@article{3113,
  author = {S Barth and A Tscholshiew and C Menge and R Weiss and G Baljer and R Bauerfeind},
  title = {Virulence and fitness gene patterns of Shiga toxin-encoding Escherichio coli isolated from pigs with edema disease or diarrhea in Germany},
  abstract = {Fecal Escherichia coli isolates (n = 3,218) from piglets with edema disease or diarrhea were screened forthe genes of Stx2 and Stx2 variants.A total of 283 Ecoli isolates (8.8 %) proved exclusively positive for Stx2e and most of these (85.1 %) harbored genes for F18 fimbria.No recognized adhesins were detectable in 14.5 % of the isolates.Genes for heat-stableor heat-labile E.coli enterotoxins were found in F18+ as well as F18" isolates (51.9 %and 33.3 %, respectively). Five isolates also harbored fyuA and irp2 genes which are indicative of a high pathogenicity island in E.coli. All Stx2e+ isolates lacked genes for intimin, EHEC hemolysin,STEC autoag-glutinating adhesin, subtilase cytotoxin,serine protease Espl.The majority of Stx2e+ isolates belonged to phylogenetic groups A (59.3 %) and D (38.9 %) and only few isolates were classified as B1 and B2 (1.8 %).The results suggest that Stx2e-produ-cing E coli strains are highly prevalent in diseased pigs in Germany. Despite their significant diversity, most strains possess all typical features (Stx2e, F18) of porcine edema disease E.coli. However, a considerable portion of porcine strains resembles published human Stx2e+ strains in that they lackany recognized pig-associated adhesin.Thus,a zoonotic potential cannot be excluded for these strains.},
  year = {2007},
  journal = {Berliner und Münchener Tierärztliche Wochenschrift},
  volume = {120},
  pages = {307-316},
  month = {07/2007},
  publisher = {Schlütersche Verlagsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG},
  address = {Hannover},
  issn = {0005-9366},
  doi = {10.2376/0005-9366-120-307},
  language = {English},
}