产志贺毒素大肠杆菌毒力基因检测

目的 分析河南省2000～2002年分离的351株与产志贺毒素大肠菌(STEC)感染有关的菌株，了解不同来源标本各种毒素基因携带模式。方法 应用多重PCR技术，检测所有菌株志贺毒素(stx1和stx2、hlyA、eaeA、rfbO111和rfbO157基因。结果 351株待检菌株分为枸橼酸杆菌、O157：H7大肠杆菌、rfbO157基因阳性不携带志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌和rfbO157基因阴性携带志贺毒素基因的大肠杆菌4种不同类型。4种类型菌株具有6种rebO157、stx2、stx1基因模式。携带志贺毒素基因的菌株主要源自波尔山羊、普通本地羊和病人，其它家畜家禽中有不同程度感染STEC。结论 河南省存在STEC的感染．主要以O157：H7大肠杆菌为主，但也存在其它非O157的STEC。     

浙江省首株产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌0157：H7的分子生物学特性研究

目的：了解自浙江省杭州市腹泻婴儿中分离的1株大肠埃希菌O157：H7（HZI-11株）的分子生物学特性。方法：应用ATB1525细菌半动化生化鉴定系统鉴定菌种。应用0157特异性抗血清玻片凝集试验、H7特异性抗血清试管凝集试验、以及PCR检测O抗原特异性rfbE基因和H7特异性fliC基因，进行菌株血清型的鉴定。应用多重Real-time PCR和常规PCR检测stx1、stx2、hly和eae毒力基因。对菌株进行脉冲场凝胶电泳（PFGE）分型，并与国内代表菌株进行比较。ATB1525药敏检测仪和纸片法检测菌株的抗药性。结果：细菌生化鉴定为大肠埃希菌，山梨醇阴性。血清型为O157：H7。毒力基因stx2、hly和eae均阳性，stx1阴性。PFGE谱带同江苏分离O157：H7菌株几乎完全相同，带型的相似度为97％。结论：该菌株为浙江省首株产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌（STEC）O157：H7。与国内近年在江苏等地流行的STEC O157：H7菌株密切相关。STEC O157：H7已开始对浙江地区的人民健康构成了威胁。     

浙江省首株产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌O157:H7的分子生物学特性研究

目的:了解自浙江省杭州市腹泻婴儿中分离的1株大肠埃希菌O157:H7(HZ1-11株)的分子生物学特性.方法:应用ATB1525细菌半动化生化鉴定系统鉴定菌种.应用O157特异性抗血清玻片凝集试验、H7特异性抗血清试管凝集试验、以及PCR检测O抗原特异性rfbE基因和H7特异性fliC基因,进行菌株血清型的鉴定.应用多重Real-timePCR和常规PCR检测stx1、stx2、hly和eae毒力基因.对菌株进行脉冲场凝胶电泳(PFGE)分型,并与国内代表菌株进行比较.ATB1525药敏检测仪和纸片法检测菌株的抗药性.结果:细菌生化鉴定为大肠埃希菌,山梨醇阴性.血清型为O157:H7.毒力基因stx2、hly和eae均阳性,stx1阴性.PFGE谱带同江苏分离O157:H7菌株几乎完全相同,带型的相似度为97%.结论:该菌株为浙江省首株产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌(STEC)O157:H7,与国内近年在江苏等地流行的STECO157:H7菌株密切相关.STEC O157:H7已开始对浙江地区的人民健康构成了威胁.     

首次从病人中分离到产毒O157:H7菌株的多重PCR鉴定

目的 鉴定从病人粪便中分离到的大肠杆菌O157：H7菌株的毒素基因和rfbO157特异性基因。方法 多重PCR技术同时检测大肠杆菌O157：H7的四种毒素基因和O157特异性基因。结果 可疑菌株含有志贺氏毒素2（stx2)基因，溶血素基因（hlyA)，肠上皮细胞纤毛清除素基因（eaeA)和O157：H7特异性基因（rfbO157)，但不含有志贺氏毒素1（stx1)基因。结论 菌株为产志贺氏毒素大肠杆菌O157：H7血清型。     

