RAPID detection and quantification of E. coli O157/O26/O111 in minced beef by real-time PCR

Development and Application of a Simple "Easy To Operate" Propidium Monoazide-Crossing Priming Amplification on Detection of Viable and Viable But Non-culturable Cells of O157 Escherichia coli

O157 Escherichia coli is one of the most important foodborne pathogens causing disease even at low cellular numbers. Thus, the early and accurate detection of this pathogen is important. However, due to the formation of viable but non-culturable (VBNC) status, the golden standard culturing methodology fails to identify O157 E. coli once it enters VBNC status. Crossing priming amplification (CPA) is a novel, simple, easy-to-operate detection technology that amplifies DNA with high speed, efficiency, and specificity under isothermal conditions. The objective of this study was to firstly develop and apply a CPA assay with propidium monoazide (PMA) for the rapid detection of the foodborne E. coli O157:H7 in VBNC state. Five primers (2a/1s, 2a, 3a, 4s, and 5a) were specially designed for recognizing three targets, which were rfbE, stx1, and stx2, and evaluated for its effectiveness in detecting VBNC cell of E. coli O157:H7 with detection limits of pure VBNC culture at 10³, 10⁵, and 10⁵ colony-forming units (CFUs)/ml for rfbE, stx1, and stx2, respectively, whereas those of food samples (frozen pastry and steamed bread) were 10³, 10⁵, and 10⁵ CFUs/ml. The application of the PMA-CPA assay was successfully used on detecting E. coli O157:H7 in VBNC state from food samples. In conclusion, this is the first development of PMA-CPA assay on the detection of VBNC cell, which was found to be useful and a powerful tool for the rapid detection of E. coli O157:H7 in VBNC state. Undoubtedly, the PMA-CPA method can be of high value to the food industry owing to its various advantages such as speed, specificity, sensitivity, and cost-effectiveness.

Development of a bacteriophage-based Method for Detection of Escherichia Coli O157:H7 in Fresh Vegetables

In this study, a method using a recombinant phage for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in fresh vegetables was investigated. Four kinds of fresh vegetables, i.e. lettuce (Lactuca sativa), mustard greens (Brassica juncea), coriander (Coriandrum sativum), and soybean sprouts were selected since they are commonly used in meals in Vietnam. Firstly, a phage-based method was investigated for detection of E. coli O157:H7 in the four types of vegetables. To support the detection by suppressing growth of background bacteria in vegetables, selective antibiotics, i.e. novobiocin (N) and vancomycin (V) in combination with BHI medium were examined. Secondly, quality of the method was evaluated in terms of sensitivity, specificity, and rapidity. The method enabled the detection of E. coli O157:H7 inoculated at 10³, 10², or 10¹ CFU/ 10 mL of sterile 0.8% NaCl containing 5 g of vegetable and in the presence of several Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria inoculated at 10⁷ CFU/10 mL. The time for detection was approximately 16.5 hours for E. coli O157:H7 inoculated at 10 CFU/10 mL of sterile 0.8% NaCl containing 5 g of vegetable. The limit of detection was considered to be 2 CFU g^-1 vegetable.

Detection of Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat fresh vegetables using broad-host-range recombinant phages

AIM

To construct a simple method to detect Escherichia coli in ready-to-eat fresh vegetables using broad-host-range recombinant phages.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Firstly, a gene encoding cytochrome c peroxidase (CCP) chromogenic enzyme was inserted into genomes of wild-type phages IP008 and IP052 to produce recombinant phages IP008BK and IP052BK. They were then used in the production of the chromogenic enzyme (CCP) through infection into E. coli. The method was then examined in the colorimetric detection of E. coli K12 in broth, and its appearance was confirmed by a significant change in absorbance after a few minutes of the enzyme assay. Secondly, the protocol using the recombinant phages for the detection of E. coli in vegetables, that is, lettuce and mustard greens, was investigated. A low E. coli concentration at 4 CFU per g vegetable was detected within 16·5 h that is of a shorter duration than agar plate methods and in some commonly known phage-based methods.

