ABSTRACT
The informally raw milk and Kareish cheese sold in ftena city [Upper Egypt] were analyzed to determine the presence of toxigenic E.coli. The isolates were screened for the presence of verotoxigenic E.coli [VTEC] and enterotoxigenic E.coli [ETEG] by Polymerase Chain Reaction [PCR]. Bio-resistance to antimicrobial agents was evaluated by the disk diffusion method. E.coli were recovered from 38 [76%] of raw milk and 11 [47.8%] of Kareish cheese samples. Three [6.1%] of the E.coli isolates were VTEG and none of them hat eaeA gene encoded a pathogenicity island typical of E.coli 0157:H7 [EHEC]. PCR of enterotoxins showed that only one isolate carried LT enterotoxins of ETEC. Bio-resistance was frequently observed to nalidixic acid [42.9%], ampicillin [32.7%], tetracycline [22.4%], trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazol [14.3%], ciprofloxacin [4.1%] and cefoxtin [2.0%]. Results suggested a possibility of potential public health threat of E.coli originating from raw milk sources