致病性大肠埃希菌毒素基因的Allglo探针技术鉴定

目的：基于Allglo探针技术结合多重荧光PCR，建立快速、简便鉴定致病性大肠埃希菌相关毒素基因的方法。方法选取致病性大肠埃希菌的紧密黏附素基因（ eae）、志贺样毒素Ⅰ基因（ stx I）、志贺样毒素II基因（ stx II）和转录激活因子基因（ aggR）作为靶点。通过设计引物和Allglo探针，建立多重荧光PCR反应体系。同时，构建了4种毒素基因标准质粒，进而评价方法的特异性、灵敏性和重复性。结果基于Allglo探针技术的多重荧光PCR方法可同时准确、特异地鉴定致病性大肠埃希菌所携带的4种毒素相关基因，eae基因和aggR基因的灵敏度为10 copies/μL，stx I基因和stx II基因的灵敏度为1 copies/μL；定量检测的批间和批内变异系数均小于5%。对356份腹泻粪便样本进行评价，结果显示检出39份基因阳性。39份阳性样本中，eae基因阳性为53.85%，stxⅠ基因和stx II基因阳性为23.08%，aggR基因阳性为46.15%。通过直接测序方法进行鉴定，符合率达到100.00%。结论本实验建立的基于Allglo探针技术结合多重荧光PCR方法具有操作简便、特异性好和灵敏度高等特点，为致病性大肠埃希菌鉴定提供了一种快速、可靠的检测方法。     

不同来源产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌分布特征

目的探讨不同标本中产志贺样毒素大肠埃希菌（STEC）的分布特征。方法采集动物粪便、肉类食品和排污口污泥样品，常规分离大肠埃希菌，血清学分型，PCR鉴定产志贺样毒素（stx1，stx2）菌株。结果293份标本中鉴定出8株STEC，1株为产志贺毒素O157：H7型，2株为不产志贺毒素O157：H7型，5株为产志贺毒素非O157：H7型。结论STEC存在于不同来源的标本中，菌株表型与毒力因子存在一定差异。     

12株疑似O157：H7大肠菌PER鉴定研究

目的：对12株疑似O157：H7大肠菌采用PCR法进行鉴定。方法：利用单一PCR和多重聚合酶链反应（mPCR）检测不同来源菌株志贺样毒素（stx1和stx2）、溶血素（hly）、粘附抹平因子（eaeA）、β-葡糖醛酸糖苷酶（uidA）、O157抗原编码（血E）、H7鞭毛抗原编码（niC）基因。结果：4株大肠菌rfbE和fliC基因检测为阳性，确认为EHEC O157：H7，其中1株菌株扩增出全部毒力基因，另3株菌株扩增出除stx1外其它全部毒力基因；2株大肠菌rfbE基因检测阳性，确认为O157：H7-大肠菌；其它均为非O157：H7其它大肠菌。结论：PCR技术的应用能对可疑O157：117大肠菌进行有效鉴定与分析，应成为今后病原学鉴定的主要技术手段。     

PCR方法检测EHEC O157：H7的rfbO157、fliCH7、hlyA、eaeA、stx2及其变种基因

目的：应用当前国际上常用的rfbO157、fliCH7、hlyA、eaeA、stx2及其变种5对引物，对45株疑似肠出血性大肠埃希菌O157：H7（EHEC O157：H7）检测鉴定，全面了解此类菌的致病力情况。方法：分纯并富集被鉴定菌株，首先以单克隆诊断血清学凝集，阳性者再经100℃水煮制成粗模板，应用PCR检测各菌株是否具有rfbO157、fliCH7、hlyA、eaeA、stx2及stx2及其变种5种基因，扩增结果经EB染色后在凝胶成像仪下观察特异性条带并拍照。结果：45株被检测菌经PCR扩增检测，5种基因全部阳性的有10株，4种基因出现阳性的只有1株，3种基因阳性的有6株，2种基因阳性的有17株，1种基因阳性的有10株，1株菌的5种基因检测均为阴性。45株菌中和。，阳性的有44株fliCH7基因阳性的菌株有30株，hlyA阳性的菌株只有10株，eaeA阳性基因的菌株有21株，stx2及其变种阳性的也只有11株。结论：这次45株菌中有5株具有全部的5种基因，44株为EHEC O157，其中30株为EHEC O157：H7，这次选择的5种基因不仅能给被检测菌株定性，而且能较全面地反应其毒力强度，适合于有条件的基层实验室开展。     

