Subtyping Method for Escherichia coli Shiga Toxin (Verocytotoxin) 2 Variants and Correlations to Clinical Manifestations

Shiga toxin 2 (Stx2) from Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was subtyped by a method involving partial sequencing of the stxAB2 operon. Of 255 strains from the Danish STEC cohort, all 20 cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome were associated with subtype Stx2 (11 cases), subtype Stx2c (1 case), or the two combined (8 cases).