Serotypes and virulence genes of bovine Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) isolated from a feedlot in Argentina

Vet Microbiol. 2004 May 20;100(1-2):3-9. doi: 10.1016/S0378-1135(03)00127-5.

Abstract

Grazing-fed cattle were previously demonstrated to be reservoir of non-O157 Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) serotypes in Argentina. The acid-resistance of some STEC strains makes it reasonable to assume the presence in feedlot of particular STEC serotypes. Fifty-nine animals were sampled every 2 weeks during 6 months by rectal swabs. Twenty-seven of 59 animals (45.8%) were shown to be Stx2(+); 3/59 (5.1%) carried Stx1(+) and 7/59 (11.9%) were Stx1(+) Stx2(+). Among 44 STEC isolates, 31 isolates were associated to 10 O serogroups (O2, O15, O25, O103, O145, O146, O157, O171, O174, O175) and 13 were considered non-typable (NT). Six H antigens (H2, H7, H8, H19, H21, H25) were distributed in 21 isolates whereas 23 were non-mobile (H-). Seventeen of 44 strains (38.6%) were eaeA(+) and 14 (31.8%) harbored the 60MDa plasmid. The megaplasmid (Mp) and eaeA gene were simultaneously found in a limited number of serotypes belonging to the enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). E. coli O157:H7 strains, isolated from four (6.8%) animals, corresponded to the Stx2(+), eaeA(+), Mp(+) pattern. Three O157:H7 strains belonged to phage type 4 and the other strain was atypical. Many serotypes isolated from grain-fed cattle (O2:H25, O15:H21, O25:H19, O145:H-, O146:H-, O146:H21, O157:H7, O175:H8) also differed from those isolated by us previously from grazing animals. The serotypes O15:H21, O25:H19 and O175:H8 had not been identified at present as belonging to STEC. This work provides new data for the understanding of the ecology of STEC in grain-fed cattle and confirms that cattle are an important reservoir of STEC.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adhesins, Bacterial / chemistry
  • Adhesins, Bacterial / genetics
  • Agglutination Tests / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Argentina
  • Bacteriophage Typing / veterinary
  • Carrier Proteins / chemistry
  • Carrier Proteins / genetics
  • Cattle
  • Cattle Diseases / microbiology*
  • DNA, Bacterial / chemistry
  • DNA, Bacterial / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / classification*
  • Escherichia coli / genetics
  • Escherichia coli / growth & development
  • Escherichia coli / pathogenicity
  • Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / veterinary*
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / chemistry
  • Escherichia coli Proteins / genetics
  • O Antigens / genetics
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction / veterinary
  • Serotyping / veterinary
  • Shiga Toxin 1 / chemistry
  • Shiga Toxin 1 / genetics*
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / chemistry
  • Shiga Toxin 2 / genetics*
  • Virulence

Substances

  • Adhesins, Bacterial
  • Carrier Proteins
  • DNA, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli Proteins
  • O Antigens
  • Shiga Toxin 1
  • Shiga Toxin 2
  • eaeA protein, E coli