Detection of the Emerging Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli O26:H11/H- Sequence Type 29 (ST29) Clone in Human Patients and Healthy Cattle in Switzerland

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26:H11/H- strains showing the characteristics of the emerging human-pathogenic ST29 clone (stx(2a)(+) only, eae(+), plasmid gene profile hlyA(+) etpD(+)) were detected from human patients and healthy cattle, indicating a possible reservoir. Sheep also appear to shed strains related to the new pathogenic clone O26: H11/H- (ST29, stx(1a)(+) only, eae(+), plasmid gene profile hlyA(+) etpD(+)).