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Phenotypic and genotypic traits of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli strains isolated from beef cattle from Paraná State, southern Brazil
Author(s) -
Farah S.M.S.S.,
De Souza E.M.,
Pedrosa F.O.,
Irino K.,
Da Silva L.R.,
Rigo L.U.,
Steffens M.B.R.,
Pigatto C.P.,
FadelPicheth C.M.T.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
letters in applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.698
H-Index - 110
eISSN - 1472-765X
pISSN - 0266-8254
DOI - 10.1111/j.1472-765x.2007.02123.x
Subject(s) - stx2 , shiga toxin , serotype , biology , escherichia coli , microbiology and biotechnology , genotype , shiga like toxin , virulence , feces , beef cattle , virology , gene , genetics
Abstract Aims: To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of Shiga toxin‐producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle from Paraná State, southern Brazil. Methods and Results: One hundred and seven faeces cattle samples were cultured on Sorbitol‐MacConkey agar. Escherichia coli colonies were tested for production of Shiga toxin using Vero‐cell assay. A high prevalence (57%) of STEC was found. Sixty‐four STEC were serotyped and examined for the presence of stx 1 , stx 2 , eae , ehxA and saa genes and stx 2 variants. The isolates belonged to 31 different serotypes, of which three (O152:H8, O175:H21 and O176:H18) had not previously been associated with STEC. A high prevalence of stx 2 ‐type genes was found (62 strains, 97%). Variant forms found were stx 2 , stx 2c , stx 2vhb , stx 2vO111v / OX393 and a form nonclassifiable by PCR‐RFLP. The commonest genotypes were stx 2 ehxA saa and stx 1 stx 2 ehxA saa . Conclusions: A high frequency of STEC was observed. Several strains belong to serotypes previously associated with human disease and carry stx 2 and other virulence factors, thus potentially representing a risk to human health. Significance and Impact of the Study: This is the first study of STEC in Paraná State, and its findings emphasize the need for proper cattle handling to prevent human contamination.