Non-O157 verotoxigenic Escherichia coli and beef: a Canadian perspective.
Verotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) are important foodborne pathogens in Canada. VTEC of the O157:H7 serogroup have been the focus of regulatory action and surveillance in both Canada and the USA, due to their role in a number of high profile outbreaks. However, there is increasing evidence that other VTEC serogroups cause a substantial proportion of human illness. This issue is of particular importance to the cattle industry due to the role of beef as a vehicle for VTEC transmission. In this review, the evidence for non-O157 VTEC as cause of human illness in Canada and the potential for Canadian beef and cattle to serve as a source of VTEC are presented. In addition, the available strategies for the control of VTEC in cattle and beef are discussed.
Gill
Alexander
A
Health Canada, Bureau of Microbial Hazards, Health Products and Food Branch, Sir F.G. Banting Research Centre, Ottawa, Ontario. alex.gill@hc-sc.gc.ca
Gill
Colin O
CO
D000818:Animals; D002170:Canada; D002417:Cattle; D005516:Food Microbiology; D008460:Meat / Q000382:microbiology*; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000302:isolation & purification*