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 ...

AIMS The aim of this study was to isolate Escherichia coli O26, O103, O111 and O145 from 745 samples of bovine faeces using (i) immunomagnetic separation (IMS) beads coated with antibodies to lipopolysaccharide, and slide agglutination (SA) tests and (ii) PCR and DNA probes for the detection of the Verocytotoxin (VT) genes. METHODS AND RESULTS IMS-SA tests detected 132 isolates of presumptive...

Escherichia coli O157:H7 or E. coli O26, which were AS (antibiotic sensitive), AR (laboratory created antibiotic resistant mutants), or naturally MAR (multi-antibiotic resistant), were inoculated into laboratory media, yoghurt or orange juice and their growth/survival monitored during enrichment at 37 degrees C or storage at 4 degrees C. The strains were also inoculated into minced beef and the...

Escherichia coli is a group of bacteria which has raised a lot of safety concerns in recent years. Five major intestinal pathogenic groups have been recognized amongst which the verocytotoxin or shiga-toxin (stx1 and/or stx2) producing E. coli (VTEC or STEC respectively) have received a lot of attention recently. Indeed, due to the high number of outbreaks related to VTEC strains, the European ...

BACKGROUND Several cases of human infection caused by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157:H7 in Sweden have been connected with cattle farm visits. Between 1996 and 2002, 18 farms were classified as the source of human cases with isolation of EHEC (Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli) after VTEC O157:H7 had been isolated from cattle on those farms. RESULTS Characterization by pha...

Diarrhea is an important hygienic problem in under development countries. Among pathogenic agents Escherichia coli is the most etiologic agent of diarrhea in children below five years old. Some E. coli strains produce cytotoxins that have cytopathic effect on vero cell and identified as verotoxin. This study performs for resolve frequency of Vero Toxigenic Escherichia coli...

European Commission regulation 2073/2005 on the microbiological criteria for food requires that Escherichia coli is monitored as an indicator of hygienic conditions. Since verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) strains often cause food-borne infections by the consumption of raw food, the Biological Hazards (BIOHAZ) panel of the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) recommended their monitoring in foo...

Produce has become a major source of foodborne illness, and may become contaminated through surface water irrigation. The objectives of this study were to (i) determine the frequency of verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella in surface waters used for irrigation in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia, (ii) assess the suitability of fecal coliforms and generic E....

The relationship between differential susceptibility to hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and levels of globotriaosylceramide (Gb3) in serum was studied in patients infected with verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). The serum Gb3 levels in patients with HUS were lower than these in diarrheal patients without subsequent HUS or in patients without clinical symptoms, indicating that individu...

Increasing numbers of cases of Vero cytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157 infection, well published incidents, and new scientific evidence make it appropriate to produce new guidelines for their control. This document reviews the clinical and epidemiological features of VTEC O157 infection, describes the principles of microbiological investigation and laboratory safety, and presents ...