Isolation of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli from cattle and characterization of the isolated strains

Abstract

Attempts to isolate Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) from 53 dead baby cattle were made during a period from January 1989 to July 1991. From 6 cattle of 5 farms, VTECs were isolated. Further examination of cattle from 2 farms with dead baby cattle and from 1 farm with an outbreak of diarrhea among baby cattle, from 8 of 26 cattle with diarrhea and from 9 of 58 healthy cattle, VTECs were isolated. Several serotypes which caused food poisoning in Japan as well as in the US and Europe were included in the isolated strains. VTECs were also isolated from several cattle imported from the US suggesting that these VTECs were from outside the country together with the imported cattle.