Evaluation of contamination of traditional Babol ice creams with Shigella species containing the Shigella flexneri IcsA (VirG) gene

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVESIce cream is one of the dairy products that, due to its nutritious ingredients, are a suitable environment for the activity of all kinds of microorganisms. Shigellosis is a type of infectious inflammatory colitis caused by one of the Shigella types. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the bacterial contamination of traditional ice creams in Babol city with Shigella species containing the Shigella flexneri IcsA (VirG) gene.MATERIALS AND METHODSIn this study, various types of ice cream including bread, glass, and funnel (۲۰ Samples of each one = ۶۰ samples) were randomly collected from the city of Babol in ۲۰۲۱ and transferred to the microbiology laboratory under sterile conditions while maintaining the cold chain. Selenite F culture medium, Hecton enteric agar was used to confirm the diagnosis of Shigella from microbiological tests. PCR was used to identify the gene (VirG). The frequency distribution table and t-test were used for statistical analysis (P<۰.۰۵) (۲, ۳).RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONThe results showed that the percentage of contamination in funnel ice cream was ۶.۶۶% (۴ samples), glass ice cream ۸.۳۳% (۵ samples), and saffron ice cream ۳۳.۱۸% (۱۱ samples). The results of the Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test showed that none of the examined samples had the gene (VirG). A significant relationship was shoed between contamination of ice creams with Shigella the Shigella flexneri IcsA (VirG) gene frequency (P=۰.۰۰۱).CONCLUSIONThe results showed that the level of contamination of the traditional ice creams of Babol city was low and they did not have any gene (VirG). However, maintaining hygiene during the production and distribution of this sensitive product is a priority that can be achieved through training and strict health inspections.

کلیدواژه ها:

Contamination ، Traditional Ice Creams ، Shigella flexneri IcsA (VirG) gene