CONCLUSION

The existence of E. coli as a faecal contamination indicator in two types of ready-to-eat fresh vegetables, that is, lettuce and mustard greens, can be identified by the broad-host-range recombinant phages.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY

The method is simple and convenient since it enables the detection of E. coli without expensive apparatus. It is applicable to other types of food samples.

Detection of Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli from Nonhuman Sources and Strain Typing

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains are commonly found in the intestine of ruminant species of wild and domestic animals. Excretion of STEC with animal feces results in a broad contamination of food and the environment. Humans get infected with STEC through ingestion of contaminated food, by contact with the environment, and from STEC-excreting animals and humans. STEC strains can behave as human pathogens, and some of them, called enterohemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC), may cause hemorrhagic colitis (HC) and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). Because of the diversity of STEC types, detection strategies for STEC and EHEC are based on the identification of Shiga toxins or the underlying genes. Cultural enrichment of STEC from test samples is needed for identification, and different protocols were developed for this purpose. Multiplex real-time PCR protocols (ISO/CEN TS13136 and USDA/FSIS MLG5B.01) have been developed to specifically identify EHEC by targeting the LEE (locus of enterocyte effacement)-encoded eae gene and genes for EHEC-associated O groups. The employment of more genetic markers (nle and CRISPR) is a future challenge for better identification of EHEC from any kinds of samples. The isolation of STEC or EHEC from a sample is required for confirmation, and different cultivation protocols and media for this purpose have been developed. Most STEC strains present in food, animals, and the environment are eae negative, but some of these strains can cause HC and HUS in humans as well. Phenotypic assays and molecular tools for typing EHEC and STEC strains are used to detect and characterize human pathogenic strains among members of the STEC group.

Masquerading microbial pathogens: capsular polysaccharides mimic host-tissue molecules

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria portends an impending postantibiotic age, characterized by diminishing efficacy of common antibiotics and routine application of multifaceted, complementary therapeutic approaches to treat bacterial infections, particularly multidrug-resistant organisms. The first line of defense for most bacterial pathogens consists of a physical and immunologic barrier known as the capsule, commonly composed of a viscous layer of carbohydrates that are covalently bound to the cell wall in Gram-positive bacteria or often to lipids of the outer membrane in many Gram-negative bacteria. Bacterial capsular polysaccharides are a diverse class of high molecular weight polysaccharides contributing to virulence of many human pathogens in the gut, respiratory tree, urinary tract, and other host tissues, by hiding cell surface components that might otherwise elicit host immune response. This review highlights capsular polysaccharides that are structurally identical or similar to polysaccharides found in mammalian tissues, including polysialic acid and glycosaminoglycan capsules hyaluronan, heparosan, and chondroitin. Such nonimmunogenic coatings render pathogens insensitive to certain immune responses, effectively increasing residence time in host tissues and enabling pathologically relevant population densities to be reached. Biosynthetic pathways and capsular involvement in immune system evasion are described, providing a basis for potential therapies aimed at supplementing or replacing antibiotic treatment.

A qPCR assay to detect and quantify Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) in cattle and on farms: a potential predictive tool for STEC culture-positive farms

Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), of various serogroups harboring the intimin gene, form a serious threat to human health. They are asymptomatically carried by cattle. In this study, a quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) method was developed as a molecular method to detect and quantify Shiga toxin genes stx1 and stx2 and the intimin gene eae. Subsequently, 59 fecal samples from six farms were tested using qPCR and a culture method as a reference. Three farms had contaminated animals as demonstrated by the culture method. Culture-positive farms showed moderate significantly higher stx prevalences than culture-negative farms (p = 0.05). This is the first study which showed preliminary results that qPCR can predict STEC farm contamination, with a specificity of 77% and a sensitivity of 83%, as compared with the culture method. Furthermore, the presence or quantity of stx genes in feces was not correlated to the isolation of STEC from the individual animal. Quantitative data thus did not add value to the results. Finally, the detection of both stx and eae genes within the same fecal sample or farm using qPCR was not correlated with the isolation of an eae-harboring STEC strain from the respective sample or farm using the culture method.

