Escherichia coli
Synonym(s): E. coli
Introduction
Classification
Taxonomy
- Family: Enterobacteriaceae.
- Genus: Escherichia.
Classification of enteritis-causing E. coli strains
- Enterotoxigenic E. coli ( ETEC): have fimbrial adhesins, produce enterotoxin, cause neonatal colibacillosis.
- Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC): do not produce enterotoxins or Shiga-like toxins, cause enteritis/diarrhea and colisepticemia by other mechanisms.
- Attaching and effacing E. coli (AEEC): colonize small intestine, attach to target cells and kill them, Shiga-like toxins, isolated from calves and rabbits with enteric disease.
Etymology
- Escherichia: named after Theodor Escherich, who named the type species of the genus.
Distribution
- Worldwide.
Significance
- The major facultative gram-negative species comprising the normal flora of the gastrointestinal tract; usually present in larger numbers in carnivores and omnivores than in herbivores.
- Presence in water supply usually indicates fecal contamination; hence tests for its presence are widely used in water testing.
- Causes (or associated with as opportunistic infection) a wide range of diseases in many species.
Active Forms
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Resting Forms
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Clinical Effects
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Diagnosis
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Further Reading
Publications
Refereed papers
- Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
- Cullor J S (1995) Escherichia coli O157:H7: the silent danger. Vet Med 90 (1), 74-82 VetMedResource.
- Dorn C R (1995) Escherichia coli O157:H7. JAVMA 206 (10), 1583-1585 PubMed.
- Whipp S C, Rasmussen M A & Cray W C Jr. (1994) Animals as a source of Escherichia coli pathogenic for human beings. JAVMA 204 (8), 1168-1175 PubMed.
- Levine M M (1987) Escherichia coli that causes diarrhea - enterotoxigenic, enteropathogenic, enteroinvasive, enterohemorrhagic and enteroadherent. J Infect Dis 155 (3), 377-389 PubMed.