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Identification of virulence attributes of gastrointestinal Escherichia coli isolates of veterinary significance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 February 2007

Chitrita DebRoy  and
Carol W. Maddox
Chitrita DebRoy*
Affiliation:
Gastroenteric Disease Center, Department of Veterinary Science, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802Urbana, IL 61802, USA
Carol W. Maddox
Affiliation:
Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, University of Illinois- Urbana/Champaign, Urbana, IL 61802, USA
*
*Gastroenteric Disease Center, Wiley Laboratory, Orchard Road, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

The pathogenic strains of Escherichia coli recovered from the intestinal tract of animals fall into categories called enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and necrotoxigenic. The other two categories, enteroinvasive and enteroaggregative, have not been reported in animals. The pathogenicity of these strains is determined by the presence of certain genes that encode adhesins and toxins, are generally organized in large blocks in chromosomes, large plasmids or phages, and are often transmitted horizontally between strains. In this review, we summarize current knowledge of the virulence attributes that determine the pathogenic potential of E. coli strains and the methods available to assess the virulence of the strains. We also discuss the clinical symptoms, the gross and histological lesions, and the molecular diagnostic methods our laboratories have implemented for detecting pathogenic strains of E. coli that are isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of animals.

Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Health Research Reviews , Volume 2 , Issue 2 , December 2001 , pp. 129 - 140
Copyright
Copyright © CAB International 2001

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