Escherichia coli O۱۵۷:H۷/NM prevalence in raw beef, camel, sheep, goat, and water buffalo meat in Fars and Khuzestan provinces, Iran

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) of the O۱۵۷:H۷ serotype is a worldwide zoonotic pathogen responsible for the majority of severe cases of human EHEC disease. The aim of the present study was to investigate the prevalence of E. coli O۱۵۷: H۷/NM in raw meat samples from two provinces of Iran. During a period from March ۲۰۱۰ to March ۲۰۱۱. Two hundred and ninety five raw meat samples were collected from beef (n= ۸۵), camel, (n= ۵۰), sheep (n= ۶۲), goat (n= ۶۰), and water buffalo (n=۳۸). Fourteen (۴.۷%) of the ۲۹۵ samples were positive for E. coli O۱۵۷. The highest prevalence of E. coli O۱۵۷ was found in beef samples (۸.۲%), followed by water buffalo (۵.۳%), sheep (۴.۸%), camel (۲.۰%), and goat (۱.۷%). Of fourteen E. coli O۱۵۷ isolates, only one was determined to be serotype O۱۵۷: H۷ while ۱۳ were determined as serotype O۱۵۷: NM. Of the ۱۴ E. coli O۱۵۷:H۷/NM isolates, one, four, two, and one strains were positive for stx۱, stx۲, eaeA and ehlyA genes, respectively. The prevalence of this organism varied between seasons with the highest prevalence of E. coli O۱۵۷ occurring in summer (۹.۳%). The results of this study showed that beef and water buffalo meat are a significant source for human EHEC E. coli O۱۵۷:H۷/NM infection in Iran. The data reported in this study provides some useful baseline in formation for future research such as molecular or epidemiologic works.

کلیدواژه ها:

Escherichia coli O۱۵۷:H۷/NM ، Raw meat ، Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli ، Iran