The prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Japan was examined by using stool samples from 78 farms. As determined by screening with stx-PCR, it was prevalent in 46% of calves, 66% of heifers and 69% of cows. Of the 962 isolates picked by colony stx hybridization, 92 isolates from 54 farms were characterized to determine their O serogroups, virulence factor genes and antimicrobial resistance. Of these 92 isolates, 74 (80%) could be classified into O serogroups; 50% of these 74 isolates belonged to O serogroups O8, O26, O84, O113, and O116 and one isolate belonged to O serogroup O157. Locus of enterocyte effacement genes were detected in 24% of the isolates, and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) hlyA genes were detected in 72% of the isolates. Neither the bundle-forming pilus gene nor the enteropathogenic E. coli adherence factor plasmid was found. (Clinical Epidemiology Section, Department of Epidemiology TEL +81-298-38-7798)
References:
Kobayashi H. et al. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 67: 484-489 (2001).
