Pathogenic Escherichia coli

There are 6 pathotypes of E.coli that cause enteric illness in man: enterohemorrhagic (EHEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), enterotoxigenic (ETEC), enteroaggregative (EAEC), enteroinvasive (EIEC), and diffusely adherent E.coli (DAEC). Only EHEC is a zoonosis. The large serotype O104:H4 outbreak centered in northern Germany was is chimeric organism having features of both EHEC and EAEC and is not a zoonosis either. Each organism has different pathogenic mechanisms.

(source: promedmail.org)

See also the FDA Bad Bug Book section on E.coli.

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