title: Cytolethal distending toxins in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: alleles, serotype distribution and biological effects.
abstract: To assess the prevalence of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), 202 STEC strains were investigated using PCRs targeting various cdt alleles (cdt-I to cdt-V). Seven of the 202 strains contained cdt-III and an additional seven contained cdt-V. All 14 cdt-positive strains produced biologically active CDT, as demonstrated by a progressive distension of cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. The CDT-positive STEC belonged to eight different serotypes, including sorbitol-fermenting O157 : NM (non-motile). The data demonstrate that CDT is present in some STEC serotypes only. However, more studies are required to evaluate whether CDT presence is associated with severe disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University and Austrian Reference Laboratory for Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Schöpfstr. 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Dorothea
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Orth
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University and Austrian Reference Laboratory for Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Schöpfstr. 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Katharina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Grif
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University and Austrian Reference Laboratory for Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Schöpfstr. 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Manfred P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Dierich
authors.affiliation: Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University and Austrian Reference Laboratory for Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Schöpfstr. 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Würzner
mesh_terms: D000483:Alleles; D000818:Animals; D001427:Bacterial Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D016466:CHO Cells; D002417:Cattle; D006224:Cricetinae; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012703:Serotyping; D022603:Shiga Toxins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D001427:Bacterial Toxins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D022603:Shiga Toxins; C067044:cytolethal distending toxin