The prevalence and characteristics of eae - and stx -positive Escherichia coli in wild birds in the immediate environment of Tokyo Bay were examined using cloacal swab samples taken from 447 birds belonging to 62 species. PCR screening showed that the prevalence of stx - and eae -positive E. coli was 5% (23/447) and 25% (113/447), respectively. Four strains of stx 2f-positive E. coli were isolated from two feral pigeons, an oriental turtle-drove, and a barn swallow. In contrast, 39 eae -positive E. coli strains were isolated, with most expressed strains, such as intimin υ, κ, and μ, belonging to minor intimin subtypes in humans. Moreover, these strains did not possess any of the other pathogenic genes tested, such as stx s, ehx A, bfp, or irp.
(Center for Animal Disease Control and Prevention, TEL +81-29-838-7708)
Reference:
Kobayashi, H., et al. (2009) Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 75: 292-295.
