Serological and biochemical properties of Shiga-like toxin (verocytotoxin)-producing strains of Escherichia coli, other than O-group 157, from patients in Germany.

During 1987-1990, 62 infections with Shiga-like toxin (Verocytotoxin)-producing E. coli, other than O group 157, were identified. The isolates belonged to 26 serovars within 20 O groups; of them, 10 serovars belonged to 6 O groups of traditional enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). The serovars O2:H5 and O91:H14 were exclusively associated with ulcerative colitis. Eighteen patients (children under 4 years of age) developed a haemolytic uraemic syndrome. All together, 31 strains produced SLT I, 26 strains, SLT II, and 5 strains, both toxins. All strains produced beta-glucuronidase and fermented, with one exception, D-sorbitol. The phenotypic diversity of SLT-producing E. coli implies that the only means of their identification is by indirect (genetic) or direct (phenotypic) demonstration of toxin production.