We have isolated one sorbitol-nonfermenting (SNF) Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolate and five sorbitol-fermenting (SF) E. coli O157:H(-) isolates that do not contain Shiga toxin (Stx) genes (stx). Isolates originated from patients with diarrhea (n = 4) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) (n = 2). All isolates harbored a chromosomal eae gene encoding gamma-intimin as well as the plasmid genes E-hl...

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7 and non-O157 have been implicated in many foodborne illnesses caused by the consumption of contaminated fresh produce. However, data on their persistence in soils are limited due to the complexity in datasets generated from different environmental variables and bacterial taxa. There is a continuing need to distinguish the various environmental variables and...

Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Non-O157 shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, or O145 are both considered adulterated in non-intact beefs. Forty to fifty-eight percent of U.S. consumers prefer to order beef steaks of medium rare to rare status. From 2000 to 2007, undercooked non-intact beef products have been involved in several outbreaks in the United States...

The isolation and characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) strains from sheep are described. One flock was investigated for E. coli O157:H7 over a 16-month period that spanned two summer and two autumn seasons. Variation in the occurrence of E. coli O157:H7-positive sheep was observed, with animals being culture positive only in the summer m...

Shiga toxin-negative Escherichia coli O157 strains of various H types have been associated with diarrhea in children and are considered potentially pathogenic for humans. In this study, we describe non-Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157 E. coli strains previously obtained from dogs in Argentina. Different E. coli phylogenetic lineages corresponding to flagellar types H16, H29 and H45 were ident...

The level of acid resistance among Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains varies, and strains with higher resistance to acid may have a lower infectious dose. The complete genome sequences belonging to two strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 with different levels of acid resistance are presented here.

Two murine monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) (2B7 and 46E9-9) reactive with the H7 flagellar antigen of Escherichia coli were produced and characterized. A total of 217 E. coli strains (48 O157:H7, 4 O157:NM, 23 O157:non-H7, 22 H7:non-O157, and 120 non-O157:nonH7), 17 Salmonella serovars, and 29 other gram-negative bacteria were used to evaluate the reactivities of the two MAbs by indirect enzyme-li...

Recent research has established that the terminal rectum is the predominant colonization site of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle. The main aim of the present work was to investigate pathological changes and associated immune responses at this site in animals colonized with E. coli O157:H7. Tissue and gastrointestinal samples from a total of 22 weaned Holstein-cross calves c...

In the present study, the ability of bovine lactoferrin hydrolysate (LfH) to disrupt the cytoplasmic membrane of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was investigated. Lactoferrin and LfH antimicrobial activities were compared against E. coli O157:H7 and E. coli O157:H7 spheroplasts. The effect of LfH on the cytoplasmic membrane of E. coli O157:H7 cells was determined by evaluating potassium efflux (K(+)),...

Livestock movement is thought to be a risk factor for the transmission of infectious diseases of farm animals. Simple mathematical models were constructed for the transmission of Escherichia coli serogroup O157 between Scottish cattle farms, and the models were used in a preliminary exploration of factors contributing to the levels of infection reported in the field. The results suggest that ca...