title: EnterohemorrhagicEscherichia coliO157 in milk and dairy products from Libya: Isolation and molecular identification by partial sequencing of 16S rDNA.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this work was to isolate and molecularly identify enterohemorrhagicEscherichia coli(EHEC) O157 in milk and dairy products in Libya, in addition; to clear the accuracy of cultural and biochemical identification as compared with molecular identification by partial sequencing of 16S rDNA for the existing isolates.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 108 samples of raw milk (cow, she-camel, and goat) and locally made dairy products (fermented cow's milk, Maasora, Ricotta and ice cream) were collected from some regions (Janzour, Tripoli, Kremiya, Tajoura and Tobruk) in Libya. Samples were subjected to microbiological analysis for isolation ofE. colithat was detected by conventional cultural and molecular method using polymerase chain reaction and partial sequencing of 16S rDNA.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Out of 108 samples, only 27 isolates were found to be EHEC O157 based on their cultural characteristics (Tellurite-Cefixime-Sorbitol MacConkey) that include 3 isolates from cow's milk (11%), 3 isolates from she-camel's milk (11%), two isolates from goat's milk (7.4%) and 7 isolates from fermented raw milk samples (26%), isolates from fresh locally made soft cheeses (Maasora and Ricotta) were 9 (33%) and 3 (11%), respectively, while none of the ice cream samples revealed any growth. However, out of these 27 isolates, only 11 were confirmed to beE. coliby partial sequencing of 16S rDNA andE. coliO157 Latex agglutination test. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that majority of localE. coliisolates were related toE. coliO157:H7 FRIK944 strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results can be used for further studies on EHEC O157 as an emerging foodborne pathogen and its role in human infection in Libya.
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Aboubaker M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Garbaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Enas M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Awad
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Salah M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Azwai
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Suez Canal University, 41522 Ismailia, Egypt.
authors.forename: Said K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Abolghait
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Hesham T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Naas
authors.affiliation: Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, 12211 Giza, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ashraf A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Moawad
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Fatim T
authors.initials: FT
authors.lastname: Gammoudi
authors.affiliation: Department of Genetics, The Lombardy and Emilia Romagna Experimental Zootechnic Institute (IZSLER), Via Bianchi 9, 25124 Brescia, Italy.
authors.forename: Ilaria
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barbieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Tripoli, P.O. Box 13662, Tripoli, Libya.
authors.forename: Ibrahim M
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Eldaghayes
keywords: 16S rDNA; dairy products; enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157; milk