Aim: This study was conducted to investigate the presence of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and to detect its virulence genes, including; stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehlyA, on cattle carcasses, intestinal contents and swabs from environmental samples (conveyors, knives, aprons, saws, hooks, hands) in a beef slaughterhouse in Kahramanmaras, Turkey.

Materials and Methods: A total of 200 samples, collected from commercial abattoirs, were examined for the presence of E. coli O157:H7 by enrichment/immunomagnetic separation (IMS) with plating of recovered immunobeads onto CHROM agar with cefixime and tellurite. Suspicious E. coli O157:H7 colonies were analysed with anti-O157 and H7 antisera and were confirmed by (Polymerase Chain Reaction) PCR targeting a range of genes including; rfbO157, fliCH7 stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehylA region of bacteria.

Results: In the study, E. coli O157 was isolated from one (2%) of the intestinal content samples whereas E. coli O157:H7 was found in two (4%) intestinal content samples and two (4%) carcass samples. All isolates contained stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehylA genes.

Conclusions: The isolation of E. coli O157: H7 from the intestinal contents and carcass specimens revealed that the carcasses were contaminated by stool. It was concluded that all E. coli O157: H7 isolates may constitute a potential risk for human health due to the presence of stx1, stx2, eaeA and ehylA genes.