The Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli, their ruminant hosts, and potential on-farm interventions: a review
B. A. Vanselow A D E , D. O. Krause A B and C. S. McSweeney A CA Cooperative Research Centre for Cattle and Beef Quality.
B Department of Animal Science, University of Manitoba-Winnipeg, MB, Canada-R3T 2N2.
C CSIRO Livestock Industries, Queensland Bioscience Precinct, St Lucia, Qld 4067, Australia.
D NSW Department of Primary Industries, Beef Industry Centre, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: barbara.vanselow@agric.nsw.gov.au
Australian Journal of Agricultural Research 56(3) 219-244 https://doi.org/10.1071/AR04129
Submitted: 16 June 2004 Accepted: 31 January 2005 Published: 23 March 2005
Abstract
The emergence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serotype O157:H7 as a major human pathogen over the last 2 decades has focused attention on this organism’s ruminant hosts. Despite implementation of conventional control methods, people continue to become seriously ill from contaminated meat or other food products, manure-contaminated drinking and recreational water, and direct contact with ruminants. E. coli O157:H7 can cause life-threatening disease, and is a particular threat to children, through acute and chronic kidney damage. Compared with other food-borne bacteria, E. coli O157:H7 has a remarkably low infectious dose and is environmentally robust. Cattle are largely unaffected by this organism and have been identified as the major source of E. coli O157:H7 entering the human food chain. Other Shiga toxin-producing E. coli can be pathogenic to humans and there is increasing evidence that their significance has been underestimated. Governments around the world have acted to tighten food safety regulations, and to investigate animal sources and on-farm control of this and related organisms. Potential intervention strategies on-farm include: feed and water hygiene, altered feeding regimes, specific E. coli vaccines, antibacterials, antibiotics, probiotics, and biological agents or products such as bacteriophages, bacteriocins, or colicins.
Additional keywords: Escherichia coli O157:H7, Shiga toxin.
Abe H,
Tatsuno I,
Tobe T,
Okutani A, Sasakawa C
(2002) Bicarbonate ion stimulates the expression of locus of enterocyte effacement-encoded genes in enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Infection and Immunity 70, 3500–3509.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Ahmed A, Donaghy M
(1998) An outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7. ‘ O157:H7 and other Shiga-toxin-producing strains’. (Eds JB Kaper, AD O’Brien)
pp. 59–65. (American Society for Microbiology: Washington, DC)
Akiba M,
Sameshima T, Nakazawa M
(2000) Clonal turnover of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in experimentally infected cattle. FEMS Microbiology Letters 184, 79–83.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Blanco M,
Blanco JE,
Blanco J,
Mora A,
Prado C,
Alonso MP,
Mourino M,
Madrid C,
Balsalobre C, Juarez A
(1997) Distribution and characterization of faecal Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) isolated from healthy cattle. Veterinary Microbiology 54, 309–319.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Conlan JW,
Cox AD,
Kuo Lee R,
Webb A, Perry MB
(1999) Parenteral immunization with a glycoconjugate vaccine containing the O157 antigen of Escherichia coli O157:H7 elicits a systemic humoral immune response in mice, but fails to prevent colonization by the pathogen. Canadian Journal of Microbiology 45, 279–286.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Duncan SH,
Booth IR,
Flint HJ, Stewart CS
(2000) The potential for the control of Escherichia coli O157 in farm animals. Journal of Applied Microbiology 88, 157S–165S.
Fegan N, Desmarchelier P
(1999) Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in sheep and pre-slaughter lambs in eastern Australia. Letters in Applied Microbiology 28, 335–339.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Food Safety and Inspection Service
(2002) Colorado firm recalls beef trim and ground beef products for possible E. coli O157:H7. http://www.fsis.usda.gov/OA/recalls/prelease/pr055-2002.htm
Frankel G,
Phillips A,
Rosenshine I,
Dougan G,
Kaper JB, Knutton S
(1998) Enteropathogenic and enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli: more subversive elements. Molecular Microbiology 30, 911–921.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Hanson E
(2003) Special NCBA report: feedlots targeted as next step in E. coli intervention. http://www.meatingplace.com/Archives/oop/qnohit_g.asp?ID=11302
Haque QM,
Sugiyama A,
Iwade Y,
Midorikawa Y, Yamauchi T
(1996) Diarrheal and environmental isolates of Aeromonas spp. produce a toxin similar to Shiga-like toxin 1. Current Microbiology 32, 239–245.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Johnson RP,
Clarke RC,
Wilson JB,
Read SC, Rahn K ,
et al
.
(1996) Growing concerns and recent outbreaks involving non-O157:H7 serotypes of Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli.
Journal of Food Protection 59, 1112–1122.
Keen JE, Urlich GA, Elder RO
(1999) Effects of hay- and grain-based diets on the fecal shedding of naturally-acquired enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) O157:H7 in beef feedlot cattle. Abstract #86. ‘80th Conference of Research Workers in Animal Diseases’. Chicago, IL. (Iowa State University Press: Ames, IA)
Keene WE,
Hedberg K,
Herriott DE,
Hancock DD,
McKay RW,
Barrett TJ, Fleming DW
(1997) Prolonged outbreak of Escherichia coli O157:H7 infections caused by commercially distributed raw milk. Journal of Infectious Diseases 176, 815–818.
| PubMed |
Minihan D,
O'Mahony M,
Whyte P, Collins JD
(2003a) An investigation on the effect of transport and lairage on the faecal shedding prevalence of Escherichia coli O157 in cattle. Journal of Veterinary Medicine Series B 50, 378–382.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
O’Brien SJ,
Adak GK, Gilham C
(2001) Contact with farming environment as a major risk factor for Shiga toxin (Vero cytotoxin)-producing Escherichia coli O157 infection in humans. Emerging Infectious Diseases 7, 1049–1051.
| PubMed |
Pennington H
(1998) Factors involved in recent outbreaks of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Scotland and recommendations for its control. Journal of Food Safety 18, 383–391.
Urdahl AM,
Beutin L,
Skjerve E, Wasteson Y
(2002) Serotypes and virulence factors of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from healthy Norwegian sheep. Journal of Applied Microbiology 93, 1026–1033.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Welinder-Olsson C,
Badenfors M,
Cheasty T,
Kjellin E, Kaijser B
(2002) Genetic profiling of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli strains in relation to clonality and clinical signs of infection. Journal of Clinical Microbiology 40, 959–964.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
Whittam TS,
Reid SD, Selander RK
(1998) Mutators and long-term molecular evolution of pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7. Emerging Infectious Diseases 4, 615–617.
| PubMed |
Zoja C,
Angioletti S,
Donadelli R,
Zanchi C, Tomasoni S ,
et al
.
(2002) Shiga toxin-2 triggers endothelial leukocyte adhesion and transmigration via nf-kappa b dependent up-regulation of il-8 and mcp-1. Kidney International 62, 846–856.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | PubMed |
