Isolation and characterization of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:1H7 from cattle in Belgium and Poland.
EHEC O157 were isolated from faeces of Belgian and Polish beef slaughter cattle. In Belgium, 1281 faecal samples were analysed by immunomagnetic separation [IMS] after enrichment in buffered peptone water from June 1998 till July 1999. Eighty-one samples (6.3%) were positive for E. coli O157. Phage type 8 was most frequently found. Bulls between 1 and 2 years old, slaughtered in September and October were most frequently found positive. Atypical biochemical features were observed in some isolates: 22 (27%) isolates were urease positive and 1 (1.2%) isolate was unable to ferment lactose. In Poland, 551 faecal samples, taken from January 1999 till December 1999, were examined using exactly the same techniques. Four faecal samples (0.7%) were positive for O157 EHEC, yielding seven phage type 8 isolates. All positive samples were from cattle younger than 2 years. Positive samples occurred in August, September and October.
Tutenel
A V
AV
Department of Veterinary Food Inspection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
Pierard
D
D
Uradzinski
J
J
Jozwik
E
E
Pastuszczak
M
M
Van Hende
J
J
Uyttendaele
M
M
Debevere
J
J
Cheasty
T
T
Van Hoof
J
J
De Zutter
L
L
D000818:Animals; D001530:Belgium; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D011044:Poland; D015995:Prevalence