Table 2.
Characteristics of E. coli O26:H11 isolates from patients (n = 41) and sheep flocks (n = 80) in Norway
| Genetic group | Sourcea (n) | EspKb (n) | arcA allele (n) | RDFc (n) | ehxA (n) | stx subtype (n) | stcEO103 (n) | No. of PFGE profiles seen in both sources (n) | No. of MLVA profiles seen in both sources (n) | Pathotyped |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | Patients (15) | 2 (15) | 2 (15) | − (15) | + (14) | stx2-EDL933 (7) | + (5) | 2 (4) | 5e (12) | EHEC/EHEC-like |
| Sheep flocks (17) | 2 (17) | 2 (17) | − (17) | + (15) | stx2-EDL933 (3) | + (10) | 2 (5) | 4 (17) | ||
| B | Patients (22) | 1 and 2 (22) | 2 (22) | − (22) | + (22) | stx1a (12) | − (22) | 1 (1) | 4 (8) | EHEC/EHEC-like |
| Sheep flocks (37) | 1 and 2 (37) | 2 (37) | − (20g) | + (35) | stx1a (1) | − (37) | 1 (1) | 6f (31) | ||
| A/B | Patients (2) | − (2) | 2 (2) | − (2) | + (2) | − (2) | − (2) | 1 (1) | − (2) | EHEC/EHEC-like |
| Sheep flocks (1) | − (1) | 2 (1) | − (1) | + (1) | − (1) | − (1) | − (1) | 1h (1) | ||
| C | Patients (2) | − (2) | 1 (2) | + (2) | − (2) | − (2) | − (2) | − (2) | 1 (1) | aEPEC |
| Sheep flocks (28) | − (28) | 1 (28) | + (28) | − (28) | − (28) | − (28) | − (28) | 1 (1) |
Three of the sheep flocks within group A harbored E. coli isolates also included within group B, A/B, or C.
2, PCR primer EspK2 present; 1 and 2, PCR primers EspK1 and EspK2 present; −, espK not present.
−, nonfermentation of rhamnose and dulcitol; +, fermentation of rhamnose and dulcitol.
EHEC and EHEC-like pathotypes as defined by Bugarel et al. (15).
One of the MLVA profiles seen in isolates from patients within group A was identical to the MLVA profile observed in an ovine isolate within group B.
Two of the MLVA profiles in the isolates from sheep flocks within group B were detected in isolates from patients within group A.
The remaining 17 sheep flocks had isolates which fermented rhamnose but not dulcitol.
The MLVA profile seen in the ovine isolate within group A/B was identical to an MLVA profile seen in human group A and B isolates.