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Infection and Immunity, November 2008, p. 5366-5372, Vol. 76, No. 11
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.01223-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Responses of Cattle to Gastrointestinal Colonization by Escherichia coli O157:H7{triangledown}

Pablo Nart,1,2,3 Stuart W. Naylor,1 John F. Huntley,3 Iain J. McKendrick,4 David L. Gally,2 and J. Christopher Low1*

Animal Research Group, Scottish Agricultural College, Research Division, West Mains Road, Edinburgh EH9 0PH, United Kingdom,1 Zoonotic and Animal Pathogens Research Laboratory, Centre for Infectious Diseases, Chancellor's Building, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4SB, United Kingdom,2 Moredun Research Institute, Pentland Science Park, Bush Loan, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PZ, United Kingdom,3 Biomathematics and Statistics Scotland, Edinburgh EH9 3JZ, United Kingdom4

Received 5 September 2007/ Returned for modification 16 October 2007/ Accepted 19 August 2008

Recent research has established that the terminal rectum is the predominant colonization site of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 in cattle. The main aim of the present work was to investigate pathological changes and associated immune responses at this site in animals colonized with E. coli O157:H7. Tissue and gastrointestinal samples from a total of 22 weaned Holstein-cross calves challenged with E. coli O157:H7 were analyzed for bacterial colonization and pathology. Five unexposed age-matched calves were used as comparative negative controls. E. coli O157:H7 bacteria induced histopathological alterations of the rectal mucosa with enterocyte remodeling. This was often associated with removal of the colonized epithelial layer. Immunogold labeling and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) showed E. coli O157 bacteria on pedestals, as part of attaching and effacing lesions. These pathological changes induced a local infiltration of neutrophils that was quantified as larger in infected animals. Rectal mucosal immunoglobulin A responses were detected against the E. coli O157:H7 antigen. This work presents evidence that E. coli O157:H7 is not a commensal bacteria in the bovine host and that the mucosal damage produced by E. coli O157:H7 colonization of the terminal rectum induces a quantifiable innate immune response and production of specific mucosal antibodies.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Animal Health Group, Sir Stephen Watson Building, Bush Estate, Penicuik, Midlothian EH26 0PH, United Kingdom. Phone: 44 (0) 131 535 3317. Fax: 44 (0) 131 535 3121. E-mail: Chris.Low{at}sac.ac.uk

{triangledown} Published ahead of print on 2 September 2008.

Editor: B. A. McCormick

Infection and Immunity, November 2008, p. 5366-5372, Vol. 76, No. 11
0019-9567/08/$08.00+0     doi:10.1128/IAI.01223-07
Copyright © 2008, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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