IDENTIFICATION OF ESCHERICHIA COLI O157:H7 IN FOODS

Author: Larisa GIURA, Scientific Coordinator: Anca ROTAR, University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine, 3-5 Manastur St., 400372, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; larisa_mihaela19@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT Escherichia coli is a common inhabitant of intestinal tract of humans and animals and is considered an indicator of fecal contamination in food . Escherichia coli can be easily disseminated in different ecosystems through the food chain. (Alexander et al. , 2010, SeungHee Ryu et al. , 2012). The purpose of this study is to investigate the incidence of the species Escherichia coli in foods of animal and vegetable and mainly the incidence of the serotype O157: H7 verotoxin manufacturer. This serotype is considered the most dangerous, being involved in food poisoning episodes with prognosis. Escherichia coli O157: H7 is a feared bacterium because it causes severe human disease, usually manifested by hemorrhagic colitis and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) which is a complication of the hemorrhagic colitis and the hemolytic anemia ,sometimes accompanied by nervous signs. (Alexandru Bogdan, Ivana Simon, 2011). The identification methods were standardized using enrichment medium, isolation and confirmation characteristics of the species investigated. Samples representing foods of animal origin and plants were collected in sterile containers. To investigate the possibility of common sources of contamination, the main objective being to detect and confirm the presence of Escherichia coli O157: H7 in food. The study identified the types of foods contaminated and contamination tracing attempts to establish preventive action.

KEYWORDS O157: H7, fecal, verotoxin, hemorrhagic colitis, food poisoning. REFERENCES Alexandru Bogdan, Simona Ivana ,2011, Microbiologia alimentelor, Editura Asclepius, Bucureti 2011. Ryu SH, Lee JH, Park SH, Jung HW, Park GY, Choi SM, Kim MS, Chae YZ, Park SG, Lee YK. Antimicrobial resistance profiles among Escherichia coli strains isolated. *** ,SR EN ISO 16654/2002 Microbiologia alimentelor si furajelor. Metoda orizontala pentru detectarea Escherichia coli O157. *** ,SR ISO 7218 /2007 Reguli generale pentru examene microbiologice