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Serotypes, intimin subtypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in England from 1993 to 1996

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Abstract

The aim of this study was to characterise the atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) strains isolated during a study of intestinal infectious disease in the UK by serotyping, intimin subtyping, and antimicrobial resistance typing. Serotypes, intimin subtypes, and resistance patterns of strains from cases were then compared with those from the control group. A wide range of serotypes, intimin subtypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns was identified in isolates from both cases and controls, with O70:H11 and O111:H− being the most frequently detected serotypes. The most common intimin types were γ and γ2. Thirty-six percent of the EPEC isolates were resistant to at least one antimicrobial agent. No significant differences in the characteristics of EPEC strains isolated from patients with symptoms of gastrointestinal disease versus those isolated from healthy controls were detected, although strains harbouring the β-intimin subtype were more commonly isolated from children under 5 years of age (p=0.002). The compilation of data on atypical EPEC strains presented here indicates the need for further study of their virulence and epidemiology in order to assess their significance as human pathogens.

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Acknowledgements

This study was funded by the Department of Health and the Food Standards Agency. We would like to thank Judith Evans, Doreen Bassett, and Judith Lee for their contribution to this study. This paper is dedicated to the memory of Henry Smith, Ph.D.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Microbiology, Royal Free Hospital, London, NW3 2QG, UK

    C. Jenkins

  2. Laboratory of Enteric Pathogens, Health Protection Agency, London, NW9 5HT, UK

    H. R. Smith, A. J. Lawson, G. A. Willshaw & T. Cheasty

  3. Department of Public Health and Primary Care, Institute of Public Health, Cambridge, CB2 2SR, UK

    J. G. Wheeler

  4. Health Protection Agency Yorkshire and the Humber, Leeds Laboratory, Leeds, LS15 7TR, UK

    D. S. Tompkins

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  1. C. Jenkins
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  2. H. R. Smith
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  3. A. J. Lawson
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  4. G. A. Willshaw
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  5. T. Cheasty
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  6. J. G. Wheeler
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  7. D. S. Tompkins
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Correspondence to C. Jenkins.

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Jenkins, C., Smith, H.R., Lawson, A.J. et al. Serotypes, intimin subtypes, and antimicrobial resistance patterns of atypical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli isolated in England from 1993 to 1996. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 25, 19–24 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-005-0075-x

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