Denmark faced an outbreak of verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) O157:H7 infections in autumn 2012. Thirteen cases were diagnosed of which eight had haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Epidemiological investigations suggested ground beef as the vehicle of the outbreak. The outbreak strain had a rare toxin gene subtype profile: eae, vtx1a and vtx2a, and a high proportion of HUS (62%) among cas...

Twenty four sera from patients with haemolytic uraemic syndrome or haemorrhagic colitis and healthy controls were examined for antibodies to the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) of Escherichia coli O157. Faecal specimens from these patients were also examined for Vero cytotoxin producing E coli (VTEC) by DNA probes, and for faecal Vero cytotoxin. Eight patients with faecal E coli O157:H7 gave a strong ...

Vertical Total Electron Content (vTEC) is an ionospheric characteristic used to derive the signal delay imposed by the ionosphere on near-vertical trans-ionospheric links. The major aim of this paper is to design a prediction model based on the main factors that influence the variability of this parameter on a diurnal, seasonal and long-term time-scale. The model should be accurate and general ...

Faecal specimens from 66 children with haemolytic uraemic syndrome in the United Kingdom were examined for strains of Escherichia coli producing Vero cytotoxin (VT). Initially, conventional bacteriological methods were used to identify colonies of E. coli which were then tested for VT production. Subsequently, specific DNA probes for VT1 and VT2 were used in hybridisation tests to detect VTprod...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the presence of Salmonella spp., verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC), Vibrio spp., and Norovirus GI-GII in bivalve molluscs, cockles, and European grooved carpet shells (Cerastoderma spp. and Ruditapes decussatus) collected from a class B growing natural bed in Sardinia (Italy). All of the samples were analysed for Salmonella spp. detection according to Eur...

We assessed the prevalence of verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) and livestock grazing on a mountain pasture in Austria during June-August 2009. We detected VTEC throughout the sampling period in high numbers in cattle as well as in chamois, leading to the assumption that the degree of contamination of the environment is high. This is the first report of path...

Vertical Total Electron Content (vTEC) is an ionospheric characteristic used to derive the signal delay imposed by the ionosphere on near-vertical trans-ionospheric links. The major aim of this paper is to design a prediction model based on the main factors that influence the variability of this parameter on a diurnal, seasonal and long-term time-scale. The model should be accurate and general ...

A prospective study of the clinical and epidemiological features of the haemolytic uraemic syndromes was conducted over a three year period in the British Isles. Two hundred and ninety eight children were reported. In two thirds of cases stool samples were analysed for the presence of Verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) and neutralisable Verocytotoxin. A total of 273 (95%) patients ...

The purpose of this review is to draw together recent advances in the pathogenesis of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS) induced by verocytotoxin, including information from the successful Third International Symposium on Verocytotoxin Producing Escherichia coli, “VTEC’97”, in Baltimore.However, the highly publicised outbreaks of verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) infection in Japan...

BACKGROUND Verotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) is the cause of severe gastrointestinal infection especially among infants. Between 10 and 20 cases are reported annually to the National Infectious Disease Register (NIDR) in Finland. The aim of this study was to identify explanatory variables for VTEC infections reported to the NIDR in Finland between 1997 and 2006. We applied a hurdle model, applicable...