PREVALENCE AND SOME PROPERTIES OF VEROTOXIN (SHIGA-LIKE TOXIN)-PRODUCING ESCHERICHIA-COLI IN 7 DIFFERENT SPECIES OF HEALTHY DOMESTIC-ANIMALS

Fecal samples from 720 healthy, domestic animals representing seven di fferent species (cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, dogs, and cats) were investigated for verotoxin (VT [Shiga-like toxin])-producing Esc herichia coli (VTEC). VTEC were isolated from 208 animals (28.9%), mos t frequently from sheep 166.6% VTEC carriers), goats (56.1%), and catt le (21.1%). VTEC were isolated less frequently from pigs (7.5%), cats (13.8%), and dogs (4.8%) and were not found in chickens ( <0.7%). Fort y-one different O:H serotypes and 23 untypeable 0-groups were isolated . Five serotypes (05:H-, 091:H-, 0146:H21, 087:H16, and 082:H8) occurr ed in more than one animal species. Serotypes 05:H-, 091:H-, 0146:H21, 0128:H2, and OX3:H8 represented 54.8% of the VTEC strains. Nearly 60% of all VTEC O:H serotypes isolated in this study have been implicated as human pathogens, indicating that healthy, domestic animals may ser ve as a reservoir of human pathogens. All VTEC, except nine feline str ains, hybridized with one or both of the VT1 and VF2 specific DNA prob es. VT production and enterohemolysin (E-Hly+) production were associa ted in E. coli from goats, sheep, and cattle but not in E. coli from c hickens, pigs, dogs, and cats. A close association of VT with E-Hly+ w as found in 05:H-, 0146:H21, 0128:H2, 077:H4, 0119:H25, and 0123:(H10) strains. Thirty of 240 (12.5%) E-Hly+ strains hybridized with an E-Hl y+ specific DNA probe, indicating heterogeneity of regulatory or struc tural E-Hly+ genes in strains of E. coli.