Pathogenic escherichia coli and one health implications

Abstract

Escherichia coli are common inhabitants in the intestinal tracts of warm blooded animals where they generally cause no harm to the host, although there are some types of E. coli which are able to cause disease. The most significant of these are enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) which can cause severe human disease that can result in death. EHEC have an animal reservoir, particularly cattle, and are considered to be an important zoonotic pathogen having significant impact for One Health. EHEC can be transmitted from animals into humans, either from consumption of foods made from these animals, or from contact with foods which may have become contaminated directly or indirectly from animal wastes. Increasingly, EHEC have also been associated with uncooked leafy green vegetables and sprouts. Several large outbreaks of E. coli have highlighted the importance for addressing these organisms in a One Health perspective. © 2012 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg.