ISOLATION OF ESCHERICHIA-COLI O86-K61 PRODUCING CYTO-LETHAL DISTENDING TOXIN FROM WILD BIRDS OF THE FINCH FAMILY

Escherichia coli was recovered from selected tissues of 43 out of a to tal of 46 finches found dead in the Scottish Highlands during April-Ma y of 1994 and 1995. The isolates did not ferment sorbitol, rhamnose, s ucrose or melibiose; they belonged to serogroup O86:K61, produced cyto lethal distending toxin (CLDT) and possessed the eae gene sequence. Th e consistent recovery of organisms producing CLDT and possessing the e ae gene suggests that these organisms may have played a significant ro le in the finch mortalities.