Current trends in detecting non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in food

Non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (non-O157 STEC) strains are increasingly recognized as important foodborne pathogens worldwide. Together with E. coli O157:H7, six additional STEC serogroups (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) are now regulated as adulterants in certain raw beef products in the United States. However, effective detection and isolation of non-O157 STEC strains from food matrices remain challenging. In the past decade, great attention has been paid to developing rapid and reliable detection methods for STEC in general (targeting common virulence factors) and specific STEC serogroups in particular (targeting serogroup-specific traits). This review summarizes current trends in detecting non-O157 STEC in food, including culture, immunological, and molecular methods, as well as several novel technologies.

Simple, rapid, and reliable detection of Escherichia coli O26 using immunochromatography

Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26 has been increasingly associated with diarrheal disease all over the world. We developed an immunochromatographic (ic) strip for the rapid detection of E. coli O26 in food samples. To determine the specificity of the IC strip, pure cultures of 67 E. coli and 22 non-E. coli strains were tested with the IC strip. The IC strip could detect all (18 of 18) E. coli O26 strains tested and did not react with strains of any other E. coli serogroup or non-E. coli strains tested (0 of 71). The minimum detection limits for E. coli O26 were 2.2 × 10(3) to 1.0 × 10(5) cfu/ml. To evaluate the ability of the IC strip to detect E. coli O26 in food, 25-g food samples (ground beef, beef liver, ground chicken, alfalfa sprout, radish sprout, spinach, natural cheese, and apple juice) were spiked with E. coli O26. The IC strip was able to detect E. coli O26 at very low levels (approximately 1 cfu/25 g of food samples) after an 18-h enrichment, and the IC strip results were in 100% agreement with the results of the culture method and pcr assay. When 115 meat samples purchased from supermarkets were tested, 5 were positive for E. coli O26 with the IC strip; these results were confirmed with a pcr assay. These results suggest that the IC strip is a useful tool for detecting E. coli O26 in food samples.

Surveillance of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli in Irish bovine dairy herds

Verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) are highly significant zoonotic threats to public health, and have been the causative agent implicated in numerous high-profile outbreaks affecting large numbers of people. Serovar O157 is most frequently linked with human illness; however, other serovars, such as O26, O103, O111 and O145, have also been implicated. This study aimed to characterize the prevalence and virulence determinants of these five serovars in Irish dairy farm herds, and their milk. Using real-time PCR (RTi-PCR), bovine rectal faecal swabs and raw milk samples, along with milk filters, were screened for the presence of vt genes. Positive samples were then screened for the five serovars using sero-specific PCR. Serovar-positive samples were subjected to immunomagnetic separation, to isolate viable VTEC strains. These isolates were subsequently screened for four virulence factors: vt1, vt2, eaeA and hlyA. Three hundred and eighty six of the 600 rectal faecal swabs, 85 of the 117 milk-filters and 43 of the 120 bulk-tank milk samples, were positive for vt genes. From these 514 total vt-positive samples, 58 O26, 162 O103, 1 O111, 324 O145 and 26 O157 positives were detected by sero-specific RTi-PCR. Immunomagnetic separation yielded 12 O26, 26 O103, 0 O111, 19 O145 and 10 O157 isolates. Ten of these isolates contained at least one of the four virulence determinants screened for (i.e. vt1, vt2, eaeA and hlyA). Of these 10 isolates, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis showed that two of the O26 isolates from different farms were indistinguishable. Two O157 isolates were also indistinguishable. This study found serovars O103 and O145 to be the most prevalent in samples tested. Apart from the occurrence of VTEC in dairy herds, this study shows a high occurrence of vt genes in the environment, creating the possibility of horizontal gene transfer and emergence of new VTEC strains.

