Biology 216 - Lect 18
Introduction to Enterics
Enteric = intestine, but ubiquitous, so
opportunists in other sites
Entero as a prefix: enterotoxin, enteropathogenic,
enterohemorrhagic....
3 families we will discuss (all Gm- rods):
1. Spirillaceae (microaerophilic, curved/spiral) -
Helicobacter, Campylobacter (5% O2,10% CO2)
Air is:21% O2, 2% CO2
2. Vibrionaceae (Ox+) - Vibrio, Aeromonas, Plesiomonas
3. Enterobacteriaceae (Glu+,Ox-,NO3+) -
Escherichia, Salmonella, Shigella, Yersinia,
Klebsiella, Enterobacter,Proteus
I. GI tract locations for infection.
A. Mouth
B. Esophagus
C. Stomach (Helicobacter - pyloric ulcer)
D. Small intestine (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) -
Vibrio, ETEC, Yersinia,
Salmonella, Campylobacter transient.
E. Large intestine (colon) - Shigella, VTEC (EHEC),
Campylobacter, EPEC
Clostridium difficile, infant botulism.
F. General symptoms helpful
1. Watery - cholera
2. Dysentery (bloody, mucus, PMN) -
Shigella, VTEC, Campylobacter
II. ID50 - dictates transmission -
(Vibrio vs Shigella)
Also note reservoir (human only or
non-human carrier)
III. Intoxications - absorbed in small intestine
A. Staphylococcus aureus
B. Adult botulism
C. Diagnosis - history, organisms in
food, toxin in feces.
IV. Isolation (primary media depends on specimen)
Fecal - Highly selective; Selective,
Enrichment, Campy 42C
Non-fecal - selective/BAP
Principles - inhibit Gm+, Gm- fastidious,
allow enterics (bile salts)
A. Highly selective/diff - fecal only;
very high bile;
Discourage swarming, some
non-pathogenic enterics
Some so selective, no need to autoclave.
Ex. XLD (xylose lysine desox); HE (Hektoen Enteric);
Salmonella/Shigella
B. Selective/dif - for both fecal and non-fecal
Ex. MacConkey (1905) - first used since lac-
were pathogens (Salm/Shig)
Others: MAC, EMB, Endo, Desoxycholate citrate;
Sorbitol Mac if suspect O157
C. Enrichment broth - For Salmonella, Shig,
Yersinia in low #
Principle - pathogen often low #;
Place in environ which encourages path
Ex. 10(2) Salmonella with 10(9) E. coli
Enrich 6 hours then plate on Mac.
Ex. Selenite, GNB....
D. Campy-BAP(Ex Skirows) - BAP with antibiotics
Incubate 42 C, microaerophilic atmosphere
E. Others if suspect non-conventional pathogen -
Ex. TCBS for Vibrio
V. Tests for ID - principles of majors
(variation in results within species)
A. Triple sugar iron (TSI) and Kligler (no sucrose)
- stab and streak
0.1 % glu; 1 % lac; 1 % sucr - 24 hr
Sodium thiosulfate to detect H2S ->
ferrous sulfate black
Reactions: Slant/butt? H2S? Gas? Ex. K/A H2S
All Enterobacteriaceae are Glu+; K/K =
non fermenters (other family)
B. Sugar fermentation - trypticase; pH indicator;
1 % sugar; Durham tube (extra)
C. ONPG - tests for B-galactosidase ->
galactose + ONP (yellow)
Principle: Need permease and B-gal
Slow fermenters show up negative
since poor transport
D. IMViC - Originally to differentiate
E. coli/Enterobacter (++-- vs --++)
Indole test: Trp -> indole, filter strip test
Methyl red - mixed acid ferm (pH< 4.4)
Voges Proskauer - acetoin by 2,3-butanediol
Citrate - utilization (Simmon citrate ->
basic; other look for cloudy media)
E. Decarboxylases (Lys, Orn, Arg) - enzyme
which specifically removes COO-
Decarboxylase activated by acid environment;
Performed anaerobically.
F. Phenylalanine deaminase ->
phenylpyruvate (green with FeCl3)
Only tribe + is Proteae (Proteus, Providencia)
and some Yersinia
G. Urease -> 2 NH3 + CO2 (basic magenta color)
H. Rapid tests - show kit tests
I. Serotyping - used for Salmonella and
to speciate Shigella
VI. Enterobacteriaceae ID schemes - SLIDES
A. Grouping by Tribes - Edwards/Ewing divided
into 7 tribes by stable characters.
B. Checkerboard matrix - tedious; Confidence
levels per test >90 %; Cumulates error
C. Flow diagram - Groups of tests to increase confidence
Biochemical Tests
1. B-galactosidase
ONPG ---------> galactose + ONP (yellow)
2. Tryptophanase
Tryptophan------------> indole + ammonium + pyruvate
3. Decarboxylases (Lys, Orn, Arg) -
Enzyme which specifically removes COO-
Activated by acid environment
Ex. Lysine ----------------> Alkaline amine + CO2
4. Phenylalanine deaminase
Phenylalanine ------> phenylpyruvate (green w/ FeCl3)
Helpful with Proteae (Proteus, Providencia)
5. Urease
Urea------------------>CO2 + 2NH3 (basic magenta color)