Molecular Identification of Shiga-Toxin Producing and Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (STEC and EPEC) in Diarrheic and Healthy Young Alpacas

Abstract

Isolation and biochemical and molecular identification of 303 strains of Escherichia coli obtained from diarrheic and healthy young alpacas of Puno-Peru, were realized. PCR amplification for 7 virulence factor genes associated with STEC, STEC O157:H7, EPEC: sxt1, sxt2, rfbO157, fliCH7, hlyA, eae y bfp were determined. A total of 39 strains (12.88%) showed amplification for one or more of these genes. Twenty three strains (59%) were classified as STEC and 16 strains (41%) as EPEC. An 88.18% (34/39) of STEC and EPEC strains were obtained from healthy alpacas and only 11.82% (5/39) from diarrheic alpacas considering this specie as potential zoonotic reservoir of STEC and EPEC.