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Application of multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis to monitor Verocytotoxin‐producing E scherichia coli O157 phage type 8 in England and Wales: emergence of a profile associated with a national outbreak
Author(s) -
Perry N.,
Cheasty T.,
Dallman T.,
Launders N.,
Willshaw G.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.12303
Subject(s) - multiple loci vntr analysis , vtec , variable number tandem repeat , verocytotoxin , biology , outbreak , escherichia coli , tandem repeat , genetics , microbiology and biotechnology , virology , genotype , genome , gene
Aims Evaluation of multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis ( MLVA ) to subtype all isolates of Vero cytotoxin‐producing E scherichia coli O157 phage type 8 in England and Wales. Methods and Results Over a 13 month period from December 2010, 483 isolates of VTEC O157 PT 8 were tested by MLVA ; 39% were received in the first 4 months of 2011, when infections are generally low. One profile, or single locus variants of it, was present in 249 (52%) isolates but was not common previously. These cases represented a national increase in PT 8, associated epidemiologically with soil‐contaminated vegetables. Most of the 177 other MLVA profiles were unique to a single isolate. Profiles shared by >1 isolate included cases from two small community, food‐borne outbreaks and 11 households. Several shared profiles were found among 23 isolates without known links. Apart from one group, isolates linked to travel abroad had very diverse profiles. Conclusions Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis discriminated apparent sporadic isolates of the same PT and assisted in detection of cases in an emerging national outbreak. Significance and Impact of the Study Multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis is an epidemiologically valid complement to surveillance and applicable as a rapid, practical test for large numbers of isolates.