牛肉样品中产志贺毒素大肠埃希氏菌和肠致病性大肠埃希氏菌的分离鉴定

于2018年9月—2019年3月,每个月从超市和农贸市场中抽取20个样本,共抽取140个牛肉及制品样本,在qPCR初筛时stx阳性率为45.8%,eae的阳性率为52.2%。每月的stx初筛阳性率分别为65%、60%、80%、5%、25%、45%和40%;eae初筛阳性率分别为70%、70%、65%、0%、40%、65%和55%。检出携带stx基因的产类志贺毒素大肠埃希氏菌样本4份,样本阳性菌株检出率为2.9%;检出携带eae基因的肠致病性大肠埃希氏菌样本12份,样本阳性菌株检出率为8.6%。     

肉类及蔬菜食品中EHEC O157污染分布及分型研究

为深入了解肉类及蔬菜中肠出血性大肠埃希氏菌(EHEC O157)的污染分布规律和遗传多样性,随机采集全国18个城市的食品样品,参考GB/T 4789.36-2008方法进行样品处理,并用rfbE/fliCH7双重PCR对菌株进行鉴定;分别采用单重PCR和ERIC-PCR对菌株进行毒力基因(eae、hlyA、stx1和stx2)检测和分子分型。结果表明,414份样品中检出18份EHEC O157阳性样品,总污染率4.35%,其中生鲜肉12份,速冻肉6份,蔬菜未检出;经过生化、血清鉴定和双重PCR检测,鉴定出52株EHEC O157,包括29株O157:H7,3株O157:NM(fliCH7+,无动力),2株O157:NM(fliCH7-,无动力)和18株O157:hund(未确定H型);毒力基因检测结果发现,52株菌株中有50株携带毒力基因,其中40株(76.92%)携带eae,31株(59.62%)携带hlyA,20株(38.46%)携带stx1,24株(46.15%)携带stx2。ERIC-PCR分型结果表明,在相似系数为0.80时,菌株可分为12个聚类簇,F型为其主要基因簇,分离株的基因型呈现多样性。     

我国食品中大肠埃希菌O157耐药及PFGE分子分型特征分析

了解我国食品中分离的110株大肠埃希菌O157的耐药及脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)分子分型特征,完善我国食品中大肠埃希菌O157菌株特征的基础信息,为该菌的风险评估提供依据。方法 使用琼脂稀释法对确认的110株大肠埃希菌O157进行药敏试验,完成耐药特征的分析。参照美国疾病预防控制中心PulseNet试验方法,对110株大肠埃希菌O157,运用XbaⅠ酶进行酶切并完成PFGE分析,利用BioNumerics软件对分离株的指纹图谱进行聚类分析。结果 ①110株菌中,43株菌至少对一种抗生素有抗性。耐药率最多的前三种抗生素依次是四环素(30.0%,33/110),磺胺甲恶唑(29.1%,32/110),萘啶酸(26.4%,29/110);②一共有24个耐药谱,耐两种以上抗生素的菌株有34株,耐3种以上抗生素的多重耐药菌株有32株。最常见的三种耐药谱依次是SMX(6),AMP-NAL-SMX-SXT-TET(6),AMP-CHL-NAL-SMX-SXT-TET(4)/AMP-SMX-SXT-TET(4)/TET(4);③大肠埃希菌O157非H7 (O157∶hund)对所测试的抗生素的耐药率明显高于大肠埃希菌O157∶H7(χ²=72.010 P<0.05)。其中37株携带了志贺毒素基因的大肠埃希菌O157∶H7仅对磺胺甲恶唑(2.7%,1/37)、萘碇酸(2.7%,1/37)有耐药,没有多重耐药菌株;④通过不同种类食品中大肠埃希菌O157菌株耐药率比较发现,从生猪肉、生禽肉中分离的菌株耐药率相对高于其他食品种类;⑤PFGE分子分型研究显示菌株具有基因多态性,且可以很好将大肠埃希菌O157非H7和大肠埃希菌O157∶H7菌株区分开。结论 我国食品中分离的大肠埃希菌O157耐药现象严重。我们应加强养殖环节和零售环节食源性致病菌,特别是大肠埃希菌O157(包括产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌O157)菌株药敏特征的监测,探明食品与养殖环节菌株耐药的传播关系,并为国家制定科学的养殖业抗生素用药提供依据。     

