Pheno- and genotypic characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 isolated from cattle hides in Estonia
2017
Kramarenko, T., Veterinary and Food Lab., Tartu (Estonia);Estonian Univ. of Life Sciences, Tartu (Estonia). Inst. of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences | Roasto, M., Estonian Univ. of Life Sciences, Tartu (Estonia). Inst. of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences | Maugliani, A., Istitituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome (Italy) | Tozzoli, R., Istitituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome (Italy) | Haekkinen, L., Veterinary and Food Lab., Tartu (Estonia)
Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), which are also quoted as verocytotoxinproducing E. coli (VTEC), are a group of E. coli that are characterised by their capability to produce toxins closely related with the Shiga-toxin produced by Shigella dysenteriae [1]. Nowadays a substantial number of STEC serotypes have been recognised as a causative agent of human disease, but severe infections reported have been mostly associated with the O157 serogroup [2]. Contaminated ruminants’ meat is considered to be a main source of foodborne STEC infections in humans, particularly by E. coli O157:H7 [3]. Sampling cattle hides at abattoir for STEC monitoring is preferable, since the highest prevalence is presumed at this stage of the meat production and hides represent a major source of carcass contamination by E. coli O157 [4], [5]. The monitoring results reflect the probability of further contamination of carcasses and meat, and represent a tool to evaluate the efficacy of good hygiene practices as a control measure of carcass contamination [6]. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the prevalence of STEC O157:H7 in cattle at slaughter in Estonia by investigating the contamination of cattle hides. The isolates were further characterised by identifying the presence of genes of main virulence factors, the subtypes of the Stx-coding genes and determining the antimicrobial susceptibility and genetic relationship among the isolates.
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