Isolation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157 and non-O157 from retailimported frozen beef marketed in Saudi Arabia using immunomagnetic separation and multiplex PCR

Introduction: O157 and non-O157 strains can lead to severe health issues, including hemolytic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome, which can result in kidney failure. Methods: . Results: non-O157 into 10 types with four identical related clusters and a genetic similarity rate above 90% homology from the identified isolates. Conclusions: The present study gives a clear perspective on STEC contamination in imported frozen beef marketed in Saudi Arabia. Because of the many possibilities of STEC contamination in imported frozen beef, further studies on the spread of STEC at various levels of imported frozen meat are needed on a long-term basis.