Detection and molecular characterization of shiga toxin producing escherichia coli (STEC) autoagglutinating adhesion gene (saa) from piglets in mizoram

Abstract

Aim: The study was carried out to detect and characterize the Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC) auto aggluti-nating adhesion gene (saa) from Piglets in Mizoram. Materials and Methods: A total 100 fecal samples from 0-3 month old piglets with (60) or without (40) diarrhoea were collected from different parts of Mizoram and screened for the presence of E. coli. All the locus of enterocyte (LEE) negative STEC strains was tested for the presence saa gene by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: In this study, a total of254 E. coli isolated and identified. Altogether, 51E. coli were found to be positive for at least one virulence gene tested, of which 30 and 21 were classified as STEC and EPEC, respectively. Atotal of 4 E. coli isolates were found to be positive for saa gene, of which one was from diarrhoeic and three were from healthy piglets. Conclusions: STEC and EPEC are prevalent in pig population of Mizoram. Presence of saa gene positive E. coli in pigs in this regionmay pose athreatto public health.