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Mezzetti M, Passamonti MM, Dall’Asta M, Bertoni G, Trevisi E, Ajmone Marsan P. Emerging Parameters Justifying a Revised Quality Concept for Cow Milk. Foods 2024; 13:1650. [PMID: 38890886 PMCID: PMC11171858 DOI: 10.3390/foods13111650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Milk has become a staple food product globally. Traditionally, milk quality assessment has been primarily focused on hygiene and composition to ensure its safety for consumption and processing. However, in recent years, the concept of milk quality has expanded to encompass a broader range of factors. Consumers now also consider animal welfare, environmental impact, and the presence of additional beneficial components in milk when assessing its quality. This shifting consumer demand has led to increased attention on the overall production and sourcing practices of milk. Reflecting on this trend, this review critically explores such novel quality parameters, offering insights into how such practices meet the modern consumer's holistic expectations. The multifaceted aspects of milk quality are examined, revealing the intertwined relationship between milk safety, compositional integrity, and the additional health benefits provided by milk's bioactive properties. By embracing sustainable farming practices, dairy farmers and processors are encouraged not only to fulfill but to anticipate consumer standards for premium milk quality. This comprehensive approach to milk quality underscores the necessity of adapting dairy production to address the evolving nutritional landscape and consumption patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matteo Mezzetti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Matilde Maria Passamonti
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Margherita Dall’Asta
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Giuseppe Bertoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
| | - Erminio Trevisi
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
- Romeo and Enrica Invernizzi Research Center for Sustainable Dairy Production of the Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore (CREI), 29122 Piacenza, Italy
| | - Paolo Ajmone Marsan
- Dipartimento di Scienze Animali, della Nutrizione e degli Alimenti (DIANA), Facoltà di Scienze Agrarie, Alimentari e Ambientali, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 29122 Piacenza, Italy; (M.M.); (M.M.P.); (M.D.); (G.B.); (E.T.)
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Lee W, Ha J, Choi J, Jung Y, Kim E, An ES, Kim SH, Shin H, Ryu S, Kim SH, Kim HY. Genetic and virulence characteristics of hybrid Shiga toxin-producing and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli strains isolated in South Korea. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1398262. [PMID: 38812694 PMCID: PMC11133561 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1398262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/31/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The predominant hybrid pathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), combines characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), contributing to global outbreaks with severe symptoms including fatal consequences. Since EHEC infection was designated as a notifiable disease in 2000 in South Korea, around 2000 cases have been reported, averaging approximately 90 cases annually. Aim In this work, genome-based characteristic analysis and cell-based assay of hybrid STEC/aEPEC strains isolated from livestock feces, animal source foods, and water in South Korea was performed. Methods To identify the virulence and antimicrobial resistance genes, determining the phylogenetic position of hybrid STEC/aEPEC strains isolated in South Korea, a combination of real-time PCR and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was used. Additionally, to assess the virulence of the hybrid strains and compare them with genomic characterization, we performed a cell cytotoxicity and invasion assays. Results The hybrid STEC/aEPEC strains harbored stx and eae genes, encoding Shiga toxins and E. coli attachment/effacement related protein of STEC and EPEC, respectively. Furthermore, all hybrid strains harbored plasmid-carried enterohemolysin(ehxCABD), a key virulence factor in prevalent pathogenic E. coli infections, such as diarrheal disease and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Genome-wide phylogenetic analysis revealed a close association between all hybrid strains and specific EPEC strains, suggesting the potential acquisition of Stx phages during STEC/aEPEC hybrid formation. Some hybrid strains showed cytotoxic activity against HeLa cells and invasive properties against epithelial cells. Notably, all STEC/aEPEC hybrids with sequence type (ST) 1,034 (n = 11) exhibited higher invasiveness than those with E2348/69. This highlights the importance of investigating potential correlations between STs and virulence characteristics of E. coli hybrid strains. Conclusion Through genome-based characterization, we confirmed that the hybrid STEC/aEPEC strains are likely EPEC strains that have acquired STEC virulence genes via phage. Furthermore, our results emphasize the potential increased danger to humans posed by hybrid STEC/aEPEC strains isolated in South Korea, containing both stx and eaeA, compared to STEC or EPEC alone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Woojung Lee
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
- Institute of Life Sciences & Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Jina Ha
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaehyun Choi
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Yewon Jung
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Eiseul Kim
- Institute of Life Sciences & Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Sook An
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Seung Hwan Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hakdong Shin
- Department of Biotechnology, and Carbohydrate Bioproduct Research Center, Sejong University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangryeol Ryu
- Department of Food and Animal Biotechnology, Research Institute of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Department of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- Center for Food and Bioconvergence, Seoul National University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Soon Han Kim
- Division of Food Microbiology, National Institute of Food and Drug Safety Evaluation, Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, Cheongju, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae-Yeong Kim
- Institute of Life Sciences & Resources and Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Republic of Korea
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Zhang Y, Xu Q, Hou J, Huang G, Zhao S, Zheng N, Wang J. Loss of bioactive microRNAs in cow's milk by ultra-high-temperature treatment but not by pasteurization treatment. JOURNAL OF THE SCIENCE OF FOOD AND AGRICULTURE 2022; 102:2676-2685. [PMID: 34689341 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 08/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Milk microRNA (miRNA) with bioactivity is beneficial for human health. However, the effect of heat treatment on miRNA in milk is still not clear. In this study, the miRNAs in raw (RM), pasteurized (PM) and ultra-high-temperature (UHT) milk (UM) from the same batch were extracted, sequenced and analyzed. RESULTS The results showed that there was a significant difference in miRNAs between RM and UM, but not between RM and PM. The total read counts of milk miRNAs were significantly decreased by heat treatment, with the least counts in UM (P < 0.05). The average length and GC percentage of miRNAs were significantly reduced by heat treatment (P < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in these terms between RM and PM. The content of miRNAs was verified by qPCR, finding that miR-17-5p, miR-25, miR-27b and miR-9-5p were significantly reduced in UM (P < 0.05) but not significantly affected in PM (except miR-27b). In addition, the targeting gene ontology enrichment functions of the different presented miRNAs were mostly enriched in biological process, cellular component and molecular function. The top 20 enriched miRNAs with different levels in heat-treated milk were identified by the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis. Interestingly, most of the functions of these miRNA targeting genes are involved in cancer or inflammation activity. CONCLUSION This study revealed that the bioactive miRNA in RM was lost after UHT treatment but not in pasteurized treatment. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangdong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qingbiao Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinxiu Hou
- College of Animal Sciences and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guoxin Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shengguo Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nan Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition, Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
- Ministry of Agriculture Milk Risk Assessment Laboratory, Institute of Animal Sciences, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, China
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ZHAO Y, TALHA M. Evaluation of food safety problems based on the fuzzy comprehensive analysis method. FOOD SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1590/fst.47321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yingwen ZHAO
- Guizhou Rural Economy and Culture Institute, China
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Koutsoumanis K, Allende A, Alvarez‐Ordóñez A, Bover‐Cid S, Chemaly M, Davies R, De Cesare A, Herman L, Hilbert F, Lindqvist R, Nauta M, Peixe L, Ru G, Simmons M, Skandamis P, Suffredini E, Jenkins C, Monteiro Pires S, Morabito S, Niskanen T, Scheutz F, da Silva Felício MT, Messens W, Bolton D. Pathogenicity assessment of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and the public health risk posed by contamination of food with STEC. EFSA J 2020. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2020.5967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
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Balgradean M, Croitoru A, Leibovitz E. An outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome in southern Romania during 2015-2016: Epidemiologic, clinical, laboratory, microbiologic, therapeutic and outcome characteristics. Pediatr Neonatol 2019; 60:87-94. [PMID: 29807724 DOI: 10.1016/j.pedneo.2018.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Revised: 03/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/30/2018] [Indexed: 10/17/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS To describe the epidemiologic, clinical, microbiological, therapeutic and outcome characteristics of a HUS outbreak occurring in southern Romania from 2015 to 2016. METHODS We retrospectively collected data from the medical records of all HUS cases hospitalized at the pediatric nephrology department of Marie Curie Children's Hospital of Bucharest, Romania. RESULTS There were 32 HUS cases (19 girls/13 boys, 87.6% <2 years), all associated with diarrhea (bloody in 13, 40.6%). Thirteen (40.6%) and 4 (12.5%) patients had oliguria and anuria at admission. Extreme pallor, generalized edema, vomiting, dehydration, fever and seizures were found in 100%, 56.3%, 31.3%, 31.3%, 25% and 9.4% of patients, respectively. E. coli and STEC were identified in the stools of 6 and 8 patients, respectively; E. coli O26 and O157 infection were documented serologically in 10 and 3 children, respectively. There were 15/32 (46.9%) patients with confirmed HUS. Eighteen (56.3%) patients were hypertensive; other complications included infections, left ventricular hypertrophy, cardiopulmonary arrest, seizures and encephalopathy in 62.5%, 37.5%, 28.3%, 18.8% and 12.5%, respectively. Peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis were performed in 23 (72%) and 2 patients, respectively. Three patients (9.4%) died early during hospitalization. A 6-12-month follow-up of 26 patients revealed that 65.4% had post-HUS sequelae (persistent hypertension and chronic renal failure in 34.6% and 30.8%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS The principal STEC serotype involved was O26:H11 and the number of confirmed HUS cases reached half of the patients. Compared with the medical literature, this outbreak had a higher rate of complications and renal sequelae and was associated with a high fatality rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mihaela Balgradean
- Nephrology & Dialysis Department, Children's Emergency Hospital " M. S. Curie", "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Anca Croitoru
- Nephrology & Dialysis Department, Children's Emergency Hospital " M. S. Curie", "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania
| | - Eugene Leibovitz
- Pediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Soroka University Medical Center, Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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Hazard Identification and Characterization: Criteria for Categorizing Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli on a Risk Basis †. J Food Prot 2019; 82:7-21. [PMID: 30586326 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-18-291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) comprise a large, highly diverse group of strains. Since the emergence of STEC serotype O157:H7 as an important foodborne pathogen, serotype data have been used for identifying STEC strains, and this use continued as other serotypes were implicated in human infections. An estimated 470 STEC serotypes have been identified, which can produce one or more of the 12 known Shiga toxin (Stx) subtypes. The number of STEC serotypes that cause human illness varies but is probably higher than 100. However, many STEC virulence genes are mobile and can be lost or transferred to other bacteria; therefore, STEC strains that have the same serotype may not carry the same virulence genes or pose the same risk. Although serotype information is useful in outbreak investigations and surveillance studies, it is not a reliable means of assessing the human health risk posed by a particular STEC serotype. To contribute to the development of a set of criteria that would more reliably support hazard identification, this review considered each of the factors contributing to a negative human health outcome: mild diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC pathogenesis involves entry into the human gut (often via ingestion), attachment to the intestinal epithelial cells, and elaboration of Stx. Production of Stx, which disrupts normal cellular functions and causes cell damage, alone without adherence of bacterial cells to gut epithelial cells is insufficient to cause severe illness. The principal adherence factor in STEC is the intimin protein coded by the eae gene. The aggregative adherence fimbriae adhesins regulated by the aggR gene of enteroaggregative E. coli strains are also effective adherence factors. The stx2a gene is most often present in locus of enterocyte effacement ( eae)-positive STEC strains and has consistently been associated with HUS. The stx2a gene has also been found in eae-negative, aggR-positive STEC that have caused HUS. HUS cases where other stx gene subtypes were identified indicate that other factors such as host susceptibility and the genetic cocktail of virulence genes in individual isolates may affect their association with severe diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
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- The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Meetings on Microbiological Risk Assessment (JEMRA) Secretariat, * Food Safety and Quality Unit, Agriculture and Consumer Protection Department, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, Viale delle Terme di Caracalla, 00153 Rome, Italy
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Karnisova L, Marejkova M, Hrbackova H, Mellmann A, Karch H, Fruth A, Drevinek P, Blahova K, Bielaszewska M, Nunvar J. Attack of the clones: whole genome-based characterization of two closely related enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26 epidemic lineages. BMC Genomics 2018; 19:647. [PMID: 30170539 PMCID: PMC6119250 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-018-5045-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 08/27/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26:H11/H-, the most common non-O157 serotype causing hemolytic uremic syndrome worldwide, are evolutionarily highly dynamic with new pathogenic clones emerging rapidly. Here, we investigated the population structure of EHEC O26 isolated from patients in several European countries using whole genome sequencing, with emphasis on a detailed analysis of strains of the highly virulent new European clone (nEC) which has spread since 1990s. RESULTS Genome-wide single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based analysis of 32 EHEC O26 isolated in the Czech Republic, Germany, Austria and Italy demonstrated a split of the nEC (ST29C2 clonal group) into two distinct lineages, which we termed, based on their temporal emergence, as "early" nEC and "late" nEC. The evolutionary divergence of the early nEC and late nEC is marked by the presence of 59 and 70 lineage-specific SNPs (synapomorphic mutations) in the genomes of the respective lineages. In silico analyses of publicly available E. coli O26 genomic sequences identified the late nEC lineage worldwide. Using a PCR designed to target the late nEC synapomorphic mutation in the sen/ent gene, we identified the early nEC decline accompanied by the late nEC rise in Germany and the Czech Republic since 2004 and 2013, respectively. Most of the late nEC strains harbor one of two major types of Shiga toxin 2a (Stx2a)-encoding prophages. The type I stx2a-phage is virtually identical to stx2a-phage of EHEC O104:H4 outbreak strain, whereas the type II stx2a-phage is a hybrid of EHEC O104:H4 and EHEC O157:H7 stx2a-phages and carries a novel mutation in Stx2a. Strains harboring these two phage types do not differ by the amounts and biological activities of Stx2a produced. CONCLUSIONS Using SNP-level analyses, we provide the evidence of the evolutionary split of EHEC O26:H11/H- nEC into two distinct lineages, and a recent replacement of the early nEC by the late nEC in Germany and the Czech Republic. PCR targeting the late nEC synapomorphic mutation in ent/sen enables the discrimination of early nEC strains and late nEC strains in clinical and environmental samples, thereby facilitating further investigations of their geographic distribution, prevalence, clinical significance and epidemiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucia Karnisova
- Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Monika Marejkova
- National Reference Laboratory for E. coli and Shigella, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Hana Hrbackova
- Laboratory for Tissue Cultures, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Alexander Mellmann
- Institute for Hygiene and the National Consulting Laboratory on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Helge Karch
- Institute for Hygiene and the National Consulting Laboratory on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, University of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Angelika Fruth
- National Reference Center for Salmonella and Other Enteric Pathogens, Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Pavel Drevinek
- Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Kveta Blahova
- Department of Paediatrics, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Martina Bielaszewska
- National Reference Laboratory for E. coli and Shigella, National Institute of Public Health, Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Jaroslav Nunvar
- Department of Medical Microbiology, 2nd Faculty of Medicine, Charles University and Motol University Hospital, Prague, Czech Republic
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Mylius M, Dreesman J, Pulz M, Pallasch G, Beyrer K, Claußen K, Allerberger F, Fruth A, Lang C, Prager R, Flieger A, Schlager S, Kalhöfer D, Mertens E. Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O103:H2 outbreak in Germany after school trip to Austria due to raw cow milk, 2017 - The important role of international collaboration for outbreak investigations. Int J Med Microbiol 2018; 308:539-544. [PMID: 29884330 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijmm.2018.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Following a school ski-trip to Austria from 10 to 18/02/2017, nine of 25 participants of the group from Lower Saxony (Germany) developed gastroenteritis. The students and teachers (17-41 years) shared meals in a hotel. Active case finding revealed further cases among German school groups from North Rhine-Westphalia and Schleswig-Holstein, staying at the same hotel in February 2017. We conducted two retrospective cohort studies using self-administered questionnaires on clinical symptoms and food consumption. We defined a case as a trip participant in February 2017, staying at the aforementioned hotel and developing diarrhoea, vomiting or abdominal pain during or within ten days after the trip and/or who had a stool sample tested positive for STEC within four weeks after the trip. During the outbreak investigation, Austrian authorities detected that unlabeled raw cow milk delivered by a dairy farm had been offered at the hotel for breakfast during January and February 2017. Stool samples of participants, samples of milk served in the hotel and fecal samples of various animals kept at the milk-delivering farm were examined by culture and polymerase chain reaction. STEC isolates were typed using Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE) and Whole-Genome Sequencing (WGS). All 25 participants from Lower Saxony completed the questionnaire on symptoms and milk consumption; 14 were cases (56%). Thirteen of 20 participants who had consumed cold milk fell ill (risk ratio (RR): 3.25; 95%-confidence interval (CI): 0.55-19.32). Of 159 trip participants from North Rhine-Westphalia, 81 completed the questionnaire (51%), 25 were cases (31%); RR for cold milk was 2.11 (CI: 0.89-5.03). The combined RR for cold milk in both groups was 2.49 (CI: 1.16-5.35). Shiga toxin 1a-gene and eaeA-gene positive STEC O103:H2 were detected in nine of 32 patients' stool samples and in two of 18 dairy farm cattle. Nine isolates from human stool samples and two isolates from cattle fecal samples yielded the same strain with an almost identical PFGE-pattern and WGS-profile. Microbiological and epidemiological evidence identified raw cow milk as the vehicle. Results may have been compromised by misclassification of cases due to a recall bias and mild symptoms. As a result of this outbreak investigation, the Austrian authorities enforced Austrian law in the hotel, to provide milk only when pasteurized. We recommend re-emphasizing the risk of raw milk consumption to providers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maren Mylius
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany; Postgraduate Training for Applied Epidemiology (PAE), Robert Koch Institute, Berlin, Germany; affiliated with the European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training, ECDC, Sweden.
| | - Johannes Dreesman
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany.
| | - Matthias Pulz
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany.
| | | | - Konrad Beyrer
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany.
| | - Katja Claußen
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany.
| | | | - Angelika Fruth
- National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteritic Pathogens, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11), Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany.
| | - Christina Lang
- National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteritic Pathogens, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11), Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Rita Prager
- National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteritic Pathogens, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11), Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Antje Flieger
- National Reference Centre for Salmonella and other Bacterial Enteritic Pathogens, Division of Enteropathogenic Bacteria and Legionella (FG11), Robert Koch Institute, Wernigerode, Germany
| | - Sabine Schlager
- Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES), Graz, Austria.
| | | | - Elke Mertens
- Governmental Institute of Public Health of Lower Saxony (Niedersächsisches Landesgesundheitsamt, NLGA), Hanover, Germany.
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Lajhar SA, Brownlie J, Barlow R. Characterization of biofilm-forming capacity and resistance to sanitizers of a range of E. coli O26 pathotypes from clinical cases and cattle in Australia. BMC Microbiol 2018; 18:41. [PMID: 29739319 PMCID: PMC5941759 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-018-1182-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 04/22/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The formation of biofilms and subsequent encasement of bacterial cells in a complex matrix can enhance resistance to antimicrobials and sterilizing agents making these organisms difficult to eradicate and control. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the capacity of 40 E. coli O26 isolates of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC, n = 27), potential EHEC (pEHEC, n = 3), atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC, n = 8) and non-toxigenic E. coli (NTEC, n = 2) from human and cattle sources to form biofilms on different surfaces, and determine whether extracellular matrix (ECM) components (cellulose, curli), motility, prophage insertion in mlrA and cell surface hydrophobicity could influence biofilm formation. Finally, the influence of biofilm formation on the sensitivity of isolates to quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs; Profoam, Kwiksan 22) and peracetic acid-based sanitizer (Topactive Des.) for 2 min on polystyrene plate were also evaluated. RESULTS Biofilm production on one surface may not indicate biofilm formation on a different surface. Biofilm was formed by different pathotypes on polystyrene (70%), stainless steel (87.5%) and glass slides (95%), however only 50% demonstrated pellicle formation. EHEC isolates were significantly more likely to form a pellicle at the air-liquid interface and biofilms on polystyrene surface at 48 h than aEPEC. Strains that don't produce ECM (curli or cellulose), harbor a prophage insertion in mlrA, and are non-motile have lower biofilm forming capacities than those isolates possessing combinations of these attributes. Hydrophobicity had no impact on biofilm formation. After 2 min exposure, none of the disinfectants tested were able to completely inactivate all cells within a biofilm regardless of pathotypes and the amount of biofilm formed. CONCLUSION Pathotypes of E. coli O26 showed varying capacities to form biofilms, however, most EHEC strains had the capacity to form biofilm on all surfaces and at the air-liquid interface under the conditions used in this study. Biofilms provided a protective effect to E. coli O26 strains against the three sanitizers, previously shown to successfully control the growth of their planktonic counterparts. Whether the characteristics of biofilm forming and non-biofilm forming strains observed in this study reflect their attributes within the food and meat-processing environments is unknown. Further studies that represent the food and meat-processing environments are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma A Lajhar
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,Present address: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia.
