Abstract
Eighteen strains of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) were isolated from 14 (8.9%) of 158 fecal samples from slaughtered cattle. Isolate serotypes were 015 (1 strain), 028ac (1 strain), 0119 (2 strains), 0126 (1 strain), 0157 (2 strains), and OUT (11 strains). Isolates of 0157 (2 strains) and OUT (4 strains) harbored 3 virulence factors (the stx gene, the eaeA gene, and the hlyA gene); 28ac (1 strain) and OUT (2 strains) harbored 2 factors (the stx gene and the hlyA gene). PCR examinations were performed on 233 fecal samples for STEC virulence factors. Of them, 55 (23.6%) were positive for stx genes. Of these, 19 samples were positive for 3 factors (the stx gene, the eaeA gene, and the hlyA gene); 18 were positive for 2 factors (the stx gene and the hlyA gene); and 1 was positive for 2 factors (the stx gene and the eaeA gene). Factor detection rates varied from farm to farm.
