Natural and experimental infection of normal cattle with Escherichia coli O157

Escherichia coli Shiga Toxins and Gut Microbiota Interactions

Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 are enterohemorrhagic bacteria that induce hemorrhagic colitis. This, in turn, may result in potentially lethal complications, such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), which is characterized by thrombocytopenia, acute renal failure, and neurological abnormalities. Both species of bacteria produce Shiga toxins (Stxs), a phage-encoded exotoxin inhibiting protein synthesis in host cells that are primarily responsible for bacterial virulence. Although most studies have focused on the pathogenic roles of Stxs as harmful substances capable of inducing cell death and as proinflammatory factors that sensitize the host target organs to damage, less is known about the interface between the commensalism of bacterial communities and the pathogenicity of the toxins. The gut contains more species of bacteria than any other organ, providing pathogenic bacteria that colonize the gut with a greater number of opportunities to encounter other bacterial species. Notably, the presence in the intestines of pathogenic EHEC producing Stxs associated with severe illness may have compounding effects on the diversity of the indigenous bacteria and bacterial communities in the gut. The present review focuses on studies describing the roles of Stxs in the complex interactions between pathogenic Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, the resident microbiome, and host tissues. The determination of these interactions may provide insights into the unresolved issues regarding these pathogens.

Daily variations in Escherichia coli O157 shedding patterns in a cohort of dairy heifers at pasture

Escherichia coli O157 is a human pathogen carried asymptomatically by cattle and shed in their faeces. Infection can occur from the consumption of contaminated beef or by direct contact. Large variations of E. coli O157 shedding in cattle exist and vary in the number of cattle positive for E. coli O157 and the amount of bacteria (c.f.u./g faeces) shed by positive animals. To investigate E. coli O157 shedding and super-shedding (>104 c.f.u./g) we used daily sampling over two 8-day periods; in January 2013 (n = 12) and February 2013 (n = 21). Samples were tested by direct faecal culture for enumeration and by immunomagnetic separation to detect lower levels of shedding. We identified three patterns of shedding, similar to previously observed descriptions: intermittent, transient and consistent. The most commonly observed pattern was intermittent shedding and variation in the level of shedding could be large. This extreme variation is demonstrated by a heifer from which E. coli O157 could be not detected one day, was super-shedding E. coli O157 the next and was detected as shedding >100 c.f.u./g the following day. Recto-anal mucosal swab testing did not predict super-shedding in this cohort of heifers. The variable individual patterns of shedding suggest that a common mechanism of infection may not operate within such a herd when considering previously described patterns and the inferred mechanisms. The sporadic and intermittent nature of shedding is a challenge to identifying risk factors and potential intervention strategies.

The Interplay between the Microbiota and Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli

The gastrointestinal tract of mammals is home to a plethora of microbial species that comprise the microbiota. The role of the microbiota in human health is at the forefront of science in recent years, because it is now appreciated that this intricate microbe-host association shapes the host's immune response and physiology. Many diseases are associated with changes in the microbiota, called dysbiosis. Dysbiosis is associated with obesity, metabolic syndromes, inflammatory bowel-disease, inflammatory bowel syndrome, cancer, diabetes, allergies, and autism. The microbiota is largely regarded as a barrier to enteric infections, such as with enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC). However, the interactions between pathogens and the microbiota are largely unknown, as is how these interactions influence the outcome of enteric disease. The microbial composition of the gastrointestinal tract shapes the landscape in which EHEC survives within the host. This organism competes for nutrients derived from the host diet, liberates additional resources from dietary and host sources, and produces signaling molecules sensed by EHEC to direct gene expression. To successfully colonize the recto-anal junction of a ruminant, the EHEC reservoir, or the colon of a human, an accidental host, EHEC must alter its physiology to survive within the host digestive tract. In this article, we explore the classes of molecules produced or modified by the microbiota that appear to be instrumental in governing virulence gene expression of EHEC. We also explore how interaction with different microbiotas influences EHEC infectivity and host interaction.

Enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) pathogenesis

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) serotype O157:H7 is a human pathogen responsible for outbreaks of bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) worldwide. Conventional antimicrobials trigger an SOS response in EHEC that promotes the release of the potent Shiga toxin that is responsible for much of the morbidity and mortality associated with EHEC infection. Cattle are a natural reservoir of EHEC, and approximately 75% of EHEC outbreaks are linked to the consumption of contaminated bovine-derived products. This review will discuss how EHEC causes disease in humans but is asymptomatic in adult ruminants. It will also analyze factors utilized by EHEC as it travels through the bovine gastrointestinal (GI) tract that allow for its survival through the acidic environment of the distal stomachs, and for its ultimate colonization in the recto-anal junction (RAJ). Understanding the factors crucial for EHEC survival and colonization in cattle will aid in the development of alternative strategies to prevent EHEC shedding into the environment and consequent human infection.

Verocytotoxin-producing and attaching and effacing activity of Escherichia coli isolated from diseased farm livestock

Between May 2005 and June 2008, strategically selected isolates of Escherichia coli obtained from clinical submissions to Veterinary Laboratories Agency (VLA) regional laboratories in England and Wales were serogrouped and examined by PCR for verocytotoxin (VT) production and attaching and effacing (eae) genes, both of which are zoonotic determinants. VT-encoding genes were detected in 54 (5.3 per cent) of the 1022 isolates examined. Only one isolate (0.1 per cent) was identified as verocytotoxigenic E coli (VTEC) O157. Non-O157 VTECs were present in 4.7 per cent of isolates from cattle, compared with 7.9 per cent in pigs, 2.3 per cent in sheep and 6.7 per cent in goats. The predominant serogroup identified in cattle was O26 and the predominant serogroup in pigs was O2. Attaching and effacing activity was attributed to 69 (6.8 per cent) of all isolates.

Escherichia coli O157:H7: animal reservoir and sources of human infection

This review surveys the literature on carriage and transmission of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in the context of virulence factors and sampling/culture technique. EHEC of the O157:H7 serotype are worldwide zoonotic pathogens responsible for the majority of severe cases of human EHEC disease. EHEC O157:H7 strains are carried primarily by healthy cattle and other ruminants, but most of the bovine strains are not transmitted to people, and do not exhibit virulence factors associated with human disease. Prevalence of EHEC O157:H7 is probably underestimated. Carriage of EHEC O157:H7 by individual animals is typically short-lived, but pen and farm prevalence of specific isolates may extend for months or years and some carriers, designated as supershedders, may harbor high intestinal numbers of the pathogen for extended periods. The prevalence of EHEC O157:H7 in cattle peaks in the summer and is higher in postweaned calves and heifers than in younger and older animals. Virulent strains of EHEC O157:H7 are rarely harbored by pigs or chickens, but are found in turkeys. The bacteria rarely occur in wildlife with the exception of deer and are only sporadically carried by domestic animals and synanthropic rodents and birds. EHEC O157:H7 occur in amphibian, fish, and invertebrate carriers, and can colonize plant surfaces and tissues via attachment mechanisms different from those mediating intestinal attachment. Strains of EHEC O157:H7 exhibit high genetic variability but typically a small number of genetic types predominate in groups of cattle and a farm environment. Transmission to people occurs primarily via ingestion of inadequately processed contaminated food or water and less frequently through contact with manure, animals, or infected people.

Assessment of diagnostic tools for identifying cattle shedding and super-shedding Escherichia coli O157:H7 in a longitudinal study of naturally infected feedlot steers in Ohio

The objectives of this study were to compare the performance of different diagnostic protocols (rectoanal mucosal swabs and immunomagnetic separation [RAMS-IMS], fecal samples and IMS [fecal-IMS], and direct plating) to determine the prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to evaluate the pattern of E. coli O157:H7 shedding and super-shedding (defined as having a direct plating count equal to or >10(4) colony forming units of E. coli O157:H7 per gram of feces) in a longitudinal study of naturally infected feedlot steers. RAMS and fecal grab samples were obtained at 14-day intervals from 168 Angus-cross beef steers over a period of 22 weeks. Fecal samples were assessed by direct plating and IMS, whereas RAMS were tested only by enrichment followed by IMS to recover E. coli O157:H7. The period prevalence for shedding was high (62%) among feedlot steers and super-shedding was higher (23%) than anticipated. Although direct plating was the least sensitive method to detect E. coli O157:H7-positive samples, over 20% of high bacterial load samples were not detected by RAMS-IMS and/or fecal-IMS. The sensitivity of RAMS-IMS, fecal-IMS, and direct plating protocols was estimated using simple and multilevel mixed-effects logistic regression models, in which the dependent variable was the dichotomous results of each test and gold standard (i.e., parallel interpretation of the three protocols)-positive individuals were included as an independent variable along with other factors such as dietary supplements, time of sampling, and being exposed to a super-shedding pen-mate. The associations between these factors and the sensitivity of the diagnostic protocols were not statistically significant. In conclusion, differences in the reported impact of diet and probiotics on the shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in previous studies using RAMS-IMS or fecal-IMS were unlikely due to their impact on test performance.

