Survey on the presence possibility Escherichia coli O157:H7 in consumed sheep milk and evaluation of antibiotic resistance of isolates
Shokoufe Maleknezhad Ahrami
1
(
M.Sc. Graduated of Food Hygiene and Quality Control, Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
)
A. Fazlara
2
(
Professor, Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University of Ahvaz, Ahvaz, Iran
)
M. Zarei
3
(
Associate Professor, Department of Food Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Shahid Chamran University, Ahvaz
)
Keywords: Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli, O157:H7, PCR, Antibiotic resistance, Sheep milk,
Abstract :
Escherichia coli O157:H7 is one of the most important foodborne pathogens. In addition to causing food poisoning in humans, this bacterium has the ability to cause severe diseases such as hemolytic uremic syndrome. Raw milk is one of the sources of this bacterium which the lack of attention to the hygienic quality of these products will expose people to severe infections. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential of raw sheep milk as an indicator in the transmission of this pathogen and endangering the general health of the community. To accomplish this study, totally 114 samples of raw sheep milk were collected in Khuzestan province within 4 months. The collected samples were transferred to the food hygiene laboratory in cold conditions. After biochemical diagnostic tests, PCR was performed in the next step for definitive diagnosis using specific primers related to O157 (rfb), H7 (flic), stx1 and stx2 genes. In present study, the isolation of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from 3 samples (2/63%) was confirmed. Finally, the confirmed isolates due to antibiogram were spread out in agar culture and the antibiotic susceptibility was surveyed with utilization of antibiotic discs and CLSI tables. The results showed that the sensitivity of isolates were 100% to Imipenem, Ceftazidime and Ceftazidime Clavulanic acid, 66/66% to Ciprofloaxin, Gentamicin, Trimethoprim Sulfametaxazole and 33/33% to Nalidixic acid and Nitrofurantoin respectively. None of the isolates were sensitive to Ampicillin and Clindamycin indicating that the isolates of Escherichia coli O157:H7 have the most resistance against these antibiotic.