Epidemiology and Infection

Table of Contents - 2002 - Volume 129, Issue 01  


Isolation and characterization of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157[ratio]H7 from cattle in Belgium and Poland

A. V.  TUTENEL  a1 c1, D.  PIERARD  a2, J.  URADZINSKI  a3, E.  JOZWIK  a3, M.  PASTUSZCZAK  a3, J.  VAN HENDE  a1, M.  UYTTENDAELE  a4, J.  DEBEVERE  a4, T.  CHEASTY  a5, J.  VAN HOOF  a1 and L.  DE ZUTTER  a1
a1 Department of Veterinary Food Inspection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Merelbeke, Belgium
a2 Academic Hospital, Department of Microbiology, Free University Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
a3 Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Warmia & Mazury University in Olsztyn, Olsztyn, Poland
a4 Department of Food Technology and Nutrition, Laboratory of Food Microbiology and Food Preservation, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
a5 Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Central Public Health Laboratory, London, UK

Abstract

EHEC O157 were isolated from faeces of Belgian and Polish beef slaughter cattle. In Belgium, 1281 faecal samples were analysed by immunomagnetic separation [IMS] after enrichment in buffered peptone water from June 1998 till July 1999. Eighty-one samples (6.3%) were positive for E. coli O157. Phage type 8 was most frequently found. Bulls between 1 and 2 years old, slaughtered in September and October were most frequently found positive. Atypical biochemical features were observed in some isolates: 22 (27%) isolates were urease positive and 1 (1.2%) isolate was unable to ferment lactose. In Poland, 551 faecal samples, taken from January 1999 till December 1999, were examined using exactly the same techniques. Four faecal samples (0.7%) were positive for O157 EHEC, yielding seven phage type 8 isolates. All positive samples were from cattle younger than 2 years. Positive samples occurred in August, September and October.

(Accepted February 25 2002)


Correspondence:
c1 Author for correspondence: Department of Veterinary Food Inspection, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ghent University, Salisburylaan 133, 9820 Merelbeke, Belgium.

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