Epidemiological Aspects ofEscherichia albertiiOutbreaks in Japan and Genetic Characteristics of the Causative Pathogen

Detection, Isolation, and Molecular Characterization of <i>Escherichia albertii</i> from Wild Birds in West Japan

“…Escherichia albertii is an emerging zoonotic foodborne pathogen associated with several outbreaks. The patients usually develop symptoms of gastroenteritis such as watery diarrhea, abdominal pain and vomiting after 19 h of the average incubation period (1)(2)(3)(4). This bacterium expresses the type 3 secretion system and eae-encoded adhesin, intimin, similar to enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), resulting in the formation of characteristic pedestal structures on host intestinal epithelium.…”

Distribution of the O-Genotypes of <i>Escherichia albertii</i> Isolated from Humans and Environmental Water in Akita Prefecture, Japan

“…In enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli, the major reported outbreaks are attributed to several serogroups (i.e., O26, O111, and O157). In Japan, isolation of E. albertii, newly recognized enteric pathogen and closely related to E. coli, in human gastroenteritis outbreaks were increasingly reported (1). E. albertii is subclinically carried by wild and domestic birds (2) and has been found in isolates of various animals (3).…”

Biochemical and Molecular Properties of <i>Escherichia albertii</i> Isolated from Human Urine and Stool Specimens

“…In recent years, the Escherichia albertii has been emerged is a human enteropathogen and found to be responsible for causing human gastroenteritis outbreaks (1,2). The biochemical properties of this organism is closely related to other Escherichia spp., making them difficult to distinguish and are therefore, infections caused by E. alberti are often misidentified as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) or enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) due to harboring the intimin gene (eae) or other similar phenotypic and genetic characteristics.…”