Surveillance of Virulence Markers and Antibiotic Resistance of Shiga toxin Producing E.coli O157:H7 Strains from Meats Purchase in Shiraz

• Main Authors: Mohammad Kargar, Mousa Daneshvar, Maryam Homayoun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Bushehr University of Medical Sciences 2011-09-01
• Series: Iranian South Medical Journal
• Subjects: escherichia coli O157:H7; shiga toxin; antibiotic resistance; meat O157:H7; meat
• Online Access: http://ismj.bpums.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-3-220&slc_lang=en&sid=1
• ISSN: 1735-4374; 1735-6954

Background: Shiga toxin Producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a common pathogen in cattle, which occasional causes some human disease. This bacterium can potentially contaminate meat and clinical cases of E.coli O157:H7 infections are often associated with consumption of undercooked ground beef. Methods: In this cross-sectional study 122 samples of ground meat were collected and after enrichment in specific culture media and evaluation sorbitol fermentation and their β-glucoronidase activity, the isolation of E.coli O157:H7 strains have been confirmed with specific antisera. Then virulence genes verotoxin, intimin and hemolysin with multiplex PCR and antibiotic resistance strains with disk diffusion method have been tested. Results: Out of specimens that have been supplied, 119 sorbitol negative colonies isolated which 3 strains O157:H7 (2.45%) with specific antisera confirmed. Out of considered virulence genes, in two cases of these samples (1.64%) the stx1 and eaeA genes were seen and also 2 isolated bacteria had resistance to erythromycin, tetracycline, ampicillin, penicillin, clindamicin, cefixime, novobiocin, and gentamicin antibiotics. Conclusion: As this organism lives in intestines of healthy cattle, preventive measures on cattle farms and during meat processing are necessary.