Title of article :
Presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Dairy Farms located in Najaf, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Erbil, Iraq
Author/Authors :
Najd Obaid, F Altoosi University College, Najaf, Iraq , Al-Dabbagh, K. A Department of Dentistry - Al-Hadba University College, Mosul, Iraq , Salam Karim, Y Department of Pharmacy - Al-Manara College For Medical Sciences, Maysan, Iraq , Abdallah Mahdi, O Anesthesia Techniques Department - Al-Mustaqbal University College, Babylon, Iraq , Mahdi Rheima, A College of Technical Engineering - The Islamic University, Najaf, Iraq - Department of Optics Techniques - Dijlah University College - Al-Masafi Street - Al-Dora, Baghdad, Iraq , Alkadir, O. K. A Al-Nisour University College, Baghdad, Iraq , Hamad, D. A Nursing Department - Hilla University College, Babylon, Iraq , Mahmood Shihab, E Al-Esraa University College, Baghdad, Iraq , Hussin Alwan, N Department of Nursing - Al-Zahrawi University College, Karbala, Iraq , Alwaily, E. R Microbiology Research Group - College of Pharmacy - Al-Ayen University, Thi-Qar, Iraq
Abstract :
It has been approved that one of the most dangerous foodborne pathogenic bacteria is E. coli O157:H7, which is responsible for several infection and death cases worldwide. It is well documented that in the developing countries E. coli O157:H7 is considered the main causative pathogen of human gastrointestinal infections.
Therefore, the current research was aimed to evaluate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in dairy cattle's milk using a rapid method, in Iraq (Najaf, Baghdad, Kirkuk, and Erbil). Over a period of 6 months (During hot
months) samples were obtained and investigated by culturing on selective media (CT-SMAC). The multiplex
PCR (m-PCR) also used for milk sample direct investigation. Using biochemical tests the recorded data showed
that, 2 recognized isolates were E. coli, while the recorded data obtained from m-PCR assay revealed that none
of the isolated E. coli was toxigenic E.coli O157:H7. The results of m-PCR on the milk samples revealed that 45
milk samples contained at least one of the following genes: O157, H7, stx1, stx2 genes. Also the results of the
m-PCR revealed that 2 samples (raw milk) were toxigenic O157:H7 positive. In conclusion, to the best of
authors' knowledge, this investigation was the first report on the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in the raw milk samples in Iraq. The results showed that the proportion of contaminated milk samples contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 identified in the current survey were similar to that the results of the previously published research from different dairy products across different countries in the Middle East region.
