Isolation and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 from beef, pork and cattle fecal samples in Changchun, China

J Vet Med Sci. 2002 Nov;64(11):1041-4. doi: 10.1292/jvms.64.1041.

Abstract

Meat samples and fecal specimens from adult cattle were collected in Changchun, China and were examined for presence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serogroup O157. STEC O157 strains were isolated from 2 (5%) of 40 beef, 1 (3.3%) of 30 pork, and 3 (1.7%) of 176 adult cattle fecal samples. The strains belonged to phage types (PT) 4, 8, or 47. Two beef strains and a strain previously isolated from a patient in Shandong, China, were PT-4 and showed a similar PFGE pattern, suggesting the possibility of food-borne transmission. It is suggested that cattle are a reservoir of STEC O157:H7 and meat products are contaminated by this pathogen in Changchun, China as well as in other countries.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cattle / microbiology*
  • China
  • Disease Reservoirs / veterinary
  • Escherichia coli O157 / isolation & purification*
  • Escherichia coli O157 / metabolism
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Food Microbiology*
  • Meat / microbiology*
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Shiga Toxin / biosynthesis*
  • Swine / microbiology*

Substances

  • Shiga Toxin