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STEC as a Veterinary Problem

Diagnostics and Prophylaxis in Animals

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E. coli

Part of the book series: Methods in Molecular Medicine™ ((MIMM,volume 73))

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Abstract

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are important human pathogens causing severe clinical syndromes in a high percentage of infected individuals (see Chapter 1). Naturally acquired STEC infections have also been detected in a wide spectrum of animal species (cattle, sheep, goat, deer, moose, swine, horse, dog, cat, pigeon, chicken, turkey, gull) sometimes even with considerable prevalences (1–10). Several of these animal hosts, particularly ruminants, have been identified as major reservoires of STEC strains that are highly virulent in the human host (e.g., EHEC O157:H7). However, in contrast to the human host, most STEC infections of animals remain clinically inapparent. Even in ruminant species, where shedding rates of up to 88% have been reported (2), the clinical significance of STEC infections seems to be rather limited. A natural pathogenic role of STEC has been clearly identified in weaned piglets (edema disease [ED] E. coli enterotoxemia) (11), calves (watery to bloody diarrhea) (12,13), and greyhounds (cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy of greyhounds [CRVG], “Alabama rot”) (14,15). However, histological and in vitro studies revealed that certain epithelial and/or endothelial cells are affected by shiga toxins even in animals appearing clinical healthy (16–18). Thus, the true health importance of STEC infections for animal hosts may be underestimated.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut f&#00FC;r Mikrobiologie und Tierseuchen, Freie Universit&#00E4t Berlin, Berlin, Germany

    Lothar H. Wieler

  2. Institut f&#00FC;r Hygiene und Infektionskrankheiten der Tiere, Justus-Liebig-Universit&#00E4t Giessen, Giessen, Germany

    Rolf Bauerfeind

Authors
  1. Lothar H. Wieler
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  2. Rolf Bauerfeind
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Groupe d&'Immunité Innée et Signalisation, Institut Pasteur, Paris, France

    Dana Philpott

  2. Max-von-Pettenkofer-Institut, Bakteriologie, Munich, Germany

    Frank Ebel

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© 2003 Humana Press Inc.

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Wieler, L.H., Bauerfeind, R. (2003). STEC as a Veterinary Problem. In: Philpott, D., Ebel, F. (eds) E. coli. Methods in Molecular Medicine™, vol 73. Humana Press. https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-316-X:75

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1385/1-59259-316-X:75

  • Publisher Name: Humana Press

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-89603-939-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-59259-316-3

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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