The prevalence of non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Namibian game meat

Authors

  • Ndaindila Haindongo Department of Health Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Johannes Nkandi Biotechnology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Ndinomholo Hamatui Department of Health Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Larai Aku Akai Department of Health Sciences, Namibia University of Science and Technology, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Maria Yvonne Hemberger Department of Population Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia
  • Siegfried Khaiseb Biotechnology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Windhoek, Namibia
  • Umberto Molini Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia Department of Population Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1228.6844.3

Abstract

Large game animals play an important role as carriers and transmitters of O157:H7 and non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in nature. Fresh meat obtained from game animals has been identified as an important source of food-borne STEC infections. The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of the top 6 non-O157 STEC strains (serogroups O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) in Namibian game meat based on testing for stx, eae, and O-group-specific genes. Meat samples from gemsboks (Oryx gazella) (n = 75), springboks (Antidorcas marsupialis) (n = 41), greater kudus (Tragelaphus strepsiceros) (n = 5), and wildebeests (Connochaetes taurinus) (n = 5) were collected from 2 Namibian abattoirs and tested for STEC using real-time PCR techniques. Both Shiga toxin (stx) and intimin (eae) virulence genes were detected in 94 out of 126 samples (74.6%). Five of the top 6 STEC serogroup-specific genes were also detected in samples that were positive for both the stx and eae genes. The results of this study show a high incidence of non-O157 STEC O-group genes in Namibian game meat, which suggests that further scrutiny and testing may be necessary to avoid foodborne outbreaks.

Author Biographies

Siegfried Khaiseb, Biotechnology Department, Central Veterinary Laboratory, Windhoek, Namibia

Deputy Chief Veterinary Officer

Umberto Molini, Department of Pathobiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia Department of Population Health, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Namibia, Neudamm Campus, Namibia

Sub divisional head Biotechnology Department

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Published

2019-01-04

How to Cite

Haindongo, N., Nkandi, J., Hamatui, N., Aku Akai, L., Hemberger, M. Y., Khaiseb, S., & Molini, U. (2019). The prevalence of non-O157:H7 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in Namibian game meat. Veterinaria Italiana, 54(3), 185–188. https://doi.org/10.12834/VetIt.1228.6844.3

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 3 (2018)

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