Strain differences in fitness of Escherichia coli O157:H7 to resist protozoan predation and survival in soil.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli O157:H7 (EcO157) associated with the 2006 spinach outbreak appears to have persisted as the organism was isolated, three months after the outbreak, from environmental samples in the produce production areas of the central coast of California. Survival in harsh environments may be linked to the inherent fitness characteristics of EcO157. This study evaluated the comparative fitness of outbreak-related clinical and environmental strains to resist protozoan predation and survive in soil from a spinach field in the general vicinity of isolation of strains genetically indistinguishable from the 2006 outbreak strains. Environmental strains from soil and feral pig feces survived longer (11 to 35 days for 90% decreases, D-value) with Vorticella microstoma and Colpoda aspera, isola

SUBMITTER: Ravva SV 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4097067 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature