Probable zoonotic transmission of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157 by dogs

Abstract

VEROCYTOTOXIGENIC Escherichia coli (VTEC) of serogroup O157 is an important pathogen of human beings, with potentially serious consequences, including the development of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (Mainil and Daube 2005). It has been isolated from many animal species, but ruminants, especially cattle, are considered to be the main reservoirs of infection (Caprioli and others 2005). Contact with the farming environment, and direct and indirect contact with animals other than domestic pets are risk factors that were identified in case-control studies of sporadic VTEC O157 infections (Locking and others 2001, O'Brien and others 2001). Companion animals can sometimes be implicated, as reported by Trevena and others (1996) who recovered indistinguishable strains of VTEC O157 from a child, pony and dog in one incident. This short communication reports a case of apparent zoonotic transmission of VTEC O157 from dogs, which was identified in 2007 during the course of a joint medical and veterinary investigation into an outbreak of VTEC infection in a group of young children. Three children in the group and two household contacts (adults) developed gastrointestinal symptoms. Non-sorbitol fermenting E coli O157 were isolated from stool samples of the five symptomatic cases and from an asymptomatic sibling contact. Methods summarised by

Recent Updates on Outbreaks of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli and Its Potential Reservoirs

“…The importance of companion animals (pets) in the epidemiology of STEC infection should not be underestimated. Via their feces, pets, such as dogs and cats can serve as asymptomatic shedders in the epidemiology of a wide range of STEC serotypes (Beutin, 1999;Roopnarine et al, 2007;Hogg et al, 2009;Rumi et al, 2012). Accordingly, several clinical infections due to canine and feline exposure have been reported (Busch et al, 2007;Persad and LeJeune, 2014;McFarland et al, 2017).…”

Detection of Virulent Genes in E. coli O157:H7 Isolated from Puppies and Adult Dogs by Polymerase Chain Reaction

“…It has been suggested that dogs may acquire STEC O157:H7 from foods which might be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 or from ruminants which are considered to be the principal reservoirs of the organism (Hogg et al, 2009;Ojo et al, 2010). Besides, dogs might wander from home and have direct access to slaughter-houses and meat markets where they scavenge for remnants of fresh meat (Adeyemo, 2002).…”

Molecular detection of rfbO157, shiga toxins and hemolysin genes for Escherichia coli O157: H7 from canine feces in Tikrit and Mosul cities, Iraq

“…Cattle can be considered as reservoir of the serotype O157:H7 and transmit the infection to the human and dogs mainly by oral-fecal route, including contaminated raw milk and meat, dogs are the source of human infection with pathogenic E. coli O157: H7. and the infection of dogs is acquired from ruminants that are a storehouse of these bacteria, and the method of transmission is through direct contact between humans and pets animals as well as fecal and urine contamination (4,5). The previous studies have been performed to identify and isolate E. coli O157:H7 in dogs.…”