Tracking verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli O157, O26, O111, O103 and O145 in Irish cattle

The purpose of this study was to investigate carriage and transfer of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) O157, O26, O111, O103 and O145 from faeces and hide to dressed carcasses of Irish cattle as well as establishing the virulence potential of VTEC carried by these cattle. Individual cattle was tracked and faecal samples, hide and carcass (pre-evisceration and post-wash) swabs were analysed for verotoxin (vt1 and vt2) genes using a duplex real-time PCR assay. Positive samples were screened for the five serogroups of interest by real-time PCR. Isolates were recovered from PCR positive samples using immunomagnetic separation and confirmed by latex agglutination and PCR. Isolates were subject to a virulence screen (vt1, vt2, eaeA and hlyA) by PCR. Isolates carrying vt genes were examined by Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). Of the VTEC isolated, E. coli O157 was the most frequently recovered from hide (17.6%), faeces (2.3%) and pre-evisceration/post-wash carcass (0.7%) samples. VTEC O26 was isolated from 0.2% of hide swabs and 1.5% of faeces samples. VTEC O145 was isolated from 0.7% of faeces samples. VTEC O26 and VTEC O145 were not recovered from carcass swabs. Non-VTEC O103 was recovered from all sample types (27.1% hide, 8.5% faeces, 5.5% pre-evisceration carcass, 2.2% post-wash carcass), with 0.2% of hide swabs and 1.0% of faeces samples found to be positive for VTEC O103 isolates. E. coli O111 was not detected in any samples. For the four serogroups recovered, the direct transfer from hide to carcass was not observed. This study shows that while VTEC O157 are being carried by cattle presented for slaughter in Ireland, a number of other verotoxin producing strains are beginning to emerge.

Multiplex PCR detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli strains belonging to serogroups O157, O103, O91, O113, O145, O111, and O26 experimentally inoculated in beef carcass swabs, beef trim, and ground beef

Numerous foodborne outbreaks are attributed to Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and have been recognized for causing gastrointestinal disease in humans. Beef products have been considered the principal source of STEC. A multiplex PCR assay enabling simultaneous detection of STEC O103, O91, O113, O145, O111, O157, and O26 was developed and evaluated in artificially contaminated beef carcass swabs, beef trim, and ground beef after overnight enrichment. Individual serogroups were experimentally inoculated at low (1 to 10 CFU/ml) and high (11 to 100 CFU/ml) levels, and with a cocktail of strains belonging to two, four, and six serogroups. There was no significant difference in detecting single STEC strains under the different conditions. Only when strains were combined were there significant differences in detection of all cocktail isolates in some of the beef products. To address this issue, four serogroups were experimentally inoculated together at three different estimated levels (10, 10(2), and 10(3) CFU/ml) in all three beef products. Results yielded no significant difference in detecting STEC at the three inoculation levels (10, 10(2), and 10(3) CFU/ml) in trim and carcass swabs, but there was a significant difference in detecting STEC at the lowest levels (10 and 10(2) CFU/ml) in the 80:20 nonirradiated ground beef, and in the detection of STEC in irradiated ground beef. The findings from this study could provide industry and government agencies with a tool to evaluate the prevalence and incidence of STEC in beef products and their processing environments.