3种食品致病菌实时荧光核酸恒温扩增试剂盒方法验证比对研究

目的以传统国标培养法作为参考比对方法,考察实时荧光核酸恒温扩增(simultaneous amplification and testing,SAT)食品检测试剂盒,在食品中检测食源性致病菌如志贺氏菌、大肠埃希氏菌O157∶H7/NM、阪崎肠杆菌的一致性。方法以食品中志贺氏菌、大肠埃希氏菌O157∶H7/NM和阪崎肠杆菌国标培养法为参考方法,以基因测序法作为确认法,考量SAT食品检测试剂盒方法的灵敏度、特异性、假阳性率、假阴性率、准确度,同时进行2种方法的显著差异检验。结果 3种SAT食品检测试剂盒灵敏度均为100%,假阴性为0;特异性:志贺氏菌100%,阪崎肠杆菌100%,大肠埃希氏菌O157∶H7/NM 98.4%。大肠埃希氏菌O157∶H7/NM假阳性率为1.2%。结论 SAT试剂盒检测方法具有灵敏度高、特异性强、准确度高的优点,无一例漏检。     

荧光PCR法检测原料乳中大肠埃希氏菌喹诺酮类的耐药基因

目的 建立喹诺酮类抗生素主要耐药基因的TaqMan荧光PCR检测方法,为原料乳中耐药大肠埃希氏菌的监测提供技术方案。方法 利用Chelex 100法快速获取细菌基因组DNA,通过对aac(6’)-Ib-cr和qepA基因的序列分析,利用Primer Express 3.0软件设计特异性引物和探针,建立单重和双重TaqMan荧光PCR方法。通过耐药基因阳性菌株和原料乳中分离大肠埃希氏菌菌株,对方法进行评估。结果 以Chelex 100法快速提取耐药基因阳性菌株细菌基因组DNA为模板,建立的aac(6’)-Ib-cr和qepA基因的单重和双重荧光PCR反应均有特异性曲线扩增,方法灵敏度为菌液浓度10_^-4 CFU/mL。北京地区52份原料乳中共分离出32株大肠埃希氏菌,利用建立的双重荧光PCR方法检测aac(6’)-Ib-cr和qepA基因结果为阴性,和环丙沙星肉汤稀释法药敏结果一致。结论 本方法的建立为原料乳中大肠埃希氏菌常见喹诺酮类耐药基因的快速检测提供了新的技术手段。     

食源性产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的分离及菌株特征分析

了解不同食品中产志贺毒素大肠杆菌的流行情况、菌株特征及潜在致病性。方法 对我国不同地区采集的355份食品样品进行产志贺毒素大肠杆菌分离鉴定,对菌株进行stx1/stx2基因分型、eae等毒力基因检测,并对菌株进行多位点序列分型(MLST)分析。结果 355份样品中44份stx2基因阳性,共分离出11株非O157 产志贺毒素大肠杆菌,其中3株携带stx2a亚型,3株携带stx2e亚型,1株携带stx2b亚型,4株不能分型;5株携带ehxA、saa毒力基因,2株携带subA基因,1株携带katP基因;MLST将11株菌分为7个不同的ST型,存在与溶血性尿毒综合症患者肠出血性大肠杆菌分离株(HUS-associated enterohemorrhagic E.coli,HUSEC)及主要流行血清群产志贺毒素大肠杆菌亲缘关系较近的ST型别。结论 我国食品中存在一定程度的非O157产志贺毒素大肠杆菌污染,部分菌株具有潜在致病性,应加强对食品中STEC的监测。     

