Serotypes, Virulence Genes, and Intimin Types of Shiga Toxin (Verotoxin)-Producing Escherichia coli Isolates from Healthy Sheep in Spain

• DOI: 10.1128/jcm.41.4.1351-1356.2003
• Publication Date: 2003-04-07T20:34:54Z
• Authors: M. Blanco; J. E. Blanco; A. Mora; J. Rey; J. M. Alonso; M. Hermoso; J. Hermoso; M. P. Alonso; G. Dahbi; E. A. González; M. I. Bernárdez; J. Blanco
• Keywords: Intimin; Flock; Shiga-like toxin

ABSTRACT Fecal swabs obtained from 1,300 healthy lambs in 93 flocks Spain 1997 were examined for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). STEC O157:H7 strains isolated 5 (0.4%) animals 4 flocks, and non-O157 462 (36%) 63 flocks. A total of 384 ovine characterized this study. PCR showed that 213 (55%) carried the stx 1 gene, 10 (3%) possessed 2 161 (42%) both genes. Enterohemolysin ( ehxA ) intimin eae virulence genes detected 106 (28%) 23 (6%) strains, respectively. The belonged to 35 O serogroups 64 O:H serotypes (including 18 new serotypes). However, 72% following 12 serotypes: O5:H−, O6:H10, O91:H−, O117:H−, O128:H−, O128:H2, O136:H20, O146:H8, O146:H21, O156:H−, O166:H28, ONT:H21 (where NT is nontypeable). Although 95 different seropathotypes (associations between genes), 49% only 11. O91:H− (54 strains) was most common seropathotype, followed by O128:H− (33 O6:H10 (25 strains). Three O26:H11, O156:H11, OX177:H11 had type β1; serotype γ1; 15 O49:H−, O52:H12, O156:H− (12 strains), O156:H25 intimin, ζ. majority (82%) previously found be associated with human 51% patients hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Thus, study confirms sheep are a major reservoir pathogenic humans.