year 19, Issue 2 (March - April 2025)                   Iran J Med Microbiol 2025, 19(2): 4-4 | Back to browse issues page

XML Print


Download citation:
BibTeX | RIS | EndNote | Medlars | ProCite | Reference Manager | RefWorks
Send citation to:

Hossainpour H, Alvandi A H, Alikhani M Y, Moradi A, Mahmoudi H. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Clinical and Food Samples: A Cross-sectional Study. Iran J Med Microbiol 2025; 19 (2) :4-4
URL: http://ijmm.ir/article-1-2595-en.html
1- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran & Zoonoses Research Center, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran
2- Medical Technology Research Center, Health Technology Institute, Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
3- Infectious Disease Research Center, Avicenna Institute of Clinical Sciences, Hamadan, University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4- Department of Microbiology, Science and Research Branch. Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
5- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran & Nahavand School of Allied Medical Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences. Hamadan, Iran , Hassanmahmoudi24@gmail.com
Abstract:   (100 Views)

Background and Aim: Escherichia (E.) coli O157:H7 is a virulent bacterial strain known for producing a toxin called Shiga toxin, which can damage intestinal and kidney cells leading to bloody diarrhea and kidney failure. Food poisoning is a significant public health issue worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in clinical and food samples.
Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 62 food samples, including raw chicken meat, milk, and beef were randomly collected from several supermarkets in different areas of Hamadan City, Iran. Additionally, 62 E. coli strains were collected from various clinical specimens, including wounds, urine, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid, from Besat Hospital in Hamadan, Iran, and analyzed for E. coli O157:H7 contamination. All samples were cultured on specific media, and any suspicious colonies were subjected to PCR for verification of E. coli O157 H7 strain using two target genes.
Results: In total, 2 clinical and 8 food samples were positive for E. coli O157:H7 phenotypically. All isolates were positive for the presence of target genes using PCR. The highest frequency was related to contaminated food, particularly beef, with a frequency of 12.9%.
Conclusion: The results indicated high prevalence of E. coli O157:H7, especially in beef that was higher than the global average. Therefore, it is necessary to implement more precise controls in production and maintenance processes of food samples.

     
Type of Study: Original Research Article | Subject: Food Microbiology
Received: 2025/02/10 | Accepted: 2025/05/28 | ePublished: 2025/06/6

