Is E. coli zoonotic, and which strains are notable?

Is E. coli zoonotic, and which strains are notable?

• A. No
• B. Yes, including STEC such as O157:H7
• C. Yes, only nonpathogenic strains
• D. Yes, but limited to certain mammals

Answer: (B)

E. coli can move between animals and humans, so it is considered zoonotic. Many strains simply inhabit the guts of animals or people without causing disease, but pathogenic ones can jump from animals to humans. The standout group is Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC), which can be transmitted from animals such as cattle to humans and cause serious illness. The best-known member is the O157:H7 strain, famous for causing hemorrhagic colitis and, in some cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome. Other notable STEC serotypes that have caused human illness include O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. So the correct view is that E. coli is zoonotic, with STEC like O157:H7 as particularly notable examples.

E. coli can move between animals and humans, so it is considered zoonotic. Many strains simply inhabit the guts of animals or people without causing disease, but pathogenic ones can jump from animals to humans. The standout group is Shiga toxin–producing E. coli (STEC), which can be transmitted from animals such as cattle to humans and cause serious illness. The best-known member is the O157:H7 strain, famous for causing hemorrhagic colitis and, in some cases, hemolytic uremic syndrome. Other notable STEC serotypes that have caused human illness include O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145. So the correct view is that E. coli is zoonotic, with STEC like O157:H7 as particularly notable examples.