Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in foods of animal origin

In this study 109 food samples (mainly meat and meat-products) were screened for Escherichia coli. Forty four samples (40.37% showed E. coli and these were tested for verotoxin (VT) production by vero cell assay. Seven (15.90%) isolates were verotoxigeni of which 4 (08, 068, 084, 088) were from buffalo beef and one each was from chicken (086), mutton (non-typable strain) and kabal (0159) samples. Variations among the levels of VT production i.e. verotoxin-titre were also recorded. 109 echantillons de produits alimentaires principalement d'origine animale ont subi une analyse microbiologique. 44 echantillons sont contamines par E.coli, et ont ete testes pour la production de verotoxine. 7 echantillons sont verotoxigenes, 4 etant d'origine bovine, 1 d'origine ovine et un autre provient du poulet, le dernier provenant du kabab, un produit a base de viande.