Research Note: Occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in Hamburgers Produced in Brazil

摘要

The occurrence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 was evaluated in 886 samples of hamburgers produced by eight manufac- turers in the south and southeast of Brazil from January to September of 1997. The pathogen was not detected in any of the samples analyzed, although 17 (1.9/100) showed the presence of E. coli strains, which presented agglutination with O157 antiserum. These strains were not confirmed, since a subsequent identification indicated that they were fermentation positive for sorbitol, incapable of agglutination with the antisera of other commercial brands, and nonproducers of verocytotoxins.