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T4-01 Molecular Characterization of Shiga-Toxin Producing Escherichia coli in Food Products Marketed in Romania

Thursday, 30 March 2017: 08:30
314-316 (The Square)
Sorin Daniel Dan, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Alexandra Tabaran, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, Cluj - Napoca, Romania
Marian Mihaiu, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Oana Lucia Reget Reget, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj Napoca, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Alina Dana Magdas, National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, Cluj Napoca, Romania
Introduction: Shiga toxin-producing strains of Escherichia coli (STEC) are known as major pathogens contaminating various food products. Ever since the discovery of E. coli O157 in 1982, these strains are considered one of the major emerging pathogens, which need thorough surveillance. Since then, many STEC strains of E. coli have been identified, but not all associated with human disease.

Purpose: Our study aimed to characterize the virulence factors and antimicrobial resistance genes of STEC strains isolated from Romanian meat, milk, and product thereof, so as to reveal the risk posed by these products to human health.

Methods: One hundred samples of raw milk and eighty samples of retail meat products (ground pork, ground beef) were collected and cultured according to the international standard protocol. All the characteristic E. coli cultures were analyzed for the presence of of Stx1 and Stx2 toxicity genes by PCR. The isolated strains were, also, tested for the presence of antibiotic resistance genes, such as aadA1, tet(A), tet(B), tet (C), tet(G), dfrA1, qnrA, aaC, sul1, blaSHV, blaCMY, blaTEM, ere(A) using multiplex PCR.

Results: The results showed that 12 samples (7%) were positive for at least one of the virulence genes investigated (Stx1, STx2, or both). From the total amount of positive strains, 67% (n=8) tested positive for genes encoding for tetracycline resistance; tetA being the most prevalent one (58%; n = 7). A high percent (42%; n = 5) revealed the beta-lactamase (blaTEM) resistance gene and none of the samples tested positive for blaCMY and blaSHV genes. The genes responsible for resistance to sulfonamides (sul1) and trimethoprim (dfrA1) were detected in rates of 17% (n=2) and 8% (n=1), respectively.

Significance:  STEC can be found in raw food products marketed in Romania. These strains show a high resistance to antimicrobials and may pose a serious risk to human health.

Back to: Technical Session 4 – Molecular Characterisation of Microorganisms
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