双重实时荧光PCR快速检测O157大肠杆菌的初步研究

[目的]建立双重实时PCR体系,实现对O157大肠杆菌rfbE和stx2基因的同步检测。[方法]根据GenBank公布的O157大肠杆菌rfbE和stx2基因序列,应用分子生物学软件设计两对引物和TaqMan探针,并对荧光定量PCR反应条件进行优化,建立实时荧光定量PCR检测O157大肠杆菌的反应体系,并对该法的特异性、敏感性和重复性进行了评价。[结果]所有O157大肠杆菌菌株的检测结果均为阳性,而所有其他菌株检测结果均为阴性;该方法对O157大肠杆菌纯培养的检测范围为10^0～10^6cfu/μl,重复性检测的变异系数均小于5%。对模拟污染牛奶样本的检测范围为10^2～10^6cfu/μl。从细菌核酸提取至完成检测约需3h。[结论]基于Taqman探针技术的实时PCR检测体系可同步检测O157大肠杆菌rfbE和stx2基因,具有快速、灵敏度高、特异性强等优点,可用于O157大肠杆菌食物中毒的快速诊断和食品微生物检测。     

stx-PCR方法、Vero细胞毒性试验和酶联免疫试剂盒3种方法检测产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌的评估

目的评价stx-PCR方法、Vero细胞毒性试验和酶联免疫试剂盒3种方法在检测产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌的特异性和敏感性的差异。方法运用stx-PCR方法、Vero细胞毒性试验和酶联免疫试剂盒分别对29株大肠埃希菌参考菌株和45株食品分离大肠埃希菌株进行检测。结果 stx-PCR方法可以判定50株菌携带stx基因,同时Vero细胞毒性试验可以判定这些菌株具有细胞毒性,两者的一致性为100%;酶联免疫试剂盒能判定其中38株菌具有志贺毒素。结论 3种方法都具有很好的特异性。stx-PCR方法和Vero细胞毒性试验较酶联免疫试剂盒具有更高的敏感性,试剂盒适用于食源性疾病暴发事件中产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌的快速筛选,stxPCR方法推荐作为实验室常规快速检测方法,Vero细胞毒性试验是检测产志贺毒素大肠埃希菌是否具有志贺毒素生物学活性的金标准方法。     

Prevalence and genetic profiling of virulence determinants of non-O157 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli isolated from cattle, beef, and humans, Calcutta, India.

We investigated the prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in hospitalized diarrhea patients in Calcutta, India, as well as in healthy domestic cattle and raw beef samples collected from the city's abattoir. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for stx1 and stx2 detected STEC in 18% of cow stool samples, 50% of raw beef samples, and 1.4% and 0.6% of bloody and watery stool samples, respectively, from hospitalized diarrhea patients. Various virulence genes in the STEC isolates indicated that stx1 allele predominated. Plasmid-borne markers, namely, hlyA, katP, espP, and etpD, were also identified. Bead enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Vero cell assay were performed to detect and evaluate the cytotoxic effect of the Shiga toxins produced by the strains. STEC is not an important cause of diarrhea in India; however, its presence in domestic cattle and beef samples suggests that this enteropathogen may become a major public health problem in the future.     

Comparison of Escherichia coli Isolates from humans, food, and farm and companion animals for presence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli virulence markers

