DefinePK

Abstract

Emergence of Shiga toxin genes in Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC), all over the world, has become problematic and causes GIT illnesses in human originating in food of animals mainly from poultry. The aim of this study was to render rapid diagnostics of Shiga toxin producing E. coli (STEC) from raw meat. During a 4 month period from May to August a total of 200 samples were collected from beef (100) and chicken (100) and analyzed for Shiga toxin producing E. coli. Of the total of 200 samples of raw meat only chicken (2%) and beef (1%) were detected as PCR positive. Over the past decade many improvements have been made both in conventional and modern technique for detection of bacterial pathogens in food that include sample preparation, plating techniques, counting and identification kits but polymerase chain reaction technique is increasingly used which is considered more specific, sensitive, rapid and cost effective. Raw meat could be a source of Shiga toxin producing E. coli which indicates that possible risks of infections to people could be transferred by the consumption of raw meat and their rapid diagnostics could be made possible by the use of rapid diagnostic technique polymerase chain reaction.
Keywords: STEC; Stx; Raw meat Stx; Foodborne pathogens
http://dx.doi.org/10.19045/bspab.2016.50033