Detection of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) in fresh seafood and meat marketed in Mangalore, India by PCR.

ABSTRACT

AIMS: To study the incidence of Shiga-toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) in seafoods from India. METHODS AND RESULTS: Escherichia coli isolated from various seafoods such as fresh fish, clams and water were screened for the presence of stx, hlyA and rfbO157 genes by PCR; 5% of clams and 3% of fresh fish samples were positive for non-O157 STEC. CONCLUSIONS: STEC is prevalent in seafoods in India, and non-O157 serotype is more common. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY Seafood could be a vehicle for transmission of STEC even in tropical countries.