武汉肉类食品中大肠杆菌O157∶H7分离株stx亚型和毒力特征分析

从22 家市场销售的117 份肉类食品中分离出4 株大肠杆菌O157∶H7菌株,经PCR检测这4 株菌的stx、hly、 eae毒力基因均为阳性。采用聚合酶链式反应（polymerase chain reaction,PCR）法对这4 株菌的stx亚型进行鉴定。 3 株菌同时携带stx1、stx2基因,且均为stx1a、stx2a亚型。菌株EC5.11仅携带stx2基因,但在所有的stx2分型PCR反 应中都为阴性。用PCR扩增该菌株stx2基因全长并克隆测序,序列分析结果表明EC5.11志贺毒素基因为stx2c亚型。 采用Vero细胞毒性实验检测这4 株菌产志贺毒素的状况,结果显示这些菌株都具有一定的Vero细胞毒性。     

3种食品致病菌实时荧光核酸恒温扩增试剂盒

目的 以传统国标培养法作为参考比对方法,考察实时荧光核酸恒温扩增(simultaneous amplification and testing, SAT)食品检测试剂盒,在食品中检测致病菌志贺氏菌、大肠埃希氏菌O157：H7/NM,以及阪崎肠杆菌的一致性。方法 以食品中志贺氏菌、大肠埃希氏菌O157：H7/NM和阪崎肠杆菌国标培养法为参考方法,以基因测序法作为确认法。,考量SAT食品检测试剂盒方法的灵敏度、特异性、假阳性率、假阴性率、准确度,同时进行2种方法的显著差检验。结果 3种SAT食品检测试剂盒灵敏度均为100%,假阴性为0;特异性志贺氏菌100%,阪崎肠杆菌100%,大肠埃希氏菌O157：H7/NM 98.4%。大肠埃希氏菌O157：H7/NM假阳性率为1.2%。结论 SAT试剂盒检测方法具有高灵敏度、特异性强、准确度高,无一例漏检。     

牛源性非O157大肠杆菌的分离与鉴定

目的:对牛粪及牛肉中的非O157大肠杆菌进行分离、鉴定和毒力基因携带情况进行检测,以了解非O157大肠杆菌的污染状况。方法:参考USDA检测方法,对样品进行选择性增菌,用多重聚合酶链式反应(polymerase chain reaction,PCR)方法进行初步筛选,检测O抗原(O157、O121、O111、O103、O26),阳性样本用选择性显色培养基rainbow agar分离纯化,可疑菌株用多重PCR方法鉴定O抗原,PCR-限制性片段长度多态性鉴定H抗原,并采用血清凝集实验进行验证,确认的阳性菌株采用多重PCR方法进行毒力基因(stx1、stx2、eae、hly)检测。结果:在153份牛粪和49份牛肉样本中,共40份样品检出1个或多个O血清型阳性,牛粪检出率高于牛肉,非O157阳性率为19.3%,O157的阳性率为0.50%;经分离纯化后,共鉴定出阳性菌株30株,其中O26最多占73.3%,O121、O103、O157分别占16.7%、6.7%、3.3%。毒力基因检测结果显示,分离自牛肉的2株O26:H11,一株stx1、hly阳性,另一株hly阳性,分离自牛粪的1株O26:H11携带hly基因,因此30株菌株中带毒菌株阳性率为10.0%,非O157产志贺毒素大肠杆菌阳性率为3.4%。结论:牛粪和牛肉中非O157大肠杆菌的污染率明显高于O157,尤其是O26:H11血清型最高,且检出含志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌,这提示零售牛肉市场存在非O157大肠杆菌污染的安全风险,我国应该加强对非O157大肠杆菌的检测和监控。     

