Prevalence of vero toxic Escherichia coli in fecal samples of domestic as well as wild ruminants in Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo

AIM: The present study was planned to reveal the prevalence of verocytotoxigenic Escherichia coli (VTEC) in fecal samples of domestic and wild ruminants in Mathura district and Kanpur zoo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 240 fecal samples comprising 60 each of cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer from Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo were screened for the presence of E. coli and VTEC genes positive by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). RESULT: Out of 240 fecal samples, 212 E. coli strains were obtained. All the E. coli isolates were screened by PCR to detect virulence genes stx(1), stx(2), eaeA and hlyA. Of these, 25 isolates were identified as VTEC. The prevalence of VTEC in cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer was found 13.4% (8/60), 13.4% (8/60), 6.67% (4/60) and 8.33% (5/60), respectively. CONCLUSION: stx(1), stx(2), eaeA and hlyA genes were prevalent in VTEC isolates from feces of cattle, buffalo, sheep and deer population of Mathura districts and Kanpur zoo. The presence of VTEC isolates in this region may pose a threat to public health.