| | - Jeremy Brownlie
- School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert Barlow
- Present address: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, Brisbane, QLD, 4108, Australia
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11
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Ogura Y, Gotoh Y, Itoh T, Sato MP, Seto K, Yoshino S, Isobe J, Etoh Y, Kurogi M, Kimata K, Maeda E, Piérard D, Kusumoto M, Akiba M, Tominaga K, Kirino Y, Kato Y, Shirahige K, Ooka T, Ishijima N, Lee KI, Iyoda S, Mainil JG, Hayashi T. Population structure of Escherichia coli O26 : H11 with recent and repeated stx2 acquisition in multiple lineages. Microb Genom 2017; 3:e000141. [PMID: 29208163 PMCID: PMC5729918 DOI: 10.1099/mgen.0.000141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A key virulence factor of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is the bacteriophage-encoded Shiga toxin (Stx). Stxs are classified into two types, Stx1 and Stx2, and Stx2-producing strains are thought to cause more severe infections than strains producing only Stx1. Although O26 : H11 is the second most prevalent EHEC following O157 : H7, the majority of O26 : H11 strains produce Stx1 alone. However, Stx2-producing O26 strains have increasingly been detected worldwide. Through a large-scale genome analysis, we present a global phylogenetic overview and evolutionary timescale for E. coli O26 : H11. The origin of O26 has been estimated to be 415 years ago. Sequence type 21C1 (ST21C1), one of the two sublineages of ST21, the most predominant O26 : H11 lineage worldwide, emerged 213 years ago from one of the three ST29 sublineages (ST29C2). The other ST21 lineage (ST21C2) emerged 95 years ago from ST21C1. Increases in population size occurred in the late 20th century for all of the O26 lineages, but most remarkably for ST21C2. Analysis of the distribution of stx2-positive strains revealed the recent and repeated acquisition of the stx2 gene in multiple lineages of O26, both in ST21 and ST29. Other major EHEC virulence genes, such as type III secretion system effector genes and plasmid-encoded virulence genes, were well conserved in ST21 compared to ST29. In addition, more antimicrobial-resistance genes have accumulated in the ST21C1 lineage. Although current attention is focused on several highly virulent ST29 clones that have acquired the stx2 gene, there is also a considerable risk that the ST21 lineage could yield highly virulent clones.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Kazuko Seto
- Osaka Prefectural Institute of Public Health, Osaka, Japan
| | - Shyuji Yoshino
- Miyazaki Prefectural Institute for Public Health and Environment, Miyazaki, Japan
| | | | - Yoshiki Etoh
- Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Mariko Kurogi
- Miyazaki Prefectural Institute for Public Health and Environment, Miyazaki, Japan
| | | | - Eriko Maeda
- Fukuoka Institute of Health and Environmental Sciences, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Masahiro Kusumoto
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Masato Akiba
- National Institute of Animal Health, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Kiyoshi Tominaga
- Yamaguchi Prefectural Institute of Public Health and Environment, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Ken-ichi Lee
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Sunao Iyoda
- National Institute of Animal Health, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Ibaraki, Japan
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12
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Real-time genomic investigation underlying the public health response to a Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 outbreak in a nursery. Epidemiol Infect 2017; 145:2998-3006. [PMID: 28925349 DOI: 10.1017/s0950268817001923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is a significant cause of gastrointestinal infection and the haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). STEC outbreaks are commonly associated with food but animal contact is increasingly being implicated in its transmission. We report an outbreak of STEC affecting young infants at a nursery in a rural community (three HUS cases, one definite case, one probable case, three possible cases and five carriers, based on the combination of clinical, epidemiological and laboratory data) identified using culture-based and molecular techniques. The investigation identified repeated animal contact (animal farming and petting) as a likely source of STEC introduction followed by horizontal transmission. Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used for real-time investigation of the incident and revealed a unique strain of STEC O26:H11 carrying stx2a and intimin. Following a public health intervention, no additional cases have occurred. This is the first STEC outbreak reported from Israel. WGS proved as a useful tool for rapid laboratory characterization and typing of the outbreak strain and informed the public health response at an early stage of this unusual outbreak.
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13
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Lajhar SA, Brownlie J, Barlow R. Survival capabilities of Escherichia coli O26 isolated from cattle and clinical sources in Australia to disinfectants, acids and antimicrobials. BMC Microbiol 2017; 17:47. [PMID: 28249570 PMCID: PMC5333398 DOI: 10.1186/s12866-017-0963-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background After E. coli O157, E. coli O26 is the second most prevalent enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) serotype identified in cases of foodborne illness in Australia and throughout the world. E. coli O26 associated foodborne outbreaks have drawn attention to the survival capabilities of this organism in a range of environments. The aim of the present study was to assess the ability of E. coli O26 to survive the effects of disinfectants, acids and antimicrobials and investigate the possible influence of virulence genes in survival and persistence of E. coli O26 from human and cattle sources from Australia. Results Initial characterization indicated that E. coli O26 are a genetically diverse group that were shown to belong to a number of pathotypes. Overall, 86.4% of isolates were susceptible to all antimicrobials tested with no significant differences in resistance observed between pathotypes. A representative subset of isolates (n = 40) were selected to determine their ability to survive disinfectants at proposed industry working concentrations and acid stress. Profoam, Kwiksan 22, and Topactive DES. were able to inhibit the growth of 100% of isolates. The remaining three disinfectants (Dairy Chlor 12.5%, Envirosan and Maxifoam) were not effective against the subset of 40 E. coli O26. Finally, elevated MICs (1,024 to 4,096 μg/ml) of acetic, propionic, lactic, and citric acids were determined for the majority of the isolates (85%). Conclusions Australian E. coli O26 isolates belong to a range of pathotypes that harbor differing virulence markers. Despite this, their response to antimicrobials, disinfectants and acids is similar confirming that stress response appears unrelated to the presence of EHEC virulence markers. Notwithstanding, the tolerance to disinfectants and the elevated acid MICs for EHEC and the other E. coli O26 pathotypes examined in this study may contribute to bacterial colonization on food contact surfaces and subsequent foodborne illness caused by this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salma A Lajhar
- School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane, QLD, Australia. .,Present address: CSIRO Agriculture and Food, 39 Kessels Rd, Coopers Plains, QLD, 4108, Australia.
| | - Jeremy Brownlie
- School of Natural Sciences, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Robert Barlow
- CSIRO Agriculture and Food, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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14
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Murphy BP, McCabe E, Murphy M, Buckley JF, Crowley D, Fanning S, Duffy G. Longitudinal Study of Two Irish Dairy Herds: Low Numbers of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O157 and O26 Super-Shedders Identified. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1850. [PMID: 27917164 PMCID: PMC5114295 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2016] [Accepted: 11/03/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
A 12-month longitudinal study was undertaken on two dairy herds to ascertain the Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157 and O26 shedding status of the animals and its impact (if any) on raw milk. Cattle are a recognized reservoir for these organisms with associated public health and environmental implications. Animals shedding E. coli O157 at >10,000 CFU/g of feces have been deemed super-shedders. There is a gap in the knowledge regarding super-shedding of other STEC serogroups. A cohort of 40 lactating cows from herds previously identified as positive for STEC in a national surveillance project were sampled every second month between August, 2013 and July, 2014. Metadata on any potential super-shedders was documented including, e.g., age of the animal, number of lactations and days in lactation, nutritional condition, somatic cell count and content of protein in milk to assess if any were associated with risk factors for super-shedding. Recto-anal mucosal swabs (RAMS), raw milk, milk filters, and water samples were procured for each herd. The swabs were examined for E. coli O157 and O26 using a quantitative real time PCR method. Counts (CFU swab-1) were obtained from a standard calibration curve that related real-time PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values against the initial concentration of O157 or O26 in the samples. Results from Farm A: 305 animals were analyzed; 15 E. coli O157 (5%) were recovered, 13 were denoted STEC encoding either stx1 and/or stx2 virulence genes and 5 (2%) STEC O26 were recovered. One super-shedder was identified shedding STEC O26 (stx1&2). Farm B: 224 animals were analyzed; eight E. coli O157 (3.5%) were recovered (seven were STEC) and 9 (4%) STEC O26 were recovered. Three super-shedders were identified, one was shedding STEC O157 (stx2) and two STEC O26 (stx2). Three encoded the adhering and effacement gene (eae) and one isolate additionally encoded the haemolysin gene (hlyA). All four super-shedders were only super-shedding once during the 1-year sampling period. The results of this study show, low numbers of super-shedders in the herds examined, with high numbers of low and medium shedding. Although four super-shedding animals were identified, no STEC O157 or O26 were recovered from any of the raw milk, milk filter, or water samples. The authors conclude that this study highlights the need for further surveillance to assess the potential for environmental contamination and food chain security.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda P. Murphy
- Veterinary Department, Veterinary Food Safety Laboratory, Cork County Council, County CorkIreland
| | | | - Mary Murphy
- Veterinary Department, Veterinary Food Safety Laboratory, Cork County Council, County CorkIreland
| | - James F. Buckley
- Veterinary Department, Veterinary Food Safety Laboratory, Cork County Council, County CorkIreland
| | - Dan Crowley
- Veterinary Department, Veterinary Food Safety Laboratory, Cork County Council, County CorkIreland
| | - Séamus Fanning
- UCD Centre for Food Safety, School of Public Health, Physiotherapy and Sports Science, University College DublinDublin, Ireland
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15
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Germinario C, Caprioli A, Giordano M, Chironna M, Gallone MS, Tafuri S, Minelli F, Maugliani A, Michelacci V, Santangelo L, Mongelli O, Montagna C, Scavia G. Community-wide outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome associated with Shiga toxin 2-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11 in southern Italy, summer 2013. Euro Surveill 2016; 21:30343. [PMID: 27684204 PMCID: PMC5073196 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.38.30343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2015] [Accepted: 10/18/2015] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In summer 2013, an excess of paediatric cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) in a southern region of Italy prompted the investigation of a community-wide outbreak of Shiga toxin 2-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26:H11 infections. Case finding was based on testing patients with HUS or bloody diarrhoea for STEC infection by microbiological and serological methods. A case-control study was conducted to identify the source of the outbreak. STEC O26 infection was identified in 20 children (median age 17 months) with HUS, two of whom reported severe neurological sequelae. No cases in adults were detected. Molecular typing showed that two distinct STEC O26:H11 strains were involved. The case-control study showed an association between STEC O26 infection and consumption of dairy products from two local plants, but not with specific ready-to-eat products. E.coli O26:H11 strains lacking the stx genes were isolated from bulk milk and curd samples, but their PFGE profiles did not match those of the outbreak isolates. This outbreak supports the view that infections with Stx2-producing E. coli O26 in children have a high probability of progressing to HUS and represent an emerging public health problem in Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Germinario
- Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, Aldo Moro University of Bari, Bari, Italy
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16
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Peron E, Zaharia A, Zota LC, Severi E, Mårdh O, Usein C, Bălgrădean M, Espinosa L, Jansa J, Scavia G, Rafila A, Serban A, Pistol A. Early findings in outbreak of haemolytic uraemic syndrome among young children caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, Romania, January to February 2016. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 21:30170. [PMID: 27020906 DOI: 10.2807/1560-7917.es.2016.21.11.30170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2016] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
As at 29 February 2016, 15 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome with onset between 25 January and 22 February were reported among children between five and 38 months in Romania, and three of them died. Cases were mostly from southern Romania. Six cases tested positive for Escherichia coli O26 by serology. Fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products were among the possible common food exposures. Investigations are ongoing in Romania to control the outbreak.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilie Peron
- European Programme for Intervention Epidemiology Training (EPIET), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Álvarez-Suárez ME, Otero A, García-López ML, Dahbi G, Blanco M, Mora A, Blanco J, Santos JA. Genetic characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolates from goat's milk and goat farm environment. Int J Food Microbiol 2016; 236:148-54. [PMID: 27497630 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2016.07.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2016] [Revised: 07/06/2016] [Accepted: 07/30/2016] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize a collection of 44 Shiga toxin-producing (STEC) and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) isolated from goat milk and goat farm environment. Of the 19 STEC isolates, five (26.3%) carried the stx1 gene, four (21.1%) the stx2 gene and 10 (52.6%) presented both stx genes. Six (31.6%) STEC strains were eae-positive and belonged to serotypes related to severe human disease (O157:H7 and O5:HNM). Another seven STEC strains were of serotype O146:H21 and three of serotype O166:H28, also linked to human disease. The STEC strains isolated from goat milk were of serotypes potentially pathogenic for humans. All the 25 EPEC isolates were considered atypical (aEPEC) and one aEPEC strain was of serotype O26:H11, a serotype frequently isolated in children with diarrhea. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) was carried out with seven housekeeping genes and 23 sequence types (ST) were detected, 14 of them newly described. Twelve STs grouped STEC isolates and 11 STs grouped EPEC isolates. Genetic typing by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) resulted in 38 patterns which grouped in 10 clusters. Well-defined groups were also observed for strains of pathogenic serotypes. In conclusion, strains of STEC and aEPEC belonging to serotypes related to severe human disease have been detected in goat milk and the goat farm environment. Ruminants are an important reservoir of STEC strains and the role of these animals as carriers of other pathogenic types of E. coli seems to be an emerging concern.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrés Otero
- Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, Spain.
