Toxin production and haemagglutination in strains of Escherichia coli from diarrhoea in Brescia, Italy

Two hundred and ninety-nine different strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from 172 patients with diarrhoea and 113 healthy subjects, were examined for enterotoxin, cytotoxin and haemolysin (Hly) production and for mannose-resistant haemagglutination (MRHA) and invasive properties. Three strains pr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hygiene 1985-10, Vol.95 (2), p.353-361
Main Authors: Bisicchia, R., Ciammarughi, R., Caprioli, A., Falbo, V., Ruggeri, F. M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adhesiveness
Adult
Adults
Antigens
Biological and medical sciences
Child
Child, Preschool
Cytotoxins
Cytotoxins - biosynthesis
Diarrhea
Diarrhea - microbiology
Enterotoxins
Enterotoxins - biosynthesis
Escherichia
Escherichia coli
Escherichia coli - classification
Escherichia coli - pathogenicity
Escherichia coli Infections - microbiology
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Hemagglutinins - biosynthesis
Hemolysin Proteins - biosynthesis
Humans
Infant
Infections
Microbiology
Replicative cycle, interference, host-virus relations, pathogenicity, miscellaneous strains
Salmonella - isolation & purification
Serotyping
Toxins
Virology
Virulence
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Summary:Two hundred and ninety-nine different strains of Escherichia coli, isolated from 172 patients with diarrhoea and 113 healthy subjects, were examined for enterotoxin, cytotoxin and haemolysin (Hly) production and for mannose-resistant haemagglutination (MRHA) and invasive properties. Three strains proved enterotoxigenic, none enteroinvasive; cytotoxin and Hly production was shown in 25 strains from patients and in 3 from controls. Ten strains produced the cytotoxic necrotizing factor (CNF), 6 released other factors which kill cell cultures. Hly production was shown in 21 strains, 9 of which were also positive for CNF. MRHA was detected in 26% of strains from diarrhoca compared with 14% of strains from healthy people. A strong association between toxin production and MRHA was demonstrated. Serotyping results showed that the strains exhibiting virulence traits mostly belonged to serogroups commonly involved in extra-intestinal infections. The possible role of strains of E. coli showing one or more virulence factors as opportunistic pathogens in diarrhoeal diseases is discussed.
ISSN:0022-1724
2396-8184
DOI:10.1017/S002217240006277X