Incidence of Shiga toxin–producing Escherichia coli strains in beef, pork, chicken, deer, boar, bison, and rabbit retail meat

Abstract

Abstract. The objective of the current study was to determine the incidence of contamination by the top 7 Shiga toxinproducing Escherichia coli (STEC) O-groups, responsible for the majority of E. coli infections in human beings, in retail meat from different animal species. Samples from ground beef (n = 51), ground pork (n = 16), ground chicken (n = 16), and game meat (deer, wild boar, bison, and rabbit; n = 55) were collected from retail vendors for the detection of 7 STEC O-groups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157). Meat samples were tested by using a multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay targeting the wzx gene of O antigen gene clusters of the 7 STEC O-groups. The positive samples were further tested for Shiga toxin genes (stx1 and stx2). Out of a total of 83 ground beef, pork, and chicken samples, 17 (20%) carried O121, 9 (10%) carried O45, 8 (9%) carried O157, 3 (3%) carried O103, and 1 (1%) carried O145. None of the samples were positive for O26, O111, or the stx gene. All 3 white-tailed deer samples (100%) were positive for O45, O103, or both, 2 (10%) out of 20 red deer samples exhibited the presence of O103, and all 3 bison samples were contaminated with either O121, O145, or O157. One sample from ground deer, contaminated with E. coli O45, carried the stx1 gene. This preliminary investigation illustrates the importance of microbiological testing of pathogens in meat products, as well as the recognized need for increased surveillance and research on foodborne pathogens.

Animal Reservoirs of Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coli

“…STEC O157 has also been isolated from the carcass of slaughtered bison at a prevalence of 1.13% (77). Non-O157 STEC serotypes including O45, O103, O111, O113, O121, and O145 have also been isolated from bison carcasses; however, none of these isolates possessed stx genes (78).…”

Species specific PCR based detection of Escherichia coli from Indian foods

“…The E. coli isolated from mutton showed high incidence of virulence genes (21%) ( Table 2). Previous report has shown the incidence of pathogenic E. coli in beef, chicken, pork and other animal meats (Magwedere et al 2013). Isolates which showed presence of virulence genes were serotyped; 4 isolates belonged to O124, contained lt, aggR and eaeA genes, 2 isolates which showed presence of stx genes were categorized as E. coli rough strain and rest of the isolates were characterized as untypable E. coli (UT E. coli) (Table 2); however, isolates characterized as UT E. coli were positive for both the E. coli marker genes (flanking region of uspA and uidA) and positive for IMViC tests.…”

Detection of Non-O157 Shiga Toxin–Producing Escherichia coli in 375 Grams of Beef Trim Enrichments across Multiple Commercial PCR Detection Platforms

“…Several 0111 serology suspects were found on the MacConkey agar plating, but none of these confirmed molecularly for the presence of virulence factors. This difficulty with detecting Olll is associated with isolates of this serotype not being able to grow to the same levels as the other Top 7 STEC in media containing antibiotic in the same amount of time (10). In addition, only one strain per O serogroup was tested in this study, so it is plausible that there may be differences (within the same '' USDA USDA ISO USDA" ISO USDArf USDA" ISO 102 250 3 3 3 3 0 0 3 3 3 10' 25 3 3 O verall, the three com m ercial detection m ethods (BioControl G D S, Q ualicon BA X , and Pall G eneDisc) displayed relatively the same level o f sensitivity for 0 2 6 , 0 4 5 (except Pall, w hich was not evaluated for this O serogroup), and 0 1 0 3 detection and show ed no difference w ith the m odified U SD A reference m ethod.…”