蔬菜中大肠杆菌O157的分离与鉴定

对武汉市售蔬菜(50份)进行大肠杆菌O157的检验,经过新生霉素-EC增菌液增菌、免疫磁珠富集、选择性平板培养和血清学鉴定,从一份生菜中筛出1株O157阳性菌株EC9.23。PCR鉴定该菌毒力基因,stx1、stx2、rfbO157基因均为阳性,hly、eae、fliCH7基因均为阴性。说明从武汉市售蔬菜中可检出携带志贺毒素基因的O157菌株。     

Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in fecal samples of finished pigs at slaughter in Switzerland

Fecal samples from 630 slaughtered finisher pigs were examined by PCR to assess the shedding of Escherichia coli O157 (rfbE) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC, stx). The proportion of positive samples was 7.5% for rfbE and 22% for stx. By colony hybridization, 31 E. coli O157 and 45 STEC strains were isolated, and these strains were further characterized by phenotypic and genotypic traits. Among E. coli O157 strains, 30 were sorbitol positive, 30 had an H type other than H7, and none harbored stx genes. Intimin (eae), enterohemolysin (ehxA), EAST1 (astA), and porcine A/E-associated protein (paa) were present in 10, 3, 26, and 6% of strains. Among them, one eae-gamma1-positive O157:H7 strain testing positive for ehxA and astA and two eae-alpha1-positive O157:H45 strains were classified as enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC). The O157:H45 EPEC harbored the EAF plasmid and the bfpA gene, factors characteristic for typical EPEC. The isolated STEC strains (43 sorbitol positive) belonged to 11 O:H serotypes, including three previously reported in human STEC causing hemolytic uremic syndrome (O9:H-, O26:H-, and O103:H2). All but one strain harbored stx2e. The eae and ehxA genes, which are strongly correlated with human disease, were present in only one O103:H2 strain positive for stx1 and paa, whereas the astA gene was found more frequently (14 strains). High prevalence of STEC was found among finisher pigs, but according to the virulence factors the majority of these strains seem to be of low virulence.     

Testing of swine feces obtained through the National Animal Health Monitoring System's Swine 2000 study for the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7

Fecal samples collected from healthy pigs from 13 of the top 17 swine-producing states were tested for Escherichia coli O157:H7 as part of the National Animal Health Monitoring System Swine 2000 study. Serogroup O157 strains were isolated from 106 of 2,526 fecal samples. None of the isolates were positive by PCR for the fliCh7 (H7 flagellin) gene or for the hly933 (hemolysin) gene; however, one isolate was positive for the stxl gene (Shiga toxin 1), an additional four isolates were positive for the stx2 gene (Shiga toxin 2), and three isolates possessed the eae gene (intimin).     

Prevalence, serotypes and virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from ovine and caprine milk and other dairy products in Spain

The aim of this study was to determinate the prevalence, serotypes and virulence genes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from different dairy products (DP) in Spain with the purpose of determining whether DP represent a potential source of STEC pathogenic for humans. A total of 502 DP were examined from 64 different ovine and caprine flocks and 6 dairy plants in Extremadura (Western Spain). Samples were collected monthly between March 2003 and June 2004 and included 360 unpasteurised milk obtained from the bulk tank, 103 fresh cheese curds and 39 cheeses. Samples obtained were examined for STEC using genotypic (PCR) methods. STEC strains were detected from 39 (10.8%) bulk tank, 4 (3.9%) fresh cheese curds and 2 (5%) cheese, whereas O157:H7 serotype were isolated from one (0.3%) bulk tank. A total of 9 STEC strains (O27:H18, O45:H38, O76:H19, O91:H28, O157:H7, ONT:H7, ONT:H9 and ONT:H21) were identified in this study. One of them, the serotype O27:H18, has not been reported previously as STEC. PCR showed that 3 strains carried stx1 genes, 5 possessed stx2 genes and 1 both stx1 and stx2. Whereas all STEC caprine isolates showed ehxA genes, only O157:H7 serotype showed eae virulence genes. The strain O157:H7 isolated possessed intimin type gamma1 and belonged to phage type 31. This study confirms that dairy product is an important reservoir of STEC pathogenic for humans.     