Attaching-effacing Escherichia coli infections in cattle

Diarrheagenic Escherichia coli are now broadly placed into 6 classes based on virulence mechanisms. One of these classes, enterotoxigenic E coli, is the most common cause of diarrhea in beef and dairy calves in the first 4 days of life. Two other diarrheagenic classes, enterohemorrhagic E coli (EHEC) and enteropathogenic E coli (EPEC), are important causes of disease in human beings, but less well substantiated causes of diarrhea in calves. E coli strains that cause hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans, express high levels of Shiga toxin, cause attaching-effacing (A/E) lesions in intestinal epithelial cells, and possess a specific 60-MDa EHEC plasmid are known as EHEC. One feature EHEC and EPEC have in common is the causation of intestinal epithelial lesions known as attaching and effacing (A/E). Attaching-effacing E coli (AEEC) is a designation for those E coli strains known to cause A/E lesions or at least carry the genes for this trait, and therefore include organisms that fall into either the EHEC or EPEC classes. Because cattle are carriers of many different serotypes of EHEC, much emphasis has been placed on the public health and food safety concerns associated with the fecal shedding of these organisms. However, much less emphasis has been given to their roles as diarrheagenic pathogens of cattle. The goal of this article is to address the question of pathogenicity, with a review that focuses on the results of studies of natural and experimental infections with these organisms. The authors conclude that there is overwhelming evidence that many different serogroups of AEEC are diarrheagenic pathogens of calves.

Experimental infection in calves with a specific subtype of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 of bovine origin

BACKGROUND

In Sweden, a particular subtype of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157:H7, originally defined as being of phage type 4, and carrying two vtx2 genes, has been found to cause the majority of reported human infections during the past 15 years, including both sporadic cases and outbreaks. One plausible explanation for this could be that this particular subtype is better adapted to colonise cattle, and thereby may be excreted in greater concentrations and for longer periods than other VTEC O157:H7 subtypes.

METHODS

In an experimental study, 4 calves were inoculated with 109 colony forming units (cfu) of strain CCUG 53931, representative of the subtype VTEC O157:H7 (PT4;vtx2;vtx2c). Two un-inoculated calves were co-housed with the inoculated calves. Initially, the VTEC O157:H7 strain had been isolated from a dairy herd with naturally occurring infection and the farm had previously also been linked to human infection with the same strain. Faecal samples were collected over up to a 2-month period and analysed for VTEC O157 by immuno-magnetic separation (IMS), and IMS positive samples were further analysed by direct plating to elucidate the shedding pattern. Samples were also collected from the pharynx.

RESULTS

All inoculated calves proved culture-positive in faeces within 24 hours after inoculation and the un-inoculated calves similarly on days 1 and 3 post-inoculation. One calf was persistently culture-positive for 43 days; in the remainder, the VTEC O157:H7 count in faeces decreased over the first 2 weeks. All pharyngeal samples were culture-negative for VTEC O157:H7.

CONCLUSION

This study contributes with information concerning the dynamics of a specific subtype of VTEC O157:H7 colonisation in dairy calves. This subtype, VTEC O157:H7 (PT4;vtx2;vtx2c), is frequently isolated from Swedish cattle and has also been found to cause the majority of reported human infections in Sweden during the past 15 years. In most calves, inoculated with a representative strain of this specific subtype, the numbers of shed bacteria declined over the first two weeks. One calf could possibly be classified as a high-shedder, excreting high levels of the bacterium for a prolonged period.

