Detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 Recovered from Food by multiplex PCR

Abstract

A survey to detect of E. coli O157:H7 recovered from food by multiplex PCR was carried out in Wasit province (Iraq) during the period from September 2015 up to February 2016. (120) samples (40 beef, 40 raw milk and 40 chicken meat) were collected from local markets. The incidence of E.coli 0157:H7 were nineteen (15.8%) : nine (22.5%) beef , seven (17.5%)raw milk and three (7.5%)chicken meat. The present study was carried out to detect the presence of stx2, and eae genes in the recovered strains by multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ,The amplified fragments by PCR revealed that 11 out of 19 (57..9%) E. coli O157:H7 isolates from (7) beef and (4) chicken meat had stx2 , while 8 out of 19 (42.1%) E. coli O157:H7 isolates from (2)beef, (3) chicken meat , and (3) raw milk had eaeA gene. There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.0 5) in prevalence of E.coli O157:H7 between the three types of samples. The median counts of E.coli O157:H7 was 1.6x106 CFU/g in beef ,5.9x105CFU/ml in raw milk and 2.4x103CFU/g in chicken meat. There was statistically significant difference (P< 0.0 5) in E.coli O157:H7 counts between the three types of sample. The median counts of aerobic plate count (APC) in beef , raw milk and chicken meat are 3.4x106 CFU/g, 3.1x106 CFU/ml 2.1x106 CFU/g, respectively. The results of Statistical analysis showed no significant differences(P>0.05) in (APC)count between the three types of food. The results of this study showed that meat and milk are a significant source for foodborn disease that concerns the public health in waist province.