Isolation and Molecular Characterization of Shigatoxigenic O157 and Non-O157 Escherichia coli in Raw Milk Marketed in Chittagong, Bangladesh

Background: Quality and microbial safety of milk is demanding day by day as it is considered as a host for pathogenic and spoilage microorganisms. In this study, isolation and molecular characterization of shigatoxigenic O157 and non-O157 Escherichia coli in raw milk marketed in Chittagong, Bangladesh were done on 186 raw milk samples in Bangladesh. Methods: MacConkey agar was initially used to screen for the presence of E. coli and the suspected growth as evidenced by large pink colonies on MacConkey agar. Finally the organism was verified by plating through Eosin Methylene Blue (EMB) agar (a selective medium for E. coli where it produces metallic sheen) and applying standard biochemical tests for E. coli. The presence of virulent genes, Shiga-like toxin…