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Human Escherichia coli O157:H7 infection associated with the consumption of unpasteurized goat's milk
M Bielaszewska1, J Janda, K Bláhová
1Institute of Medical Microbiology, The 2nd Medical Faculty, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic.
Insights
A cluster of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome cases was linked to raw goat's milk. Goats can be a reservoir for E. coli O157:H7, transmitting infection through unpasteurized milk.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Epidemiology
- Food Safety
Background:
- Investigating a cluster of pediatric hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases in Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic, during June-July 1995.
- Examining the potential link between HUS cases and consumption of unpasteurized goat's milk.
Observation:
- Four pediatric HUS cases presented with elevated anti-O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibody titers.
- Consumption of unpasteurized goat's milk from a specific farm was reported by all but one HUS patient in the week preceding illness.
Findings:
- Evidence of E. coli O157 infection was detected in 5 of 15 regular raw goat's milk drinkers from the implicated farm.
- Verocytotoxin 2-producing E. coli O157:H7 strains, matching isolates from a farm goat and an asymptomatic milk drinker, were identified.
- A significantly higher prevalence of anti-O157 LPS antibodies was observed in raw goat's milk drinkers compared to controls (33% vs. 0%, P = 0.0005).
Implications:
- Goats identified as a potential reservoir for pathogenic E. coli O157:H7.
- Unpasteurized raw goat's milk identified as a likely vehicle for E. coli O157:H7 transmission to humans.
- Highlights the public health risk associated with consuming raw milk products and the importance of food safety regulations.
Abstract:
A cluster of four cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome in children occurred in Northern Bohemia, Czech Republic, between 15 June and 7 July, 1995. All the cases had significantly elevated titres of anti-O157 lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antibodies as detected by the indirect haemagglutination assay. All but one of them had drunk unpasteurized goat's milk from the same farm within the week before the disease. Evidence of E. coli O157 infection was subsequently found in 5 of 15 regular drinkers of the farm's raw goat's milk; four of them were asymptomatic, 1 had mild diarrhoea at the end of June. Verocytotoxin 2-producing E. coli O157:H7 strains of phage type 2 and of identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns were isolated from 1 of 2 farm goats and from 1 of the asymptomatic goat's milk drinkers. The frequency of anti-O157 LPS antibodies found among regular drinkers of the farm's raw goat's milk (33%; 5 of 15) was significantly higher than that found in control population (0%; none of 45) (P = 0.0005; Fisher's exact test). Our findings indicate that goats may be a reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 and a source of the infection for humans; raw goat's milk may serve as a vehicle of the pathogen transmission.