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in healthy young beef steers from Argentina: prevalence and virulence properties

Between July 1999 and December 2000, the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was established in 200 Argentine healthy young beef steers (14-16 months old) grown under local production systems with a feed grain period of 3-4 months, and the STEC strains isolated were examined in regard to their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Stool samples (n = 70) and rectal swabs (n = 130) were taken at the slaughterhouse level. By polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Shiga toxin (stx) gene sequences were detected in 69% of the samples. Eighty-six STEC strains were isolated from 39% of the animals. Serogroups identified, in order of frequency, were: O8 (16 strains), O113 (14), O103 (5), O91 (4), O171 (3), O174 (3), O25 (2), O112 (2), O145 (2), O2, O11, O104, O121, O128, O143, O146, O157. The most frequent serotype isolated was O8:H19 (12.9%). A total of 17 serotypes, including E. coli O157:H7 found in one animal (0.5%), have been previously associated with hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), bloody and non-bloody diarrhea in different countries, including Argentina. The prevalent genotype isolated was stx2 (51 of 86, 59.3%). Subtyping of stx2 variants showed the prevalence of stx2vh-b (25.6%) and stx2vh-a types (24.4%), and revealed the presence of an atypical stx2-v. Only 7.0% of STEC strains carried eae, and 33.7% harbored EHEC-hlyA gene. The full virulent genotype (stx/eae/EHEC-hlyA) was found to be present in 4 of the 86 (4.7%) STEC strains isolated. This research indicates that young steers from the main beef-producing area of Argentina are an important reservoir of STEC strains; however, its importance as agents of human diseases in our country has still to be established.     

Serotypes, virulence genes, and intimin types of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) isolated from calves in São Paulo, Brazil

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC), is the most important recently emerged group of foodborne pathogens. Ruminants, especially cattle, have been implicated as a principal reservoir of STEC, undercooked ground beef and raw milk being the major vehicles of foodborne outbreaks. Enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC) strains are defined as eae-harboring diarrheagenic E. coli that possess the ability to form A/E lesions on intestinal cells and that do not possess Shiga toxin genes. In order to determine the occurrence, serotypes and virulence markers of STEC and EPEC strains, 546 fecal samples from 264 diarrheic calves and 282 healthy calves in beef farms in S?o Paulo, Brazil, were screened by PCR. STEC and EPEC were isolated in 10% and 2.7% of the 546 animals, respectively. Although IMS test was used, the STEC serotype O157:H7 was not detected. The most frequent serotypes among STEC strains were O7:H10, O22:H16, O111:H(-), O119:H(-) and O174:H21, whereas O26:H11, O123:H11 and O177:H11 were the most prevalent among EPEC strains. In this study, serotypes not previously reported were found among STEC strains: O7:H7, O7:H10, O48:H7, O111:H19, O123:H2, O132:H51, O173:H(-), and O175:H49. The eae gene was detected in 25% of the STEC and 100% of EPEC strains. The intimin type theta/gamma2 was the most frequent among STEC, whereas the intimin beta1 was the most frequent intimin type among EPEC strains. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the occurrence of the new intimin muB in one strain of animal origin. This new intimin was detected in one atypical EPEC strain of serotype O123:H? isolated from diarrheic cattle. The enterohemolysin (ehxA) was detected in 51% of the STEC and 80% of the EPEC strains, whereas STEC autoagglutinating adhesin (saa) virulence gene was detected only in those STEC strains negative for eae gene. All 15 bovine EPEC strains isolated in this study were negative for both eaf and bfp genes. Our data shows that in Brazil cattle are not only a reservoir of STEC and atypical EPEC, but also a potential source of infection in humans, since the important STEC serotypes previously described and associated with severe diseases in humans, such as O111:H(-), O113:H21, O118:H16, and O174:H21 were isolated.     

