Isolation of Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli serotypes O9ab:H- and O101:H-carrying VT2 variant gene sequences from a patient with haemolytic uraemic syndrome

Abstract

Vero cytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) were isolated from the faecal specimen of a patient with haemolytic uraemic syndrome. The isolates belonged to two rare VTEC serotypes, O9ab:H- and O101:H-. Polymerase chain reaction gene amplification products were detected with primers specific for the VT2e gene, a variant of VT2. The toxin from both isolates was cytotoxic to Vero cells but not to HeLa cells. An 18 kb EcoRI restriction enzyme fragment of genomic DNA from both strains hybridised with a VT2 polynucleotide DNA probe.