Studies on prevalence and hemolytic activity of verocytotoxic Escherichia coli (VTEC) isolated from sheep

Abstract

The present study was planned to detection of VTEC genes in fecal sample of Sheep due to its highly public health significance. The study was undertaken to detection of virulence genes like stx1, stx2, eaeA & hlyA using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and to finding their hemolytic property. In present study, a total of 230 samples were processed for isolation of verocytotoxic E. coli (VTEC). All samples were positive for Escherichia coli. Out of 230 Escherichia coli, 21 samples were found positive for VTEC having one or more genes in different combinations. A total of 8 isolates (38.09%) were positive on sheep blood agar and produced the desired clear zone of alpha hemolysis.