Mucosal antibody responses of colonized cattle to Escherichia coli O157-secreted proteins, flagellin, outer membrane proteins and lipopolysaccharide

The aim of this work was to characterize adaptive mucosal immune responses to Escherichia coli O157:H7 at the principal site of colonization in the bovine species. Following experimental infection, extracts from terminal rectum mucosal samples were tested for IgA antibodies by immunoblotting against different bacterial antigens including: whole-cell E. coli O157:H7 with and without proteinase treatment, outer membrane and cytoplasmic preparations, secreted protein supernatants and purified E. coli O157 lipopolysaccharide and H7 flagellin. Lipopolysaccharide and H7 flagellin preparations were also used to coat enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay plates to determine mucosal IgG1 and IgA antibody titers. In this work, evidence is presented of strong local IgA immune responses induced following infection at the bovine terminal rectal mucosa directed against multiple antigens including type III secretion-dependent proteins, O157 lipopolysaccharide, H7 flagellin and OmpC.

Isotype-specific antibody responses against Escherichia coli O157:H7 locus of enterocyte effacement proteins in adult beef cattle following experimental infection

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an important food-borne pathogen and cause of hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome in humans. Cattle are an important reservoir of E. coli O157:H7, in which the organism colonizes the intestinal tract and is shed in the feces. Vaccination of cattle has significant potential as a pre-harvest intervention strategy for E. coli O157:H7; however, basic information about the bovine immune responses to important bacterial colonization factors resulting from infection has not been reported. The serum and fecal IgG and IgA antibody responses of adult cattle to E. coli O157:H7 intimin, translocated intimin receptor (Tir), E. coli-secreted proteins (Esp)A, EspB and O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in response to infection were determined. All animals were seropositive for all five antigens prior to inoculation, with antibody titers to EspB and O157 LPS significantly higher (P<0.05) than those to Tir, intimin and EspA. After inoculation, the cattle became colonized and developed significant increases in their serum antibody titers to intimin, Tir, EspB, EspA and O157 LPS (P<0.05); however, by 42 days post-inoculation the titers to all except EspB were on the decline. In contrast, pre- and post-inoculation fecal IgG and IgA antibodies to these same antigens were not detected (<1:5). These results indicate that cattle respond serologically to E. coli O157:H7 type III secreted proteins, intimin and O157 LPS during the course of infection and the response is correlated with the extent of fecal shedding.

Shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in calves is reduced by prior colonization with the homologous strain

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 has a natural reservoir in the intestinal tracts of cattle. Colonization is asymptomatic and transient, but it is not clear if protective immunity is induced. This study demonstrates that prior colonization induces humoral immune responses to bacterial antigens and reduces bacterial shedding after experimental challenge with the homologous strain.

EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliO157: epidemiology and ecology in bovine production environments

EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli, particularly the O157(:H7) serogroup, has become a worldwide public health concern. Since cattle feces are often implicated as the source ofE. coliO157 in human infections, considerable resources have been devoted to defining the epidemiology and ecology ofE. coliO157 in cattle environments so that control might begin at the farm level. Diagnostic limitations and the complexity of often interrelated microbial, animal, herd, environmental and production factors have hindered the determination of the epidemiology, ecology and subsequent farm-level control ofE. coliO157. The widespread distribution ofE. coliO157, the transitory nature of fecal shedding, multiple potential environmental sources, lack of species specificity, and age-, feed- and time-related differences in cattle prevalence are documented. However, the significance and/or role of these factors in the epidemiology and ecology ofE. coliO157 is still unclear. Cattle are a major source ofE. coliO157, but it may be simplistic to believe that most herds are relatively closed systems with small percentages of cattle serving as true reservoirs. Practical on-farm control may require explicit definitions of the seemingly complex system(s) and the microbial, animal, herd, environmental and production factors involved in the multiplication, maintenance and transmission ofE. coliO157.

Adherence of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, O26, and O111 strains to bovine intestinal explants ex vivo

We used bovine intestinal organ culture to study infection by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli serogroups O157, O26, and O111. We show colonization and attaching and effacing lesion formation on explants derived from the ileum, colon, and rectum. Intimin and Tir were detected at the sites of adherent bacteria; Tir was essential for colonization.

