Skip to main content
PMC home page
Epidemiology and Infection logoLink to Epidemiology and Infection
. 1988 Oct;101(2):327–335. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800054261

The use of sorbitol-MacConkey agar in conjunction with a specific antiserum for the detection of Vero cytotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli O 157.

H Kleanthous 1, N K Fry 1, H R Smith 1, R J Gross 1, B Rowe 1
PMCID: PMC2249365  PMID: 3053220

Abstract

Using DNA probes specific for the genes encoding Vero cytotoxins 1 and 2 in hybridization experiments on faecal samples, Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) of serogroup O 157 were detected in 21 of 63 cases of haemorrhagic colitis, 9 of 31 cases of non-bloody diarrhoea and 14 of 68 cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Compared with these results sorbitol-MacConkey agar in conjunction with a specific O 157 antiserum gave a sensitivity of 62% in haemorrhagic colitis, 56% in non-bloody diarrhoea and 57% in haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The specificity of this method was 100% in all three groups. This demonstrates that sorbitol-MacConkey agar is a useful screening method for the detection of VTEC of serogroup O 157 when used in conjunction with a specific homologous antiserum. However, this method does not detect VTEC belonging to other serogroups and such strains were found, particularly in cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome.

Full text

PDF
331

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Bopp C. A., Greene K. D., Downes F. P., Sowers E. G., Wells J. G., Wachsmuth I. K. Unusual verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli associated with hemorrhagic colitis. J Clin Microbiol. 1987 Aug;25(8):1486–1489. doi: 10.1128/jcm.25.8.1486-1489.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Borczyk A. A., Karmali M. A., Lior H., Duncan L. M. Bovine reservoir for verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7. Lancet. 1987 Jan 10;1(8524):98–98. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)91928-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Farmer J. J., 3rd, Davis B. R. H7 antiserum-sorbitol fermentation medium: a single tube screening medium for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with hemorrhagic colitis. J Clin Microbiol. 1985 Oct;22(4):620–625. doi: 10.1128/jcm.22.4.620-625.1985. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. GASSER C., GAUTIER E., STECK A., SIEBENMANN R. E., OECHSLIN R. Hämolytisch-urämische Syndrome: bilaterale Nierenrindennekrosen bei akuten erworbenen hämolytischen Anämien. Schweiz Med Wochenschr. 1955 Sep 20;85(38-39):905–909. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Gransden W. R., Damm M. A., Anderson J. D., Carter J. E., Lior H. Further evidence associating hemolytic uremic syndrome with infection by Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7. J Infect Dis. 1986 Sep;154(3):522–524. doi: 10.1093/infdis/154.3.522. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Haldane D. J., Damm M. A., Anderson J. D. Improved biochemical screening procedure for small clinical laboratories for vero (Shiga-like)-toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7. J Clin Microbiol. 1986 Oct;24(4):652–653. doi: 10.1128/jcm.24.4.652-653.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. Karmali M. A., Petric M., Lim C., Fleming P. C., Arbus G. S., Lior H. The association between idiopathic hemolytic uremic syndrome and infection by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli. J Infect Dis. 1985 May;151(5):775–782. doi: 10.1093/infdis/151.5.775. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. Karmali M. A., Petric M., Louie S., Cheung R. Antigenic heterogeneity of Escherichia coli verotoxins. Lancet. 1986 Jan 18;1(8473):164–165. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(86)92307-x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. Karmali M. A., Steele B. T., Petric M., Lim C. Sporadic cases of haemolytic-uraemic syndrome associated with faecal cytotoxin and cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in stools. Lancet. 1983 Mar 19;1(8325):619–620. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)91795-6. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Konowalchuk J., Speirs J. I., Stavric S. Vero response to a cytotoxin of Escherichia coli. Infect Immun. 1977 Dec;18(3):775–779. doi: 10.1128/iai.18.3.775-779.1977. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. Lior H., Borczyk A. A. False positive identifications of Escherichia coli O157. Lancet. 1987 Feb 7;1(8528):333–333. