Detection of the astA (EAST1) Gene in Attaching and Effacing Escherichia coli from Ruminants

Summary A total of 206 attaching and effacing Escherichia coli strains from ruminants were analysed for the presence of the astA (EAST1) and bfpA genes. None of these strains was bfpA-positive. The percentage of enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains astA-positive found in healthy cattle (15.6%) suggests that this animal species may be a significant reservoir of atypical EPEC potentially pathogenic for humans.