenicity genes) that may be virulent for humans.
Osek
J
J
National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawv, Poland. josek@piwet.pulawy.pl
Gallien
P
P
Protz
D
D
D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors; D000372:Agglutination Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000662:veterinary; D004587:Electrophoresis, Agar Gel / Q000662:veterinary; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005243:Feces / Q000737:chemistry; D010861:Fimbriae, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011044:Poland / Q000453:epidemiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D015995:Prevalence; D014176:Protein Biosynthesis; D011506:Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D014774:Virulence
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D020690:GTPase-Activating Proteins; D006460:Hemolysin Proteins; D011506:Proteins; D022622:Shiga Toxin 1; D022641:Shiga Toxin 2; C086995:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 2; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1; C410332:ASAP2 protein, human; D020727:ADP-Ribosylation Factors