References
1. Gambushe SM, Zishiri OT, El Zowalaty ME. Review of Escherichia coli O157:H7 prevalence, pathogenicity, heavy metal and antimicrobial resistance, African perspective. Infect Drug Resist. 2022;15:4645-73. [DOI:10.2147/IDR.S365269] [PMID] [PMCID]
2. Long X, Gong Z, Gan Y, Yuan P, Tang Y, Yang Y, et al. Sensitive detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 using allosteric probe and hairpin switches based isothermal transcription amplification. Anal Chem. 2024;96(39):15608-13. [DOI:10.1021/acs.analchem.4c02413] [PMID]
3. Adefrash K, Sharew B, Amare W, Shibabaw A. Bacterial foodborne illness and Escherichia coli O157:H7 strain infection among asymptomatic food handlers in northeast Ethiopia: implication for hygienic practices and mass screening. Health Sci Rep. 2024;7(6):e2199. [DOI:10.1002/hsr2.2199] [PMID] [PMCID]
4. Jaradat ZW, Abulaila S, Al Rousan E, Ababneh QO. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in foods in the MENA region between 2000 and 2022: a review. Arab J Basic Appl Sci. 2024;31(1):104-20. [DOI:10.1080/25765299.2024.2309793]
5. Eghbalpour F, Vahdat S, Shahbazi R, Mohebi S, Kholdi S, Hadadi M, et al. Pathogenic features of urinary Escherichia coli strains causing asymptomatic bacteriuria during pregnancy. Gene Rep. 2022;27:101559. [DOI:10.1016/j.genrep.2022.101559]
6. Tegegne H, Filie K, Tolosa T, Debelo M, Ejigu E. Isolation and identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 recovered from chicken meat at Addis Ababa slaughterhouses. Infect Drug Resist. 2024;17:851-63. [DOI:10.2147/IDR.S430115] [PMID] [PMCID]
7. Schneider KR, Schneider RMG, Hubbard MA, Chang A. Preventing foodborne illness: E. coli O157:H7: FSHN031/FS097, rev. 11/2009. EDIS. 2009;2009(10):FSHN031. [DOI:10.32473/edis-fs097-2009]
8. Engdaw T, Temesgen W. O157:H7 serotype of Escherichia coli as an important emerging zoonosis. Int J Microbiol Res. 2016;7(1):9-17.
9. Gambushe SM, Zishiri OT, El Zowalaty ME. Review of Escherichia coli O157:H7 prevalence, pathogenicity, heavy metal and antimicrobial resistance, African perspective. Infect Drug Resist. 2022;15:4645-73. [DOI:10.2147/IDR.S365269] [PMID] [PMCID]
10. Zhang Y, Shigemura K, Duc HM, Shen C, Huang H H, Sato J, et al. Effects of bacteriophage on inhibition and removal of mixed biofilm of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 and O91:H. LWT. 2020;134:109945. [DOI:10.1016/j.lwt.2020.109945]
11. Jacobson M. On the infectious causes of neonatal piglet diarrhea-a review. Vet Sci. 2022;9(8):422. [DOI:10.3390/vetsci9080422] [PMID] [PMCID]
12. Mokhtar A, Karmi M. Surveillance of food poisoning Escherichia coli (STEC) in ready to eat meat products in Aswan, Egypt. Egypt J Vet Sci. 2021;52(Suppl 9):41-50. [DOI:10.21608/ejvs.2021.94025.1277]
13. Yang Y, Yan X, Haley BJ, Li C, Nou X. Genomic comparison of reoccurring, emerging, and persistent (REP) Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7. Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2024;21(4). [DOI:10.1089/fpd.2024.0144] [PMID]
14. Mohammadi P, Abiri R, Rezaei M, Salmanzadeh Ahrabi S. Isolation of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli from raw milk in Kermanshah, Iran. Iran J Microbiol. 2013;5(3):233-8.
15. Wayne P; Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Performance standards for antimicrobial susceptibility testing. 2011. CLSI document M100 S21.
16. Barzegar S, Arzanlou M, Teimourpour A, Esmaelizad M, Yousefipour M, MohammadShahi J, et al. Prevalence of integrons and ESBL genes in multidrug resistant Escherichia coli from urinary tract infections, Ardabil, Iran. Iran J Med Microbiol. 2022;16(1):56-65. [DOI:10.30699/ijmm.16.1.56]
17. Desmarchelier PM, Bilge SS, Fegan N, Mills L, Vary JC Jr, Tarr PI. A PCR specific for Escherichia coli O157 based on the rfb locus encoding O157 lipopolysaccharide. J Clin Microbiol. 1998;36(6):1801-4. [DOI:10.1128/JCM.36.6.1801-1804.1998] [PMID] [PMCID]
18. Burrus RG, Hogsette JA, Kaufman PE, Maruniak JE, Simonne AH, Mai V. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from house flies (Diptera: Muscidae) and dairy samples in north central Florida. J Med Entomol. 2017;54(3):733-41. [DOI:10.1093/jme/tjw205] [PMID]
19. Martinson JN, Walk ST. Escherichia coli residency in the gut of healthy human adults. EcoSal Plus. 2020;9(1):epa00255. [DOI:10.1128/ecosalplus.esp-0003-2020] [PMID] [PMCID]
20. Cabassi C, Taddei S, Predari G, Galvani G, Ghidini F, Schiano E, et al. Bacteriologic findings in ostrich (Struthio camelus) eggs from farms with reproductive failures. Avian Dis. 2004;48(3):716-22. [DOI:10.1637/7142] [PMID]
21. Sofos JN, Geornaras I. Overview of current meat hygiene and safety risks and summary of recent studies on biofilms and control of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in nonintact meat, and Listeria monocytogenes in ready to eat meat products. Meat Sci. 2010;86(1):2-14. [DOI:10.1016/j.meatsci.2010.04.015] [PMID]
