摘要：The incidence of the non-O157 enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) - non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections increased in the last years. Many serotypes of this toxigenic E.coli group were isolated from hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemorrhagic colitis (HC) cases. The STEC strains possess many virulence factors codified by plasmids. Among the over 200 non-O157 STEC serotypes, more than 100 serotypes have been associated with HC or HUS in humans. The serogroups O26, O103, O111 and O145 are most commonly isolated from humans and are clearly recognized as human pathogens. STEC can be found in the fecal flora of a variety of animals. Domestic cattle and other ruminants constitute a natural reservoir for STEC. Usually STEC are transmitted to humans by food, water and from person to person. Foods, particularly foods of animal origin, the beef meat, represent a major vehicle of transmission of non-O157 STEC. The detection of the STEC is possible by many systems: Stx -specific PCR, Vero cell toxicity test, Enterohemolysin -agar, Stx -EIA on direct stool, Stx -EIA on stool culture grown overnight in TSB. Serological diagnosis is also possible. Antibodies to Stx or LPS have been proposed as markers of recent infection.
