Emergence and genetic heterogeneity of STEC O113:H4: insights from whole-genome sequences of isolates across human and non-human sources
The increased detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O113:H4 among human cases in Belgium questions the importance of this serotype as an emerging pathogen. However, detailed information focusing on serotype O113:H4 from human and non-human sources remains limited. We analysed a collection of 140 STEC O113:H4 isolates and their whole genomes, originating from animal hosts (cattle, deer, goats, and sheep), food, and humans, to determine their genetic relationship and assess key virulence genes. All STEC O113:H4 genomes lacked the locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) and belonged to Pasteur Sequence Type (pST) 367 complex, dominated by pST367 (ehxA<sup>-</sup>, stx<sub>2d</sub><sup>+</sup>) and pST1729 (ehxA<sup>+</sup>, stx<sub>2b</sub><sup>+</sup>). Compared to stx<sub>2d</sub><sup>+</sup> isolates, stx<sub>2b</sub><sup>+</sup> isolates carried on median more virulence factors, which might thus contribute to enhanced pathogenicity. Besides, humans appear to be infected with distinct subgroups of STEC O113:H4 carrying distinct stx subtypes and originating from potentially different sources: deer, goats, and sheep for STEC carrying stx<sub>2b</sub> (alone or in combination with stx<sub>1c</sub>) and mainly cattle for STEC carrying stx<sub>2d</sub>. Our results call for improved understanding and continuous surveillance of emerging STEC O113:H4.
Authors
- Angela H. A. M. van Hoek (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1626-0600)
- Joost Stassen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5483-325X)
- Denis Piérard (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7756-3691)
- Gro S. Johannessen
- Carolina Silva Nodari (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2361-5732)
- Frédéric Auvray (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5532-1045)
- C. Willis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8884-9388)
- Florence Crombé (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1269-5546)
- Jacques Mainil (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8520-0834)
- Aurélie Cointe (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6484-0696)
- Sigrid C. J. De Keersmaecker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4198-4133)
- Bavo Verhaegen
- Ralph Litjens
Institutions
- Norwegian Food Safety Authority (NO)
- Université Toulouse III - Paul Sabatier (FR)
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel (BE)
- Inserm (FR)
- Institut Pasteur (FR)
- University of Liège (BE)
- École Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse (FR)
- Université Fédérale de Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées (FR)
- Université Paris Cité (FR)
- Water Security Agency (CA)
- Institut National de Recherche pour l'Agriculture, l'Alimentation et l'Environnement (FR)
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (NL)
- Institut de Recherche en Santé Digestive (FR)
- Hôpital Robert-Debré (FR)
- Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel (BE)
- Sciensano (Belgium) (BE)
- Wageningen University & Research (NL)
Publication Details
- Journal
- International Journal of Medical Microbiology
- Published
- 2025-11-26
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmm.2025.151688
- Primary Topic
- Escherichia coli research studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00