Research into the Presence of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Human and Cattle Feces with Culture, ELISA and Molecular Methods

Abstract

According to 2021 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) data, Shiga-toxin (stx) producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the fourth most frequently observed zoonotic agent in humans after Campylobacter, Salmonella and Yersinia. It may cause very serious infections like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemorrhagic colitis (HC). In 2011 it caused a large epidemic, leading to the death of 54 people and the development of HUS in several people in Germany. For diagnosis, the detection of STEC bacteria is an important marker to indicate the formation of the toxin. In this study, the aim was to determine the frequency of STEC in patients referred for fecal cultures and to identify the colonization rates of this microorganism among cattle in an integrated meat facility. A total of 250 human fecal samples and fecal samples from 180 cattle collected from an integrated meat facility were investigated for the presence of STEC. None of the samples from humans had STEC identified. Of the animal samples, 11 were positive with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the samples positive with ELISA, 8 were also positive with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the samples positive with PCR, 3 could proliferate on CROMagar STEC medium. Of the 3 isolated bacteria, 1 was serotyped as O103:NM and the other two could not serotyped. The majority of studies performed for the detection of STEC in our country provide information about the O157 serotype; however, it is necessary to identify all strains producing stx with the multiplex PCR method as non-O157 strains may be responsible for large epidemics.

Keywords

• ELISA
• Feces
• PCR
• Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli

İnsan ve Sığır Dışkı Örneklerinde Shiga Toksin Üreten Escherichia coli Varlığının Kültür, ELİSA ve Moleküler Yöntemlerle Araştırılması

Abstract

Shiga Toksin üreten Escherichia coli (STEC) 2021 EFSA verilerine göre insanlarda Campylobacter, Salmonella ve Yersinia türlerinden sonra en sıklıkla örülen dördüncü zoonotik etkendir. Hemolitik üremik sendrom (HÜS), hemorojik kolit (HK) gibi çok ciddi komplikasyonlara neden olabilmektedir. 2011 yılında Almanya’da 54 kişinin ölümüne ve birçok kişide HÜS oluşumuna sebep olan salgın gibi büyük salgınlara neden olabilir. Tanıda STEC bakterisinin tespiti ve toksin oluşumunu göstermek önemli bir yol göstericidir. Bu çalışmada, dışkı kültürü istemi yapılan hastalarda STEC sıklığının belirlenmesi ve bir entegre et tesisinde bulunan sığırlarda bu mikroorganizmanın kolonizasyon oranlarının saptanması amaçlanmıştır. İnsanlardan toplam 250 dışkı örneği ve bir entegre et tesisinden toplanan 180 sığıra ait dışkı örnekleri STEC varlığı yönünden incelenmiştir. Örnekler, CHROMagar STEC besiyeri ve MacConkey sıvı besiyerlerinde ekimi yapılmış, daha sonra enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) ve polimeraz zincir reaksiyonu (PZR) yöntemleri kullanılarak STEC varlığı araştırılmıştır, PZR’de pozitif çıkan patojen gen bölgeleri için dizileme, kültürde üreyen STEC’ler için serotiplendirme yapılmıştır. İnsanlarda araştırılan örneklerin hiçbirinde STEC tespit edilmemiştir. Hayvan öreklerinin 11’i ELISA ile pozitif bulunmuştur. ELISA yöntemiyle pozitif bulunan örneklerin 8’i aynı zamanda PZR yöntemiyle de pozitif saptanmıştır. PZR yöntemiyle pozitif bulunan örneklerin 3’ü CROMagar STEC besiyerinde üretilebilmiştir. İzole edilen 3 bakteriden 1’i O103:NM olarak serotiplendirilmiş diğerleri serotiplendirilememiştir. Ülkemizde STEC varlığının tespiti için yapılan çalışmaların büyük bir kısmı O 157 serotipi hakkında bilgi vermektedir, ancak O 157 dışı suşlarında büyük salgınlara sebep olabilmesi nedeniyle multipleks PZR yöntemiyle, Stx üreten tüm suşların tespit edilmesi gerekmektedir.

Keywords

• Shiga Toksin üreten Escherichia coli
• Dışkı
• ELİSA
• PCR

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