Development of a multiplex PCR for rapid detection of verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 in raw milk and ground beef

Verocytotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) O26 is an emergent pathotype that has caused an increasing number of sporadic cases and outbreaks of gastroenteritis, hemorrhagic colitis, and hemolytic uremic syndrome in the United States and Europe. Many cases are associated with the consumption of milk and undercooked or fermented meats. The stx(2) strains of VTEC O26 seem to be more likely to cause human infections than isolates expressing only stx(1). The isolation and identification of VTEC O26 from foods is labor intensive and time-consuming. We developed a multiplex PCR (M-PCR) assay for the identification and characterization of E. coli O26 VTEC and its detection in raw milk and ground beef. The method is based on the amplification of the wzx, stx(1), and stx(2) genes for the simultaneous detection of the O26 antigen and verocytotoxin types 1 and 2. This M-PCR assay had a sensitivity of 10(8) CFU/ml when applied to a bacterial suspension and of 10(6) CFU/ml or g when applied to both inoculated milk and minced beef samples. This M-PCR assay also was highly specific, and results were consistently negative for negative controls (nonpathogenic E. coli strains, uninoculated milk and beef samples, and samples inoculated with the nontarget microorganisms). This method could be used for the rapid detection of E. coli O26 VTEC from foods and for the rapid identification and characterization of clinical and environmental isolates.

Growth and enrichment medium for detection and isolation of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in cattle feces

Detection methods of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in cattle feces varied in using enrichment media containing different antibiotic combinations. To examine efficacy of a new detection method for STEC, three O157:H7 (ATCC 43889, 43890, and 43895) and 41 non-O157:H7 (members of the O1, O15, O26, O86, O103, O111, O125, O127, O128, O136, O146, O153, O158, O165, O166, and O169 serogroups) isolates were tested. These isolates were grown in tryptic soy broth for 6 h, and their concentrations were determined before inoculation of tubes containing 1 g of cattle feces (sterile [experiment 1; evaluating growth] and fresh [experiment 2; evaluating enrichment]) to simulate the high and low levels of STEC shedding by cattle (10(5) versus 102 CFU/g feces, respectively). Eight STEC isolates (the three O157:H7 and five non-O157:H7 selected at random) were tested at a very low level (10 CFU/g feces). The feces were incubated in 50 ml of brain heart infusion broth containing potassium tellurite, novobiocin, and vancomycin (2.5, 20, and 40 mg/liter, respectively) and cefixime (50 microg/liter) at 37 degrees C for 12 h and tested for STEC (VTEC [verotoxin-producing E. coli]-Screen assay [agglutination immunoassay]). Potential STEC isolates were recovered, characterized biochemically, serotyped, and tested for toxin production using Vero (African green monkey kidney) cell toxicity assay and agglutination immunoassay. In both experiments, all the STEC isolates used for fecal inoculation were recovered at the concentrations tested. Our medium supported growth of and enrichment for a wide range of STEC isolates.

Escherichia coli serogroup O26--a new look at an old adversary

Escherichia coli serogroup O26 played an important part in the early work on Verocytotoxin and is an established diarrhoeal pathogen. Recently, Verocytotoxigenic E. coli (VTEC) O26 has been increasingly associated with diarrhoeal disease and frequently linked to outbreaks and cases of haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS). This review investigates the pathogenicity, geographical distribution, changing epidemiology, routes of transmission and improved detection of VTEC O26. Laboratory data on VTEC O26 isolates and clinical data on HUS suggest a true difference in the incidence of VTEC O26 in different geographic locations. However, few diagnostic laboratories use molecular methods to detect VTEC and so it is difficult to assess the role of VTEC O26 in causing diarrhoeal disease. VTEC O26 is frequently found in the cattle population but rarely in food. However, the small number of outbreaks analysed to date are thought to be food-borne rather than associated with direct or indirect contact with livestock or their faeces. The increase in awareness of VTEC O26 in the clinical and veterinary setting has coincided with the development of novel techniques that have improved our ability to detect and characterize this pathogen.

