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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 2001, p. 2272-2279, Vol. 39, No. 6
Klinik und Poliklinik für Kinder-und
Jugendmedizin1 and Medizinische
Kernklinik und Poiklinik,3
Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, and
Institut für Hygiene und Mikrobiologie der
Universität Würzburg, 97080 Würzburg,4 Germany, and
Research Institute and Division of Microbiology, Department of
Pediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children, and
Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto,
Ontario, Canada M5G 1X82
Received 31 October 2000/Returned for modification 20 December
2000/Accepted 22 February 2001
A Western blot (immunoblot) assay (WBA) for the detection of
immunoglobulin G antibodies to Shiga toxins Stx2 and Stx1 in sera from
110 patients with enteropathic hemolytic-uremic syndrome (53 culture
confirmed to have Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli
[STEC] infection) and 110 age-matched controls was established by
using a chemiluminescence detection system. Thirty-nine (74%) of the
53 culture-confirmed cases were infections with STEC serotype O157, and
14 (26%) were associated with infection by other STEC serotypes. The
frequency of an anti-Stx2 response following infection by a
Stx2-producing strain (34 of 48 cases; 71%) was higher than that of an
anti-Stx1 response following Stx1-producing STEC infection (4 of 10).
Furthermore, the frequency of an anti-Stx2 response in 110 control sera
(10%) was significantly higher than the frequency of an anti-Stx1
response (1.8%) (P = 0.0325). For STEC O157
culture-confirmed cases WBA for toxin detection had a diagnostic
sensitivity of 71% and a specificity of 90%. Because of its high
specificity the assay might be a helpful tool for diagnosing suspected
STEC infection when tests of stool samples or serological tests against various lipopolysaccharide antigens are negative. Furthermore, the
prevalence of anti-Stx antibodies in healthy controls probably reflects
the population immunity to systemic Stx-associated disease. It can thus
serve as a basis for comparing immunity levels in different populations
and for considering future Stx toxoid immunization strategies.
0095-1137/01/$04.00+0 DOI: 10.1128/JCM.39.6.2272-2279.2001
Copyright © 2001, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.
Antibody Response to Shiga Toxins Stx2 and Stx1 in
Children with Enteropathic Hemolytic-Uremic Syndrome

*
Corresponding author. Mailing address:
Universitäts-Krankenhaus Eppendorf, Klinik und Poliklinik
für Kinder-und Jugendmedizin, Martinistr. 52, 20246 Hamburg,
Germany. Phone: 49-40-428032702. Fax: 49-40-428035053. E-mail:
kludwig{at}uke.uni-hamburg.de.
Present address: Laboratory for Foodborne Zoonoses, Population and
Public Health Branch, Health Canada, Stone Rd. West, Guelph, Ontario,
Canada N1G 3W4.
Members of this study group who participated (from five additional
University Children's Hospitals in Germany) included the following: B. Hoppe, D. Michalk, and U. Querfeld, Cologne; J. H. H. Ehrich, G. Filler, and M. von Bredow, Charité Berlin; H. Ruder, Erlangen; U. John, and J. Misselwitz, Jena; and L. B. Zimmerhackl, Freiburg.
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