Escherichia coli O157:H7, a Common Contaminant of Raw Milk from Ecuador: Isolation and Molecular Identification.

ABSTRACT: Escherichia coli (E. coli), especially the Shiga toxin-producing O157:H7 strain, poses severe health risks. In rural Ecuador, raw milk consumption heightens contamination risks. This study analyzed 633 raw milk samples from Pichincha and Manabí to assess E. coli O157:H7 prevalence. The samples were enriched using BHI broth, and then specific culture media were used to isolate E. coli O157:H7. The pathogen in the enriched raw milk was identified, and the isolates were specifically confirmed through the application of a newly designed qPCR assay. The novel qPCR assay demonstrated remarkable sensitivity, capable of detecting up to one copy of genetic material, and specificity (no amplification of other bacteria). An extremely high E. coli O157:H7 prevalence

SUBMITTER: Loor-Giler A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11816838 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature