Prevalence of Eschericia coli 0157:H7 in fresh and roasted beef in Kano City, Nigeria

The prevalence of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli 0157:H7 in 300 fresh beef and 150 roasted beef samples from Kano city Nigeria was determined, by direct plating on Sorbitol MacConkey agar (CT-SMAC) supplemented with Cefexime 50μg/L and Potassium tellurite 25mg/L and resuscitation on Trypticase Soy Broth (TSB) at 250C for two hours for roasted beef samples. Presumptive colonies were confirmed by using E. coli 0157:H7 latex agglutination test kit. Prevalence rate of 53% was obtained in fresh beef and 25.3% in roasted beef. Consumption of inadequately cooked beef poses a serious risk of infection. The study therefore stressed the need for health authorities to educate and put in place efficient surveillance strategies for detection and control of possible outbreaks of E. coli O157:H7 in the society. Keywords: Pravalence, Escherichia coli 0157:H7, Bee