title: First detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli in shellfish and coastal environments of Morocco.
abstract: Shiga toxin Escherichia coli (STEC), also called verotoxin-producing E. coli, is a major cause of food-borne illness, capable of causing hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS). This study was carried out to evaluate the presence of (STEC) and E. coli O157:H7 in shellfish and Mediterranean coastal environments of Morocco. The contamination of shellfish and marine environment with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) and E. coli O157:H7, was investigated during 2007 and 2008. A total of 619 samples were analyzed and 151 strains of E. coli were isolated. The presence of the stx1, stx2, and eae genes was tested in E. coli isolates strains using a triplex polymerase chain reaction. STEC was detected in three positives samples (1.9%), corresponding to the serotype O157:H7, the others Shiga toxin-producing E. coli non-O157 were also detected.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie et d'Hygiène des Aliments et de l'Environnement, Institut Pasteur du Maroc, Casablanca, Morocco. mohamed.bennani@pasteur.ma
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bennani
authors.forename: Samira
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Badri
authors.forename: Tarik
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Baibai
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Oubrim
authors.forename: Mohammed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hassar
authors.forename: Nozha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cohen
authors.forename: Hamid
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Amarouch
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins / Q000235:genetics; D009018:Morocco; D060885:Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012758:Shellfish / Q000382:microbiology*; D054323:Shiga-Toxigenic Escherichia coli / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000378:metabolism*; D037521:Virulence Factors / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D029968:Escherichia coli Proteins; D037521:Virulence Factors