The objective of this study was to characterize Escherichia coli isolates from dairy cows/feedlots, calves, mastitis, pigs, dogs, parrot, iguana, human disease, and food products for prevalence of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) virulence markers. The rationale of the study was that, isolates of the same serotypes that were obtained from different sources and possessed the same marker profiles, could be cross-species transmissible. Multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect presence of genes encoding Shiga toxin 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2), H7 flagella (flicC), enterohemolysin (hly) and intimin (eaeA) in E. coli isolates (n = 400). Shiga toxin-producing isolates were tested for production of Shiga toxins (Stx1 and Stx2 and enterohemolysin. Of the E. coli O157:H7/H- strains, 150 of 164 (mostly human, cattle, and food) isolates were stx+. Sixty-five percent of O157 STEC produced both Stx1 and Stx2; 32% and 0.7% produced Stx2 or Stx1, respectively. Ninety-eight percent of O157 STEC had sequences for genes encoding intimin and enterohemolysin. Five of 20 E. coli O111, 4 of 14 O128 and 4 of 10 O26 were stx+ . Five of 6 stx+ O26 and O111 produced Stx1, however, stx+ O128 were Stx-negative. Acid resistance (93.3%) and tellurite resistance (87.3%) were common attributes of O157 STEC, whereas, non-O157 stx+ strains exhibited 38.5% and 30.8% of the respective resistances. stx-positive isolates were mostly associated with humans and cattle, whereas, all isolates from mastitis (n = 105), and pigs, dogs, parrot and iguanas (n = 48) were stx-negative. Multiplex PCR was an effective tool for characterizing STEC pathogenic profiles and distinguished STEC O157:H7 from other STEC. Isolates from cattle and human disease shared similar toxigenic profiles, whereas isolates from other disease sources had few characteristics in common with the former isolates. These data suggest interspecies transmissibility of certain serotypes, in particular, STEC O157:H7, between humans and cattle.     

Detection and characterization of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli from seagulls

Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains isolated from a seagull in Japan were examined. A total of 50 faecal samples was collected on a harbour bank in Hokkaido, Japan, in July 1998. Two different STEC strains, whose serotypes were O136:H16 and O153:H-, were isolated from the same individual by PCR screening; both of them were confirmed by ELISA and Vero cell cytotoxicity assay to be producing active Stx2 and Stx1, respectively. They harboured large plasmids, but did not carry the haemolysin or eaeA genes of STEC O157:H7. Based on their plasmid profiles, antibiotic resistance patterns, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis (PFGE), and the stx genes sequences, the isolates were different. Phylogenic analysis of the deduced Stx amino acid sequences demonstrated that the Stx toxins of seagull-origin STEC were closely associated with those of the human-origin, but not those of other animal-origin STEC. In addition, Stx2phi-K7 phage purified from O136 STEC resembled Stx2phi-II from human-origin O157:H7, and was able to convert non-toxigenic E. coli to STEC. These results suggest that birds may be one of the important carriers in terms of the distribution of STEC.     

12株疑似O157:H7大肠菌PCR鉴定研究

目的:对12株疑似O157:H7大肠菌采用PCR法进行鉴定。方法:利用单一PCR和多重聚合酶链反应(mPCR)检测不同来源菌株志贺样毒素(stx1和stx2)、溶血素(hly)、粘附抹平因子(eaeA)、β-葡糖醛酸糖苷酶(u idA)、O157抗原编码(rfbE)、H7鞭毛抗原编码(fliC)基因。结果:4株大肠菌rfbE和fliC基因检测为阳性,确认为EHEC O157:H7,其中1株菌株扩增出全部毒力基因,另3株菌株扩增出除stx1外其它全部毒力基因;2株大肠菌rfbE基因检测阳性,确认为O157:H7-大肠菌;其它均为非O157:H7其它大肠菌。结论:PCR技术的应用能对可疑O157:H7大肠菌进行有效鉴定与分析,应成为今后病原学鉴定的主要技术手段。     

网状分枝扩增方法检测志贺毒素2基因

目的 建立一种快速、灵敏检测志贺样毒素2(STX2)的方法。方法 用网状分枝扩增技术(RAM)和PCR检测合成的志贺样毒素2基因和临床分离的菌株，确定该方法的灵敏度和特异性。结果 RAM最少能检测10个志贺样毒素2的DNA分子，与PCR具有同样灵敏度。用PCR和RAM检测临床标本和食品中分离的33株大肠埃希菌，其中26株stx2基因为阳性，2种方法检测结果一致。结论 RAM与PCR方法相同的灵敏度和特异性，但操作简便，并且是在等温条件下扩增核酸，成本较低，适合检测食品和临床标本中大肠埃希菌志贺样毒素2。     

Occurrence of shigatoxinogenic Escherichia coli O157 in Norwegian cattle herds.

