Shiga-toxin producing Escherichia coli from healthy cattle in a semi-urban community in Calcutta, India.

ABSTRACT

From October to December 1998, single faecal samples from 67 healthy cattle in a semi-urban community near Calcutta were examined for Shiga toxin producing Esch. coli (STEC) using a multiplex PCR primary screen followed by plating on sorbitol MacConkey agar. STEC was isolated from the faeces of 7 (10.5%) animals. The eight strains isolated belonged to eight serotypes viz, O146H1, O149HNT, ONTH34, ONTH19, O88HN, ONTH2, O82H8 and O28acH21. Bead enzyme linked immunosorbent assay showed that three strains produced Shiga toxin 1, one produced Shiga toxin 2 and four produced both.