| | | | - Ghizlane Dahbi
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Miguel Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Azucena Mora
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Jorge Blanco
- Laboratorio de Referencia de E. coli (LREC), Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Santiago de Compostela (USC), Lugo, Spain.
| | - Jesús A Santos
- Department of Food Hygiene and Food Technology, Veterinary Faculty, University of León, Spain.
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18
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Ison SA, Delannoy S, Bugarel M, Nagaraja TG, Renter DG, den Bakker HC, Nightingale KK, Fach P, Loneragan GH. Targeted Amplicon Sequencing for Single-Nucleotide-Polymorphism Genotyping of Attaching and Effacing Escherichia coli O26:H11 Cattle Strains via a High-Throughput Library Preparation Technique. Appl Environ Microbiol 2016; 82:640-9. [PMID: 26567298 PMCID: PMC4711113 DOI: 10.1128/aem.03182-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26:H11, a serotype within Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) that causes severe human disease, has been considered to have evolved from attaching and effacing E. coli (AEEC) O26:H11 through the acquisition of a Shiga toxin-encoding gene. Targeted amplicon sequencing using next-generation sequencing technology of 48 phylogenetically informative single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and three SNPs differentiating Shiga toxin-positive (stx-positive) strains from Shiga toxin-negative (stx-negative) strains were used to infer the phylogenetic relationships of 178 E. coli O26:H11 strains (6 stx-positive strains and 172 stx-negative AEEC strains) from cattle feces to 7 publically available genomes of human clinical strains. The AEEC cattle strains displayed synonymous SNP genotypes with stx2-positive sequence type 29 (ST29) human O26:H11 strains, while stx1 ST21 human and cattle strains clustered separately, demonstrating the close phylogenetic relatedness of these Shiga toxin-negative AEEC cattle strains and human clinical strains. With the exception of seven stx-negative strains, five of which contained espK, three stx-related SNPs differentiated the STEC strains from non-STEC strains, supporting the hypothesis that these AEEC cattle strains could serve as a potential reservoir for new or existing pathogenic human strains. Our results support the idea that targeted amplicon sequencing for SNP genotyping expedites strain identification and genetic characterization of E. coli O26:H11, which is important for food safety and public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Ison
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- ANSES Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marie Bugarel
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Tiruvoor G Nagaraja
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - David G Renter
- Department of Diagnostic Medicine Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Henk C den Bakker
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kendra K Nightingale
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Patrick Fach
- ANSES Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Université Paris-Est, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Guy H Loneragan
- Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas, USA
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19
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Ison SA, Delannoy S, Bugarel M, Nightingale KK, Webb HE, Renter DG, Nagaraja TG, Loneragan GH, Fach P. Genetic Diversity and Pathogenic Potential of Attaching and Effacing Escherichia coli O26:H11 Strains Recovered from Bovine Feces in the United States. Appl Environ Microbiol 2015; 81:3671-8. [PMID: 25795673 PMCID: PMC4421050 DOI: 10.1128/aem.00397-15] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O26 has been identified as the most common non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serogroup to cause human illnesses in the United States and has been implicated in outbreaks around the world. E. coli has high genomic plasticity, which facilitates the loss or acquisition of virulence genes. Attaching and effacing E. coli (AEEC) O26 strains have frequently been isolated from bovine feces, and there is a need to better characterize the relatedness of these strains to defined molecular pathotypes and to describe the extent of their genetic diversity. High-throughput real-time PCR was used to screen 178 E. coli O26 isolates from a single U.S. cattle feedlot, collected from May to July 2011, for the presence or absence of 25 O26 serogroup-specific and virulence-associated markers. The selected markers were capable of distinguishing these strains into molecularly defined groups (yielding 18 unique marker combinations). Analysis of the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat 1 (CRISPR1) and CRISPR2a loci further discriminated isolates into 24 CRISPR types. The combination of molecular markers and CRISPR typing provided 20.8% diversity. The recent CRISPR PCR target SP_O26-E, which was previously identified only in stx2-positive O26:H11 human clinical strains, was identified in 96.4% (161/167 [95% confidence interval, 99.2 to 93.6%]) of the stx-negative AEEC O26:H11 bovine fecal strains. This supports that these stx-negative strains may have previously contained a prophage carrying stx or could acquire this prophage, thus possibly giving them the potential to become pathogenic to humans. These results show that investigation of specific genetic markers may further elucidate our understanding of the genetic diversity of AEEC O26 strains in bovine feces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Ison
- Texas Tech University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Sabine Delannoy
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Marie Bugarel
- Texas Tech University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Kendra K Nightingale
- Texas Tech University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Hattie E Webb
- Texas Tech University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - David G Renter
- Kansas State University, Department of Diagnostic Medicine Pathobiology, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Tiruvoor G Nagaraja
- Kansas State University, Department of Diagnostic Medicine Pathobiology, Manhattan, Kansas, USA
| | - Guy H Loneragan
- Texas Tech University, Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Lubbock, Texas, USA
| | - Patrick Fach
- French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Maisons-Alfort, France
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20
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Young W, Hine BC, Wallace OAM, Callaghan M, Bibiloni R. Transfer of intestinal bacterial components to mammary secretions in the cow. PeerJ 2015; 3:e888. [PMID: 25922791 PMCID: PMC4411484 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/20/2015] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Results from large multicentre epidemiological studies suggest an association between the consumption of raw milk and a reduced incidence of allergy and asthma in children. Although the underlying mechanisms for this association are yet to be confirmed, researchers have investigated whether bacteria or bacterial components that naturally occur in cow’s milk are responsible for modulating the immune system to reduce the risk of allergic diseases. Previous research in human and mice suggests that bacterial components derived from the maternal intestine are transported to breast milk through the bloodstream. The aim of our study was to assess whether a similar mechanism of bacterial trafficking could occur in the cow. Through the application of culture-independent methodology, we investigated the microbial composition and diversity of milk, blood and feces of healthy lactating cows. We found that a small number of bacterial OTUs belonging to the genera Ruminococcus and Bifidobacterium, and the Peptostreptococcaceae family were present in all three samples from the same individual animals. Although these results do not confirm the hypothesis that trafficking of intestinal bacteria into mammary secretions does occur in the cow, they support the existence of an endogenous entero-mammary pathway for some bacterial components during lactation in the cow. Further research is required to define the specific mechanisms by which gut bacteria are transported into the mammary gland of the cow, and the health implications of such bacteria being present in milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wayne Young
- Food Nutrition & Health Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands , Palmerston North , New Zealand
| | - Brad C Hine
- Dairy Foods Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Ltd, Ruakura , Hamilton , New Zealand
| | - Olivia A M Wallace
- Dairy Foods Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Ltd, Ruakura , Hamilton , New Zealand
| | - Megan Callaghan
- Dairy Foods Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Ltd, Ruakura , Hamilton , New Zealand
| | - Rodrigo Bibiloni
- Food Nutrition & Health Team, Food & Bio-based Products Group, AgResearch Ltd, Grasslands , Palmerston North , New Zealand
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21
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Norman KN, Clawson ML, Strockbine NA, Mandrell RE, Johnson R, Ziebell K, Zhao S, Fratamico PM, Stones R, Allard MW, Bono JL. Comparison of whole genome sequences from human and non-human Escherichia coli O26 strains. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2015; 5:21. [PMID: 25815275 PMCID: PMC4356229 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2015.00021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 02/21/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26 is the second leading E. coli serogroup responsible for human illness outbreaks behind E. coli O157:H7. Recent outbreaks have been linked to emerging pathogenic O26:H11 strains harboring stx 2 only. Cattle have been recognized as an important reservoir of O26 strains harboring stx 1; however the reservoir of these emerging stx 2 strains is unknown. The objective of this study was to identify nucleotide polymorphisms in human and cattle-derived strains in order to compare differences in polymorphism derived genotypes and virulence gene profiles between the two host species. Whole genome sequencing was performed on 182 epidemiologically unrelated O26 strains, including 109 human-derived strains and 73 non-human-derived strains. A panel of 289 O26 strains (241 STEC and 48 non-STEC) was subsequently genotyped using a set of 283 polymorphisms identified by whole genome sequencing, resulting in 64 unique genotypes. Phylogenetic analyses identified seven clusters within the O26 strains. The seven clusters did not distinguish between isolates originating from humans or cattle; however, clusters did correspond with particular virulence gene profiles. Human and non-human-derived strains harboring stx 1 clustered separately from strains harboring stx 2, strains harboring eae, and non-STEC strains. Strains harboring stx 2 were more closely related to non-STEC strains and strains harboring eae than to strains harboring stx 1. The finding of human and cattle-derived strains with the same polymorphism derived genotypes and similar virulence gene profiles, provides evidence that similar strains are found in cattle and humans and transmission between the two species may occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keri N. Norman
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceClay Center, NE, USA
| | - Michael L. Clawson
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceClay Center, NE, USA
| | - Nancy A. Strockbine
- Division of Foodborne, Waterborne and Environmental Diseases, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and PreventionAtlanta, GA, USA
| | - Robert E. Mandrell
- Western Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceAlbany, CA, USA
| | - Roger Johnson
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of CanadaGuelph, ON, Canada
| | - Kim Ziebell
- Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Public Health Agency of CanadaGuelph, ON, Canada
| | - Shaohua Zhao
- Division of Animal and Food Microbiology, Center for Veterinary Medicine, Food and Drug AdministrationLaurel, MD, USA
| | - Pina M. Fratamico
- Eastern Regional Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceWyndmoor, PA, USA
| | - Robert Stones
- Food and Environment Research AgencySand Hutton, York, UK
| | - Marc W. Allard
- Division of Microbiology, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, Office of Regulatory Science, Food and Drug AdministrationCollege Park, MD, USA
| | - James L. Bono
- U.S. Meat Animal Research Center, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research ServiceClay Center, NE, USA
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22
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Delannoy S, Mariani-Kurkdjian P, Bonacorsi S, Liguori S, Fach P. Characteristics of emerging human-pathogenic Escherichia coli O26:H11 strains isolated in France between 2010 and 2013 and carrying the stx2d gene only. J Clin Microbiol 2015; 53:486-92. [PMID: 25428148 PMCID: PMC4298503 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.02290-14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 11/17/2014] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Strains of Escherichia coli O26:H11 that were positive for stx2 alone (n = 23), which were not epidemiologically related or part of an outbreak, were isolated from pediatric patients in France between 2010 and 2013. We were interested in comparing these strains with the new highly virulent stx2a-positive E. coli O26 clone sequence type 29 (ST29) that has emerged recently in Europe, and we tested them by multilocus sequence typing (MLST), stx2 subtyping, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) sequencing, and plasmid (ehxA, katP, espP, and etpD) and chromosomal (Z2098, espK, and espV) virulence gene profiling. We showed that 16 of the 23 strains appeared to correspond to this new clone, but the characteristics of 12 strains differed significantly from the previously described characteristics, with negative results for both plasmid and chromosomal genetic markers. These 12 strains exhibited a ST29 genotype and related CRISPR arrays (CRISPR2a alleles 67 or 71), suggesting that they evolved in a common environment. This finding was corroborated by the presence of stx2d in 7 of the 12 ST29 strains. This is the first time that E. coli O26:H11 carrying stx2d has been isolated from humans. This is additional evidence of the continuing evolution of virulent Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) O26 strains. A new O26:H11 CRISPR PCR assay, SP_O26_E, has been developed for detection of these 12 particular ST29 strains of E. coli O26:H11. This test is useful to better characterize the stx2-positive O26:H11 clinical isolates, which are associated with severe clinical outcomes such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Delannoy
- French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Maisons-Alfort, France
| | - Patricia Mariani-Kurkdjian
- AP-HP, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Service de Microbiologie, CNR Associé Escherichia coli, Paris, France IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Paris, France IAME, UMR 1137, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Stephane Bonacorsi
- AP-HP, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Service de Microbiologie, CNR Associé Escherichia coli, Paris, France IAME, UMR 1137, INSERM, Paris, France IAME, UMR 1137, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Liguori
- AP-HP, Hôpital Robert-Debré, Service de Microbiologie, CNR Associé Escherichia coli, Paris, France Institut de Veille Sanitaire, Saint Maurice, France
| | - Patrick Fach
- French Agency for Food, Environmental, and Occupational Health and Safety, Food Safety Laboratory, Platform IdentyPath, Maisons-Alfort, France
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23
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Scientific Opinion on the public health risks related to the consumption of raw drinking milk. EFSA J 2015. [DOI: 10.2903/j.efsa.2015.3940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
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24
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Consumption of unprocessed cow's milk protects infants from common respiratory infections. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2014; 135:56-62. [PMID: 25441645 DOI: 10.1016/j.jaci.2014.08.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2014] [Revised: 07/15/2014] [Accepted: 08/06/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Breast-feeding is protective against respiratory infections in early life. Given the co-evolutionary adaptations of humans and cattle, bovine milk might exert similar anti-infective effects in human infants. OBJECTIVE To study effects of consumption of raw and processed cow's milk on common infections in infants. METHODS The PASTURE birth cohort followed 983 infants from rural areas in Austria, Finland, France, Germany, and Switzerland, for the first year of life, covering 37,306 person-weeks. Consumption of different types of cow's milk and occurrence of rhinitis, respiratory tract infections, otitis, and fever were assessed by weekly health diaries. C-reactive protein levels were assessed using blood samples taken at 12 months. RESULTS When contrasted with ultra-heat treated milk, raw milk consumption was inversely associated with occurrence of rhinitis (adjusted odds ratio from longitudinal models [95% CI]: 0.71 [0.54-0.94]), respiratory tract infections (0.77 [0.59-0.99]), otitis (0.14 [0.05-0.42]), and fever (0.69 [0.47-1.01]). Boiled farm milk showed similar but weaker associations. Industrially processed pasteurized milk was inversely associated with fever. Raw farm milk consumption was inversely associated with C-reactive protein levels at 12 months (geometric means ratio [95% CI]: 0.66 [0.45-0.98]). CONCLUSIONS Early life consumption of raw cow's milk reduced the risk of manifest respiratory infections and fever by about 30%. If the health hazards of raw milk could be overcome, the public health impact of minimally processed but pathogen-free milk might be enormous, given the high prevalence of respiratory infections in the first year of life and the associated direct and indirect costs.
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25
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Duffy G, McCabe E. Veterinary Public Health Approach to Managing Pathogenic Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in the Agri-Food Chain. Microbiol Spectr 2014; 2. [PMID: 26104349 DOI: 10.1128/microbiolspec.ehec-0023-2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Verocytoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) comprises many diverse serogroups, but seven serogroups, O157, O26, O103, O145, O111, O21, and O45, have been most commonly linked to severe human infections, though illness has also been reported from a range of other VTEC serogroups. This poses challenges in assessing the risk to humans from the diverse range of VTEC strains that may be recovered from animals, the environment, or food. For routine assessment of risk posed by VTEC recovered from the agri-food chain, the concept of seropathotype can be used to rank the human risk potential from a particular VTEC serogroup on the basis of both serotype (top seven serogroups) and the presence of particular virulence genes (vt in combination with eae, or aaiC plus aggR). But for other VTEC serogroups or virulence gene combinations, it is not currently possible to fully assess the risk posed. VTEC is shed in animal feces and can persist in the farm environment for extended periods ranging from several weeks to many months, posing an ongoing reservoir of contamination for grazing animals, water courses, and fresh produce and for people using farmland for recreational purposes. Appropriate handling and treatment of stored animal waste (slurries and manures) will reduce risk from VTEC in the farm environment. Foods of animal origin such as milk and dairy products and meat may be contaminated with VTEC during production and processing, and the pathogen may survive or grow during processing operations, highlighting the need for well-designed and validated Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point management systems. This article focuses on a veterinary public health approach to managing VTEC, highlighting the various routes in the agri-food chain for transmission of human pathogenic VTEC and general approaches to managing the risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Evonne McCabe
- Teagasc Food Research Centre, Ashtown, Dublin 15, Ireland
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26
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Bletz S, Bielaszewska M, Leopold SR, Köck R, Witten A, Schuldes J, Zhang W, Karch H, Mellmann A. Evolution of enterohemorrhagic escherichia coli O26 based on single-nucleotide polymorphisms. Genome Biol Evol 2014; 5:1807-16. [PMID: 24105689 PMCID: PMC3814194 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evt136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O26:H11/H− is the predominant non-O157 EHEC serotype among patients with diarrhea, bloody diarrhea, and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. To elucidate their phylogeny and association between their phylogenetic background and clinical outcome of the infection, we investigated 120 EHEC O26:H11/H− strains isolated between 1965 and 2012 from asymptomatic carriers and patients with diarrhea or HUS. Whole-genome shotgun sequencing (WGS) was applied to ten representative EHEC O26 isolates to determine single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) localizations within a predefined set of core genes. A multiplex SNP assay, comprising a randomly distributed subset of 48 SNPs, was established to detect SNPs in 110 additional EHEC O26 strains. Within approximately 1 Mb of core genes, WGS resulted in 476 high-quality bi-allelic SNP localizations. Forty-eight of these were subsequently investigated in 110 EHEC O26 and four different SNP clonal complexes (SNP-CC) were identified. SNP-CC2 was significantly associated with the development of HUS. Within the subsequently established evolutionary model of EHEC O26, we dated the emergence of human EHEC O26 to approximately 19,700 years ago and demonstrated a recent evolution within humans into the 4 SNP-CCs over the past 1,650 years. WGS and subsequent SNP typing enabled us to gain new insights into the evolution of EHEC O26 suggesting a common theme in this EHEC group with analogies to EHEC O157. In addition, the SNP-CC analysis may help to assess a risk in infected individuals for the progression to HUS and to implement more specific infection control measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Bletz
- Institute of Hygiene, University of Münster, Germany
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27
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Abstract
Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infections are increasingly detected, but sources are not well established. We summarize outbreaks to 2010 in the USA. Single-aetiology outbreaks were defined as ⩾2 epidemiologically linked culture-confirmed non-O157 STEC infections; multiple-aetiology outbreaks also had laboratory evidence of ⩾2 infections caused by another enteric pathogen. Twenty-six states reported 46 outbreaks with 1727 illnesses and 144 hospitalizations. Of 38 single-aetiology outbreaks, 66% were caused by STEC O111 (n = 14) or O26 (n = 11), and 84% were transmitted through food (n = 17) or person-to-person spread (n = 15); food vehicles included dairy products, produce, and meats; childcare centres were the most common setting for person-to-person spread. Of single-aetiology outbreaks, a greater percentage of persons infected by Shiga toxin 2-positive strains had haemolytic uraemic syndrome compared with persons infected by Shiga toxin 1-only positive strains (7% vs. 0·8%). Compared with single-aetiology outbreaks, multiple-aetiology outbreaks were more frequently transmitted through water or animal contact.
