Vet. Res. 37 (2006) 3-13
DOI: 10.1051/vetres:2005045

Presence of Escherichia coli carrying the EAST1 toxin gene in farm animals

Sophie Veilleux and J. Daniel Dubreuil

Groupe de recherche sur les maladies infectieuses du porc (GREMIP), Département de pathologie et microbiologie, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, 3200 rue Sicotte, Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec, J2S 7C6, Canada

(Received 23 March 2005; accepted 4 July 2005; published online 13 December 2005)

Abstract - Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) heat-stable toxin 1 (EAST1) is a small toxin of proteic nature. The reference strain producing this toxin was originally detected in the stools of a diarrheic Chilean child. Today, we know that EAST1 is not solely associated with EAEC but also with many other diarrheic E. coli families. Some studies have established the role of EAST1 in human outbreaks of diarrhea. In addition, isolates from farm animals were shown, more recently, to carry the astA gene coding for EAST1. However, the relation between the presence of EAST1 and disease is not conclusive. In this article, the current state of the knowledge on the presence and probable role of EAST1 in farm animal diseases is reviewed and discussed.

Key words: Escherichia coli / EAST1 toxin / farm animals / diarrhea / edema disease

Corresponding author: J. Daniel Dubreuil daniel.dubreuil@umontreal.ca

© INRA, EDP Sciences 2005