Evaluation of stx1, stx2, hlyA, and eaeA Virulence Genes in Escherichia coli O157:H7 Isolated from Meat (Beef and Mutton) in Hamedan, Iran, During 2015-2016

Background and Objectives: Consuming raw or undercooked cattle meat is the most common transmission way of infection with Escherichia coli O157:H7. The present study aimed to identify virulence genes stx1, stx2, hlyA, and eaeA in E. coli isolated from meat samples (beef and mutton) in Hamedan during 2015 and 2016. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, the swabs were randomly taken from 160 meat samples including 80 beef samples and 80 mutton samples from butcher shops. Isolation and identification of E. coli cells were conducted by culturing the swab samples on MacConkey agar and Eosin methylene blue agar media. Then, the identity of the suspected E. coli O157:H7 colonies was investigated by a multiplex PCR assay and eventually, the isolates were evaluated for the presence of stx1, stx2, hlyA, eaeA virulence genes. Results: The results showed that out of 160 cultured samples on the selective media, 60 samples (37.5%) were contaminated with E. coli. O157:H7, O157, and H7 strains were identified using PCR, among which only E. coli O157:H7 possessed all four virulence factor encoding genes. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that beef could be a reservoir for E. coli O157:H7, and it may be involved in the transmission of this pathogen to humans.