Molecular characterization of Eae and Stxs genes for E. coli O157:H7 isolates from Calves

Abstract

This study aimed to detect eae and Stx genes of thirty two E. coli O157:H7 isolates recovered from calves. These isolates were isolated and identify by traditional methods of culturing and latex agglutination test from fecal swabs of four diarrheic calves and twenty eight apparently healthy calves. The eae and Stx genes were detected by a realtime PCR applied on the extracted bacterial DNA. The results showed that 19 isolates had stx1 gene, 10 isolates had stx2 gene and 17 isolates had eae gene. It is concluded that molecular characterization by using real time PCR is a good test for confirming infection with E. coli O157:H7 and detection of their eae and Stx genes .