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. 2019 Jan;24(4):1800346.
doi: 10.2807/1560-7917.ES.2019.24.4.1800346.

Impact of whole genome sequencing on the investigation of food-borne outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroup O157:H7, England, 2013 to 2017

Claire Jenkins  1 , Timothy J Dallman  1 , Kathie A Grant  1
Affiliations

Impact of whole genome sequencing on the investigation of food-borne outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli serogroup O157:H7, England, 2013 to 2017

Claire Jenkins et al. Euro Surveill. 2019 Jan.

Abstract

We aim to provide insight and guidance on the utility of whole genome sequencing (WGS) data for investigating food-borne outbreaks of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O157:H7 in England between 2013 and 2017. Analysis of WGS data delivered an unprecedented level of strain discrimination when compared with multilocus variable number tandem repeat analysis. The robustness of the WGS method ensured confidence in the microbiological identification of linked cases, even when epidemiological links were obscured. There was evidence that phylogeny derived from WGS data can be used to trace the geographical origin of an isolate. Further analysis of the phylogenetic data provided insight on the evolutionary context of emerging pathogenic strains. Publically available WGS data linked to the clinical, epidemiological and environmental context of the sequenced strain has improved trace back investigations during outbreaks. Expanding the use of WGS-based typing analysis globally will ensure the rapid implementation of interventions to protect public health, inform risk assessment and facilitate the management of national and international food-borne outbreaks of STEC O157:H7.

Keywords: EHEC; Escherichia coli O157; United Kingdom; bacterial infections; enterohaemorrhagic E. coli; food-borne infections; gastrointestinal disease; laboratory surveillance; molecular methods; typing; zoonotic infections.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Phylogenetic relationship between isolates from human Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 PT21/28 cases linked to consumption of raw milk and cattle, and isolates from sporadic human clinical cases that fell within a 25 SNP cluster of the outbreak isolates, England, 2014
Figure 2
Figure 2
Phylogenetic relationship between isolates associated with an outbreak of red Batavia salad leaves and those from resident cases reporting recent travel to countries in the Mediterranean region, United Kingdom, 2016
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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