Expression profiles of bovine genes in the rectoanal junction mucosa during colonization with Escherichia coli O157:H7

A bovine-specific cDNA microarray was used to characterize gene expression in the bovine rectoanal junction mucosa in response to Escherichia coli O157:H7 colonization, and results were confirmed using quantitative real-time PCR. The results showed involvement of cell processes including immune response, cell structure/dynamics, signal transduction, intercellular communication, and metabolism.

Subunit vaccines based on intimin and Efa-1 polypeptides induce humoral immunity in cattle but do not protect against intestinal colonisation by enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 or O26:H-

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections in humans are an important public health concern and are commonly acquired via contact with ruminant faeces. Cattle are a key control point however cross-protective vaccines for the control of EHEC in the bovine reservoir do not yet exist. The EHEC serogroups that are predominantly associated with human infection in Europe and North America are O157 and O26. Intimin and EHEC factor for adherence (Efa-1) play important roles in intestinal colonisation of cattle by EHEC and are thus attractive candidates for the development of subunit vaccines. Immunisation of calves with the cell-binding domain of intimin subtypes β or γ via the intramuscular route induced antigen-specific serum IgG1 and, in some cases salivary IgA responses, but did not reduce the magnitude or duration of faecal excretion of EHEC O26:H- (Int₂₈₀-β) or EHEC O157:H7 (Int₂₈₀-γ) upon subsequent experimental challenge. Similarly, immunisation of calves via the intramuscular route with the truncated Efa-1 protein (Efa-1′) from EHEC O157:H7 or a mixture of the amino-terminal and central thirds of the full-length protein (Efa-1-N and M) did not protect against intestinal colonisation by EHEC O157:H7 (Efa-1′) or EHEC O26:H- (Efa-1-N and M) despite the induction of humoral immunity. A portion of the serum IgG1 elicited by the truncated recombinant antigens in calves was confirmed to recognise native protein exposed on the bacterial surface. Calves immunised with a mixture of Int₂₈₀-γ and Efa-1′ or an EHEC O157:H7 bacterin via the intramuscular route then boosted via the intranasal route with the same antigens using cholera toxin B subunit as an adjuvant were also not protected against intestinal colonisation by EHEC O157:H7. These studies highlight the need for further studies to develop and test novel vaccines or treatments for control of this important foodborne pathogen.

Heterogeneous shedding of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle and its implications for control

Identification of the relative importance of within- and between-host variability in infectiousness and the impact of these heterogeneities on the transmission dynamics of infectious agents can enable efficient targeting of control measures. Cattle, a major reservoir host for the zoonotic pathogen Escherichia coli O157, are known to exhibit a high degree of heterogeneity in bacterial shedding densities. By relating bacterial count to infectiousness and fitting dynamic epidemiological models to prevalence data from a cross-sectional survey of cattle farms in Scotland, we identify a robust pattern: approximately 80% of the transmission arises from the 20% most infectious individuals. We examine potential control options under a range of assumptions about within- and between-host variability in infection dynamics. Our results show that the within-herd basic reproduction ratio, R(0), could be reduced to <1 with targeted measures aimed at preventing infection in the 5% of individuals with the highest overall infectiousness. Alternatively, interventions such as vaccination or the use of probiotics that aim to reduce bacterial carriage could produce dramatic reductions in R(0) by preventing carriage at concentrations corresponding to the top few percent of the observed range of counts. We conclude that a greater understanding of the cause of the heterogeneity in bacterial carriage could lead to highly efficient control measures to reduce the prevalence of E. coli O157.

Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli in veterinary medicine

The emergence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) as major human pathogens began with the identification of serotype O157:H7 in the early 1980s as the cause of various food-borne outbreaks of severe intestinal disease. The key virulence factors include verocytotoxins (Vt) and effectors and adhesins associated with type III secretion systems. Tracing the origins of human outbreaks reveals that the primary source of this organism is the ruminant gastro-intestinal tract and a variety of transmission routes to humans have been identified. The epidemiology of E. coli O157:H7 within cattle and other ruminants has been studied extensively and the prevalence of non-O157:H7 serotypes contrasts with the observed dominance of E. coli O157:H7 amongst human EHEC isolates. Although there is some evidence that EHEC cause disease in young animals, the high prevalence of Vt within healthy ruminants suggests that this is not a virulence factor within these species. An understanding of the mechanisms underpinning EHEC persistence within their natural reservoir hosts and the development of a molecular understanding of EHEC biology and evolution could eventually allow a reduction in the incidence of human disease and may reduce future threats. The use of animal models to replicate and study human EHEC pathogenesis is described.