22. Moradi Sarmeidani M, Fardemadi M, Rahimi E, Zamani Moghadam A. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from avian eggs. J Food Microbiol. 2018;5(2):63-71.
23. Adugna A, Kibret M, Abera B, Nibret E, Adal M. Antibiogram of E. coli serotypes isolated from children <5 years with acute diarrhea in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Afr Health Sci. 2015;15(2):656-64. [DOI:10.4314/ahs.v15i2.45] [PMID] [PMCID]
24. Esumeh F, Isibor J, Egbagbe I. Screening for Escherichia coli O157:H7 in diarrheic patients in Benin City, Nigeria. J Health Sci. 2011;1(1):45-9.
25. Abdissa R, Haile W, Fite AT, Beyi AF, Agga GE, Edao BM, et al. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in beef cattle at slaughter and beef carcasses at retail shops in Ethiopia. BMC Infect Dis. 2017;17:1-6. [DOI:10.1186/s12879-017-2372-2] [PMID] [PMCID]
26. Wada FW, Bobe TM, Tekle HA, Yaya TN. Shigella serogroups, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and their antibiogram among food handlers in southern Ethiopia. Am J Life Sci. 2017;5(2):46-51. [DOI:10.11648/j.ajls.20170502.12]
27. Ahmed MO. Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157: a current threat requiring advanced approaches-author reply. Libyan J Med Sci. 2014;9(1):24870. [DOI:10.3402/ljm.v9.24870] [PMID] [PMCID]
28. Nejma IBS B, Zaafrane MH, Hassine F, Sdiri Loulizi K, Said MB, Aouni M, et al. Etiology of acute diarrhea in Tunisian children with emphasis on diarrheagenic Escherichia coli: prevalence and virulence markers. Iran J Public Health. 2014;43(7):947-56.
29. Yousefi E, Ghouchannezhad Nournia B, Yousefi A, Fakour F. Identification of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from slaughtered beef in Mashhad using biochemical and molecular methods. Iran J Med Microbiol. 2019;13(2):137-41. [DOI:10.30699/ijmm.13.2.137]
30. Hiko A, Asrat D, Zewde G. Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in retail raw meat products in Ethiopia. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2008;2(5):389-93. [DOI:10.3855/jidc.203]
31. Owade JO, Bergholz TM, Mitchell J. Conditions influencing fate of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157:H7 in leafy greens: a review. Compr Rev Food Sci Food Saf. 2024;23(5):e70013. [DOI:10.1111/1541-4337.70013] [PMID]
32. McDonough PL, Rossiter CA, Rebhun RB, Stehman SM, Lein DH, Shin SJ. Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 from cull dairy cows in New York state and comparison of culture methods. J Clin Microbiol. 2000;38(1):318-22. [DOI:10.1128/JCM.38.1.318-322.2000] [PMID] [PMCID]
33. Elder RO, Keen JE, Siragusa GR, Barkocy Gallagher GA, Koohmaraie M, Laegreid WW. Correlation of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 prevalence in feces, hides, and carcasses of beef cattle during processing. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2000;97(7):2999-3003. [DOI:10.1073/pnas.97.7.2999] [PMID]
34. Heuvelink A, Zwartkruis Nahuis J, Beumer R, De Boer D. Occurrence and survival of verocytotoxin producing Escherichia coli O157 in meats from retail outlets in The Netherlands. J Food Prot. 1999;62(10):1115-22. [DOI:10.4315/0362-028X-62.10.1115] [PMID]
35. Abebe E, Gugsa G, Ahmed M, Awol N, Tefera Y, Abegaz S, et al. Occurrence and antimicrobial resistance pattern of E. coli O157:H7 from foods of bovine origin in Dessie and Kombolcha, Ethiopia. PLoS Negl Trop Dis. 2023;17(1):e0010706. [DOI:10.1371/journal.pntd.0010706] [PMID] [PMCID]
36. Rahimi E, Chaleshtori SS, Parsaei P. Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli O157 from traditional cheese, ice cream and yoghurt in Iran. Afr J Microbiol Res. 2011;5(22):3706-10. [DOI:10.5897/AJMR11.497]
37. Safaari M, Zolfaghari M, Shakib P, Rouhi S. Prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 isolated from patients with acute gastroenteritis. Med Lab J. 2015;8(5):119-23.
38. Wells S, Fedorka Cray P, Besser T, McDonough P, Smith BE. E. coli O157 and Salmonella-status on US dairy operations. USDA Info Sheet. 1998;286:1-4.
39. Mohsin M, Hussain A, Butt MA, Bashir S, Tariq A, Babar S, et al. Prevalence of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in diarrheal patients in Faisalabad, Pakistan as determined by multiplex PCR. J Infect Dev Ctries. 2007;1(2):164-9.
40. Kargar M, Dianati P, Homayoon M, Jamali H. Isolation, characterization and antibiotic resistance of Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in hamburger and evolution of virulence genes stx1, stx2, eaeA and hly by multiplex PCR. J Anim Behav Stud. 2013;3(3):208-14.

Add your comments about this article : Your username or Email:
CAPTCHA

Send email to the article author


Rights and permissions
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

© 2025 CC BY-NC 4.0 | Iranian Journal of Medical Microbiology

Designed & Developed by : Yektaweb | Publisher: Farname Inc