Sains Malaysiana 44(2)(2015): 261–267

Incidence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Thailand

(Kejadian Escherichia coli O157:H7 di Thailand)

PHARANAI SUKHUMUNGOON*

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science Prince of Songkla University

Hat-yai 90112, Thailand

Received: 7 May 2013/Accepted: 5 August 2014

ABSTRACT

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) especially serotype O157:H7 is one of the important food-borne pathogens because it is able to produce crucial toxins Shiga. However, the outbreak of this organism in Thailand has not been reported. Antibody to O157 antigen was detected in some Thai populations and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli were detected in low numbers of clinical specimens. Interestingly, some E. coli that showed positive to O157 fimbriae probe and lack of virulence gene were isolated from certain patients and one isolate of E. coli O157:H7 which possessed stx1, stx2v was detected in a normal child. In addition, the incidence of E. coli O157:H7 strains were monitored by the samples from cattle and retail beef in Thailand although their inability to produce toxins or produce in a low concentration was demonstrated. This review discusses the incidences of E. coli O157 in clinical and environmental samples of Thailand including the transmission possibility of this bacterium across the Thai border through food trade.

Keywords: E. coli O157:H7; EHEC; Malaysia; Thailand

ABSTRAK

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) khususnya serotype O157:H7 adalah salah satu patogen hasil makanan yang penting kerana ia dapat menghasilkan toksin penting Shiga. Walau bagaimanapun, wabak organisma ini di Thailand tidak dilaporkan. Antibodi kepada antigen O157 dikesan dalam beberapa populasi Thai dan toksin Shiga yang menghasilkan E. coli telah dikesan dalam bilangan yang rendah melalui spesimen klinikal. Menariknya, terdapat beberapa E. coli yang menunjukkan kesan positif kepada kuar fimbriae O157 dan kekurangan gen virulen telah diasingkan daripada pesakit tertentu dan satu pengasingan daripada E. coli O157:H7 yang mempunyai stx1, stx2v dikesan pada kanak-kanak biasa. Di samping itu, kadar strain E. coli O157:H7 telah dikawal melalui sampel daripada anak lembu dan daging lembu runcit di Thailand walaupun ketidakmampuan mereka untuk mengeluarkan toksin atau dalam kepekatan rendah telah ditunjukkan. Kajian ini membincangkan kejadian E. coli O157 dalam sampel klinikal dan alam sekitar di Thailand termasuk kemungkinan pemindahan bakteria ini merentasi sempadan Thailand melalui perdagangan makanan.

Kata kunci: E. coli O157:H7; EHEC; Malaysia; Thailand

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*Corresponding author; email: pharanai82@gmail.com