European Union Reference Laboratory for E. coli, Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica Veterinaria e Sicurezza Alimentare, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy.
Microbiol Spectr. 2014 Dec;2(6). doi: 10.1128/microbiolspec.EHEC-0014-2013.
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are the only pathogenic group of E. coli that has a definite zoonotic origin, with ruminants and, in particular, cattle being recognized as the major reservoir. Most human STEC infections are food borne, but the routes of transmission include direct contact with animals and a variety of environment-related exposures. Therefore, STEC public health microbiology spans the fields of medical, veterinary, food, water, and environmental microbiology, requiring a "One Health" perspective and laboratory scientists with the ability to work effectively across disciplines. Public health microbiology laboratories play a central role in the surveillance of STEC infections, as well as in the preparedness for responding to outbreaks and in providing scientific evidence for the implementation of prevention and control measures. This article reviews (i) how the integration of surveillance of STEC infections and monitoring of these pathogens in animal reservoirs and potential food vehicles may contribute to their control; (ii) the role of reference laboratories, in both the public health and veterinary and food sectors; and (iii) the public health perspectives, including those related to regulatory issues in both the European Union and the United States.
产志贺毒素大肠杆菌（STEC）菌株是唯一具有明确动物源的致病性大肠杆菌群，反刍动物，特别是牛，被认为是主要的储存宿主。大多数人类 STEC 感染是食源性的，但传播途径包括与动物的直接接触和各种与环境相关的暴露。因此，STEC 公共卫生微生物学跨越了医学、兽医、食品、水和环境微生物学领域，需要“一个健康”的视角和能够在不同学科领域有效合作的实验室科学家。公共卫生微生物学实验室在 STEC 感染的监测、应对疫情的准备以及为实施预防和控制措施提供科学证据方面发挥着核心作用。本文综述了（i）整合 STEC 感染监测和动物储存宿主以及潜在食品载体中这些病原体监测，如何有助于控制 STEC；（ii）参考实验室在公共卫生和兽医及食品部门中的作用；以及（iii）公共卫生视角，包括欧盟和美国的监管问题。
