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ABSTRACT<br/>Escherichia coli pathotypes have been identified as one of the pathogens responsible for majority mild-to-acute diarrhea in most countries around the world. Pathogenic E. coli are spread from infected human or animal faeces to new susceptible hosts via environmental reservoirs including hands, water, and soil. According to previous studies, Escherichia coli is frequently found in temperate soils although, there are not many studies to date to characterize its pathotypes associated with soil of lettuce plants. This study therefore investigates soil from lettuce fields in Ogudu area of Kosofe Local Government, Lagos state that have overtime been treated with manure (cow dung). To characterize the possible E. coli pathotypes, molecular method was employed specifically Multiplex PCR. On SMAC, all twelve isolates were identified as potential enterobacteriaceae containing E. coli. Further identification with multiplex PCR disclosed that four of the isolates were positive based on the band size (as compared with the predicted band size) which directly linked them to potential pathotypes. In conclusion, four out of the twelve isolates showed DNA band on the agarose Gel electrophoresis and coded for five gene which are: Vtx 1 coded for verotoxigenic E. coli while porcain estA and human estA coded for enterotoxigenic E. coli.<br/><br/>KEY WORDS: E. coli, Lettuce, Soil, PCR, Agarose gel electrophoresis <br/> |
