EHEC puzzle solved pathogens imported from Egypt

EHEC pathogens infested with sprout seeds from Egypt

06/07/2011

The mystery of the origin of the new particularly dangerous EHEC pathogen seems to have been solved. The EHEC epidemic in Germany and also the EHEC infections in other European countries are said to have been caused by the use of contaminated fenugreek seeds from Egypt, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) reported a week ago.

Now experts from a German task force have confirmed the suspicion that the new EHEC pathogen O104: H4 was probably imported with fenugreek seeds from Egypt. This was announced by the Federal Office for Consumer Protection and Food Safety, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the Robert Koch Institute on Tuesday together in Berlin. Meanwhile, the EU plans to ban imports of fenugreek seeds and other sprout seeds from Egypt. However, since many strained fenugreek seeds are still in circulation, the existing batches should be destroyed and consumers continue to consume no sprout seeds or raw sprouts, warned the ESFA.

Fenugreek seeds from Egypt Cause of EHEC infections
While the Egyptian Minister of Agriculture denied until the very end that products from his country could possibly be the source of the EHEC infection wave in Germany or other European countries, the European authorities and the experts of a specially set up German Task Force come to a different conclusion. Both the ESFA and the German specialists assume that the new, particularly dangerous EHEC pathogens have been introduced from fenugreek seeds from Egypt. The EU therefore plans to ban imports of fenugreek and other sprout seeds from Egypt by the end of October, according to media reports. Existing batches of fenugreek seeds are to be disposed of and consumers are still recommending that authorities refrain from consuming sprout seeds or raw sprouts for the time being. Also, no seeds should be pulled from the seeds themselves, warn the experts. Because a burden with the dangerous EHEC pathogen O104: H4 can not be excluded. O104: H4 most commonly causes severe EHEC symptoms and the sequelae of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS).

Two-month search for the EHEC infection source
With the identification of contaminated fenugreek seeds from Egypt, the search for the causes of the EHEC infection wave that broke out in Germany in mid-May now seems to be coming to an end. While the authorities initially tapped in the dark for a long time and quickly came across a variety of vegetables as suspects - such as the Spanish cucumbers - the investigations have become more and more concrete in recent weeks. Using the delivery lists and certificates, the experts from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) were able to establish a connection between the increasing number of EHEC infections and the sprouts of an organic farm in Bienenbüttel. The farm was closed and targeted warnings were made before eating the raw sprouts. Since then, the number of infections in Germany has fallen significantly. According to the current state of research, the use of contaminated seeds from Egypt led to the EHEC contamination of the sprouts. About contaminated fenugreek seeds from Egypt, the new, particularly aggressive EHEC pathogens have come to the organic farm in Bienenbüttel, reported the RKI, the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) and the Federal Office for Consumer Protection in a joint press release. Fenugreek seeds were followed by European authorities after more and more EHEC infections had occurred in France in the Bordeaux area.

Two batches of EHEC contaminated sprout seeds processed
Apparently, two batches of fenugreek seeds from Egypt contaminated with the EHEC pathogens were used for sprout production, the experts explained. According to the findings of the Task Force, the first batch was from 2009. This is related to the EHEC infections that occurred in the Bordeaux area in mid-June, while the second batch from 2010, which was also processed in the organic farm in Bienenbüttel , which is said to have led to the dramatic spread of EHEC infections in Germany. While the authorities are pleased with the success of the investigations, the managing director of the organic farm in Bienenbüttel can also be relieved: the public prosecutor's office in Oldenburg has closed its investigation, since the Biohof can not be assumed to be negligent or intentionally acting. According to the prosecution, there were no indications that the managing directors knew at an early stage about a contamination and that they nevertheless continued to sell the sprouts. The cessation of the investigation is for the organic farm, however, no real reason to celebrate, because for weeks the operation is closed and this will probably not change in the coming days. For the organic farm an existential threat, but in the interests of consumers can „only when all examinations in Lower Saxony have been completed“, the „next step“ said a spokeswoman for the Lower Saxony Ministry of Agriculture in Hanover.

Continue investigations into EHEC infections in Egypt
Although the search for the EHEC source of infection has come a good step further with the identification of Egyptian fenugreek seeds, experts believe that this can not be the end of the investigation. Because the reference to Egyptian fenugreek seeds is basically not very specific. The question remains where on-site contamination of the seed could occur. This would require additional investigations in Egypt to identify the true origin of the new, particularly dangerous intestinal germs, to learn from the mistakes and to avoid similar dramatic consequences as in the current EHEC epidemic in the future. Because a similarly serious EHEC outbreak has not yet occurred in Germany. With more than 4,000 EHEC infections and HUS diseases and 49 deaths, the EHEC epidemic, which is now coming to an end, was one of the most severe in the world. And the new, particularly aggressive EHEC pathogen does not just disappear, but nestles in our environment, so that in the future with diseases by O104: H4 is expected, warn the authorities. (Fp)

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Image: Young plants of fenugreek Source: Yak, Wikipedia