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. 1989 Jun;102(3):439–445. doi: 10.1017/s0950268800030156

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in Sheffield: cattle as a possible source.

P A Chapman 1, D J Wright 1, P Norman 1
PMCID: PMC2249467  PMID: 2661252

Abstract

During 1986 and 1987, faecal samples from patients with haemorrhagic colitis (HC) or haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) were examined for evidence of infection by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). During the 2-year period VTEC infections were found in 31 (78%) of 40 patients initially presenting with HC, and in 5 (63%) of 8 patients initially presenting with HUS. VTEC were found in only 2 (0.9%) of 229 age and sex matched control patients with acute non-bloody diarrhoea. All but one VTEC belonged to E. coli serogroup O 157. During 1987 this serogroup was isolated from 2 (1%) of 207 samples of faeces taken from cattle arriving at a Sheffield abattoir, indicating a possible source of these infections for man. We are unaware of previous reports of isolation of this organism from cattle in England.

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Selected References

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