Rapid and reliable detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli by real-time multiplex PCR

Escherichia coli O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, O145, and O157 are the predominant Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) serogroups implicated in outbreaks of human foodborne illness worldwide. The increasing prevalence of these pathogens has important public health implications. Beef products have been considered a main source of foodborne human STEC infections. Robust and sensitive methods for the detection and characterization of these pathogens are needed to determine prevalence and incidence of STEC in beef processing facilities and to improve food safety interventions aimed at eliminating STEC from the food supply. This study was conducted to develop Taqman real-time multiplex PCR assays for the screening and rapid detection of the predominant STEC serogroups associated with human illness. Three serogroup-specific assays targeted the O-antigen gene clusters of E. coli O26 (wzy), O103 (wzx), and O145 (wzx) in assay 1, O45 (wzy), O111 (manC), and O121 (wzx) in assay 2, and O157 (rfbE) in assay 3. The uidA gene also was included in the serogroup-specific assays as an E. coli internal amplification control. A fourth assay was developed to target selected virulence genes for Shiga toxin (stx(1) and stx(2)), intimin (eae), and enterohemolysin (ehxA). The specificity of the serogroup and virulence gene assays was assessed by testing 100 and 62 E. coli strains and non-E. coli control strains, respectively. The assays correctly detected the genes in all strains examined, and no cross-reactions were observed, representing 100 % specificity. The detection limits of the assays were 10(3) or 10(4) CFU/ml for pure cultures and artificially contaminated fecal samples, and after a 6-h enrichment period, the detection limit of the assays was 10(0) CFU/ml. These results indicate that the four real-time multiplex PCR assays are robust and effective for the rapid and reliable detection of the seven predominant STEC serogroups of major public health concern and the detection of their virulence genes.     

Serotypes and virulence genes of ovine non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Switzerland

Sixty ovine STEC strains were examined with the aim (i) to serotype the strains, (ii) to characterize virulence factors, and (iii) to discuss possible associations between these factors and to assess the potential pathogenicity of these strains for humans. The 60 sorbitol-positive, non-O157 STEC strains belonged to 19 O:H serotypes, whereas 68% were of five serotypes (O87:H16, O91:H-, O103:H2, O128:H2, O176:H4). 52% belonged to serotypes reported in association with HUS. Five serotypes were not previously reported in sheep strains. Of the 47 strains encoding for stx1 variants, 57% were stx1c- and of the 45 encoding for stx2 variants, 80% were stx2d-positive. Eighty-two percent of the strains showed further putative virulence factors: 13% were eae-, 60% ehxA- and 67% saa-positive. The associations between harboring (i) eae and stx1, stx2, ehxA or no saa and (ii) saa and stx1c or stx2d were significant (P<0.05). The strains belonged to 27 seropathotypes (association between serotypes and virulence factors), but 57% belonged to only six and O91:H-stx1 stx2d saa and O128:H2 stx1c stx2d ehxA saa were the most common. Seven of the eight intimin-positive strains harbored eae. Four strains of serotype O103:H2 and O121:H10 harboring stx2, eae and ehxA showed virulence factors typical for strains associated with severe human disease. However, according to the virulence factors, the majority of the ovine non-O157 STEC strains are assumed low-virulence variants. Nevertheless, as long as the contribution and interaction of these factors in milder disease remains unclear P, a certain risk for humans cannot be excluded.     

LAMP实时浊度法快速检测食品中产志贺毒素大肠埃希氏菌

针对产志贺毒素大肠埃希氏菌(Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli,STEC)stx1和stx2基因的特异性序列分别设计4条特异性引物,采用环介导等温扩增(loop-mediated isothermal amplification,LAMP)技术,利用实时浊度仪建立食品中STEC的LAMP实时浊度法快速检测方法。LAMP反应在实时浊度仪63℃恒温下1 h可完成。对方法的特异性、灵敏度、稳定性进行了评价,并在实际样品检测中进行应用。经优化该方法的检测灵敏度可达150拷贝/反应,4株STEC菌株LAMP扩增结果与其基因型一致,其他21株非STEC菌株均未出现非特异性扩增。395份食品样品检出STEC阳性68份(阳性率为17.2%),所检食品类别中畜产品阳性率最高(达31.3%),禽产品、水产品和可生食蔬菜均有少量阳性样品检出,阳性样品中以stx2基因阳性型为主。结果表明,LAMP实时浊度法具有快速、灵敏、特异性强、操作简便的优势,适用于食品中STEC的快速筛查。     

