Genetic Variation of E. coli Strains Isolated from Poultry Slaughterhouses at Ismailia Governorate, Egypt

Shiga toxin producing E. coli is represented as one of the main source of foodborne infectious disease distributed all over the world. This area of study not fully explained before at Ismailia governorate. So this study aimed to make genetic survey of all isolated E. coli strains with attention to shiga toxins isolated from different sections of poultry slaughterhouses and workers at Ismailia governorate. One hundred and fifty swab samples were collected from baskets, workers hands, machines, processing tools and food contact surfaces and subjected to bacteriological examination. Ten samples were positive for E. coli with a percentage 6.6%. Different serogroups of E.coli isolated from poultry slaughterhouses were O63:H7 (2), O125:H5, O63:H5, O119:H6, O125:H2, O112ac:H2, O136:H2, O127:H2, O1:H2. Nine E.coli strains were subjected to PCR for genetic detection of Shiga-like toxins genes (stx 1 and stx 2), attaching and effacing (eae A) and enterohaemolysin gene (hly) gene in isolates. 5 E.coli isolates showed positivity for the stx1 gene (55.5%), 2 isolates for stx2 gene (22.2%) and 4 isolates for eaeA gene (44.4%). While, all isolates showed negativity for hly gene. In conclusion, genotypic survey proved the presence of shiga toxins producing E. coli and other virulence E.coli strains at examined slaughterhouses.