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28
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Farrokh C, Jordan K, Auvray F, Glass K, Oppegaard H, Raynaud S, Thevenot D, Condron R, De Reu K, Govaris A, Heggum K, Heyndrickx M, Hummerjohann J, Lindsay D, Miszczycha S, Moussiegt S, Verstraete K, Cerf O. Review of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and their significance in dairy production. Int J Food Microbiol 2013; 162:190-212. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2012.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2012] [Revised: 07/31/2012] [Accepted: 08/01/2012] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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29
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Bielaszewska M, Mellmann A, Bletz S, Zhang W, Köck R, Kossow A, Prager R, Fruth A, Orth-Höller D, Marejková M, Morabito S, Caprioli A, Piérard D, Smith G, Jenkins C, Čurová K, Karch H. Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H11/H−: A New Virulent Clone Emerges in Europe. Clin Infect Dis 2013; 56:1373-81. [DOI: 10.1093/cid/cit055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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30
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Delbès-Paus C, Miszczycha S, Ganet S, Helinck S, Veisseire P, Pochet S, Thévenot D, Montel MC. Behavior of Escherichia coli O26:H11 in the presence of Hafnia alvei in a model cheese ecosystem. Int J Food Microbiol 2012; 160:212-8. [PMID: 23290227 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2012.10.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2012] [Revised: 10/09/2012] [Accepted: 10/11/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
This study was designed to evaluate the capacity of three Hafnia strains to inhibit the growth of an E. coli strain O26:H11 in an uncooked pressed model cheese, in the presence or absence of a microbial consortium added to mimic a cheese microbial community. Inoculated at 2 log CFU/ml into pasteurized milk without Hafnia, the E. coli O26:H11 strain reached 5 log CFU/g during cheese-making and survived at levels of 4 to 5 log CFU/g beyond 40 days. Inoculated into milk at 6 log CFU/ml, all three tested Hafnia strains (H. alvei B16 and HA, H. paralvei 920) reached values close to 8 log CFU/g and reduced E. coli O26:H11 counts in cheese on day 1 by 0.8 to 1.4 log CFU/g compared to cheeses inoculated with E. coli O26:H11 and the microbial consortium only. The Hafnia strains slightly reduced counts of Enterococcus faecalis (~-0.5 log from day 1) and promoted Lactobacillus plantarum growth (+0.2 to 0.5 log from day 8) in cheese. They produced small amounts of putrescine (~1.3 mmol/kg) and cadaverine (~0.9 mmol/kg) in cheese after 28 days, and did not affect levels of volatile aroma compounds. Further work on H. alvei strain B16 showed that E. coli O26:H11, inoculated at 2 log CFU/ml, was inhibited by H. alvei B16 inoculated at 6 log CFU/ml and not at 4.5 log CFU/ml. The inhibition was associated neither with lower pH values in cheese after 6 or 24h, nor with higher concentrations of lactic acid. Enhanced concentrations of acetic acid on day 1 in cheese inoculated with H. alvei B16 (4 to 11 mmol/kg) could not fully explain the reduction in E. coli O26:H11 growth. A synergistic interaction between H. alvei B16 and the microbial consortium, resulting in an additional 0.7-log reduction in E. coli O26:H11 counts, was observed from day 8 in model cheeses made from pasteurized milk. However, E. coli O26:H11 survived better during ripening in model cheeses made from raw milk than in those made from pasteurized milk, but this was not associated with an increase in pH values. In vitro approaches are required to investigate the mechanisms and causative agents of this interaction. H. alvei B16 appears to be a promising strain for reducing E. coli O26:H11 growth in cheese, as part of a multi-hurdle approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Delbès-Paus
- INRA, UR545 Recherches Fromagères, 20 Côte de Reyne, Aurillac, France.
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31
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Chase-Topping ME, Rosser T, Allison LJ, Courcier E, Evans J, McKendrick IJ, Pearce MC, Handel I, Caprioli A, Karch H, Hanson MF, Pollock KGJ, Locking ME, Woolhouse MEJ, Matthews L, Low JC, Gally DL. Pathogenic potential to humans of bovine Escherichia coli O26, Scotland. Emerg Infect Dis 2012; 18:439-48. [PMID: 22377426 PMCID: PMC3309639 DOI: 10.3201/eid1803.111236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli O26 and O157 have similar overall prevalences in cattle in Scotland, but in humans, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O26 infections are fewer and clinically less severe than E. coli O157 infections. To investigate this discrepancy, we genotyped E. coli O26 isolates from cattle and humans in Scotland and continental Europe. The genetic background of some strains from Scotland was closely related to that of strains causing severe infections in Europe. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling found an association between hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and multilocus sequence type 21 strains and confirmed the role of stx(2) in severe human disease. Although the prevalences of E. coli O26 and O157 on cattle farms in Scotland are equivalent, prevalence of more virulent strains is low, reducing human infection risk. However, new data on E. coli O26-associated HUS in humans highlight the need for surveillance of non-O157 enterohemorrhagic E. coli and for understanding stx(2) phage acquisition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margo E Chase-Topping
- Centre for Immunity, Infection, and Evolution, University of Edinburgh, Kings Buildings, Edinburgh EH9 3J5, UK.
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Braun-Fahrländer C, von Mutius E. Can farm milk consumption prevent allergic diseases? Clin Exp Allergy 2011; 41:29-35. [PMID: 21155907 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03665.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Cow's milk is an important part of human diet and a source of food allergy for some individuals. Medical guidance strongly discourages consumption of raw milk because of the known health risk associated with pathogenic bacteria present in unpasteurized milk. Despite these risks there is a growing body of epidemiological evidence suggesting that consumption of unprocessed cow's milk does not increase but rather decreases the risk of asthma, hay fever and atopic sensitisation. The article reviews the epidemiological literature and discusses components of unprocessed milk potentially responsible for this protection. It focuses on the role of bacteria in raw milk, the fatty acid profile, whey proteins and finally the role of allergens in milk. Although the epidemiological evidence consistently suggest a protective role of unprocessed cow's milk consumption on the development of asthma, hay fever and atopic sensitization the underlying mechanisms are not yet understood and the consumption of raw milk cannot be recommended as a preventive measure for allergic diseases.
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33
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Dini C, De Urraza PJ. Isolation and selection of coliphages as potential biocontrol agents of enterohemorrhagic and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (EHEC and STEC) in cattle. J Appl Microbiol 2011; 109:873-87. [PMID: 20353429 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2010.04714.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
AIMS To isolate, characterize and select phages as potential biocontrol agents of enterohemorrhagic and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (EHEC and STEC) in cattle. METHODS AND RESULTS Sixteen STEC and EHEC coliphages were isolated from bovine minced meat and stool samples and characterized with respect to their host range against STEC, EHEC and other Gram-negative pathogens; their morphology by electron microscopy; the presence of the stx1, stx2 and cI genes by means of PCR; RAPD and rep-PCR profiles; plaque formation; and acid resistance. Six isolates belonged to the Myoviridae and 10 to the Podoviridae families. The phages negative for stx and cI that formed large, well-defined plaques were all isolated using EHEC O157:H7 as host. Among them, only CA911 was a myophage and, together with CA933P, had the broadest host range for STEC and EHEC; the latter phage also infected Shigella and Pseudomonas. Isolates CA911, MFA933P and MFA45D differed in particle morphology and amplification patterns by RAPD and rep-PCR and showed the highest acidity tolerance. CONCLUSIONS Myophage CA911 and podophages CA933P, MFA933P and MFA45D were chosen as the best candidates for biocontrol of STEC and EHEC in cattle. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY This work employs steps for a rational selection and characterization of bacteriophages as therapeutic agents. This report constitutes the first documentation of STEC and EHEC phages isolated in Argentina and proposes for the first time the use of rep-PCR as a complement of RAPD on DNA fingerprinting of phages.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Dini
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo en Criotecnología de Alimentos (CIDCA-CONICET), La Plata, Argentina.
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34
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Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotypes O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:H8, O145:H28, and O157:H7 in raw-milk cheeses by using multiplex real-time PCR. Appl Environ Microbiol 2011; 77:2035-41. [PMID: 21239543 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02089-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are a diverse group of food-borne pathogens with various levels of virulence for humans. In this study, we describe the use of a combination of multiple real-time PCR assays for the screening of 400 raw-milk cheeses for the five main pathogenic STEC serotypes (O26:H11, O103:H2, O111:H8, O145:H28, and O157:H7). The prevalences of samples positive for stx, intimin-encoding gene (eae), and at least one of the five O group genetic markers were 29.8%, 37.3%, and 55.3%, respectively. The H2, H7, H8, H11, and H28 fliC alleles were highly prevalent and could not be used as reliable targets for screening. Combinations of stx, eae variants, and O genetic markers, which are typical of the five targeted STEC serotypes, were detected by real-time PCR in 6.5% of the cheeses (26 samples) and included stx-wzx(O26)-eae-β1 (4.8%; 19 samples), stx-wzx(O103)-eae-ε (1.3%; five samples), stx-ihp1(O145)-eae-γ1 (0.8%; three samples), and stx-rfbE(O157)-eae-γ1 (0.3%; one sample). Twenty-eight immunomagnetic separation (IMS) assays performed on samples positive for these combinations allowed the recovery of seven eaeβ1-positive STEC O26:H11 isolates, whereas no STEC O103:H2, O145:H28, or O157:H7 strains could be isolated. Three stx-negative and eaeβ1-positive E. coli O26:[H11] strains were also isolated from cheeses by IMS. Colony hybridization allowed us to recover STEC from stx-positive samples for 15 out of 45 assays performed, highlighting the difficulties encountered in STEC isolation from dairy products. The STEC O26:H11 isolates shared the same virulence genetic profile as enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O26:H11, i.e., they carried the virulence-associated genes EHEC-hlyA, katP, and espP, as well as genomic O islands 71 and 122. Except for one strain, they all contained the stx1 variant only, which was reported to be less frequently associated with human cases than stx2. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis showed that they displayed high genetic diversity; none of them had patterns identical to those of human O26:H11 strains investigated here.
