Karch H, Bockemühl J
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Immunologie, Universität Hamburg.
Immun Infekt. 1989 Dec;17(6):206-11.
Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) is the cause of haemorrhagic colitis which may be complicated by subsequent haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), thrombotic-thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), and neurologic disorders. The organisms produce at least three biochemically and immunologically distinct cytotoxins which are designated as Shiga-like (SLT) or verotoxins and which are identified by immunological methods, cell culture tests, or gene-probes. According to present knowledge infections are primarily caused by consumption of contaminated milk and meat products and secondarily during outbreaks by human-to-human transmission. In North America cattle is considered as the main reservoir whereas in Europe sufficient information is lacking. EHEC produce different amounts of SLT; high toxin producers were identified in strains belonging to E.coli O157:H7, O157:H-, 026:H11, 0111:H8 and 0111:H-. Sporadic cases and two outbreaks due to EHEC have been identified in the Federal Republic of Germany. The life-threatening complications of the the disease, unknown reservoirs and vehicles of transmission of the organisms in Europe, and sophisticated diagnostic laboratory methods represent a clinical and microbiological problem and a challenge to the public health service.
肠出血性大肠杆菌（EHEC）是出血性结肠炎的病因，出血性结肠炎可能随后并发溶血性尿毒综合征（HUS）、血栓性血小板减少性紫癜（TTP）和神经系统疾病。这些细菌产生至少三种在生化和免疫方面不同的细胞毒素，这些毒素被称为志贺样毒素（SLT）或维罗毒素，可通过免疫方法、细胞培养试验或基因探针进行鉴定。根据目前的知识，感染主要是由于食用受污染的牛奶和肉类产品引起的，其次是在疫情暴发期间通过人际传播引起的。在北美，牛被认为是主要宿主，而在欧洲，缺乏足够的信息。EHEC产生不同量的SLT；在属于大肠杆菌O157:H7、O157:H-、O26:H11、O111:H8和O111:H-的菌株中鉴定出高毒素产生者。在德意志联邦共和国已发现散发病例和两起因EHEC引起的疫情。该疾病危及生命的并发症、欧洲细菌未知的宿主和传播媒介以及复杂的诊断实验室方法构成了临床和微生物学问题，对公共卫生服务构成了挑战。
