Aims: To analyse phenotypical characteristics of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains from ovine origin.
Methods and results: A total of 13 STEC strains (eight O157 and five non-O157) isolated from sheep dairy products were used in this study. Biochemical traits, motility, haemolytic activity, resistance to tellurite-cefixime, maximum growth temperature and antibiotic resistance were determined. The STEC strains were grouped into nine biochemical and physiological biotypes (five for the O157 and four for the non-O157 strains). All STEC strains showed resistance to bacitracin, cloxacilin, penicillin and tylosin.
Conclusions: Different biotypes and antibiotic resistance patterns of STEC isolated from sheep dairy products were observed.
Significance and impact of the study: This work will be a contribution to the better characterization of STEC isolated from sheep dairy products, which have, to date, been scarcely studied, and to the better understanding of the risks associated with its consumption.