Ocena częstości występowania przeciwciał dla werotoksycznych pałeczek Escherichia coli (VTEC) u osób z wybranych grup populacji polskiej
[Seroprevalence of antibodies against verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in individuals from selected groups of the Polish population]

STRESZCZENIE

Oceniono częstość występowania przeciwciał dla LPS oraz rekombinowanych białek werotoksycznych pałeczek E. coli u osób z wybranych grup populacji polskiej. Przeprowadzone badania wykazały, że u kilkunastu procent klinicznie zdrowych osób oraz jeszcze częściej u osób dorosłych z zaburzeniami ze strony układu pokarmowego, stwierdza się występowanie przeciwciał dla LPS pałeczek E. coli z grupy O157 i non-O157. Obecność przeciwciał dla rekombinowanych białek Tir, intyminy i werotoksyny STX- 2b stwierdzano tylko u około 6% procent dzieci i osób dorosłych z objawami ze strony układu pokarmowego oraz sporadycznie u osób zdrowych.

ABSTRACT

Introduction: The aim of the study was to investigate the frequency of antibodies against verocytotoxin-producing E. coli (VTEC) in individuals from selected groups of the Polish

population.

Materials and Methods: Serum samples collected from 388 patients with gastrointestinal disorders, 142 patients with reactive arthritis, 172 forest workers, 43 pregnant women and 172 blood donors were tested by in-house ELISA for the presence of antibodies to VTEC. As the antigen in ELISA were used LPS of E. coli serotype O157 and non-O157 (O26, O111, O121, O145) as well as recombinants proteins: verocytotoxin Stx-2b, intimin and Tir.

Results: A dozen or so of clinically healthy individuals had antibodies for LPS E. coli O157 and non-O157. There were no significant differences in the incidence of these antibodies, depending on the group of healthy subjects. Antibodies to LPS of E. coli O157 and non-O157 were found most commonly in adults with gastrointestinal symptoms (39.1% and 36.9%, respectively). In children and adolescents with abdominal pain and/or diarrhea and adults with arthritis, antibodies to LPS were detected at a similar frequency as in healthy subjects. It is noteworthy, however, that in many cases elevated antibody levels for LPS E. coli O157 and non-O157 were detected simultaneously in the same serum samples. The presence of antibodies to recombinant Tir proteins, intimine and verocytotoxin Stx-2b was found in approximately 6% of children and adults with gastrointestinal symptoms and occasionally in healthy individuals.

Conclusions: Antibodies to LPS of VTEC are very common in patients with gastrointestinal disorders as well as in healthy individuals. However, due to the possibility of crossreactions there is a need to use for epidemiological study a more specific antigens, based on the recombinant proteins of verotoxin-producing E. coli. The presence of antibodies to specific, recombinant VTEC proteins is found in less than 1.0% of clinically healthy individuals, indicating the low spread of these infections in the Polish population.

Key words: verocytotoxin-producing E. coli, VTEC, seroprevalence, Poland