Enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 in coastal environment of Alexandria, Egypt.

A total of 107 coastal environment samples collected, during the period from February to December 2002, from different sites along the seashore of Alexandria City were examined for the presence of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 and total colifrom bacteria (TC). Of the total examined samples, 51 (48%) were found to harbour the pathogen. The bacterium was recovered from 23 (48%) of 48 seawater, 15 (37%) of 41 fish and 13 (72%) of 18 invertebrate samples. The pathogen was detected in the environmental samples during all the sampling months. Some stations proved to be contaminated over the entire period of study; however, others were not. As a general trend, a positive correlation between TC counts and the presence of the pathogen was observed. Also, numbers of TC and the incidence of the bacterium were relatively high during the warmest months. Measures that prevent the risk of infection by such pathogen are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]