Characterization of necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) strains isolated from healthy calves in Poland.
Faecal samples from 132 healthy, 4-8-week-old calves from four different farms were examined for necrotoxigenic Escherichia coli (NTEC) producing the cytotoxic necrotizing factors type 1 (CNF1) and type 2 (CNF2). CNF2 genes were detected by polymerase chain reaction in 24 (6.1%) of the 396 E. coli strains tested; these strains were found in 18 (13.6%) calves used in the study. None of the 396 E. coli isolates examined possessed the gene encoding CNF1. Overall, 28.8% of E. coli examined expressed the F17 fimbrial antigen. A strong association between CNF2 toxin and F17 fimbriae was found (62.5% of CNF2-positive strains were F17-positive). Moreover, six out of 24 NTEC strains had the Stx1 or the Stx2 shiga toxin genes, and three additional isolates possessed the eae genetic marker of the intimin protein.
Osek
J
J
Department of Microbiology, National Veterinary Research Institute, Pulawy, Poland. josek@piwet.pulawy.pl
D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D003603:Cytotoxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D011044:Poland; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000662:veterinary; D014774:Virulence
D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D003603:Cytotoxins; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C086995:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 2; C060296:cytotoxic necrotizing factor type 1