title: Frequency of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Turkish cattle.
abstract: In this study, five abattoirs in Istanbul were visited between January 2000 and April 2001. During these visits, 330 cattle were selected by a systematic sampling method. Cattle were examined clinically and breed, age, and sex were recorded. Rectal swabs were taken immediately after slaughter. Immunomagnetic separation was performed, and sorbitol-negative colonies were selected on sorbitol MacConkey agar with cefixime and tellurite (CT-SMAC agar). These colonies were checked for 4-methylenebelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide, indol, rhamnose, and urease activity and motility. Serotypes of bacteria were determined by using antisera specific for Escherichia coli O157 and H7. All cattle selected were clinically healthy. Of 88 sorbitol-negative colonies selected on CT-SMAC agar, isolates from only 14 (4.2%) cattle reacted with anti-O157, and 13 of these isolates also reacted with anti-H7. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from all breeds, but the numbers of isolates were largest for Holstein and Swiss Brown cows. E. coli O157:H7 was most frequently isolated from 2-year-old cattle. Similarly, it was most frequently isolated from male cattle. E. coli O157:H7 was isolated from cattle slaughtered in four of the five abattoirs studied.
authors.affiliation: The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK), Marmara Research Center, Food Science and Technological Research Institute, Gebze, Kocaeli.
authors.forename: Aysun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gun
authors.forename: Huseyin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yilmaz
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000367:Age Factors; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D002418:Cattle Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D020682:Cefixime; D003470:Culture Media; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D019453:Escherichia coli O157 / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D005260:Female; D005966:Glucuronidase / Q000378:metabolism; D018189:Immunomagnetic Separation / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012737:Sex Factors; D013012:Sorbitol / Q000378:metabolism; D013691:Tellurium; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D013012:Sorbitol; D020682:Cefixime; D005966:Glucuronidase; D013691:Tellurium