Detection of Escherichia coli and Associated Shiga Toxin Genes in Feces of Cattle and Sheep Reared in Egyptian Research Farm

Ruminants are concerned as the prime reservoir for Shiga toxin-outputting Escherichia coli (STEC). Knowledge of STEC incidence in the live animal is substantial to constituting informed deductions about food safety. A total of 138 bacterial cultures (96 and 42 obtained from apparently healthy cattle and sheep feces respectively. A real time PCR was conducted using to detect E. coli species. On the other side, a conventional PCR was performed to determine amplification of Shiga toxin genes (stx1 and stx2). E. coli isolates were confirmed by real time PCR in all examined bacterial culture (100%). Overall, (44.79%) of cattle and (35.71%) of sheep were stx-positive. Thirty three (23.9%) of the isolates were stx1 positive only, 25 (18.12%) were stx2 only, while 13 (9.42%) carried both stx1 and stx2. Both apparently healthy cattle and sheep are asymptomatic reservoirs of STEC. Direct contact with these livestock or consumption of foodstuffs or water contaminated with their feces may constitute a potential source of infection for humans