Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli infections in Sheffield: cattle as a possible source

During 1986 and 1987, faecal samples from patients with haemorrhagic colitis (HC) or haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) were examined for evidence of infection by verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). During the 2-year period VTEC infections were found in 31 (78%) of 40 patients initially presenting with HC, and in 5 (63%) of 8 patients initially presenting with HUS. VTEC were found in only 2 (0.9%) of 229 age and sex matched control patients with acute non-bloody diarrhoea. All but one VTEC belonged to E. coli serogroup O 157. During 1987 this serogroup was isolated from 2 (1%) of 207 samples of faeces taken from cattle arriving at a Sheffield abattoir, indicating a possible source of these infections for man. We are unaware of previous reports of isolation of this organism from cattle in England.