To investigate if there is a reservoir of Escherichia coli O157 in Norwegian cattle, faecal samples from 197 cattle herds were screened for E. coli O157 by the use of immunomagnetic separation (IMS) and PCR during the 1995 grazing season. Six E. coli O157:H-isolates were detected in two herds, one isolate in one and five in the other. The isolates carried the stx1, stx2, and eae genes, and a 90 MDa virulence plasmid. They were toxinogenic in a Vero cell assay. From 57 other herds, 137 faecal samples were positive for stx1 and/or stx2 genes detected by PCR run directly on IMS-isolated material. Among these samples, stx2 were the most widely distributed toxin encoding genes. No difference was found among milking cows and heifers in the rate of stx1 and/or stx2 in positive samples.     

Applicability of a multiplex PCR to detect the seven major Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli based on genes that code for serogroup-specific O-antigens and major virulence factors in cattle feces

An 11-gene multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) was developed based on genes that code for serogroup-specific O-antigens and four major virulence factors (intimin, enterohemorrhagic hemolysin, and Shiga toxins [Stx] 1 and 2), to detect O157 and the "top six" non-O157 (O26, O45, O103, O111, O121, and O145) Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). The assay specificity was validated with pure cultures of seven major STEC (185 strains), 26 other STEC (65 strains), non-STEC (five strains), and 33 strains of other genera and species. Sensitivity of the assay with cattle fecal sample spiked with pooled cultures of seven major STEC was 10(5) colony-forming units (CFU)/g before enrichment and 10(2) CFU/g after enrichment. The applicability of the assay to detect STEC in fecal samples (n=50), before and after enrichment, was evaluated by comparing with culture-based methods for O26, O111, and O157. The mPCR assay of 50 fecal samples showed seven (14%) positive before enrichment and 23 (46%) positive after enrichment for one or more of the seven O-groups. Overall, 17 isolates from 17 fecal samples and 27 isolates (four for O26, three for O45, and 20 for O103) from 19 fecal samples were obtained, by culture-based methods, for O157 and non-O157 serogroups, respectively. None of the 27 non-O157 isolates possessed the stx genes, suggesting that cattle harbor Shiga toxin-negative E. coli belonging to the "top six" non-O157 serogroups. Our data, although based on a limited number of samples, suggest that the sensitivities of the mPCR and culture-based methods in detecting the seven serogroups of STEC in feces differed between O-groups. An obvious limitation of our mPCR is that the concurrent detection of virulence genes and the serogroups in a sample does not necessarily associate the virulence genes with the prevalent serogroups in the same sample. The major application of our 11-gene mPCR assay may be in identifying putative colonies of STEC obtained by culture-based methods.     

Shiga Toxin Subtypes Associated with Shiga Toxin-Producing Escherichia coli Strains Isolated from Red Deer, Roe Deer, Chamois, and Ibex

Abstract A total of 52 Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, isolated from fecal samples of six ibex, 12 chamois, 15 roe deer, and 19 red deer were further characterized by subtyping the stx genes, examining strains for the top nine serogroups and testing for the presence of eae and ehxA. Eleven of the 52 strains belonged to one of the top nine STEC O groups (O26, O45, O91, O103, O111, O113, O121, O145, and O157). Eight STEC strains were of serogroup O145, two strains of serogroup O113, and one strain of serogroup O157. None of the strains harbored stx2a, stx2e, or stx2f. Stx2b (24 strains) and stx1c (21 strains) were the most frequently detected stx subtypes, occurring alone or in combination with another stx subtype. Eight strains harbored stx2g, five strains stx2d, three strains stx1a, two strains stx2c, and one strain stx1d. Stx2g and stx1d were detected in strains not harboring any other stx subtype. The eae and ehxA genes were detected in two and 24 STEC strains, respectively. Considering both, the serogroups and the virulence factors, the majority of the STEC strains isolated from red deer, roe deer, chamois, and ibex do not show the typical patterns of highly pathogenic STEC strains. To assess the potential pathogenicity of STEC for humans, strain isolation and characterization is therefore of central importance.     