Tracking emerging zoonotic pathogens from farm to fork

A combination of factors including changes in the agri-food chain, social changes, advances in detection and reporting systems coupled with bacterial adaptation and evolution have in recent years lead to the emergence of a number of zoonotic microorganisms in the food and water chain. These include multi-antibiotic resistant bacteria, verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli, parasites such as Cyclospora on fruit, and Cyrptosporidium and Giardia in water, Enterobacter sakazakii in infant milk formula, and emergent species of Campylobacteraceae. In this paper, Enterohaemorrhagic E. coli and Campylobacteraceae are taken as examples of emergent pathogens in the meat chain. Specific factors which may have lead to their emergence are deliberated, in addition to an overview of tools for their detection and tracking, and their epidemiology and survival characteristics. Approaches to managing and controlling emergent pathogens in the agri-food chain are also discussed.

Development and assessment of a rapid method to detect Escherichia coli O26, O111 and O157 in retail minced beef

A molecular-based detection method was developed to detect Escherichia coli O26, O111 and O157 in minced (ground) beef samples. This method consists of an initial overnight enrichment in modified tryptone soya broth (mTSB) and novobiocin prior to DNA extraction and subsequent serogrouping using a triplex PCR. This method has a low limit of detection and results are available within 24 hours of receipt of samples. Once optimized, this rapid method was utilized to determine the prevalence of these E. coli serogroups in six hundred minced beef samples all of which were previously examined by immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and selective plating for E. coli O26 and O111. Using IMS, two E. coli O26 isolates were detected. No E. coli O111 were recovered. The multiplex PCR technique described here did not detect E. coli O111 nor O157 in any of the samples, however six minced beef samples were positive for E. coli O26 using our method, only two of these were previously detected by IMS and culture. Application of molecular methods are useful to support culture-based approaches thereby further contributing to risk reduction along the food chain.

Real-time PCR method for quantification of Staphylococcus aureus in milk

A reproducible real-time PCR method that targets the putative transcriptional regulator gene of Staphylococcus aureus was developed to quantify this microorganism in milk samples. On the basis of partial sequences of this gene determined from S. aureus strains, we designed the specific primers and probe for use in a quantitative PCR assay. These specificities were confirmed with 25 strains of S. aureus and 35 strains of other bacteria. A real-time PCR assay with serial 10-fold dilutions of purified DNA and pure culture was conducted. It was possible to construct standard curves with a high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.99) in the range of 50 ng to 50 fg for purified DNA and 10(7) to 10(1) CFU/ml for a pure culture. The constructed standard curve for milk samples was similar to that for the pure culture, and the quantification of S. aureus in the range of 10(7) to 10(1) CFU/ml was possible. Moreover, to determine how our real-time PCR method would perform under actual analytical conditions, we quantified the DNA from S. aureus after two types of heat treatments were used for the pasteurization of milk. The amount of DNA found was affected after heat treatment at 63 degrees C for 30 min (low-temperature long-time method) but not at 72 degrees C for 15 s (high-temperature short-time method). The results indicate that the real-time PCR method developed in this study is effective for monitoring S. aureus contamination in milk because of its high specificity and sensitivity.

A rapid (one day), sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for detecting Escherichia coli O157:H7 in ground beef

The purpose of this study was to apply our rapid, integrated double enrichment 5′ nuclease real-time polymerase chain reaction assay for the detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and evaluate its efficacy. The assay targeted ground beef, an important vehicle in disease epidemiology. The assay reliably determined in 8 h the presence of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef at the level of 1 colony-forming unit (CFU)/g. The sensitivity and specificity of the assay were compared with that of standard enrichment diagnostic techniques. A correlation of 100% in detection was achieved to the limit of 1 CFU/g. This assay can be used as a rapid, automatic process for identification of E. coli O157:H7 in ground beef or can be integrated with standard culture procedures, resulting in considerable cost and time savings.Key words: real-time PCR, E. coli O157:H7, ground beef, molecular diagnostics, rapid O157:H7 assay.

