Identification of Escherichia albertii as a Causative Agent of a Food-Borne Outbreak Occurred in 2003

Escherichia albertii is an emerging diarrheagenic pathogen associated with sporadic infections in humans (1,2); however, there are relatively few reports on E. albertii isolation from food-borne cases (3,4). E. albertii belongs to the attaching and effacing group of pathogens, including enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) and enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC). This group of pathogens forms lesions on intestinal epithelial cell surfaces by the combined action of an outer membrane protein, intimin encoded eae gene, and type III secretion system effectors.