Characterization of Salmonella enterica and detection of the virulence genes specific to diarrheagenic Escherichia coli from poultry carcasses in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

One hundred chicken carcasses purchased from three markets selling poultry in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, between June 2010 and October 2010 were examined for their microbiological quality. The presence of Salmonella was investigated using standard bacteriological procedures, and the isolates obtained were serotyped and tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. The presence of virulence-associated genes of the five main pathogroups of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli-Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli, and enteroinvasive E. coli-was investigated using 16-plex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on the mixed bacterial cultures from the poultry samples. Of the 100 chicken carcasses studied, 57 were contaminated by Salmonella; 16 different serotypes were identified, the most frequent being Salmonella Derby, found in 28 samples. Four Salmonella strains were resistant to tetracycline, and two were resistant to streptomycin. Based on the PCR detection of the virulence genes, in total, 45 carcasses were contaminated by three pathogroups of E. coli: STEC, EPEC, or EAEC. The STEC and EPEC virulence genes were detected on six and 39 carcasses, respectively. EAEC virulence genes were only detected in combination with those of EPEC (on 11 carcasses) or STEC (on two carcasses). The STEC-positive carcasses contained the genes stx(1), stx(2), eaeA, escV, and ent in different combinations. None of the EPEC-positive carcasses contained the bfp gene, indicating that only atypical EPEC was present. EAEC virulence genes detected were aggR and/or pic. The high proportion of chicken carcasses contaminated by Salmonella and diarrheagenic E. coli indicates a potential food safety risk for consumers and highlights the necessity of public awareness of these pathogens.     

Phenotypic and genetic markers for serotype-specific detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli O26 strains from North America

Phenotypic and genetic markers of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) O26 from North America were used to develop serotype-specific protocols for detection of this pathogen. Carbohydrate fermentation profiles and prevalence of gene sequences associated with STEC O26 (n = 20) were examined. Non-STEC O26 (n = 17), E. coli O157 (n = 20), E. coli O111 (n = 22), and generic E. coli (n = 21) were used as comparison strains. Effects of supplements: cefixime-tellurite, 4-methylumbelliferyl-beta-D-glucuronide (MUG) and chromogenic additives (5-bromo4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (X-Gal), 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-beta-D-glucuronide (X-GlcA) and o-nitrophenyl-beta-D-galactopyranoside (ONPG), added to isolation agar media were examined. Tests for presence of gene sequences encoding beta intimin (eae beta), Shiga toxin 1 and 2 (stx1 and stx2), H7 flagella (flicCh7), enterohemolysin (ehlyA), O26 somatic antigen (wzx), and high pathogenicity island genes (irp2 and fyuA) were conducted using multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of XbaI restriction endonuclease genomic DNA digests was used to establish clonality among E. coli O26 strains. Of the 26 carbohydrates tested, only rhamnose had diagnostic value. Rhamnose non-fermenters included STEC O26 (100%), non-STEC O26 (40%), generic E. coli (29%), E. coli O111 (23%), and E. coli O157 (0%). Rhamnose non-fermenting colonies growing on Rhamnose-McConkey agar supplemented with X-GlcA, X-Gal, or ONPG, respectively, were blue, white, or faint yellow, whereas rhamnose-fermenters were red. Blue colonies from X-GlcA-containing media were the most well-defined and easiest to pick for further tests. All STEC O26 were MUG-fluorescent, while STEC O157 (n = 18) were non-fluorescent. E. coli O111 and generic E. coli strains were either MUG-positive or-negative. Serotype-specific detection of STEC O26 was achieved by selecting cefixime-tellurite-resistant, MUG-fluorescent, rhamnose-nonfermenting colonies, which carried stx1, eae beta, irp2, and wzx gene sequences. STEC O26 prevalence in dairy farm environmental samples determined using the developed isolation and genetic detection protocols was 4%. PFGE indicated the presence of one major cluster of E. coli O26 with 72-100% DNA fragment-length digest similarity among test strains. The serotype-specific detection methods described herein have potential for routine application in STEC O26 diagnosis.