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)92065-4. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. March S. B., Ratnam S. Sorbitol-MacConkey medium for detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 associated with hemorrhagic colitis. J Clin Microbiol. 1986 May;23(5):869–872. doi: 10.1128/jcm.23.5.869-872.1986. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Newland J. W., Strockbine N. A., Miller S. F., O'Brien A. D., Holmes R. K. Cloning of Shiga-like toxin structural genes from a toxin converting phage of Escherichia coli. Science. 1985 Oct 11;230(4722):179–181. doi: 10.1126/science.2994228. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Notenboom R. H., Borczyk A., Karmali M. A., Duncan L. M. Clinical relevance of a serological cross-reaction between Escherichia coli O157 and Brucella abortus. Lancet. 1987 Sep 26;2(8561):745–745. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)91106-8. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. O'Brien A. D., Holmes R. K. Shiga and Shiga-like toxins. Microbiol Rev. 1987 Jun;51(2):206–220. doi: 10.1128/mr.51.2.206-220.1987. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. Riley L. W., Remis R. S., Helgerson S. D., McGee H. B., Wells J. G., Davis B. R., Hebert R. J., Olcott E. S., Johnson L. M., Hargrett N. T. Hemorrhagic colitis associated with a rare Escherichia coli serotype. N Engl J Med. 1983 Mar 24;308(12):681–685. doi: 10.1056/NEJM198303243081203. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Scotland S. M., Rowe B., Smith H. R., Willshaw G. A., Gross R. J. Vero cytotoxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli from children with haemolytic uraemic syndrome and their detection by specific DNA probes. J Med Microbiol. 1988 Apr;25(4):237–243. doi: 10.1099/00222615-25-4-237. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Scotland S. M., Smith H. R., Rowe B. Two distinct toxins active on Vero cells from Escherichia coli O157. Lancet. 1985 Oct 19;2(8460):885–886. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(85)90146-1. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Scotland S. M., Smith H. R., Willshaw G. A., Rowe B. Vero cytotoxin production in strain of Escherichia coli is determined by genes carried on bacteriophage. Lancet. 1983 Jul 23;2(8343):216–216. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)90192-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. Smith H. R., Rowe B., Gross R. J., Fry N. K., Scotland S. M. Haemorrhagic colitis and Vero-cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli in England and Wales. Lancet. 1987 May 9;1(8541):1062–1065. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(87)90485-5. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Smith H. W., Green P., Parsell Z. Vero cell toxins in Escherichia coli and related bacteria: transfer by phage and conjugation and toxic action in laboratory animals, chickens and pigs. J Gen Microbiol. 1983 Oct;129(10):3121–3137. doi: 10.1099/00221287-129-10-3121. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Taylor C. M., White R. H., Winterborn M. H., Rowe B. Haemolytic-uraemic syndrome: clinical experience of an outbreak in the West Midlands. Br Med J (Clin Res Ed) 1986 Jun 7;292(6534):1513–1516. doi: 10.1136/bmj.292.6534.1513. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Walker C. W., Upson R., Warren R. E. Haemorrhagic colitis: detection of verotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 in a clinical microbiology laboratory. J Clin Pathol. 1988 Jan;41(1):80–84. doi: 10.1136/jcp.41.1.80. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Wells J. G., Davis B. R., Wachsmuth I. K., Riley L. W., Remis R. S., Sokolow R., Morris G. K. Laboratory investigation of hemorrhagic colitis outbreaks associated with a rare Escherichia coli serotype. J Clin Microbiol. 1983 Sep;18(3):512–520. doi: 10.1128/jcm.18.3.512-520.1983. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  25. Willshaw G. A., Smith H. R., Scotland S. M., Field A. M., Rowe B. Heterogeneity of Escherichia coli phages encoding Vero cytotoxins: comparison of cloned sequences determining VT1 and VT2 and development of specific gene probes. J Gen Microbiol. 1987 May;133(5):1309–1317. doi: 10.1099/00221287-133-5-1309. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  26. Willshaw G. A., Smith H. R., Scotland S. M., Rowe B. Cloning of genes determining the production of vero cytotoxin by Escherichia coli. J Gen Microbiol. 1985 Nov;131(11):3047–3053. doi: 10.1099/00221287-131-11-3047. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Epidemiology and Infection are provided here courtesy of Cambridge University Press

RESOURCES