Whole-genome sequencing for national surveillance of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157.

ABSTRACT:

Background

National surveillance of gastrointestinal pathogens, such as Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 (STEC O157), is key to rapidly identifying linked cases in the distributed food network to facilitate public health interventions. In this study, we used whole-genome sequencing (WGS) as a tool to inform national surveillance of STEC O157 in terms of identifying linked cases and clusters and guiding epidemiological investigation.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 334 isolates randomly sampled from 1002 strains of STEC O157 received by the Gastrointestinal Bacteria Reference Unit at Public Health England, Colindale, in 2012. The genetic distance between each isolate, as estimated by WGS, was calculated and phylogenetic methods were used to place strains in an

SUBMITTER: Dallman TJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4542925 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature