Present problems in detection of sources of infection and chains of infection with enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC)

In the context of the detection of the haemolyticuraemic syndrome (HUS) and of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in 13 persons, 372 faeces samples from 13 herds of cattle in northern Bavaria were examined for the presence of EHEC. 128 (34.4%) of the faeces samples were found to be VT-positive. From...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published inBerliner und Münchener tierärztliche Wochenschrift Vol. 110; no. 6; p. 211
Main Authors Weber, A, Klie, H, Richter, H, Gallien, P, Timm, M, Perlberg, K W
Format Journal Article
LanguageGerman
Published Germany 01.06.1997
Subjects
Online AccessGet more information

Cover

Loading…
More Information
Summary:In the context of the detection of the haemolyticuraemic syndrome (HUS) and of enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) in 13 persons, 372 faeces samples from 13 herds of cattle in northern Bavaria were examined for the presence of EHEC. 128 (34.4%) of the faeces samples were found to be VT-positive. From 78 of these samples (61%), verotoxin-producing E. coli strains (VTEC) could be isolated. During these examinations, E. coli strains with combinations of markers (VT, eae A, EHEC haemolysin) being typical of EHEC were found in 3 samples from animals belonging to the same herd. In 2 cases, these could be assigned to O157:H-, in one, to O118:H16. It has not been possible to detect possible sources of infection and chains of infection assumed to exist in association with the detection of HUS and EHEC infections in humans because most cases had been diagnosed on the basis of verotoxin detection in stool specimens. Moreover, corresponding isolates for a comparative onward differentiation from verotoxin-producing E. coli isolates from animals were not or could not be made available.
ISSN:0005-9366