Genetic profiles of Shiga toxin and intimin genes found in stool broth cultures: a 2-year reference laboratory study

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) are associated with potentially serious illness in humans. STEC detection is often based on the presence of Stxs, Stx(1) and/or Stx(2), and intimin, encoded by the eae gene. A 2-year collection of stool broth cultures was tested for variants of stx(1), stx(2), and eae. Approximately 80% (138 of 174) were positive for stx(1) and/or stx(2), with stx(1) as the most prevalent (66%). Of the stx(1) variants, stx(1) was the most common (76%) followed by stx(1c) (22%). Analysis of stx(2)-positive isolates found 20 (53%) stx(2), 13 (34%) stx(2)/stx(2v-ha), 3 (8%) stx(2v-ha), 1 (3%) stx(2v-hb), and 1 (3%) stx(2d-activatable). Findings of stx(2)/stx(2v-ha) and stx(2d-activatable) are noteworthy given associations with hemolytic uremic syndrome and increased cytotoxicity, respectively. Of the Stx positive, 94 (68%) were eae positive with 31 (33%) eae(varepsilon1), 19 (20%) eae(gamma1), and 18 (19%) eae(beta1). A predominance of eae(varepsilon1) may suggest a new pathogenic significance because, reportedly, eae(beta1) is one of the most widespread variants.