Clinical significance of Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 |
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Authors: | Chart H |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, 61 Colindale Avenue, London, NW9 5HT, UK |
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Abstract: | In 1977, Konowalchuk and colleagues (Konowalchuk, J., Speirs, J.I. & Stavric, S. 1977 Infection and Immunity
18, 775–779) were the first to describe Verocytotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia
coli or VTEC. The surveillance of infection caused by VTEC demonstrated strains of E.
coli belonging to serogroup O157 as the main cause of human infection capable of causing haemorrhagic colitis (HC) and haemolytic
uraemic syndrome (HUS). Infection with O157 VTEC results in a range of disease manifestations including abdominal cramps,
vomiting and fever. This frequently leads to cases with bloody diarrhoea and HC, and approximately 10% of patients develop
HUS. The symptoms of disease caused by VTEC O157 have been well documented and the pathogenic mechanisms expressed by VTEC
have been the focus of considerable attention. However, the role of putative pathogenic mechanisms in the pathogenesis of
disease is not fully understood. The aim of this review is to consider the clinical aspects of infection with strains of VT-producing
E.
coli O157 in terms of the putative pathogenic mechanisms expressed by these bacteria.
This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date. |
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Keywords: | Escherichia coli haemolytic uraemic syndrome haemorrhagic colitis pathogenicity Verocytotoxin VTEC |
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