Experimental Infection of Calves with Escherichia coli O104:H4 outbreak strain.
In 2011, a severe outbreak of hemolytic-uremic syndrome was caused by an unusual, highly virulent enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O104:H4 strain, which possessed EHEC virulence traits in the genetic background of human-adapted enteroaggregative E. coli. To determine magnitude of fecal shedding and site of colonization of EHEC O104:H4 in a livestock host, 30 (ten/strain) weaned calves were inoculated with 10(10) CFU of EHEC O104:H4, EHEC O157:H7 (positive control) or E. coli strain 123 (negative control) and necropsied (4 or 28 d.p.i.). E. coli O157:H7 was recovered until 28 d.p.i. and O104:H4 until 24 d.p.i. At 4 d.p.i., EHEC O104:H4 was isolated from intestinal content and detected associated with the intestinal mucosa. These results are the first evidence that cattle, the most important EHEC reservoir, can also carry unusual EHEC strains at least transiently, questioning our current understanding of the molecular basis of host adaptation of this important E. coli pathovar.
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Hamm
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Barth
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Stalb
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Geue
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Liebler-Tenorio
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Teifke
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Lange
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Department of Experimental Animal Facilities and Biorisk Management, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Tauscher
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Infectology, Südufer 10, 17493 Greifswald - Insel Riems, Germany.
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Kotterba
Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 41, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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Bielaszewska
Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Robert-Koch-Straße 41, 48149 Münster, Germany.
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Karch
Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Institute of Molecular Pathogenesis, Naumburger Str. 96a, 07743 Jena, Germany.
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Menge
D000818:Animals; D001422:Bacterial Adhesion; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D000069981:Escherichia coli O104 / Q000472:pathogenicity / Q000502:physiology*; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology