Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli serogroups O157, O111 and O113 in feces, water and milk samples from dairy farms

The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Shigatoxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC) and STEC serogroups O157, O111 and O113 in feces, water and milk sampled in dairy farms in Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Feces (n = 454), water (n = 54) and milk samples (n = 30) were collected from 10 herds and assessed for the presence of the virulence genes stx(1), stx(2) and eae by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). All stx and eae positive samples were submitted to a second PCR reaction targeting the sequences rfb O157, rfb O111 and rfb O113. High prevalence of stx was detected (59.9%) in fecal samples, whereas the prevalence of sequences rfb O157, rfb O111 and rfb O113 was 18.9%, 3.3% and 30.4%, respectively. All sequences were detected more frequently in calves and heifers. Sequences stx2 and eae were prevalent in the fecal samples. stx sequences were detected in 1.9% and 3.3% of water and milk samples, respectively. Low prevalence of E. coli O113 was observed in water samples, whereas no E. coli O157 or E. coli O111 was detected. Furthermore, none of the serogroups were identified in milk samples. STEC was identified in all herds (100%), and serogroups O157, O111 and O113 were observed in 40%, 50% and 90% of the herds, respectively. In conclusion, the high STEC prevalence detected in dairy herds evidences that bovine feces might play an important role as a contamination source in the region of Jaboticabal, Brazil.