Detection of shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli isolated from children and cattle using PCR technique
This study was undertaken to detect STEC isolates, gene(Stx2) in Escherichia coli isolatesand characterize them by biochemical tests , enterohemolysin production and PCR.During aperiod of seven months (November 2007 to May 2008), a total of 280 fecal samples werecollected from 120 hospitalized children suffering from diarrhea and 160 cattle fecal samples .Feces specimens were screened for the presence of NSF E. coli and STEC by cultured onsorbitol MacConkey agar (SMAC).A total of 209 (74.6%) non-sorbitol fermenting (NSF)bacterial isolates were obtained , 69 (57.5%) from children fecal samples and 140 (87.5%) fromcattle feces . Of which 5 (4.16%) NSF E. coli isolated from children fecal samples and 38(23.75%) from cattle feces. NSF isolates were identified as Shiga toxin producing E. coli(STEC), but only 16 (10%) isolates of cattle and 2 (1.6%)isolates of children were PCR-positivefor (Stx2) gene which gave amplification bands at 346 bp using DNA marker in the interpretationof the results. Among 18 STEC studied, a total of 16 (88.8%) isolates expressed enterohemolysinon washing sheep blood agar plates.On the other hand, the study was showed that the sensitivityand specificity of PCR technique in diagnosis of STEC were 41.8% , 100% respectively, incomparison with other tests like biochemical tests, sensitivity and specificity of these tests were(100% , 86.9%) respectively.