Attaching-effacing bacteria in animals

Enteric bacteria with a demonstrable or potential ability to form attaching-effacing lesions, so-called attaching-effacing (AE) bacteria, have been found in the intestinal tracts of a wide variety of warm-blooded animal species, including man. In some host species, for example cattle, pigs, rabbits and human beings, attaching-effacing Escherichia coli (AEEC) have an established role as enteropathogens. In other host species, AE bacteria are of less certain significance. With continuing advances in the detection and typing of AE strains, the importance of these bacteria for many hosts is likely to become clearer. The pathogenic effects of AE bacteria result from adhesion to the intestinal mucosa by a variety of mechanisms, culminating in the formation of the characteristic intimate adhesion of the AE lesion. The ability to induce AE lesions is mediated by the co-ordinated expression of some 40 bacterial genes organized within a so-called pathogenicity island, known as the "Locus for Enterocyte Effacement". It is also believed that the production of bacterial toxins, principally Vero toxins, is a significant virulence factor for some AEEC strains. Recent areas of research into AE bacteria include: the use of Citrobacter rodentium to model human AEEC disease; quorum-sensing mechanisms used by AEEC to modulate virulence gene expression; and the potential role of adhesion in the persistent colonization of the intestine by AE bacteria. This review of AE bacteria covers their molecular biology, their occurrence in various animal species, and the diagnosis, pathology and clinical aspects of animal diseases with which they are associated. Reference is made to human pathogens where appropriate. The focus is mainly on natural colonization and disease, but complementary experimental data are also included.

Identification of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O26:H- genes required for intestinal colonization in calves

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) infections in humans are an important public health problem and are commonly acquired via contact with ruminant feces. The serogroups that are predominantly associated with human infection in the United States and Europe are O157 and O26. Serotypes O157:H7 and O26:H- differ in their virulence and tissue tropism in calves and therefore may colonize calves by distinct mechanisms. The mechanisms underlying EHEC intestinal colonization and pathogenesis are poorly understood. Signature-tagged mutagenesis was used to identify 59 genes of EHEC O26:H- that are required for the intestinal colonization of calves. Our results indicate important roles for locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE)-encoded type III secreted proteins in intestinal colonization. In addition, colonization is facilitated by cytotoxins, putative type III secreted proteins unlinked to the LEE, a putative fimbrial operon, and numerous genes involved in central metabolism and transport and genes of unknown function. Our data also imply that the elaboration of type I fimbriae by EHEC O26:H- is disadvantageous for persistence within the bovine intestines. These observations have important implications for the design of vaccines to control these important zoonotic pathogens.

Identification of Escherichia coli O157 : H7 genes influencing colonization of the bovine gastrointestinal tract using signature-tagged mutagenesis

Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) cause acute gastroenteritis in humans that may be complicated by life-threatening systemic sequelae. The predominant EHEC serotype affecting humans in the UK and North America is O157 : H7 and infections are frequently associated with contact with ruminant faeces. Strategies to reduce the carriage of EHEC in ruminants are expected to lower the incidence of human EHEC infections; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying persistence of EHEC in ruminants are poorly understood. This paper reports the first comprehensive survey for EHEC factors mediating colonization of the bovine intestines by using signature-tagged transposon mutagenesis. Seventy-nine E. coli O157 : H7 mutants impaired in their ability to colonize calves were isolated and 59 different genes required for intestinal colonization were identified by cloning and sequencing of the transposon insertion sites. Thirteen transposon insertions were clustered in the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which encodes a type III protein secretion system required for the formation of attaching and effacing lesions on intestinal epithelia. A putative structural component of the apparatus (EscN) is essential for intestinal colonization; however, the type III secreted effector protein Map plays only a minor role. Other Type III secretion-associated genes were implicated in colonization of calves by E. coli O157 : H7, including z0990 (ecs0850), which encodes the non-LEE-encoded type III secreted effector NleD and the closely related z3023 (ecs2672) and z3026 (ecs2674) genes which encode homologues of Shigella IpaH proteins. We also identified a novel fimbrial locus required for intestinal colonization in calves by E. coli O157 : H7 (z2199-z2206; ecs2114-ecs2107/locus 8) and demonstrated that a mutant harbouring a deletion of the putative major fimbrial subunit gene is rapidly out-competed by the parent strain in co-infection studies. Our data provide valuable new information for the development of intervention strategies.

