Vero cytotoxin binding to polymorphonuclear leukocytes among households with children with hemolytic uremic syndrome.

Abstract

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), the leading cause of acute renal failure in childhood, can be caused by different serotypes of vero cytotoxin (VT; i.e., Shiga toxin)-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC). Recently, VT was shown to bind to polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) in the systemic circulation of patients with HUS. This study investigated whether VT bound to PMNL could be detected in persons in households with patients with HUS. Serum antibodies against E. coli O157 and, when available, fecal samples from patients with HUS and household members were studied for the presence of VTEC infection. The circulating PMNL of 82% of the household members were positive for VT, whereas stool and/or serum examination showed only 21% positivity. Thus, current methods underestimate the number of infected persons in households with patients with HUS.

• Authors: D M te Loo, A E Heuvelink, E de Boer, J Nauta, J van der Walle, C Schröder, V W van Hinsbergh, H Chart, N C van de Kar, L P van den Heuvel
• Journal: The Journal of infectious diseases (J Infect Dis) Vol. 184 Issue 4 Pg. 446-50 (Aug 15 2001) ISSN: 0022-1899 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11471102 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Bacterial
• Shiga Toxins

Topics

• Adult
• Antibodies, Bacterial (blood)
• Child
• Escherichia coli Infections (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Escherichia coli O157 (immunology, metabolism)
• Family Characteristics
• Feces (microbiology)
• Female
• Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome (diagnosis, epidemiology, microbiology)
• Humans
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neutrophils (metabolism)
• Shiga Toxins (metabolism)