Review of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Prevalence, Pathogenicity, Heavy Metal and Antimicrobial Resistance, African Perspective

Abstract

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is an important food-borne and water-borne pathogen that causes hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic-uremic syndrome in humans and may cause serious morbidity and large outbreaks worldwide. People with bloody diarrhea have an increased risk of developing serious complications such as acute renal failure and neurological damage. The hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) is a serious condition, and up to 50% of HUS patients can develop long-term renal dysfunction or blood pressurerelated complications. Children aged two to six years have an increased risk of developing HUS. Clinical enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) infections show fever, vomiting, and diarrhea. The EPEC reservoir is unknown but is suggested to be an asymptomatic or symptomatic child or an asymptomatic adult carrier. Spreading is often through the fecal-oral route. The prevalence of EPEC in infants is low, and EPEC is highly contagious in children. EPEC disease in children tends to be clinically more severe than other diarrheal infections. Some children experience persistent diarrhea that lasts for more than 14 days. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) strains are a compelling cause of the problem of diarrheal disease. ETEC strains are a global concern as the bacteria are the leading cause of acute watery diarrhea in children and the leading cause of traveler's diarrhea. It is contagious to children and can cause chronic diarrhea that can affect the development and well-being of children. Infections with diarrheagenic E. coli are more common in African countries. Antimicrobial agents should be avoided in the acute phase of the disease since studies showed that antimicrobial agents may increase the risk of HUS in children. The South African National Veterinary Surveillance and Monitoring Programme for Resistance to Antimicrobial Drugs has reported increased antimicrobial resistance in E. coli. Pathogenic bacterial strains have developed resistance to a variety of antimicrobial agents due to antimicrobial misuse. The induced heavy metal tolerance may also enhance antimicrobial resistance. The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance depends on the type of the antimicrobial agent, bacterial strain, dose, time, and mode of administration. Developing countries are severely affected by increased resistance to antimicrobial agents due to poverty, lack of proper hygiene, and clean water, which can lead to bacterial infections with limited treatment options due to resistance.

The impact of environmental factors on the transport and survival of pathogens in agricultural soils from karst areas of Yunnan province, China: Laboratory column simulated leaching experiments

“…Previous studies have noted that protozoa, such as Acanthamoeba, can inhibit bacterial growth through the release of free radicals in their lysates ( Connor et al, 1993 ), but have no inhibitory effect on certain coliforms, such as E. coli . On the contrary, those protozoa are an abundant source of amino acids, enzymes, fatty acids, and lipids and clearly provided coliforms with nutrients for growth ( Van Elsas et al, 2011 ; Geisen et al, 2018 ; Gambushe et al, 2022 ). Therefore, the thriving of protozoa would lead to an increase in the number of coliforms and a decrease in other bacteria that are susceptible to predation by protozoa in the soil environment ( Matin and Jung, 2011 ; Iqbal et al, 2014 ).…”

Characterization and Genomic Analysis of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Phage UAE_MI-01 Isolated from Birds

“…Characterization and genomic analysis of UAE_MI-01 revealed several desirable features for both phage therapy and food biocontrol applications. Infections with E. coli O157:H7 are considered a major challenge to global public health and have led to hospitalization more than Salmonella and Campylobacter [ 53 , 54 ]. Clinically, infections with O157:H7 have a wide clinical range, from no symptoms to mortality [ 11 , 54 ].…”

“…Infections with E. coli O157:H7 are considered a major challenge to global public health and have led to hospitalization more than Salmonella and Campylobacter [ 53 , 54 ]. Clinically, infections with O157:H7 have a wide clinical range, from no symptoms to mortality [ 11 , 54 ]. The elderly and children are more susceptible to severe clinical symptoms such as bloody diarrhea and hemolytic uremic syndrome [ 53 ].…”

Detection of E. coli O157H7 Strains Potentially paThogenic to Humans in the urine of Domestic Mice in the City of Daloa (Côte d’Ivoire)

“…Ruminants are considered the primary reservoir of E. coli O157:H7, although it has been isolated from other animal species such as pigs, billed gulls, geese and compagny animals [17]. This strain is potentially pathogenic for humans and can lead to serious complications such as acute renal failure and neurological damage leading to death [18]. Thus, the use of cooking utensils and the consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with urine from infested mice can cause hemolytic uremic syndromes in humans [18].…”

“…This strain is potentially pathogenic for humans and can lead to serious complications such as acute renal failure and neurological damage leading to death [18]. Thus, the use of cooking utensils and the consumption of foodstuffs contaminated with urine from infested mice can cause hemolytic uremic syndromes in humans [18].…”