Mutation of toxB and a truncated version of the efa-1 gene in Escherichia coli O157:H7 influences the expression and secretion of locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded proteins but not intestinal colonization in calves or sheep

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains comprise a broad group of bacteria, some of which cause attaching and effacing (AE) lesions and enteritis in humans and animals. Non-O157:H7 EHEC strains contain the gene efa-1 (referred to in previous publications as efa1), which influences adherence to cultured epithelial cells. An almost identical gene in enteropathogenic E. coli (lifA) mediates the inhibition of lymphocyte proliferation and proinflammatory cytokine synthesis. We have shown previously that significantly lower numbers of EHEC O5 and O111 efa-1 mutants are shed in feces following experimental infection in calves and that these mutants exhibit reduced adherence to intestinal epithelia compared with isogenic wild-type strains. E. coli O157:H7 strains lack efa-1 but encode a homolog on the pO157 plasmid (toxB/l7095) and contain a truncated version of the efa-1 gene (efa-1'/z4332 in O island 122 of the EDL933 chromosome). Here we report that E. coli O157:H7 toxB and efa-1' single and double mutants exhibit reduced adherence to cultured epithelial cells and show reduced expression and secretion of proteins encoded by the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE), which plays a key role in the host-cell interactions of EHEC. The activity of LEE1, LEE4, and LEE5 promoters was not significantly altered in E. coli O157:H7 strains harboring toxB or efa-1' mutations, indicating that the effect on the expression of LEE-encoded secreted proteins occurs at a posttranscriptional level. Despite affecting type III secretion, mutation of toxB and efa-1' did not significantly affect the course of fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 following experimental inoculation of 10- to 14-day-old calves or 6-week-old sheep. Mutation of tir caused a significant reduction in fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7 in calves, indicating that the formation of AE lesions is important for colonization of the bovine intestine.

The neuroendocrine stress hormone norepinephrine augments Escherichia coli O157:H7-induced enteritis and adherence in a bovine ligated ileal loop model of infection

The role of the neuroendocrine environment in the pathogenesis of enteric bacterial infections is increasingly being recognized. Here we report that norepinephrine augments Escherichia coli O157:H7-induced intestinal inflammatory and secretory responses as well as bacterial adherence to intestinal mucosa in a bovine ligated ileal loop model of infection. Norepinephrine modulation of enteritis and adherence was dependent on the ability of E. coli O157:H7 to form attaching and effacing lesions.

A comparison of two pre-enrichment media prior to immunomagnetic separation for the isolation of E. coli O157 from bovine faeces

AIMS

To compare the sensitivity of two pre-enrichment broth media prior to immunomagnetic separation for the isolation of Escherichia coli O157 from cattle faeces.

METHODS AND RESULTS

One-gram portions of 721 cattle faeces collected from 43 farms were pre-enriched in buffered peptone water containing vancomycin, cefixime and cefsulodin (BPW-VCC) and buffered peptone water without additives (BPW-WOA), respectively. A total of 137 samples were positive for E. coli O157: 127 pre-enriched with BPW-WOA and 89 pre-enriched in BPW-VCC. Representative isolates were tested for phage type, verotoxin and eae (E. coli attaching and effacing) gene sequences, resulting in the recognition of eight different types. All the E. coli O157 types recognized were isolated by both methods except for three different strains, each of which were isolated only on a single occasion: two by BPW-WOA and another by BPW-VCC.

CONCLUSIONS

The results clearly demonstrate, under the conditions of this study, that BPW without antibiotics was the superior pre-enrichment medium for the isolation of E. coli O157 from cattle faeces.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

The use of BPW-WOA in preference to BPW-VCC for the isolation of E. coli O157 from cattle faeces in future research and outbreak studies should lead to a higher number of positive isolates.