Escherichia coli isolation and phenotypic characterization using multiplex PCR in meat samples collected from Adiyaman and surrounding provinces

Escherichia coli is a pathogenic bacterium that causes the most food poisoning in red meats and food products using these meats worldwide. It has been reported that the most preferred host organism of E. coli is ruminants. In this study, it was aimed to determine the presence of E. coli bacteria and to classify the genotypic of the red (cattle, sheep, goat, etc.) meats offered for consumption in Adıyaman and the surrounding provinces and in the food products in which these meats are used. For this purpose, E. coli was isolated using classical microbiological culture methods. Previously designed primers that could specifically identify and amplify the uspA gene were used. In this way, the presence of E. coli's genetic material was detected with the help of PCR test. These samples were then genotypically characterized by PCR using six sets of primers (6 F and 6 R). Within the scope of our study, a total of 45 (25 bovine and 20 ovine) samples were collected from four different provinces. A total of 68 different colonies were found in these collected samples, then their DNA were subjected to PCR (studied as duplicates) in order to determine the presence of uspA gene, and 63 (92.6%) of these colonies gave positive results for E. coli. According to the results of this study, of 63 samples that were positive for uspA classified as 22 (34.9%) phylogroup A, 9 (14.3%) group B1, 7 (11.1%) group B2, 3 (4%, 8) group F, 5 (7.9%) group C, 2 (3.2%) group D, 2 (3.2%) group E, 13 (20.6%) group U, unknown phylogroup. To the best of our knowledge, the number of such food safety studies is low in our country. Thanks to the PCR method, it is predicted that the early presence of pathogenic bacteria can be detected, and food poisoning can be prevented by early warning of people consuming contaminated red meat and products. Therefore, by completing this study protection of the public health was aimed.