A rapid molecular-based assay for direct quantification of viable bacteria in slaughterhouses

A rapid test for microbial quantification in carcass and environmental swabs that does not require enrichment and provides results in less than 4 h is described here. Steps in the assay include the rapid concentration of bacteria on sponge swabs by vacuum filtration followed by real-time PCR detection. The assay has been applied for the detection of coliforms, Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella spp., and Listeria monocytogenes on carcass swabs and environmental samples in a slaughterhouse-processing line. Comparison of this rapid method with standard culture techniques for coliform counts on beef and pork carcass swabs revealed higher numbers of bacteria (2- to 50-fold) by the rapid test compared with the plate counts. This was due to the detection of all bacteria (live, dead, and non-culturable forms) in the rapid assay. To allow detection of only viable bacteria, concentrated samples were treated with ethidium monoazide (EMA) prior to DNA extraction and real-time PCR detection, thereby preventing the amplification of DNA from bacteria with damaged cell walls and allowing only the DNA from bacteria with intact membranes to be detected. EMA treatment resulted in a significant reduction (P < 0.001) in the number of coliforms detected compared to real-time PCR without EMA treatment. In beef swabs, the counts obtained in EMA real-time PCR were not significantly different (P < 0.08) from the culture counts and the correlation coefficient between the two assays was 0.7385. A lower correlation coefficient (0.402) was obtained with pork swabs. The assay described herein has the potential to be applied on a routine basis to slaughterhouse lines for the detection of indicator organisms or specific pathogens.

Modeling and predicting the simultaneous growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and ground beef background microflora for various enrichment protocols

The simultaneous growth of Escherichia coli O157:H7 (O157) and the ground beef background microflora (BM) was described in order to characterize the effects of enrichment factors on the growth of these organisms. The different enrichment factors studied were basal medium (Trypticase soy broth and E. coli broth), the presence of novobiocin in the broth, and the incubation temperature (37 degrees C or 40 degrees C). BM and O157 kinetics were simultaneously fitted by using a competitive growth model. The simple competition between the two microfloras implied that O157 growth stopped as soon as the maximal bacterial density in the BM was reached. The present study shows that the enrichment protocol factors had little impact on the simultaneous growth of BM and O157. The selective factors (i.e., bile salts and novobiocin) and the higher incubation temperature (40 degrees C) did not inhibit BM growth, and incubation at 40 degrees C only slightly improved O157 growth. The results also emphasize that when the level of O157 contamination in ground beef is low, the 6-h enrichment step recommended in the immunomagnetic separation protocol (ISO EN 16654) is not sufficient to detect O157 by screening methods. In this case, prior enrichment for approximately 10 h appears to be the optimal duration for enrichment. However, more experiments must be carried out with ground beef packaged in different ways in order to confirm the results obtained in the present study for non-vacuum- and non-modified-atmosphere-packed ground beef.

Molecular serotyping of Escherichia coli O26:H11

Serotyping is the foundation of pathogenic Escherichia coli diagnostics; however, few laboratories have this capacity. We developed a molecular serotyping protocol that targets, genetically, the same somatic and flagellar antigens of E. coli O26:H11 used in traditional serotyping. It correctly serotypes strains untypeable by traditional methods, affording primary laboratories serotyping capabilities.

Detection and quantification of Shiga toxin-encoding genes in sheep faeces by real-time PCR

Sheep faeces may be an important source of Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli. We have, therefore, established and evaluated a real-time 5'-nuclease PCR assay to quantify the stx(1) and stx(2) genes in sheep faeces. The detection limit of our assay for both stx(1) and stx(2) in spiked samples corresponded to 10(2)--10(3)CFU/g, which is lower than for other assays for measuring these genes in faecal samples. Quantification values for our assay ranged from 10(2) to 10(7)CFU/g faeces. The assay was evaluated on native, un-spiked faeces. All sheep tested (n=7) shed stx(1), and the quantitative results corresponded to the gene copies in 10(3)--10(4)CFU/g. The level of stx(2), however, was below the quantitative detection limit in all the samples analyzed. This quantitative stx(1) and stx(2) assay may be important in assessing whether sheep harbouring Shiga toxin-producing bacteria represent a potential hazard to human health.