[Microbiological aspects of infection with verotoxin-producing E. coli strains in children with the hemolytic-uremic syndrome].

The authors examined the faeces of five children with haemolyticuraemic syndrome for the presence of E. coli producing verotoxin (VTEC) and free verotoxin (VT). For detection of strains of serotype O157:H7 they used sorbitol MacConkey agar in combination with biochemical tests and typing of sorbitol negative strains. For detection of strains belonging to the other VTEC serogroups they used serotyping of 24 E. coli colonies from End media. VT was assessed in lysates and supernatants of cultures, on cell cultures of Vero cells, and the antigenic VT type was assessed by neutralization experiments. Strains corresponding as to serotype or O group to VTEC were detected in faeces of all five children. Two strains belonged to the serotype O157:H7 and had a typical biotype; another four strains belonged to serogroups 026 (2 strains), 05 and 01. All strains produced verotoxin, either VT1 or VT2 or both. In the faecal filtrates of all five children free VT was present. In conjunction with the haemolytic-uraemic syndrome in children in the CSSR E. coli producing verotoxin are found, incl. strains of serotype O157:H7, the detection of which was not described hitherto.