Detection of hemolysin virulence factor gene of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC)‎ isolated from feces of infected sheep by using polymerase chain reaction technique

Abstract EN

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) are the most important recently emerged group of food-borne pathogens.

It can cause severe gastrointestinal disease, including fatal infections, and is being detected more frequently worldwide.

In this study the Polymerase chain reaction technique (PCR) were used for detection of hemolysin toxin gene (hlyA) as virulence factor producing by Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) isolated from diarrheic sheep.

The PCR primers for hlyA gene were designed according to a program from NCBI-Genbank published sequence (Genbank code: X94129.1).

Fifty fecal samples were collected from sheep suffering from diarrhea, (32) isolates (64%) of Escherichia coli were detected and diagnosed by routine laboratory tests.

The results were shown only (13) positive isolates in PCR technique for detection of hemolysin toxin gene at (40.62%) which present as Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli out of (32) E.

coli.

In conclusion, hemolysin toxin gene (hlyA) is important virulence factor of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli infected sheep and using PCR was appeared very sensitive and highly specific assay serve as suitable molecular diagnostic tool for detection Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli producing hemolysin toxin.