Editing Shiga toxin (section)

==Clinical significance==
Symptoms of Shiga toxin ingestion include abdominal pain as well as watery diarrhea. Severe life-threatening cases are characterized by [[colitis|hemorrhagic colitis]] (HC).<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Beutin |first1=Lothar |last2=Miko |first2=Angelika |last3=Krause |first3=Gladys |last4=Pries |first4=Karin |last5=Haby |first5=Sabine |last6=Steege |first6=Katja |last7=Albrecht |first7=Nadine |title=Identification of Human-Pathogenic Strains of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from Food by a Combination of Serotyping and Molecular Typing of Shiga Toxin Genes |journal=Applied and Environmental Microbiology |date=August 2007 |volume=73 |issue=15 |pages=4769–4775 |doi=10.1128/AEM.00873-07 |pmid=17557838 |pmc=1951031 |bibcode=2007ApEnM..73.4769B }}</ref>

The toxin is associated with [[hemolytic-uremic syndrome]]. In contrast, ''Shigella'' species may also produce [[shigella enterotoxins]], which are the cause of [[dysentery]].

The toxin is effective against small blood vessels, such as found in the [[digestive tract]], the [[kidney]], and [[lungs]], but not against large vessels such as the [[arteries]] or major [[veins]]. A specific target for the toxin appears to be the vascular endothelium of the [[Glomerulus (kidney)|glomerulus]]. This is the filtering structure that is a key to the function of the kidney. Destroying these structures leads to kidney failure and the development of the often deadly and frequently debilitating hemolytic uremic syndrome. [[Food poisoning]] with Shiga toxin often also has effects on the lungs and the [[nervous system]].