Detection and quantitation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157, O111, and O26 in beef and bovine feces by real-time polymerase chain reaction

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) O157:H7 and certain non-O157 EHEC serotypes (such as O26:H11, O26: NM, O11:H8, and O111:NM) have emerged as significant causes of human disease throughout the world. Important virulence attributes of EHEC are the intimin protein (encoded by the eae gene) and Shiga toxins 1 and 2 (encoded by the stx1 and stx2 genes, respectively). Two sets of real-time polymerase chain reaction (R-PCR) assays were developed for the simultaneous detection and quantitation of EHEC through the monitoring of the presence of the eae and stx genes, and these assays were evaluated. In the eaeR-PCR assay, three sets of primers and TaqMan probes were designed for the amplification and real-time detection of a portion of the eae gene specific to the EHEC O26, O111, and O157 serotypes. In the stxR-PCR assay, two sets of primers and TaqMan probes were used to amplify and detect the stx1 and stx2 genes. DNA prepared from 67 bacterial strains carrying known virulence markers was tested to determine the specificities of the two assays. In the eaeR-PCR assay, eaeO157- and eaeO111-specific primer-probe sets identified only EHEC O157 and O111 strains, respectively. The eaeO26-specific primer-probe set identified all EHEC 026 isolates and some Shiga toxin-negative serotypes of enteropathogenic E. coli and rabbit diarrheagenic E. coli. The stxR-PCR assay was able to identify only those strains carrying either or both of the Shiga toxin-encoding genes. The detection range of both R-PCR assays was linear over DNA concentrations corresponding to 10(3) to 10(8) CFU/ml of an EHEC strain. Both assays were able to detect and quantify very low levels (1 to 10 CFU/g of food or feces) of EHEC in feces and ground beef enriched for 16 h in a modified Trypticase soy broth. In conclusion, eae- and stx-based R-PCR assays are reliable and sensitive methods for the rapid screening and specific and quantitative detection of important serotypes of EHEC in cattle and in foods of bovine origin.     

Isolation and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 from beef carcasses at a slaughter plant in Mexico

The contamination of beef carcasses with Shiga toxin-producing O157:H7 and non-O157 Escherichia coli (STEC) obtained from a slaughter plant in Guadalajara, Mexico was investigated. A total of 258 beef carcasses were sampled during a 12-month period. All samples were assayed for STEC by selective enrichment in modified tryptone soy broth supplemented with cefixime, cefsulodin and vancomycin, followed by plating on Sorbitol MacConkey Agar supplemented with cefixime and tellurite (CT-SMAC). Simultaneously, all samples were assayed by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and plated on CT-SMAC and CHROMagar. The presence of the stx1, stx2, eaeA and hly933 genes, recognized as major virulence factors of STEC, was tested for O157:H7 and non-O157 E. coli isolates by multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR). STEC was detected in two (0.8%) samples. One of these STEC isolates corresponded to the serotype O157:H7 showing stx2, eaeA and hyl933 genes. The other isolate corresponded to non-O157 STEC and only had the stx1 gene. Thirteen carcasses (5%) were positive for nonmotile E. coli O157 and 7 (2.7%) were positive for E. coli O157:H7. The presence of O157:H7 and non-O157 STEC on beef carcasses in this slaughter plant in Guadalajara, Mexico, emphasizes the importance of implementing the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) system, as well as the need for implementing, evaluating, and validating antimicrobial interventions to reduce the presence of potential pathogenic microorganisms.