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Lorusso V, Dambrosio A, Quaglia NC, Parisi A, Lasalandra G, Mula G, Virgilio S, Lucifora G, Dario M, Normanno G. Development of a multiplex PCR for rapid detection of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 in raw milk and ground beef. J Food Prot 2011; 74:13-7. [PMID: 21219757 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x.jfp-10-201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O26 is an emergent pathotype that has caused an increasing number of sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome in the United States and Europe. Many cases are associated with the consumption of milk and undercooked or fermented meats. The stx(2) strains of VTEC O26 seem to be more likely to cause human infections than isolates expressing only stx(1). The isolation and identification of VTEC O26 from foods is labor intensive and time-consuming. We developed a multiplex PCR (M-PCR) assay for the identification and characterization of E. coli O26 VTEC and its detection in raw milk and ground beef. The method is based on the amplification of the wzx, stx(1), and stx(2) genes for the simultaneous detection of the O26 antigen and verocytotoxin types 1 and 2. This M-PCR assay had a sensitivity of 10(8) CFU/ml when applied to a bacterial suspension and of 10(6) CFU/ml or g when applied to both inoculated milk and minced beef samples. This M-PCR assay also was highly specific, and results were consistently negative for negative controls (nonpathogenic E. coli strains, uninoculated milk and beef samples, and samples inoculated with the nontarget microorganisms). This method could be used for the rapid detection of E. coli O26 VTEC from foods and for the rapid identification and characterization of clinical and environmental isolates.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Lorusso
- Department of Health and Animal Welfare, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Str. Prov. per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy
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Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli detection in stool samples screened for viral gastroenteritis in Alberta, Canada. J Clin Microbiol 2010; 49:574-8. [PMID: 21147949 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.01693-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important cause of diarrheal disease. The most notorious STEC serotype is O157:H7, which is associated with hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). As a result, this serotype is routinely screened for in clinical microbiology laboratories. With the bias toward the identification of the O157 serogroup in routine diagnostic processes, non-O157 STEC has been largely underrepresented in the epidemiology of STEC infections. This diagnostic bias is further complicated by the fact that many non-O157 STEC infections cause nonspecific gastroenteritis symptoms reminiscent of enteric viral infections. In this study, real-time PCR was used to amplify Shiga toxin genetic determinants (stx(1) and stx(2)) from enriched stool samples that were initially submitted for the testing of enteric viruses in patients with suspected viral gastroenteritis between May and September of 2006, 2007, and 2008 (n = 2,702). Samples were submitted from the province of Alberta, Yukon, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut, Canada. A total of 38 samples (1.4%) tested positive for Shiga toxin genes, and 15 isolates were cultured for further characterization. Several of the serotypes identified (O157:H7, O26:HNM, O26:H11, O103:H25, O121:H19, and O145:HNM) have been previously associated with outbreaks and HUS. This study outlines the importance of combining molecular methods with classical culture techniques to enhance the detection of emerging non-O157 as well as O157 serotypes in diarrheal stool samples. Furthermore, atypical diarrhea disease caused by non-O157 STEC can be routinely missed due to screening only for viral agents.
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BAYLIS CHRISTOPHERL. Raw milk and raw milk cheeses as vehicles for infection by Verocytotoxin-producingEscherichia coli. INT J DAIRY TECHNOL 2009. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1471-0307.2009.00504.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
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Lorusso V, Dambrosio A, Quaglia NC, Parisi A, La Salandra G, Lucifora G, Mula G, Virgilio S, Carosielli L, Rella A, Dario M, Normanno G. Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 in raw water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) milk products in Italy. J Food Prot 2009; 72:1705-8. [PMID: 19722404 DOI: 10.4315/0362-028x-72.8.1705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli 026 is known as a verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) organism that causes severe foodborne diseases such as hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome. Although cattle are the most important reservoir of VTEC, only a few reports on the role of water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) as a reservoir of VTEC and on the presence of these organisms in their milk are available. However, in Southern Italy, where water buffalo are intensively reared, an outbreak of hemolytic uremic syndrome due to E. coli 026 has recently been reported, in which the consumption of typical dairy products was considered to be a common risk factor. The aims of this work were to assess the prevalence of E. coli O26 in raw water buffalo milk, to characterize the virulence gene profiles of the isolates, and to evaluate their phenotypic antimicrobial resistance pattern. Of 160 analyzed samples, 1 (0.6%) tested positive for E. coli O26, and the isolate showed the stx1+/stx2+/eae-/hlyA+ genotypic profile. The strain showed resistance against glycopeptides, macrolides, and penicillins. The presence of VTEC organisms in raw water buffalo milk could be considered to be a potential threat to consumers; however, the strict adherence to the processes used in the preparation of the most common buffalo dairy products could strongly mitigate the foodborne risk. To our knowledge, this article reports the first isolation and characterization of E. coli O26 VTEC in raw water buffalo milk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa Lorusso
- Department of Health and Animal Welfare--Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Str. Prov. Per Casamassima Km 3, 70010 Valenzano, Italy
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Abu-Ali GS, Lacher DW, Wick LM, Qi W, Whittam TS. Genomic diversity of pathogenic Escherichia coli of the EHEC 2 clonal complex. BMC Genomics 2009; 10:296. [PMID: 19575794 PMCID: PMC2713265 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-10-296] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2008] [Accepted: 07/03/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evolutionary analyses of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) have identified two distantly related clonal groups: EHEC 1, including serotype O157:H7 and its inferred ancestor O55:H7; and EHEC 2, comprised of several serogroups (O26, O111, O118, etc.). These two clonal groups differ in their virulence and global distribution. Although several fully annotated genomic sequences exist for strains of serotype O157:H7, much less is known about the genomic composition of EHEC 2. In this study, we analyzed a set of 24 clinical EHEC 2 strains representing serotypes O26:H11, O111:H8/H11, O118:H16, O153:H11 and O15:H11 from humans and animals by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) on an oligoarray based on the O157:H7 Sakai genome. RESULTS Backbone genes, defined as genes shared by Sakai and K-12, were highly conserved in EHEC 2. The proportion of Sakai phage genes in EHEC 2 was substantially greater than that of Sakai-specific bacterial (non-phage) genes. This proportion was inverted in O55:H7, reiterating that a subset of Sakai bacterial genes is specific to EHEC 1. Split decomposition analysis of gene content revealed that O111:H8 was more genetically uniform and distinct from other EHEC 2 strains, with respect to the Sakai O157:H7 gene distribution. Serotype O26:H11 was the most heterogeneous EHEC 2 subpopulation, comprised of strains with the highest as well as the lowest levels of Sakai gene content conservation. Of the 979 parsimoniously informative genes, 15% were found to be compatible and their distribution in EHEC 2 clustered O111:H8 and O118:H16 strains by serotype. CGH data suggested divergence of the LEE island from the LEE1 to the LEE4 operon, and also between animal and human isolates irrespective of serotype. No correlation was found between gene contents and geographic locations of EHEC 2 strains. CONCLUSION The gene content variation of phage-related genes in EHEC 2 strains supports the hypothesis that extensive modular shuffling of mobile DNA elements has occurred among EHEC strains. These results suggest that EHEC 2 is a multiform pathogenic clonal complex, characterized by substantial intra-serotype genetic variation. The heterogeneous distribution of mobile elements has impacted the diversification of O26:H11 more than other EHEC 2 serotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Galeb S Abu-Ali
- Microbial Evolution Laboratory, National Food Safety & Toxicology Center, 165 Food Safety & Toxicology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
| | - David W Lacher
- Division of Molecular Biology, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Laurel, Maryland 20708, USA
| | - Lukas M Wick
- Biosynth AG, Rietlistrasse 4, 9422 Staad, Switzerland
| | - Weihong Qi
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, University of Zurich and Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Thomas S Whittam
- Microbial Evolution Laboratory, National Food Safety & Toxicology Center, 165 Food Safety & Toxicology Building, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824, USA
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Jenkins C, Evans J, Chart H, Willshaw GA, Frankel G. Escherichia coli serogroup O26--a new look at an old adversary. J Appl Microbiol 2008; 104:14-25. [PMID: 18171379 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03465.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Escherichia coli serogroup O26 played an important part in the early work on Verocytotoxin and is an established diarrhoeal pathogen. Recently, Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) O26 has been increasingly associated with diarrhoeal disease and frequently linked to outbreaks and cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). This review investigates the pathogenicity, geographical distribution, changing epidemiology, routes of transmission and improved detection of VTEC O26. Laboratory data on VTEC O26 isolates and clinical data on HUS suggest a true difference in the incidence of VTEC O26 in different geographic locations. However, few diagnostic laboratories use molecular methods to detect VTEC and so it is difficult to assess the role of VTEC O26 in causing diarrhoeal disease. VTEC O26 is frequently found in the cattle population but rarely in food. However, the small number of outbreaks analysed to date are thought to be food-borne rather than associated with direct or indirect contact with livestock or their faeces. The increase in awareness of VTEC O26 in the clinical and veterinary setting has coincided with the development of novel techniques that have improved our ability to detect and characterize this pathogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Jenkins
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, NW3 2QG, London, UK.
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van Duynhoven YTHP, Friesema IHM, Schuurman T, Roovers A, van Zwet AA, Sabbe LJM, van der Zwaluw WK, Notermans DW, Mulder B, van Hannen EJ, Heilmann FGC, Buiting A, Jansen R, Kooistra-Smid AMD. Prevalence, characterisation and clinical profiles of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in The Netherlands. Clin Microbiol Infect 2008; 14:437-45. [PMID: 18325039 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-0691.2008.01963.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in The Netherlands is traditionally limited to serogroup O157. To assess the relative importance of STEC, including non-O157 serogroups, stool samples submitted nationwide for investigation of enteric pathogens or diarrhoea were screened with real-time PCR for the presence of the Shiga toxin genes. Patients were selected if their stool contained blood upon macroscopic examination, if they had a history of bloody diarrhoea, were diagnosed with haemolytic uraemic syndrome, or were aged <6 years (irrespective of the bloody aspect of the stool). PCR-positive stools were forwarded to a central laboratory for STEC isolation and typing. In total, 4069 stools were examined, with 68 (1.7%) positive PCR results. The highest prevalence was for stools containing macroscopic blood (3.5%), followed by stools from patients with a history of bloody diarrhoea (2.4%). Among young children, the prevalence (1.0%) was not significantly higher than among random, non-bloody, stool samples from diarrhoeal patients (1.4%). STEC strains were isolated from 25 (38%) PCR-positive stools. Eleven O-serogroups were detected, including five STEC O157 strains. As serogroup O157 represented only 20% of the STEC isolates, laboratories should be encouraged to use techniques enabling them to detect non-O157 serogroups, in parallel with culture, for isolation and subsequent characterisation of STEC strains for public health surveillance and detection of outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y T H P van Duynhoven
- Centre for Infectious Disease Control Netherlands, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment RIVM, Bilthoven, The Netherlands.
