Detection in Environmental Samples of Enteroagregative Escherichia coli, stx-producing Escherichia coli and stx-converting Bacteriophage by RT- PCR: Preliminary Data

On May 2011, an outbreak of gastroenteritis caused by a serotype of enteroaggregative and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (O104:H4), occurred in Germany. The pathotype involved did not possess the eae gene, but possessed typical genes of the Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EaggEC) group, that had acquired the stx2a-converting bacteriophage. This has underlined the importance to screen foodstuffs for Eaggec too, which may represent an emerging public health concern. The research was focused on collect epidemiological information concerning the presence of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, stx-producing Escherichia coli and stx2a-converting bacteriophage, in ruminants faeces. In July 2014 were collected 48 faecal samples in Sardinia. The samples were analyzed by microbiological methods and by a real time PCR according with the ISO/TS13136:2012. Seven samples were inhibited. The results show that none samples was positive for the typical genes of Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli, while n. 39 (81.25%) of 48 samples were positive for verocytotoxin gene and n. 7 had acquired the stx2a-converting bacteriophage. These preliminary data seem to show that there aren’t favourable conditions for the development of enteroaggregative and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in these type of samples.