Prevalence and serotypes of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in dairy cattle from Northern Portugal

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244713
• Publication Date: 2020-12-31T19:46:09Z
• Authors: Andressa Ballem; Soraia Gonçalves; Isidro Garcia-Meniño; Saskia C. Flament...; Jesús E. Blanco; Conceição Fernandes; Maria José Saavedra; Carlos Pinto; Hugo Oliveira; Jorge Blanco; Gonçalo Almeida; Carina Almeida
• Keywords: STX2; Intimin

The prevalence of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) was determined by evaluating its presence in faecal samples from 155 heifers, and 254 dairy cows 21 farms at North Portugal sampled between December 2017 June 2019. STEC heifers (45%) significantly higher than lactating (16%) ( p <0.05, Fisher exact test statistic value is <0.00001). A total 133 were isolated, 24 (13.8%) carried Shiga-toxin 1 stx1 ) genes, 69 (39.7%) 2 stx2 40 (23%) both . Intimin eae virulence gene detected 29 (21.8%) the isolates. isolates belonged to 72 different O:H serotypes, comprising O serogroups 23 H types. most frequent serotypes O29:H12 (15%) O113:H21 (5.2%), found a large number farms. Two highly virulent associated with human disease O157:H7 O26:H11. Many other bovine founded this work previously described as pathogenic humans. Thus, study highlights need for control strategies that can reduce farm level and, thus, prevent food environmental contamination.