Presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Dairy Farms located in Najaf, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Erbil, Iraq

Document Type : Original Articles

Authors

1 Altoosi University College, Najaf, Iraq

2 Department of Dentistry, Al-Hadba University College, Mosul, Iraq

3 Department of Pharmacy, Al-Manara College For Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq

4 Anesthesia Techniques Department, Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq

5 College of Technical Engineering, The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq

6 Department of Optics Techniques, Dijlah University College, Al-Masafi Street, Al-Dora, Baghdad 00964, Iraq

7 Al-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq

8 Nursing Department, Hilla University College, Babylon, Iraq

9 Al-Esraa University College, Baghdad, Iraq

10 Department of Nursing, Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq

11 Microbiology Research Group , College of Pharmacy, Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq

Abstract

It has been approved that one of the most dangerous foodborne pathogenic bacteria is E. coli O157:H7, which is responsible for several infection and death cases worldwide. It is well documented that in the developing countries E. coli O157:H7 is considered the main causative pathogen of human gastrointestinal infections. Therefore, the current research was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in dairy cattle's milk using a rapid method, in Iraq (Najaf, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Erbil). Over a period of 6 months (During hot months) samples were obtained and investigated by culturing on selective media (CT-SMAC).  The multiplex PCR (m-PCR) also used for milk sample direct investigation. Using biochemical tests the recorded data showed that, 2 recognized isolates were E. coli, while the recorded data obtained from m-PCR assay revealed that none of the isolated E. coli was toxigenic E.coli O157:H7. The results of m-PCR on the milk samples revealed that 45 milk samples contained at least one of the following genes: O157, H7, stx1, stx2 genes. Also the results of the m-PCR revealed that 2 samples (raw milk) were toxigenic O157:H7 positive. In conclusion, to the best of authors' knowledge, this investigation was the first report on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in the raw milk samples in Iraq. The results showed that the proportion of contaminated milk samples contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 identified in the current survey were similar to that the results of the previously published research from different dairy products across different countries in the Middle East region.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Archives of Razi Institute
Volume 77, Issue 3 - Serial Number 3
May and June 2022
Pages 1269-1273

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