Molecular epidemiological study of a mass outbreak caused by enteropathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H45. |
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| Authors: | S Makino H Asakura T Shirahata T Ikeda K Takeshi K Arai M Nagasawa T Abe T Sadamoto |
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| Institution: | Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, Obihiro, Hokkaido, Japan. smakino@obihiro.ac.jp |
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| Abstract: | We made a molecular analysis of O157:H45 Escherichia coli isolated from a mass outbreak that occurred in Obihiro City. Using DNA analysis, we confirmed this infection case as a mass outbreak. Although the isolates expressed O157 antigen, they did not produce Vero toxin. We concluded they were enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) because they had a bfp gene and an EAF plasmid, and further they exhibited local adherence to HEp-2 cells. We believe this is the first report of a mass outbreak by O157 EPEC, and we suggest that PCR using eae- and bfp-specific primers and HEp-2 adherence assay are useful to identify EPEC. |
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| Keywords: | EPEC HEp-2 adherence O157 |
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