title: Isolation and characterization of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:1H7 from cattle in Belgium and Poland.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Food Inspection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium.
authors.forename: A V
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Tutenel
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pierard
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Uradzinski
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jozwik
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pastuszczak
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hende
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uyttendaele
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Debevere
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Cheasty
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Van Hoof
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: De Zutter
mesh_terms: 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