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Murphy M, Buckley JF, Whyte P, O’Mahony M, Anderson W, Wall PG, Fanning S. Surveillance of Dairy Production Holdings Supplying Raw Milk to the Farmhouse Cheese Sector for Escherichia coli O157, O26 and O111. Zoonoses Public Health 2007; 54:358-65. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1863-2378.2007.01073.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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43
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Waser M, Michels KB, Bieli C, Flöistrup H, Pershagen G, von Mutius E, Ege M, Riedler J, Schram-Bijkerk D, Brunekreef B, van Hage M, Lauener R, Braun-Fahrländer C. Inverse association of farm milk consumption with asthma and allergy in rural and suburban populations across Europe. Clin Exp Allergy 2007; 37:661-70. [PMID: 17456213 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2222.2006.02640.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 200] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Dietary interventions as a means for atopy prevention attract great interest. Some studies in rural environments claimed an inverse association between consumption of farm-produced dairy products and the prevalence of allergic diseases, but current evidence is controversial. OBJECTIVE To investigate whether consumption of farm-produced products is associated with a lower prevalence of asthma and allergy when compared with shop-purchased products. METHODS Cross sectional multi-centre study (PARSIFAL) including 14,893 children aged 5-13 years from five European countries (2823 from farm families and 4606 attending Steiner Schools as well as 5440 farm reference and 2024 Steiner reference children). A detailed questionnaire including a dietary component was completed and allergen-specific IgE was measured in serum. RESULTS Farm milk consumption ever in life showed a statistically significant inverse association with asthma: covariate adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.61-0.88], rhinoconjunctivitis: aOR 0.56 (0.43-0.73) and sensitization to pollen and the food mix fx5 (cut-off level of >or=3.5 kU/L): aOR 0.67 (0.47-0.96) and aOR 0.42 (0.19-0.92), respectively, and sensitization to horse dander: aOR 0.50 (95% CI 0.28-0.87). The associations were observed in all four subpopulations and independent of farm-related co-exposures. Other farm-produced products were not independently related to any allergy-related health outcome. CONCLUSION Our results indicate that consumption of farm milk may offer protection against asthma and allergy. A deepened understanding of the relevant protective components of farm milk and a better insight into the biological mechanisms underlying this association are warranted as a basis for the development of a safe product for prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Waser
- Institute of Social and Preventive Medicine, University of Basel, Switzerland.
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44
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Heinikainen S, Pohjanvirta T, Eklund M, Siitonen A, Pelkonen S. Tracing shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli O103, O145, and O174 infections from farm residents to cattle. J Clin Microbiol 2007; 45:3817-20. [PMID: 17804658 PMCID: PMC2168472 DOI: 10.1128/jcm.00198-07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Severe diarrheal infections caused by Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli O103:H2:stx(1):eae-epsilon:ehx, O145:H28:stx(1):eae-gamma:ehx (two cases in a family), and O174:H21:stx(2c) in farm residents were traced to cattle. Molecular methods were applied to the isolation and characterization of the strains. The causative strains were also isolated from cattle samples 1 or 4 months later.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sirpa Heinikainen
- Department of Animal Diseases and Food Safety Research, Evira, Finnish Food Safety Authority, Kuopio Research Unit, FI-70701, Kuopio, Finland.
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45
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Adesiyun A, Stoute S, David B. Pre-processed bovine milk quality in Trinidad: Prevalence and characteristics of bacterial pathogens and occurrence of antimicrobial residues in milk from collection centres. Food Control 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodcont.2005.10.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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46
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Bielaszewska M, Prager R, Köck R, Mellmann A, Zhang W, Tschäpe H, Tarr PI, Karch H. Shiga toxin gene loss and transfer in vitro and in vivo during enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26 infection in humans. Appl Environ Microbiol 2007; 73:3144-50. [PMID: 17400784 PMCID: PMC1907125 DOI: 10.1128/aem.02937-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 158] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Escherichia coli serogroup O26 consists of enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) and atypical enteropathogenic E. coli (aEPEC). The former produces Shiga toxins (Stx), major determinants of EHEC pathogenicity, encoded by bacteriophages; the latter is Stx negative. We have isolated EHEC O26 from patient stools early in illness and aEPEC O26 from stools later in illness, and vice versa. Intrapatient EHEC and aEPEC isolates had quite similar pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns, suggesting that they might have arisen by conversion between the EHEC and aEPEC pathotypes during infection. To test this hypothesis, we asked whether EHEC O26 can lose stx genes and whether aEPEC O26 can be lysogenized with Stx-encoding phages from EHEC O26 in vitro. The stx2 loss associated with the loss of Stx2-encoding phages occurred in 10% to 14% of colonies tested. Conversely, Stx2- and, to a lesser extent, Stx1-encoding bacteriophages from EHEC O26 lysogenized aEPEC O26 isolates, converting them to EHEC strains. In the lysogens and EHEC O26 donors, Stx2-converting bacteriophages integrated in yecE or wrbA. The loss and gain of Stx-converting bacteriophages diversifies PFGE patterns; this parallels findings of similar but not identical PFGE patterns in the intrapatient EHEC and aEPEC O26 isolates. EHEC O26 and aEPEC O26 thus exist as a dynamic system whose members undergo ephemeral interconversions via loss and gain of Stx-encoding phages to yield different pathotypes. The suggested occurrence of this process in the human intestine has diagnostic, clinical, epidemiological, and evolutionary implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Bielaszewska
- Institute for Hygiene and the National Consulting Laboratory on Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome, University of Münster, Germany.
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Johnson KE, Thorpe CM, Sears CL. The emerging clinical importance of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli. Clin Infect Dis 2006; 43:1587-95. [PMID: 17109294 DOI: 10.1086/509573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 346] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2006] [Accepted: 08/29/2006] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In 1982, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome were linked to infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7, a serotype now classified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC). Thereafter, hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome associated with non-O157 STEC serogroups were reported, with the frequency of non-O157 STEC illness rivaling that of O157:H7 in certain geographic regions. In the United States, non-O157 E. coli may account for up to 20%-50% of all STEC infections. A high index of suspicion, paired with options to test for non-O157 STEC infection, are necessary for early recognition and appropriate treatment of these infections. Supportive care without the use of antibiotics is currently considered to be optimal treatment for all STEC infections. This commentary provides a perspective on the non-O157 STEC as human pathogens, how and when the clinician should approach the diagnosis of these organisms, and the challenges ahead.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristine E Johnson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA.
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Abstract
Molecular epidemiology is a relatively new branch of epidemiology that uses molecular biology methods to study health and disease in populations. This article gives an introduction to molecular epidemiologic terminology and methodology and its usefulness in large animal medicine and veterinary public health. Applications in source tracing and vaccine studies and insights into transmission dynamics, host specificity, and niche adaptation of infectious organisms are presented. Examples are drawn from a variety of diseases, organisms, and host species and range from the global level to the individual-animal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruth N Zadoks
- Quality Milk Production Services, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14850-1263, USA.
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Mentula S, Virtanen T, Kanervo-Nordström A, Harmoinen J, Westermarck E, Rautio M, Huovinen P, Könönen E. Relatedness of Escherichia coli strains with different susceptibility patterns isolated from beagle dogs during ampicillin treatment. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2006; 27:46-50. [PMID: 16324827 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2005.09.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2005] [Accepted: 09/14/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of ampicillin treatment on selection and diversity of ampicillin-resistant intestinal Escherichia coli in beagles treated with ampicillin, ampicillin + beta-lactamase (targeted to degrade antibiotic residues in the gut) or placebo. Selected faecal (n = 339) and jejunal (n = 63) E. coli isolates with known resistance patterns were typed using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Among the 25 detected PFGE types, ampicillin resistance was detected in 6, none of which was dominant over others among the dogs. The resistant types increased especially in the ampicillin group, whilst beta-lactamase inhibited their emergence. Selection of genetically unrelated resistant strains rather than emerging resistance among previously susceptible strains accounts for increasing resistance rates during ampicillin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silja Mentula
- Anaerobe Reference Laboratory, Department of Bacterial and Inflammatory Diseases, National Public Health Institute (KTL), Helsinki, Finland.
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Rey J, Sánchez S, Blanco JE, Hermoso de Mendoza J, Hermoso de Mendoza M, García A, Gil C, Tejero N, Rubio R, Alonso JM. Prevalence, serotypes and virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from ovine and caprine milk and other dairy products in Spain. Int J Food Microbiol 2006; 107:212-7. [PMID: 16260057 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijfoodmicro.2005.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2005] [Revised: 07/13/2005] [Accepted: 08/17/2005] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to determinate the prevalence, serotypes and virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from different dairy products (DP) in Spain with the purpose of determining whether DP represent a potential source of STEC pathogenic for humans. A total of 502 DP were examined from 64 different ovine and caprine flocks and 6 dairy plants in Extremadura (Western Spain). Samples were collected monthly between March 2003 and June 2004 and included 360 unpasteurised milk obtained from the bulk tank, 103 fresh cheese curds and 39 cheeses. Samples obtained were examined for STEC using genotypic (PCR) methods. STEC strains were detected from 39 (10.8%) bulk tank, 4 (3.9%) fresh cheese curds and 2 (5%) cheese, whereas O157:H7 serotype were isolated from one (0.3%) bulk tank. A total of 9 STEC strains (O27:H18, O45:H38, O76:H19, O91:H28, O157:H7, ONT:H7, ONT:H9 and ONT:H21) were identified in this study. One of them, the serotype O27:H18, has not been reported previously as STEC. PCR showed that 3 strains carried stx1 genes, 5 possessed stx2 genes and 1 both stx1 and stx2. Whereas all STEC caprine isolates showed ehxA genes, only O157:H7 serotype showed eae virulence genes. The strain O157:H7 isolated possessed intimin type gamma1 and belonged to phage type 31. This study confirms that dairy product is an important reservoir of STEC pathogenic for humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Rey
- Unidad de Patología Infecciosa y Epidemiología, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Extremadura, Avda. de la Universidad s/n, 10071 Cáceres, Spain.
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