COLIBACILLOSIS

COLIBACILLOSIS


Colibacillosis is a disease caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli. Colibacillosis is also known as hemorrhagic colitis. Other names associated with colibacillosis are colibacteriosis, colitoxemia, and enteropathogenic diarrhea. We will concentrate on E. coli O157:H7, which has emerged as a significant cause of food poisoning in people.



MORBIDITY: ++




MORTALITY: + TO ++




ETIOLOGY: BACTERIAL


Colibacillosis is caused by E. coli, which is a facultative anaerobic (can grow both aerobically and anaerobically), gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium that ferments sugar, which results in gas production. The gas is released from the body as flatulence. E. coli is one of several bacteria normally found in the intestines of humans and animals.


There are hundreds of strains of E. coli. Most of the strains are essential for normal food digestion and do not cause disease as long as they stay in the intestinal tract. Some of the normally nonpathogenic E. coli will become pathogenic in other organs. For example, if E. coli from the intestines gets into the urinary system, it can cause cystitis. In fact, E. coli is the primary cause of cystitis.


The strains that cause intestinal diseases are grouped into six categories. The three most important categories are enterotoxogenic E. coli (ETEC), enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC), and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC).


The ETEC strains produce toxins that cause profuse watery diarrhea, abdominal cramping, dehydration, and possibly vomiting. The EIEC strains invade intestinal lining cells and cause a mucoid diarrhea that may become tinged with blood.


The EHEC strains are the most zoonotic and pathogenic strains. They attach to intestinal wall cells and produce strong toxins. E. coli O157:H7 is the strain that has emerged as a significant cause of food poisoning in people. When E. coli O157:H7 enters the intestinal tract of a person, it produces a powerful toxin that damages the wall of the intestines, resulting in bloody diarrhea.



HOSTS


The most common reservoir of E. coli O157:H7 is cattle. Other animals that have been identified as sources of human infection are deer, swine, and (rarely) dogs and horses. None of these animals gets sick from harboring E. coli O157:H7.


When E. coli O157:H7 enters the intestinal tract of a human it becomes pathogenic and may cause severe disease. The organism is passed in human feces and is infective to other people.



TRANSMISSION


Transmission of E. coli O157:H7 is by the fecal-oral route. E. coli O157:H7 is passed in the feces of infected animals, primarily cattle. When people put anything in their mouths that has been in contact with the infected feces, they may become infected. An infected person can also infect other people (Figure 6).


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FIGURE 6 Colibacillosis.

Related posts:

  1. ABOUT THE DISEASES
  2. CAMPYLOBACTERIOSIS (VIBRIOSIS)
  3. EASTERN EQUINE ENCEPHALITIS
  4. LEPTOSPIROSIS

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Oct 1, 2016 | Posted by in EXOTIC, WILD, ZOO | Comments Off on COLIBACILLOSIS

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