There is considerable diversity among Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) bacteria, and only a subset of these organisms are thought to be human pathogens. The characteristics that distinguish STEC bacteria that give rise to human disease are not well understood. Stxs, the principal virulence determinants of STEC, are thought to account for hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS), a sev...

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are food-borne pathogens primarily associated with the consumption of contaminated ground beef and are an important food safety concern worldwide. STEC has been found to produce a family of related cytotoxins known as Shiga toxins (Stxs). Shiga toxins have been classified into two major classes, Stx1 and Stx2. A single strains of STEC can produce St...

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is an important cause of gastroenteritis (GE) and haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). Incidence of STEC illness is largely underestimated in notification data, particularly of serogroups other than O157 ('non-O157'). Using HUS national notification data (2008-2012, excluding 2011), we modelled true annual incidence of STEC illness in Germany separate...

BACKGROUND As a primary source of Shiga-toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) infection, cattle are often targeted to develop strategies for reducing STEC contamination. Monitoring the virulence potentials of STEC isolates from cattle is important for tracing contamination sources, managing outbreaks or sporadic cases, and reducing the risks for human infection. This study aimed to investigat...

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) causes approximately 265,000 illnesses and 3,600 hospitalizations annually and is highly associated with animal contamination due to the natural reservoir of ruminant gastrointestinal tracts. Free STEC-specific bacteriophages against STEC strains are also commonly isolated from fecal-contaminated environment. Previous studies have evaluated the correlation b...

shiga toxin-producing escherichia coli (stec) are food-borne pathogens primarily associated with the consumption of contaminated ground beef and are an important food safety concern worldwide. stec has been found to produce a family of related cytotoxins known as shiga toxins (stxs). shiga toxins have been classified into two major classes, stx1 and stx2. a single strains of stec can produce st...

The isolation of non-O157 STEC from food samples has proved to be challenging. The selection of a suitable selective isolation agar remains problematic. The purpose of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate six chromogenic agar media for the isolation of STEC: Tryptone Bile X-glucuronide agar (TBX), Rainbow® Agar O157 (RB), Rapid E. coli O157:H7 (RE), Modified MacConkey Aga...