Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli in Austrian lamb meat in 1998

The aim of this study was to examine Austrian lamb meat samples for Shiga t oxin producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Out of 124 specimens none yielded S TEC O157, but twenty-one non-O157 STEC were detected. The predominant serot ype found was O146 (H21 and HNT). Some of the serotypes found have not yet been described as Shiga toxin-producing: STEC O70:H-, O127:H2, O75:H-, O119 :H8, and O6:H8. All isolates had the EHEC hly gene and all but one (STEC O1 5:H-) the enterohaemolysin positive phenotype and only one of them (STEC O1 46:HNT) showing the eae Virulence factor. The bacteria identified in lamb m eat may present a low public health risk.