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Occurrence and phenotypic properties of verotoxin producingEscherichia coli in sporadic cases of gastroenteritis

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Abstract

Five verotoxin producingEscherichia coli strains were detected in 405 patients with infectious gastroenteritis and 3 such strains were detected in 11 patients with the hemolytic uremic syndrome in Switzerland. Production of verotoxin 2 was associated with the latter three strains. Four strains reacted with the probe for the virulence plasmid ofEscherichia coli O157:H7, and six reacted with a recently described probe for theeae gene of enteropathogenicEscherichia coli. None of the strains was of serotype O157:H7. The methods available at present for detecting toxins or toxin genes will reliably detect all such verotoxin producing strains.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. National Reference Laboratory for Foodborne Diseases, University of Berne, Länggass-Str. 122, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland

    A. P. Burnens

  2. Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology, University of Berne, Länggass-Str. 122, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland

    P. Boss & J. Nicolet

  3. International Escherichia and Klebsiella Centre, Statens Seruminstitut, DK-2300, Copenhagen, Denmark

    F. Ørskov & I. Ørskov

  4. Department of Pediatrics, University of Berne, Insclspital, CH-3010, Berne, Switzerland

    U. B. Schaad

  5. Medical Diagnostic Laboratory Dr. O. Lutz, CH-8402, Winterthur, Switzerland

    F. Müller

  6. Infectious Disease Laboratory, University Children's Hospital, CH-8032, Zurich, Switzerland

    R. Heinzle

Authors
  1. A. P. Burnens
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  2. P. Boss
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  3. F. Ørskov
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  4. I. Ørskov
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  5. U. B. Schaad
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  6. F. Müller
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  7. R. Heinzle
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  8. J. Nicolet
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Burnens, A.P., Boss, P., Ørskov, F. et al. Occurrence and phenotypic properties of verotoxin producingEscherichia coli in sporadic cases of gastroenteritis. Eur. J. Clin. Microbiol. Infect. Dis. 11, 631–634 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01961673

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