Distribution of the saa gene in strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli of human and bovine origins.
Certain strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) which do not have the locus of enterocyte effacement pathogenicity island carry the STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) gene. The distribution of the saa gene in STEC isolates from patients with hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), patients with less severe diarrheal disease, asymptomatic individuals, and healthy cattle was examined. saa-positive strains were detected more frequently (P < 0.001) in STEC strains from bovines (32 of 56 strains) than in those from humans (8 of 91 strains). No significant association (P = 0.135) was found between the saa gene and STEC isolated from patients with HUS (6 of 46 strains) or diarrhea (2 of 29 strains) and from healthy controls (0 of 16 strains).
Jenkins
Claire
C
Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, London NW9 5HT, United Kingdom. cjenkins@phls.org.uk
Perry
Neil T
NT
Cheasty
Tom
T
Shaw
Darren J
DJ
Frankel
Gad
G
Dougan
Gordon
G
Gunn
George J
GJ
Smith
Henry R
HR
Paton
Adrienne W
AW
Paton
James C
JC
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle / Q000382:microbiology*; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000382:microbiology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006463:Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; C439650:SAA protein, E coli; D022603:Shiga Toxins