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Infection and Immunity, March 2003, p. 1505-1512, Vol. 71, No. 3
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.3.1505-1512.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Lymphoid Follicle-Dense Mucosa at the Terminal Rectum Is the Principal Site of Colonization of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in the Bovine Host

Stuart W. Naylor,1 J. Christopher Low,2 Thomas E. Besser,3 Arvind Mahajan,1 George J. Gunn,4 Michael C. Pearce,5 Iain J. McKendrick,6 David G. E. Smith,1 and David L. Gally1*

Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Research Laboratory, Medical Microbiology, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG,1 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Centre, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian, EH26 0QE,2 Scottish Agricultural College Veterinary Science Division, Drummondhill, Inverness, IV2 4JZ,4 Centre for Tropical Veterinary Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9RG,5 Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Edinburgh, Midlothian, EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom,6 Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Pathology, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 991643

Received 16 September 2002/ Returned for modification 22 October 2002/ Accepted 25 November 2002

Escherichia coli O157:H7 causes bloody diarrhea and potentially fatal systemic sequelae in humans. Cattle are most frequently identified as the primary source of infection, and E. coli O157:H7 generally colonizes the gastrointestinal tracts of cattle without causing disease. In this study, persistence and tropism were assessed for four different E. coli O157:H7 strains. Experimentally infected calves shed the organism for at least 14 days prior to necropsy. For the majority of these animals, as well as for a naturally colonized animal obtained from a commercial beef farm, the highest numbers of E. coli O157:H7 were found in the feces, with negative or significantly lower levels detected in lumen contents taken from the gastrointestinal tract. Detailed examination demonstrated that in these individuals the majority of tissue-associated bacteria were adherent to mucosal epithelium within a defined region extending up to 5 cm proximally from the recto-anal junction. The tissue targeted by E. coli O157:H7 was characterized by a high density of lymphoid follicles. Microcolonies of the bacterium were readily detected on the epithelium of this region by immunofluorescence microscopy. As a consequence of this specific distribution, E. coli O157:H7 was present predominately on the surface of the fecal stool. In contrast, other E. coli serotypes were present at consistent levels throughout the large intestine and were equally distributed in the stool. This is a novel tropism that may enhance dissemination both between animals and from animals to humans. The accessibility of this site may facilitate simple intervention strategies.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Research Laboratory, Medical Microbiology, Teviot Place, Edinburgh University, Edinburgh, EH8 9AG, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 131 6511342. Fax: 44 131 6506511. E-mail: d.gally{at}ed.ac.uk.

Editor: A. D. O'Brien

Infection and Immunity, March 2003, p. 1505-1512, Vol. 71, No. 3
0019-9567/03/$08.00+0     DOI: 10.1128/IAI.71.3.1505-1512.2003
Copyright © 2003, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.



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