A new nomenclature to better identify the origin of the disease

The general confusion surrounding the epidemic is also due to the approximate nature of the nomenclature of the classes of pathogenic strains of the E. coli bacteria, especially those causing inflammation of the intestines and diarrhea. Moreover, some of these strains attack certain species of animals and others exclusively attack humans, while yet others can be transmitted between the species. Some cause very serious clinical syndromes such as diarrhea of the choleric type (strains producing enterotoxins or ETEC) or hemorrhagic diarrhea which is sometimes accompanied by kidney failure (strains producing Verotoxins or VTEC). Others can cause the infamous “traveler’s diarrhea” or “turista”. Confronted by this diversity, the current nomenclature is not always up to date and can lead to confusion.
One of the main benefits of the publication is the proposal of a new nomenclature for the strains that produce verotoxins which will make it possible to diagnose whether the bacteria is of human or animal origin, for example, once it has been identified, and thus facilitate and give better direction to epidemiological surveys.

Let us take the example of the O157:H7 or “hamburger” strain. Today it is known as enterohaemorraghic E. coli (EHEC). Yet, EHEC is a definition of a clinical syndrome. However, all the individuals infected by this strain do not necessarily experience hemorrhagic diarrhea. On the other hand, the potency of this strain is caused by the fact that it produces verotoxins. The authors of the publication therefore suggest that the  nomenclature be based around this property. Thus, they suggest the appellation VTEC for all strains of E. coli that produce verotoxins, by attributing a prefix to each one according its particularity. For example, the O157:H7 strain, of animal origin is described as “attaching and effacing”.  The bacteria attaches itself to the cells of the intestine via their “microvilli” (which resemble the fringes of a mat) and then send signals to the interior of these cells which interfere with their structure and finally destroy, “effaces” these microvilli. These disturbances in the intestinal cells cause inflammation and diarrhea. Following the new suggested nomenclature, this type of bacteria will be called AE-VTEC (Attaching Effacing Verotoxigenic E. coli), and we will know immediately on reading this name that it could be a strain of animal origin.