Detection of verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) in pig samples (faeces, carcass, slaughterhouse and cutting plant) using PCR

Verotoxin-producing Escherichia coli (VTEC) are important food-borne pathogens in humans. Several studies have demonstrated that cattle are a major reservoir of VTEC but few data are available about the occurrence of VTEC in other animals. In France, there is no data about pigs and pork meat. The purpose of this work was to develop a PCR-based method for detection of VTEC in different pig samples (meat, pig skin, carcass swab, environmental swab, faecal samples and scalding water). All VTEC strains were detected by PCR procedure. Shigella dysenteriae type I was the only other bacterium that gave positive result in this assay. For the 4 serotypes tested detection was possible up to a contamination rate before enrichment of 10 cfu per sample. The results indicate that this method is applicable for the detection of VTEC in pig slaughterhouse and cutting plant.