Research into the Presence of Shiga Toxin-producing Escherichia coli in Human and Cattle Feces with Culture, ELISA and Molecular Methods

Abstract

According to 2021 European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) data, Shiga-toxin (stx) producing Escherichia coli (STEC) is the fourth most frequently observed zoonotic agent in humans after Campylobacter, Salmonella and Yersinia. It may cause very serious infections like hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and hemorrhagic colitis (HC). In 2011 it caused a large epidemic, leading to the death of 54 people and the development of HUS in several people in Germany. For diagnosis, the detection of STEC bacteria is an important marker to indicate the formation of the toxin. In this study, the aim was to determine the frequency of STEC in patients referred for fecal cultures and to identify the colonization rates of this microorganism among cattle in an integrated meat facility. A total of 250 human fecal samples and fecal samples from 180 cattle collected from an integrated meat facility were investigated for the presence of STEC. None of the samples from humans had STEC identified. Of the animal samples, 11 were positive with enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Of the samples positive with ELISA, 8 were also positive with polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Of the samples positive with PCR, 3 could proliferate on CROMagar STEC medium. Of the 3 isolated bacteria, 1 was serotyped as O103:NM and the other two could not serotyped. The majority of studies performed for the detection of STEC in our country provide information about the O157 serotype; however, it is necessary to identify all strains producing stx with the multiplex PCR method as non-O157 strains may be responsible for large epidemics.