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J Med Microbiol 55 (2006), 1487-1492; DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.46666-0
© 2006 Society for General Microbiology
ISSN 1473-5644

Cytolethal distending toxins in Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli: alleles, serotype distribution and biological effects

Dorothea Orth, Katharina Grif, Manfred P. Dierich and Reinhard Würzner

Department of Hygiene, Microbiology and Social Medicine, Innsbruck Medical University and Austrian Reference Laboratory for Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli, Schöpfstr. 41, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria

Correspondence
Dorothea Orth
dorothea.orth{at}i-med.ac.at

Received 6 April 2006
Accepted 9 August 2006

To assess the prevalence of cytolethal distending toxin (CDT) among Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), 202 STEC strains were investigated using PCRs targeting various cdt alleles (cdt-I to cdt-V). Seven of the 202 strains contained cdt-III and an additional seven contained cdt-V. All 14 cdt-positive strains produced biologically active CDT, as demonstrated by a progressive distension of cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. The CDT-positive STEC belonged to eight different serotypes, including sorbitol-fermenting O157 : NM (non-motile). The data demonstrate that CDT is present in some STEC serotypes only. However, more studies are required to evaluate whether CDT presence is associated with severe disease.

Abbreviations: CDT, cytolethal distending toxin; CHO, Chinese hamster ovary; HUS, haemolytic uraemic syndrome; NM, non-motile; NSF, non-sorbitol fermenting; SF, sorbitol fermenting; STEC, Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli.






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