Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
Institute of Food Science, Department of Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Germany.
Epidemiol Infect. 2013 Feb;141(2):251-9. doi: 10.1017/S0950268812000246. Epub 2012 Feb 28.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) have led to outbreaks worldwide and are considered emerging pathogens. Infections by STEC in humans have been reported after consumption of mainly beef, but also deer. This study investigated the occurrence of STEC in deer in Germany. The virulence genes eae, e-hlyA and saa, the stx subtypes, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns and serovars were studied. In total, 120 samples of 60 animals were screened by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR results showed a high detection rate of stx genes (83%). Mainly faecal samples, but also some lymphatic tissue samples, tested stx-positive. All isolates carried stx2, were eae-negative and carried e-hlyA in 38% and saa in 9% of samples. Serovars (O88:[H8], O174:[H8], O146:H28) associated with human diseases were also identified. In some animals, isolates from lymphatic tissue and faecal samples showed undistinguishable PFGE patterns. The examined deer were shown to be relevant reservoirs of STEC with subtype stx2b predominating.
产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）已在全球范围内引发疫情，被认为是新兴病原体。人类感染 STEC 主要是通过食用牛肉，但也有鹿肉。本研究调查了德国鹿中 STEC 的发生情况。研究了毒力基因 eae、e-hlyA 和 saa、stx 亚型、脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）模式和血清型。共对 60 只动物的 120 个样本进行了实时聚合酶链反应（PCR）筛选。PCR 结果显示 stx 基因的检测率很高（83%）。主要是粪便样本，也有一些淋巴组织样本，stx 呈阳性。所有分离株均携带 stx2，eae 阴性，e-hlyA 占 38%，saa 占 9%的样本。还鉴定出与人类疾病相关的血清型（O88：[H8]、O174：[H8]、O146：H28）。在一些动物中，来自淋巴组织和粪便样本的分离株显示出无法区分的 PFGE 模式。所检查的鹿是 STEC 的重要宿主，其中 stx2b 亚型占主导地位。
