title: Shiga Toxin-ProducingEscherichia coliin Meat and Vegetable Products in Emilia Romagna Region, Years 2012-2013.
abstract: In 2012-2013 Emilia-Romagna Region introduced a monitoring plan for Shiga toxin-producingEscherichia coli(STEC) in foodstuff. Six hundred eighty-nine meat samples and 273 fruit and vegetable products were analyzed according to ISOTS13136. Pre-enriched samples were tested by multiplex real time PCR targeting the virulence geneseae,stx1andstx2. Stx2positive samples were investigated for the presence of serogroup O104 associated gene. O103, O111, O145, O157, O26 associated genes were tested on samples positive forstxin association witheaegene. Isolation ofE. colistrains was attempted from samples positive for serogroup-associated genes. Thirty-four meat products (4.9%) resulted positive forstx1 and/orstx2 genes and 46 (6.7%) forstx1 and/orstx2 genes in association witheaegene. Forty-five (6.5%) samples resulted positive at least at one serogroup. Serogroup O103, O104, O111, O145, O157 andO26genes were detected respectively in 1.3, 0.3, 0.1, 3.9, 2.9 and 2.5% samples; 0.6% samples resulted positive for STEC isolation (2E. coliO103 and 2E. coliO157). It is worth noting that STEC virulence genes were detected at high frequency (19%) in fresh pork meat sausages. Four (1.5%) vegetable samples were positive forstx1 and/orstx2 genes and 1 (0.4%) forstx1 and/orstx2 genes in association witheaegene; none resulted positive for the tested serogroups. Only a low number of samples positive by molecular methods were confirmed by cultural isolation. It is therefore of the uttermost importance for appropriate risk management, to be fully aware of the meaning of the analytical result.
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna , Bologna.
authors: Lia
authors: L
authors: Bardasi
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna , Bologna.
authors: Roberta
authors: R
authors: Taddei
authors: Regione Emilia Romagna , Bologna.
authors: Lucia
authors: L
authors: Nocera
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna , Piacenza, Italy.
authors: Matteo
authors: M
authors: Ricchi
authors: Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Lombardia e dell'Emilia Romagna , Bologna.
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Merialdi
keywords: Escherichia coli; Food surveillance; Meat product; Ready-to-eat food; Shiga toxin